# US 2018/0320716 A1 · Compressed air preparation device and method for operating same

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- Number: US 2018/0320716 A1
- Document ID: US20180320716A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/772,948
- Filed: 2016-10-27
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-02
- Assignees: Knorr-Bremse Systeme FüR Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
- Applicants: Knorr-Bremse Systeme FüR Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
- Inventors: Angelika REIDI; Philipp GEHRKE; Christian URRA; Thomas MERKEL
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320716A1

## CPC

- F15B 21/048: Arrangements for compressed air preparation, e.g. comprising air driers, air condensers, filters, lubricators or pressure regulators
- B60T 17/004: {Draining and drying devices}
- F04B 49/065: {and making use of computers}
- F04B 53/06: Venting
- F15B 21/044: Removal or measurement of undissolved gas, e.g. de-aeration, venting or bleeding
- F15B 2211/615: Filtering means
- F15B 2211/851: during starting
- F15B 2211/853: during stopping
- F15B 2211/8855: Compressible fluids, e.g. specific to pneumatics
- F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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
- 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)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a compressed air preparation device for rail vehicles or utility vehicles, comprising a compressed air inlet, to which an air compressor can be connected, a compressed air outlet, which is connected to the compressed air inlet via a compressed air duct, and an air drying device arranged in the compressed air duct. In the event that the air compressor is switched off, the compressed air duct is vented upstream of the air drying device so that, at restart, the air compressor can start against a reduced counterpressure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A compressed air preparation device for rail vehicles or commercial vehicles, the device comprising:
a compressed air inlet, to which an air compressor is connectable;
a compressed air outlet, which is connected via a compressed air line to the compressed air inlet;
an air drying device, which is arranged in the compressed air line; and
a control device configured to vent the compressed air line upstream of the air drying device when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The compressed air preparation device of claim 1, further comprising a venting outlet provided for a regeneration mode of the air drying device and connected via a venting line to the compressed air line upstream of the air drying device,
wherein the control device is configured to vent the compressed air line via the venting outlet when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The compressed air preparation device of claim 2, further comprising an outlet valve device is provided in the venting line,
wherein the control device is configured to actuate the outlet valve device into the open state when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The compressed air preparation device of claim 2 further comprising an inlet valve device provided in the compressed air line upstream of the air drying device,
wherein the control device is configured to actuate the inlet valve device into the open state when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The compressed air preparation device of claim 1 further comprising a prefilter device provided in the compressed air line upstream of the air drying device, wherein the prefilter device is connected via a discharge line to a discharge outlet, and wherein the control device is configured to vent the compressed air line via the discharge outlet when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The compressed air preparation device of claim 5, further comprising a discharge valve device provided in the discharge line of the prefilter device,
wherein the control device is configured to actuate the discharge valve device into the open state when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The compressed air preparation device of claim 1, further comprising a check valve in the compressed air line downstream of the air drying device and/or a check valve in the compressed air line downstream of the prefilter device.

### Claim 8

A compressed air supply device comprising:
a compressed air preparation device including a compressed air inlet, a compressed air outlet, which is connected via a compressed air line to the compressed air inlet, an air drying device arranged in the compressed air line, and a control device configured to vent the compressed air line upstream of the air drying device when the air compressor is switched off; and
an air compressor connectable to the compressed air inlet of the compressed air preparation device.

### Claim 9

A method for operating a compressed air preparation device for rail vehicles or commercial vehicles, the compressed air preparation device having a compressed air inlet, to which an air compressor is connectable, the method comprising:
connecting a compressed air outlet via a compressed air line to the compressed air inlet arranging an air drying device in the compressed air line; and
venting the compressed air line (16) upstream of the air drying device when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising first venting the compressed air line further upstream of the air drying device when the air compressor is switched on again.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the compressed air preparation device has a venting outlet for a regeneration mode of the air drying device, which venting outlet is connected via a venting line to the compressed air line upstream of the air drying device and the compressed air line is vented via the venting outlet when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the compressed air preparation device has an outlet valve device in the venting line and the method further comprises opening the outlet valve device when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the compressed air preparation device has an inlet valve device in the compressed air line (16) upstream of the air drying device and the method further comprises opening the inlet valve device when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the compressed air preparation device has a prefilter device in the compressed air line upstream of the air drying device, wherein the prefilter device is connected via a discharge line to a discharge outlet, and wherein the compressed air line is vented via the discharge outlet when the air compressor is switched off.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 wherein the compressed air preparation device has a discharge valve device in the discharge line of the prefilter device, and wherein the discharge valve device is opened when the air compressor is switched off.