Provided is a compressor capable of achieving a reduction in overall size and an improvement in vehicle mountability by using a linear motor. The compressor 1 comprises a linear motor 2 having a reciprocating mover 6, a compression unit 9 having a piston 11 connected to the mover 6 at one end side of the linear motor 2 so as to reciprocate and a cylinder 10 slidably accommodating the piston 11 to form a compression chamber 10B, and an air dryer 17 connected to a cylinder head 14 of the compression chamber 10B of the compression unit 9 and filled therein with a desiccant 17C. The air dryer 17 is disposed along the axis in the movement direction of the mover 6 the piston 11.

A method for the treatment of air of a compressed air system for a motor vehicle, the compressed air system comprising an air compressor, an air dryer and an ambient temperature sensor, wherein an exchange operation of a system air volume is performed by the air compressor, wherein during the exchange operation a part of the system air from the compressed air system is released into the surroundings and ambient air is filled into the compressed air system. The method includes determining a current ambient temperature value (T.sub.U) using the ambient temperature sensor, checking a first condition, whether or not the current ambient temperature value (T.sub.U) is lower than a temperature limit value (T.sub.G), and performing the exchange operation to lower the dew point of the system air by the air dryer if the first condition is satisfied.

A method for actuating a solenoid valve, which is loaded with a pneumatic pressure medium, in order to reduce a pressure (p.sub.sys) which is applied to the solenoid valve, where the solenoid valve assumes a closed switching position in the deenergized state and assumes a completely open switching position when it is energized with a switching current intensity (I.sub.s(p)) which is dependent on the applied pressure (p.sub.sys), where a first rise current final value (I.sub.1) is predetermined, which first rise current final value is smaller than the switching current intensity (I.sub.s(p)), where the solenoid valve is energized with an actuating current which follows an actuating current profile (SV1, SV2), and where the actuating current profile (SV1, SV2) comprises a first rise phase (TA1), in which the actuating current is increased to the predetermined first rise current final value (I.sub.1), and, following said first rise phase, a first holding phase (TH1) in which the actuating current is held constant at the first rise current final value (I.sub.1).

An air dryer housing includes a desiccant container fillable with desiccant and includes a port device for a compressed-air supply with a compressed-air flow. The port device is configured for connecting the air dryer housing to the compressed-air supply. The port device is connectable pressure-tight to the desiccant container. The port device has, at the desiccant side, a valve element which projects into the desiccant container and in which a valve piston is movable. The valve element and the valve piston form a ventilation valve unit that is configured as a pneumatic relay valve. The port device is configured to be connectable to the compressed-air supply system, and the desiccant container can be passed through by a compressed-air flow in a first direction when the valve piston is in a first position and in a second direction when the valve piston is in a second position.

An air suspension system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating thereof includes an air suspension device for adjusting a ride-height position of the motor vehicle by the feeding and removal of compressed air into a plurality of air springs. The system also includes a dryer supplied via a compressed-air supply unit which has a compressor driven by an electric motor. A control unit for performing a ride-height control function has instruction for: raising the ride-height position to a first ride-height position; subsequently lowering the ride-height position to a second ride-height position; checking a first condition whether a determined air quantity ratio is less than a first predetermined air quantity limit value; checking a second condition whether a saturation level of the dryer is greater than a saturation limit value, and activating the ride-height control function when either the first or the second condition is satisfied.

An integrated air supply unit comprises a compressor housing, a pressure control unit (PCU) body, and a desiccant housing extending between the compressor housing and the PCU body. The desiccant housing defines a desiccant cavity holding a desiccant container for removing moisture from air passing therethrough. A piston is slidably disposed within a piston bore of the compressor housing. The PCU body defines a plurality of fluid passages with solenoid valves selectively controlling airflow therethrough. The integrated air supply unit may also comprise: a manifold, a discharge control valve, a compressor supplying pressurized air in a first pressurized air passage, a dryer configured to remove moisture from the pressurized air in the first pressurized air passage and to supply dried pressurized air in a second pressurized air passage, a supply control valve to control airflow between the second pressurized air passage and the manifold, and a piloted exhaust valve.

An air suspension system includes: an air suspension interposed between a vehicle body and an axle to adjust a vehicle height according to supply and exhaust of air; a compressor that compresses air; a tank that stores the air compressed by the compressor; and an air dryer provided on an ejection side of the compressor. When the tank has a predetermined pressure or less after air is supplied from the tank to the air suspension, a pressure of the tank is increased by the compressor.

An air preparation device having an electronic control unit for supplying at least one load circuit of a vehicle with dried system air, includes an air dryer unit for drying compressed air produced by an pneumatically switchable compressor. The air dryer unit supplies the at least one load circuit with dried compressed air via at least one overflow valve. An electromagnetic regeneration valve is provided which is connected to the control unit and returns dried compressed air along a regeneration path through the air dryer unit in order to regenerate the air dryer unit. An electromagnetic compressor control valve is provided which is connected to the control unit, for switching the pneumatically switchable compressor on and off via a pneumatic switching port, on the basis of a system pressure measurement value determined by at least one pressure sensor and supplied to the electronic control unit as an input signal. For redundant pneumatic compressor activation, a pneumatically pilot-controlled further compressor control valve is provided, to which the system pressure or a pressure proportional thereto is applied at a control inlet in order to switch on the compressor by activation of the pneumatic switching port after the system pressure has dropped below a lower limit value.

A concurrent leveling system includes a pressurized air source. A manifold block, having a body defining an air feed inlet, is disposed between air springs and the pressurized air source. The body includes front and rear suspension valves. Each of the suspension valves defines a suspension valve orifice having a first predetermined diameter. The body includes at least one restrictor valve parallel to and in fluid communication with the front suspension valves. The at least one restrictor valve includes a first check valve and a first blocker valve orifice defining a first orifice diameter. The first check valve and the first blocker valve orifice are disposed parallel to one another and in series with the front suspension valves and in fluid communication with the air feed inlet and the front suspension valves for reducing fluid back flow to allow the vehicle to be lowered in nominal loading conditions.

An air suspension system capable of raising both the vehicle front wheel side and the vehicle rear wheel side by using a single tank. The air suspension system (1) includes a front wheel-side air suspension (2) and a rear wheel-side air suspension (7) which are interposed between a vehicle body and associated axles to perform vehicle height adjustment in response to supply and discharge of air, a compressor (17) for compressing air, and a tank (27) for storing air compressed by the compressor. When the vehicle height is to be raised by the air suspensions, the front wheel-side air suspension is supplied with compressed air from the tank, and the rear wheel-side air suspension is supplied with compressed air from the tank after the compressed air has been pressurized by the compressor.