Compressed-Air Supply Device for a Utility Vehicle and Method for Operating a Compressed-Air Supply Device

Abstract

A compressed-air supply device for a utility vehicle includes a valve device, which, when in a first, energized switching state, deaerates the control inlet of a compressor coupled to the energy-saving control outlet and blocks a supply path to the second valve device, and when in a second, de-energized switching state, aerates the control inlet of the compressor coupled to the energy-saving control outlet and opens up the supply path to the second valve. The compressor can be switched into an energy-saving state by aeration of the control inlet.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A compressed-air supply device for a utility vehicle equipped with a compressor, comprising:
 a compressed air input that is coupleable to the compressor;   a filter unit coupled to the compressed air input via a delivery line;   a drain valve coupled to a drain output and the delivery line;   an energy-saving control output that is coupleable to a control input of the compressor; and   a first valve device and a second valve device, wherein   the drain valve, the energy-saving control output and regeneration of the filter unit are controllable by the first and second valve devices,   the energy-saving control output is controllable via the first valve device and the drain valve and the regeneration of the filter unit are controllable via the second valve device,   the second valve device is supplyable with compressed air by the first valve device,   the first valve device deaerates the control input of the compressor coupled to the energy-saving control output and blocks a supply path to the second valve device in a first switching state, and in a second switching state aerates the control input of the compressor coupled to the energy-saving control output and opens the supply path to the second valve,   the compressor is changeable into an energy-saving state by aerating the control input, and   the first valve device is energized in its first switching state and is de-energized in its second switching state.   
     
     
         18 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first valve device is a 3/2-way valve. 
     
     
         19 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the second valve device is a 3/2-way valve that deaerates a control input of the drain valve and blocks a regeneration path in a first switching state and in a second switching state aerates the control input of the drain valve and opens a regeneration path, and further wherein the drain valve is changeable into an opened state by aerating the control input. 
     
     
         20 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the second valve device is a 2/2-way valve that deaerates a control input of the drain valve and blocks a regeneration path in a first switching state and in a second switching state aerates the control input of the drain valve and opens a regeneration path, and the drain valve can be changed into an opened state by aerating the control input. 
     
     
         21 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein in a first operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its first switching state and the second valve device adopts its first switching state, resulting in a load operating state. 
     
     
         22 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein in a first operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its first switching state and the second valve device adopts its first switching state, resulting in a load operating state. 
     
     
         23 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein in a second operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its second switching state and the second valve device adopts its second switching state, resulting in a regeneration operating state. 
     
     
         24 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein in a second operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its second switching state and the second valve device adopts its second switching state, resulting in a regeneration operating state. 
     
     
         25 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein in a third operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its second switching state and the second valve device adopts its first switching state, resulting in a blocking operating state. 
     
     
         26 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein in a third operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its second switching state and the second valve device adopts its first switching state, resulting in a blocking operating state. 
     
     
         27 . The compressed-air supply device as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an electronic control unit configured to control the compressed air supply device, wherein the valve first and second devices are solenoid valves.   
     
     
         28 . A method of operating a compressed-air supply device with a compressed air input coupleable to a compressor, a filter unit coupled to the compressed air input via a delivery line, a drain valve coupled to a drain output and the delivery line, an energy-saving control output that is coupleable to the control input of the compressor, a first valve device and a second valve device, the method comprising the acts of:
 controlling the drain valve, the energy-saving control output and the regeneration of the filter unit by the valve devices, wherein the energy-saving control output is controlled by the first valve device and the drain valve and the regeneration of the filter unit are controlled by the second valve device;   supplying the second valve device with compressed air by the first valve device, wherein:   the first valve device deaerates the control input of a compressor coupled to the energy-saving control output and blocks a supply path to the second valve device in a first switching state and in a second switching state aerates the control input of the compressor coupled to the energy-saving control output and opens the supply path to the second valve, and   the compressor is changeable into an energy-saving state by aerating the control input, wherein the first valve device is energized in its first switching state and is de-energized in its second switching state.   
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the first valve device is a 3/2-way valve. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the second valve device is a 3/2-way valve that deaerates a control input of the drain valve and blocks a regeneration path in a first switching state and in a second switching state aerates the control input of the drain valve and opens a regeneration path, and further wherein the drain valve is changed into an opened state by aerating the control input. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the second valve device is a 2/2-way valve that deaerates a control input of the drain valve and blocks a regeneration path in a first switching state and in a second switching state aerates the control input of the drain valve and opens a regeneration path, and further wherein the drain valve can be changed into an opened state by aerating the control input. 
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein in a first operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its first switching state and the second valve device adopts its first switching state, resulting in a load operating state. 
     
     
         33 . The method as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein in a first operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its first switching state and the second valve device adopts its first switching state, resulting in a load operating state. 
     
     
         34 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein in a second operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its second switching state and the second valve device adopts its second switching state, resulting in a regeneration operating state. 
     
     
         35 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein in a third operating state of the compressed-air supply device the first valve device adopts its second switching state and the second valve device adopts its first switching state, resulting in a blocking operating state. 
     
     
         36 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the valve devices are controlled by an electronic control unit.