Method, apparatus and use of the apparatus for controlling a compressor

Abstract

A method controls a compressor for delivering a pressure medium into a pressure medium system, for example an air suspension system in a motor vehicle. In the method, the delivery of the pressure medium can be switched on and off as a function of a temperature signal by the compressor temperature being measured by a temperature sensor which is arranged on the compressor and the switching on and off of the compressor is controlled by an electronic control unit. The switching-on time duration and/or the switching-off time duration or the switching-off and/or the switching-on temperature are/is determined from the rise of the compressor temperature which is measured at short time intervals.

1 . A method for controlling a compressor for delivering a pressure medium into a pressure medium system, which comprises the steps of:
 measuring a compressor temperature by means of a temperature sensor disposed on the compressor;   switching on and off a delivery of the pressure medium in dependence on a temperature signal;   controlling the switching on and off of the compressor by means of an electronic control unit; and   determining at least one of an ON duration, an OFF duration, a switch-off temperature, and a switch-on temperature of the compressor from a gradient of the compressor temperature, which is measured at short time intervals.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises determining the gradient of the compressor temperature after each one of a switch-on operation and a switch-off operation. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ON duration and the OFF duration determined are shorter and the switch-off and the switch-on temperature are lower, a steeper the gradient of the compressor temperature curve measured. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises determining the gradient of the compressor temperature curve by measuring the compressor temperature at a frequency of 2 Hz. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises, in determining at least one of the ON duration, the OFF duration, the switch-off temperature and the switch-on temperature, taking into account the compressor temperature measured at a time when the compressor is one of switched on and switched off in such a way as to bring about at least one of an additional shortening of the ON duration, an additional shortening of the OFF duration, a reduction in the switch-off temperature, and a reduction in the switch-on temperature, a lower the compressor temperature measured at a time when the compressor is one of switched on and switched off. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises measuring the compressor temperature by means of the temperature sensor disposed on a cylinder head of a compressor component of the compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises, for determining at least one of the ON duration, the OFF duration, the switch-off temperature and the switch-on temperature, taking into account an ambient temperature in such a way as to bring about at least one of a shortening of the ON duration, a shortening of the OFF duration, a reduction in the switch-off temperature and a reduction in the switch-on temperature when the ambient temperature is low and vice versa. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises, in combination with an air suspension system in a motor vehicle, determining at least one of the ON duration, the OFF duration, the switch-off temperature, and the switch-on temperature, by taking into account a speed of travel in such a way as to bring about at least one of a lengthening of the ON duration, a shortening of the OFF duration, an increase in the switch-off temperature and an increase in the switch-on temperature when the speed of travel is high and vice versa. 
     
     
         9 . A pressure medium system, comprising:
 a compressor;   a temperature sensor disposed on said compressor; and   an electronic control unit controlling at least one of an ON duration, an OFF duration, a switch-off temperature and a switch-on temperature of said compressor, said electronic control unit programmed to:
 measure a compressor temperature by means of said temperature sensor disposed on said compressor; 
 switch on and off a delivery of a pressure medium in dependence on a temperature signal; 
 control the switching on and off of said compressor by means of said electronic control unit; and 
 determine at least one of the ON duration, the OFF duration, the switch-off temperature, and the switch-on temperature of said compressor from a gradient of the compressor temperature, which is measured at short time intervals. 
   
     
     
         10 . A method of using an electronic control unit for a pressure medium system having a compressor for controlling at least one of an ON duration, an OFF duration, a switch-off temperature, and a switch-on temperature of the compressor, which comprises steps of:
 measuring a compressor temperature by means of a temperature sensor disposed on the compressor;   switching on and off a delivery of a pressure medium in dependence on a temperature signal;   controlling the switching on and off of the compressor by means of an electronic control unit; and   determining at least one of the ON duration, the OFF duration, the switch-off temperature, and the switch-on temperature of the compressor from a gradient of the compressor temperature, which is measured at short time intervals.