Compressed-Air Supply Device for a Utility Vehicle and Method for Operating a Compressed-Air Supply Device

A compressed-air supply device for a utility vehicle equipped with a compressor, comprising:

• a compressed air input that is coupleable to the compressor;
• a filter unit coupled to the compressed air input via a delivery line;
• a drain valve coupled to a drain output and the delivery line;
• an energy-saving control output that is coupleable to a control input of the compressor;
• and
• a first valve device and a second valve device, wherein
• the drain valve, the energy-saving control output and regeneration of the filter unit are controllable by the first and second valve devices,
• the energy-saving control output is controllable via the first valve device and the drain valve and the regeneration of the filter unit are controllable via the second valve device,
• the second valve device is supplyable with compressed air by the first valve device,
• the first valve device deaerates the control input of the compressor coupled to the energy-saving control output and blocks a supply path to the second valve device in a first switching state, and in a second switching state aerates the control input of the compressor coupled to the energy-saving control output and opens the supply path to the second valve,
• the compressor is changeable into an energy-saving state by aerating the control input, and
• the first valve device is energized in its first switching state and is de-energized in its second switching state.

A method of operating a compressed-air supply device with a compressed air input coupleable to a compressor, a filter unit coupled to the compressed air input via a delivery line, a drain valve coupled to a drain output and the delivery line, an energy-saving control output that is coupleable to the control input of the compressor, a first valve device and a second valve device, the method comprising the acts of:

• controlling the drain valve, the energy-saving control output and the regeneration of the filter unit by the valve devices, wherein the energy-saving control output is controlled by the first valve device and the drain valve and the regeneration of the filter unit are controlled by the second valve device;
• supplying the second valve device with compressed air by the first valve device, wherein:
• the first valve device deaerates the control input of a compressor coupled to the energy-saving control output and blocks a supply path to the second valve device in a first switching state and in a second switching state aerates the control input of the compressor coupled to the energy-saving control output and opens the supply path to the second valve, and
• the compressor is changeable into an energy-saving state by aerating the control input, wherein the first valve device is energized in its first switching state and is de-energized in its second switching state.