An oil separator is provided with: a heating device for heating liquid accumulated in a drainage storage section; a connection pipe for connecting the drainage storage section to an external device utilizing oil; an opening and closing device for opening and closing the flow passage of the connection pipe; and a determination device for determining whether or not to deliver the liquid, which is accumulated in the drainage storage section, to the external device. The opening and closing device is configured so as to open the flow passage of the connection pipe when the determination device determines that the liquid accumulated in the drainage storage section is to be delivered to the external device.

An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle air compressor. The apparatus comprises an input for receiving a signal indicative of operation of the vehicle air compressor. The apparatus also comprises a data storage unit arranged to, when the vehicle is in a driving state, store signals from the input. The apparatus further comprises a processing unit arranged to, when the vehicle is in a non-driving state, control the vehicle air compressor to expel moisture from the vehicle air compressor based upon signals that have been stored over a period of time in the data storage unit.

A filter for an oil catch apparatus is provided. The oil catch apparatus is capable of efficiently extracting oil from air flowing through the oil catch apparatus while being of compact size. The filter includes a cylindrically wound main filter unit, a first keep member for keeping one end of the main filter unit, and a second keep member for keeping the other end of the main filter unit. Air flowing into the main filter unit from an opening formed in the first keep member is cleared of impurities upon passing through the main filter unit, and exits out of the main filter unit.

A dual filter (100) for removing one or more components from a fluid flow is provided. The dual filter (100) comprises a first filter media (112a) and a second filter media (112b) respectively disposed in a first conduit (114a) and a second conduit (114b), and at least one manifold (120, 130) coupled to a pair of openings (116a,b) of the conduits (114a, b) wherein the at least one manifold (120, 130) is adapted to monitor and control the fluid flow through one of the filter media (112a,b).

A compressed air supply installation for operating a pneumatic installation, especially an air suspension installation of a vehicle, includes a compressed air supply unit, a compressed air port towards the pneumatic installation, a venting port towards the surroundings, a first pneumatic connection between the compressed air supply and the compressed air port, the first pneumatic connection having an air drier and a shut-off valve, and a second pneumatic connection between the compressed air port and the venting port. The shut-off valve is a pneumatically pilot-controlled check valve.

Disclosed is a desiccant cartridge (10) for drying and de-oiling a gaseous fluid, and a method for flow guidance within the desiccant cartridge. The desiccant cartridge and a housing (12) having positioned therein an inner pot (28) in which an oil separating medium (50) for oil particles contained in the fluid and a desiccant (52) for drying the gaseous fluid are arranged one after the other in the direction of the housing longitudinal axis (14). The housing (12) has a housing base (18) having a centrally arranged inlet (20) for the fluid to be dried and de-oiled and having eccentrically arranged outlet openings (24) for the dried and de-oiled fluid. During normal operation of the desiccant cartridge (10), the gaseous fluid guided into the desiccant cartridge (10) via the central inlet (20) is first guided in a flow through the oil separating medium (50) and then through the desiccant (52).

An oil separator includes a heating device that heats liquid stored in a liquid storage portion, a connecting pipe that connects the liquid storage portion to an external device that utilizes oil, an opening/closing device that selectively opens and closes the flow path of the connecting pipe, and a determination device that determines whether the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion should be delivered to the external device. The opening/closing device is configured to open the flow path of the connecting pipe when the determination device determines that the liquid accumulated in the liquid storage portion should be delivered to the external device.

Described herein is a gas-liquid separating gas exchange device comprising a vent mechanism that services gas exchange between the interior and exterior of a housing, a shelter of the vent mechanism distal from the housing that provides shelter of a distal area around the vent mechanism, an area-encompassing abutment rising distally from the housing and encompassing both the vent mechanism and the shelter and creating a fluid-catchment junction between the shelter and the abutment, and at least one fluid-exchange passageway in the at least one shelter allowing fluid exchange between the distal sheltered area and the abutment into the fluid-catchment junction. The gas-liquid separating gas exchange device may separate gas and liquid by gravity, energy of vibration, air-pressure forces, or a combination thereof and facilitates expulsion of contaminating liquid and debris from the housing.

An air dryer control method may include a cold mode in which a controller performs a winter season condition control in which air temperature is lowered to freezing temperature if an engine starting is detected, and performs a winter season thawing control in which compressed air introduced into a valve control of an air dryer warms a purge valve of the air dryer.

An effluent processing apparatus comprises a first processing stage in which oil and water are separated from an effluent mixture containing air, oil, and water from a purge valve of an air dryer. The effluent processing apparatus also comprises a second processing stage in which oil is extracted from the separated oil and water of the first processing stage. The effluent processing apparatus further comprises a third processing stage in which air from the first processing stage and water from the second processing stage are combined and exhausted to atmosphere.