AIR EXTRACTOR TO PREVENT WIND THROB IN AUTOMOBILES
First Claim
1. An automotive vehicle having a body defining a passenger compartment having a plurality of laterally facing windows that are respectively movable between open and closed positions and a rearwardly facing portion, comprising:
- an air extractor apparatus including an air extraction opening formed in said passenger compartment and a closure member movably mounted at said air extraction opening, said closure member being movable between an open position in which air can flow through said air extraction opening from said passenger compartment exteriorly of said automotive vehicle, and a closed position in which said air extraction member is closed to the passage of air therethrough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air extraction apparatus for automotive vehicles opens an air flow path through the passenger compartment of the vehicle when wind throb conditions are sensed in the operation of the vehicle. The air extraction opening is located in a rear facing surface of the vehicle and is covered by a closure member that is movable by an actuator to selectively open the air extraction opening. The air extraction opening can be variable in cross-sectional area through the operation of the closure member to vary the rate of air flowing through the passenger compartment. The actuator is operatively coupled to a sensor that can sense wind throb conditions to affect an automatic opening of the air extraction opening. Wind throb conditions can be the existence of a single open window coupled with a minimum operating speed, or a threshold interior air pressure within the passenger compartment.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automotive vehicle having a body defining a passenger compartment having a plurality of laterally facing windows that are respectively movable between open and closed positions and a rearwardly facing portion, comprising:
an air extractor apparatus including an air extraction opening formed in said passenger compartment and a closure member movably mounted at said air extraction opening, said closure member being movable between an open position in which air can flow through said air extraction opening from said passenger compartment exteriorly of said automotive vehicle, and a closed position in which said air extraction member is closed to the passage of air therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An air extractor apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment defining a plurality of windows movable between open and closed positions and a rearwardly facing surface, comprising:
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an air extraction opening formed in said passenger compartment to provide a discharge opening for air from said passenger compartment other than through said windows; a closure member mounted at said air extraction opening and being selectively movable to open and close, respectively, said air extraction opening; an actuator coupled to said closure member to affect movement thereof; and a control mechanism operatively connected to said actuator to sense wind throb conditions and cause said actuator to move said closure member to open said air extraction opening to allow air to flow through said passenger compartment and exit said vehicle through said air extraction opening. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of alleviating wind throb in an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment defining a plurality of windows movable between open and closed positions, comprising the steps of:
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sensing wind throb conditions within said passenger compartment; opening an air extraction opening formed within said passenger compartment in response to said sensing step to open an air flow path for air within said passenger compartment to be discharged from said passenger compartment; and closing said air extraction opening upon alleviation of said wind throb conditions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification