# US 10,767,639 B2 · Compressor arrangement for compressed air supply facility > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,639 B2 - Document ID: US10767639B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/769,749 - Filed: 2014-02-18 - Published: 2016-01-07 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-04 - Assignees: WABCO GmbH - Applicants: WABCO GmbH - Inventors: Frank Meissner; Marco Seeger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767639B2 ## CPC - F04B 35/04: the means being electric - B60T 17/02: Arrangements of pumps or compressors, or control devices therefor - F04B 17/03: driven by electric motors - F04B 27/04: having cylinders in star- or fan-arrangement - F04B 39/00: Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B37/00 - F04B 49/20: by changing the driving speed - H02K 1/187: {to inner stators} - H02K 5/15: Mounting arrangements for bearing-shields or end plates - F04B 2203/0204: Frequency of the electric current - F04B 2203/0209: Rotational speed - 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) - 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 - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract A compressor arrangement for operating a compressed air supply facility of a vehicle includes a compressor having an electric motor constructed as an electronically commutated, brushless DC motor with a control circuit comprising a power electronics unit, and a pneumatic compressor. The electric motor is constructed in the form of an external rotor motor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compressor system for operating a compressed air supply system of a vehicle, the compressor system comprising: a compressor including a brushless DC electric motor comprising a control circuit, the control circuit comprising power electronics; and a pneumatic compressor element; wherein the electric motor comprises a stator and an external rotor, wherein the external rotor comprises a rotor bell, and wherein the rotor bell is attached, via a frictional and/or positive connection, to a drive shaft and/or a crankpin; wherein a cantilever suspends the stator from a motor case, wherein the stator comprises an armature defining a first circumferential channel and the cantilever comprises a first annular protrusion disposed therein; wherein the cantilever defines a second circumferential channel and the armature comprises a second annular protrusion disposed therein; and wherein the cantilever is disc-shaped. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pneumatic compressor element is a single-cylinder, two-cylinder or multi-cylinder compressor element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor includes the drive shaft, the drive shaft being coupled to the rotor, wherein the rotor rotatably surrounds the stator and is separated from the stator by an air gap, wherein the rotor includes the rotor bell and a plurality of permanent magnets, wherein the stator includes an armature having an armature winding connected to the control circuit, wherein the pneumatic compressor element has at least one connecting rod and at least one piston configured to be driven via the crankshaft coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the control circuit includes at least one electronic relay and/or a DC-DC converter, and wherein the power electronics unit has a DC voltage input and an AC voltage output. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the crankpin is formed eccentrically with respect to a central motor axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the armature is a laminated core. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine rotational energy stored by the rotor and to monitor and/or perform open-loop or closed-loop control of an angular speed of the rotor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to: perform open-loop or closed-loop control of a speed of the rotor, and adjustably set an operating voltage at the motor and/or a rotary field frequency. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is configured for operation in a pressure control mode, and wherein the control circuit includes a control module connected to a pressure control interface of the pneumatic compressor element to operate the motor in the pressure control mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to implement a startup and/or rundown control operation to limit a startup current and/or a rundown current of the motor to adjustably set an operating voltage at the motor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to adapt an operating voltage to an onboard electrical system voltage in at least one voltage range, comprising: (i) a voltage between 8 V and 50 V, and/or (ii) a voltage between 10 V and 15 V, and/or (iii) a voltage between 14 V and 37 V, and/or (iv) a voltage between 42 V and 49 V, and/or (v) a voltage between 200-650 V. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft, the crankpin and at least one connection part form a crank mechanism component, the crank mechanism component being supported by a bearing structure comprising a big end bearing and at least one axle bearing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A compressed air supply system for operating a pneumatic system of a vehicle, the compressed air supply system comprising: a compressed air feed; a compressed air port configured to provide compressed air to the pneumatic system; a vent port; a pneumatic main line having an air dryer between the compressed air feed and the compressed air port; a vent line having a vent valve between the compressed air port and the vent port; and the compressor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressed air feed is supplied with compressed air produced by the compressor system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The compressed air supply system as claimed in claim 12; wherein the pneumatic system is a vehicle air spring system; and further comprising a pneumatic main line for operating the vehicle air spring system with a compressed air flow and/or to condition compressed air; a compressed air feed connected to the compressor; and a compressed air port configured to provide compressed air to the air spring system, the compressed air feed and the compressed air port being pneumatically connected. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A vehicle, comprising a pneumatic system; and the compressed air supply system as claimed in claim 12 for operating the pneumatic system with a compressed air flow. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pneumatic system is a vehicle air spring system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The compressed air supply system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pneumatic system is an air spring system and/or a brake and/or a conditioning device for compressed air. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit with the power electronics unit is configured to determine rotational energy stored by the rotor and to control an angular speed of the rotor based on the stored rotational energy. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor further comprises: the drive shaft and the crankpin, the crankpin being attached to the drive shaft, the crankpin and at least one connection part forming a crank mechanism component; a balance weight disposed eccentrically with respect to a central axis of the motor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor further comprises the drive shaft, the driveshaft being supported in a first axle bearing, the first axle bearing being disposed outside the rotor bell. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the cantilever is directly affixed to the armature of the stator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the cantilever comprises a cylindrical first section and a funneled second section, the first annular protrusion extending from the funneled second section, the second circumferential channel being defined by and within the funneled second section. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the armature comprises a laminated core; the driveshaft, the crankpin, and at least one connection part forming a crank, the crank being supported by a bearing structure comprising an end bearing and at least one axle bearing, the driveshaft being coupled to the rotor, the crankpin being attached to the driveshaft integrally or via an interference fit or other frictional and/or positive connection. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first annular protrusion fully occupies the first annular channel and the second annular protrusion fully occupies the second annular channel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a roller bearing assembly disposed radially inward of the cantilever and configured to rotationally support the driveshaft; wherein the motor case comprises a support ring confining an outer race of the roller bearing assembly. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the motor case includes a first end cap, a second end cap, and an annular cover extending therebetween, the system further comprising: a first roller bearing assembly and a second roller bearing assembly each journaling the driveshaft; wherein the first end cap includes a first support ring, the first roller bearing assembly being fitted within and against the first support ring; wherein the second end cap includes a second support ring, the second roller bearing assembly being fitted within and against the second support ring, the second support ring and the second roller bearing assembly being disposed radially inward of the cantilever; wherein the first roller bearing assembly is an axle bearing assembly, the drive shaft, the crankpin, and at least one connection part form a crank, the crank being supported by a bearing structure, the bearing structure comprising a big end bearing assembly and the axle bearing assembly, and the driveshaft being coupled to the rotor, the crankpin being attached to the driveshaft integrally or via an interference fit or other frictional and/or positive connection. ### Claim 26 A compressor system for operating a compressed air supply system of a vehicle, the compressor system comprising: a compressor including a brushless DC electric motor comprising a control circuit, the control circuit comprising power electronics, and a pneumatic compressor element; wherein the electric motor comprises a stator and an external rotor, wherein the external rotor comprises a rotor bell, and wherein the rotor bell is attached, via a frictional and/or positive connection, to a drive shaft and/or a crankpin; wherein a cantilever suspends the stator from a motor case, wherein the stator comprises an armature defining a first circumferential channel and the cantilever comprises a first annular protrusion disposed therein; wherein the cantilever defines a second circumferential channel and the armature comprises a second annular protrusion disposed therein; wherein the cantilever is disc-shaped, and wherein the control circuit is configured to (i) measure rotational energy stored in the rotor and (ii) monitor and/or adjust a rotational velocity of the rotor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, the control circuit is configured to adjust the rotational velocity of the rotor based on the measured rotational energy stored in the rotor. ### Claim 28 A compressor system for operating a compressed air supply system of a vehicle, the compressor system comprising: a compressor including a brushless DC (BLDC) external rotor motor having a control circuit with a power electronics unit; and a pneumatic compressor element, wherein the BLDC external rotor motor includes a stator suspended within a motor case by a cantilever; wherein the stator comprises an armature defining a first circumferential channel, wherein the cantilever comprises a first annular protrusion disposed therein, wherein the cantilever defines a second circumferential channel, and wherein the armature comprises a second annular protrusion disposed therein. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the cantilever is disc-shaped and comprises a cylindrical first section and a funneled second section, the first annular protrusion extending from the funneled second section, the second circumferential channel being defined by and within the funneled second section, the system comprising: a roller bearing assembly disposed radially inward of the cantilever and configured to rotationally support a driveshaft, the motor case comprising a support ring confining an outer race of the roller bearing assembly, the motor comprising the driveshaft, the driveshaft being coupled to a rotor of the motor; a bearing structure comprising an axle bearing and an end bearing assembly; a crankpin attached to the driveshaft integrally or via an interference fit or other frictional and/or positive connection; wherein the driveshaft, the crankpin, and at least one connection part form a crank, the crank being supported by the bearing structure.