Patent Description:
Air supplied into vehicles' cabins is often contaminated by machinery between an exterior fresh air intake and a cabin's interior volume. Indeed in circuits between an air intake and an air mouth in a vehicle cabin, dust may accumulate, oil may leak from some machinery, bearings, gears, etc. These contaminants contaminate the fresh air and are injected into the vehicle's cabin. Such contaminants create unpleasant odors for passengers in the cabin.

<CIT> discloses an air conditioning unit with a water extractor unit. The unit consists of a passage with a vortex generator surrounded by a wall an aperture to an outer water trap with water sump. The separator chamber is a multi-stage cascade unit. The first stage accumulates water droplets, while the second stage promotes release of the accumulated droplets. The third stage draws off air mass flow.

<CIT> discloses a device for cooling drive components and for controlling a temperature inside a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a cooling circuit through which a coolant is circulated, a refrigerant circuit including a condenser and an evaporator; and an air-guide duct through which an air current is circulated to exchange heat with said cooling circuit and said refrigerant circuit, said air-guide duct extending from an outflow opening of the passenger compartment to an intake-air opening thereof, said air-guide duct including an inflow air-current control element for mixing the air current from said passenger compartment with a fresh air flow, a heat exchanger, disposed downstream of said inflow air-current control element, for transferring heat from said coolant to the mixed air current, an outflow air-current control element for dividing the mixed air current into an air component introduced into the passenger compartment and an exhaust air component drawn off into the environment, and a bypass duct having a first end disposed upstream of the inflow air-current control element and a second end connected to said outflow air-current control element such that a bypass flow of said bypass duct is introduced into the passenger compartment and said mixed air current is drawn off into the environment.

<CIT> discloses a motor vehicle having a water tank with a first inner chamber for separating and conducting away water from a first air flow flowing through the first inner chamber. The water tank is designed as a heat exchanger, comprising a heat exchanger element for transferring thermal energy between the first air flow and a second air flow.

<CIT> discloses a system comprising an air intake outside the cabin, a filter and a turbine for supplying the cabin with pressurized air. The air intake is used to supply the engine of the vehicle with air; the system comprising an air intake duct connected directly to the air delivery duct extending between the air filter of the engine of the vehicle and the motor.

The invention aims to provide an air supply device and method that supply clean air to a vehicle's cabin.

The invention proposes a device and method that are simple to manufacture and to retrofit on existing vehicles.

The invention proposes an economical solution to provide clean air in a cabin.

The invention proposes an operating method of a vehicle cabin air supply device comprising:.

characterized in that it comprises a step of when starting the air supply device entirely diverting the fresh air to an air exhaust during an exhaust duration before injecting said fresh air into the cabin.

In the whole text, the expression "fresh air" is used for air taken outside the cabin as opposite to air already present in the cabin. The "fresh air" may be processed or modified compared to its natural state in the atmosphere before being taken in through an air intake of the invention. The air may for example be filtered, compressed, heated, etc.. This may particularly be the case if the air has gone through compressor stage of a turbine. For example air extracted from a compressor stage of a turbine engine air is often called "bleed air" as it is bled from a stage of the engine stage.

Starting the air supply device may reflect different situations, depending on the air supply device configuration. In some embodiments, the air supply device may comprise a dedicated circulation device that is switched on upon request for fresh air in the vehicle cabin. Alternatively or in combination, the air supply device may make use of an existing circulation device on-board the vehicle, for example a circulation device ensuring another on-board function, or a turbine compressor stage on an aircraft. When the circulation device ensures another function, the starting of the air supply device may correspond to the opening of a valve, of vanes, or of a door onto an air tap to the air source provided by the circulation device. In some embodiments, starting the air supply device may correspond to the opening of a valve (or door, or tap, or vane, etc.) to supply fresh air into a fresh air circuit comprising at least one air mouth into the cabin.

During the exhaust duration, said fresh air is exhausted outside the cabin. The fresh air channeled to the exhaust is not entering the cabin. The exhaust is adapted to exhaust the fresh air in the atmosphere, back in a machine such as a turbine, or in the exhaust of another machine such as a turbine exhaust. Thereby the invention proposes a method that avoids to inject contaminants in the cabin upon starting the air supply device. Nonetheless, in some specific embodiments, part of the fresh air may be simultaneously injected in the cabin to ensure minimum air renewal in the cabin.

After the exhaust duration, the fresh air is injected into the cabin. Given that most of the volatile contaminants are present in the air stored in the air circuit before starting the air supply device, most air contaminants are not injected in the cabin, and ejected outside the cabin instead. Any contaminant that would be in the first stream of air circulating in the air circuit is thus not injected into the cabin, thereby reducing the amount of contaminants and sources of unpleasant odors. The air circuit between the air intake and the air exhaust may be at least partially cleared of accumulated contaminant, at least of volatized contaminants. Liquid or solid contaminants accumulated on machinery and surfaces of the air supply device, such as oil in or around moving parts and dust in ducts of an air circuit for example, may also be volatized and/or ejected when a stream of fresh air is first introduced in the air circuit. Thanks to a method according to the invention, such contaminants are also ejected outside the cabin. After the exhaust duration, the air circuit of an air supply device according to the invention is much cleaner than before it is started, such that the fresh air afterwards introduced in the cabin contains no or a low amount of contaminants and bad odor generating particles.

When starting the air supply device, the fresh air is entirely diverted to an exhaust during an exhaust duration.

No fresh air is introduced into the cabin for an exhaust duration after starting the air supply device. The injection of potentially contaminated air in the cabin may thus be minimized.

During the exhaust duration, said fresh air may at least partially be circulated in an air circuit.

The air circuit beneficially comprises at least part of a cabin air supply circuit in which said fresh air circulates when it is injected in said cabin. The circulation of the fresh air in the air circuit and its ejection through an exhaust allows to remove pollutants from said air circuit.

The common portion of air circuit between an air intake and an air mouth for injecting said fresh air into the cabin and air circuit between said air intake and the exhaust for ejecting said fresh air may be maximized in order to ensure a cleaning of the longest possible portion of air circuit during the exhaust duration and before the fresh air is injected into the cabin.

Said exhaust duration may be predetermined.

The exhaust duration may be determined based on different factors. For example it may be determined based on a nominal air flow upon starting the air supply device, and an amount of air stored in the air circuit of the air device. A threshold may be arbitrarily defined to determine the exhaust duration, such as for example at least one and a half the volume of the air circuit must be ejected through the air exhaust during the exhaust duration.

The exhaust duration may also be determined based on test results. For example a determined amount of contaminant may be placed in an air circuit of the air supply device and the amount of contaminants may be measured to determine when a contaminant concentration is below a predetermined threshold.

The exhaust duration value may be stored in a memory. The air supply device may comprise a memory to store such value.

Alternatively or in combination, the exhaust duration may be calculated depending on determined criteria such as air flow, contaminants presence, air pressure, air humidity, etc. the exhaust duration may nonetheless have a minimum threshold value.

Said exhaust duration may depend on data received from a contaminant sensor.

Said contaminant sensor is adapted to sense the presence of at least one air contaminant. Such air contaminants may be hydrocarbons, oil, anti-fluids, particles, droplets, dust, etc. The contaminant sensor is beneficially placed in an air circuit between the air intake and the air exhaust.

The exhaust duration may thus be adapted depending on the amount of contaminant in the air circulating in the air circuit upon starting the air supply device. An air flow control device may receive contaminant data from said contaminant sensor and be adapted to process such data. The air flow control device may determine an exhaust duration at least based on the contaminant data.

The fresh air may be bled from an engine compressor stage.

For example air for being injecting in an aircraft cabin may be bled from an aircraft main or secondary engine compressor stage.

Alternatively, the fresh air may be drawn by a dedicated air circulation device.

The air supply system may have its own dedicated air circulation device to draw fresh air from outside the vehicle's cabin. Such air circulation device may nonetheless be powered by an engine having at least one other function such as propulsion or electrical power generation. The air circulation device may for example be a dedicated air compressor. The compressor may have its own power source such as an electrical engine, or may be clutchable to a main or secondary aircraft engine.

The invention also extends to a vehicle air supply device comprising:.

characterized in that it further comprises:.

The fresh air intake is beneficially placed upstream from the air exhaust according to a usual direction of displacement of the vehicle.

The air supply device also comprises an air circuit for conducting fresh air between the air intake and the air mouth(s), as well as between the air intake and the air exhaust.

The air flow control device is adapted to:.

More generally, the air flow control device is adapted to implement an operation method of a vehicle cabin air supply device according to the invention.

The air flow control device may be adapted to divert fresh air from the air intake to the air exhaust upon starting a circulation device such as a fan, or upon opening an air tap onto a pressurized fresh air source, such as a turbine compressor stage for example.

The air flow control device may also be adapted to stop the fresh air from passing through the one or more air mouth to a cabin.

A device according to the invention may further comprise a cabin valve between the air intake and the air mouth.

The air flow control device is adapted to control the cabin valve. The air flow control device may partially or fully close the cabin valve during the exhaust duration. The cabin valve is beneficially fully closed during the exhaust duration. After the exhaust duration, the cabin valve may at least partially be open, and may beneficially be fully open.

Also, a device according to the invention may further comprise an exhaust valve between the air intake and the exhaust.

The air supply device may comprise an exhaust valve between the air intake and the air exhaust. The air flow control device is adapted to control the exhaust valve.

The exhaust valve is open during the exhaust duration. After the exhaust duration, the exhaust valve may at least partially be closed, and may beneficially be fully closed.

The air supply device may comprise inlet guide vanes between the air intake and the air mouth.

The inlet guide vanes are beneficially placed in an upstream portion of an air circuit of the air supply device. The inlet guide vanes may beneficially be controlled between a closed position and an open position. The air flow control device may control the inlet guide vanes. The intake of fresh air in the air circuit may thus be controlled.

The inlet guide vanes may be directly upstream an air compressor for circulating air in the air circuit.

The opening of the inlet guide vanes and/or the activating an air circulation device may be considered at the starting of the air supply device. After opening the inlet guide vanes and/or activating an air circulation device, the fresh air is exhausted through the air exhaust during an exhaust duration.

The invention also extends to an aircraft comprising an air supply device according to an embodiment according to the invention.

The invention also extends to other possible combinations of features described in the above description and in the following description relative to the figures. In particular, the invention extends to an air supply device comprising features described in relation to the operating method; the invention extends to an operating method comprising features described in relation to the air supply device; the invention extends to aircrafts comprising features described in relation to the air supply device and/or the operating method.

Some specific exemplary embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in the following description in reference to the accompanying figures.

In <FIG> and <FIG> a vehicle cabin air supply device <NUM> is represented.

The air supply device <NUM> comprises an air intake <NUM> for drawing fresh air from outside the vehicle, an air mouth <NUM> for injecting said fresh air into a cabin <NUM>, and an air exhaust <NUM> for ejecting said fresh air towards outside the cabin, beneficially to an exterior of the vehicle, through an engine exhaust nozzle <NUM>.

The air supply device <NUM> also comprises an air circuit <NUM> between the air intake <NUM> and the air exhaust <NUM> and the air mouth <NUM>. The air supply device <NUM> further comprises a cabin valve <NUM> placed in the air circuit <NUM> between the air intake <NUM> and the cabin air mouth <NUM>. The cabin valve <NUM> may be closed to impede a flow of fresh air between the air intake <NUM> and the air mouth <NUM>, or open to let air flow from the air intake <NUM> to the air mouth <NUM>. The air supply device <NUM> also comprises an exhaust valve <NUM> placed in the air circuit <NUM> between the air intake <NUM> and the air exhaust <NUM>. The exhaust valve <NUM> may be closed to impede a flow of fresh air between the air intake <NUM> and the air exhaust <NUM>, or open to let air flow from the air intake <NUM> to the air exhaust <NUM>.

The cabin valve <NUM> and the exhaust valve <NUM> may be electrically controlled. The air supply device <NUM> comprises an air flow control device <NUM>. The air flow control device <NUM> is adapted to control the cabin valve <NUM> and the exhaust valve <NUM>.

The air supply device <NUM> also comprises an air circulation device. In this embodiment the air circulation device comprises a dedicated load compressor <NUM> for circulating air from the air intake <NUM> to the air mouth <NUM> and/or to the air exhaust <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> may be clutchable to an engine shaft <NUM> of an engine <NUM>. The compressor may thus be switched on or off by clutching its shaft to the engine's shaft <NUM>. The start of the compressor may trigger the start of the exhaust duration.

The engine <NUM> may ensure additional functions such as propulsion or electrical power generation. The engine <NUM> may for example be an auxiliary power unit of an aircraft.

The air supply device <NUM> represented in the <FIG> and <FIG> also comprises inlet guide vanes <NUM>. The inlet guide vanes <NUM> are placed upstream from the compressor <NUM>. The inlet guide vanes <NUM> may be controlled by the air flow control device <NUM>. The inlet guide vanes <NUM> may be closed when no fresh air is requested in the cabin. The inlet guide vanes aperture may correspond to the start of the air supply device from which an exhaust duration is triggered.

The air supply device <NUM> may also comprise a contaminant sensor <NUM>. The contaminant sensor <NUM> may be placed in a portion of the air circuit <NUM> between the air intake <NUM> and the air exhaust <NUM>, in which fresh air circulates during the exhaust duration. Thus the amount of air contaminant in the air exhausted through the air exhaust <NUM> may be measured. The exhaust duration may be interrupted upon detection of a concentration of contaminants below a predetermined level. The contaminant sensor <NUM> may be connected to the flow control device <NUM> so as to supply its data to the flow control device <NUM>.

<FIG> represents a method of operation an air supply device <NUM> according to the invention. In a first step <NUM>, the air supply device <NUM> is started. Upon starting the air supply device <NUM> - in particular upon switching the air circulation device <NUM> and/or opening the inlet guide vanes <NUM> - the exhaust duration is triggered.

In a second step <NUM>, the fresh air drawn from outside the vehicle is exhausted after having circulated in the air circuit <NUM>, without having been injected into the cabin <NUM> at any moment. The air flow control device <NUM> is adapted to open the exhaust valve <NUM> and close the cabin valve <NUM> during the exhaust duration. The fresh air drawn through the air intake <NUM> is thus exhausted through the exhaust <NUM> after having circulated in the air circuit <NUM>, as represented by arrows on <FIG>. The fresh air thus cleans the air circuit <NUM> of any accumulated contaminant such as dust, oil and other volatile components that are susceptible to create bad odor sensation.

In a third step <NUM>, the fresh air is injected into the cabin <NUM>. After the exhaust duration, the air flow control device <NUM> closes the exhaust valve <NUM> and opens the cabin valve <NUM> such that clean fresh air drawn from outside the vehicle may be injected into the cabin <NUM> through one or more air mouth(s) <NUM>. The flow of air in such configuration is shown by arrows in <FIG>.

The flow control device <NUM> may be a controller or a computer. The air flow control device <NUM> may comprise a memory to store an exhaust duration value and/or an algorithm to determine the exhaust duration.

The air flow control device <NUM> may receive contaminant data from the contaminant sensor <NUM> to determine an exhaust duration.

The exhaust duration may be determined based on tests, taking into account that in configurations similar to that presented in <FIG> and <FIG>, the highest amount of contaminants is present in the first portion of the air circuit <NUM>.

The flow control device <NUM> may operate other functions such as a control of the engine <NUM>. The flow control device <NUM> may be connected to a central computer or to a control board for pilots or flight attendants, such that that fresh air may be delivered in the cabin upon request.

In <FIG> an aircraft <NUM> according to the invention is represented, which comprises a cabin <NUM> and a cabin air supply device <NUM> according to the invention. The air supply device <NUM> may be powered by an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the aircraft.

Claim 1:
Operating method of a vehicle cabin air supply device comprising:
- taking fresh air from outside the cabin,
- injecting said fresh air into the cabin (<NUM>),
characterized in that it comprises a step of, when starting the air supply device (<NUM>), entirely diverting the fresh air to an air exhaust (<NUM>), said fresh air being exhausted outside the cabin, during a determined exhaust duration before injecting said fresh air into the cabin.