US 5,678,900 AGranted

Unloader for a source of air under pressure on vehicles

AssigneeGrau GmbH

InventorRoland Blanz

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Abstract

A compressed air unloader for unloading compressed air used in the compressed air braking and suspension circuits of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The unloader includes a housing with an internal air chamber, an air inlet for passing compressed air into the air chamber, a compressed air outlet, and a controlled outlet valve in the compressed air outlet for venting compressed air in the air chamber to the atmosphere when the valve is opened. An electronic control unit opens and closes the outlet valve. The air chamber also has an air chamber check valve and a pressure sensor downstream of the check valve. An integral multi-circuit control valve assembly is formed within the housing, the control valve assembly including a plurality of generally identical control and monitor units positioned downstream of the air chamber check valve and the pressure sensor, each of the control and monitor units comprising a control and monitor unit check valve opening against the direction of the air flow therethrough, an overflow valve for passing compressed air from the control and monitor unit, an actuator for operating the overflow valve, and an air pressure sensor positioned downstream of the control and monitor unit check valve.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A compressed air unloader for unloading compressed air used in the compressed air braking and suspension circuits of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including an air compressor for producing the compressed air, the unloader including a housing with an internal air chamber, an air inlet defined within the housing for passing compressed air from the air compressor into the air chamber, a compressed air outlet defined within the housing for passing compressed air from the air chamber, the compressed air outlet including an outlet valve constructed and arranged to vent the compressed air in the air chamber to the atmosphere when the valve is opened, the unloader also including a control unit for opening and closing the outlet valve, the air chamber also having an opening defined therein for passing compressed air from the air chamber for use in the compressed air braking and suspension circuits of the motor vehicle and an air chamber check valve oriented in the direction of the compressed air flow positioned within the opening, and a pressure sensor positioned within the housing downstream of the air chamber check valve;

said unloader comprising:
a multi-circuit control valve assembly formed within-as a part of the housing, said control valve assembly being constructed and arranged to control the braking and suspension circuits of the motor vehicle, respectively;
said control valve assembly including a plurality of generally identical control and monitor units positioned downstream of the air chamber check valve and the pressure sensor, each of said units being separately furnished with compressed air from the air chamber;
each of said control and monitor units comprising a control and monitor unit check valve opening against the direction of the compressed air flow, an overflow valve for passing compressed air from said control and monitor unit, actuation means for operating said overflow valve, and an air pressure sensor positioned downstream of said control and monitor unit check valve.

1 more element

a housing, said housing including an internal air chamber defined therein;
a compressed air inlet defined within said housing and a compressed air outlet also defined within said housing, both of said inlet and said outlet extending from outside of said housing into said air chamber and being in sealed communication with said air chamber;
said outlet including a controlled outlet valve, said outlet valve being constructed and arranged to vent said air chamber to the atmosphere in an open position;
a control unit for opening and closing said outlet valve;
said air chamber having an opening defined therein for passing compressed air toward a multi-circuit control valve assembly formed as a part of said housing and a check valve positioned within said opening, said multi-circuit control valve being constructed and arranged to control the braking and suspension circuits of the motor vehicle;
a pressure sensor positioned within said housing intermediate said check valve and said control valve assembly;
said control valve assembly including a plurality of generally identical control and monitor units positioned downstream of said check valve, each of said units being separately furnished with compressed air from said air chamber;
each said control and monitor unit comprising:
a) a control and monitor unit check valve opening against the air flow direction within said control and monitor unit;
b) an overflow valve for passing compressed air from said control and monitor unit;
c) actuating means for operating said overflow valve;
and
d) an air pressure sensor positioned downstream of said control and monitor unit check valve.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.