DE102015008663A1 - Air supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

An air supply system (2) in a vehicle (4) provided with an air operated lowering system (6) with one or many bellows (8) discharging the air (10) from the bellows during a lowering operation, and which also has an air driven one Door system (12) with one or many air-operated Türmanövrierelementen (14) for opening and closing one or many doors (16) of the vehicle is provided. The air supply system (2) comprises a control unit (18) which is configured to generate at least one control signal (20) containing control parameters, and an air duct arrangement (22) containing air ducts (24) for connecting air (10). from the one or more air spring bellows (8) with the Türmanövrierlementen (14). The air tube assembly (22) is provided with at least one valve member (26) configured to control the flow of air (10) through the air ducts (24) according to the control parameters of the control signal (20). The control unit (18) is configured to control the one or more valve elements (26) such that the deflated air (10) from the air spring bellows 8 is lowered via the air duct assembly (22) to the air operated door maneuvering elements (14) during a lowering operation. is supplied to change the one or more doors (16) of the door system (12).

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an air supply system and a method in connection with such an air supply system according to the preambles of the independent claims. In particular, the air supply system and method are intended for use in conjunction with kneeling systems on vehicles and more specifically on buses.

Background of the invention

A low floor bus is a bus that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. This low-floor accessibility improves the public's access to the bus, especially for the elderly or infirm, or those with pushchairs and increasingly those in wheelchairs.

The function of lowering the bus to improve accessibility is often referred to as "kneeling". One way to implement a lowering function is to use an air-powered system that reduces the height between the ground and the first stage, thereby making it easier for passengers to get on and off the bus. This is achieved by removing air from one or many bellows, z. From the front axle air springs to lower the front end of the vehicle.

The system can be operated with a switch in the driver's dashboard that controls the system. The driver pushes the switch "down" to lower the front end of the truck or tilt the entire bus. When the switch is pushed to the "up" position, the front end rises and the bus is ready to drive.

A vehicle often includes numerous air powered systems, e.g. B. one or many braking systems, a Türmanövriersystem and the lowering system. Usually a pneumatic source, e.g. As an air compressor, driven by a motor pulley. It pumps (compresses) air into tanks for various uses and is designed to supply these systems with compressed air via a system of air ducts, air valves and compressed air tanks.

The following is an illustrative example of a lowering system. Below the front end of the car is a set of air valves mounted on the vehicle body which connect to the front / front suspension via two rods. The right side valve (leveling valve) controls front ground clearance by controlling the air to the front air suspension air springs during normal operation.

The left side valve (lowering valve) is used by the lowering system to detect the height while the vehicle is rising after the front end has been lowered. After the front end has been lowered, air must be induced in the front air springs to raise the vehicle. This valve senses the raised height of the front end, and by controlling the air pressure to an air switch, it electrically disengages the lift control of the lowering system when the correct height has been reached.

The lowering system is controlled by a switch, the z. B. located in the dashboard of the driver. Operation of the system is inhibited unless the parking brake is used, the transmission is in the neutral position and the front door is closed. By pressing the switch half down position, the front system lowers (knees) into the lowered position and can now make it easier for passengers to get in and out. To bring the front end back to its normal operating height, press the lowering switch half up or release the parking brake to the up position (recovery position).

The lowering switch actuates an electric-pneumatic valve (lowering module). This valve consists of an electric air switch and electro-pneumatic air valves mounted in a manifold connected to the air system as follows.

There are three air supply lines through the lowering module, two of which run to the front air springs. One comes from an auxiliary air tank and supplies air for the descent recovery mode, the second passes from the leveling valve to operate the front ground clearance or drive mode. The last line is the control line from the parking brake valve. If the parking brake is not applied, the air pressure on this line will cause the lowering of the front end of the car by the lowering device. It is also actuated the lifting of the front end when the vehicle is lowered and the parking brake is released thereafter. Thus, it acts as a safeguard for the recovery part of the lowering switch on the dashboard, should the driver not lift the front end adequately before releasing the parking brake. There are also a vent on the valve to drain air from the front air springs when lowering.

To operate the lowering, the lowering switch on the dashboard is pressed downwards. This causes the spool valve to shift in the lowering module and open the air bag openings to the exhaust ports, thereby allowing air to escape from the air springs. At the same time it blocks the air from the leveling valve and the supply air from the auxiliary air system. In order to maintain a minimum air pressure in the front air springs, the air release is interrupted when the preset air pressure switch on the lowering module, which detects the air spring pressure, is actuated. In order to maintain this lowered position, the drain opening is then closed and the air is held in the blocked position by the leveling valve and the auxiliary air supply opening.

The recovery mode is initiated either by the lowering switch on the dashboard or by releasing the parking brake. The lowering valve slide valve shifts, allowing the auxiliary supply air to connect to the front air springs, causing the front end of the carriage to rise until the lowering valve actuates and decouples the quick recovery system.

The basic function of the system is to release air pressure from the front axle bellows, lowering the front end to the rubber suspension stops. When the recovery switch is pressed, the system then returns the suspension to normal ground clearance.

Another air-powered system of a vehicle is the door maneuvering system. Bus doors are z. B. by a pneumatic (compressed air) cylinder is opened and closed. The controller may be a handle or a switch near the driver's seat. The main advantages are that a high output power is generated by a relatively small device (cylinder) and the doors can be located away from the driver's seat.

The EP-0530366 refers to a height adjustment device that is capable of lowering without venting air in an air spring into the atmosphere. Upon lowering, air is moved within respective air springs to be stored in air reservoir devices, and when the lowering from the lowered state is to be restored, air stored in the air reservoir devices is fed back into the respective air springs.

The air-driven lowering function and the air-operated door maneuvering require a lot of compressed air. This leads to high operating requirements for the pneumatic source, z. As the air compressor, which in turn leads to a high degree of closure of the air compressor and also to a high energy consumption.

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the above deficiencies by reducing the wear of the pneumatic source, which in turn reduces energy consumption, which is beneficial to the environment.

Summary of the invention

The above object is achieved by the present invention according to the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

In general, the present invention relates to an air supply system and method associated with such a system for reusing compressed air that is currently venting from the air spring bellows into the atmosphere in currently used lowering systems when a bus is lowered, e.g. B. at a bus stop.

According to the present invention, the compressed air is instead used for maneuvering, e.g. B. Open, which uses pneumatically maneuvered doors.

By reusing compressed air to control the pneumatically maneuvered doors, the operating request to the pneumatic source, e.g. As the air compressor, which leads to a reduced wear and a reduced energy consumption.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings

1 Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

2 schematically illustrates a vehicle, wherein the present invention is implemented.

The 3 and 4 are simplified illustrations of specific features of an embodiment of the air supply system according to the present invention.

5 Fig. 10 is a flow chart illustrating the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The invention will now be disclosed in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Throughout the figures, the same or similar elements are identified by the same reference numeral.

In 1 Fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. The invention relates to an air supply system 2 that is suitable to be in a vehicle 4 , z. B. a bus (see 2 ) to be arranged.

The vehicle 4 is with an air powered lowering system 6 with one or many bellows 8th (please refer 3 and 4 ), the air 10 Drain during the lowering process from the bellows. Descending systems have been generally described in the Background section.

The lowering function can be implemented on the one hand as a complete lowering, whereby the entire bus is tilted, so that all doors can be used on one side for getting in and out. In this case, a number of air bellows are involved on the same side of the bus and are emptied in a controlled manner. It is also possible to lower only the front part of the bus, z. B. if only there are passengers who should get on the bus. A full cut would usually result in approximately 80 to 120 liters of air being vented from the bellows, e.g. Depending on the number of passengers (ie their weight).

The vehicle is also equipped with an air-operated door system 12 with one or many air powered door maneuvering elements 14 for opening and closing one or many doors 16 (please refer 2 ) of the vehicle. In 2 the lowering is indicated by double arrows. An air driven element 14 can be implemented as a piston which is movable in a cylinder, and the piston is connected to a rod, which in turn is connected to the door to be opened. In the 3 and 4 such an implementation is published shortly.

To open air-driven doors of a bus, the required air volume ranges from about 10 liters to 50 liters, depending on the number of doors that can be opened.

Thus, the available volume of air from the air bellows deflated during lowering is well above the volume of air required to open all the doors of a bus.

The air supply system 2 includes a control unit 18 that is configured to have at least one control signal 20 generated, which contains control parameters.

The system also includes an airline arrangement 22 , the air pipes 24 for connecting air 10 from the one or more bellows 8th (please refer 3 and 4 ) with the door maneuvering elements 14 contain. The air tube arrangement 22 is with at least one valve element 26 provided that is configured to control the airflow 10 through the air ducts 24 depending on the control parameters of the control signal 20 controls that on the one or more valve elements 26 is created.

As discussed above, a lowering system typically includes a number of bellows, e.g. B. two, which are arranged with respect to each axis of the vehicle, which results in at least three or four air spring bellows, when the entire side of the vehicle should lower. Thus, all these air supply bellows with air ducts 24 the air duct arrangement 22 be connected, which in turn are connected to at least one door, usually two doors of the vehicle, ie with z. B. two air-operated Türmanövrierelementen 14 ,

The control unit 18 is configured to hold the one or more valve elements 26 so controls that the deflated air 10 from the bellows 8th during a lowering operation via the air duct arrangement 22 to the air powered door maneuvering elements 14 is fed to the one or more doors 16 of the door system 12 to change.

The control unit 18 may be a separate entity, e.g. As a processor, but can also be implemented in whole or in part in a processor system of the vehicle. The control signal 20 is preferably an electrical signal that is configured to control the valve element.

The air lines may be flexible lines, the z. B. made of plastic or rubber. Alternatively, metal lines can be used. The air ducts have an outside diameter of 10 to 12 mm and in some cases up to 14 to 16 mm.

The valve element 26 is preferably an electrically controlled valve, for. B. a solenoid valve.

The control unit 18 is further configured to provide a descent sensor signal 28 from the lowering system 6 receives. The lowering sensor signal 28 contains one or many lowering parameters in connection with the lowering function, eg. B. one Lowering parameter, which indicates the beginning of a lowering operation, and preferably also a parameter indicating the end of a lowering operation, ie, when the vehicle is in its lowest lowered position.

The control unit 18 is further configured to be a door sensor signal 30 from the door system 12 receives that by opening one or more doors 16 is related. The door sensor signal 30 contains one or many door manoeuvering parameters associated with maneuvering the doors 16 , z. B. a door opening parameter indicating the end of a door opening operation. Preferably, the door sensor signal contains 30 also a parameter indicating the beginning of the door opening operation.

Usually, the volume of air from a lowering operation is greater than the volume of air required to open the doors. For this reason, excess air must be drained when the doors are opened. The airline arrangement 22 is preferably configured to air 10 from the air ducts 24 Discharges when the one or more doors 16 were opened.

According to one embodiment, this is by providing the valve element 26 with a discharge air outlet 32 for venting air 10 implemented when the one or more doors 16 were opened.

The valve element 26 is according to an embodiment with an air inlet 34 which is configured to work with the lowering system 6 over the air lines 24 and two air outlets 32 . 36 in communication. An outlet 36 is configured to be over the air line 24 with the door system 12 is in communication with air, and a Ablassluftauslass 32 is in contact with the atmosphere.

Alternatively, the venting air outlet to be connected to the atmosphere may be implemented with a separate valve element disposed along the air ducts.

The valve element 26 is preferably configured to be controlled in three states by the control parameters. A closed condition that prevents air from the valve element 26 happens, a door opening state, in the air 10 communicates with the door system, and a discharge state in which air 10 is discharged into the atmosphere. In particular, the valve element changes 26 the state from the door opening state to the discharge state when the door opening parameter from the control unit 18 Will be received. In addition, the valve member must be in its closed state when the doors should be closed and also during that part of the lowering operation when the vehicle is raised back to its normal driving position.

In addition, in cases where there is no lowering, a normal door opening should be used. Also, in cases where for some reason the deflated air from a lowering operation is insufficient, the normal air supply should be used for the door opening.

The 3 and 4 are simplified illustrations of specific features of an embodiment of the air supply system according to the present invention.

In 3 becomes an air bag 8th via an input line 38 filled with air. The valve element 26 is in its closed state, preventing air from the air bag to the Türmanövrierlement 14 arrives. The door maneuvering element 14 is schematically illustrated and includes a piston 40 in a cylinder 42 is movably arranged.

In 4 is the situation illustrated at the end of a lowering process, wherein the valve element 26 is in its door opening state, thereby allowing air to the Türmanövrierelement 14 is fed, which causes the piston 40 is moved and brings the door (not shown) to open. When the door is open, excess air is removed from the valve element 26 released, which is indicated by a broken vertical arrow.

The present invention also relates to a method in an air supply system 2 of the type described above. The method will now be described with reference to the in 5 illustrated flowchart described.

The air supply system is suitable to be in a vehicle 4 to be arranged with an air powered lowering system 6 with one or many bellows 8th is provided, the air 10 Drain during the lowering process from the bellows. The vehicle is also equipped with an air-operated door system 12 with one or many air powered door maneuvering elements 14 for opening and closing one or many doors 16 provided the vehicle.

• – Verbinden von abgelassener Luft aus dem Absenksystem mit dem Türsystem unter Verwendung einer Luftleitungsanordnung, die zumindest ein steuerbares Ventilelement enthält;
• – Zuführen der Luft zu zumindest einem luftbetriebenen Türmanövrierelement des Türsystems; und
• – Öffnen zumindest einer der einen oder mehreren Türen.

The method comprises:

• - connecting discharged air from the lowering system to the door system using an air duct assembly including at least one controllable valve element;
• Supplying the air to at least one air-operated door maneuvering element of the door system; and
• - Opening at least one of the one or more doors.

In addition, the method preferably includes receiving a descent sensor signal by a control unit from the descent system. The lowering sensor signal includes one or many lowering parameters associated with the lowering function, e.g. B. a lowering parameter indicating the beginning of a lowering process. In addition, the parameters may include a parameter indicating the end of a countdown operation.

The method further includes receiving, by the control unit, a door sensor signal from the door system related to the opening of the one or more doors. The door sensor signal includes one or many door maneuvering parameters associated with maneuvering the doors, e.g. B. a door opening parameter indicating the end of a door opening operation, and preferably also a parameter indicating the beginning of the door opening operation.

As discussed above, the volume of air that is typically vented from the air spring bellows is greater than the volume of air required to open the doors. For this reason, the method preferably includes venting air from the air ducts to the atmosphere when the one or more doors have been opened. In this regard, the method includes venting air from the air ducts via an air outlet of the valve member when the one or more doors have been opened. In the figure, this preferred method step is indicated by a broken box.

Advantageously, the method comprises controlling the valve element to be in one of three states, a closed state preventing air from passing from the valve element, a door opening state in which air communicates with the door system, and a door opening state Discharge state in which air is released into the atmosphere. Specifically, the valve element changes the state from the door opening state to the discharge state when a door opening parameter is received.

The invention further relates to a computer program (P) comprising computer program code which causes the control unit or a computer connected to the control unit to perform the method steps described above.

Finally, the invention relates to a computer program product comprising computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium to perform the method steps described above when the computer program code is executed by the control unit or a computer connected to the control unit.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. For this reason, the above embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been 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.

Cited patent literature

• EP 0530366 [0015]

Claims (15)

Air supply system ( 2 ) in a vehicle ( 4 ) with an air-powered lowering system ( 6 ) with one or many bellows ( 8th ), the air ( 10 ) drain from the bellows during the lowering process, and also with an air-operated door system ( 12 ) with one or many air-operated door maneuvering elements ( 14 ) for opening and closing one or more doors ( 16 ) of the vehicle, characterized in that the air supply system ( 2 ) comprises: a control unit ( 18 ) configured to receive at least one control signal ( 20 ), which contains at least one control parameter, an air line arrangement ( 22 ), which at least one air line ( 24 ) for connecting air ( 10 ) from the one or more bellows ( 8th ) with the one or more door maneuvering elements ( 14 ), and that the airline arrangement ( 22 ) with at least one valve element ( 26 ) configured to control the flow of air ( 10 ) through the air ducts ( 24 ) depending on the one or more control parameters of the control signal ( 20 ), which acts on the one or more valve elements ( 26 ), the control unit ( 18 ) is configured to receive the one or more valve elements ( 26 ), so that deflated air ( 10 ) from the Luftfederbalden ( 8th ) during a lowering operation via the air line arrangement ( 22 ) to the air-operated door maneuvering elements ( 14 ) is supplied to the one or more doors ( 16 ) of the door system ( 12 ) to open. Air supply system ( 2 ) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit ( 18 ) is further configured to receive a descent sensor signal ( 28 ) from the lowering system ( 6 ), wherein the lowering sensor signal ( 28 ) contains one or many lowering parameters associated with the lowering function, including a lowering parameter indicating the beginning of a lowering operation. Air supply system ( 2 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit ( 18 ) is further configured to receive a door sensor signal ( 30 ) from the door system ( 12 ), the opening of the one or more doors ( 16 ), wherein the door sensor signal ( 30 ) one or many door maneuvering parameters associated with the maneuvering of the one or more doors ( 16 ), including a door opening parameter indicating the end of an opening operation. Air supply system ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air duct arrangement ( 22 ) is configured to provide air ( 10 ) from the air ducts ( 24 ) when the one or more doors ( 16 ) were opened. Air supply system ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the valve element ( 26 ) with a discharge air outlet ( 32 ), the air ( 10 ) when the one or more doors ( 16 ) were opened. Air supply system ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the valve element ( 26 ) with an air inlet ( 34 ) which is configured to be connected via the air ducts ( 24 ) with the lowering system ( 6 ) is in air communication, and with two air outlets ( 32 . 36 ), with an outlet ( 36 ) is configured to be connected via the air line ( 24 ) with the door system ( 12 ) in air connection is a Ablassluftauslass ( 32 ) communicates with the atmosphere. Air supply system ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, when dependent on claim 3, the valve element ( 26 ) is configured to be in three states controlled by the control parameters, a closed state in which air is prevented from leaking the valve element ( 26 ) happens, a door opening condition in which air ( 10 ) is in communication with the door system and a discharge state in which air ( 10 ) is discharged into the atmosphere, and wherein the valve element ( 26 ) changes the state from the door open state to the drain state when the door open parameter is received. Method in an air supply system ( 2 ) in a vehicle ( 4 ) with an air-powered lowering system ( 6 ) with one or many bellows ( 8th ), the air ( 10 ) during a lowering operation from the bellows, and also with an air-driven door system ( 12 ) with one or many air-operated door maneuvering elements ( 14 ) for opening and closing one or many doors ( 16 ) of the vehicle, characterized in that the method comprises: - connecting drained air from the lowering system to the door system using an air duct assembly including at least one controllable valve element; Supplying the air to at least one air-operated door maneuvering element of the door system; - Opening at least one of the one or more doors. The method of claim 8, the method comprising: receiving a descent sensor signal from the descent system, wherein the descent sensor signal includes one or more descent parameters associated with the descent function, including Lowering parameter that indicates the beginning of a lowering process. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the method comprises receiving a door sensor signal from the door system associated with opening the one or more doors, the door sensor signal including one or more door maneuver parameters associated with maneuvering the one or more doors. including a door opening parameter indicating the end of an opening operation. The method of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the method includes venting air from the air ducts to the atmosphere when the one or more doors have been opened. The method of any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the method comprises venting air from the air ducts via an air outlet of the valve member when the one or more doors have been opened. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the method comprises controlling the valve element to be in one of three states, a closed state in which air is prevented from passing through the valve element, a door opening state in which air is present the door system is in communication, and a discharge state in which air is discharged into the atmosphere, and wherein the valve element changes the state from the door opening state to the discharge state when the door opening parameter is received. A computer program (P), the computer program (P) comprising computer program code which causes a control unit or a computer connected to the control unit to carry out the method steps according to one of claims 8 to 13. A computer program product comprising computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium for performing the method steps of any one of claims 8 to 13 when the computer program code is executed by a control unit or a computer connected to the control unit.

Images