# US 10,369,516 B2 · Compressed-air drying system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,516 B2 - Document ID: US10369516B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/311,702 - Filed: 2015-05-26 - Published: 2017-06-08 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-27 - Assignees: Nabtesco Automotive Corporation - Applicants: Nabtesco Automotive Corporation - Inventors: Takuya Sugio; Hiroaki Kawanami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369516B2 ## CPC - B01D 53/261: {by adsorption} - B01D 46/0036: {by adsorption or absorption} - B01D 46/71: with pressurised gas, e.g. pulsed air - B01D 53/26: Drying gases or vapours - B60T 17/00: Component parts, details, or accessories of power brake systems not covered by groups B60T8/00, B60T13/00 or B60T15/00, or presenting other characteristic features (air compressors per se F04) - F04B 39/04: Measures to avoid lubricant contaminating the pumped fluid - F04B 39/16: Filtration; Moisture separation - B60G 2600/66: Humidifying or drying means - B60T 17/004: {Draining and drying devices} - F15B 21/048: Arrangements for compressed air preparation, e.g. comprising air driers, air condensers, filters, lubricators or pressure regulators - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A compressed-air drying system includes an air dryer, an oil mist separator and a reservoir. The air dryer includes desiccant and a drain port for draining liquid generated through regeneration of the desiccant. The oil mist separator includes a trapping portion for trapping oil contained, as oil mist, in the compressed air. The oil mist separator further includes a drain port for draining liquid containing the trapped oil. The oil mist separator is provided in a passage between the compressor and the air dryer. The reservoir stores the liquid drained from the air dryer and the liquid drained from the oil mist separator. The drain port of the air dryer and the drain port of the oil mist separator are connected to the reservoir. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compressed-air drying system configured to remove oil and water contained in compressed air delivered from a compressor, the system comprising: a pressure governor configured to output an air pressure signal to a supply passage; an air dryer including: desiccant, a drain port configured to drain liquid generated through regeneration of the desiccant, and a first drain valve device configured to be opened by the air pressure signal from the pressure governor; an oil mist separator including: a trapping portion configured to trap oil contained, as oil mist, in the compressed air, a drain port configured to drain liquid containing the trapped oil, and a second drain valve device configured to be opened by the air pressure signal from the pressure governor, wherein the oil mist separator is provided in a passage between the compressor and the air dryer; a reservoir configured to store the liquid drained from the air dryer and the liquid drained from the oil mist separator; a drain passage connected to the reservoir and configured to drain, to the reservoir, the liquid drained from the air dryer and the liquid drained from the oil mist separator; and a connecting portion that connects, to the drain passage, the drain port of the air dryer and the drain port of the oil mist separator, wherein, in an unloading mode operation, responsive to the pressure governor outputting the air pressure signal, the second drain valve device of the oil mist separator is first opened, and thereafter the first drain valve device of the air dryer is opened. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 1, wherein the drain port of the air dryer is connected to an upstream drain passage configured to drain the liquid drained from the air dryer to a downstream side, and wherein the connecting portion includes a first inlet connected to the drain port of the oil mist separator, a second inlet connected to the upstream drain passage, and an outlet connected to the drain passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 2, wherein the first inlet and the outlet of the connecting portion are connected to each other by a straight passage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 2, wherein the oil mist separator is one of a plurality of oil mist separators arranged between the air dryer and the compressor, and wherein the drain port of the oil mist separator that is closest to the compressor is connected to the first inlet of the connecting portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 1, wherein the air dryer and the oil mist separator are located outside the reservoir. ### Claim 6 A compressed-air drying system configured to remove oil and water contained in compressed air delivered from a compressor, the system comprising: a pressure governor configured to output an air pressure signal to a supply passage; an air dryer including: desiccant, a drain port configured to drain liquid generated through regeneration of the desiccant, and a first drain valve device configured to be opened by the air pressure signal from the pressure governor; an oil mist separator a trapping portion configured to trap oil contained, as oil mist, in the compressed air, a drain port configured to drain liquid containing the trapped oil, and a second drain valve device configured to be opened by the air pressure signal from the pressure governor, wherein the oil mist separator is provided in a passage between the compressor and the air dryer; and a reservoir configured to store the liquid drained from the air dryer and the liquid drained from the oil mist separator, wherein, in an unloading mode operation, responsive to the pressure governor outputting the air pressure signal, the second drain valve device of the oil mist separator is first opened, and thereafter the first drain valve device of the air dryer is opened, and wherein the drain port of the air dryer and the drain port of the oil mist separator are connected to the reservoir located outside the air dryer and the oil mist separator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 1, further comprising a check valve arranged between the oil mist separator and the air dryer in the passage and configured to restrict flow of compressed air from the air dryer to the oil mist separator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 1, wherein the first drain valve device of the air dryer is opened at a first pressure, wherein the second drain valve device of the oil mist separator is opened at a second pressure, and wherein the second pressure is lower than the first pressure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 8, wherein the first drain valve device comprises a first spring having a first force, wherein the second drain valve device comprises a second spring having a second force, and wherein the second force is lower than the first force. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 1, wherein the second drain valve device of the oil mist separator is connected to the first drain valve device of the air dryer via the supply passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 6, further comprising a check valve arranged between the oil mist separator and the air dryer in the passage and configured to restrict flow of compressed air from the air dryer to the oil mist separator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 6, wherein the first drain valve device of the air dryer is opened at a first pressure, wherein the second drain valve device of the oil mist separator is opened at a second pressure, and wherein the second pressure is lower than the first pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 12, wherein the first drain valve device comprises a first spring having a first force, wherein the second drain valve device comprises a second spring having a second force, and wherein the second force is lower than the first force. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The compressed-air drying system according to claim 6, wherein the second drain valve device of the oil mist separator is connected to the first drain valve device of the air dryer via the supply passage.