Title of Invention

AN IMPROVED CARTRIDGE FOR AN AIR PROCESSING UNIT FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An air processing unit for the air brake system of a housing accommodating a desiccant cartridge consisting of a desiccant container with desiccant; a cartridge guide; and retainer plate, the cartridge being retained rigidly in position in the direction of its own axis and supported not only at its lower end by the cartridge guide, but also at its upper end, firstly, by dimples provided on the desiccant container and, secondly, by the inner surface of the housing.

Full Text

the air brake system of a motor vehicle, said processing unit furnishing a better support for the desiccant cartridge. Such support makes the device robust against vibration in the direction transverse to the axis of the cartridge. Air processing units with air drying function performed by a desiccant and system pressure control performed by an integrated pressure regulator are known to the art. The air drying function of such devices is performed by a desiccant bed contained in a cartridge housed in the device. These devices are mounted on the chassis of the motor vehicle and are subjected to severe muiti-axial vibration forces. The cartridges are normally supported in the axial direction by a heavily loaded spring and can withstand severe vibrations in this direction. However under very bad road conditions, vibration forces in a direction transverse to the cartridge axis are possible. Under such conditions, the cartridge is likely to fail and spill the desiccant into the system, causing breakdown or malfunctioning of the air brake system. The present invention therefore proposes an effective support for the cartridge at the bottom and top ends to ensure a robust construction under transverse vibration forces. This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, one of possible embodiments of this invention, Figure 1 showing the partial cross section through the embodiment Figure 2 showing a partial view of the embodiment showing the cartridge support at the lower end. Figure 3 showing a partial view of the embodiment showing the cartridge support at the upper end Figure 4 showing the desiccant container construction Referring to figure 1, the body A, which is an aluminium castirig, is provided with a housing F accommodating the cartridge guide H and the cartridge consisting of the desiccant container B, covers C and desiccant D. The cartridge is retained by heavily loaded spring E along the axis of the cartridge, the housing F and retainer plate i The retainer plate is in turn fastened to the body A by screws. G and J are rubber seals to seal the air pressure. Referring to figure 2, the cartridge is supported at the lower end by the cartridge guide H through ribs H'. Referring again to figure 1 and figure 3,, the upper end of the cartridge is supported by dimples B' on the desiccant container B and also by the inner surface of the housing F. Referring to figure 4, the desiccant container is shown with multiple dimples B' Referring to figure 1, the desiccant cartridge is retained rigidly in the direction of its own axis and will withstand vibration forces In this direction. In case vibration forces act in the transverse direction shown by the double headed arrow K, and if the cartridge is supported only at the bottom end, the desiccant cartridge will tend to vibrate significantly at the top end, which can cause the spring to dislodge and the cover C to collapse, spi((ing the desiccant beads. The dimples B' support the cartridge in the direction K, making it rest against the housing F and prevent any damage. It will be appreciated that various other embodiments are possible are possible without departing from the scope and ambit of this invention. We claim: 1. An air processing unit for the air brake system of a motor vehicle, comprising a body provided with a housing accommodating a desiccant cartridge consisting of a desiccant container with desiccant; a cartridge guide;and retainer plate, the cartridge being retained rigidly in position in the direction of its own axis and supported not only at its lower end by the cartridge guide, but also at its upper end, firstly, by dimples provided on the desiccant container and, secondly, by the inner surface of the housing. 2. An air processing unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said cartridge is supported at its lower end by the cartridge guide through ribs 3. An air processing unit for the air brake system of a motor vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in,, the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

3073-CHE-2007 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 06-05-2013.pdf

3073-CHE-2007 AMENDED CLAIMS 06-05-2013.pdf

3073-CHE-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 06-05-2013.pdf

3073-CHE-2007 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 06-05-2013.pdf

3073-CHE-2007 POWER OF ATTORNEY 06-05-2013.pdf

3073-che-2007 form-6 16-06-2008.pdf

3073-che-2007 claims.pdf

3073-che-2007 correspondence-others.pdf

3073-che-2007 description (complete).pdf

3073-che-2007 form-1.pdf

3073-che-2007 form-18.pdf

3073-che-2007 form-26.pdf