Electrified air system for use with central tire inflation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021039454-A1
Application number	US-201916533507-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Aug 6, 2019
Publication date	Feb 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle having one or more pneumatic wheels, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine including a cylinder and an intake manifold in fluid communication with the cylinder, a tire inflation system configured to direct air into at least one of the one or more inflatable wheels, an air assembly configured to supply air at a first pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to both the intake manifold and the tire inflation system, where the air assembly includes a first compressor stage and a second compressor stage.

First claim

1 . A vehicle having one or more pneumatic wheels, the vehicle comprising:
an internal combustion engine including a cylinder and an intake manifold in fluid communication with the cylinder; a tire inflation system configured to direct air into at least one of the one or more inflatable wheels; an air assembly configured to supply air at a first pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to both the intake manifold and the tire inflation system, wherein the air assembly includes a first compressor stage and a second compressor stage.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein air output from the first compressor stage is selectively directed into the second compressor stage.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the air assembly includes an electric motor in operable communication with both the first compressor stage and the second compressor stage.

4 . The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the air assembly includes a clutch positioned between and operably connecting the electrical motor to one of the first compressor stage and the second compressor stage.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the air assembly is operable in a first mode, in which air output by the first compressor stage is directed the intake manifold, a second mode, in which air output by the first and second compressor stages are directed to the intake manifold, and a third mode, in which air output by the first and second compressor stages are directed to the tire inflation system.

6 . The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein air output from the first compressor stage is directed into the second compressor stage in the second and third modes.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tire inflation system includes a secondary air compressor.

8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the secondary air compressor is operable independent of the first compression stage and the second compression stage.

9 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the tire inflation system includes a CTI manifold, and wherein the manifold is in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more pneumatic wheels, the air assembly, and the secondary air compressor.

10 . An intake assembly for use with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder, and a tire inflation system, the intake assembly comprising:
a first compressor stage having a first inlet and a first outlet; a second compressor stage having a second inlet and a second outlet; and a manifold including:
a first passageway configured to be open to and in fluid communication with the at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine,
a second passageway configured to be open to and in fluid communication with the tire inflation system,
a first valve having a first end in fluid communication with the first inlet and a second end in fluid communication with the first outlet, and wherein the first valve is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration,
a second valve having a third end in fluid communication with the first outlet and a fourth end in fluid communication with the first passageway, and wherein the second valve is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration,
a third valve having a fifth end in fluid communication with the second outlet and a sixth end in fluid communication with the first passageway, and
wherein the first outlet is in fluid communication with the second inlet.

11 . The intake assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second passageway is in fluid communication with the second outlet.

12 . The intake assembly of claim 10 , wherein the manifold is operable in a CTI boost mode, in which the first valve is in an open configuration, the second valve is in a closed configuration, and the third valve is in a closed configuration.

13 . The intake assembly of claim 12 , wherein the manifold is operable in a passive mode, in which the first valve is in the open configuration, the second valve is in the closed configuration, and the third valve is in the third configuration.

14 . The intake assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fifth end is in fluid communication with the second passageway.

15 . The intake assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first outlet is in fluid communication with the second inlet.

16 . The intake assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a motor in operable communication with the first compressor stage and the second compressor stage.

17 . The intake assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a clutch positioned between and operably connecting the electrical motor to one of the first compressor stage and the second compressor stage.

18 . The intake assembly of claim 16 , wherein the motor is an electrical motor.

19 . The intake assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a third passageway open to and in fluid communication with a primary intake assembly, and wherein the third passageway is in fluid communication with the first end of the first valve.

20 . A manifold for use with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder, a tire inflation system, a first compressor stage, and a second compressor stage, the intake assembly comprising:
a first passageway configured to be open to and in fluid communication with the at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine; a second passageway configured to be open to and in fluid communication with the tire inflation system; a third passageway configured to be open to and in fluid communication with an inlet of the first compressor stage; a fourth passageway configured to be open to and in fluid communication with an outlet of the first compressor stage; a fifth passageway configured to be open to and in fluid communication with an outlet of the second compressor stage; a first valve having a first end in fluid communication with the third passageway and a second end in fluid communication with the fourth passageway, and wherein the first valve is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; a second valve having a third end in fluid communication with the fourth passageway and a fourth end in fluid communication with the first passageway, and wherein the second valve is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and a third valve having a fifth end in fluid communication with the fifth passageway and a sixth end in fluid communication with the first passageway.

21 . The manifold of claim 20 , further comprising a sixth passageway configured to be open to and in fluid communication with an inlet of the second compressor stage, and wherein the sixth passageway is in fluid communication with the fourth passageway.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Gonsowski Joseph R
• Punjani Pratir
• Bratvold Brian

Classifications

• B60W10/30

  including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps · CPC title

• B60C23/14 Primary

  operated by the prime mover of the vehicle · CPC title

• F02D41/0002

  Controlling intake air · CPC title

• F04D17/12

  Multi-stage pumps · CPC title

• F04B35/002

  driven by internal combustion engines · CPC title