JPH11169643A - Air supplying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To omit the assembly of an unloader to a compressor. SOLUTION: This air brake device has the compressor for supplying air to an air tank 2 connected with a brake actuator, a dehumidifier 7 interposed between this air tank 2 and the compressor and a pressure regulator 5 for controlling the internal pressure of the air tank 2 to a set value. A selector 8 which is selected by the pressure regulator 5 is interposed between the compressor and the dehumidifier 7. An oil separator 60 having a discharge port 63 is connected to the selector 8. As a result, since there is no need for assembling the unloader into the compressor, the structure, maintenance and air piping of the compressor may be simplified and the productivity over the entire part of the air brake device may be improved and the production cost may be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air supply device, and more particularly to a technology effective for use in an air brake device of a large vehicle such as a truck or a bus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, air brake devices are widely used in large vehicles such as trucks and buses. Air brake devices used for large vehicles such as trucks and buses include a positive displacement compressor (hereinafter referred to as a compressor) driven by a vehicle engine, a main air tank, a brake valve, a brake actuator, a pressure regulator, and a check valve. When the pressure of the air stored in the main air tank by the compressor reaches the set value of the pressure regulator, the compressor is controlled by the unloader so that the suction port of the compressor remains open. The load of the compressor on the engine is reduced.

[0003] Compressed air (hereinafter referred to as air) as a working fluid used in this air brake device contains water vapor sucked from the atmosphere. This water vapor condenses into water in the air circuit, and causes corrosion, functional failure, and operation failure due to freezing of each component of the air circuit. Therefore, in an air brake device, a dehumidifier is provided in an air circuit to remove moisture in the air of the circuit.

As a conventional dehumidifier of this type, there is a dehumidifier configured so that a particulate adsorbent (drying agent) is housed in a housing and is interposed in an air circuit. If the adsorbent stored in the dehumidifier is still absorbing moisture, the water absorption capacity will decrease, so it is necessary to regenerate the adsorbent by flowing dry air back to the absorbent that absorbed the moisture. become. Therefore, in the dehumidifier, the exhaust port of the dehumidifier is opened by the air signal pressure of the pressure regulator, and the air in the regeneration air tank flows backward into the adsorbent storage chamber.
It is configured to dry the adsorbent.

[0005]

However, in the conventional air brake device, since the unloader is incorporated in the compressor, the structure of the compressor is extremely complicated, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are increased, and maintenance is also required. There is a problem that it becomes troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air supply device that can omit the incorporation of an unloader into a compressor.

[0007]

An air supply device according to the present invention comprises a compressor for supplying air to an air tank to which an air actuator is connected, and a dehumidifier interposed between the air tank and the compressor. And, in the air supply device including a pressure regulator that controls the internal pressure of the air tank to a set value, a switching valve that is switched by the pressure regulator is interposed between the compressor and the dehumidifier, An oil separator having an exhaust port is connected to the switching valve.

According to the above-described means, the switching valve is switched to the oil separator side by the pressure regulator when the air tank exceeds the set value, so that the discharge air of the compressor is discharged to the atmosphere via the oil separator. Therefore, unloading can be performed without incorporating the unloader in the compressor.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an air brake device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the switching operation.

In the present embodiment, the air supply device according to the present invention is configured to be used for an air brake device mounted on a large vehicle such as a truck or a bus. This air brake device includes a positive displacement air compressor (hereinafter, referred to as a compressor) 1 driven by an automobile engine, a main air tank (hereinafter, referred to as a main tank) 2 supplied with air by the compressor 1, and a brake valve 3. A brake actuator 4 serving as an air actuator connected to the main tank 2 via a pressure regulator 5 for controlling the internal pressure of the main tank 2 to a set value; a check valve 6; a dehumidifier 7; .

The dehumidifier 7 includes a substantially cylindrical main body 11 having an open upper surface and a closed lower surface, and a lid 12 detachably attached to an upper surface opening of the main body 11. The hollow housing 10 is formed by fastening the bolts 12 via bolts or the like (not shown). On the housing 10, a regeneration air tank 13 having a closed top surface and having a cylindrical shape is detachably fitted to the lid 12, and is connected to the lid 12. The regeneration air tank 13 is fastened to the main body 11 together with the lid 12. . The housing 10 is a compressor 1
And a control port 15 connected to the pressure regulator 5 and an exhaust port 16 communicating with the atmosphere. Further, the lid 12 of the housing 10 has an outlet 17 communicating with the regeneration air tank 13 via a check valve 18 and a throttle opening 19 communicating directly with the regeneration air tank 13 with a small passage. The regeneration air tank 13 has an outlet 20 that communicates with the main tank 2 via the check valve 6.

An outer diameter of the main body 11 is set inside the housing 10.
A dehumidifying cylinder 21 having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the dehumidifying cylinder 21 is fitted concentrically, and the upper end of the dehumidifying cylinder 21 is fitted to the lid 12. An air passage 22 is formed between the outer periphery of the dehumidifying cylinder 21 and the inner periphery of the housing 10, and a wire mesh 23 is provided in the middle of the air passage 22. An oil filter 24 is arranged concentrically downstream of the air passage 22. On the other hand, a bottom plate 25, a top plate 26, and a plurality of partition plates 27 are horizontally arranged in the dehumidifying cylinder 21 so as to be separated from each other, and the outer peripheral surface of each plate is detachably supported on the inner wall surface of the dehumidifying cylinder 21. ing. The bottom plate 25, the top plate 26, and the plurality of partition plates 27 are provided with a large number of ventilation holes over the entire surface, and a granular adsorbent 28 is provided between each of the partition plates 27, the bottom plate 25, and the top plate 26. Are stored respectively.

A regeneration control valve 3 is provided at a lower portion of the housing 10.
0 is provided with the valve box 31 fixed to the main body 11. The regeneration control valve 30 is configured as a normally closed pneumatic pilot-operated switching valve, and is disposed between the regeneration port 32 and the exhaust port 16 communicating with the interior of the dehumidifying cylinder 21 in the adsorbent chamber. The exhaust port 16 is opened by an air signal pressure to the control port 15.
That is, the control valve 30 for regeneration includes a valve port 33 provided in the middle of the port 32 for regeneration provided in the valve box 31 and the exhaust port 16, and a valve seat formed around the valve port 33. 34, a valve body 35 for opening and closing the valve port 33, a piston 37 interlocking with a valve rod 36 connected to the valve body 35, and a control port which is slidably fitted with the piston 37. 15 includes a valve chamber 38 connected to an upper pressure chamber 38a opposite to the valve element 35, and a valve spring 39 for urging the piston 37 in a direction in which the valve element 35 is seated on the valve seat 34. I have.

The switching valve 8 is configured as a 3-port 2-position pneumatic offset direct type pneumatic pilot operated switching valve, and is interposed between the discharge port of the compressor 1 and the inlet 14 of the dehumidifier 7. . The switching valve 8 includes a main body 41 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the main body 41 is connected to the inlet 1 of the dehumidifier 7.
4 attached. A discharge port of the compressor 1 is connected to a pump port 42 formed at one end of the main body 41, and a load port 43 formed at the other end of the main body 41.
Is connected to an inlet 14. A cylinder chamber 44 is formed at an end of the main body 41 on the side of the pump port 42, and a piston 45 is slidably fitted in the cylinder chamber 44 in the axial direction of the main body 41. A control port 46 is located at a position near the load port 43 with respect to the piston 45 in the main body 41.
Is opened to communicate with the piston 45 of the cylinder chamber 44 to the pressure chamber 44 a on the load port 43 side, and the control port 46 is connected to the output end of the pressure regulator 5 connected to the dehumidifier 7. ing.

A communication chamber 47 is formed at the end of the main body 41 on the load port 43 side so as to communicate with the load port 43, and a valve hole 48 is provided between the communication chamber 47 of the main body 41 and the cylinder chamber 44. Is formed so as to penetrate through the communication chamber 47 and the cylinder chamber 44. A spool 49 is slidably fitted in the valve hole 48 in the axial direction. The end of the spool 49 on the pump port 42 side is connected to the end face of the piston 45 on the load port 43 side so as to move integrally therewith.
Of the load port 43 is inserted into the communication chamber 47. A valve path 50 is opened in the piston 45 and the spool 49 in a state where the valve path 50 is open at the end face of the piston 45.
Through the pump port 42. A valve port 51 is opened at an end of the outer peripheral surface of the spool 49 on the load port 43 side so as to communicate with the valve path 50. The valve port 51 is inserted into the communication chamber 47 by an end of the spool 49 on the load port 43 side. In this state, the valve path 50 and the communication chamber 47 are communicated.

At a predetermined position on the inner peripheral surface of the valve hole 48, a drain port 52 connected to an oil separator 60 described later via a drain passage 53 is opened so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the spool 49. The drain port 52 is configured to be connectable to a valve port 51 opened on the outer peripheral surface of the spool 49. A seal ring 54 is provided at an intermediate position between the drain port 52 and the cylinder chamber 44 in the valve hole 48 so as to seal a clearance between an inner peripheral surface of the valve hole 48 and an outer peripheral surface of the spool 49.

The oil separator 60 is a sealed container 6
1, an inlet 62 and an exhaust port 63 are respectively opened on the upper side wall of the container 61. The drain 62 of the switching valve 8 is connected to the inlet 62, and the exhaust port 63 is open to the atmosphere. A wire mesh layer 64 is provided inside the container 61.
And an oil filter 65 composed of a fiber layer made of a synthetic resin or the like are arranged in order from the top, and the wire mesh layer 64 communicates with the inlet 62. A communication path 66 is formed at the center of the wire mesh layer 64 and the oil filter 65 so as to penetrate in the vertical direction.
3 is connected. An inclined surface portion 67 is formed below the oil filter 65 of the container 61 so as to be narrow, and an oil reservoir 68 is formed at a lower end portion of the inclined surface portion 67. One end of an oil drain passage 69 is connected to the oil reservoir 68, and the other end of the oil drain passage 69 is connected to an oil pan 71 of the engine via a stop valve 70.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the case where the internal pressure of the main tank 2 is less than the set value will be described. When the internal pressure of the main tank 2 is equal to or lower than the set value, the air signal pressure by the pressure regulator 5 is not applied to the control port 46 of the switching valve 8, and therefore, as shown in FIG. The state where the valve port 51 is opened to the communication chamber 47 is maintained. The air sent from the compressor 1 flows into the pump port 42 of the switching valve 8 of the dehumidifier 7,
The air flowing into the pump port 42 is supplied to the valve path 50 and the valve port 51.
Then, it flows into the inlet 14 of the dehumidifier 7 through the communication room 47.

The air that has flowed into the inlet 14 passes through the wire mesh 23 and the oil filter 24 of the air passage 22 formed between the housing body 11 and the dehumidifying cylinder 21 and reaches the inside of the dehumidifying cylinder 21 from the bottom side of the dehumidifying cylinder 21. . When the air passes through the air passage 22, the direction in which the air flows is changed by the wire mesh 23 and gas-liquid separation is performed, so that the oil mist gradually increases. The oil mist is collected by the oil filter 24 on the flow of the air. The air from which the oil mist has been removed by the oil filter 24 passes through the ventilation holes of the bottom plate 25, the top plate 26 and the plurality of partition plates 27, and adsorbent 28
The air passes from the outlet 17 to the regeneration air tank 13 while passing through the group. At this time, the air that has passed through the group of vents is
The moisture of the air introduced into the dehumidifying cylinder 21 is adsorbed and captured by the adsorbent 28 so as to be dehumidified in order to effectively contact the adsorbent 28 therein.

The dry air in the regeneration air tank 13 is stored in the main tank 2 from the outlet 20 through the check valve 6.
When the brake valve 3 is operated, the air in the main tank 2 is sent to the brake actuator 4 as needed to execute the brake operation. Then, the air pressure in the main tank 2 gradually increases.

Next, the operation when the internal pressure of the main tank 2 reaches a set value will be described. When the internal pressure of the main tank 2 exceeds a set value, the pressure regulator 5 operates to apply an air signal pressure to the control port 46 of the switching valve 8 and the control port 15 of the dehumidifier 7. When an air signal pressure is applied to the control port 46 of the switching valve 8, the piston 45 moves to the pump port 42 side, and the valve port 51 of the spool 49
Connect to the drain port 52 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the compressor 1 to the pump port 42
Is flowed into the inlet 62 of the oil separator 60 via the valve path 50, the valve port 51, the drain port 52, and the drain path 53. Therefore, the air from the compressor 1 is not supplied to the dehumidifier 7.

The air that has flowed into the container 61 from the inlet 62 of the oil separator 60 passes through the wire mesh layer 64, the oil filter 65, and the communication path 66, and passes through the exhaust port 6 of the container 61.
3 to the atmosphere. When the internal pressure of the main tank 2 becomes equal to or higher than the set value in this way, the air discharged from the compressor 1 is discharged to the atmosphere.
Is greatly reduced. Therefore, the load on the engine for driving the compressor 1 is reduced.

On the other hand, when the air flowing into the container 61 of the oil separator 60 passes through the container 61, the air mesh layer 6
Since the flow direction is changed by 4, the gas-liquid separation is performed. The oil mist separated from air (gas) and gas-liquid gradually enlarges, and is collected by the oil filter 65 along with the flow of air. When the oil collected by the oil filter 65 further enlarges, it drops on the inclined surface 67 by its own weight and is stored in the oil sump 68. The oil stored in the oil sump 68 is collected in the oil pan 71 by opening the stop valve 70 at the time of regular or irregular maintenance.

That is, the oil discharged from the compressor 1 and discharged to the atmosphere is removed from the oil by the oil separator 60, so that the air discharged to the atmosphere is purified into clean air containing no oil. ing. Therefore, even if the air discharged from the compressor 1 is discharged to the atmosphere, the air is not polluted. Further, oil used for lubricating the compressor 1 can be finally recovered in the oil pan 71, so that loss of oil can be prevented.

On the other hand, since the air signal pressure applied to the control port 15 of the dehumidifier 7 is guided to the valve chamber 38 to lower the piston 37, the valve body 35 of the regeneration control valve 30 causes the valve port 33, that is, the exhaust port. 16 is released. When the exhaust port 16 is opened, the inside of the dehumidifying cylinder 21 of the housing 10 communicates with the atmosphere.
9 gradually flows into the dehumidifying cylinder 21. The inflowing air flows back through each ventilation hole, the adsorbent 28, the oil filter 24, the regeneration port 32, the valve port 33, and the exhaust port 16 and is discharged to the atmosphere. At this time, the air flows into the adsorbent 2
As a result, the adsorbent 28 is effectively dried and regenerated. The air that has dried the adsorbent 28 and is relatively moist is discharged from the exhaust port 16 to the atmosphere.

According to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to incorporate the unloader into the compressor, so that the structure and maintenance of the compressor can be greatly simplified, and the air piping between the compressor and the pressure regulator can be omitted. Can be. As a result, the number of parts of the air brake device can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the entire air brake and, consequently, the entire vehicle can be reduced.

Moreover, when the internal pressure of the main tank reaches the set value, the discharge air of the compressor can be released to the atmosphere, so that unloading can be ensured. Moreover, when discharging the discharge air of the compressor to the atmosphere, the oil in the discharge air can be collected, so that the pollution of the air can be prevented and the loss of oil can be prevented.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the oil separator is not limited to the wire mesh layer and the oil filter, but may be a centrifugal separator or the like, or may be used in combination.

The air in the main tank is not limited to being used for the brake actuator, and may be configured to be used for an air actuator such as an air cylinder, an air motor, and an air spring that assists a clutch, a transmission shift lever, and the like. .

In the above embodiment, the air brake device for a large vehicle such as a truck or a bus has been described. However, the present invention relates to a clutch assist device and an air spring device for a large vehicle, and further, an air brake system and an air spring system for a railway vehicle. And the like can be applied to all air supply devices.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since there is no need to incorporate an unloader into the compressor,
The structure and maintenance of the compressor can be greatly simplified, and the air piping between the compressor and the pressure regulator can be omitted. As a result, the productivity of the entire air supply device can be greatly improved. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the entire air supply device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an air brake device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the switching operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... displacement air compressor, 2 ... main air tank,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Brake valve, 4 ... Brake actuator, 5 ... Pressure regulator, 6 ... Check valve, 7 ... Dehumidifier, 8 ... Switching valve, 10 ... Housing, 11 ... Main body, 12 ... Lid, 13
... Air tank for regeneration, 14 ... Inlet, 15 ... Control port,
16 exhaust port, 17 outlet, 18 check valve, 19 throttle port, 20 outlet, 21 dehumidifying cylinder (adsorbent storage chamber), 22
... air passage, 23 ... wire mesh, 24 ... oil filter, 25
... bottom plate, 26 ... top plate, 27 ... partition plate, 28 ... adsorbent, 3
0: regeneration control valve, 31: valve box, 32: regeneration port,
33 ... valve port, 34 ... valve seat, 35 ... valve body, 36 ... valve stem, 3
7: piston, 38: valve chamber, 38a: upper pressure chamber, 39
... valve spring, 41 ... body, 42 ... pump port, 43 ... load port, 44 ... cylinder chamber, 44a ... pressure chamber, 45 ...
Piston, 46 ... control port, 47 ... communication chamber, 48 ... valve hole, 49 ... spool, 50 ... valve path, 51 ... valve port, 52 ...
Drain port, 53 ... drain path, 54 ... seal ring, 60 ... oil separator, 61 ... container, 62 ... inlet, 63 ... exhaust port, 64 ... wire mesh layer, 65 ... oil filter, 66 ... communication path, 67 ... inclined surface portion 68, an oil reservoir, 69, an oil drain path, 70, a stop valve, 71, an oil pan.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A compressor for supplying air to an air tank connected to an air actuator, a dehumidifier interposed between the air tank and the compressor, and a pressure for controlling an internal pressure of the air tank to a set value. In the air supply device including a regulator, a switching valve that is switched by the pressure regulator is interposed between the compressor and the dehumidifier, and the switching valve includes an oil separator having an exhaust port. An air supply device which is connected. 2. The air supply device according to claim 1, wherein the switching valve is assembled to the dehumidifier. 3. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein an air signal pressure for adsorbent regeneration to the dehumidifier of the pressure regulator is applied.
The air supply device according to claim 1, wherein the air supply device is configured to be able to switch to supply from the dehumidifier to the oil separator.