JPH0427412A - Air drier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the deposition of moisture on an exhaust valve, etc., and to eliminate the trouble such as rusting, defective sealing and freezing by providing an auxiliary valve to be opened when the pressure is decreased lower than a specified pressure and setting the specified pressure higher than that of a residual pressure valve. CONSTITUTION:When the air pressure on the air tank 30 side is decreased to a specified residual pressure, a valve disk 19 is seated on the valve seat 14B of a valve seat member 14 by the pressing force of a valve spring 20 to close an air passage 14A, and the tank 30 side is kept at a specified residual pressure as a residual pressure valve 21. When the air pressure on the tank 30 side is higher than the specified residual pressure and lower than a specified pressure, an auxiliary valve 22 is opened, and the dried air on the tank 30 side is circulated toward an exhaust valve 27 and a compressor 24 through an auxiliary passage 17. The exhaust valve 27 is surely dried by the dried air, the deposition of moisture on the valve 27 when air is exhausted is effectively prevented, hence the valve 27 is not rusted, and defective sealing, freezing, etc., are not caused.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field 1] The present invention is suitable for being installed in, for example, a vehicle height adjustment device, and for drying air from a compressor and supplying it to a vehicle height adjustable air suspension, etc. The present invention relates to an air dryer device used for.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, a dryer case is connected to a compressor and an exhaust valve on the negative side and connected to pneumatic equipment such as an air suspension on the other side, and an adsorption chamber formed within the dryer case and containing a moisture adsorbent inside. An air dryer device is known that includes a residual pressure valve that is provided between the exhaust valve and the pneumatic equipment and maintains the air pressure on the pneumatic equipment side at a predetermined residual pressure state when the exhaust valve is opened. .

In this type of air dryer, when air is supplied from the compressor to the pneumatic equipment, this air is brought into contact with a moisture adsorbent in the adsorption chamber of the dryer case, thereby adsorbing moisture in the air. When dry air is supplied into the pneumatic equipment and the air is discharged from the pneumatic equipment, the exhaust valve is opened and the dry air from the pneumatic equipment is circulated through the residual pressure valve into the adsorption chamber of the dryer case. The dried air is used to desorb moisture from the adsorbent, and the adsorbent is regenerated to be able to adsorb moisture again, and the air containing moisture is discharged to the outside from the exhaust valve.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, when air is exhausted from pneumatic equipment, air that has absorbed moisture from the adsorbent and is moist passes through the exhaust valve, and the exhaust valve Since the exhaust valve is discharged to the outside, moisture adheres to the exhaust valve, causing the exhaust valve to rust due to the moisture, making it easier for dust etc. to accumulate and reducing the sealing performance of the exhaust valve when it is closed. In cold regions, there is a problem that the exhaust valve may freeze due to moisture.

The present invention was made in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and the present invention provides an air dryer device that can effectively prevent moisture from adhering to the exhaust valve, etc., and eliminate problems such as seal failure and freezing. It provides:

[Means to solve the problem]

The features of the configuration adopted by the present invention in order to solve the above-mentioned problems include an auxiliary passage connected in series with the residual pressure valve to connect the pneumatic equipment and the exhaust valve, and separated from the adsorption chamber; an exhaust check valve that allows air to flow from the pneumatic equipment toward the exhaust valve in the auxiliary passage and prevents air from flowing in the opposite direction; and an exhaust check valve that is located in the middle of the auxiliary passage and opens the exhaust valve. At the same time, an auxiliary valve is provided that closes when the air pressure on the pneumatic equipment side is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, and opens when the air pressure becomes lower than the predetermined pressure, and the predetermined pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure of the residual pressure valve. This is also due to the high pressure setting.

[Function] With the above configuration, when the exhaust valve is opened to discharge air from the pneumatic equipment, if the air pressure is higher than a predetermined pressure, the auxiliary valve closes and blocks the auxiliary passage, and the air is discharged to the dryer case. It is possible to flow air into the adsorption chamber in the opposite direction to that during supply, and while regenerating the adsorbent with this air, moist air can be discharged to the outside from the exhaust valve. When the air pressure becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the auxiliary valve opens and the dry air from the pneumatic equipment can be passed through the auxiliary passage directly to the exhaust valve side, and this dry air is used to operate the exhaust valve, etc. Can be dried.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the invention.

In the figure, 1 is an air dryer, 2 is the air dryer 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the dryer case 2 has a bottomed cylindrical case body 3 with a bottom 3A on one side and an opening 3B on the other side; It consists of a lid body 4 with an opening 3B covered,
The lid body 4 includes a large-diameter cylindrical portion 4A located on the outer circumferential side, protruding in the axial direction, and screwed into the opening 3B of the case body 3, and a recessed portion 43 located in the center. A small-diameter cylindrical portion 4C formed in a cylindrical shape and protruding in the axial direction is provided. In the dryer case 2, a connection port 5 on one side is formed at the bottom 3A of the case body 3 to be connected to a compressor 24, etc., which will be described later. A connection port 6 on the other side is formed to be connected to the other side.

7 indicates an adsorption chamber located between the bottom 3A of the case body 3 and the large diameter cylindrical portion 4A of the lid 4, and defined within the case body 3 by a pair of perforated plates 8.8. A filter element 9 is provided on the opposing surface of each perforated plate 8 that defines the adsorption chamber 7.
．． 9 are attached, and each filter element 9 has a dust removal function and a moisture adhesion function. In the adsorption chamber 7, a moisture adsorbent 10 made of, for example, silica gel is filled and housed between the filter elements 9. Moreover, one side chamber 11 is formed in the dryer case 2 between the bottom 3A of the case body 3 and the perforated plate 8 on one side, and the one side chamber 11 is located between the perforated plate 8 on the other side and the lid body 4. The other side chamber 12 is formed at the opposite side.

Reference numeral 13 indicates an orifice plate fitted into the recess 4B of the lid 4, and the orifice plate 13 has a small diameter orifice 13A.
The orifice 13A exerts a throttling effect on the air from the compressor 24 or the air tank 30, and the air flows through the adsorption chamber 7 at a relatively slow speed while effectively contacting the adsorbent 10. It is supposed to compensate for this.

Reference numeral 14 indicates a valve seat member provided in the small diameter cylindrical portion 4C of the lid body 4, and a ventilation passage 14A is formed in the center of the valve seat member 14, and the valve seat member 14 is located on one side of the ventilation passage 14A. A valve seat portion 14B is formed in the valve seat portion 14B, and a residual pressure valve 2, which will be described later, is installed in the valve seat portion 14B.
A valve body 19, which will be described later and which constitutes 1, is configured to be seated and taken off. Further, a plurality of ventilation holes 14C, 14C, .
is opened and closed by an air supply check valve 15 provided on the valve seat member 14. The check valve 15 is seated on and off the other end surface of the valve seat member 14, thereby allowing air to flow through each ventilation hole 14c from the compressor 24 toward the air tank 30, and preventing air from flowing in the opposite direction. It is supposed to be done.

16 is located inside the dryer case 2 and is temporarily installed between each perforated plate 8, with one side chamber 11. The communicating vibe 16 is shown projecting into the other side chamber 12. The communicating vibe 16 penetrates the inside of the adsorption chamber 7 in the axial direction, is separated from the adsorption chamber 7 and is shut off, and is connected to the other side chamber 12 on one side. An auxiliary passage 17 is provided that communicates directly with the connection port 5. One end of the communication vibrator 16 is brought into contact with the bottom 3A of the case body 3 so as to communicate with the connection port 5, and radial holes 16A, 16 are provided in the radial direction to allow the connection port 5 to communicate with the one side chamber 11 at all times.
A, . . . are drilled. In addition, the communication vibe 16
A small diameter portion 16C is formed on the other end side via a stepped portion 16B, and the end surface of the small diameter portion 16C serves as a valve seat 16D on which the valve body 19 is seated.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a covered cylindrical guide cylinder which is located in the other side chamber 12 and is slidably inserted into the other end of the communication vibrator 16, and the guide cylinder 18 has a valve body 19 on the center side of the lid. A radial hole 1 is fitted and fixed, and the radial hole 1 forms a part of the auxiliary passage 17 in the radial direction.
8A, 18A, . . . are drilled. Reference numeral 20 denotes a valve spring disposed between the lid of the guide tube 18 and the stepped portion 16B of the communication vibrator 16, and the valve spring 20 directs the valve body 19 toward the valve seat portion 14B of the valve seat member 14. Constantly energized, valve body 19
, together with the valve seat portion 14B, constitute a residual pressure valve 21 that maintains the air tank 30 side at a predetermined residual pressure state.

Further, the valve spring 20 constitutes an auxiliary valve 22 together with the valve seat 16D of the communication vibrator 16 and the valve body 19, and the auxiliary valve 22 normally opens the valve body 19 by the valve spring 20, and When the air pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, the valve switches from the open position (a) to the closed position (b) shown in Figure 2.
The valve body 19 is seated on the valve seat 16D against the valve spring 20. Reference numeral 23 indicates an exhaust check valve located in the middle of the auxiliary passage 17 and provided on one end side of the communication vibe 16. The check valve 23 prevents air from the air tank 30 side from flowing inside the auxiliary passage 17 in the direction of arrow A. It is designed to allow it to flow and prevent it from flowing in the opposite direction.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a compressor driven by an electric motor 25 or the like, and the compressor 24 is connected to the connection port 5 of the air dryer 1 via a pipe line 26 so as to discharge air as compressed air into the air dryer 1. It has become.

Reference numeral 27 indicates an exhaust valve connected to the middle of the pipe 26 via a branch pipe 26A, and the exhaust valve 27 is constituted by a solenoid valve, and is opened and closed by a control signal from the outside.

28 indicates an air suspension as a pneumatic device connected to the connection port 6 of the air dryer 1 via piping 29;
Air from the compressor 24 is supplied to and discharged from the air suspension 28 when the supply/exhaust valve 28A is opened, and the height of the vehicle (not shown) is adjusted using this air. Here, the air suspension 28 is arranged for each wheel of the vehicle, and the remaining three air suspensions (
(not shown) is connected to the air dryer 1 via a branch pipe 29. Further, 30 indicates an air tank provided in the middle of the piping 29. The air tank 30 temporarily stores air from the compressor 24, and when exhausting the air from each air suspension 28, this air is used for each air suspension. Sudden ejection of the suspension 28 is prevented.

The air dryer device according to this embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration, and its operation will be explained next.

First, when the compressor 24 is driven by the electric motor 25 and air from the compressor 24 is supplied to each air suspension 28, the air from the compressor 24 is supplied to the pipe 26. Each radial hole 16A of the communication vibrator 16, -
The air flows into the adsorption chamber 7 through the side chamber 11 and the like, moisture in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent 10, and the air becomes dry and flows into the other side chamber 12, and the check valve 15. Orifice 13A.

It is supplied to each air suspension 28 via piping 29, air tank 30, etc. As a result, each air chamber 28B of each air suspension 28 expands,
Adjust the vehicle height to raise the vehicle height.

In addition, when discharging air from each air suspension 28, the exhaust valve 27 is opened to allow the air from each air suspension 28 and air tank 30 to flow out to the air dryer l side. When the air pressure on the air tank 30 side is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the residual pressure valve 21 of the air dryer 1 opens and the auxiliary valve 22 closes, and this air flows into the adsorption chamber 7 from the other side chamber 12 and becomes dry air. This regenerates the adsorbent 10 while desorbing moisture from the adsorbent 10.Then, the air containing moisture is discharged from the one side chamber 11 to the outside through the exhaust valve 27 via each radial hole 16A, the pipe line 26, etc. In this case, auxiliary valve 2
2 is switched from the open position (a) to the closed position (b) as shown in FIG. 27, and the adsorbent 10 can be regenerated reliably.

When the air pressure on the air tank 30 side becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the valve body 19 of the auxiliary valve 22 is separated from the valve seat 16D of the communication vibe 16 by the urging force of the valve spring 20, as shown in FIG. Since the valve switches to the open position (A), the air tank 3
Dry air from the 0 side is passed through the auxiliary passage 17. It can be discharged to the outside from the exhaust valve 27 via the pipe line 26 etc. The compressor 24 etc. can be kept in a dry state.

That is, in this state, the valve body 19 of the auxiliary valve 22 is located at an intermediate position between the valve seat 16D of the communication vibrator 16 and the valve seat portion 14B of the valve seat member 14, and is separated from both. In addition, since the adsorption chamber 7 has a large flow resistance due to each filter element 9 and the adsorbent 10, and the auxiliary passage 17 has a small flow resistance, the fitted air from the air tank 30 side flows through the auxiliary passage 10.
When the air pressure on the air tank 30 side drops to a predetermined residual pressure level, 1. The valve body 19 is seated on the valve seat portion 14B of the valve seat member 14 by the biasing force of the valve spring 20, and the air passage 1
4A is closed, and the air tank 30 side is maintained at a predetermined residual pressure state as the residual pressure valve 21.

Thus, according to this embodiment, when the air pressure on the air tank 30 side is higher than the predetermined residual pressure level and lower than the predetermined pressure, the auxiliary valve 22 is opened to dry the air tank 30 side. The air is passed through the auxiliary passage 17 to the exhaust valve 2.
7. Since the air is circulated to the compressor 24 side, the exhaust valve 27 can be reliably dried with this dry air.
It can effectively prevent moisture from adhering to the exhaust valve 27.
This can solve problems such as rusting, poor sealing, and freezing.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the same components as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted. The feature of this embodiment is that a residual pressure valve 31 is provided outside the air dryer 1 in the middle of the branch pipe 26A for the exhaust valve 27, and the residual pressure valve 31
This is because the valve spring 32 sets the air tank 30 side to a predetermined residual pressure state when the exhaust valve 27 is opened.

Here, an auxiliary valve 33 is disposed in the middle of the auxiliary passage 17 so as to be spaced apart from the residual pressure valve 31 and in series with the residual pressure valve 31. (a), and when a pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure acts as a pilot pressure, the valve is switched to the valve closing position (b) against a spring 34. The auxiliary valve 33 continues to close when the pressure on the air tank 30 side is higher than a predetermined pressure when the exhaust valve 27 is opened, and when the pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure (when the pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure), the auxiliary valve 33 opens and supplies dry air to the exhaust valve 27. Distribute it.

This air pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure in the residual pressure valve 31.
When the pressure drops below the set pressure, the residual pressure valve 31 closes and the exhaust valve 2
Preventing air from being discharged from 7. Also, air dryer 1
Inside, the check valve 15 shown in FIG. 2 is eliminated.

(Thus, in this embodiment configured in this way, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effects as in the first embodiment, but in particular, in this embodiment, the check valve 15 can be abolished, and the air dryer 1 The structure of can be simplified.

In each of the above embodiments, the air tank 30 is provided in the middle of the piping 29, but this air tank 30
is provided to supply dry air to the exhaust valve 27 via the auxiliary passage 17 for a relatively long time;
When the volume of the air tank 9 or the like is relatively large, or when the predetermined pressure is set high, sufficient dry air is supplied, so the air tank 30 may be omitted.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, a communication vibe 16 is provided in the adsorption chamber 7.
Although it has been described that the auxiliary passage 17 is provided inside the dryer case 2 by penetrating the dryer case 2, for example, the auxiliary passage 17 is provided outside the dryer case 2 by bypassing the dryer case 2, On the way, there is an auxiliary valve 22 (
33) etc. may be provided.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As detailed above, according to the present invention, a pneumatic device and an exhaust valve are connected, an exhaust check valve and an auxiliary valve are provided in the middle of an auxiliary passage separated from an adsorption chamber, and the auxiliary valve is operated by pneumatic pressure. The valve is closed when the air pressure on the equipment side is above a predetermined pressure, and opened at other times, so when air is exhausted from the pneumatic equipment side, if the air pressure falls below the predetermined pressure, By automatically opening the auxiliary valve, dry air can be circulated to the exhaust valve, etc., preventing moisture from adhering to the exhaust valve, etc., and solving problems such as rusting, seal failure, and freezing. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an air dryer device showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of the air dryer device,
FIG. 3 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of an air dryer device showing a second embodiment. 1...Air dryer, 2...Dryer case, 7.
...Adsorption chamber, 10...Moisture adsorbent, 15...Check valve, 16...Communication vibe, 17...Auxiliary passage, 1
8... Guide tube, 19... Valve body, 20.32...
Valve spring, 21° 31... Residual pressure valve, 22.33... Auxiliary valve, 23... Exhaust check valve, 24... Compressor, 27... Exhaust valve, 28... Air suspension, 30...Air tank.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a dryer case connected to a compressor and an exhaust valve on one side and connected to a pneumatic device on the other side; an adsorption chamber formed within the dryer case and containing a moisture adsorbent therein;
In the air dryer device, the residual pressure valve is provided between the exhaust valve and the pneumatic equipment and maintains the air pressure on the pneumatic equipment side at a predetermined residual pressure state when the exhaust valve is opened. an auxiliary passage connected in series between the pneumatic equipment and the exhaust valve, and separated from the adsorption chamber; and air flows through the auxiliary passage from the pneumatic equipment to the exhaust valve. and an exhaust check valve located in the middle of the auxiliary passage, which closes when the air pressure on the pneumatic equipment side exceeds a predetermined pressure when the exhaust valve is opened. and an auxiliary valve that opens when the residual pressure becomes lower than the predetermined pressure, and the predetermined pressure is set to a higher pressure than the set pressure of the residual pressure valve.