Sleep mode for an air dryer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10023169-B2
Application number	US-201514865700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

An air dryer for a locomotive air supply system that includes a controller programmed to initiate a sleep mode that inhibits the air dryer and de-energizes all valves. The controller determines when it is appropriate to enter into sleep mode based on various conditions of the locomotive air supply system. More specifically, the controller is programmed to calculate whether the air dryer should be placed into sleep mode based on operational characteristics of the locomotive air supply system that are indicative that the system has been idled. The initiation of an air dryer sleep mode by the controller prevents undesirable venting of air from the air supply system and unnecessary usage of locomotive battery power.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air dryer for a locomotive air supply system, comprising:
a set of valves including a drain valve and an exhaust valve for controlling the flow of air from an inlet through at least one desiccant tower to an outlet; and
a controller for piloting the set of valves that is programmed to inhibit operation of the valves such that the drain valve and the exhaust valve are closed in response to a determination that the locomotive air supply system is not in use and will remain closed until the controller determines that the air supply system is in use.

2. The air dryer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine that the locomotive air supply system is not in use by detecting that an air compressor supplying air to the air dryer has not been in operation for a predetermined period of time.

3. The air dryer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine that the locomotive air supply system is not in use based on the electrical state of a diesel locomotive coupled to the air dryer.

4. The air dryer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine that the locomotive air supply system is not in use by detecting a lack of air flow through the air dryer over a predetermined period of time.

5. The air dryer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine that the locomotive air supply system is not in use based on the pressure in a first main reservoir.

6. The air dryer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine that the locomotive air supply system is not in use based on the pressure in a second main reservoir of a locomotive.

7. The air dryer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine that the locomotive air supply system is not in use based on the humidity of any air in the air dryer.

8. The air dryer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to activate the series of valves a predetermined period of time after inhibiting the series of valves.

9. A locomotive air supply system, comprising
an air compressor driven by an electrical power source that is charged by the locomotive;
a first main reservoir for storing compressed air received from the air compressor;
an air dryer coupled to the first main reservoir via a check valve and having a series of valves including a drain valve and an exhaust valve for controlling the flow of air through at least one desiccant tower and a controller for piloting the series of valves, wherein the controller of the air dryer is programmed to inhibit operation of the series of valves such that the drain valve and the exhaust valve are closed in response to a determination that the locomotive air supply system is not in use and will remain closed until the controller determines that the air supply system is in use; and
a second main reservoir coupled to the air dryer for receiving and storing dried compressed air from the air dryer.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is coupled to at least one of the air compressor and the power source.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is coupled to check valve.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is coupled to a pressure sensor in at least one of the first main reservoir and the second main reservoir.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the air dryer further comprises a humidity sensor coupled to the controller.

14. A method of controlling an air dryer having a series of valves used in a locomotive air supply system, comprising the steps of:
providing an air dryer having a set of valves including a drain valve and an exhaust valve for controlling the flow of air from an inlet through at least one desiccant tower to an outlet and a controller for piloting the set of valves;
determining whether the locomotive air supply system is not in use; and
using the controller to inhibit the series of valves such that the drain valve and the exhaust valve are closed while the locomotive air supply system is not in use and will remain closed until the controller determines that the air supply system is in use.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of determining whether the locomotive air supply system is not in use comprises detecting at least one of the air compressor not supplying air, a non-charging electrical state of the locomotive, a lack of air flow through the air dryer over a predetermined period of time; a lack of sufficient pressure in a first main reservoir, a sufficient amount of pressure in the second main reservoir relative to the first main reservoir, a sufficient level humidity in the air exiting the air dryer over a predetermined period of time.

Assignees

• New York Air Brake Llc

Inventors

• Wright Eric C

Classifications

• B01D2259/4566

  for use in transportation means · CPC title

• B01D53/261

  by adsorption · CPC title

• B01D2259/40003

  Methods relating to valve switching · CPC title

• B01D2259/402

  using two beds · CPC title

• B60T17/004 Primary

  Draining and drying devices · CPC title