Pneumatic system and method for heating compressor oil and/or components of the system
AssigneeVanair Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorRalph Kokot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pneumatic system installed on a vehicle and method of using the system to preheat compressor oil and/or components of the system to promote operation in cold weather conditions. The pneumatic system includes a compressor that generates compressed air in which oil is entrained, a separation tank that separates the oil from the air prior to the oil being returned to the compressor, and a heating element located within the separation tank and contacting the oil within the separation tank. Engine coolant of an engine cooling system of the vehicle flows through the heating element and the heating element transferring heat from the engine coolant to the oil within the separation tank to increase the temperature of the oil.
Claims24
A pneumatic system installed on a vehicle having an engine cooling system containing an engine coolant that cools an engine of the vehicle, the pneumatic system comprising:
- a compressor that generates compressed air in which oil is entrained;
- a separation tank that separates the oil from the air prior to the oil being returned to the compressor;
- and
- a heating element located within the separation tank and contacting the oil within the separation tank, the engine coolant flowing through the heating element and the heating element transferring heat from the engine coolant to the oil within the separation tank to increase the temperature of the oil.
A method of operating a pneumatic system installed on a vehicle to increase a temperature of oil in the pneumatic system, the method comprising:
- operating an engine of the vehicle to warm an engine coolant contained in an engine cooling system of the vehicle;
- delivering a portion of the engine coolant to a heating element located within a separation tank of the pneumatic system that separates oil from air prior to the oil being returned to a compressor of the pneumatic system;
- using the heating element to transfer heat from the engine coolant to the oil within the separation tank to increase the temperature of the oil in the separation tank prior to starting the compressor;
- and then
- starting the compressor and simultaneously delivering the heated oil from the separation tank to the compressor during start-up of the compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.