JPH0137698Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a desiccator unit for a vehicle that is interposed between an air pump such as a vehicle height adjustment device and an air suspension unit.

Conventionally, a vehicle height adjustment device has been provided that automatically adjusts the vehicle height using the sensor output of an auto-leveling sensor only in a predetermined vehicle speed range that does not impair steering stability.

By the way, in such conventional vehicle height adjustment devices, the desiccator is connected to the conduit, and the accumulator is connected to the conduit in parallel, making the entire system large-sized. It is necessary to provide a separate installation space for the vehicle, which increases the number of assembly steps and increases costs.

For this reason, the present applicant has developed a compact desiccator unit that integrates an accumulator and a dessicator to reduce the size of the entire air pressure supply system. However, conventional desiccators are equipped with a drain valve that drains moisture when it accumulates at the bottom of the desiccator, but it is not possible to detect from the outside whether moisture or the like has accumulated at the bottom of the desiccator. There were drawbacks such as the durability of the drying material being damaged because the drain was removed at different times.

Furthermore, if a drain valve that also serves as a safety valve is used, when the safety valve opens and then closes again, vibration may cause the valve body to sit eccentrically and remain open. There was a risk that the pressure would drop and the vehicle height adjustment device would not operate.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to enable drain to be detected from the outside, and to discharge it to the outside when the amount of accumulated moisture in the drain reaches a certain level, and to prevent the drain valve from remaining open. It is an object of the present invention to provide a desiccator unit for a vehicle that can prevent the above.

In order to achieve this objective, the present invention is characterized in that the drain section of the desiccator is constructed with a transparent hose.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The attached drawings show an embodiment in which a transparent hose 1 is connected as a drain to an accumulator unit 31 that integrates a desiccator and an accumulator. In the figure, 32 is an outer cylinder, and the upper opening of this outer cylinder 32 has an intake port 33 connected to a pipe line of an air pump, an exhaust port 34 connected to a pipe line of an air suspension unit, etc. Sealing plates 37 each having a pressure detection port 36 to which a main body 35 of the push switch is connected are hermetically coupled. On the other hand, the lower end of the outer cylinder 32 is a drawn bottom 38, and a cylindrical part 40 with a small hole 39 opened in the center of the bottom 38 is integrally provided.

A joint 3 is connected to this cylindrical portion 40 via a seal 2, a transparent elastic hose 1 as a drain portion is connected to this joint 3, and the other end of this hose 1 is connected to a cylindrical body provided at an arbitrary position. 4 through a seal 5 and a joint 6, so that moisture etc. accumulated in the hose 1 can be detected from the outside.

This cylindrical body 4 has a holding cylinder 42 into which a stop valve or safety valve and drain valve 41 is inserted.
is screwed in, and a spring 43 installed in this holding cylinder 42 causes the drain valve 41 to open.
is biased so as to always close the valve hole 39. 4
4 is a tightening nut screwed onto the outer periphery of the holding cylinder 42.

Holes 7 and 8 communicating with the hose 1 are formed in each of the joints 3 and 6. A ring 53 for removing the valve is attached to the outer end of the rod connected to the drain valve 41.

On the other hand, a cylindrical desiccator 4 is disposed inside the outer cylinder 32.
5 are arranged. This desiccator 45 includes a granular desiccant material 47 in a cylinder 46 shown in the diagram, and a perforated plate 48 as a filter at both open ends of the cylinder 46.
are inserted into each hole, and these perforated plates 48 are held by a holding plate 49 having through holes. The upper presser plate 49 is pressed downward by a spring 54 whose one end is engaged with the sealing plate 37.
Further, both open ends of the cylindrical body 46 are airtightly connected to communicate with the exhaust port 34 and the hole 39, respectively. Further, a ring-shaped accumulator chamber 51 is formed between the outer cylinder 32 and the cylinder body 46, and this accumulator chamber 51 opens to the suction port 33 and communicates with the inside of the desiccator 45 via a perforated plate 52. ing. Therefore, the desiccator 45
and the accumulator chamber 51 are integrally molded into a unit. In addition, the cylinder body 40 and the outer cylinder 32
may be made transparent.

Such an accumulator unit 31 operates as follows.

First, air sent from the air pump is forced into the accumulator chamber 51 from the intake port 33. Therefore, this accumulator chamber 51 accumulates the compressed air pressure. A part of the air pressure-accumulated here is transferred from the perforated plate 52 of the cylindrical body 46 constituting the desiccator 45 to the perforated plate 4.
8 and is supplied to the drying material 47, where moisture in the air within the accumulator chamber 51 is absorbed. The air thus dried passes through the exhaust port 34,
It is supplied to, for example, an air suspension unit of a vehicle height adjustment device via a control valve. In this case, moisture contained in the air in the pressurized accumulator chamber 51 adheres to the inner surface of the outer cylinder 32 and the outer surface of the cylinder body 46 as water droplets, which fall and penetrate the hole 52. The draining valve 41 opens the valve hole 39 by hooking a finger on the ring 53 and pulling it.
It can be discharged to the outside through the insertion hole of the drain valve 41 provided in the holding cylinder 42. By periodically performing this water draining operation, the life of the drying material 47 of the desiccator 45 can be extended, and the dehumidification efficiency can be increased.

Since the hose 1 is transparent, it is possible to detect from the outside whether water has accumulated, and the draining operation can be carried out reliably. Furthermore, the drain part made of an elastic hose has a vibration-proofing function.
In order to prevent vibrations transmitted from the vehicle body to the drain valve 41, the drain valve 41 is opened.
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the valve body is eccentrically seated due to vibration when the valve is closed again, and the valve remains in the open state.

According to the present invention, there are the following effects.

At the end of the desiccator, we installed a drain section with a vibration-proof function using a transparent elastic hose, and a stop valve or a safety valve/drain drain valve that can be opened and closed freely in this drain section, so that the safety valve/drain drain valve opens when the pressure increases. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation where the valve body is eccentrically seated due to vibration when the valve is opened and then closed again, and the valve remains in the open state.

The accumulation of moisture, etc. in the drain section can be reliably detected from the outside, and drainage work can be carried out as necessary.

If moisture accumulates, it can be reliably discharged to the outside, thereby improving the durability of the drying material inside the desiccator.

Even if the desiccator is installed in a location that is in the shadow of other vehicle equipment, the hose serving as the drain portion can be pulled out to a position where it can be easily seen. Therefore, the accumulation of water or the like can be detected easily and reliably without being interfered with by other equipment, and the drain valve can be opened and closed in an easily accessible location.

The hose used as the drain part is transparent, elastic, and highly durable and can be obtained at low cost, and the structure is simple and costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The attached drawing is a longitudinal sectional front view of the accumulator unit of the present invention. 1... Hose, 3, 6... Coupling, 4... Cylindrical body,
32... Outer cylinder, 33... Intake port, 34... Exhaust port, 39... Hole, 41... Drain release valve, 45... Desiccator, 46... Cylindrical body, 47...
...Dried material, 51...Accumulator room.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A desiccator unit for a vehicle in which a drain part is provided at the lower end of the desiccator via a transparent elastic hose, and a stop valve or a safety valve/drain drain valve is provided in the drain part so as to be openable and closable.