Vehicle Air Compressor Apparatus for a Heavy Vehicle Air Braking System

Abstract

A vehicle air compressor apparatus is provided for a heavy vehicle air braking system. The apparatus comprises a crankcase, and a cylinder head disposed on the crankcase. The cylinder head includes (i) an air inlet port through which air can be received for compression within the crankcase and the cylinder head, (ii) a discharge port through which compressed air can be delivered from the cylinder head, (iii) a first port through which compressed air can pass, and (iv) a second port through which cooled compressed air can pass. The apparatus further comprises a discharge air cooling jumper connected externally of the cylinder head between the first and second ports. The jumper is arranged to cool compressed air passing from the first port through a discharge air path of the jumper to the second port to provide cooler compressed air to be delivered from the cylinder head through the discharge port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus for a heavy vehicle air braking system, the vehicle air compressor apparatus comprising:
 a compressor crankcase assembly;   a compressor cylinder head assembly disposed on the crankcase assembly and including (i) an air inlet port through which air can be received for compression within the crankcase and cylinder head assemblies, (ii) a discharge port through which compressed air can be delivered from the cylinder head assembly, (iii) a first intermediate port through which compressed air can pass, and (iv) a second intermediate port through which cooled compressed air can pass; and   a discharge air cooling jumper connected externally of the cylinder head assembly between the first and second intermediate ports and arranged to cool compressed air passing from the first intermediate port through a discharge air path of the jumper to the second intermediate port and thereby to provide cooler compressed air to be delivered from the cylinder head assembly through the discharge port.   
     
     
         2 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes at least one longitudinally-extending cooling fin disposed externally on a first side of the jumper. 
     
     
         3 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes at least one longitudinally-extending cooling fin disposed externally on a second side of the jumper opposite the first side of the jumper. 
     
     
         4 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes at least one longitudinally-extending cooling fin disposed externally on top of the jumper. 
     
     
         5 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes at least one longitudinally-extending cooling fin disposed externally on bottom of the jumper. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes (i) at least one longitudinally-extending cooling fin disposed externally on top side of the jumper, and (ii) at least one longitudinally-extending cooling fin disposed externally on bottom of the jumper. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes at least one radially-extending cooling fin disposed externally around at least a portion of the jumper. 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) the discharge air cooling jumper includes a first end portion defining a first end of the discharge air path and a second end portion defining second end of the discharge air path, and (ii) the discharge air path extends in a substantial U-shape between the first and second ends of the discharge air path. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes a safety valve disposed at one of the first and second end portions of the jumper and connected in fluid communication with the discharge air path. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein (i) the first end portion of the jumper defines a first jumper bearing surface which faces a first cylinder head bearing surface in the vicinity of the first intermediate port of the cylinder head assembly, and (ii) the second end portion of the jumper defines a second jumper bearing surface which faces a second cylinder head bearing surface in the vicinity of the second intermediate port of the cylinder head assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the cylinder head assembly includes (i) a first O-ring disposed between the first jumper bearing surface and the first cylinder head bearing surface in the vicinity of the first intermediate port to provide an air-tight seal between the bearing surfaces, and (ii) a second O-ring disposed between the second jumper bearing surface and the second cylinder head bearing surface in the vicinity of the second intermediate port to provide an airtight seal between the bearing surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) the first intermediate port is connectable in fluid communication to the air inlet port through a first number of air passages which are internal to the cylinder head, and (ii) the second intermediate port is connectable in fluid communication to the discharge port through a second number of air passages which are internal to the cylinder head assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus for a heavy vehicle braking system, the vehicle air compressor apparatus comprising:
 a compressor crankcase assembly;   a compressor cylinder head assembly disposed on the crankcase assembly and co-operating with the crankcase assembly to generate compressed air, wherein the cylinder head assembly includes (i) an air inlet port through which air can be received for compression within the crankcase and cylinder head assemblies, and (ii) a discharge port through which compressed air can be delivered from the cylinder head assembly; and   cooling means connected externally of the crankcase and cylinder head assemblies and for cooling compressed air before the compressed air is delivered from the cylinder head assembly through the discharge port to deliver cooler compressed air through the discharge port.   
     
     
         14 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the cooling means includes a discharge air cooling jumper including at least a portion spaced apart from the cylinder head assembly to cool compressed air while the compressed air is outside of the cylinder head assembly and thereby to provide cooler compressed air to be delivered from the cylinder head assembly through the discharge port. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes at least one cooling fin disposed externally on the jumper. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one cooling fin comprises at least one radially-extending cooling fin disposed externally on the jumper. 
     
     
         17 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper defines a substantially U-shaped discharge air path within the jumper. 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes a safety valve connected in fluid communication with the substantially U-shaped discharge air path within the jumper. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus for a heavy vehicle braking system, the vehicle air compressor apparatus comprising:
 a compressor cylinder head assembly connectable to a crankcase assembly and including (i) an air inlet port through which air can be received for compression within the crankcase and cylinder head assemblies, (ii) a discharge port through which compressed air can be delivered from the cylinder head assembly, (iii) a first intermediate port through which compressed air can pass, and (iv) a second intermediate port through which cooled compressed air can pass; and   a discharge air cooling jumper connected externally of the cylinder head assembly between the first and second intermediate ports and arranged to cool compressed air passing from the first intermediate port through a discharge air path of the jumper to the second intermediate port and thereby to provide cooler compressed air to be delivered from the cylinder head assembly through the discharge port.   
     
     
         20 . A method of retrofitting a vehicle air compressor apparatus of  claim 19  to a vehicle air compressor having a legacy crankcase assembly and a legacy cylinder head assembly disposed on the legacy crankcase assembly, wherein the method comprises (i) removing the legacy cylinder head assembly from the legacy crankcase assembly, (ii) connecting the compressor cylinder head assembly to the legacy crankcase assembly, and (iii) connecting the discharge air cooling jumper to the compressor cylinder head assembly. 
     
     
         21 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper comprises at least one cooling fin disposed externally on the jumper. 
     
     
         22 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper defines a substantially U-shaped discharge air path within the jumper. 
     
     
         23 . A vehicle air compressor apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the discharge air cooling jumper includes a safety valve connected in fluid communication with the substantially U-shaped discharge air path within the jumper.