Air dryer reservoir module components

Abstract

An air dryer and reservoir assembly for providing compressed air from an air compressor ( 20 ) on a heavy motor vehicle which includes an air dryer ( 14 ) connected to receive compressed air from the air compressor ( 20 ) and a secondary reservoir ( 12 ), including an integral purge volume ( 34 ), for storing compressed air which passes through the air dryer ( 14 ), with the air dryer ( 14 ) and the secondary reservoir ( 12 ) being securely attached to a housing ( 16 ) to form an air dryer reservoir module ( 10 ). A primary reservoir ( 18 ) for storing compressed air from the air dryer ( 14 ) is located remote from the air dryer reservoir module ( 10 ). A pressure equalizing mechanism ( 57 ) is disposed between the primary reservoir ( 18 ) and the secondary reservoir ( 12 ) for keeping pressure in the two reservoirs ( 12,18 ) equal. Components located within the housing ( 16 ) control air flow between the air dryer ( 14 ) and the primary and secondary reservoirs ( 18,12 ) and also monitor the pneumatic brake system circuits fed by the primary and secondary reservoirs ( 18,12 ).

1. A method for pressurizing and depressurizing a compressed air reservoir including a purge chamber in fluid communication with an air dryer, a service chamber in fluid communication with the air dryer, and a baffle defining the purge and service chambers, the method comprising:
 pressurizing the purge chamber with first dried compressed air from the air dryer;  
 pressurizing the service chamber with second dried compressed air from the air dryer without commingling the first dried air and the second dried air; and  
 depressurizing the purge chamber to regenerate the air dryer.  
 
     
     
       2. The method for pressurizing and depressurizing a compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 1 , further including:
 depressurizing the service chamber to operate a compressed air system.  
 
     
     
       3. The method for pressurizing and depressurizing a compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the purge chamber is pressurized before the service chamber. 
     
     
       4. The method for pressurizing and depressurizing a compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the service chamber includes:
 controlling a valve between the service chamber and the air dryer.  
 
     
     
       5. The method for pressurizing and depressurizing a compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein depressurizing the purge chamber includes:
 transmitting the first dried compressed air from the purge chamber to the air dryer without commingling the first dried air and the second dried air.  
 
     
     
       6. A compressed air reservoir, comprising:
 a purge chamber;  
 a service chamber;  
 a baffle defining the purge and service chambers;  
 a first passageway for transmitting first dried compressed air between a dryer and the purge chamber; and  
 a second passageway for transmitting second dried compressed air between the dryer and the service chamber, the second dried compressed air being transmitted between the dryer and the service chamber without passing through the first passageway.  
 
     
     
       7. The compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 6 , further including:
 a valve, which controls passage of the second dried compressed air between the dryer and the service chamber via the second passageway.  
 
     
     
       8. The compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the valve is a protection valve. 
     
     
       9. The compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the first dried compressed air in the purge chamber is transmitted to the dryer via the first passageway for regenerating a desiccant in the dryer. 
     
     
       10. The compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein circuit components cause the first dried compressed air to pass from the dryer to the purge chamber before the second dried compressed air passes from the dryer to the service chamber. 
     
     
       11. The compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the second passageway is a tube between the dryer and the service chamber. 
     
     
       12. The compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the tube passes through the purge chamber. 
     
     
       13. The compressed air reservoir as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein a volume of the purge chamber is smaller than a volume of the service chamber. 
     
     
       14. A compressed air reservoir, comprising:
 a purge chamber;  
 a service chamber;  
 a baffle defining the purge and service chambers;  
 a first passageway for transmitting first dried compressed air between an air dryer and the purge chamber; and  
 a second passageway for transmitting second dried compressed air between the dryer and the service chamber, the second dried compressed air being transmitted between the dryer and the service chamber without passing through the purge chamber.  
 
     
     
       15. An air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a first section;  
 a second  purge section;  
 a divider between the first and second  purge sections;  
 a first connection connecting the first section to a source of compressed air; and  
 a second connection connecting the second  purge section to the source of compressed air, the first connection not connecting the first section to the second  purge section and the second connection not connecting the second  purge section to the first section.  
 
     
     
       16. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the divider creates an air-tight seal between the first and second  purge sections. 
     
     
       17. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein a volume of the second  first section is larger than a volume of the first  purge section. 
     
     
       18. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , further including:
 a valve for controlling communication between the second  first section and the source of compressed air.  
 
     
     
       19. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the second  first connection is routed through the first  purge section. 
     
     
       20. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the second  first connection is a tube. 
     
     
       21. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second connections connect the first and second  purge sections, respectively, to the source of compressed air via an air dryer. 
     
     
       22. An air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system, comprising:
 a compressor for supplying compressed air;  
 an air dryer connected to receive compressed air from the air compressor, the dryer including a desiccant bed through which the compressed air flows for providing a dry compressed air source for operating the brake system; and  
 a reservoir, including: 
 a first section;  
 a second  purge section;  
 a baffle defining the first and second  purge sections;  
 a first passageway connecting the first section to the source of the dry compressed air; and  
 a second passageway connecting the second  purge section to the source of the dry compressed air, the dry compressed air being transmitted between the source and the second  purge section without passing through the first section.  
 
 
     
     
       23. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 22 , further including:
 a housing having a first section connected to the dryer and a second section connected to the reservoir for joining the dryer and the reservoir as a unitary unit.  
 
     
     
       24. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein:
 a first portion of the dry compressed air is transmitted between the dryer and the first section via the first passageway; and  
 a second  purge portion of the dry compressed air is transmitted between the dryer and the second  purge section via the second passageway.  
 
     
     
       25. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein:
 the first portion of the dry compressed air is not transmitted to the second  purge section; and  
 the second  purge portion of the dry compressed air is not transmitted to the first section.  
 
     
     
       26. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the first portion of the dry compressed air is transmitted from the first section to the dryer for regenerating the desiccant bed. 
     
     
       27. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the second  first portion of the dry compressed air is transmitted to the brake system. 
     
     
       28. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein circuit components cause the first  purge portion of the dry compressed air to be transmitted from the dryer to the first  purge section via the first  second passageway before the second  first portion of the dry compressed air is transmitted from the dryer to the second  first section via the second  first passageway. 
     
     
       29. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein a volume of the first  purge section is smaller than a volume of the second  first section. 
     
     
       30. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 24 , further including:
 a valve for controlling the transmission of the second  first portion of the dried compressed air between the dryer and the service chamber  first section.  
 
     
     
       31. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the valve is positioned within the second passageway. 
     
     
       32. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 22 , further including a second reservoir connected to the source of the dry compressed air. 
     
     
       33. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the air dryer is remote from the reservoir. 
     
     
       34. A reservoir used in combination with an air dryer in a compressed air system, the reservoir comprising:
 a first chamber for storing first compressed dried air used for regenerating a desiccant within the dryer;  
 a second chamber for storing second compressed dried air for use in a pneumatic system;  
 a baffle between the first and second chambers;  
 a first passageway for transmitting the first compressed dried air between the dryer and the first chamber, the first compressed dried air not being transmitted to the second chamber; and  
 a second passageway for transmitting the second compressed dried air between the dryer and the second chamber, the second compressed dried air not being transmitted to the first chamber.  
 
     
     
       35. The reservoir used in combination with an air dryer in a compressed air system as set forth in  claim 34 , further including:
 a valve for controlling the transmission of the second compressed air between the dryer and the second chamber.  
 
     
     
       36. The reservoir used in combination with an air dryer in a compressed air system as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the valve causes the first compressed dried air to be stored in the first chamber before the second compressed dried air is stored in the second chamber. 
     
     
       37. The reservoir used in combination with an air dryer in a compressed air system as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein the second passageway is a tube passing through the baffle. 
     
     
       38. The reservoir used in combination with an air dryer in a compressed air system as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the tube passes through the first chamber. 
     
     
       39. An air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a first section in independent fluid communication with a source of compressed air;  
 a second  purge section in independent fluid communication with the source of compressed air; and  
 a divider between the first and second  purge sections.  
 
     
     
       40. The air reservoir as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein the first section is not in independent fluid communication with the second  purge section. 
     
     
       41. An air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a first section;  
 a second  purge section;  
 a divider between the first and second  purge sections;  
 a first passageway independently fluidly connecting the first section to a source of compressed air; and  
 a second passageway independently fluidly connecting the second  purge section to the source of compressed air, the first passageway not independently fluidly connecting the first section to the second  purge section and the second passageway not independently fluidly connecting the second  purge section to the first section.  
 
     
     
       42. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 41 , further including:
 a valve for controlling the fluid communication between the second  first section and the source of compressed air via the second  first passageway.  
 
     
     
       43. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 41 , wherein the second  first passageway is  passes through the first  purge section. 
     
     
       44. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 43 , wherein the second  first passageway is a tube. 
     
     
       45. An air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system, comprising:
 a compressor for supplying compressed air;  
 an air dryer connected to receive compressed air from the air compressor, the dryer including a desiccant bed through which the compressed air flows for providing a dry compressed air source for operating the brake system; and  
 a reservoir, including: 
 a first section;  
 a second section;  
 a baffle defining the first and second sections;  
 a first passageway connecting the first section to the source of the dry compressed air; and  
 a second passageway connecting the second section to the source of the dry compressed air, the dry compressed air being transmitted between the source and the second section without passing through the first section during a first operating mode.  
 
 
     
     
       46. The air supply system as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein, during the first operating mode, a first portion of the compressed air is stored in the first section before a second portion of the compressed air is stored in the second section. 
     
     
       47. The air supply system as set forth in  claim 46 , wherein the second portion of the dry compressed air is transmitted from the first section to the second section during a second operating mode. 
     
     
       48. The air supply system as set forth in  claim 47 , wherein the first portion of the dry compressed air is transmitted from the first section to the dryer for regenerating the desiccant bed during the first operating mode. 
     
     
       49. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the first section is a service section. 
     
     
       50. The air supply system for a motor vehicle brake system as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the first section is a service section. 
     
     
       51. The air reservoir as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein the first section is a service section. 
     
     
       52. The air reservoir for use on a motor vehicle as set forth in  claim 41 , wherein the first section is a service section. 
     
     
       53. The air supply system as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein the first section is a service section.