System and method for quantifying the presence of components in the exhaust of commercial and/or heavy-duty vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system configured to be positioned at a site along a roadway, and to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in a sample of exhaust emissions emitted by a vehicle traveling on the roadway from a first location on the roadway to a second location on the roadway, the system comprising:
- a component detection system configured to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in vehicle exhaust emissions;
a collector operatively coupled to the component detection system, wherein the collector is positioned above the surface of the roadway and has one or more openings for receiving the exhaust emissions of the vehicle to be analyzed by the component detection system;
a gathering structure having one or more surfaces positioned to direct the exhaust emissions of the vehicle to be analyzed by the component detection system to the one or more openings of the collector prior to measurement by the component detection system;
wherein the component detection system is configured to receive a sample of the exhaust emissions of the vehicle via the collector, and to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in the sample of exhaust emissions; and
wherein the collector is configured such that collection times for exhaust emissions emitted by the vehicle to be conveyed through the collector to the component detection system vary as a function of position of the one or more openings of the collector along the roadway between the first location and the second location to aggregate the exhaust emissions for detection within the component detection system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and/or method for quantifying the presence of one or more components in vehicle exhaust, and more particularly to a non-contact, sampling system and method for quantifying the presence of one or more components in exhaust emissions of commercial and/or heavy-duty vehicles that emit exhaust at an elevated level, under actual operating conditions.
69 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A system configured to be positioned at a site along a roadway, and to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in a sample of exhaust emissions emitted by a vehicle traveling on the roadway from a first location on the roadway to a second location on the roadway, the system comprising:
-
a component detection system configured to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in vehicle exhaust emissions; a collector operatively coupled to the component detection system, wherein the collector is positioned above the surface of the roadway and has one or more openings for receiving the exhaust emissions of the vehicle to be analyzed by the component detection system; a gathering structure having one or more surfaces positioned to direct the exhaust emissions of the vehicle to be analyzed by the component detection system to the one or more openings of the collector prior to measurement by the component detection system; wherein the component detection system is configured to receive a sample of the exhaust emissions of the vehicle via the collector, and to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in the sample of exhaust emissions; and wherein the collector is configured such that collection times for exhaust emissions emitted by the vehicle to be conveyed through the collector to the component detection system vary as a function of position of the one or more openings of the collector along the roadway between the first location and the second location to aggregate the exhaust emissions for detection within the component detection system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of determining the concentration of one or more constituents present in a sample of exhaust emissions emitted by a vehicle traveling on a roadway from a first location to a second location, the method comprising:
-
directing the exhaust emissions of the vehicle to be analyzed by a component detection system to one or more openings of a collector, prior to measurement by the component detection system, via one or more surfaces of a gathering structure, wherein the collector is positioned above the surface of the roadway; drawing exhaust emissions received in the one or more openings of the collector to the component detection system via suction, wherein the collector is configured such that collection times for exhaust emissions drawn through the one or more openings of the collector to the component detection system vary as a function of position of the one or more openings of the collector along the roadway between the first location and the second location to aggregate the exhaust emissions for detection within the component detection system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A system configured to be positioned at a site along a roadway, and to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in a sample of exhaust emissions emitted by a vehicle traveling on the roadway, the system comprising:
-
a gathering structure having a first end, a second end, and a roof having a length that extends from the first end of the gathering structure to the second of the gathering structure in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the roadway, wherein the roof of the gathering structure is supported above the surface of the roadway by one or more supports and pools exhaust emissions emitted by the vehicle as the vehicle passes under the roof while traveling on the roadway; at least one radiation source disposed on a underside of the roof of the gathering structure proximate to the first end of the gathering structure, the radiation source configured to emit a radiation beam along an optical measurement path, wherein the optical measurement path extends in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the roadway and along an underside of the roof so as to pass through the exhaust emissions of the vehicle pooled by the gathering structure; at least one radiation detector configured to receive the radiation beam and generate at least one signal indicative of the radiation absorption of first and second vehicle exhaust constituents in first and second wavelength bands; and a computer configured to receive the at least one signal and calculate a ratio of the radiation absorption of the first vehicle exhaust constituent to the radiation absorption of the second vehicle exhaust constituent. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification