Compressed Air Generator Unit for a Vehicle and Method for the Control Thereof

Abstract

A compressed air generator system for a vehicle includes at least one drive motor having a compressed air generator for generating compressed air, an electrical motor coupled to the compressed air generator for driving the compressed air generator; a controllable coupling for coupling the compressed air generator to the at least one drive motor, a control device for controlling the compressed air generator unit, and a synchronization device for synchronizing a compressed air generator rotational speed of the compressed air generator and an output rotational speed of the at least one drive motor. The controllable coupling is switchable with a synchronized compressed air generator rotational speed and output rotational speed. A corresponding method controls the compressed air generator system.

1 . A compressed-air generating system of a commercial vehicle with at least one drive motor, the system comprising:
 a compressed-air generator for generating compressed air;   an electric motor operatively coupled to the compressed-air generator for driving the compressed-air generator;   a controllable clutch operatively configured to couple the compressed-air generator to said at least one drive motor;   a control device operatively configured to control the compressed-air generating system; a synchronizing device operatively configured to synchronize a rotation speed of the compressed-air generator and an output rotation speed of said at least one drive motor; and   wherein the control device controls said controllable clutch to be shiftable when the compressed-air generator rotation speed and the output rotation speed of said at least one drive motor are synchronized by the synchronization device.   
     
     
         2 . The compressed-air generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the synchronizing device comprises:
 a first determination device for determining said rotation speed of the compressed-air generator;   a second determination device for determining said output rotation speed of said at least one drive motor;   a comparator for comparing the compressed-air generator rotation speed and the output rotation speed;   a control unit for the electric motor, the control unit being configured to control the electric motor; and   a shifting unit operatively configured for shifting the controllable clutch when the compressed-air generator rotation speed and the output rotation speed are synchronized.   
     
     
         3 . The compressed-air generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor control unit is operable to set a rotation speed of the compressed-air generator and to set idling and generator modes of the electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The compressed-air generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controllable clutch is a positively locking, shiftable clutch. 
     
     
         5 . The compressed-air generating system according to  claim 4 , wherein the controllable clutch is a dog clutch. 
     
     
         6 . The compressed-air generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controllable clutch is coupled to an output of a drive train of the commercial vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The compressed-air generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the synchronizing device is incorporated into the control device. 
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling a compressed-air generating system of a vehicle with at least one drive motor, the method comprising the acts of:
 driving a compressed-air generator with an electric motor in order to generate compressed air;   synchronizing a rotation speed of the compressed-air generator with an output rotation speed of the at least one drive motor; and   shifting a controllable clutch when the rotation speeds are synchronous, in order to couple the compressed-air generator to the at least one drive motor in order to generate the compressed air.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the act of synchronizing comprises the acts of:
 determining a rotation speed of the compressed-air generator;   determining an output rotation speed of the at least one drive motor;   comparing the determined rotation speeds and generating a control signal for an electric motor control unit; and   actuating an electric motor by the electric motor control unit based on the control signal relating to the output rotation speed of the drive motor for synchronizing the compressed-air generator rotation speed with the output rotation speed.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the act of shifting comprises the acts of:
 engaging the controllable clutch via a shifting unit; and   controlling the electric motor in an idling state by way of the electric motor control unit.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the act of shifting comprises the acts of:
 engaging the controllable clutch via a shifting unit; and   controlling the electric motor in an idling state by way of the electric motor control unit.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the act of shifting comprises the acts of:
 engaging the controllable clutch via a shifting unit; and   controlling the electric motor in a generator state by the electric motor control unit in order to generate electrical energy.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the act of shifting comprises the acts of:
 engaging the controllable clutch via a shifting unit; and   controlling the electric motor in a generator state by the electric motor control unit in order to generate electrical energy.