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: 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: 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 there between, 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: 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 cartridge (10) is provided with an inlet connectable to a compressed air source, an outlet connectable to a reservoir and a desiccant (18) provided intermediate the inlet and outlet adapted to remove moisture from air passing through the air dryer cartridge (10), wherein the air dryer cartridge (10) further includes a filter (20) to capture oil droplets present in air received from the source, and wherein further the filter (20) is positioned downstream of the desiccant (18).

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: 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 coalescing means (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.

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 means (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 means (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 means (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: 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 air dryer cartridge (10) is provided with an inlet connectable to a compressed air source, an outlet connectable to a reservoir and a desiccant (18) provided intermediate the inlet and outlet adapted to remove moisture from air passing through the air dryer cartridge (10), wherein the air dryer cartridge (10) further includes a filter (20) to capture oil droplets present in air eceived from the source, and wherein further the filter (20) is positioned downstream of the desiccant (18).

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 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.