Air monitoring system

• US 9,688,262 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Pfefferl, David J
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako
• Application Number:
  US15/190,330
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 340451, 417 18, 417 53, 417 63
• 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

A controller for monitoring an air system in a vehicle comprises an input for receiving at least one pressure signal indicative of air pressure in an air system; and a processor having control logic. The control logic is capable of determining a volume of the air system at a first time based on the at least one air pressure signal and a vehicle factor; determining the volume of the air system at a second time based on the at least one air pressure signal and the vehicle factor; determining the difference between the volume at the first time and the volume at the second time; and transmitting an alert in response to a difference between the volume at the first time and volume at the second time. The control logic is also capable of changing the compressor operation in response to the alert.

Claims

1. A controller for monitoring an air system in a vehicle comprising:

An input for receiving at least one pressure signal indicative of air pressure in an air system; and

A processor having control logic for;

Determining a volume of the air system at a first time based on the at least one air pressure signal and a vehicle factor;

Determining the volume of the air system at a second time based on the at least one air pressure signal and the vehicle factor;

Determining the difference between the volume at the first time and the volume at the second time; and

Transmitting an alert in response to the volume difference being greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

2. The controller as in claim 1, the controller further comprising an output, wherein the control logic is capable of transmitting a leakage alert to the output in response to the volume difference being greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

3. The controller as in claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold is about 110% of the volume at the first time.

4. The controller as in claim 2, wherein the control logic is further for changing a compressor operating parameter in response to the leakage alert.

5. The controller as in claim 4, wherein a cut in pressure and a cut out pressure of the compressor are increased in response to the leakage alert.

6. The controller as in claim 4, wherein the cut in pressure and the cut out pressure are set to values to increase the compressor duty cycle.

7. The controller as in claim 1, further comprising an output, wherein the control logic is for transmitting an obstruction alert to the output in response to the volume difference being less than or equal to a predetermined low threshold.

8. The controller as in claim 7, wherein the predetermined low threshold is about 90% of the volume at the first time.

9. The controller as in claim 7, wherein the control logic is further capable of changing a compressor operating parameter in response to the obstruction alert.

10. The controller as in claim 9, wherein the compressor cut in and cut out pressure are set to values to increase the compressor duty cycle.

11. The controller as in claim 1 wherein the vehicle factor is one of a compressor displacement, engine speed, time for the at least one air pressure signal to reach a predetermined pressure, a compressor output map, tank back pressure and output air flow.

12. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the first time and the second time are separated by at least one power cycle of the vehicle.

13. The controller as in claim 1, wherein determining the volume at the first time comprises measuring the time from a substantially zero pressure signal until a pressure signal of a predetermined first pressure.

14. A method for monitoring an air system comprising:

Determining a volume at a first time based on the at least one air pressure signal and a vehicle factor;

Determining a volume at a second time based on the at least one air pressure signal and the vehicle factor;

Determining the difference between the volume at the first time with the volume at the second time; and

Setting a leakage alert in response to the volume difference being greater than or equal to a predetermined volume difference.

15. The method as in claim 14 further comprising increasing a cut in pressure and a cut out pressure in response to the leakage alert.

16. The method as in claim 14, wherein the at least one air pressure signal is about zero prior to determining the volume at the first time and determining the volume at the second time.