Patent ID: 8702481

Claim:
An apparatus for use with an ambulance, the ambulance having an interior space with an opening at the rear of the ambulance, the apparatus comprising: an air curtain apparatus having a blower to generate an air flow, the blower mounted to the ambulance at an edge of the opening, the blower having an air input drawing air from the interior space of the ambulance and an air output; an air guide to direct the air flow from the output of the blower across the opening to assist in maintaining a desired climate condition of temperature and humidity in the interior space and limiting the entry of exhaust fumes from the exhaust of the ambulance, the air guide mounted to the ambulance at the edge of the opening; an air filter to filter the air in the air flow; a controller providing power to the blower to operate the blower; a motion detection sensor providing input to the controller, the controller ceasing operation of the blower upon the motion detection sensor sensing an object approaching the opening; a mounting plate and a cover, the blower mounted to the mounting plate; a perforated panel, the perforated panel, air filter and mounting plate defining an air inlet plenum, air being drawn from the interior space into the air inlet plenum; a heating and air conditioning system in the ambulance to heat and cool the interior space of the ambulance; a heat exchanger circuit and/or an air conditioning evaporator coil to heat or cool the air to supplement the heating and air conditioning system in the ambulance; and the blower, coil and/or heat exchanger circuit are positioned within a volume defined by the mounting plate, cover, perforated panel and air filter at the edge of the opening.