Air dryer
AssigneeGraham-White Manufacturing Company
InventorWilliam F. Ginder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air dryer includes first and second flow paths. Each flow path includes a check valve that prevents fluid flow into the flow path and an exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the flow path. A diverter valve has a first position that provides fluid communication to the first flow path and a second position that provides fluid communication to the second flow path. An interlock operably connected to the diverter valve and the exhaust valves prevents positioning the diverter valve to the first position when the exhaust valve in the first flow path is in the open position and prevents positioning the diverter valve to the second position when the exhaust valve in the second flow path is in the open position.
Claims20
An air dryer, comprising:
- a. a first flow path through the air dryer, wherein the first flow path comprises a first check valve that prevents fluid flow into the first flow path and a first exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the first flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the first flow path;
- b. a second flow path in parallel with the first flow path, wherein the second flow path comprises a second check valve that prevents fluid flow into the second flow path and a second exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the second flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the second flow path;
- c. a first control air valve that provides fluid communication from upstream of the second check valve to the first exhaust valve;
- and
- d. a second control air valve that provides fluid communication from upstream of the first check valve to the second exhaust valve.
An air dryer, comprising:
- a. a first flow path through the air dryer, wherein the first flow path comprises a first check valve that prevents fluid flow into the first flow path and a first exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the first flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the first flow path;
- b. a second flow path in parallel with the first flow path, wherein the second flow path comprises a second check valve that prevents fluid flow into the second flow path and a second exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the second flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the second flow path;
- c. a diverter valve having a first position that provides fluid communication to the first flow path and a second position that provides fluid communication to the second flow path;
- d. a first control air valve that provides fluid communication from upstream of the second check valve to the diverter valve;
- and
- e. a second control air valve that provides fluid communication from upstream of the first check valve to the diverter valve.
An air dryer, comprising:
- a. a first flow path through the air dryer, wherein the first flow path comprises a first check valve that prevents fluid flow into the first flow path and a first exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the first flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the first flow path;
- b. a second flow path in parallel with the first flow path, wherein the second flow path comprises a second check valve that prevents fluid flow into the second flow path and a second exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the second flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the second flow path;
- c. a diverter valve having a first position that provides fluid communication to the first flow path and a second position that provides fluid communication to the second flow path;
- and
- d. an interlock operably connected to the diverter valve and the first and second exhaust valves, wherein the interlock prevents positioning the diverter valve to the first position when the first exhaust valve is in the open position and prevents positioning the diverter valve to the second position when the second exhaust valve is in the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.