Vehicle including compressed air consuming devices and a method of operating the same

Abstract

A vehicle, such as a lorry or a bus, includes compressed air consuming devices and a power driven compressor to deliver compressed air to at least one storage tank. A control device controls the operation of the compressor so as to maintain the air pressure in the tank at a desired pressure level sufficient to operate the air consuming devices, such as a braking system and a suspension system, when needed. The air pressure is usually maintained substantially at a predetermined first elevated level or value. However, based on signals from position identification means, such as a global navigation system or other external or internal position identification sources the control device controls the operation of the compressor so as to change the pressure of the air in the storage tank to a predetermined second elevated level or value substantially different from the first level or value in response to receiving from the position identification means an indication to the effect that the vehicle is approaching or has arrived at one of a plurality of predetermined positions and/or positions fulfilling predetermined criteria.

1 . A method of operating a vehicle system including compressed air consuming devices, the method comprising:
 operating a power driven compressor so as to deliver compressed air to at least one storage tank and so as to maintain the air pressure in the tank substantially at a predetermined first elevated level,   selectively supplying compressed air from the compressed air storage tank to at least one of the devices in order to operate the at least one device,   controlling operation of the compressor by position identification means so as to change the air pressure in the storage tank to a predetermined second elevated level substantially different from the first level in response to receiving from the position identification means an indication that the vehicle is approaching or has arrived at least one position of a plurality of predetermined positions and positions fulfilling predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first elevated level is a minimum value and the second elevated level is a higher value, operation of the compressor being controlled so as to change the air pressure in the storage tank to the second higher value, when the position identification means identifies positions where an increased consumption of compressed air may be foreseen. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressed air consuming devices comprise at least one of braking and air suspension systems. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle system is installed in a vehicle travelling regularly on a fixed route, the predetermined positions being selected based on experience. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined positions are defined by wireless position indicators which may be detected by a position detector installed in the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the position identification means comprises a global navigation system. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least one of steep road slopes, long road slopes, foreseeable traffic volume, and density of habitation. 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle comprising
 at least one compressed air consuming device,   at least one storage tank for compressed air for selectively supplying compressed air to any of the devices so as to operate the same,   a power driven compressor for supplying compressed air to the storage tank,   pressure control means for controlling operation of the compressor so as to maintain the air pressure in the tank substantially at a predetermined first elevated level, and   position identification means for determining the position of the vehicle, and   a control device arranged to communicate with the position identification means so as to change the air pressure in the storage tank to a predetermined second elevated level substantially different from the first level in response to receiving from the position identification means an indication that the vehicle is approaching or has arrived at least one position of a plurality of predetermined positions and positions fulfilling predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         9 . A vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the control device comprises a wireless receiver for communicating with a global navigation system. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the control device comprises a wireless position detector adapted to communicate with wireless position indicators positioned at or adjacent to the predetermined positions. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle according to  claim 8 , further comprising weight determining means communicating with the control device so as to inform about a load of the vehicle, the control means being adapted to take such information in consideration when controlling operation of the compressor. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the compressed air consuming devices comprise at least one of braking and air suspension systems. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle system is installed in a vehicle travelling regularly on a fixed route, the predetermined positions being selected based on experience. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined positions are defined by wireless position indicators which may be detected by a position detector installed in the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the position identification means comprises a global navigation system. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least one of steep road slopes, long road slopes, foreseeable traffic volume, and density of habitation. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the vehicle system is installed in a vehicle travelling regularly on a fixed route, the predetermined positions being selected based on experience. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined positions are defined by wireless position indicators which may be detected by a position detector installed in the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the position identification means comprises a global navigation system. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least one of steep road slopes, long road slopes, foreseeable traffic volume, and density of habitation.