JP6662029B2 - Dryer for air suspension - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dryer for an air suspension, and more particularly to a dryer for an air suspension that dries a fluid introduced into a housing through a desiccant and supplies dry air to an air suspension of a vehicle.

  As a dryer for an air suspension, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-163,972 discloses "an air dryer for drying compressed air compressed by an external compressor and then sending the compressed air to an external air control system". The housing has a compressor-side port connected to an external compressor at one of the axial center portions at both ends, and a system-side port connected to an external air control system at the other end, and has a dry inside the housing. The desiccant is charged with a function of dehumidifying air passing through the housing from the compressor side to the air control system side. At the same time, the moisture in the dehumidified air is adsorbed inside the desiccant. Therefore, when the air dryer is used continuously, the dehumidified air filled in the external air control system should be removed from the external air control system side via the air dryer as appropriate when the air dryer is used continuously. In this way, the moisture adsorbed in the desiccant is returned to the dry air, the amount of moisture adsorbed in the desiccant is reduced, and the desiccant is regenerated, thereby recovering the dehumidifying function of the air dryer. " Described. Patent Literature 1 proposes "an air dryer capable of ensuring the drainage of water condensed in a housing even when placed horizontally on a vehicle or the like".

  Patent Document 2 below discloses that “a cylindrical housing has an inflow port and an outflow port at both ends in the axial direction, and a desiccant is sandwiched between a pair of filters housed in the housing. In a vehicle air suspension dryer for drying a fluid introduced from an inlet through the desiccant and discharging dry air from the outlet to supply the air suspension to the vehicle, the filter on the inlet side and the inlet are provided. And a guide member that supports the filter on the inflow side and guides the fluid into the desiccant via the filter on the inflow side, wherein the opening area of the inflow port is not less than A shielding tube portion including the inflow port so as to form a flow path that guides from the inflow port to the filter on the inflow side, and an inner surface as a shielding surface; and an opening portion of the shielding cylinder portion. From radial outside A guide member having an annular plate portion formed with a plurality of communication holes extending therethrough, introducing the fluid from the inflow port into the shielding cylinder portion of the guide member, and communicating with the annular plate portion via the flow path; An air suspension dryer configured to be guided in a hole has been proposed.

  In view of the fact that the dryer described in Patent Literature 1 requires a large space to be mounted on a vehicle, Patent Literature 2 discloses that the fluid introduced into the housing is efficiently dried to reduce air in the vehicle. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and small air suspension dryer for supplying dry air to a suspension. It is necessary to take a countermeasure separately, and in order to form it inexpensively and compactly, it is desirable to use a horizontal type from the beginning of design. In view of this point, the following Patent Document 3 aims to “provide an inexpensive and small air suspension dryer capable of efficiently drying the fluid introduced into the housing even when it is of a so-called horizontal type”. A cylindrical housing having an inlet and an outlet at both ends in the axial direction, a desiccant sandwiched between a pair of filters housed in the housing, and the axial direction of the housing is the horizontal direction of the vehicle. Disposed in such a manner that the fluid introduced from the inflow port is dried through the desiccant and the air suspension dryer of the vehicle that supplies dry air from the outflow port to the air suspension of the vehicle, An inlet is provided on the lower side of the vehicle with respect to the housing, and a shielding tube portion including the inlet and shielding an end face on the lower side of the vehicle, and an opening on an end face on the upper side of the vehicle. And a fluid that is interposed between the guide member and the filter on the inflow side to support the filter on the inflow side and into the desiccant via the filter on the inflow side. And a plate in which an opening portion whose opening area gradually increases from the upper side of the vehicle toward the lower side of the vehicle is formed. "(Patent Document 3 paragraph [0006] and [0007]).

JP-A-2002-119824 JP 2012-16669A JP-A-2005-89526

  However, in the dryer described in Patent Document 3, when mounting the plate in the housing, it is essential to dispose the plate at a predetermined position in the housing. It was not always easy. If the above-mentioned plate is assembled in an inclined state in the housing, water or the like condensed in the housing may flow into the desiccant. Therefore, it is desired to improve the assemblability to avoid this. Was.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dryer for a horizontal air suspension that can be easily assembled and that can efficiently and reliably dry a fluid introduced into a housing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cylindrical housing having an inflow port and an outflow port at both axial ends thereof, wherein the axial direction of the housing is a horizontal direction of the vehicle and the inflow port is a vehicle having the housing. In the air suspension dryer for a vehicle, which is disposed so as to be on the lower side, a fluid introduced from the inlet is dried through a desiccant, and dry air is discharged from the outlet to be supplied to an air suspension of the vehicle. The housing has a positioning portion on the bottom surface on the inflow side, and has a bottomed cylindrical shape that is housed in the housing and disposed so that the bottom abuts on the positioning portion, and is provided on the inflow side of the bottom portion. together formed with a shielding portion that shields the lower side of the vehicle, the blocking portion relative to a case having a plurality of communication holes in the bottom of the vehicle upper side, formed on the inlet side of the bottom portion Is at least one wall portion extending in the horizontal direction and perpendicular the vehicle to the axis of the case, the case having the shielding portion on both sides through the wall portion, the outer peripheral surface of the case housing annular sealing member and, a pair of filters arranged axially opposite ends of the said case, a drying agent accommodated in between the pair of filters, a plurality of communication that is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the A plate having a hole, and a plate disposed so as to contact a filter disposed on an opening end side of the case among the pair of filters , and a plate disposed between the plate and an axial end of the housing. And an interposed urging member.

Further , the housing extends perpendicularly to an axis of the housing and in a horizontal direction of the vehicle on an inner surface facing the shielding portion, and is arranged in parallel with a wall portion of the case with a gap therebetween. It may have at least one wall.

In the above-described air suspension dryer, the plurality of communication holes of the case may be formed such that the hole diameters gradually increase from the upper side of the case to the lower side of the vehicle. Alternatively, the plurality of communication holes of the case may be formed so as to be inclined toward the vehicle lower side of the case.

The present invention has the following effects because it is configured as described above. That is, the housing has a positioning portion on the bottom surface on the inflow side, and has a bottomed cylindrical shape that is housed in the housing and arranged so that the bottom portion abuts on the positioning portion. A case having a shielding portion for shielding the side, and having a plurality of communication holes at the bottom on the vehicle upper side with respect to the shielding portion, the case being formed on the inlet side of the bottom and orthogonal to the axis of the case and in the horizontal direction of the vehicle. A case having at least one wall portion extending through the wall portion and having shielding portions on both sides through the wall portion, and an annular seal member interposed between an outer peripheral surface of the case and an inner peripheral surface of the housing. A pair of filters disposed at both ends in the axial direction in the case, a desiccant contained between the pair of filters, and a plate having a plurality of communication holes, wherein the opening of the case of the pair of filters is a filter arranged on the end side A plate disposed in contact, which has a biasing member interposed between the axial end portion of the plate and the housing, the fluid flowing from the inflow port by the desiccant inside the case It is dried efficiently and becomes dry air and is discharged from the outlet. Further, the water separated in the housing is discharged from the inflow port on the lower side of the vehicle without contacting the desiccant, so that the desiccant can function effectively. In addition, the annular seal member prevents the separated moisture from entering, and eliminates leakage when the drying agent is regenerated by introducing dry air from the outlet, so that the regenerating operation can be reliably performed. Moreover, since the desiccant or the like is housed in the case and the annular seal member is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the case, the case can be housed in the housing and arranged at a predetermined position. The expected performance can be maintained.

Furthermore , at least one wall portion extending on the inner surface facing the shielding portion at right angles to the axis of the housing and in the horizontal direction of the vehicle with a gap between the housing and the wall portion. In this case, since a curved flow path is formed between the wall portions and a labyrinth structure is formed, the moisture of the fluid can be more reliably separated.

If the plurality of communication holes of the case are formed such that the hole diameter gradually increases from the vehicle upper side to the vehicle lower side of the case, the flow path resistance on the vehicle lower side is smaller than the flow path resistance on the vehicle upper side. Since the flow path resistance gradually decreases toward the lower side of the vehicle, the fluid can be uniformly introduced into the desiccant. Alternatively, by forming the plurality of communication holes of the case so as to be inclined toward the vehicle lower side of the case, the fluid can be uniformly introduced into the desiccant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is sectional drawing of the dryer for air suspension which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of a case provided to one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the dryer for air suspension which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of a case provided with other embodiments of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the air suspension device with which the dryer concerning each embodiment of the present invention is attached.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an entire configuration of a dryer for an air suspension (hereinafter, simply referred to as a dryer) according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a cylindrical housing 10 having an inlet 11 and an outlet 12 at both ends in an axial direction. , A case 40 having a bottomed cylindrical shape is accommodated therein, and is arranged such that a bottom portion thereof is on the inflow port 11 side. The case 40 has a shielding part 41 formed at the bottom on the inlet 11 side to shield the lower side of the vehicle, and a plurality of communication holes (represented by 43) in the bottom part 42 on the upper side of the vehicle with respect to the shielding part 41. , Filters 21 and 22 are arranged at both ends in the axial direction within the case 40, and the desiccant 30 is accommodated between the filters 21 and 22. An annular seal member 60 is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the case 40 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 10, and the filter 22 (and a plate 50 described later) disposed on the open end side of the case 40 and the housing 10 A compression spring 15 serving as an urging member is interposed between the end of the desiccant and the desiccant 30 in the axial direction (horizontal direction).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the dryer according to the present embodiment is arranged such that the cylinder axis of the housing 10 is in a horizontal direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1). It is provided on the side. Accordingly, a flow path 14 for guiding the fluid along the vehicle lower side surface of the housing 10 is formed. The housing 10 is a closed-end cylindrical body made of a synthetic resin. A lid 13 is attached to an open end of the housing 10 via an annular seal member 16, and an outlet 12 is formed in the lid 13. The desiccant 30 is made of, for example, granular silica gel, and is housed so as to be sandwiched between the filters 21 and 22. The filters 21 and 22 are formed of a nonwoven fabric in a disk shape. A plate 50 in which a plurality of communication holes 52 are uniformly formed is interposed between the filter 22 and the spring 15 as in the case of the conventional support plate, but the required rigidity of the filter 22 itself is secured. Then, the plate 50 can be omitted.

  The case 40 includes a shielding portion 41 that includes the inflow port 11 and shields a bottom surface on the lower side of the vehicle, and a plurality of communication holes 43 are formed in a bottom portion 42 on the upper side of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, the shielding portion 41 is a concave portion formed from the bottom of the case 40 toward the opening end, and forms a semicircular shielding surface in a front view. Further, the plurality of communication holes 43 are formed such that the hole diameter gradually increases from the upper side of the case 40 to the lower side of the vehicle. Note that the plurality of communication holes 43 may be formed so as to be inclined toward the lower side of the vehicle of the case 40, and a plurality of lateral slits whose opening area gradually increases from the upper side of the vehicle toward the lower side of the vehicle (FIG. (Not shown). Further, an annular groove 40p for accommodating the annular seal member 60 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the case 40. On the other hand, the positioning part 17 is integrally formed on the bottom surface of the housing 10, and the bottom part 42 of the case 40 is arranged so as to contact the positioning part 17.

  When assembling the dryer having the above configuration, first, the filters 21 and 22, the desiccant 30, and the plate 50 are housed in the case 40, and the annular seal member 60 is mounted in the annular groove 40p. Housed within. Then, when the compression spring 15 is accommodated in the housing 10 and the lid 13 is attached, the case 40 is held by the urging force of the compression spring 15 with the bottom 42 abutting on the positioning portion 17 and The desiccant 30 is held between the filters 21 and 22 while securing a flow path between the granules.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the case 40 is placed at a predetermined position in the housing 10, and the fluid (compressed air containing water) flowing from the inlet 11 flows through the flow path 14 and the case 40. The air is uniformly introduced into the desiccant 30 through the communication hole 43 and the filter 21, and the air properly dried by the desiccant 30 is discharged from the outlet 12 through the filter 22 (and the plate 50). With this configuration, good assemblability can be ensured, and the desired performance as a dryer can be maintained as described below.

  That is, in the dryer having the above-described configuration, the fluid (compressed air containing water) is introduced into the housing 10 (the flow path 14) from the inflow port 11, and inertia collides with the shielding surface of the shielding portion 41 to cause the fluid. Water in the fluid is separated. Although not shown, the water separated here is collected below the inlet 11 and discharged as appropriate. Further, the fluid (humid air from which moisture has been separated) is introduced into the space filled with the desiccant 30 via the plurality of communication holes 43 and the filter 21. In this case, if the plurality of communication holes 43 are formed so that the hole diameter gradually increases from the vehicle upper side to the vehicle lower side as described above, the flow path resistance on the vehicle lower side is higher than the flow path resistance on the vehicle upper side. And the flow path resistance gradually decreases toward the lower side of the vehicle, so that the fluid (humid air from which moisture is separated) is uniformly introduced into the desiccant 30. Thus, the air is efficiently dried by the desiccant 30 and is discharged from the outlet 12 as dry air. Further, the desiccant 30 is regenerated when dry air is introduced from the outlet 12 into the above-mentioned dryer, so that the desiccant 30 can be used continuously without replacement.

  In particular, at the time of drying and regeneration with the desiccant 30, the annular seal member 60 is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the case 40 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 10, so that moisture separated in the case 40 can be removed. The contact with the desiccant 30 can be prevented, the desiccant 30 can be effectively functioned, and leakage at the time of regenerating the desiccant 30 can be eliminated, and an efficient regeneration operation can be secured.

  3 and 4 show another embodiment of the case 40. The case 80 is formed at the bottom of the inlet and extends at least one of the case 80 extending perpendicular to the axis of the case 80 and extending in the horizontal direction of the vehicle. In the embodiment, there are two) wall portions 82, 82, and shielding portions 81, 81 are formed on both sides of one wall portion 82. On the other hand, the housing 10 has at least one (two in the present embodiment) wall portions 18, 18 extending perpendicularly to the axis of the housing 10 and extending in the horizontal direction of the vehicle on the inner surface facing the shielding portions 81, 81. Are arranged side by side with a gap between the wall portions 82 and 82 of the case 80. Accordingly, a curved flow path is formed between the wall portions 18, 18 and the wall portions 82, 82, and a labyrinth structure is formed, so that gas-liquid separation is promoted, and moisture in the fluid is appropriately separated. An annular groove 80p for accommodating the annular seal member 60 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the case 80. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and therefore, substantially the same members have the same reference characters allotted, and description thereof will not be repeated.

  Thus, the fluid (compressed air containing moisture) introduced into the housing 10 from the inflow port 11 inertially collides with the shielding surfaces of the shielding portions 81, 81, and the moisture in the fluid is separated. The separated water is collected below the inlet 11 and discharged as appropriate. The fluid (humid air from which water has been separated) is introduced into the space filled with the desiccant 30 through the plurality of communication holes 83 and the filter 21, and is efficiently dried by the desiccant 30 to become dry air. It is discharged from the outlet 12. In addition, since the desiccant 30 is regenerated when dry air is introduced from the outlet 12, the desiccant 30 can be used continuously without replacement. In addition, since the annular seal member 60 is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the case 80 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 10, the desiccant 30 can function effectively as in the above-described embodiment. In addition, efficient regeneration operation can be ensured.

  The dryer (represented by D) according to each of the above embodiments is, for example, one of the air supply sources PS that supplies pressurized air to the air spring means AS for the air suspension in the air suspension device shown in FIG. When the compressor C is driven by the motor M connected to the battery BT, the dried pressurized (compressed) air is supplied via the dryer D and the check valve G to the air spring via the control valve VA. It is supplied to the air chamber AR of the means AS. When the normally closed exhaust valve VE and control valve VA are opened when the compressor C is not driven, air is discharged through the orifice O and the dryer D. The dryer D is regenerated at the time of discharge. The orifice O and the check valve G may be housed or formed integrally with the dryer D.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing 11 Inflow port 12 Outflow port 13 Lid part 14 Flow path 15 Compression spring (biasing member)
18 Wall portions 21, 22 Filter 30 Desiccant 40, 80 Case 41, 81 Shielding portion 43, 83 Communication hole 16, 60 Ring seal member

Claims (4)

An inlet and an outlet are provided at both ends in the axial direction of the cylindrical housing, and the housing is arranged so that the axial direction of the housing is in the horizontal direction of the vehicle and the inlet is on the vehicle lower side of the housing. Drying the fluid introduced from the drying agent through a desiccant, and drying air supplied from the outlet to the air suspension of the vehicle for the air suspension dryer of the vehicle,
The housing has a positioning portion on the bottom surface on the inflow side,
A bottomed cylindrical body shape bottom with the positioning portion is accommodated in the housing are arranged so as to abut, and has a shielding portion for shielding the flow the lower side of the vehicle is formed on the inlet side of said bottom, said shield A case having a plurality of communication holes in the bottom portion on the upper side of the vehicle with respect to the portion, wherein at least one communicating hole formed on the inflow side of the bottom portion and orthogonal to the axis of the case and extending in the horizontal direction of the vehicle. A case having a wall portion, and having the shielding portion on both sides through the wall portion ,
An annular seal member interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the case and the inner peripheral surface of the housing,
A pair of filters disposed at both axial ends in the case,
A desiccant contained between the pair of filters,
A plate having a plurality of communication holes, a plate disposed to abut on a filter disposed on an opening end side of the case among the pair of filters ,
An air suspension dryer for a vehicle, comprising a biasing member interposed between the plate and an axial end of the housing. At least one of the housings extends on the inner surface facing the shielding portion at right angles to the axis of the housing and in a horizontal direction of the vehicle with a gap between the housing and a wall of the case. One of claim 1, wherein the air suspension for a dryer of a vehicle, characterized in that it has a wall portion. A plurality of communication holes of the case, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air suspension dryer of a vehicle, characterized in that the pore diameter from the vehicle upper side of the case toward the vehicle lower side are formed so as to incrementally . A plurality of communication holes of the case, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dryer for an air suspension of the vehicle, characterized in that it is formed so as to be inclined toward the vehicle lower side of the case.

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