AIR-POLLUTION REDUCTION IN AN AUTOMOBILE

Abstract: A method of reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of the vehicle (3) having a controllable air intake system (2) leading to the interior of the vehicle, and a detection system (1) for detecting one or more conditions, comprising the steps of (a) detecting the one or more conditions, and (b) controlling air intake to the interior of the vehicle in response to such detection, so that the one or more conditions are causing and/or being the result of a potential inclination of the vehicle.

Description: AIR-POLLUTION REDUCTION IN AN AUTOMOBILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a method and a system that are useful for reducing air pollution in the interior of a vehicle. Heretofore a method of, and a system for, reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle have been known which comprise a controllable air intake system leading to said interior of the vehicle, and a detection system for detecting one or more conditions, using the steps of (a) detecting said one or more conditions, and (b) controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detection. Examples of such prior art are described in the following patents: US 5,259,813, US 5,221 ,292. US 5,066,466, US 4,992,965, US 4.882,287, US 4,875,406, US 4,742,763, US 4,478,049, US 4,437,391, US 4,352,321, US 4,259,722, EP 0053,394 and EP 0042,28. Such prior art has been dependent upon a complicated and expensive detection system required for analyzing polluted air. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method of reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle having a controllable air intake system leading to said interior of the vehicle, and a detection system for detecting one or more conditions, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting said one or more conditions; (b) controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detection; so that said one or more conditions are causing and/or being the result of a potential energ to kinetic energy conversion of said vehicle and/or by said one or more conditions being t physical inclination of the vehicle. "Causing and/or being the result of as used herein mea "directly or indirectly causing and/or being the result of." The present invention further provides a system for reducing the level of air pollution in th interior of a vehicle comprising: a controllable air intake system leading to said interior of the vehicle; a detection system for detecting one or more conditions; and means for controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detection, so that said one or more conditions are causing and/or being the result of a potential energ to kinetic energy conversion of said vehicle and/or by said one or more conditions being th physical inclination of the vehicle. The present invention is not a one-hundred percent secure method of, and system fo preventing air intake of polluted air, but it normally at a high efficiency does reduce th average level of air intake of polluted air to the interior of a vehicle in a simple non complicated and inexpensive manner. The reason that the method and system of the inventio is able to reach such high efficiency is as follows. Normally polluted air intake comes fro exhaust of other vehicles around and particularly in front of the vehicle of the invention. Such air pollution has been shown to increase when such other vehicles at a high level convert potential energy such as fuel to kinetic energy such as speed of such other vehicles and/or when such other vehicles drive at a steep physical incline such as when they travel up a hill. It has also been shown that when the surrounding vehicles are under such conditions with increased pollution there is a high degree of likelihood that the vehicle of the invention will be under similar conditions of at a high level converting potential energy to kinetic energy and/or the vehicle of the invention having a steep physical inclination. Therefore when air intake is reduced and/or filtered whenever the vehicle of the invention is creating polluted air then there is a high degree of likelihood that the polluted air created by the surrounding vehicles does not pollute the interior of the vehicle of the invention. 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. All the advantages specifically stated herein do not necessarily apply to every conceivable embodiment of the invention. Further, such stated advantages of the invention are only exemplifications and should not be construed as the only advantages of this consequential invention. Additional features of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a sectional/look-through view of a motor vehicle showing a system of the inventio DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention. The system has a controllable a intake system 2 leading to said interior of the vehicle 3, a detection system 1 for detecting on or more conditions of the vehicle 3 and means for controlling air intake to said interior of th vehicle 3 in response to such detection, the means for controlling the air intake including a fa 10, and ambient air valve 7, a filtered air valve 8 and a filter 5. The vehicle 3 has an engine 11 and the detection system 1 can measure the rate of fue consumption of the engine 11, the rate of engine exhaust of the vehicle 3, the rotation rate o the engine 11, the speed and the acceleration of the vehicle 3. The system has an ambient air valve 7 for decreasing the air intake in response to suc detection and an adjustable timer device 4 for, among other things, continuing the decrease air intake for only a predetermined period after said detection has terminated. The system further comprises a recirculation valve 6 for recirculating air in the vehicle 3. Th adjustable timer device 4 can also be adjusted for continuing the recirculation for only predetermined period after a detected condition has terminated. The detection system 1 can further detect changes in the level of conditions such as rate of fuel consumption, rate of engine exhaust, speed, acceleration and rate of rotation of the engine 11. The system further comprises a heating and cooling unit 9. The operation of the preferred embodiment is as follows: In order to reduce the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle 3 it has a controllable air intake system 2 leading to the interior of the vehicle 3, and a detection system 1 for detecting one or more conditions such as rate of fuel consumption, rate of engine exhaust, rate of engine rotation, speed, acceleration and changes in the level of any of these, the method comprises the steps of (a) detecting said one or more conditions, and (b) controlling air intake conditions to said interior of the vehicle 3 in response to such detection; where said one or more conditions are causing and/or are being the result of a potential energy to kinetic energy conversion of said vehicle 3 and/or by said one or more conditions being the physical inclination 12 of the vehicle 3. The air intake can be controlled by decreasing the air intake in response to the above mentioned detection and further controlled by continuing the decreased air intake for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated. The air intake can further be controlled by filtering at least some of the air intake in response to the above mentioned detection and by continuing the filtering of the air intake for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated. When the above mentioned conditions are detected air may also be recirculated in the vehic and the recirculation may be continued for a predetermined period after said detection h terminated. Normally when one or more of the mentioned conditions are detected ambient air valve 7 shut and recirculation valve 6 and/or filtered air valve 8 are opened. Then when su conditions are no longer detected ambient air valve 7 opens up and recirculation valve 6 and/ filtered air valve 8 respectively are shut. When the concept "a condition is detected" is used herein it means that "the condition abo a predetermined πiinimum threshold is detected." While the present description contains many specificities, these should not be construed limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one/som preferred embodiment/s thereof. Many other variations are possible, for example, embodiment where the conditions detected are different from the above exemplified such as compressio of gasses in the engine of the vehicle or power transfer to the wheels of the vehicle measured wind pressure against the vehicle. There may also be other ways of controlling th air intake such as for example adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from a recirculate air stream. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be determined by the specifi embodiment/s illustrated herein, but the full scope of the invention is further illustrated by th claims appended hereto.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle having a controllable are intake system leading to said interior of the vehicle, and a detection system for detecting one or more conditions, comprising the steps of (a) detecting said one or more conditions; and (b) controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detection; characterized by said one or more conditions causing and/or being the result of a potential energy to kinetic energy conversion of said vehicle and/or by said one or more conditions being the physical inclination of the vehicle. 2. A method according to claim 1, where the vehicle includes an engine and where the detection system includes means for measuring the rate of fuel consumption of the engine, and wherein step (a) includes the step of (c) measuring the rate of fuel consumption of the engine of the vehicle. 3. A method according to claim 1, where the vehicle has an engine and where the detection system includes means for measuring the rate of engine exhaust of the vehicle and wherein step (a) includes the step of (c) measuring the rate of engine exhaust of the vehicle. 4. A method according to claim 1, where the detection system includes means fo measuring the rate of acceleration of said vehicle and wherein step (a) includes the step of (c) measuring the rate of acceleration of said vehicle. 5. A method according to claim 1, where the vehicle includes an engine and where th detection system includes means for measuring the rotation rate of the engine and wherein ste (a) includes the step of (c) measuring the rotation rate of the engine of the vehicle. 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 ha 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 method according to claim 1, where the detection system includes means for detecting changes in one or more of said one or more conditions and wherein step (a) includes the step of (c) detecting such changes; and wherein step (b) includes the step of (d) controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detected changes. 13. A method according to claim 12, where the detection system includes means for measuring changes in the speed of said vehicle and wherein step (c) includes the step of (e) measuring the changes in the speed of said vehicle. 14. A method according to claim 12, where the vehicle includes an engine and where the detection system includes means for measuring changes in the rotation rate of the engine and wherein step (c) includes the step of (e) measuring the changes in the rotation rate of the engine of the vehicle. 15. A system for reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle comprising: a controllable air intake system leading to said interior of the vehicle; a detection system for detecting one or more conditions; and means for controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detection; characterized by said one or more conditions causing and/or being the result of a potential energy to kinetic energy conversion of said vehicle and/or by said one or more conditions being the physical inclination of the vehicle. 16. A system according to claim 15, comprising an engine of the vehicle; and means of the detection system for measuring the rate of fuel consumption of the engine. 17. A system according to claim 15, comprising an engine of the vehicle; and means of the detection system for measuring the rate of engine exhaust of the vehicle. 18. A system according to claim 15, comprising means of the detection system for measuring the rate of acceleration of said vehicle. 19. A system according to claim 15, comprising an engine of the vehicle; and means of the detection system for measuring the rotation rate of the engine. 20. A system according to claim 15, comprising means for decreasing the air intake in response to such detection. 21. A system according to claim 20, comprising means for continuing the decreased air intake for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated. 22. A system according to claim 15, comprising means for filtering at least some of the air intake in response to such detection. 23. A system according to claim 22, comprising means for continuing the filtered air intake for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated. 24. A system according to claim 15, comprising means for recirculating air in the vehicle in response to such detection. 25. A system according to claim 24, comprising means for continuing the recirculation for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated. 26. A system according to claim 15, comprising means of the detection system for detecting changes in one or more of said one or mor conditions; and means for controlling air intake to said interior of the vehicle in response to such detecte changes. 27. a system according to claim 26, comprising means of the detection system for measuring changes in the speed of said vehicle. 28. A system according to claim 26, comprising an engine of the vehicle; and means of the detection system for measuring changes in the rotation rate of the engine. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 27 November 1995 (27.11.95) ; original claims 1 -28 replaced by amended claims 1 -14 (3 pages ) ] 1. A method of reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle having a controllable air intake system leading to the interior of the vehicle, an engine and a detection system for detecting one or more conditions, comprising the steps of (a) detecting the one or more conditions; and (b) controlling air intake to the interior of the vehicle in response to the detected conditions and/or changes in the detected conditions; wherein the one or more conditions are selected from a group consisting of (i) the inclination of the vehicle, (ii) the rate of fuel consumption of the vehicle engine, (iii) the rate of engine exhaust of the vehicle, and (iv) acceleration and/or deceleration of the vehicle. 2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein step (b) includes the step of (c) decreasing the air intake in response to such detection. 3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein step (c) includes the step of (d) continuing the decreased air intake for a predetermined period after such detection has terminated. 4. 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. 5. A method according to Claim 4, wherein step (c) includes the step of (d) continuing the filtered air intake for a predetermined period after such detection has terminated. 6. A method according to Claim 1 , including the step of (c) recirculating air in the vehicle in response to such detection. 7. A method according to Claim 6, wherein step (c) includes the step of (d) continuing the recirculation for a predetermined period after said detection has terminated. 8. A system for reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle having an engine, comprising a controllable air intake system leading to the interior of the vehicle; a detection system for detecting one or more conditions; and means for controlling air intake to the interior of the vehicle in response to the one or more detected conditions and/or changes in the detected conditions; wherein the one or more conditions are selected from a group consisting of (i) the inclination of the vehicle, (ii) the rate of fuel consumption of the vehicle engine, (iii) the rate of engine exhaust of the vehicle, and (iv) acceleration and/or deceleration of the vehicle. u 9. A system according to Claim 8, comprising means for decreasing the air intake in response to such detection. 10. A system according to Claim 9, comprising means for means for continuing the decreased air intake for a predetermined period after such detection has terminated. 11. A system according to Claim 8, comprising means for filtering at least some of the air intake in response to such detection. 12. A system according to Claim 11, comprising means for continuing the filtered air intake for a predetermined period after such detection has terminated. 13. A system according to Claim 8, comprising means for recirculating air in the vehicle in response to such detection. 14. A system according to Claim 13, comprising means for continuing the recirculation for a predetermined period after such detection has terminated. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 The Claims are amended to better define the matter for which protection is sought. The claims are novel and involve an inventive step over GB, A, 1 442 865, JP, A, 55-145015 and US, A, 4,733,605 because these references do not describe the feature of reducing the level of air pollution in the interior of a vehicle having a controllable air intake system leading to the interior of the vehicle, and a detection system for detecting one or more conditions, comprising the steps of (a) detecting the one or more conditions, and (b) controlling air intake to the interior of the vehicle in response to the detected conditions and/or changes in the detected conditions, wherein the one or more conditions includes either (i) the inclination of the vehicle, (ii) the rate of fuel consumption of the vehicle engine, (iii) the rate of engine exhaust of the vehicle, or (iv) acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle.

Inventors: SORENSEN JENS OLE, SORENSEN, JENS, OLE
Applicants: SORENSEN JENS OLE, SORENSEN, JENS, OLE
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B60H3
IPC codes: B60H1, B60H3