Vehicle filter system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9987581-B2
Application number	US-201615180857-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

There is described a HVAC pre-filter system for a vehicle. The pre-filter system acts to prevent relatively large or coarse debris from reaching a dedicated HVAC filter through the use of at least one pre-filter element, which is provided in at least one inlet/outlet connected to ambient air. The pre-filter system has an inlet to supply air to the HVAC system, and an outlet to allow for air to exit from a vehicle cab interior, and the inlet/outlet can be switched to be fluidly coupled with either the HVAC inlet or the cab outlet. Dependent on which inlet or outlet the inlet/outlet is coupled with, the flow direction in the inlet/outlet can be controlled. Accordingly, the pre-filter can be cleaned of accumulated dust and debris by reversing the direction of airflow through the inlet/outlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An HVAC pre-filter system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
an HVAC inlet arranged to provide airflow from the HVAC pre-filter system to a vehicle HVAC system, said vehicle HVAC system comprising a filter situated in the HVAC inlet;
a cab outlet arranged to provide airflow exiting from a vehicle cab;
a first inlet/outlet arranged to be connected to ambient air, a pre-filter provided in said first inlet/outlet;
a second inlet/outlet arranged to be connected to ambient air, a pre-filter provided in said second inlet/outlet; and
a flow direction system arranged to switch between:
a first state, where said first inlet/outlet is connected to said HVAC inlet to provide ambient air to the vehicle HVAC system, and said second inlet/outlet is connected to the cab outlet such that airflow exiting from the vehicle cab to the ambient air acts to clean the pre-filter of the second inlet/outlet; and
a second state, where said first inlet/outlet is connected to the cab outlet such that airflow exiting from the vehicle cab to the ambient air acts to clean the pre-filter of the first inlet/outlet and where the second inlet/outlet is connected to the HVAC inlet to provide ambient air to the vehicle HVAC system.

2. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 1 , wherein the flow direction system comprises a switching valve.

3. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 2 , wherein the switching valve comprises a four-way valve.

4. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 1 , wherein the switching of the flow direction system is controlled by a controller, wherein the switching is controlled based at least in part on at least one of the following: a time duration, airflow pressure, airflow velocity, a user input.

5. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 4 , wherein the HVAC pre-filter system is provided with at least one pressure sensor, wherein the flow direction system is controlled to switch based on a measured airflow pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

6. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 5 , wherein the flow direction system switches when a measured pressure drops below a predefined low pressure level.

7. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 5 , wherein the flow direction system switches when a measured pressure exceeds a predefined high pressure level.

8. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 5 , wherein the pressure sensor is provided in the HVAC inlet, to measure the pressure of airflow routed to the HVAC system.

9. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 4 , wherein at least one pressure sensor is provided in the first and/or second inlet/outlets, to measure the pressure of airflow flowing in the said first and/or second inlet/outlets.

10. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 4 , wherein the HVAC pre-filter system is provided with at least one airflow velocity sensor, wherein the flow direction system is controlled to switch based on a measured airflow velocity detected by the pressure sensor.

11. The HVAC pre-filter system of claim 4 , wherein the HVAC pre-filter system is provided with a timer, wherein the flow direction system is controlled to switch after a pre-determined time has elapsed.

12. A vehicle comprising a vehicle cab, a vehicle HVAC system coupled with said cab, and the HVAC pre-filter system as claimed in claim 1 coupled with said cab and said HVAC system.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the HVAC system comprises at least one blower arranged to draw air in through the HVAC inlet.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the HVAC system comprises at least one blower arranged to draw ambient air in through the HVAC inlet.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein said HVAC pre-filter system is provided in a roof of the vehicle cab.

16. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the HVAC pre-filter system comprises at least one pre-filter arranged at an external surface of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Agco Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Leconte Valentin Daniel Joel
• Demeiller Etienne

Classifications

• B60H3/0641

  near ventilating openings in the vehicle exterior · CPC title

• B01D46/446

  by pressure measuring · CPC title

• B01D46/444

  by flow measuring · CPC title

• B60H3/0633

  with provisions for regenerating or cleaning the filter element · CPC title

• B60H2003/0683

  the quality of the filter or the air being checked · CPC title