Occupant respiration isolation method

A method of isolating vehicle occupant respiration includes energizing a source of ultraviolet radiation to sterilize in air. A first sensor detects carbon dioxide content of that air. A second sensor detects quality of that air. A third sensor detects particulate in that air. Result from the first sensor is compared to baseline carbon dioxide reading recorded in a controller connected with the sensors. Fan speed increases temporal duration of air exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Result from the second sensor is compared with baseline air quality recorded in the controller. A signal is sent to a display comprising the filtration system to identify contaminate in the air. Result from the third sensor is compared with baseline particulate recorded in controller. An alert is sent to an interested party indicating particulate presence in the air.

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are concerns about an occupant of a vehicle being exposed to less than favorable, such as containing a contaminant, low oxygen concentration and the like, air within the vehicle. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a system and a method for effectively filtering and isolating respiration of an occupant of vehicle.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to embodiments of a system and a method for isolating respiration of a vehicle occupant. According to one embodiment, an occupant respiration isolation system comprises a plenum having an interior. A source of ultraviolet radiation is located in the interior. A first duct is disposed between an interior of a vehicle and the interior of the plenum for conveying air from the interior of the vehicle to the interior of the plenum. A vent is disposed between the interior of the vehicle and the first duct allowing air from the interior of the vehicle to enter the first duct. A fan is operatively connected with the plenum that varies airflow through the plenum. A third duct conveys air from the interior of the plenum to the interior of the vehicle. A first sensor generating a first signal is disposed in the interior of the plenum. A controller is disposed on the vehicle operatively connected with the first sensor for receiving the first signal.

According to one embodiment, a method of isolating vehicle occupant respiration includes energizing a source of ultraviolet radiation to sterilize in air. A first sensor detects carbon dioxide content of that air. A second sensor detects quality of that air. A third sensor detects particulate in that air. Result from the first sensor is compared to baseline carbon dioxide reading recorded in a controller connected with the sensors. Fan speed increases temporal duration of air exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Result from the second sensor is compared with baseline air quality recorded in the controller. A signal is sent to a display comprising the filtration system to identify contaminate in the air. Result from the third sensor is compared with baseline particulate recorded in controller. An alert is sent to an interested party indicating particulate presence in the air.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates specifically to a system5and a method for isolating and filtering respiration of an occupant of a vehicle16, such as a school bus, a commercial vehicle and the like. As shown inFIG.1, one embodiment disclosed herein generally comprises a filtration system10comprising a plenum12attached to a seat14for supporting an occupant disposed in an interior15of the vehicle16. The system5for isolating and sterilizing respiration in the vehicle16includes at least one source18of ultraviolet radiation located in the plenum12of the filtration system10. Other elements of the filtration system10include, but are not limited to, a vent20disposed between the interior15of the vehicle16and a first duct22allowing air from the interior15of the vehicle16to enter the first duct22, the first duct22is disposed between the vent20and an interior38of the plenum12for conveying air between the vent20and the interior38of the plenum12, a second duct24connected to plenum12positioned between a first occupant and a second occupant both located on seat14to separate air from the first occupant from air from the second occupant, a fan26operatively connected with the plenum that varies airflow through plenum12, and a third duct28, shown inFIG.2, operatively connected with an interior38of the plenum12conveying air from an interior38of the plenum12to an interior15of the vehicle16.

As shown inFIGS.2and3, at least one first sensor30is disposed on the interior38of plenum12. In one embodiment, the at least one first sensor30samples air adjacent the at least one sensor30to detect carbon dioxide content of that air. The at least one first sensor30is connected, wired, wirelessly, or otherwise, to controller32, which can compromise at least one data processor on the vehicle16. In some embodiments, the at least one data processor on the vehicle16is supplemented by another at least one data processor located off the vehicle16, such as another at least one data processor operatively connected with the at least one data processor on the vehicle16wirelessly. The controller32is suitably connected with fan26, either wired or wirelessly.

At least one second sensor34is disposed on the interior38of plenum12. The at least one second sensor34samples air adjacent to the at least one second sensor34to detect quality of that air including, but not limited to, presence of an airborne contaminant, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, diesel particulate, pollen, viruses, bacteria, a vapor, an aerosol and the like. The at least one second sensor34is connected, wired, wirelessly, or otherwise, to controller32, which can compromise at least one data processor, on the vehicle16.

Based on a first signal, indicative of at least one of carbon dioxide, air quality. carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, diesel particulate, pollen, viruses, bacteria, vapor, aerosol and the like, provided by at least one of the at least one first sensor30and the at least one second sensor34, the controller32provides a second signal to a display, controller, or any other element comprising the system5on the vehicle16as is appropriate. That second signal can alert an interested party, such as a user of the vehicle, a manager of the vehicle16, and the like that contamination associated with air about the vehicle16has been detected. Presence of contamination can indicate many things, such as maintenance of the system5or the vehicle16is recommended and the like. In some embodiments, the controller32is augmented by at least one data processor located outside of the vehicle16and connected with the vehicle16by appropriate means, such as wireless connection to the internet and the like.

At least one third sensor36is disposed on the interior38of plenum12. The at least one third sensor36samples air adjacent to the at least one third sensor36to detect a particulate in the air. The at least one third sensor36is connected, wired, wirelessly, or otherwise, to controller32, which can compromise at least one data processor, on the vehicle16. In some embodiments, the controller32is augmented by at least one data processor located outside of the vehicle16and connected with the vehicle16by appropriate means, such as wireless connection to the internet and the like. Depending on a third signal from the at least one third sensor36, the controller32can provide an alert to a display, controller, any other element in the system5on the vehicle16, and an interested party, as is appropriate, indicating presence of the particulate detected by the at least one third sensor36.

In some embodiments, the at least one source18comprises at least one ultraviolet radiation lamp. The ultraviolet radiation has a wavelength within the range of about 100 nanometers to about 280 nanometers, with 265 nanometers being the peak wavelength to sanitize germicidal activity. The at least one source18is connected to the controller32, either wired or wirelessly. The controller32is disposed on the vehicle16. In some embodiments, the controller32comprises a body controller of a vehicle16. The at least one source18are positioned within the filtration system10at locations empirically determined to sterilize air flowing through the filtration system10illuminated by the ultraviolet radiation from the at least one source18.

In some embodiments, at least one baffle40is located within the interior38of the plenum12.

As shown inFIG.2, the at least one baffle40is positioned within the plenum12at locations empirically determined to increase surface area within the plenum12exposed to ultraviolet radiation from source18. Some embodiments may include multiple at least one baffle40, with four (4) at least one baffle40included in the embodiment shown inFIG.2. The at least one baffle40is positioned to collect an item, such as a respiration droplet and the like, from air about the at least one baffle40and allow ultraviolet radiation from source18to sanitize a surface of the at least one baffle40. Location of the at least one source18is chosen to reduce likelihood of unintended exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the at least one source18, i.e. reduce likelihood of exposure of a vehicle16occupant to the ultraviolet radiation.

The controller32determines operation of the at least one source18, namely when the at least one source18emits ultraviolet radiation. The controller32can determine intensity of the ultraviolet radiation. The controller32can be programmable. The controller32can allow the at least one source18to emit ultraviolet radiation, for instance, at specific times of day, for specific temporal duration, etc. The controller32may allow the at least one source18to emit ultraviolet radiation at specific times to manage vehicle power usage. In some embodiments, the controller32may allow the at least one source18to emit ultraviolet radiation substantially continuously thereby enabling substantially continuous sterilization of the filtration system10.

With structure of embodiments of the system5for isolating and filtering respiration of an occupant of a vehicle being described, now attention is drawn to a method of isolating and sterilizing respiration from an occupant of a vehicle.

Once the vehicle16includes a filtration system10with at least one source18of ultraviolet radiation and a fan26located in a plenum12of filtration system10, then temporal duration of emission of ultraviolet radiation from the at least one source18of ultraviolet radiation and intensity of that ultraviolet radiation, along with airflow intensity from the at least one fan26, are determined.

The at least one first sensor30samples air inside the plenum12periodically for carbon dioxide and reports results to the controller32. The controller32compares result from the at least one first sensor30to baseline carbon dioxide reading recorded in controller32, thereby determining required fan26speed to increase air exposure to the at least one ultraviolet radiation source18.

The at least one second sensor34samples air inside the plenum12periodically for air quality and reports results to the controller32. The controller32compares result from the at least one second sensor34with baseline air quality recorded in the controller32, thereby determining whether air meets the appropriate quality standard. The controller32sends the second signal to a display, controller, or any other element comprising the system5on the vehicle16as is appropriate.

The at least one third sensor36samples air inside the plenum12periodically for particulate and reports results to the controller32. The controller32compares result from the at least one third sensor36with baseline particulate recorded in controller32, thereby determining particulate quantity and providing the third signal to an interested party. In one embodiment, the interested party may be an operator of the vehicle16and the third signal may indicate location of a seat14associated with the particulate and potential next steps.

For instance, when a first occupant and a second occupant of a vehicle16sit in one seat14, duct24can be articulated between the first occupant and the second occupant to separate air from first occupant from air from second occupant. While the duct24is between a first occupant and a second occupant, the at least one fan26in plenum12pulls air from a first occupant and a second occupant into plenum12through duct24. The at least one source18of ultraviolet radiation exposes that air to ultraviolet radiation as that air contacts the at least one baffle40, thus extending time that air is exposed to the ultraviolet radiation. The at least one first sensor30, the at least one second sensor34, and the at least one third sensor36sample air as air flows through plenum12. The controller32varies the fan26speed to modify amount of time air is exposed to the ultraviolet radiation based on readings of the at least one first sensor30. If the at least one second sensor34detects unacceptable air quality, the controller32provides the second signal to a display, controller, or any other element in comprising the system5on the vehicle16as is appropriate. That second signal can alert an interested party, such as a user of the vehicle, a manager of the vehicle16, and the like that contamination associated with air about the vehicle16has been detected. If the at least one third sensor36detects an undesirable particulate or undesirable particulate amount, the third sensor36sends the third signal to the controller32. Responsive to the third signal, the controller32provides an alert to an interested party, such as an operator of the vehicle16and the like, indicating particulate presence in the air.