DE102021110236A1 - Air compressor system with control - Google Patents

Abstract

Proposed is an air compressor system for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one compressor for supplying a pressurized fluid to a network of consumers of such pressurized fluid, an electric drive motor with variable speed control, which is coupled to the compressor, and an electrical or electronic controller configured for this purpose is to control the speed (n) and/or the pressure (p) of the compressor in each case as a function of a set desired pressure and/or a set desired flow rate of the pressurized fluid required by the network.According to the invention it is proposed that the controller has a processing device for determining a speed (n) and/or the pressure (p) indicative signal and a first communication device for wireless transmission of the signal.

Description

The invention relates to an air compressor system with controls for a vehicle, such as is used in trucks and buses.

Such an air compressor system is known in various designs, with the air compressor being controlled by means of an electronic control unit, by means of which the compressed air supply of the motor vehicle is regulated. It is particularly important that the pressure in the network with the consumers has a definable pressure value so that a sufficient volume of air is provided. If this is not the case, the compressed air supply to the brake system could be undersupplied, for example.

In trucks with an electric drive, provision is made for the ancillary units, such as the air compressor, to be driven by an electric motor. Such an air compressor can then preferably be controlled via the controller in such a way that a predetermined air pressure is always available in the compressed air tank or network and that a sufficient air delivery quantity is always replenished when air consumption takes place.

From the EP 3 440 356 A1 For example, an electrically driven compressor is known which has a controller with an algorithm. A current measurement is carried out and the maximum pressure is limited as soon as a set maximum current is exceeded. By limiting the flow, the speed of the compressor is limited so that the desired pressure and flow rate are set.

Known controls have the problem that there is no way of exploiting the technical limitations of a compressor system, in particular the air compressor, and of adapting the compressor system to special conditions that lie outside of an intended planned application.

The object of the invention is to propose an improved control option in order to adapt the control flexibly to different areas of use.

The object is achieved according to the invention by an air compressor system according to independent claim 1 . Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention can be found in the dependent claims.

Proposed is an air compressor system for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one compressor for supplying a pressurized fluid to a network of consumers of such pressurized fluid, an electric drive motor with variable speed control, which is coupled to the compressor, and an electrical or electronic controller configured for this purpose is to control the speed (n) and/or the pressure (p) of the compressor respectively depending on a set desired pressure and/or a set desired flow rate of the pressurized fluid required by the network.

According to the invention, it is proposed that the controller includes a processing device for determining a signal indicative of the speed (n) and/or the pressure (p) and a first communication device for wireless transmission of the signal.

In a preferred embodiment, the first communication device can include a module which uses a mobile radio network for the wireless transmission of the signal.

Furthermore, a system is proposed that includes a corresponding air compressor system and a terminal device with a second communication device, the terminal device also being set up to adapt the received signal and to send it back to the first communication device that the values for the set desired pressure and/or the set desired flow rate of pressurized fluid required by the network is changed in the controller.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a sketch.

1 shows an example of an air compressor system 1 or an entire system according to the invention. For the compressed air supply of the motor vehicle, the air compressor system 1 includes a network 3 for compressed air distribution, to which the consumers 4 are connected. A compressed air reservoir can be provided in this network. The network is connected to the compressor 2 which is connected to the drive motor 5 via a coupling 6 . The coupling 6 can optionally include a clutch.

The control or ECU, electronic control unit, of the air compressor system 1 is carried out by means of the control 8, which comprises at least one processing device 7 and one communication device 9, with the processing device 7 being set up to determine the speed(s) and/or the pressure (p) determine indicative signal or to receive, wherein the first communication device 9 communicates wirelessly with the second communication device 11 .

According to the invention, the signal is a default value for the speed of the drive motor and/or the pressure in the network. These two values have an impact on the performance of the air compressor system 1. An increased speed has a direct impact on the air flow rate. A disadvantage of a higher speed is the higher wear, especially on the compressor, so that the higher speed may only be enabled for a limited period of time if required.

The communication devices 9 and 10 use the mobile radio network for the wireless transmission of the signal. Provision is made for querying the signal using the terminal device and adapting it if necessary, so that the air flow rate can be adapted to a specific application for a limited period of time.

The signal is used in the processing device to influence the controller, the speed of the drive motor and/or the pressure in the network being regulated via the controller.

The user of the compressor can thus activate a short-term increase in performance for certain applications, whereby the manufacturer can take into account the extra use, e.g. in relation to the service life.

reference list

1

air compressor system

2

compressor

3

network

4

consumer

5

drive motor

6

coupling

7

processing facility

8th

steering

9

communication facility

10

end device

11

communication facility

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 3440356 A1 [0004]

Claims (3)

Air compressor system (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one compressor (2) for supplying a pressurized fluid to a network (3) of consumers (4) of such a pressurized fluid; an electric drive motor (5) with a variable speed controller coupled to the compressor (2), and an electric or electronic controller (8) configured to regulate the speed (n) and/or the pressure (p) of the compressor (2) depending on a set desired pressure and/or a set desired flow rate of the pressurized fluid required by the network, characterized in that the controller (8) has a processing device (7) for determining a speed (n ) and/or the pressure (p) indicating signal and a first communication device (9) for wireless transmission of the signal. Air compressor system (1) after claim 1 , characterized in that the first communication device comprises a module which uses a mobile network for wireless transmission of the signal. System comprising an air compressor system (1). claim 1 or 2 and a terminal (10) with a second communication device (11), wherein the terminal (10) is set up to change the received signal and to send it back to the first communication device (9) in such a way that the values for the set desired pressure and/or or the set desired flow rate of the pressure fluid required by the network (3) is changed in the controller (8).

Images