Abstract: The present invention relates to an automotive vacuum pump 10. The vacuum pump 10 has a casing 12 defining a cavity having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16, wherein the cavity contains a rotor 18 and a vane slidably mounted to the rotor 18. The rotor 18 extends through a side 21 of the casing 12 to the exterior thereof and is provided with a coupling arrangement 26 to couple the rotor 18 to a drive member. The vacuum pump 10 is provided with a lubrication conduit 50, 56, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74 for the supply of lubricating fluid to the coupling arrangement 26, the conduit 50, 56, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74 including a portion 70, 72, 74 which extends through the rotor 18 and the coupling arrangement 26.

Abstract: A vehicle air braking system having a source of fluid under pressure (1), an air dryer (A) downstream of the source (1), and an air consumer circuit (2) downstream of the air dryer (A), the system being operable to suspend the source (1) on demand to permit backflow of air under pressure from the air consumer circuit (2) through the air dryer (A) to a drain valve (B), the system including a regeneration valve (D), and a command valve (C) having an inlet connected to the air consumer circuit (2), and a supply outlet operably connected to the drain valve (B), wherein the regeneration valve (D) is operable to permit regeneration backflow in response to connection of the inlet and supply outlets of the command valve (C).

Abstract: The present invention provides a combined gas and liquid pump (46) for an internal combustion engine (10). The pump (46) includes a casing (58) having a cavity (60) containing a rotor (62) and a vane (64) slidably mounted to the rotor (62), wherein the cavity (60) is provided with an inlet (50) connectable to a gas source, a further inlet (48) connectable to a liquid source which is separate to the gas source, and an outlet (56). The rotor (62) and vane (64) are movable to draw liquid and gas into the cavity (60) through the respective inlets (50,48) and to move said liquid and gas out of the cavity (60) through the outlet (56). The inlets (50,48) are arranged through the casing (58) such that fluid is drawn first through one of the inlets and then through the other of the inlets before being discharged through the outlet (56).

Abstract: A vacuum pump (10) suitable for mounting at a lower region of an engine such as in the oil sump of an engine. The vacuum pump (10) includes a casing (12) having a cavity (14) containing a movable member (18), wherein the cavity (14) is provided with an inlet (32) and an outlet (34) and the movable member (18) is movable to draw fluid into the cavity (14) through the inlet (32) and out of the cavity (14) through the outlet (34) so as to induce a reduction in pressure at the inlet. The vacuum pump (10) is further provided with an oil feed conduit (84) to supply oil to the cavity (14), the oil feed conduit (84) being provided with a valve (86) to prevent the flow of oil to the cavity (14) during periods when the pump is not operating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle air supply system adaptable to occasionally supply large volumes of air at relatively low pressure for purposes such as tire inflation. The system has a compressor, an air dryer, a reservoir adapted to receive air from the compressor via the air dryer, and a controller operable to cause a standard regeneration of the air dryer when a predetermined system condition is met. The controller is also operable to cause an intermediate regeneration of the air dryer in advance of the predetermined system condition being met. The controller is further operable to inhibit the intermediate regeneration. The controller is operable so as to prevent saturation of an air dryer desiccant in circumstances where the compressor is on load for an extended period of time and likely to be pumping a large volume.

Abstract: A vehicle air braking system having a source of fluid under pressure (1), an air dryer (A) downstream of the source (1), and an air consumer circuit (2) downstream of the air dryer (A), the system being operable to suspend the source (1) on demand to permit backflow of air under pressure from the air consumer circuit (2) through the air dryer (A) to a drain valve (B), the system including a regeneration valve (D), and a command valve (C) having an inlet connected to the air consumer circuit (2), and a supply outlet operably connected to the drain valve (B), wherein the regeneration valve (D) is operable to permit regeneration backflow in response to connection of the inlet and supply outlets of the command valve (C).

Abstract: The present invention provides desiccant cartridge (10) for a vehicle air dryer, the cartridge (10) having a casing comprising a base (12) and a cover (14), the cartridge (10) further having a charge inlet (24) arranged to receive air from a compressor and a charge outlet (22) in fluid communication with the charge inlet (24), the casing containing a coalescing apparatus (20) and a desiccant (18) arranged between the charge inlet (24) and the charge outlet (22) such that air entering the casing via the charge inlet (24) passes sequentially through the coalescing apparatus (20) and desiccant (18) before reaching the charge outlet (22), wherein the cartridge (10) is further provided with a purge outlet (26) disposed in the casing between the coalescing apparatus (20) and desiccant (18), and the charge inlet (24), charge outlet (22) and purge outlet (26) are provided in the base (12) of the cartridge (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air dryer (10) for a vehicle air system. The air dryer (10) includes a body (12) and a desiccant canister (14), the body (12) having an inlet (16) to receive air from an air source, an outlet (18) to supply air to a vehicle air system, a purge outlet and a regeneration inlet (24) to receive regenerative airflow from the vehicle air system. The body (12) is further provided with a chamber (28) containing a coalescer (38)positioned between the inlet (16) and the desiccant canister (14), and a bypass valve (34) positioned between the chamber (28) and the purge outlet. The coalescer (38) and bypass valve (34) are arranged such that during normal operation air entering through the inlet (16) passes through the coalescer (38) before reaching the desiccant canister (14) and during regeneration of the desiccant a portion of the regeneration flow passes through the coalescer (38) and the remainder of the regeneration flow bypasses the coalescer (38) through the bypass valve (34).

Abstract: An air dryer for an air braking system of a vehicle, the air dryer comprising a mounting (20), and a removable desiccant canister (10) screw-threaded to said mounting (20) about a spin axis (25) and having a peripheral sealing ring (13,14), wherein the mounting includes an upstanding protrusion (28) radially spaced from said axis (25) and adapted to engage an annular recess (17) of said canister (10) within said ring, said protrusion (28) being hollow, and the interior of said protrusion (28) being connected to a vent for air under pressure in the system.

Abstract: An air dryer for an air braking system of a vehicle, the air dryer comprising a mounting (20), and a removal e desiccant canister (10) screw-threaded to said mounting (20) about a spin axis (25) and having a peripheral sealing ring (13,14), wherein the mounting includes an upstanding protrusion (28) radially spaced from said axis (25) and adapted to engage an annular recess (17) of said canister (10) within said ring, said protrusion (28) being hollow, and the interior of said protrusion (28) being connected to a vent for air under pressure in the system.

Abstract: An electronic control system for the compressor of a vehicle air braking system, the control system having one or more inputs indicative of a vehicle operating state, and an output for determining whether a compressor is on-load or off-load, the system further including target means to calculate in real time a target pressure for a reservoir downstream of said compressor, said output being responsive to said target means. The target pressure may be varied in real time to suit vehicle running conditions and permits a small but significant reduction in vehicle fuel consumption by driving the compressor when the vehicle is likely to be coasting or slowing down.

Abstract: An air dryer desiccant cartridge, the cartridge comprising a base having an inlet and an outlet, and a casing connected to the base to define a cavity therebetween, wherein the cavity contains a filter and a desiccant, the filter being arranged upstream of the desiccant such that during normal operation fluid flow entering the cartridge through the inlet passes through the filter and then on to the desiccant before reaching the outlet, and during purging of the cartridge purge flow entering the outlet passes through the desiccant before reaching the filter, wherein further the cartridge includes a valve operable to permit a portion of the purge flow to bypass the filter.

Abstract: A rotating vane vacuum pump has a secondary inlet (4) which permits additional suction after the primary inlet (3) has closed.

Abstract: A circular seal (19) for the end face of a substantially cylindrical canister, the seal (19) having a substantially rectangular cross-section, and a recess (21) in one side thereof to reduce the area of said cross-section. In use the recessed area (21) of the seal (19) constitutes a weakened portion which will blow out elastically to relieve excess pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle air system has an air dryer which is periodically regenerated by reverse flow of dry air. The regeneration threshold is variable, and determined according to the operating state of the vehicle. The operating state is in turn determined from easily measurable vehicle status parameters, preferably in the form of on/off or in/out signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle air supply system (10) adaptable to occasionally supply large volumes of air at relatively low pressure for purposes such as tyre inflation. The system has a compressor (12), an air dryer (14), a reservoir (18) adapted to receive air from the compressor via the air dryer, and control means (20) operable to cause a standard regeneration of the air dryer when a predetermined system condition is met. The control means is also operable to cause an intermediate regeneration of the air dryer in advance of said predetermined system condition being met, wherein the control means are further operable to inhibit said intermediate regeneration. The control means is operable so as to prevent saturation of an air dryer desiccant in circumstances where the compressor is on load for an extended period of time, and thus likely to be pumping a large volume.

Abstract: A vehicle air supply system having a compressor, an air dryer, a reservoir adapted to receive air from the compressor via the air dryer, and control means operable to cause a standard regeneration of the air dryer when a predetermined system condition is met, the control means being further operable to cause an intermediate regeneration of the air dryer in advance of said predetermined system condition being met.

Abstract: A vent valve for an air braking system of a vehicle comprises an elastomeric valve member (11) held in relation to a vent (17) and having a restricted vent passageway. A continuous depending rib (23) is engageable with a valve seat (28) to close the vent passageway as increasing pressure acts on the head (21) of the valve member (11). The valve member (11) permits a fluid chamber to be connected to exhaust until pressure in the chamber reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: An air braking system of a vehicle has a compressor, non-return valve, manifold, electrically actuable demand valve, an air consumer circuit. An auxiliary circuit connects the manifold to the consumer circuit via an electrically actuable valve and non-return valve. In the event of electrical failure air under pressure can be supplied to the consumer circuit via the auxiliary circuit. In another aspect a plurality of consumer circuits are provided. These circuits may be charged from the compressor via the manifold, or interconnected via the manifold independently of the compressor. This arrangement permits more flexible compressor operation and/or a greater reserve in the event of failure of the pressure source.

Abstract: A drain valve of an air braking system for vehicles has a drainage piston, a main sump and auxiliary sump. Moisture passes from the main sump to the auxiliary sump in response to pressure at a signal port which closes off air supply through ports. A reduction in pressure at the signal port causes the ports to be reconnected and allows moisture to be expelled through the drainage outlet.