US6730143B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Truck air dryer purge air cleaner
Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
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Filing: 2002-11-18
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Granted: 2004-05-04
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Expires: 2022-11-18
Abstract
Abstract Oil entrained in purge air from a vehicle air dryer is directed through a purge air cleaner to remove the oil before discharge of the purge air to the environment. An absorbent material, perferably hydrophobic, is enclosed in the purge air cleaner, which may be safely disposed. Alternatively, oil can be extracted from the absorbent media and thereby recycled. By providing a spin-on type canister, the absorbent media can be easily replaced and serviced.
Inventors
- 👤 Randall W. Nichols
- 👤 Jeff Malarik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T17/00; B60T17/002; B60T17/004; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/26; B01D53/261; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/80; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40083; B01D2259/40086; B01D2259/45; B01D2259/4566
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of recovering oil from a compressed air system that includes an air dryer having a desiccant material disposed therein, the method comprising the steps of: purging an air dryer with a purge air flow; and separating oil from the purge air flow prior to discharging the purge air flow to atmosphere.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of recovering oil from a compressed air system that includes an air dryer having a desiccant material disposed therein, the method comprising the steps of: purging an air dryer with a purge air flow; and separating oil from the purge air flow prior to discharging the purge air flow to atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of separating oil from the purge air flow is performed by a purge sir cleaner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said purge air cleaner is selectively removable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of supplying an absorbent material in a purge air cleaner to absorb the oil therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said absorbent material is hydrophobic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of recycling the oil collected in a purge air cleaner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
An air dryer assembly for a compressed air system comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet that communicate with a cavity having a desiccant material therein, whereby the desiccant material removes moisture from compressed air passing from the inlet to the outlet, and a purge air flow through the desiccant material removes moisture and oil therefrom; and a purge air cleaner in operative communication with the desiccant material for receiving the purge air flow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
An air dryer assembly for a compressed air system comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet that communicate with a cavity having a desiccant material therein, whereby the desiccant material removes moisture from compressed air passing from the inlet to the outlet, and a purge air flow through the desiccant material removes moisture and oil therefrom; and a purge air cleaner in operative communication with the desiccant material for receiving the purge air flow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 7 wherein the purge air cleaner is mounted adjacent the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 7 further comprising a purge valve for reversing air flow through the desiccant material from the outlet to the inlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 7 wherein the purge air cleaner further comprises an absorbent material therein for removing oil from the purge flow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 10 wherein the absorbent material is hydrophobic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 10 wherein the absorbent material is a porous fixed bed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 10 wherein said absorbent material is a corrugated sheet material housed within the purge air cleaner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 7 wherein the purge air cleaner is selectively removable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The dr dryer assembly of claim 14 wherein the purge air cleaner further comprises a set of threads for spin-on assembly to and disassembly from said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 7 wherein the purge air cleaner further comprises a port communicating with the atmosphere.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
An air dryer assembly for a compressed air system used on a vehicle, the air dryer assembly comprising: an air dryer housing having a supply port and a delivery port communicating with a desiccant material stored in the housing for removing moisture and contaminants from compressed air flowing from the supply port to the delivery port; a valve for providing a purge air flow tough the desiccant material whereby moisture and contaminants are removed form the desiccant material by the purge air; and a reservoir that receives the purge air, wherein oil in the purge air is removed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
98 words
An air dryer assembly for a compressed air system used on a vehicle, the air dryer assembly comprising: an air dryer housing having a supply port and a delivery port communicating with a desiccant material stored in the housing for removing moisture and contaminants from compressed air flowing from the supply port to the delivery port; a valve for providing a purge air flow tough the desiccant material whereby moisture and contaminants are removed form the desiccant material by the purge air; and a reservoir that receives the purge air, wherein oil in the purge air is removed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 17 , wherein said reservoir removes oil from the purge at prior to is discharge of the purge air to atmosphere.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 17 wherein the reservoir includes an absorbent material for removing oil from the purge flow.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 19 , wherein the absorbent material is hydrophobic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air dryer assembly of claim 17 wherein the reservoir is removably mounted to the air dryer housing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
A purge air cleaner connectable to an air dryer, the purge air cleaner comprising: an inlet adapted to receive purge air from the air dryer; an absorbent material disposed in the purge air cleaner, wherein the absorbent material removes oil from the purge air; and an outlet for discharging the purge air from the purge air cleaner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
A purge air cleaner connectable to an air dryer, the purge air cleaner comprising: an inlet adapted to receive purge air from the air dryer; an absorbent material disposed in the purge air cleaner, wherein the absorbent material removes oil from the purge air; and an outlet for discharging the purge air from the purge air cleaner.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The purge air cleaner of claim 22 , wherein the absorbent material is hydrophobic.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The purge reservoir of claim 22 , wherein said purge air cleaner further comprises a set of threads for engaging an air dryer assembly.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The purge reservoir of claim 22 , wherein said purge air cleaner is connected to a commercial vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-04 | 2007-11-03 | 2008-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-04 | 2011-11-03 | 2012-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-04 | 2015-11-03 | 2016-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |