Electronically-controlled compressed air system

A method for electronically controlling a pressure of compressed air stored in a reservoir of a compressed air system of a machine, the reservoir including an outlet valve configured to variably regulate a flow of the compressed air out of the reservoir, the method comprising:

• determining a pressure difference between an actual reservoir pressure of the compressed air stored in the reservoir and a target reservoir pressure, the actual reservoir pressure being monitored by a reservoir pressure sensor;
• transmitting a command to an outlet electronic actuator to cause the outlet electronic actuator to at least partially open the outlet valve when the actual reservoir pressure is above the target reservoir pressure, wherein the outlet valve is a butterfly valve;
• transmitting a command to the outlet electronic actuator to cause the outlet electronic actuator to close the outlet valve when the actual reservoir pressure is below the target reservoir pressure;
• and
• wherein the butterfly valve is configured to permit leakage of the compressed air when the butterfly valve is closed.

A machine, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• an air compressor driven by the internal combustion engine and having an inlet;
• an inlet valve configured to regulate a flow of air into the inlet;
• an inlet electronic actuator configured to adjust a position of the inlet valve;
• a reservoir configured to store compressed air generated by the air compressor;
• a reservoir pressure sensor configured to monitor an actual reservoir pressure of the compressed air stored in the reservoir;
• an outlet valve configured to variably regulate a flow of the compressed air out of the reservoir, wherein the outlet valve is a butterfly valve;
• an outlet electronic actuator configured to adjust a position of the outlet valve;
• and
• an electronic control module (ECM) in electronic communication with the reservoir pressure sensor, the inlet electronic actuator, and the outlet electronic actuator, the ECM being configured to:
• transmit a positive command to the inlet electronic actuator and the outlet electronic actuator when the actual reservoir pressure is below a target reservoir pressure, the positive command causing the inlet electronic actuator to at least partially open the inlet valve, the positive command causing the outlet electronic actuator to close the outlet valve;
• transmit a negative command to the inlet electronic actuator and the outlet electronic actuator when the actual reservoir pressure is above the target reservoir pressure, the negative command causing the inlet electronic actuator to close the inlet valve, the negative command causing the outlet electronic actuator to at least partially open the outlet valve;
• and
• wherein the butterfly valve is configured to permit leakage of compressed air when the butterfly valve is closed.