Continental Aktiengesellschaft

Continental Teves, Ag and Company Ohg

Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.

Uwe Folchert

Dierk Hein

Michael Zydek

Axel Hinz

Helge Westerkamp

Heike Ilias

Christian Witala

Heinz Job

Christoph Behmenburg

Christoph Voss

Christian Courth

Alexander Stiller

Joachim Bohn

Andreas Rieckmann

Hinz Axel

Werner Grabherr

Dirk Hein

The invention relates to an integrated air-supply unit, in particular for air-suspension systems for motor vehicles, said unit comprising an air compressor having an electric motor and an air dryer. The air compressor together with the electric motor, air dryer and a number of pneumatic connections form a functional unit.

Integrated air-supply unit

A dryer circuit for a pneumatic regulating device of a vehicle, comprising an air dryer, and a first compressor, wherein the first compressor is designed to compress system air present in the pneumatic regulating device, wherein the air dryer, the first compressor and subsystems, which can be connected to the first compressor, of the pneumatic regulating device are arranged in such a way that, in the operating mode of a closed air supply, air delivered between the components of one of the subsystems by the first compressor is delivered so as to bypass the air dryer.

Dryer circuit for a pneumatic regulating device of a vehicle

A method for controlling the regeneration cycles for an air dryer in a closed ride height control system for vehicles. Compressed air chambers and a compressed air storage reservoir are charged with compressed air and ventilated via a compressed air line, or are charged via a compressed air intake line connected to the compressor and ventilated via the compressed air line. Compressed air quantity delivered through the dryer by the compressor, and temperature and/or the humidity of the air sucked in from the atmosphere are measured. The dryer is considered saturated under the assumption that air sucked in by the compressor and delivered through the air dryer is at the highest possible ambient temperature and humidity. Regeneration air quantity required for the compressed air quantity for the dryer to attain the desired dew point is determined as a function of the ambient temperature and/or the humidity of the intake air.

Method for controlling the regeneration cycles for an air dryer in a closed ride control system for vehicles

The damper force in vehicles having a ride level control system is controlled by, when the leveling system is activated, a signal that is generated and transmitted to a damper force control device (). When the level control system is activated, the damper force is adapted, and especially reduced for a rapid control.

Method for controlling the damper force in vehicles having a ride level control system

According to a method for controlling the air volume in a closed pneumatic spring system of a vehicle, an air-powered pump supplies at least two pneumatic springs and/or a compressed air reservoir with a specific air volume as needed such that the air pressure prevailing in the respective pneumatic spring and/or the compressed air reservoir is at a level which causes a vehicle body resting on the pneumatic spring to be positioned at a desired distance from the roadway or the vehicle axle. In order to obtain largely constant control velocities at different load conditions of the vehicle while using a smaller compressed air reservoir than in previously known systems, the pneumatic spring pressure (P) is measured in at least two of the pneumatic springs, the distance (HN, NN, TN) of the vehicle body to the roadway or the vehicle axle is determined, the axle load (AL) of at least one vehicle axle is determined from the pneumatic spring pressure (P) and the distance (HN, NN, TN) of the vehicle body to the roadway or the vehicle axle, a target system air volume (PV_SOLL) is determined in accordance with the respective axle load (AL), and the actual system air volume is adjusted to said target system air volume by actuating the air-powered pump or a relief valve.

Method for load-dependent air quality control in a pneumatic spring system

In order to simplify air flow control in a self-contained air supply system, an average control speed is calculated on the basis of a defined movement of the air springs () and compared with an optimum control speed. The result of the comparison of the control speeds is used to determine the need for or the excess of an amount of compressed air. There are at least three possibilities for calculating the average control speed.

Method for controlling the quantity of air in a self-contained air supply system for a chassis

A reciprocating piston compressor for a gaseous medium is provided having a reduced structural height. The compressor is especially for a level control system in a motor vehicle. The maximum pivot angle of the piston ring longitudinal axis relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder running path is smaller during the upward movement of the piston than for the downward movement of the piston. The longitudinal axis of the cylinder running path is offset relative to the first spatial axis.

Reciprocating piston compressor for a gaseous medium

In addition to the consumers of a closed loop, known air supply systems also can supply an external consumer with fresh pressurized air. These systems are very complex with respect to apparatus and furthermore have the disadvantage that already improved pressurized air can escape from the pressurized air store during the supply of the external consumer. A switchable 3/2-directional valve () is arranged in the first consumer pressure line () of the drive unit () and a switchable 3/2-directional valve () is mounted in the store pressure line () of the drive unit () and a switchable check valve is mounted in the bypass line () of the store pressure line (). This check valve disables the throttle function of the bypass throttle ().

Air supply system for a motor vehicle

In a closed level control system for vehicles, a vehicle body is suspended relative to at least one vehicle axle. The level control system includes pressurized medium chambers, a compressor, an air dryer and a pressurized medium supply vessel which is partitioned into first and second pressurized medium spaces. The two pressurized medium spaces have no direct connection. Either the first pressurized medium space or the second pressurized medium space can be connected to the compressor input or the compressor output via at least one common controllable directional valve so that the pressurized medium from the pressurized medium chambers can be transferred into the first or into the second pressurized medium space or pressurized medium can be transferred from the first or the second pressurized medium space into the pressurized medium chambers.

Closed level control system for a vehicle with the system having two pressure stores

A closed level control system includes an air dryer ( ) which is mounted in a pressurized air line ( ). The compressor output ( ) can be connected to the pressurized air supply vessel ( ) via the pressurized air line ( ). Air from the atmosphere can be transferred via an intake valve ( ) into the pressurized air supply vessel ( ) via the compressor and the air dryer ( ). Furthermore, pressurized air can be discharged into the atmosphere from the pressurized air supply vessel ( ) via the air dryer ( ) and the intake valve ( ). There is a flow in the opposite direction through the air dryer than when filling the pressurized air supply vessel ( ) from the atmosphere. In this way, an excellent regeneration of the air dryer ( ) is ensured.

Closed level control system for a vehicle

The invention relates to a level control arrangement for vehicles having air springs ( ) to ( ) and a pneumatically controllable directional valve ( ). A residual pressure holding function and an overpressure function are integrated into the directional valve ( ). The directional valve ( ) is controlled by the air pressure in the air springs ( ) to ( ). The air pressure can be applied via a control line ( ) to a control input ( ) of the directional valve ( ). The air from the air springs ( ) to ( ) is released with the aid of the venting line ( ). The venting line ( ) is guided separately from the control line ( ) through the directional valve ( ). In this way, a large air flow can be conducted through the venting line ( ) without the static air pressure in the control space ( ) of the directional valve ( ) being reduced. The venting line is blocked by a stepped piston ( ) of the directional valve when no air is to be released from the air springs.

Level control for a vehicle having air springs

The invention relates to a level control arrangement for a vehicle having air springs (8) via which the chassis of the vehicle is suspended relative to at least one vehicle axle. A pneumatically-controllable directional-control valve (18) is arranged between the compressor (4) and the air dryer (6) and the directional-control valve (18) has two control inputs (20 and 22). In the base state of the level control arrangement, the compressor (4) is connected via the pneumatically-controllable directional-control valve (18) to the air dryer (6). When the control line (26) of the first control input (20) is connected via a controllable directional-control valve (30) to the atmosphere, the pneumatically-controllable directional-control valve 18 transfers into the other switching state and the air spring (8) can be vented via the air dryer (6). The pneumatically-controllable directional-control valve (18) permits large flow cross sections to be switched so that the air dryer (6) can be rapidly vented when venting the air spring (8) and a regeneration of the air dryer (6) is then possible in an especially advantageous manner.

Level control arrangement for vehicles having air springs

The invention is directed to a level control arrangement for a vehicle having air springs (8) via which the vehicle is suspended relative to at least one vehicle axle. Directional valve (18) conducts moist air and is configured as a pneumatically controllable valve in order to prevent icing thereof. For controlling or switching, directional valve (18) is charged via the control line (22) with pressurized air generated by the compressor (4). The control line (22) can be connected via a third directional valve (20) to the atmosphere so that, when the compressor (4) is not running, the second directional valve (18) can transfer from a switching state wherein the compressor (4) is connected to the air dryer (6) into an other switching state wherein the air dryer (6) is connected to the atmosphere.

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Lauenau, Germany

Uwe Folchert