Extended compressor operation for auxiliary air supply

Abstract

A machine air supply system includes a primary air circuit and a secondary air circuit and a single compressor for supplying compressed air to both circuits. In an embodiment, the compressor is a reciprocating piston compressor having a primary air circuit including a compression chamber of the compressor and a secondary air circuit including a crankcase chamber of the compressor. In an aspect, the compressor may be a multi-cylinder compressor.

1 . A machine having a plurality of air-operated systems including at least one primary system and at least one secondary system, the machine comprising:
 at least one air tank for containing a supply of compressed air for providing compressed air to the at least one primary system; and   a compressor for supplying compressed air to the at least one air tank, the compressor being a reciprocating piston compressor having a primary air circuit including a compression chamber of the compressor and a secondary air circuit including a crankcase chamber of the compressor.   
   
   
       2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , further including a secondary air tank, separate from the primary tank, for providing compressed air to the at least one secondary system. 
   
   
       3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the primary tank operates at a higher air pressure than the secondary tank. 
   
   
       4 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is an oil-less compressor. 
   
   
       5 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor includes multiple reciprocating pistons associated with respective separate compression chambers and respective separate crankcase chambers, wherein the primary air circuit includes the respective separate compression chambers and the secondary air circuit includes the respective separate crankcase chambers. 
   
   
       6 . The machine according to  claim 5 , further including at least one sealed shaft passing between the respective separate crankcase chambers. 
   
   
       7 . The machine according to  claim 1 , further including at least one filter in the primary air circuit and at least one filter in the secondary air circuit. 
   
   
       8 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one primary system includes an air brake system and the at least one secondary system includes one of a regeneration purge system, a selective catalytic reduction air-assisted urea injector, and a crankcase purge system. 
   
   
       9 . The machine according to  claim 1 , further including a regulator module for controlling the primary air circuit and the secondary air circuit separately by controlling the operation of the compressor. 
   
   
       10 . The machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the primary air circuit and the secondary air circuit each include an air intake valve, wherein the regulator module separately controls the primary air circuit and the secondary air circuit by independently controlling the air intake valves. 
   
   
       11 . A machine air supply system for providing compressed air to two or more air-operated features of a machine, the air supply system including:
 a primary air circuit for providing compressed air to one of the two or more air-operated features of the machine; and   a secondary air circuit for providing compressed air to another of the two or more air-operated features of the machine, wherein the primary air circuit and the secondary air circuit share a single compressor while operating at different air pressures.   
   
   
       12 . The machine air supply system according to  claim 11 , wherein the primary air circuit includes a primary tank and the secondary air circuit includes a secondary tank separate from the primary tank. 
   
   
       13 . The machine air supply system according to  claim 12 , wherein the primary tank operates at a higher air pressure than the secondary tank. 
   
   
       14 . The machine air supply system according to  claim 11 , wherein the single compressor includes multiple reciprocating pistons associated with respective separate compression chambers and respective separate crankcase chambers, wherein the primary air circuit includes the respective separate compression chambers and the secondary air circuit includes the respective separate crankcase chambers. 
   
   
       15 . The machine air supply system according to  claim 11 , further including at least one filter in the primary air circuit and at least one filter in the secondary air circuit. 
   
   
       16 . The machine air supply system according to  claim 11 , wherein the two or more air-operated features of the machine include an air brake system and at least one of a regeneration purge system, a selective catalytic reduction air-assisted urea injector, and a crankcase purge system. 
   
   
       17 . The machine air supply system according to  claim 11 , further including a regulator module for controlling the primary air circuit and the secondary air circuit separately by controlling the operation of the single compressor. 
   
   
       18 . The machine air supply system according to  claim 17 , wherein the primary air circuit and the secondary air circuit each include an air intake valve, wherein the regulator module separately controls the primary air circuit and the secondary air circuit by controlling the air intake valve of the primary air circuit and the secondary air circuit. 
   
   
       19 . A method for managing an air supply in a machine having a high-pressure air circuit and a secondary air circuit having a lower pressure than the high-pressure air circuit, the high-pressure air circuit and the secondary air circuit being driven by a single compressor, the method comprising:
 sensing a pressure in the high-pressure air circuit to establish a first sensed pressure;   holding open a first intake valve on the compressor if the sensed pressure exceeds a first deactivation threshold, and releasing the first intake valve if the sensed pressure is less than a first activation threshold;   sensing a pressure in the secondary air circuit to establish a second sensed pressure; and   holding open a second intake valve on the compressor if the sensed pressure exceeds a second deactivation threshold, and releasing the second intake valve if the sensed pressure is less than a second activation threshold.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the compressor includes a reciprocating piston, and wherein the high-pressure air circuit includes a compression chamber associated with the reciprocating piston and the secondary air circuit includes a crankcase chamber associated with the reciprocating piston.