Air compressor system

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a compressor system includes a compressor shaft for generating compressed air, a clutch that, when engaged, transfers power from a vehicle engine to drive the compressor shaft and that, when disengaged, does not transfers power from the vehicle engine to drive the compressor shaft. An electric motor that, when activated, drives the compressor shaft. A control module that sets the compressor into one of at least three modes of operation as a function of respective statuses of various vehicle components. The compressor shaft is driven by both the clutch and the electric motor during at least one of the modes.

1 . A compressor system, comprising:
 a compressor shaft for generating compressed air;   a clutch that, when engaged, transfers power from a vehicle engine to drive the compressor shaft and that, when disengaged, does not transfers power from the vehicle engine to drive the compressor shaft;   an electric motor that, when activated, drives the compressor shaft; and   a control module that sets the compressor into one of at least three modes of operation as a function of respective statuses of various vehicle components, the compressor shaft being driven by both the clutch and the electric motor during at least one of the modes.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 during a first of the modes of operation, the clutch is engaged to drive the compressor shaft while the electric motor is not activated.   
     
     
         3 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the control module sets the compressor in the first mode of operation when a status of an engine vehicle component is running, but a charge available on an engine battery vehicle component is below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 during a second of the modes of operation, the clutch is engaged to drive the compressor shaft while the electric motor is activated.   
     
     
         5 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the control module sets the compressor in the second mode of operation when a status of an engine vehicle component is running and when a charge available on an engine battery vehicle component is at least a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the control module varies an amount of the clutch engagement and an amount of the motor activation as a function of a speed of the engine and the charge on the engine battery.   
     
     
         7 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 during a third of the modes of operation, the clutch is disengaged to not drive the compressor shaft while the electric motor is activated.   
     
     
         8 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the control module sets the compressor in the third mode of operation when a status of an engine vehicle component is not running and when a charge available on an engine battery vehicle component is at least a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 during a fourth of the modes of operation, the motor is activated to drive the compressor shaft independent of whether the clutch is engages; and   the motor includes a generator that acts to generate electrical power generated when service brake of the vehicle is applied.   
     
     
         10 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the generated electrical power charges the battery vehicle component.   
     
     
         11 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein:
 if the air system is above a predetermined pressure level and the battery is above a predetermined charge when the service brake is applied, the clutch is disengaged to unload the compressor while the motor assists braking through engine retardation.   
     
     
         12 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 1 , further including:
 a clutch control that transmits a control signal to the clutch for engaging/disengaging the clutch as a function of a control signal the clutch control receives from the control module.   
     
     
         13 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the control signal transmitted from the clutch control to the clutch is a pneumatic signal; and   the control signal transmitted from the control module to the clutch control is an electronic signal.   
     
     
         14 . A compressor system, comprising:
 a compressor shaft for generating compressed air into a reservoir;   a clutch, mounted to a vehicle engine and the compressor shaft, that, when engaged, transfers power from the vehicle engine to drive the compressor shaft and that, when disengaged, does not transfers power from the vehicle engine to drive the compressor shaft;   a clutch control communicating with the clutch, the clutch being engaged/disengaged as a function of a clutch control signal;   a motor, mounted to the clutch, that, when activated, drives the compressor shaft; and   a control module, communicating with the clutch control and the motor, setting the compressor into one of a plurality of modes of operation by transmitting respective control signals to the clutch control and the motor as a function of respective statuses of various vehicle components, the compressor shaft being driven by both the engine, via the clutch, and the motor during one of the modes.   
     
     
         15 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 the clutch control receives an electronic signal from the control module that indicates whether the clutch is to be engaged/disengaged;   the clutch control communicates a pneumatic signal to the clutch, as a function of the electronic signal from the control module, for engaging/disengaging the clutch; and   the motor receives an electronic signal from the control module that indicates whether the motor is to be activated.   
     
     
         16 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 14 , further including:
 a vehicle battery electrically communicating with the motor, the vehicle battery providing electric power to the motor when the motor is driving the compressor shaft.   
     
     
         17 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein:
 braking power generated when a vehicle service brake is applied is transformed by the motor into electrical power that is stored in the vehicle battery.   
     
     
         18 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein:
 braking power generated when a vehicle service brake is applied assists braking through engine retardation.   
     
     
         19 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 the control module sets the compressor in the one mode of operation when a status of an engine vehicle component is running and when a charge available on an engine battery vehicle component is at least a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         20 . A compressor system, comprising:
 a compressor shaft for generating compressed air;   a clutch that, when engaged, transfers power from a vehicle engine to drive the compressor shaft and that, when disengaged, does not transfers power from the vehicle engine to drive the compressor shaft;   a motor that, when activated, drives the compressor shaft; and   means for setting the compressor into one of at least three modes of operation as a function of respective statuses of various vehicle components, the compressor shaft being driven by both the engine, via the clutch, and the motor in at least one of the modes.   
     
     
         21 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the means for setting includes:
 a control module that receives signals representing the respective statuses of the various vehicle components, the control module generating control signals for setting the compressor into one of the modes of operation as a function of received signals.   
     
     
         22 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 21 , further including:
 a clutch control that receives one of the signals generated by the control module, the clutch engaging/disengaging as a function of a control signal transmitted from the clutch control that is based on the received signal from the control module.   
     
     
         23 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein:
 the motor receives a control signal from the control module that activates/deactivates the motor.   
     
     
         24 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein:
 the means for setting controls respective amounts that the motor drives the compressor shaft and that the clutch drives the compressor shaft as a function of the respective statuses of various vehicle components.   
     
     
         25 . The compressor system as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein:
 the vehicle component statuses include the engine speed, the speed of the compressor shaft, the speed of the motor, a pressure of the compressed air in an associated reservoir, a level of charge on a vehicle battery, and whether a vehicle service brake is applied.   
     
     
         26 . A method for driving a compressor, the method including:
 engaging/disengaging a clutch that transfers power from a vehicle engine to drive a compressor shaft;   activating/deactivating a motor that drives the compressor shaft;   receiving respective status signals into a control module from various vehicle components;   generating control signals in the control module, as a function of the status signals, for engaging/disengaging the clutch and activating/deactivating the motor for selectively setting the compressor in one of a plurality of operating modes, the compressor shaft being driven by both the clutch and the motor during at least one of the operating modes.   
     
     
         27 . The method for driving a compressor as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the step of engaging/disengaging the clutch includes:
 transmitting the control signal from the control module to a clutch control; and   transmitting a clutch control signal, based on the signal transmitted from the control module, from the clutch control to the clutch.   
     
     
         28 . The method for driving a compressor as set forth in  claim 26 , further including:
 selectively determining respective amounts of the engagement of the clutch and of the activation of the motor as a function of the engine speed, the speed of the compressor shaft, the speed of the motor, a pressure of the compressed air in an associated reservoir, a level of charge on a vehicle battery, and whether a vehicle service brake is applied.   
     
     
         29 . The method for driving a compressor as set forth in  claim 26 , further including:
 charging a vehicle battery via the motor during a second of the operating modes.