JPH0112531B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a compressed air drying apparatus, and more particularly to a compressed air drying apparatus that performs a compressed air drying process and a desiccant regeneration process.

This type of compressed air drying equipment is divided into two types: one that takes the dry compressed air used for regenerating the desiccant from an air reservoir (Japanese Patent Publication No. 43-12880), and one that takes in the dry compressed air from a purge chamber (Japanese Patent Publication No. 45-30759). It is broadly classified.

The compressed air drying device according to the present invention does not adopt any of the above methods, but uses exhaust air from an actuator operated by compressed air as the dry compressed air used to regenerate the desiccant. This prevents unnecessary consumption of pressure within the air reservoir or eliminates the need for a special purge chamber.

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. What is shown in the drawing is a compressed air drying device according to the present invention incorporated into a brake pipe of a vehicle. The device of the embodiment is a compressor 1
and the dryer 2, the air reservoir 3, the actuator 4, and the first
It consists of a switching valve 5, a second switching valve 6, a pressure regulator 7, a manually operated switch 8, etc. The dryer 2 has an inlet 10, an outlet 11 and an exhaust port 1 in the housing 9.
2, and a desiccant storage chamber 1 inside the housing 9.
3 and further a purge valve 1 at the exhaust port 12.
4 are installed. The desiccant storage chamber 13 has an oil filter 15 disposed in its lower opening, and a hollow chamber 16 communicating with the inlet 10 is formed in the lower surface of the oil filter. Further, the desiccant storage chamber 13 is provided with a partition wall 17 at the top, and an orifice 18 is bored in the partition wall. Note that the desiccant 19 is stored in the desiccant storage chamber 13.
filled inside. The purge valve 14 has a valve body 20 that is normally urged upward by a spring 21 to close the exhaust port 12 and is opened by the pressure of compressed air acting on the top surface of the valve body 20. , an indicator pressure port 22 into which the compressed air flows.
has been set up. The air reservoir 3 includes a compressed air inlet 23, an outlet 24, and a pressure detection port 25, and a check valve 26 is disposed at the inlet 23. The actuator 4 is actuated by the inflow of compressed air;
It returns to its original state by discharging compressed air, and the embodiment shows a brake actuator. The first switching valve 5 includes a first port 27, a second port 28, and a third port 29. In the non-operating state, the first port 27 and the third port 29 communicate with each other, and in the operating state, the first port 27 and the third port 29 communicate with each other. The second port 28 is arranged to communicate with the second port 28. Example 1
The switching valve 5 is operated by compressed air,
In addition to the above-mentioned ports, a command pressure port 30 is further provided. The second switching valve 6 includes an inlet 31, an outlet 32, and an exhaust port 33. In the non-operating state, the inlet 31 and the exhaust port 33 communicate with each other, and in the operating state, the inlet 31 and the outlet 32 communicate with each other. The second switching valve 6 of the embodiment is operated by compressed air, and is further provided with an indicating pressure port 34 in addition to the ports described above. This second switching valve 6 has almost the same structure as the first switching valve 5 described above, and includes a valve disk 37 having a vent hole 35 in the center and a valve seat 36 on its upper surface. A piston 39 having a valve seat 38 at its lower part that presses down the valve disk and closes the vent hole 35 is arranged in series. The valve disk 37 is urged downward by a spring 40, and the valve seat 36 is brought into contact with a valve seat 41 formed in the housing, thereby closing the inlet 31 and the outlet 32. Piston 39 is spring 4
2, a command pressure chamber 43 communicating with the command pressure port 34 is formed on its upper surface, and a pressure chamber 44 communicating with the inlet 31 is formed in its lower surface. As described above, the second switching valve 6 configured in this manner communicates the inlet 31 and the exhaust port 33 in the non-operating state, and in the operating state, the valve is supplied to the indicated pressure chamber 43 via the indicated pressure port 34. When the piston 39 is pressed down by the pressure of the compressed air, the exhaust hole 35 is closed by the lower valve seat 38, and the valve disc 37 is pressed down, the inlet 31 and the outlet 32 are in communication. do. The pressure regulator 7 detects the pressure of the air reservoir 3, and when the pressure exceeds the upper limit setting pressure of the pressure regulator 7,
The supply of compressed air from the compressor 1 to the dryer 2 is stopped, and the compressed air is sent to the indicated pressure ports 22 and 34 of the purge valve 14 and the second switching valve 6, so that the pressure in the air reservoir 3 reaches the lower limit of the pressure regulator 7. When the pressure falls below the set pressure, the compressed air sent to the indicated pressure ports 22 and 34 of the purge valve 14 and the second switching valve 6 is exhausted, and the supply of compressed air from the compressor 1 to the dryer 2 is started. The manually operated switch 8 operates the first switching valve, and in the embodiment, a brake valve is used. Therefore, when the pedal 45 is operated, the inlet 46 and the outlet 47 of the manually operated switch 8 communicate with each other, and when the pedal 45 is released, the outlet 47 and the exhaust port 48 communicate with each other. In addition, in the figure, 49 is a sub-air reservoir, and 50 is a check valve.

The above elements connect the compressor 1 to the inlet 10 of the dryer 2 via a pipe 51, the outlet of the dryer 2 to the inlet 23 of the air reservoir 3 via a pipe 52, and the outlet 24 of the air reservoir 3. is connected to the second port 28 of the first switching valve 5 via the sub-air reservoir 49 by a pipe 53, and the first port 27 of the first switching valve 5 is connected to the pressure actuator 4 by a pipe 54. connection, and connect the third port 29 of the first switching valve 5 to the second
connected to the inlet 31 of the switching valve 6 by a conduit 55;
The outlet 32 of the second switching valve 6 is connected to the outlet 11 of the dryer 2 via a check valve 50 by a conduit 56. Furthermore, in the embodiment, since compressed air is used in the signal system for operating each valve, the pressure regulator 7 is controlled by the pressure detection port 25 of the air reservoir 3 and the pipe line 57, and by the compressor 1 and the pipe line 58. , are connected to the indicated pressure port 22 of the purge valve 14 in the dryer 2 by a conduit 59, and to the indicated pressure port 34 of the second switching valve 6 by a conduit 60, respectively. Further, the manual operation switch 8 connects its inlet 46 to the sub-air reservoir 49 through a conduit 61, and connects its outlet to the first sub-air reservoir 49.
They are connected to the indicated pressure ports 30 of the switching valves 5 through pipes 62, respectively.

The device of the present invention constructed in this way operates as follows. In the compressed air supply process, compressed air discharged from the compressor 1 reaches the inlet 10 of the dryer 2 via the pipe 51. The compressed air sent to the inlet 10 of the dryer 2 enters the hollow chamber 16 through the passage 63, passes through the oil filter 15, reaches the desiccant storage chamber 13, and then passes through the orifice 18.
It is then sent out from the outlet 11. At this time, oil droplets, water droplets, etc. are removed from the compressed air by the oil filter 15, and moisture is removed by the desiccant 19 in the desiccant storage chamber 13. The compressed air sent out from the outlet 11 of the dryer 2 is transferred to the pipe 5
2 and the check valve 26, the air is supplied to the air reservoir 3, and further to the sub air reservoir 49. When the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the air reservoir 3 exceeds the upper limit setting pressure of the pressure regulator 7, the pressure regulator stops the supply of compressed air from the air compressor 1 to the dryer 2, and
The respective pipe lines 5 to the indicated pressure port 22 of the purge valve 14 and the indicated pressure port 34 of the second switching valve 6 in
Compressed air is supplied via 9 and 60. Therefore, the purge valve 14 opens to open the exhaust port 12, and the second switching valve 6 opens the inlet 31 and outlet 32.
communicate. Note that when the purge valve 14 opens, the compressed air in the desiccant storage chamber 13 is explosively released to the atmosphere from the exhaust port 12, removing water droplets, oil droplets, etc. adhering to the desiccant 19 and oil filter 15 to the atmosphere. to be discharged. Furthermore, when the compressed air in the air reservoir 3 is consumed and becomes less than the lower limit set pressure of the pressure regulator 7, the pressure regulator starts supplying compressed air from the air compressor 1 to the dryer 2, and the indicated pressure of the purge valve 14 The compressed air supplied to the port 22 and the indicated pressure port 34 of the second switching valve 6 is removed. Therefore, the purge valve 14 closes to close the exhaust port 12, and the second switching valve 6 communicates the inlet 31 and the exhaust port 33. In this way, the timing to send compressed air from the compressor 1 and the timing to stop it, the timing to open and close the purge valve 14, and the timing to communicate the inlet 31 and the outlet 32 or the exhaust port 33 of the second switching valve 6 depend on the pressure in the air reservoir 3. dependent. That is, when the pressure of the air reservoir 3 becomes equal to or higher than the upper limit setting pressure of the pressure regulator 7,
Compressed air delivery from compressor 1 is stopped,
The exhaust port 12 of the purge valve 14 is open to the atmosphere, and the inlet 31 and outlet of the second switching valve 6 are communicated,
This state is maintained until the pressure within the air reservoir 3 becomes equal to or less than the lower limit set pressure of the pressure regulator 7. In such a state, when the pedal 45 of the brake valve serving as the manual operation switch 8 is depressed, the compressed air that has reached the inlet 46 from the air reservoir 49 via the conduit 61 flows from the outlet 47 via the conduit 62 to the first
It is supplied to the indication pressure port 30 of the switching valve 5. Therefore, the first port 27 of the first switching valve 5 is the second port 2.
The compressed air communicating with the second port 28 from the air reservoir 49 via the conduit 53 is communicated with the first port 8.
The pressure is supplied from the port through a conduit 54 to a brake actuator as the pressure actuator 4 to perform brake operation. Next, when the pedal 45 of the brake valve serving as the manual operation switch 8 is released, the compressed air that had been supplied to the indicated pressure port 30 of the first switching valve 5 passes through the pipe line 62 and exits from the exhaust port 48 of the brake valve to the atmosphere. The first port 27 of the first switching valve 5 is thereby switched connected to the third port 29 . Therefore, the compressed air that was being supplied to the brake actuator as the pressure actuator 4 passes through the pipe 54, the first port 27, the third port 29, and the pipe 55, and reaches the inlet 31 of the second switching valve. Furthermore, it reaches the outlet 11 of the dryer 2 via the outlet 32, the check valve 50, and the pipe line 56. The compressed air that has reached the outlet 11 of the dryer 2 passes through the orifice 18 and enters the desiccant storage chamber 13, where it removes moisture from the desiccant 19 and passes through the oil filter 15.
and is discharged to the atmosphere from the exhaust port 12. Furthermore, when the pressure of the compressed air in the air reservoir 3 falls below the lower limit setting pressure of the pressure regulator 7, compressed air is supplied from the compressor 1 to the air reservoir 3. The pressure is maintained until the upper limit setting pressure of the machine 7 is reached.
At that time, the purge valve 14 in the dryer 2 is closed, and the inlet 31 of the second switching valve 6 communicates with the exhaust port 33. Therefore, when releasing the brake operation, the compressed air of the brake actuator as the pressure actuator 4 passes through the pipe 54 to the first
It reaches the first port 27 of the switching valve 5, and further reaches the inlet 31 of the second switching valve 6 from the third port 29 via the conduit 55, and is discharged to the atmosphere from the exhaust port 33.

In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described in a state where it is incorporated into the brake line of a vehicle, but the present invention can be applied not only to a vehicle brake system but also as a compressed air drying device in various other industrial devices. Can be adopted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, compressed air is used as the command signal for the pressure regulator 7 and the manual operation switch 8, but it is also possible to replace this with an electric signal. In that case, the purge valve 14, the first switching valve 5 and the second switching valve 6 of the dryer 2
You can use a solenoid valve.

Furthermore, in the compressed air drying apparatus according to the present invention, the pipe lines 61 and 62 in the above embodiment may be removed, and the brake valve used in the manually operated switch 8 may be used as the first switching valve 5. In this case, the outlet 47 is the first port, the inlet 46 is the second port,
The exhaust port 48 becomes the third port, and when the pedal 45 (manual operation switch) is pressed down, the air reservoir 4
9 compressed air is supplied to the inlet 46 (second port) and the outlet 4
7 (first port) to the pressure actuator 4, and when the pedal 45 is released, the compressed air of the pressure actuator 4 passes through the outlet 47 (first port) and the exhaust port 48 (third port) to the second switch. The inlet 31 of the valve 6 is reached. Furthermore, it goes without saying that each element of the embodiments described above may be replaced by other valve assemblies that perform substantially the same function.

As described above, the compressed air drying device according to the present invention uses the compressed air discharged from the pressure actuator without obtaining the compressed air used for regenerating the desiccant from the air reservoir or the purge chamber. There is no need to provide a special purge chamber, so it can be made more compact, and the pressure inside the air reservoir does not drop, resulting in extremely high safety. In addition, in the compressed air drying device of the present invention, the first switching valve is controlled by a manually operated switch, and the compressor, purge valve, and second switching valve are controlled by a pressure regulator. By simply installing a dryer, the compressed air supply process and desiccant regeneration process can be performed quickly and efficiently, and dry compressed air can be supplied to pressure actuators, making it especially suitable for use in vehicles with small installation spaces. is advantageous. Furthermore, particularly in vehicles, desiccant can be automatically regenerated by operating a manually operated switch that is operated during braking, providing excellent operability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing shows a compressed air drying device according to the present invention incorporated into an air brake conduit, and is a conduit diagram showing a main part in a longitudinal section. 1... Compressor, 2... Dryer, 3... Desiccant storage chamber, 4... Pressure actuator (brake actuator), 5... First switching valve, 6... Second switching valve, 7
...Pressure regulator, 8...Manual operation switch (brake valve), 9...Housing, 10...Inlet,
11... Outlet, 12... Exhaust port, 13... Desiccant storage chamber, 14... Purge valve, 18... Orifice, 19... Desiccant, 23... Inlet, 24...
Outlet, 26... Check valve, 27... First port, 2
8...Second port, 29...Third port, 31...
...Inlet, 32...Outlet, 33...Exhaust port, 50...
…non-return valve.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A dryer comprising a compressor for delivering compressed air, a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust port, a desiccant storage chamber formed inside the housing, and a purge valve at the exhaust port that is closed when inactive. an air reservoir having an inlet and an outlet in the housing and a check valve disposed at the inlet; an actuator such as a cylinder operated by compressed air; and a first port, a second port and a second port in the housing. a first switching valve having three ports, communicating the first port and the third port in the non-operating state, and communicating the first port and the second port in the operating state; an inlet in the housing; a second switching valve having an outlet and an exhaust port, communicating the inlet and the exhaust port in an inactive state, and communicating the inlet and the outlet in an operating state, and detecting the pressure of the air reservoir; When the pressure exceeds the upper limit set pressure, the supply of compressed air from the compressor to the air reservoir is stopped, and the purge valve and the second switching valve are operated, and when the pressure in the air reservoir becomes below the lower limit set pressure, the compressor supplies compressed air from the compressor to the air reservoir. It consists of a pressure regulator that starts air supply and returns the purge valve and second switching valve, and a manually operated switch that operates the first switching valve, and connects the compressor to the inlet of the dryer. An outlet of the air reservoir is connected to an inlet of the air reservoir, an outlet of the air reservoir is connected to a second port of the first switching valve, a first port of the first switching valve is connected to the pressure actuator, and a third port of the first switching valve is connected to the pressure actuator. The inlet of the second switching valve is connected to the outlet of the dryer via a check valve whose forward direction is the direction of the dryer, and the purge valve is connected to the outlet of the dryer via a check valve whose forward direction is the direction of the dryer. and dry compressed air that was being supplied to the pressure actuator by communicating the first port and third port of the first switching valve with the manually operated switch while the second switching valve was in operation. the first switching valve, the second
Send it into the dryer through the switching valve and check valve,
A compressed air drying device characterized in that the compressed air is passed through a desiccant storage chamber of the dryer and discharged to the atmosphere from an exhaust port.