WO2007060883A1

WO2007060883A1 - Air drier

Info

Publication number: WO2007060883A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/322948
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoshihiro Mitsuhashi
Original assignee: Nabtesco Corporation
Priority date: 2005-11-22
Filing date: 2006-11-17
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: JP4953417B2; JP2007136403A

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To provide a container attachment structure strong against external shock or vibration. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A desiccant container (50) for containing a granular desiccant (58) has a greater diameter at a lower portion (52). At the bottom of the lower portion (52), a protrusion (52a) having a small diameter is formed at the center and an outer circumferential portion (52b) having a large diameter surrounds the protrusion. The protrusion (52a) and the outer circumferential portion (52b) are engaged with support indentations (1240, 1260) of a support base (12), respectively. Thus, the desiccant container (50) is inserted into the support base (12) to lower its height. Moreover, since the desiccant container (50) is supported by the support base (12) through the two portions, i.e., the internal and external portions, it is also strong against vibration in the lateral direction.

Description

Specification

Air dryer

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an air dryer for drying compressed air that serves as an operating source of an air device, and in particular, it is advantageous for housing a granular desiccant in a stable holding state inside a desiccant container. It relates to the technology of air dryers.

Background art

[0002] One type of air dryer is known in which a desiccant container is supported upright on a support base and the outside of the desiccant container is surrounded by an outer cover. The support base includes an inlet for receiving the compressed air to be dried and an outlet for delivering the dried compressed air. The outer cover defines a room for storing compressed air with the inner desiccant container.

[0003] In such an air dryer, a desiccant container is located at the innermost side of the apparatus, a considerable portion of the outer side of the container is covered with a layer of compressed air !, and an outer cover is covered outside of the layer. It is a form. The air dryer is mounted on the vehicle, and the outer cover itself is exposed to a very low temperature environment even at low temperature below zero. However, the compressed air around the desiccant container is supplied from an air compressor, dried (dehumidified) by the desiccant in the desiccant container, and is compressed air with a slight warmth. The desiccant inside the desiccant container is protected from the outside air outside the outer cover by such a layer of compressed air, and can effectively perform the dehumidifying function without causing an extreme temperature drop. In addition, the air dryer is relatively easy to attach and detach the desiccant container on the support base, and the point of maintenance is also advantageous.

[0004] With attention paid to the coupling or assembly of the three components of the air dryer: the support base, the desiccant container, and the outer cover, the air dryer can be broadly divided into two types. In the first type, the desiccant container and the outer cover are completely integrated (unified, assuming that they will be separated later), and the integrated desiccant container and the outer cover are used as a support base. On the other hand, it is attached so that it can be attached and removed. Another second tag Eve is designed so that the desiccant container and the outer cover are separably attached to the support base. In the second type, the desiccant container containing the desiccant and the outer cover can be separated, so that both can be handled separately, and it is possible to replace only the desiccant container or the internal desiccant. It is. In that respect, the degree of freedom of component replacement is greater than that of the first type.

[0005] For example, in Patent Document 1, an outward flange is provided at one end of each of the desiccant container and the outer cover, and the flange portions are attached so as to be fastened and fixed by a plurality of mounting bolts. In Patent Document 2, the outer cover is attached to the outward flange with a plurality of mounting bolts, whereas the desiccant container is attached with a bolt that penetrates the center of the container. RU The deviation is also the second type Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3322337

Patent Document 2: Real Fairness 5-29055

[0006] Also, Patent Documents 3 and 4 belong to the first type. In Patent Document 3, a desiccant container is arranged at the center of the sub plate, and the desiccant container is held on the sub plate by a spring between the outer cover and the outer cover is provided with an outward flange portion at one end. Is attached to the sub-plate so as to be tightened with a band having a U-shaped cross section. Then, the desiccant container and the outer cover integrated on the sub plate are attached to the support base with bolts penetrating the center of the sub plate. On the other hand, in Patent Document 4, the desiccant container is held on the sub-plate by a spring as in Patent Document 3, and the outer cover is attached so that one end is wound around the sub-plate.

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-510757

Patent Document 4: JP-A-11-309332

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] In both the first type and the second type, a desiccant container containing a desiccant generally has a larger dimension in the height direction than a dimension in the radial direction. This is because a certain length of treatment (distance passing through the desiccant) is necessary for effective dehumidification. Only However, in spite of having such morphological features, in the past, the desiccant container was mounted on the support base. In other words, the lower layer of the desiccant layer in the container is usually located above the upper surface of the support base or the joint with the support base.

[0008] It is certain that the granular desiccant is filled in the container so as not to move with each other by a spring action or the like. However, considering that the air dryer is mounted on the vehicle, the desiccant container is always subject to external vibrations and impacts as the vehicle travels. Therefore, although a method of filling the granular desiccant in an appropriate manner is effective, it should also be considered from the aspect of attaching the desiccant container. In other words, the desiccant container itself should be attached to the support base in a form that can mitigate such vibrations and shocks as much as possible.

[0009] The present invention has been made based on such an idea, and an object thereof is to provide an air dryer having a container mounting structure that is strong against external impacts and vibrations. Another object of the present invention is to provide air dryer technology that reduces the installation height of the desiccant container. Still other objects of the present invention will become clear from the following description.

Means for solving the problem

[0010] In the present invention, in order to minimize the storage height of the desiccant inside the desiccant container, at least a part of the lower part of the desiccant container is arranged in the support base. Basically, at least a part of the lower part is intended to fit only the part of the lower part of the container that protrudes downward into the concave part (supporting concave part) of the support base. It is an expression that includes the case where a part of the support base fits into the concave part on the container side while fitting into the support concave part of the base.

[0011] Regarding the fit between the desiccant container and the support base, it is preferable that the lower part of the container has a coupling relation in which the movement in the radial direction is regulated by two internal and external force points in the radial direction. For example, a form including a central concave portion and a ring-shaped concave portion surrounding the central concave portion can be applied as the supporting concave portion on the support base side. Accordingly, the lower part of the desiccant container has two protruding parts inside and outside in the radial direction. A more preferable form of the desiccant container is: The diameter of the lower part including the lower part is larger than that of the upper part. In this configuration, the distance between the two protruding parts inside and outside is greater than in the general case with a uniform diameter in the height direction. As a result, the desiccant container exhibits a more stable strut that is resistant to lateral vibration and impact with respect to the support base.

[0012] When the lower part of the desiccant container has a large diameter, a ring-shaped groove space opened downward can be provided in the large-diameter lower part. Since one space can be created by the groove space and the ring-shaped recess as the support recess, it is preferable to use the space as a space for storing compressed air. By doing so, it is possible to cover the entire periphery of the desiccant container with the compressed air after processing in a form in which the lower part is made larger.

[0013] In the present invention, the desiccant container is attached to the support base in a removable manner so that at least parts can be replaced. However, if the lower part of the desiccant container has a large diameter, the outer cover can be attached to the large diameter part so as to be detachable. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the first type in which the outer cover and the desiccant container are completely integrated, but the second type in which the outer cover and the desiccant container can be separated from each other. It can also be applied to.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional structure diagram showing an embodiment of an air dryer according to the present invention.

2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an outer cover in the air dryer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the bottom surface force of the outer cover of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a desiccant container in the air dryer of FIG. 1.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view of the outer cover of FIGS. 4 and 5 as viewed from the bottom.

Explanation of symbols

[0015] 10 Air dryer

12 Support base

124 Inner ring j-ring part

126 Outer ring 50 Desiccant container

52 Lower part

52a Protruding part

52b Outer periphery

522 recess

58 Desiccant

60 Concave joint

70 Outer cover

72 Convex

74 Perimeter

75 rooms

752 Second room

1240, 1260 Support recess

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an air dryer according to the present invention, and shows a cross-sectional structure divided in the vertical direction. There is a thick support base 12 at the bottom of the air dryer 10. The support base 12 is a metal molded product having a force such as aluminum or an alloy thereof. One side of the support base 12 has an inlet 14 connected to a discharge port of an air compressor (not shown), and an outlet 16 connected to a main tank (not shown) on the other side. The outlet 16 and the inlet 14 are also pipe connection ports and are constituted by screw holes.

The inlet 14 communicates with the upper surface of the support base 12 through a central vertical hole 18 from an inlet hole 142 extending in the radial direction. The outlet 16 communicates with the upper surface of the support base 12 through the outlet hole 162 and the valve accommodating hole 164. In the nozzle receiving hole 164 on the outlet 16 side, there is a check valve 20 having a forward direction from the upper surface of the support base 12 toward the outlet 16.

[0018] The support base 12 is integrally provided with a hub-like protrusion 122 on the lower surface side, whereas an inner ring portion 124 and an outer ring portion 126 are provided concentrically on the upper surface side. . The outer ring portion 126 is taller and thicker than the inner ring portion 124. Inner ring Between the portion 124 and the outer ring portion 126, the upper surface of the support base 12 is greatly pierced, and a ring-shaped space 128 is formed therein. As will become apparent later, this ring-shaped space 128 is used as a space for storing the compressed air that has been dried. Therefore, the nozzle housing hole 164 that houses the check valve 20 opens into the ring-shaped space 128.

The air dryer 10 includes a desiccant container 50 and an outer cover 70 positioned on the support base 12 as much as the support base 12. The desiccant container 50 is a container in which a granular desiccant 58 is accommodated. Here, the desiccant container 50 is different from the conventional one in that the lower part 52 has a larger diameter than the upper part 51, and the outer cover 70 surrounds the outside of the desiccant container 50, and its drying It is a cover that divides a chamber 75 for storing compressed air between the agent container 50 and the container 50. The large-diameter lower portion 52 is sized to fit the inner diameter of the outer cover 70, and they fit together. In the mating part, there is a sealing ring 80 for sealing, and a specific uneven joint part 60 for joining each other. The large lower portion 52 allows for a specific bond with the outer cover 70, and also lowers the center of gravity of the desiccant container 50, increasing the stability of installation and handling.

[0020] The large-diameter lower portion 52 of the desiccant container 50 includes a ring-shaped internal space 528. The internal space 528 together with the ring-shaped space 128 on the support base 12 side defines a second chamber 752 for storing the compressed air that has been dried. The second chamber 752 and the upper room 75 communicate with each other through a plurality of communication holes 54 opened in the upper part of the lower part 52.

[0021] The ring-shaped internal space 528 of the large-diameter lower portion 52 has a configuration in which a wide portion and a narrow portion are continuous. Accordingly, inside the container of the desiccant container 50, there is a small volume accommodating portion at the bottom, and a large volume accommodating portion thereon. The small volume accommodation part at the bottom is filled with a filter element 57, and the large volume accommodation part above is filled with a regenerated granular desiccant 58. The desiccant 58 and filter element 57 inside the container can be replaced by loosening a plurality of mounting bolts 560 and removing the lid member 56 at the top of the desiccant container 50. The lid member 56 has a relatively large passage 562 that closes the check valve 563 and a small passage 561 that becomes a throttle during the regeneration cycle. Under the lid member 56, there is a spring 59 for moderately filling the granular desiccant 58. Therefore, the compressed air to be dried is not dehumidified by entering the inlet 14 and removing the compressor oil and dust by the filter element 57 and then passing through the desiccant 58. The dehumidified and dried compressed air opens the check valve 563 and flows from the passage 562 into the inner chamber 75 of the outer cover 70 and the second chamber 752 communicating therewith. Part of the compressed air that has flowed in is stored in the chamber 75 and the second chamber 752 for regeneration, and the rest is stored in the external main tank from the check valve 20 in the support base 12 through the outlet 16. . The dry compressed air in the main tank is used, for example, for the operation of each device in the air brake system.

A well-known drain valve 90 is installed in the vertical hole 18 in the center of the support base 12. The drain valve 90 also serves as a valve for discharging the drain and an opening valve for the outside air during the regeneration cycle of the desiccant. The drain valve 90 is closed when the desiccant 58 is dried, but when the pressure in the main tank reaches a predetermined value, the piston 92 is lowered by the command signal from the pressure gauge governor (not shown!) And the valve is opened. . The drain containing moisture and oil is released to the outside together with the compressed air as the drain valve 90 is opened and closed. Therefore, a silencer 94 is provided at the drain port of the drain valve 90 in order to reduce the noise accompanying the discharge.

[0024] In order to increase the degree of maintenance freedom, it is preferable that the desiccant container 50 and the outer force bar 70 are attached to the support base 12 in a detachable manner. In the air dryer 10, the desiccant container 50 and the outer cover 70 are attached to be removable and the integrated desiccant container 50 and the outer cover 70 are attached to the support base 12 so as to be removable. RU

First, a mounting structure between the desiccant container 50 and the outer cover 70 will be described. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the outer cover 70. The outer cover 70 is a metal processed product by pressing, and pressing is performed in two stages. The first stage is a press for obtaining the overall shape of the outer cover 70, and the second stage is a press for obtaining the projection 72 for coupling. The outer cover 70 has a cup shape opened downward. The peripheral portion 74 that forms the opening is slightly larger in diameter than the other portions of the outer cover 70 that follows. The diameter of the peripheral portion 74 is sized to fit the outer ring portion 126 of the support base 12, and the force of the peripheral portion 74 is also different from the lower portion 52 of the desiccant container 50 It is a size that facilitates assembly. The connecting convex portion 72 is a protrusion protruding inward by processing of the outer cover 70 itself. The convex portions 72 are located at four circumferential positions that are equally spaced from each other, and the height (projecting size) is about twice the plate thickness (eg, 3.2 mm) of the outer cover 70. Since the area force S occupied by the protrusion 72 itself is small and the height is small, the stress accompanying the processing of the protrusion 72 is small. Since such a plurality of convex portions 72 are positioned in the middle of the outer cover 70 in the height direction in an independent form, there is little possibility of adversely affecting the pressure resistance. Also, the outer cover 70 has a smooth peripheral edge from the convex portion 72 to the opening (at least a deformation smaller than the size of the concave-convex deformation of the convex portion 72), so the inherent stress is small and excellent in pressure resistance. The

[0026] The plurality of convex portions 72 of the outer cover 70 are concavo-convexly joined so as to fit into the concave portion 522 on the outer periphery of the lower portion 52 of the desiccant container 50. 4-6 show the desiccant container 50. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, particularly from FIG. 4, a groove (concave part) 522 is formed on the outer periphery of the lower part 52 of the desiccant container 50 so that the convex part 72 of the outer cover 70 fits and joins the concave and convex parts. . The concave portion 522 is provided as a stopper 523 at almost one place on the entire outer peripheral surface of the lower portion 52 of the desiccant container 50. Of course, the depth of the concave portion 522 is a size suitable for the convex portion 72. Further, flange portions 524 on the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion 52 of the desiccant container 50 and on the concave portion 522 are positioned at four locations in the circumferential direction corresponding to the convex portion 72 and equally spaced from each other. A notch 525 in the adjacent flange portion 524 is large enough to allow the convex portion 72 to enter (drop down). Therefore, the plurality of convex portions 72 of the outer cover 70 are dropped downward through the notch 525 of the lower part 52 of the desiccant container 50, and then the outer cover 70 and the lower part 52 of the desiccant container 50 are relatively rotated. Then, by projecting one of the convex portions 72 against the stopper 523 on the concave portion 522 side, the convex portion 72 and the concave portion 522 can be concavo-convexly coupled. On the other hand, the concave-convex coupling can easily release the coupling between the convex portion 72 and the concave portion 522 by returning the rotation.

In addition, by applying the same uneven coupling, it is possible to attach the desiccant container 50 and the outer force bar 70 integrated to the support base 12. Therefore, the air dryer 10 is provided with a convex portion 5212 for coupling to the support base 12 on the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion 52 of the desiccant container 50 and below the concave portion for coupling 52 to the outer cover 70. Depending on A coupling recess 17 is provided on the inner periphery of the outer ring portion 126 of the holding base 12. The number of convex parts 5212 and concave parts 17 on this side is 8 respectively.

[0028] When the integrated desiccant container 50 and the outer cover 70 are attached to the support base 12, the lower part 52 of the desiccant container 50 is connected to the inner periphery of the outer ring part 126, the inner periphery of the inner ring part 124, and the like. Further, the outer peripheral edge 74 of the outer cover 70 is fitted to the outer periphery of the outer ring 126. Therefore, a seal ring 80 is interposed between them to seal the mating portions.

[0029] Now, paying attention to the desiccant container 50, the large-diameter portion 52 has a small-diameter central protruding portion 52a that fits into the inner ring portion 124 and a ring-shaped internal space 528 at the bottom. There is a large-diameter outer peripheral portion 52b surrounding the periphery. The protruding portion 52a and the outer peripheral portion 52b fit into the inner supporting recess 1240 of the inner ring portion 124 and the inner supporting recess 1260 of the outer ring portion 126, respectively. Therefore, since the desiccant container 50 partially enters the support base 12, the height of the desiccant container 50 from the upper surface of the support base 12 is lowered. Also, since the desiccant container 50 is coupled to and supported by the support base 12 at two internal and external force points, the desiccant container 50 is securely integrated with the support base 12. Furthermore, since the desiccant container 50 is supported on the outermost peripheral side of the support base 12 through the outer cover 70, the desiccant container 50 is more reliably integrated with the support base 12. The form of supporting the larger outer diameter part of the container part containing the granular desiccant 58 and the form of supporting substantially lowering the height of the desiccant container 50 are the vibrations of the granular desiccant 58. It is effective in mitigating impacts.

[0030] By the way, in order to eliminate the backlash between the desiccant container 50 and the outer cover 70 integrated by uneven connection and the backlash between the support cover 12 and the desiccant container 50, the compressed air stored in the air dryer 10 is used here. Use. A check valve 100 for back pressure is provided at the upper part of the lower part 52 of the desiccant container 50, and the check valve 100 traps compressed air around the two concavities and convexities, and combines them with the action force based on the compressed air. One member to be pressed is pressed against the other member. The back pressure check valve 100 can also be configured with a force such as a cup-shaped rubber member 110 and a slide valve body 120 that supports the rubber member 110, and a coil spring 130 that pushes the slide valve body 120 so as to close the valve. In addition, the passage to the periphery of each joint portion is an internal passage provided in the lower part 52 of the desiccant container 50 and the joint Part play can be used. The back pressure check valve 100 keeps the compressed air confined around the joint portion even when the air dryer 10 enters the regeneration cycle and releases the compressed air in the rooms 75 and 752 to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate backlash caused by each uneven connection. When the desiccant container 50 and the outer cover 70 are removed from the support base 12, it is necessary to release the compressed air trapped around the joint. In consideration of the release, in this embodiment, a set screw 150 with a seal ring is used. The set screw 150 is located in the notch of the outer cover 70 and has a function of rotating the outer cover 70. Further, the set screw 150 closes the compressed air in the attached state, and releases the compressed air in the removed state (that is, releases the residual pressure). Since such a work to remove the fixing screw 150 is always performed prior to the removal work, the residual pressure can be inevitably released at the time of removal according to the work.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] a support base including an inlet for receiving compressed air to be dried and an outlet for delivering treated compressed air that has been dried;

A container that is supported upright on the support base, in which a granular desiccant is accommodated, and a desiccant container capable of drying the compressed air from the inlet through the desiccant; and drying on the support base An outer cover surrounding the outside of the desiccant container and defining a room for storing compressed air between the desiccant container and

A first attachment means for attaching the outer cover and the desiccant container to each other, and an outer cover and a desiccant container integrally connected to each other by the first attachment means are attached to the support base in a removable manner. An air dryer comprising: a second attachment means;

In order to reduce the desiccant storage height in the desiccant container, an air dryer is configured as follows.

(a) On the upper surface of the support base, there is a support recess for receiving at least a part of the lower part of the desiccant container.

(b) The lower part of the desiccant container fits into the support recess, and the desiccant container enters the support base by the fit.

[2] The air dryer according to claim 1, wherein the supporting concave portion and the lower portion of the desiccant container have a coupling relationship in which movement in the radial direction is regulated at two radial inner and outer force points.

[3] The air dryer according to claim 2, wherein the support recess includes a center recess and a ring-shaped recess surrounding the center recess.

[4] The lower part including the lower part of the desiccant container has a larger diameter than the upper part thereof, and the outer peripheral part of the lower part of the lower part of the large diameter fits into the ring-shaped recess, and the compressive force is also The air dryer according to claim 3, wherein the central portion of the lower part of the desiccant container has a protruding portion protruding downward from an adjacent portion, and the protruding portion fits into the central concave portion.

[5] The large-diameter lower portion of the desiccant container includes a ring-shaped groove space that opens downward.

5. The air dryer according to claim 4, wherein a fitting portion of the two inner and outer force stations becomes air tight, and the groove space and the ring-shaped recess constitute a single space. 6. The air dryer according to claim 5, wherein the one space communicates with a chamber inside the outer cover, thereby expanding a purge space for storing a compressed compressed air for regenerating the desiccant.