CENTRAL TYRE INFLATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

A central tyre inflation system (CTIS) for a vehicle comprises a reservoir (16) for supplying air to one or more vehicle tyres (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), a pressure sensor (20) for monitoring air pressure in the reservoir (16), a compressor (22) for supplying compressed air along a first flow path (24) to the reservoir (16), a compressor timer (26) for monitoring the run-time of the compressor, a dryer (36) disposed on the first flow path (24) for drying air supplied by the compressor (22), a purging system (30) for routing air through the dryer (36) along a second flow path (34) to purge liquid from the dryer (36), and a control means for controlling the flow of air in the CTIS. The control means is configured: to activate the compressor (22) to supply air along the first flow path (24) to the reservoir (16) in response to a request for a compressor operation, after which operation the air in the reservoir (16) is at a post-operation pressure; when the compressor operation is complete, to determine a compressor activation period, and to determine if the compressor activation period is greater than or equal to a target period; and if the compressor activation period is less than the target period, to keep the compressor (22) activated until pressure in the reservoir (16) increases to a base target pressure greater than the post-operation pressure; and if the compressor activation period is greater than or equal to the target period, to keep the compressor (22) activated until pressure in the reservoir (16) increases to an elevated target pressure higher than the base target pressure and to activate the purging system (30) to route air from the reservoir (16) along the second flow path (34) to purge the dryer (36) of liquid. Selon l'invention, un système de gonflage de pneumatiques central (CTIS) pour un véhicule comprend un réservoir (16) permettant de fournir de l'air à un ou plusieurs pneumatiques de véhicule (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), un capteur de pression (20) permettant de surveiller la pression d'air dans le réservoir (16), un compresseur (22) permettant de fournir de l'air comprimé le long d'un premier trajet d'écoulement (24) jusqu'au réservoir (16), un minuteur de compresseur (26) permettant de surveiller la durée de fonctionnement du compresseur, un sécheur (36) situé sur le premier trajet d'écoulement (24) permettant de sécher de l'air fourni par le compresseur (22), un système de purge (30) permettant d'acheminer de l'air par le sécheur (36) le long d'u