Abstract: An electronic compressed air system for vehicles includes a compressed air supply part having a compressor, a compressed air consumer part having load circuits forming an air-suspension circuit, and service-brake circuits having reservoirs. The load circuits are supplied with compressed air via solenoid valves. The pressure in the load circuits is monitored by pressure sensors whose signals are evaluated by an ECU that controls the solenoid valves. The solenoid valve of the air-suspension circuit does not include reservoirs and is closed in the de-energized normal state. The solenoid valves of other load circuits, especially of the service-brake circuits are open in the de-energized normal state. With a pressure demand of the air-suspension circuit, the associated solenoid valve is switched by the ECU to open position to establish communication with the compressed air supply part and/or with the service-brake circuits or with the reservoirs thereof, to refill the air-suspension circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compressed air supply system for a first compressed air consumer circuit (70, 71), particularly for an air spring system for a vehicle. The compressed air supply system comprises a first compressed air line (14) leading to the first compressed air consumer circuit and a distribution line (18) leading to further consumer circuits (25, 30, 42, 43, 44, 45). A priority valve arrangement (16) is disposed between the first compressed air line (14) leading to the compressed air consumer circuit and the distribution line (18) leading to the further consumer circuits (25, 30, 42, 43, 44, 45), wherein the first compressed air line (14) comprises no safety valve. The first compressed air consumer circuit (70, 71) can therefore be filled at a higher priority, and achieve operational readiness quickly. Air spring processes, for example, such as lifting or raising activities, can be performed very quickly with priority.

Abstract: In a compressed air purification apparatus for motor vehicles, compressed air under static pressure in a pressure conduit (3) is firstly freed of impurities such as hydrocarbon compounds and oil products and subsequently dried. To ensure effective freeing of the compressed air of impurities and water vapour and provide a compressed air purification apparatus which can be used with simple means in motor vehicles, the invention provides for the compressed air being brought, before purification, to such a temperature that the gaseous impurities in the compressed air are condensed and the water present in the compressed air is dissolved as vapour.

Abstract: A vehicle compressed air supply system includes a supply part with compressor, an air drying part and a consumer part including consumer circuits with brake circuits supplied with compressed air via a multi-circuit safety valve. The brake circuits, and optionally at least one other consumer circuit, include compressed air tanks. Pressure in the circuits is monitored by sensors and evaluated by an electronic control device. To determine system parameters in terms of tank size and compressor output, when filling circuits, the rate of pressure increase in a circuit is determined as a function of compressor speed, and air-drying regeneration is effected. The period of a pre-defined pressure drop or pre-defined pressure gradient is determined and air volume for completing regeneration is calculated from the magnitude of the pressure drop, regeneration time and throttle diameter. Tank volume is determined therefrom. Compressor output is calculated from tank volume and rate of pressure increase.

Abstract: A piston air compressor having a suction chamber and a connection chamber separated from the suction chamber. An air channel is provided from the connection chamber to the suction chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (3) for a compressed air preparation device (1) of a vehicle (2), wherein the control device (3) outputs output signals for adjusting feed phases and regeneration phases of the compressed air preparation device (1), wherein a compressor (4) feeds compressed air via an air dryer having a desiccant (6a) into a compressed air reservoir (8) in a feed phase, and compressed air is fed out of the compressed air reservoir (8) through the air dryer (6) for drying the desicant (6a) in a regeneration phase. According to the invention, the control device (3) adjusts the regeneration phases depending on a current or future engine load and/or a current or future consumption of compressed air by the vehicle (2). Particularly in coasting phases, excessive drying of the desiccant to a low moisture can occur, in order to save fuel in later travel segments. Route-optimized regeneration of the desiccant as a function of engine load and/or utilization phases is also possible.

Abstract: An improved threaded connection, in which a first part having a female thread is threadably engageable with a second part having a male thread. The first and second parts have different strengths in at least the area of the thread turns, and the thread turns have cross-sectional areas that differs from the cross-sectional areas of gaps between the thread turns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve having at least one inlet chamber (1) and at least one outlet chamber (3) that can be connected to each other or blocked from each other by means of an actuator (5, 12, 13, 14, 15), having a control chamber (6) for controlling the actuator (5, 12, 13, 14, 15), characterized in that the control chamber (6) is divided into a first chamber (9) and a second chamber (8), wherein the first chamber (9) and the second chamber (8) are connected to each other.

Abstract: An electronic compressed-air system includes a compressed-air supply part having a compressor and a consumer part having load circuits. The load circuits are supplied with compressed-air via solenoid valves. At least one load circuit is provided with a pressure reservoir. The pressure in the load circuits is monitored by pressure sensors, whose signals are evaluated by an ECU that controls the solenoid valves. The load circuits include service-brake circuits having a compressed-air reservoir, secondary load circuits and a high-pressure circuit, wherein the solenoid valves of the service-brake circuits and the solenoid valves of the secondary load circuits are open in a de-energized normal state and the solenoid valve of the high-pressure circuit is closed in the de-energized normal state.

Abstract: To detect a defect or failure of a compressed air load circuit in a compressed air system for vehicles, pressure is measured in compressed air load circuits and evaluated in an electronic control unit, which briefly shuts off the compressed air load circuits, measures pressure values and/or determines pressure gradients during the shutoff time and compares the pressure values and/or the determined pressure gradients with a respective threshold value, identifies defective circuits and definitively shuts off circuits detected as defective if the results are below the threshold value.

Abstract: To detect a failure of a compressed air consumer circuit in a compressed air system for vehicles, pressure is continuously measured in compressed air consumer circuits and evaluated in an electronic control unit which compares the pressure values and/or determined negative pressure gradients of the compressed air consumer circuits with a respective threshold value and shuts off an air-consumer circuit if the pressure values and/or negative pressure gradients thereof satisfy a circuit-failure criterion. The circuit-failure criterion is satisfied when the pressure values and/or pressure gradients are below the respective threshold value for a time equal to or longer than the time of a dynamic pressure change or of a dynamic pressure collapse.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for refilling vehicle operational brake circuits after a large consumption of compressed air. The operational brake circuits are compressed air consumer circuits of a consumer part of a vehicle compressed air system. The operational brake circuits also include at least one additional compressed air consumer circuit provided with a compressed air reservoir. The actual pressure values in the operational brake circuits and in the additional compressed air consumer circuit are continuously determined and compared against a lower threshold value. If the values are below the threshold value, the identified operational brake circuits are blocked as defective and communication is established between the additional compressed air consumer circuits and the intact operational brake circuits in order to refill the operational brake circuits from the compressed air reservoirs of the additional compressed air consumer circuits.

Abstract: A parking brake module for a pressure medium-operated brake system of a vehicle having a parking brake function enabled by at least one spring brake cylinder includes a first valve device that increases the amount of pressure medium and has an inlet that can be connected to a pressure medium reservoir, an outlet that can be connected to at least one spring-loaded part of a spring brake cylinder, and a control input connected to a control line. A second valve device encompasses at least one first connection used as a trailer control valve connection and can be connected to a trailer control valve to control a trailer brake. To provide a valve concept for different vehicle configurations, particularly including an anti jackknifing function, pressure prevailing at the first connection can be adjusted regardless of pressure prevailing in the pressure medium reservoir and at the outlet of the first valve device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a parking brake module (10) for a pressure medium-operated brake system of a vehicle having a parking brake function by means of at least one spring brake cylinder (12). Said parking brake module (10) comprises a first valve device (44) which increases the amount of pressure medium and is fitted with an inlet (46) that can be connected to a pressure medium reservoir (24), an outlet (50) that can be connected to at least one spring-loaded part (14) of a spring brake cylinder (12), and a control input (58) that is connected to a control line (60). The parking brake module (10) further comprises a second valve device (76) encompassing at least one first connection (78) which is used as a trailer control valve connection and can be connected to a trailer control valve (22) in order to control a trailer brake.

Abstract: A compressed air supply system for motor vehicles includes a compressor, control electronics, an air dryer having an inlet channel for non-dried compressed air, an outlet channel for the dried compressed air, and a dehumidification device through which the compressed air to be dried can flow, a pressure regulator having an outlet valve for controlling the compressor between an idle phase and a load phase, a multi-circuit safety valve that is connected to the outlet channel of the air dryer via a compressed air line, and over-flow valves for the individual circuits, a regeneration valve and a moisture sensor for detecting the atmospheric moisture in the compressed air flowing in the compressed air line. To reduce the detrimental effects of admixtures and components of the compressed air on the moisture sensor, the moisture sensor is located in a bypass channel of the compressed air line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compressed air supply system for motor vehicles comprising a compressed air supply part consisting of a compressor, an air drying part comprising an air dryer, a filter, a valve and a compressed air consumer part consisting of compressed air consumer circuits provided with operational brake circuits, which are supplied with compressed air via a multi-circuit safety valve. The operational brake circuits and optionally, at least one other compressed air consumer circuit comprises compressed air containers and the pressure in said compressed air consumer circuits is monitored by sensors, the electric signals of which are evaluated by an electronic control device.

Abstract: An improved threaded connection, in which a first part having a female thread is threadably engageable with a second part having a male thread. The first and second parts have different strengths in at least the area of the thread turns, and the thread turns have cross-sectional areas that differ from the cross-sectional areas of gaps between the thread turns.

Abstract: To detect a failure of a compressed air consumer circuit in a compressed air system for vehicles, pressure is continuously measured in compressed air consumer circuits and evaluated in an electronic control unit which compares the pressure values and/or determined negative pressure gradients of the compressed air consumer circuits with a respective threshold value and shuts off an air-consumer circuit if the pressure values and/or negative pressure gradients thereof satisfy a circuit-failure criterion. The circuit-failure criterion is satisfied when the pressure values and/or pressure gradients are below the respective threshold value for a time equal to or longer than the time of a dynamic pressure change or of a dynamic pressure collapse.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for refilling vehicle operational brake circuits after large consumption of compressed air. The operational brake circuits are compressed air consumer circuits of a consumer part of a vehicle compressed air system. The operational brake circuits also includes at least one additional compressed air consumer circuit provided with a compressed air reservoir. The actual pressure values in the operational brake circuits and in the additional compressed air consumer circuits are continuously determined and compared against a lower threshold value. If the values are below the threshold value, the identified operational brake circuits are blocked as defective and communication is established between the additional compressed air consumer circuits and the intact operational brake circuits in order to refill the operational brake circuits from the compressed air reservoirs of the additional compressed air consumer circuits.

Abstract: A pressurized-fluid-consuming system includes secondary pressurized-fluid consumer devices for drawing pressurized fluid from at least one pressurized-fluid storage reservoir which also supplies additional pressurized-fluid-consuming devices. The secondary consumer devices receive a value of state of the at least one pressurized-fluid storage reservoir and draws pressurized fluid therefrom only if the value of state reaches a predetermined minimum value.