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US 10,502,204 B2Granted
System and method for controlling moisture within an air compressor assembly
AssigneeScott Technologies, Inc.
InventorGordon E. Rado
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air compressor assembly for filling self-contained breathing apparatus air containers has at least one condensate separator. The condensate separator includes a liquid-retaining vessel a liquid-level sensor. A drain valve is in fluid communication with the condensate separator. The drain valve is configured to open and drain retained liquid from the liquid-retaining vessel when the liquid-level sensor detects that a level of the retained liquid reaches a drain valve activation triggering level.
Claims16
An air compressor assembly for filling self-contained breathing apparatus air containers, the air compressor assembly comprising:
- a plurality of condensate separators, each of the plurality of condensate separators including:
- a liquid-retaining vessel;
- and
- a liquid-level sensor;
- and
- at least one drain valve in fluid communication with the plurality of condensate separators, the at least one drain valve being configured to open and simultaneously drain retained liquid from the liquid-retaining vessel of each of the plurality of condensate separators when the liquid-level sensor of any one of the plurality of condensate separators detects that a level of the retained liquid retained within the liquid-retaining vessel reaches a drain valve activation triggering level.
3 more elements
A multi-stage air compressor assembly for filling self-contained breathing apparatus air containers, the air compressor assembly comprising:
- a first stage compressor;
- a second stage compressor;
- a third stage compressor;
- a first condensate separator disposed between and in fluid communication with the first stage compressor and the second stage compressor, the first condensate separator including:
- a first liquid-retaining vessel;
- and
- a first liquid-level sensor of the first condensate separator;
- a second condensate separator disposed between and in fluid communication with the second stage compressor and the third stage compressor, the second condensate separator including:
- a second liquid-retaining vessel;
- and
- a first liquid-level sensor of the second condensate separator;
- a controller in communication with the first liquid-level sensor;
- and
- a drain valve in fluid communication with the first liquid-retaining vessel and the second liquid-retaining vessel, the controller being configured to send a drain valve activation signal to the drain valve, the drain valve activation signal being configured to open the drain valve and simultaneously drain retained liquid from the first liquid-retaining vessel and the second liquid-retaining vessel when the first liquid-level sensor of the first condensate separator detects that a level of the retained liquid retained within the first liquid-retaining vessel reaches a drain valve activation triggering level.
11 more elements
A multi-stage air compressor assembly for filling self-contained breathing apparatus air containers, the air compressor assembly comprising:
- a first stage compressor;
- a second stage compressor;
- a third stage compressor;
- a first condensate separator disposed between and in fluid communication with the first stage compressor and the second stage compressor, the first condensate separator including:
- a first liquid-retaining vessel;
- and
- a first high level liquid-level sensor and a first low level liquid-level sensor disposed within the first liquid-retaining vessel;
- a second condensate separator disposed between and in fluid communication with the second stage of compression and the third stage of compression, the second condensate separator including:
- a second liquid-retaining vessel;
- and
- a second high level liquid-level sensor and a second low level liquid-level sensor disposed within the second liquid-retaining vessel;
- a solenoid drain valve in fluid communication with the first condensate separator and the second condensate separator;
- and
- a controller in communication with the first high level liquid-level sensor, the first low level liquid-level, the second high level liquid-level sensor, and the second low level liquid-level, the controller being configured to:
- send a drain valve activation signal to the drain valve, the drain drive activation signal being configured to open the drain valve to simultaneously drain the liquid retained within the first liquid-retaining vessel and the second liquid-retaining vessel when at least one of the first high level liquid-level sensor and the second high level liquid-level sensor detects that a level of the retained liquid retained within at least one of the first liquid-retaining vessel and the second-liquid retaining vessel reaches a drain valve activation triggering level;
- and
- send a drain valve termination signal to the drain valve, the drain drive termination signal being configured to close the drain valve when at least one of the low level liquid-level sensor and the second low level liquid level sensor detects that a level of the retained liquid retained within at least one of the first liquid-retaining vessel and the second-liquid retaining vessel reaches a drain valve termination triggering level.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.