Air supply system for a motor vehicle

• US 7,097,166 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental AG
• Original Assignee: Continental AG
• Inventors: Folchert, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): SICONOLFI, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/848,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 267/64.16, 267/64.28, 280/124.104, 280/124.106, 280/124.157, 280/124.158, 280/124.159, 280/124.16, 280/124.161, 280/5.514
• US Class Current: 267/64.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/412 Pneumatic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0116 Integrated distribution control units with valves, accumulators, PCB's or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51222 Pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/02 Supply or exhaust flow rates; Pump operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2014 Closed systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/203 Distributor valve units comprising several elements, e.g. valves, pump or accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/205 Air-compressor operation

Abstract

In addition to the consumers of a closed loop, known air supply systems also can supply an external consumer with fresh pressurized air. These systems are very complex with respect to apparatus and furthermore have the disadvantage that already improved pressurized air can escape from the pressurized air store during the supply of the external consumer. A switchable 3/2-directional valve (31) is arranged in the first consumer pressure line (19) of the drive unit (1) and a switchable 3/2-directional valve (32) is mounted in the store pressure line (11) of the drive unit (1) and a switchable check valve is mounted in the bypass line (16) of the store pressure line (11). This check valve disables the throttle function of the bypass throttle (17).

Claims

1. An air supply system for a motor vehicle for supplying consumer means of a closed loop and for supplying an external consumer, the air supply system comprising:

a pressurized air store;

an intake connection communicating with the atmosphere;

a compressor;

a first consumer pressure line;

a second consumer pressure line connected to said external consumer;

a store pressure line connected to said compressor;

a first switchable 3/2-directional valve arranged in said first consumer pressure line;

a second switchable 3/2-directional valve arranged in said store pressure line;

said first and second 3/2-directional valves being configured so that;

said compressor conveys fresh air from the atmosphere through said intake connection, which bypasses said first and second 3/2-directional valves,

said compressor conveys fresh air to at least one member selected from the group consisting of said pressurized air store and said external consumer;

said compressor transfers already compressed pressurized air between said consumer means and said pressurized air store;

a check valve in said store pressure line;

a bypass line connected into said store pressure line to bypass said check valve;

a throttle connected into said bypass line; and

,

a switchable blocking valve arranged in said bypass line to disable the functioning of said throttle.

2. The air supply system of claim 1, further comprising a dryer connected into said store pressure line.

3. The air supply system of claim 2, wherein said blocking valve is a switchable 2/2-directional valve.

4. The air supply system of claim 3, wherein said switchable 2/2-directional valve and said bypass throttle are configured as a valve combination.

5. The air supply system of claim 1, further comprising:

a discharge valve; and

, a discharge line leading away from said switchable discharge valve and being utilized as said second consumer pressure line for supplying said external consumer.

6. The air supply system of claim 1, wherein the intake connection comprises a check valve allowing unidirectional flow from the atmosphere to the compressor.