Method and system for compressed air supply

A method for a vehicle, the method comprising:

• in response to a request for compressed air received via a human-machine interface of the vehicle,
• adjusting an operation of an engine of the vehicle and/or an operation of a transmission system of the vehicle, wherein the transmission system is configured to supply transmission fluid to both lubricate hydraulically actuated components of a transmission of the transmission system and drive an air compression system, wherein the operation of the engine and/or the operation of the transmission system is adjusted by:
• increasing an idling speed of the engine of the vehicle from a first idling speed to a second idling speed,
• monitoring a temperature and pressure of the transmission fluid via respective temperature and pressure sensors coupled to a transmission fluid circuit of the transmission system,
• adjusting an operation of a transmission pump of the transmission system in response to the temperature of the transmission fluid increasing above a threshold temperature or the pressure of the transmission fluid increasing above a first threshold pressure by one or more of:
• reducing a speed of operation of the transmission pump and suspending cycling of a control valve coupling the transmission pump to a first cylinder of the air compression system, and
• circulating the transmission fluid through a heat exchanger disposed in the transmission fluid circuit in response to the temperature of the transmission fluid exceeding the threshold temperature;
• circulating the transmission fluid through the first cylinder of the air compression system by cycling a position of the control valve between a first position and a second position, wherein the control valve is held at the first position for a threshold duration before it is actuated to the second position, and wherein the control valve is held at the second position for the threshold duration before it is actuated to the first position, wherein the threshold duration is 1-10 seconds;
• compressing ambient air in a second cylinder coupled to the first cylinder via a piston within the second cylinder;
• and
• storing the compressed air in an air tank fluidically coupled directly to each of a first chamber and a second chamber of the second cylinder, the first chamber separated from the second chamber by the piston, wherein supplying transmission fluid from the transmission pump to drive the air compression system takes place when the vehicle is stationary with the transmission in park.

A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a transmission pump coupled to a transmission fluid outlet port and a return port, wherein the transmission pump is configured to supply transmission fluid to both lubricate hydraulically actuated components of a transmission and drive an air compression system, wherein the transmission pump is driven by an engine of the vehicle;
• a heat exchanger disposed in a transmission fluid circuit, the heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the transmission fluid to one or more of ambient air or engine coolant;
• a control valve coupling each of the transmission fluid outlet port and the return port to a first cylinder of the air compression system;
• a first piston housed within the first cylinder, wherein only transmission fluid may enter the first cylinder;
• a second cylinder including a second piston coupled to the first piston via a shaft, wherein a first side of the second cylinder is coupled to a first air inlet external to the second cylinder and a second side of the second cylinder is coupled to a second air inlet external to the second cylinder, wherein only air may enter the second cylinder, and wherein during oscillation of the second piston within the second cylinder, ambient air is drawn in alternately via the first air inlet to a first side of the second cylinder and via the second air inlet to a second side of the second cylinder, the first side of the second cylinder separated from the second side of the second cylinder by the second piston;
• a pressure sensor coupled to the transmission fluid circuit, wherein the pressure sensor measures the pressure of the transmission fluid in the transmission fluid circuit,
• a temperature sensor coupled to the transmission fluid circuit, wherein the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the transmission fluid in the transmission fluid circuit,
• an air tank configured to receive and store compressed air from each of the first side and the second side of the second cylinde;
• and
• a pressure regulator fluidically coupled between the air tank and an external tool, the external tool coupled to the air tank via the pressure regulator and a tool trigger valve, the external tool operable using compressed air from the air tank, wherein the transmission pump is configured to supply the transmission fluid to drive the air compression system when the vehicle is stationary with the transmission in park.