US 11,813,916 B2 · Integrated air supply unit

Abstract

An integrated air supply unit comprises a compressor housing, a pressure control unit (PCU) body, and a desiccant housing extending between the compressor housing and the PCU body. The desiccant housing defines a desiccant cavity holding a desiccant container for removing moisture from air passing therethrough. A piston is slidably disposed within a piston bore of the compressor housing. The PCU body defines a plurality of fluid passages with solenoid valves selectively controlling airflow therethrough. The integrated air supply unit may also comprise: a manifold, a discharge control valve, a compressor supplying pressurized air in a first pressurized air passage, a dryer configured to remove moisture from the pressurized air in the first pressurized air passage and to supply dried pressurized air in a second pressurized air passage, a supply control valve to control airflow between the second pressurized air passage and the manifold, and a piloted exhaust valve.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An integrated air supply unit comprising:

a compressor housing including a piston slidably disposed within a piston bore;
a pressure control unit (PCU) body defining a plurality of fluid passages and a plurality of solenoid valves configured to selectively control airflow through corresponding ones of the plurality of fluid passages;
and
a desiccant housing extending between the compressor housing and the PCU body and defining a desiccant cavity configured to hold a desiccant container for removing moisture from air passing therethrough,
wherein the desiccant housing further defines a guide hole configured to guide a large bolt connecting the compressor housing and the PCU body and across the desiccant housing.

2 more elements

An integrated air supply unit comprising:

a manifold including at least one fluid passage;
a discharge control valve configured to selectively control airflow from the manifold to a supply port for supplying pressurized air to an external device;
a compressor configured to supply pressurized air in a first pressurized air passage;
a dryer configured to remove moisture from the pressurized air in the first pressurized air passage and to supply dried pressurized air in a second pressurized air passage;
a supply control valve configured to configured to selectively control airflow between the second pressurized air passage and the manifold;
a piloted exhaust valve including an inlet passage and a discharge passage and configured to control airflow therebetween, the piloted exhaust valve including an exhaust valve bore having a semi-closed end, a tubular portion extending from the semi-closed end and into the exhaust valve bore, and a stepped piston slidably movable within the exhaust valve bore and dividing the exhaust valve bore between a first chamber and a second chamber, the stepped piston including a control surface defining an end of the first chamber, and a lower surface opposite the control surface, the stepped piston including a piston extension extending into the tubular portion, the piston extension including a sealing face configured to selectively seal against a valve seat to block fluid communication between the inlet passage and the discharge passage;
a first exhaust control valve configured to selectively control flow of pressurized air from the second pressurized air passage to the first chamber of the piloted exhaust valve;
and
a second exhaust control valve configured to selectively control flow of pressurized air between the first chamber and the second chamber of the piloted exhaust valve;
and
wherein the inlet passage of the piloted exhaust valve is in direct fluid communication with the first pressurized air passage.

8 more elements

An integrated air supply unit comprising:

a manifold including at least one fluid passage;
a discharge control valve configured to selectively control airflow from the manifold to a supply port for supplying pressurized air to an external device;
a compressor configured to supply pressurized air in a first pressurized air passage;
a dryer configured to remove moisture from the pressurized air in the first pressurized air passage and to supply dried pressurized air in a second pressurized air passage;
a supply control valve configured to configured to selectively control airflow between the second pressurized air passage and the manifold;
a piloted exhaust valve including an inlet passage and a discharge passage and configured to control airflow therebetween, the piloted exhaust valve including an exhaust valve bore having a semi-closed end, a tubular portion extending from the semi-closed end and into the exhaust valve bore, and a stepped piston slidably movable within the exhaust valve bore and dividing the exhaust valve bore between a first chamber and a second chamber, the stepped piston including a control surface defining an end of the first chamber, and a lower surface opposite the control surface, the stepped piston including a piston extension extending into the tubular portion, the piston extension including a sealing face configured to selectively seal against a valve seat to block fluid communication between the inlet passage and the discharge passage;
an exhaust control valve configured to selectively control flow of air between the first chamber and the second chamber of the piloted exhaust valve;
wherein the first chamber of the piloted exhaust valve is in direct fluid communication with the second pressurized air passage;
wherein the second chamber of the piloted exhaust valve is direct in fluid communication with an exhaust passage open to atmosphere;
and
wherein the inlet passage of the piloted exhaust valve is in direct fluid communication with the first pressurized air passage.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated air supply unit

Life of this patent

Integrated air supply unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19