Abstract:
A vehicle-integrated water harvesting system is provided that enables water-vapor or condensation in a vehicle to be captured, and made available onboard the vehicle for drinking or other uses. The system includes a water emitting component and may include a purification system operatively connected to the water emitting component. The purification system at least partially purifies the water and then sends the purified water to a storage reservoir or directly to a dispenser or outlet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/085,536, filed Aug. 1, 2008, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a water harvesting system integrated in a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Globally, drinking water is in short supply. Researchers are striving to find alternative methods of water gathering and purification. Additionally, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the purity levels of tap water, and are purchasing bottled water in record numbers, leading to energy expenditures associated with producing, recycling and/or disposing of the bottles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various systems for collecting and using (i.e., harvesting) water from a water-emitting component of a vehicle are provided. For example, a vehicle-integrated water-harvesting system is provided that enables water-vapor or condensation occurring on a vehicle, such as a by-product of vehicle operations, to be captured, purified and made available onboard the vehicle for drinking. Thus, the purified water system is integrated with other vehicle systems and components. The integrated purified water system includes a water emitting component and a purification system operatively connected to the water emitting component. The purification system purifies the water to acceptable drinking level standards and then sends the purified water to a storage reservoir. A temperature controller is operatively connected to the storage reservoir and functions to maintain the water at a predetermined temperature or within a predetermined temperature range. Different embodiments of the system use various methods of regulating the water temperature. A dispensing valve is operatively connected with the storage reservoir, and may be opened to provide the purified, temperature controlled water through a dispensing outlet. Extraneous water remaining at the valve may be rerouted to the purification system to ensure purity. The entire system is integrated in an automotive vehicle. The water emitting component is a component having other uses on the vehicle, such as an air conditioning condenser, an electric motor cooling system, a fuel cell, etc. Thus, water that would otherwise likely be discarded or naturally evaporate or drip from the vehicle is captured and processed for onboard drinking. 
     Another vehicle-integrated water harvesting system is provided in which water is directed from the water-emitting component to a wiper fluid reservoir. A concentrate of washer in a tablet or liquid form in the reservoir or in a conduit leading from the water-emitting component to the reservoir mixes with the water to create washer fluid. Thus, water that would otherwise be discarded is used so that a constant supply of washer fluid is available in a maintenance free manner (i.e., washer fluid need not be manually added). 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a fourth embodiment of a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system; and 
         FIG. 5  is schematic illustration of another embodiment of a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system  10  is shown on a vehicle  12 . The system  10  includes a water-emitting component  14 . The water-emitting component  14  may be any component that produces water in liquid or vapor form as a by-product of its intended function. For example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the water-emitting component  14  is a heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system or module  14  that produces water condensate as a by-product of controlling the temperature of passenger compartment air. The HVAC module  14  includes an evaporator  15  having cool refrigerant within cooling coil  16 . Outside air flows over coil  16  to cool the air before entering the passenger compartment. The HVAC module  14  is operatively connected to vehicle system components  17  which include a compressor  18  that condenses the gas within cooling coil  16 , after it has been used for cooling purposes, causing it to become hot high pressure gas which runs through a set of coils in condenser  19  to dissipate heat and condenses into liquid before routing through an expansion device  20 . Cooling of the outside air over the coil  16  of the evaporator  15  condenses water vapor in the air, which is collected in sump  22 . Excess water in sump  22  is allowed to overflow. 
     An HVAC module  14  may be found on a vehicle of any propulsion type. Alternative water-emitting components that may be used within the vehicle-integrated water harvesting system  10  may be available only on certain propulsion types, such as a fuel cell on a fuel cell vehicle, or a motor/battery cooling system in the case of an electric or hybrid electric vehicle. In most cases, the water-emitting component  14  is located under the hood of the vehicle, and is not in the passenger compartment. The vehicle system components  17  are typically under the hood. As used herein, the phrase “under the hood” means in a compartment of the vehicle containing the propulsion device, such as the engine or fuel cell, and is used whether or not there is an operable hood on the vehicle. 
     The vehicle-integrated water harvesting system  10  also includes a purification system  24  capable of purifying water to accepted drinking water standards. A tube or system of tubes  26  route the condensate to the purification system  24 , either via gravity or with the assistance of a pump. Alternatively, the purification system  24  could mount directly to the water-emitting component  14 , in which case the purification system  24  would be adjacent the water-emitting component, such as under the hood, on the cab or on the roof. The purification system  24  could be a simple filter, or may be a more complex, commercially-available system. One exemplary purification system  24  may include a condensation unit, filters, and a bacteria-killing device, such as ultraviolet light. The filters of such an exemplary system would be capable of removing unacceptable materials such as volatile organic carbons. Those skilled in the art of water purification will readily understand such systems, as well as drinking water standards. 
     After being purified, the water is routed to a storage reservoir  28  operatively connected with the purification system  24  through a tube or series of tubes  30 , or mounted directly to the purification system  24 . The storage reservoir  28  may be mounted under the hood, within the body structure, such as in a door cavity or under the dash panel, or may be mounted within the passenger compartment. 
     A temperature controller  32  is operatively connected to the storage reservoir  28  and functions to achieve and maintain a predetermined temperature or temperature range of the stored and purified water. The temperature controller  32  may be an electric-powered heating and cooling unit run off of battery power. Alternatively, in the case of vehicles having an HVAC module, such as vehicle  10 , the temperature controller  32  may be integrated with or operatively connected with the HVAC module to use the heating and cooling capabilities of the HVAC module or system to heat or cool the water in the reservoir  28 . 
     For example, in  FIG. 1 , the temperature controller  32  controls a valve  34  that allows the cooling refrigerant in cooling coil  16  to be routed past the reservoir  28  before returning to the compressor  18 , as needed to control temperature in the reservoir  28  to a predetermined temperature or temperature range. The temperature controller  32  also controls a heating element  36  to heat the water in the reservoir  28  as needed. Dashed lines between temperature controller  32  and water-emitting component  14  and coil  16  indicate the ability of temperature controller  32  to monitor the temperature and other operating parameters of these components. Evaporator condensate is typically cold, being formed upon the evaporator  15 , which is a relatively cold part of the HVAC module  14 . However, in other instances, the condensate or vapor collected from the water-emitting component  14  will be at an elevated temperature and will require cooling to enable a suitable drinking temperature. In other instances, when relatively high temperature drinking water is desired, such as for tea, little or no cooling of the purified water in the reservoir  28  will be required. In that case, the temperature controller  32  may cause heating element  36  to heat of the water in the reservoir. 
     A dispensing valve  38  is situated in the passenger compartment and is controllable manually, such as by turning a knob, pressing a button, via mouth suction device or straw-like device, or may be controllable by voice activation. When open, the valve  38  directs water from the reservoir  28  to a dispensing outlet  40  through tubes  41 ,  42  for collection in a cup, mug, thermos, or other container. Excess water collected in the tubes  41 ,  42  between the reservoir  28  and the outlet  40  can be rerouted through tubes  44  via a pump or gravity, back to the purification system  24  to ensure that no water settles in the tubes  41 ,  42 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of a vehicle  12 A having a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system  10 A. Components of water purification system  10 A that are identical to those of vehicle-integrated water harvesting system  10  of  FIG. 1  are referred to with like reference numbers in the drawings. The vehicle-integrated water harvesting system  10 A utilizes a dual-chambered reservoir  28 A,  28 B, with the temperature controller  32  ensuring that a first chamber  28 A is at a first relatively high temperature or in a first relatively high temperature range, while a second chamber  28 B is at a lower temperature or temperature range so that, for instance, both hot and cold drinking water are available. Thus, the cooling coil  16  is routed only past second chamber  28 B, while the heating element  36 A is controlled by temperature controller  32  to heat only first chamber  28 A. Water is routed through tubes  30  from the purification system  24  to both chambers  28 A,  28 B. The dispensing valve  38 A is a two-way valve that can be turned to adjust the amount of water coming from each of the chambers  28 A,  28 B. 
       FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of a vehicle  12 B having a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system  10 B. Components of water purification system  10 B that are identical to those of water purification  10  of  FIG. 1  are referred to with like reference numbers in the drawings. The system  10 B includes a water-emitting component  14 B that is an HVAC module alike in all aspects to that of  FIG. 1  except that the cooling coil  16 B routes directly to the compressor  18  and does not route past the reservoir  28  for cooling purposes. Instead, air (represented by arrows A) that has been cooled by the evaporator  15  (i.e., cooled air for the passenger compartment) is routed through duct or passage  50  to the reservoir  28  to the cool the reservoir  28 . A valve  52  controlled by the temperature controller  32  regulates the amount of cooling air provided to the reservoir  28 . In this embodiment, a separate duct would be provided to route cooling air to the passenger compartment. 
       FIG. 4  shows a fourth embodiment of a vehicle  12 C having a vehicle-integrated water harvesting system  10 C. Components of water purification system  10 C that are identical to those of water purification  10 B of  FIG. 3  are referred to with like reference numbers in the drawings. In this embodiment, air that has been cooled by the evaporator  15  is routed through duct  50 C past the reservoir  28  to cool the reservoir and on to the passenger compartment, indicated as area P. The reservoir  28  may be in the passenger compartment P. 
       FIG. 5  shows a fifth embodiment of a vehicle  12 D having an integrated water system  10 D. Components of water purification system  10 D that are identical to those of water purification  10  of  FIG. 1  are referred to with like reference numbers in the drawings. Yet another potential onboard use for water emitted from water-emitting component  14  is to route the water through conduit  60  to a windshield washer fluid reservoir  28 D. The conduit  60  may branch from tube  26  of  FIG. 1 , or the vehicle  12 D may not have a purification system  24  (i.e., the emitted water may be used only for windshield washer fluid in the windshield washer fluid reservoir  28 D). The emitted water may be routed through the conduit  60  by gravity, or with the assistance of a pump. The emitted water is mixed with wiper fluid concentrate  62  to create a constant supply of washer fluid in a maintenance free system (i.e., a system in which fluid does not have to be periodically added). The wiper fluid concentrate  62  may be a tablet or concentrated liquid. The concentrate  62  may be placed in the reservoir  28 D, in the conduit  60 , and/or may be embedded in or coated on the walls of the conduit  60 , as represented by embedded concentrate  62 A. The portion of the walls of the conduit  60  with the embedded concentrate or the coating on the walls is a material that disintegrates in a time-released manner to form the wiper fluid with the water. The concentrate  62 ,  62 A is formulated to dissolve in the water in a time-released manner to maintain a constant, correctly diluted wiper fluid supply  63 . Alternatively, a concentrate sensor may be used to determine dilution of the wiper fluid and a means of adding wiper fluid concentrate to maintain the correct concentrate/water mixture may be employed. For example, upon sensing that the wiper fluid is too diluted, the concentrate sensor may enable opening of a check valve or the like to permit wiper fluid concentrate to flow from a concentrate reservoir to the reservoir  28 D. 
     At an outlet  64  of the reservoir  28 D, the wiper fluid reservoir  28 D is in fluid communication with a sprayer  66  that sprays wiper fluid on a windshield for cleaning of the windshield via a wiper. A wiper fluid pump may be employed for directing wiper fluid flow to the sprayer. The wiper fluid reservoir  28 D may have a wiper fluid reservoir level sensor in fluid communication with water collected within the wiper fluid reservoir  28 D, so that an onboard control unit (not shown) may regulate the amount of water entering the wiper fluid reservoir  28 D via the conduit  60 . A valve may be operatively connected to the wiper fluid reservoir level sensor for regulating the amount of water emptied into the wiper fluid reservoir  28 D from the conduit  60 . 
     Because washer fluid need not be periodically added to the reservoir  28 D, the system  10 D is maintenance free, and the use of plastic wiper fluid bottles traditionally necessary for wiper fluid refills is eliminated, reducing landfill waste. 
     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.