Driver controlled air system moisture removal and pre-trip inspection system

• US 5,936,154 A
• Filed: 08/26/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Navistar International Transportation Corp. (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Neely, Robert H. Jr., Kuhn, Lawrence H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US08/920,153
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 73/39, 73/40.5 R, 73/121, 73/129, 188/3 H, 303/1, 303/2, 303/13, 303/35, 303/30, 303/60, 303/DIG. 1, 303/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 73/129
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/004 Draining and drying devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/02 Arrangements of pumps or compressors, or control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M

Abstract

An apparatus for operator controlled purging of the tanks of a pressurized air reservoir of a vehicle air system comprises an air actuated normally closed drain valve mounted to an underside of each tank, a source of pressurized air engaged to each drain valve, and a controller for each valve engaged downstream of the source, and within a driver area of the vehicle, the controller when activated, allowing for communication between the source and the drain valve for opening of the valve. The method for using the apparatus in testing air system integrity includes the steps of draining and refilling each tank individually in a pre-defined sequence while monitoring driver area mounted indicators of air pressure levels and testing functionality of an air system operated service brake system of the vehicle by carrying out the pre-defined sequence.

Claims

1. In combination with a mobile vehicle an apparatus for use in testing integrity of an air system, comprising:

(a) a vehicle with an air system, a driver area, an engine, a transmission, and a pneumatic service brake system;

(b) said air system, comprising;

(i) an air reservoir comprised of three internal tanks;

a wet tank, a primary rear end tank, and a secondary front end tank;

(ii) a normally closed air-operated first drain valve engaged to said wet tank;

(iii) a normally closed air-operated second drain valve engaged to said primary rear end tank;

(iv) a normally closed air-operated third drain valve engaged to said secondary front end tank;

(v) two one-way check valves, a first check valve separating said wet tank and said primary rear end tank and allowing for one-way passage from said wet tank to said primary rear end tank, and a second check valve separating said wet tank and said secondary front end tank and allowing for one-way passage from said wet tank to said secondary front end tank;

(vi) a source of pressurized air functionally engaged to said first drain valve, said second drain valve and said third drain valve;

(vii) a control means manually operated from within said driver area of said vehicle and interposed between said source of pressurized air and said first drain valve, said second drain valve and said third drain valve, respectively, said control means for allowing and maintaining passage of pressurized air there through for individual opening of said first drain valve, said second drain valve and said third drain valve, respectively;

(viii) a compressor engaged to said wet tank;

(ix) a pressure gauge mounted in said driver area and indicating pressure of said primary rear end tank and said secondary front end tank; and

(x) a low pressure indicator mounted in said driver area and functionally engaged to said wet tank, said primary rear end tank, and said secondary front end tank; and

(c) said service brake system comprising;

(i) a front brake portion operatively engaged to said secondary front end tank;

(ii) a rear brake portion operatively engaged to said primary rear end tank; and

(iii) a foot pedal operatively engaged to both said front bake portion and said rear brake portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source of pressurized air is at least one tank of said air reservoir.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a splitter is engaged downstream of said source of pressurized air and upstream of said control means to provide a plurality of separate outlets.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

(a) a first outlet of said separate outlets of said splitter is engaged to provide an operational air pathway to a first drain valve for said wet tank with said controls means interposed between said splitter and said first drain valve;

(b) a second outlet of said separate outlets of said splitter is engaged to provide an operational air pathway to a second drain valve for said primary tank with said controls means interposed between said splitter and said second drain valve; and

(c) a third outlet of said separate outlets of said splitter is engaged to provide an operational air pathway to a third drain valve for said secondary tank with said controls means interposed between said splitter and said third drain valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said splitter includes at least a fourth outlet engaged to a set of auxiliary air devices of said vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a pressure activated normally open shutoff valve is engaged between said source of pressurized air and said splitter with a drop in upstream air pressure closing said shut off valve.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means is comprised of

(a) a first momentary control valve interposed between said first outlet of said splitter and said first drain valve;

(b) a second momentary control valve interposed between said second outlet of said splitter and said second drain valve; and

(d) a third momentary control valve interposed between said third outlet of said splitter and said third drain valve.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

(a) said first momentary control valve, said second momentary control valve and said third momentary control valve each has an individual toggle switch located within said driver area;

(b) each said toggle switch having two positions;

(i) an open position for which each said toggle switch must be held into open and maintain a pathway from said splitter to said first drain valve, second drain valve, or said third drain valve, respectively; and

(ii) a normal closed position to which each said toggle switch is spring biased to close said pathway from said splitter to said first drain valve, second drain valve, or said third drain valve, respectively.

9. A method for testing integrity of an air system of a vehicle including at least pneumatic service brakes comprising the steps of:

(a) entering a driver area of a vehicle, said vehicle being comprised of;

an air system, an engine, a transmission, an ignition, and a pneumatic service brake system;

(i) said air system, comprising;

(1) an air reservoir comprised of three internal tanks;

a wet tank, a primary rear end tank, and a secondary front end tank;

(2) a normally closed air-operated first drain valve engaged to said wet tank;

(3) a normally closed air-operated second drain valve engaged to said primary rear end tank;

(4) a normally closed air-operated third drain valve engaged to said secondary front end tank;

(5) two one-way check valves, a first check valve separating said wet tank and said primary rear end tank and allowing for one-way passage from said wet tank to said primary rear end tank, and a second check valve separating said wet tank and said secondary front end tank and allowing for one-way passage from said wet tank to said secondary front end tank;

(6) a source of pressurized air functionally engaged to said first drain valve, said second drain valve and said third drain valve;

(7) a control means manually operated from within said driver area of said vehicle and interposed between said source of pressurized air and said first drain valve, said second drain valve and said third drain valve, respectively, said control means for allowing and maintaining passage of pressurized air there through for individual opening of said first drain valve, said second drain valve and said third drain valve, respectively;

(8) a splitter is engaged downstream of said source of pressurized air and upstream of said control means to provide a plurality of separate outlets;

(9) a first outlet of said separate outlets of said splitter is engaged to provide an operational air pathway to said first drain valve with said controls means interposed between said splitter and said first drain valve;

(10) a second outlet of said separate outlets of said splitter is engaged to provide an operational air pathway to said second drain valve with said controls means interposed between said splitter and said second drain valve;

(11) a third outlet of said separate outlets of said splitter is engaged to provide an operational air pathway to said third drain valve with said control means interposed between said splitter and said third drain valve;

(12) said control means is comprised of;

(aa) a first momentary control valve interposed between said first outlet of said splitter and said first drain valve;

(bb) a second momentary control valve interposed between said second outlet of said splitter and said second drain valve; and

(cc) a third momentary control valve interposed between said third outlet of said splitter and said third drain valve;

(13) said first momentary control valve, said second momentary control valve and said third momentary control valve each has an individual toggle switch located within said driver area;

(14) each said toggle switch having two positions;

(aa) an open position for which each said toggle switch must be held into open and maintain a pathway from said splitter to said first drain valve, second drain valve, or said third drain valve, respectively; and

(bb) a normal closed position to which each said toggle switch is spring biased to close said pathway from said splitter to said first drain valve, second drain valve, or said third drain valve, respectively

(15) a compressor engaged to said wet tank, said compressor operation starting directly tied to said engine starting;

(16) a pressure gauge mounted in said driver area and indicating pressure of said primary rear end tank and said secondary front end tank; and

(17) a low pressure indicator mounted in said driver area and functionally engaged to said wet tank, said primary rear end tank, and said secondary front end tank; and

(ii) said service brake system comprising;

(1) a front brake portion operatively engaged to said secondary front end tank;

(2) a rear brake portion operatively engaged to said primary rear end tank; and

(3) a foot pedal operatively engaged to both said front bake portion and said rear brake portion;

(b) starting and running said engine of said vehicle and as a result running said compressor until said air reservoir is at least fully charged as indicated on said pressure gauge;

(c) deactivating said compressor by stopping said engine;

(d) turning said ignition to an accessory position;

(e) moving and holding said first momentary control valve toggle switch to open said first drain valve for said wet tank;

(f) observing said pressure gauge for pressure within said secondary front end tank and said primary rear end tank while purging of said wet tank takes place;

(g) observing for actuation of said low pressure indicator when a preset bottom pressure limit is reached;

(h) releasing said first momentary control valve toggle switch to close said first drain valve on said wet tank;

(i) restarting said engine, thereby recharging said wet tank;

(j) observing that said low pressure indicator ceases to be active;

(k) observing for deactivation of said compressor;

(l) observing the period of time taken to recharge said wet tank;

(m) turning said engine off;

(n) setting said ignition to said accessory position to negate compressor capability;

(o) engaging said third momentary control valve toggle switch to open said third drain valve to purge said secondary front end tank;

(p) observing said pressure gauge for pressure readings in said secondary front end tank for an expected pressure drop;

(q) observing for activation of said low pressure indicator when said preset bottom pressure limit is reached;

(r) starting said engine;

(s) immediately engaging said transmission;

(t) immediately rolling said vehicle forwardly;

(u) engaging said foot peal to test integrity of said rear brake portion;

(v) releasing said third momentary control valve toggle switch to close said third drain valve to fully recharge said secondary front end tank;

(w) observing deactivation of said low pressure indicator;

(x) observing said pressure gauge for an indication of recharging of said secondary front end tank;

(y) observing the period of time required to reach full recharge;

(z) turning said engine off;

(aa) setting said ignition to said accessory position to negate compressor capability;

(bb) engaging said second momentary control valve toggle switch to open said second drain valve to purge said primary rear end tank;

(cc) observing said pressure gauge for pressure readings in said primary rear end tank for an expected pressure drop;

(dd) observing for activation of said low pressure indicator when said preset bottom pressure limit is reached;

(ee) starting said engine;

(ff) immediately engaging said transmission;

(gg) immediately rolling said vehicle forwardly;

(hh) engaging said foot pedal to test integrity of said front brake portion;

(ii) releasing said second momentary control valve toggle switch to close said second drain valve to fully recharge said primary rear end tank;

(jj) observing deactivation of said low pressure indicator;

(kk) observing said pressure gauge for an indication of recharging of said primary rear end tank; and

(ll) observing the period of time required to reach full recharge.