An air dryer for a locomotive air supply system that includes a controller programmed to initiate a sleep mode that inhibits the air dryer and de-energizes all valves. The controller determines when it is appropriate to enter into sleep mode based on various conditions of the locomotive air supply system. More specifically, the controller is programmed to calculate whether the air dryer should be placed into sleep mode based on operational characteristics of the locomotive air supply system that are indicative that the system has been idled. The initiation of an air dryer sleep mode by the controller prevents undesirable venting of air from the air supply system and unnecessary usage of locomotive battery power.

An air dryer includes a supporting base, a drying agent container, and an outer cover. The supporting base includes an inlet for receiving compressed air to be subject to a drying process and an outlet for delivering the processed compressed air that has undergone the drying process. The drying agent container is a container supported on the supporting base, contains a drying agent in the interior, and enables the drying process to be performed by passing the compressed air from the inlet through the drying agent. The outer cover surrounds the outer side of the drying agent container on the supporting base and defines a chamber for storing the compressed air between itself and the drying agent container. The supporting base includes first and second mounting surfaces, which are oriented in different directions, and a plurality of inlets, which are oriented in different directions and receive the compressed air.

A drying agent cartridge is provided for detachable fastening to a compressed-air treatment installation of a vehicle. A device is also provided for the detachable fastening of a drying agent cartridge to a housing of a compressed-air treatment installation of a vehicle. The drying agent cartridge include a cartridge housing which contains a drying agent, having a cover, a carrier element, a thread, which is arranged on the carrier element, and a corresponding counterpart thread, of a compressed-air treatment installation. The drying agent cartridge furthermore includes a seal groove on the carrier element underside, a sealing element in the seal groove, and a fluidic connection between the seal groove and a pressurizable chamber within the drying agent cartridge, via which fluidic connection the sealing element can be acted on, when the drying agent cartridge is in an installed position, with a system pressure of the compressed-air treatment installation.

A device is provided for detachably fastening a drying agent cartridge to a housing section of a compressed-air treatment installation of a vehicle. The drying agent cartridge has a cartridge housing with a cover and a carrier element, which, in an installed position, is detachably fastened to the housing section. The device includes a thread arranged on the carrier element, and a counterpart thread arranged on the housing section, and a sealing element arranged between the carrier element and the housing section. The sealing element is arranged in a seal groove of the housing section and fluidically connects the seal groove to a pressurizable housing chamber of the compressed-air treatment installation, can be acted on with a system pressure of the compressed-air treatment installation in order to generate and/or increase the axial compression of the sealing element between the carrier element and the housing section.

A device is provided for predicting the remaining lifetime of a component in a compressed air supply system for a vehicle. This device includes a memory unit for a value related to the degradation of the component, at least one first input for a usage quantity which is a measure for the operating time and/or number of operating cycles of the component and/or for the amount of compressed air delivered by the compressed air supply system, at least one second input for at least one state variable which is a measure for at least one vehicle and/or air supply operation condition or environmental condition. It also includes an evaluation unit that is configured to combine the usage quantity and the state variable into a lifetime decrement value that is a measure for the degradation of the component caused by the usage according to the usage quantity, and update the value in the memory unit according to this lifetime decrement value.

A compressed air drying system includes a forced-induction device, a compressor to which the forced-induction device is connected, a removal device that performs a loading mode operation and an unloading mode operation, a pressure regulating device that opens and closes a drain valve device using air pressure, and a check valve, which includes a body and a piston. The body has a first port connected to the compressor, a second port connected to the removal device, and a third port connected to the pressure regulating device. The piston is slidably arranged in the body. The hardness of the material of a slidable-contact portion of the body that slidably contacts the piston is different from the hardness of the material for the piston.

An air dryer having a heater associated with its inlet and exhaust valves to prevent freezing at cold temperatures. The air dryer includes a temperature sensor associated with the valve block and a controller that can inhibit the operation of the valves when the temperature falls is a predetermined threshold until the heater can sufficiently warm the valve block. To prevent overheating of the heater, the controller can adjust the duty cycle of the heater as the inlet air temperatures increases.

A brake signal transmitter (10) includes a housing (11) and a liquid drainage system (20). The liquid drainage system (20) includes an opening in the housing (11) and a cover (30) that extends over or along the opening. The cover (30) includes at least one aperture that allows a liquid to be drained through the cover (30). The opening (21) of the housing (11) is arranged on a downward side of the housing (11) relative to a gravitational force the transmitter is mounted horizontally. The cover (30) may be a cap having a filter inserted therein. The filter may define a tortuous path to block ingress of water or debris into the housing. The cover may include resilient fingers that snap fit into a socket of the housing.

An air dryer includes a supporting base, a drying agent container, and an outer cover. The supporting base includes an inlet for receiving compressed air to be subject to a drying process and an outlet for delivering the processed compressed air that has undergone the drying process. The drying agent container is a container supported on the supporting base, contains a drying agent in the interior, and enables the drying process to be performed by passing the compressed air from the inlet through the drying agent. The outer cover surrounds the outer side of the drying agent container on the supporting base and defines a chamber for storing the compressed air between itself and the drying agent container. The supporting base includes first and second mounting surfaces, which are oriented in different directions, and a plurality of inlets, which are oriented in different directions and receive the compressed air.

A brake clearing system useful for clearing mechanical components of one or more brake units provided on a freight trailer having an air storage reservoir. The system includes a flow controller, at least one delivery hose, and at least one discharge device. The flow controller is fluidly between the air storage reservoir and the auxiliary tank. The delivery hose is fluidly connected to an outlet of the flow controller and delivers pressurized air to the discharge device. The discharge device, in turn, is configured to direct pressurized air at components of one of the brake units. The flow controller can include an inflow control unit, an auxiliary tank, and an outflow control unit. In related embodiments, the auxiliary tank can include a heater.