Air-pollution reduction method and system for the interior of an automobile

• US 5,670,714 A
• Filed: 03/27/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jens Erik Sorensen
• Original Assignee: Jens Erik Sorensen
• Inventors: Sorensen, Jens O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dombroske, George M.
• Application Number:
  US08/625,408
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 73/115, 73/116, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 73/118.1, 73/118.2, 73/49.7, 73/40.5 R, 454/74, 454/75, 454/99, 454/156, 454/158
• US Class Current: 73/117.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00764 the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/008 the input being air quality
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0085 Smell or pollution preventing arrangements B60H3/0007, B60H3/0071, B60H3/02, B60H3/06 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle, the vehicle having a detection system for detecting one or more conditions and an air intake system leading to the interior of the vehicle, the air intake system having means for controlling the air intake based on the detection of the one or more conditions, the method comprising the steps of (a) detecting the conditions, and (b) automatically controlling air intake to the interior of the vehicle in response to such detection, so that the one or more detected conditions include, i) when there is an object in front of the vehicle, a representation of the distance to such object, and ii) when there is no object in front of the vehicle, a representation of such fact. The present invention is not dependent upon any complicated or expensive detection system for analyzing polluted air, although it is possible to use such prior art system in combination with the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle, the vehicle having a detection system for detecting one or more conditions and an air intake system leading to the interior, the air intake system having means for controlling the air intake based on the detection of the one or more conditions, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting said one or more conditions; and

(b) automatically controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detection;

characterized by said one or more detected conditions including;

i) when there is an object in front of the vehicle, a representation of the distance to such object; and

ii) when there is no object in front of the vehicle, a representation of such fact.

2. A method according to claim 1, where the vehicle has a motive power and where the detection system includes means for measuring a rate of consumption of combustible components of such motive power, and wherein step (a) includes the step of

(c) measuring the rate of consumption of the combustible components of the motive power, or

(d) measuring a change in such consumption rate.

3. A method according to claim 1, where the vehicle has a motive power and where the detection system includes means for measuring a rate of motive power exhaust, and wherein step (a) includes the step of

(c) measuring the rate of motive power exhaust, or

(d) measuring a change in such exhaust rate.

4. A method according to claim 1, where the detection system includes means for measuring a rate of acceleration of said vehicle and wherein step (a) includes the step of

(c) measuring the rate of acceleration, or

(d) measuring a change in such acceleration rate.

5. A method according to claim 1, where the vehicle has a motive power, and where the detection system includes means for measuring a rotation rate of the motive power and wherein step (a) includes the step of

(c) measuring the rotation rate of the motive power, or

(d) measuring a change in such rotation rate.

6. A method according to claim 1;

wherein step (b) includes the step of

(c) decreasing the air intake in response to such detection.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein step (c) includes the step of

(d) continuing the decreased air intake for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) includes the step of

(c) filtering at least some of the air intake in response to such detection.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein step (c) includes the step of

(d) continuing the filtered air intake for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated.

10. A method according to claim 1, including the step of

(c) recirculating air in the vehicle in response to such detection.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein step (c) includes the step of

(d) continuing the recirculation for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated.

12. A system for reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle the system comprising:

a) a controllable air intake system leading to said interior;

b) a detection system for detecting one or more conditions; and

c) means for automatically controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detection;

characterized by said one or more detected conditions being the presence or absence of an object in front of the vehicle.

13. A system according to claim 12, comprising

(a) the vehicle having motive power;

and

(b) means of the detection system for measuring a rate of fuel consumption of the motive power, or measuring a change in such fuel consumption rate.

14. A system according to claim 12, comprising

(a) the vehicle having motive power;

and

(b) means of the detection system for measuring a rate of motive power exhaust, or measuring a change in such exhaust rate.

15. A system according to claim 12, comprising

(a) the vehicle having motive power;

and

(b) means of the detection system for measuring a rotation rate of the motive power, or measuring a change in such rotation rate.

16. A system according to claim 12, comprising

means of the detection system for measuring a rate of acceleration of said vehicle, or measuring a change in such acceleration rate.

17. A system according to claim 12, comprising

means for decreasing the air intake in response to such detection.

18. A system according to claim 17, comprising

means for continuing the decreased air intake for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated.

19. A system according to claim 12, comprising

means for filtering at least some of the air intake in response to such detection.

20. A system according to claim 19, comprising

means for continuing the filtered air intake for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated.

21. A system according to claim 12, comprising

means for recirculating air in the vehicle in response to such detection.

22. A system according to claim 21, comprising

means for continuing the recirculation for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated.