US 12,252,085 B2
Vehicle air management system
Hugo Bebon, Saint-Priest (FR); and Jean-Sebastien Carle, Lyons (FR)
Assigned to Volvo Truck Corporation, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Dec. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/064,049.
Claims priority of application No. 21214836 (EP), filed on Dec. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182664 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 16/08 (2006.01); F17C 6/00 (2006.01); G05D 16/20 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 16/08 (2013.01) [F17C 6/00 (2013.01); G05D 16/2013 (2013.01); F17C 2205/0326 (2013.01); F17C 2205/0338 (2013.01); F17C 2221/031 (2013.01); F17C 2227/0157 (2013.01); F17C 2250/03 (2013.01); F17C 2250/0417 (2013.01); F17C 2250/043 (2013.01); F17C 2270/0168 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle air management system for a vehicle, the vehicle air management system comprising:
an air compressor configured to receive air from an air inlet via an air inlet conduit of the vehicle air management system,
an air tank arranged in downstream fluid communication with the air compressor and configured to receive pressurized air from the air compressor, wherein the air tank comprises a first outlet connectable to at least one air consumer of the vehicle,
a boost air tank configured to contain pressurized air, the boost air tank being arranged in downstream fluid communication with a second outlet of the air tank, wherein the boost air tank is arranged in upstream fluid communication with the air compressor,
a first valve arranged in fluid communication between the air tank and the boost air tank,
a second valve arranged in fluid communication between the boost air tank and the air compressor, and
a control unit connected to the first and second valves, wherein the control unit comprises control circuitry configured to:
receive a signal indicative of an air consumption level of the at least one air consumer,
compare the air consumption level with a predetermined threshold limit, and when the air consumption level is higher than the predetermined threshold limit:
control the first valve to assume a closed position to prevent air from the air tank to reach the boost air tank, and control the second valve to assume an open position to allow pressurized air from the boost air tank to reach air compressor for increasing a production rate of the pressurized air delivered from the air compressor.