Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR
PROTECTING MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS FROM POLLUTION
TECHNICAI~ FIELD
This invention relates to a filter assembly for cleaning
the air which enters the motor vehicle's interior and/or the
ambient interior air within a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
This is an improvement of Canadian Patent No. 1 214 402
date of Patent November 2S, 1986, and Patent No. 1 231 065
date of Patent January 5, 1988. These improvements consist
of~ a hot fluid/water heater which protects the filter
element of the assembly from freezi~g and keeps the filter
dry, and also is safer to use and less expensive than a
resistance heater; (2) An easily adaptable remodeled
assembly including a filter element which is installed in
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fresh air inlet and also may be located in the circulating
inlet that can be installed in all new and existing
automobiles; its function is to clean the polluted air coming
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,~ 20 passengers inside the automobile, also will purify the air of
small particles of components of the filter from leaving the
filter and; ~3) during production in new automobiles easy
instalation of a filter assembly in fresh air inlet and also
may be located in the circulation inlet will clean the
polluted air coming from the outside and/or the existing air
polluted by passengers inside the automobile, or only one
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filter assembly can be installed in the plenum, it will clean
the polluted air coming from the outside and/or the existing
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air polluted by passenger inside the automobile. The blower
must be appropriately constructed to produce enough force to
pull a sufficient amount of air through the filter.
The whole world is becoming one great highway owing to
the greater availability of motor vehicles to people the world
over. The only air that the driver and passengers can breathe
is the air in the motor vehicle which enters the interior
through inlets in the heating-cooling system. That air is
polluted by the exhaust fumes emitted from the motors of
passing motor vehicles, and allergens-pollen.
Many years have passed since the invention of the motor
vehicle. Today, there are millions of them and increasingly
more of those that make use of fuel, diesel fuel and alcohol.
Built in various sizes, they burn various fuels and emit
exhaust fumes that pollute the air, particularly certain older
motor vehicles with improperly working engines which pollute
ths air even more. These motor vehicles are used for various
purposes: to transport people in buses, for instance.
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Certain ~obs require that we spend many hours in motor
vehicles. Almost every person uses a motor vehicle for
- various reasons. In all of this we inhale polluted air. To
this day, all that has been done to protect people from
exhaust fumes is to have installed an exhaust system catalytic
converter and return a portion of the exhaust fumes for a
secondary burning.
One of the greatest needs in our motor vehicles today is
to install a filter assembly to clean the air pulled into and
~ the existing air inside the motor vehicle of pollutants. Such
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an assembly could be installed in the plenum of the fresh air
inlet which is connected to the cowl plenum chamber of the
heating-cooling system and also in the circulating inlet in
new and existing automobiles. During production in new
automobiles, a fresh air inlet which has to be an appropriate
amount of square inches area to allow sufficient air into the
interior of the motor vehicle. In this fresh air inlet is
installed a filter assembly, and also in the circulating inlet
to clean the air pulled into and the existing air inside the
motor vehicle of pollutants or only one filter assembly would
be installed in the plenum between the blower and evaporator,
so that it would be in line with air entering the vehicle and
being pulled into the vehicle interior by the blower through
the outside vent. Such an assembly could be composed of a
number of appropriate components that depollute the air, and
could be constructed in such a way as to increase the surface
of the filter.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention as applied to motor
vehicle is to provide a filter assembly which protects health,
and in certain cases prevents outright poisoning.
In carrying out the above ob;ect and other ob;ects of the
present invention, a filtex assembly for use in an air
heating-cooling system for the passenger compartment of a
motor vehicle having a source of hot liquid is provided. The
system includes a plenum and the assembly is positioned in the
plenum. The assembly includes a housing containing a
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replaceable filter element having multiple layers whichprovide a surface area for contact with ~ir passing there
through from an upstream position to a downstream position
adjacent the filter element to raise the temperature of the
air in the path of air flowing through the filter element.
The heater comprises a hot liquid heater and means are
provided for supplying hot liquid from the source of hot
liquid to the hot liquid heater.
The filter element housed in the container or housing of
the assembly preferably includes quality artificial water-
resistant fibers and activated charcoal to remove pollutants
emitted from the exhaust fumes of the motor vehicle, as well
as hydrocarbons, odors, soot, smoke, dust, and allergens-
pollen from the air which enters the motor vehicle interior.
A hot water heater is preferably mounted to protect the filter
element from freezing and keep it dry. Also, a sensor switch
mounted in the assembly notifies the driver whenever the
filter becomes dirty.
The moment this invention finds use in motor vehicles, it
will help prevent poisoning in certain cases and will
certainly insure ~etter health for motor vehicle drivers and
passengers. It will be especially helpful for people
suffering from emphysema, asthma, and all kinds of allergies,
and it also protects the evaporator and heater core of the
vehicle from becoming clogged with dirt. The Assembly of the
present invention can be constructed so as to include a
convex, flat, rectangular, circular or square replaceable
filter element, some of which will increase the surface area.
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This eliminates a substantial amount of air pollution entering
the motor vehicle interior for long periods of use before
becoming clogged with dirt. The assembly is a small and
simple constructed apparatus which is easily installed in all
passenger motor vehicles and contains a replaceable inside
filter element.
The container of the convex-shaped assembly is designed
so that its largest cross-sectional area is substantially
greater than the cross-sectional area of the air inlet and the
air outlet of the container. The container of the flat-shaped
filter is designed so that its largest cross-sectional area is
substantially greater than the cross-sectional area only of
the air outlet of the container, which has to fit the fresh
air inlet located in the automobile.
The container consists of one or two closed parts in
which there i8 housed the replaceable filter element. In one
part of the container on the inlet side is mounted the hot
water heater. A sensor switch is mounted in the other part of
the container on the outlet side to inform the operator when
the filter needs to be changed. This sensor switch is closed
by a spring to cause a warning light associated with the
assembly to illuminate on the instrument panel. If the filter
element is clean, use of the blower will cause the air to push
away from the sensor plate and prevent the warning light on
the instrument panel from illuminating. When the filter
element becomes dirty,.the air being drawn by the blower will
diminish in strength and not be ablè to move the sensor plate,
thereby causing the warning light to illuminate.
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The assembly prevents the ingestion of pollutants emitted
through exhaust fumes, hydrocarbons, odors, smoke, soot, dust
and allergens from the air which enters the motor vehicle
- interior, and also cleans the air which is polluted by
passengers (such as odors and cigarette smoke). The assembly
eliminates a substantial amount of air pollution. A large
cabin of a motor vehicle requires more force to suck in or
blow in the appropriate amount of air. An additional vent is
appropriately constructed from the exterior of the motor
vehicle and is connected to the cowl plenum chamber of the
heating-cooling system in which the assembly is installed.
Then the motor vehicle is in motion, this vent will allow the
air to enter by dint of air resistance, so that the air will
flow easily through the filter and it will be easier for the
blower inside it to suck and push the air into the interior of
the motor vehicle. Also, a vacuum blower can be installed in
the plenum upstream the assembly to ensure that an appropriate
amount of air inters the interior of the motor vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first
embodiment of a filter assembly of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the
assembly;
FIGURE 3 and 3-A is a diagrammatic view of different
embodiments of the assembly in a conventional heating-cooling
system of a motor vehicle:
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FIGURE 4 is a side view, partially broken away and
in cross-section, of a second embodiment of the assembly with
its hot fluid heater and is installed in a fresh air inlet
which is connectad to the cowl plenum chamber of the vehicle;
FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the
assembly of FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 6 is a side view, partially broken away, of
the assembly of FIGYRE 4 installed in the vehicle;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment
of the assembly;
FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the assembly of
FIGURE 7;
FIGYRE 9 is a side view, partially broken away, of
the assembly FIGURE 7 installed in a vehicle:
~ FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the combination~; filter of my prior patent No. 1,231,065;
FIGURE 11 is a sectional view of the combination
filter of FIGURE 10; and
; FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view of the combination
filter and an embodiment of the assembly in a conventional
: heating-cooling system.
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~ ~ BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OYT THE IN~ENTION
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What follows is a detailed description of the invention
-`~ illustrated in the drawings and the construction of the main
:~ individual elements of this new invention. The filter
assembly of the present invention is constructed to remove
pollutants emitted from the exhaust fumes of the motor
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vehicles and also from the air existing in the motor vehicles,
such as hydrocarbons, odors, soot, smoXe, dust and allergens-
pollen, for the benefit of the occupants of the motor vehicle.
A container of housing of the assembly includes two parts: l-A
and l-B, which house a filter element 1 for cleaning the air
of pollution. The container parts lA and lB are shaped so
that its largest cross sectional area (disposed in a
horizontal plane as seen in FIGURE 1) is substantially greater
than the cross-sectional area of the air outlet and fresh air
inlet 13A of the assembly. This improves the filtering
- capacity of the system.
The container part l-A houses filament wire 28 in FIGURES
11 and 12 or tubing which defines a hot water heater 28A for
protecting the filter element 1 from freezing and keeping the
filter element 1 dry as shown in FIGURES 1-9.
The container l-B houses a sensor switch 2 which notifies
the driver whenever the filter element 1 becomes dirty.
- In system A, as shown in FIGURE 3, the assembly includes
- the flat filter element 1 installed in a fresh air inlet 13-Aand which is connected to the cowl plenum chamber 13. Also,
in system A there is installed a filter element 1 in inlet 16
which is provided for re-circulating the air within the
-~ vehicle. A frame 32 holds the filter element 1. A valve
means or mechanism 33 for regulation opens a door 15 for
circulation of air. System A cleans the air which a blower 14
pulls from outside the vehicle, and existing air from inside
the vehicle.
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Figure 3-A shows system B which uses a hot fluid/water
heater in fresh air inlet 13-A and only one filter assembly
which is installed in the plenum between the blower and
evaporatar, and also uses a valve 33. Similar to the valve 33
in this system only one filter assembly cleans the air which
blower 14 pulls from outside the vehicle, and existing air
from inside the vehicle.
In system C, as shown in FIGURE 4 through 6, the filter
assembly includes the flat filter element 1 installed in a
; 10 fresh air inlet 13-A and which is connected to the cowl plenum
chamber 13. In this system we can use a cover l-C or
container l-A which supports a fresh air inlet and a hot
fluid/water heater 28-A. The cover l-C or l-A also covers a
filter element 1 which is installed by a fresh air inlet 13-A.
A fresh air inlet 13-A has an appropriate amount of square
inches area to allow sufficient air to the interior vehicle.
~' Also blower 14 is appropriately constructed to produce enough
force to pull a sufficient amount of air through the filter.
Referrinq to FIGURES 1 and 5, a container 5 houses four
different layers of filter components as well as a screen 34
at the inlet side and a screen 35 at the outlet side of the
filter element 1. A screen 35 with special micro holes will
prevent small particles of components of the filter 1 from
leaving the filter. The screen 34 and 35 are press fit
together to hold the different layers together.
Referring now to FIGURE 9, a cover connector l-D is used
,l, for installing a convex filter element 1 in a vehicle.
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Referring to FIGURE 12, a convex filter element 1 in
assembly X-A and assembly X-B are installed in vent 11 or vent
ll-A which is connected by a fresh air inlet 13-A to the cowl
plenum chamber 13. A filter element 1 similar to the filter
element 1 of FIGURE 3 is provided in the inlet 16 for re-
circulation of air in the vehicle. The system of FIGURE 12
also uses a valve 33, similar to the valve 33 of FIGURE 3 to
not only clean the air which the blower pulls from outside,
but also existing air from inside the vehicle. A vent 11 or
ll-A pulls into the vehicle by means of air resistance, which
makes it easier to obtain sufficient air.
In each of the embodiments, electric power is connected
via a conductive wire 3 to the sensor switch 2 via a
conductive wire 3 to the warning light 4 on an instrument
panel of the vehicle, to the blower 14, and to the vacuum
blower 12 in vent 11 in system X-A or vent ll-A in system X-B.
Referring to FIGURE 11, a screen 6 surrounds activated
charcoal which absorbs hydrocarbons and odors. The screen 6
-~ can be used with the convex filter when an electric heater is
utilized and may be replaced.
A first layer 7 is mass at the appropriate quality water-
resistant fibers, such as ClS-150 or C15-250 media,
manufactured by Filtrair BV of the Netherlands or PSF-10 or
PSF-20 media, manufactured by Airguard Industries, Inc. of
Louisville, Kentucky. The layer 7 collects dirt, dust and
allergens-pollen. A second or third layer 8 is a thinner mass
of the appropriate quality water-resistant polyester fibers
such as PSF-ll or PSF-21 media, manufactured by Airguard
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Industries, Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky, laid out in such a
way as to eliminate smaller pollution, p~rticles including
~oot. A third or second layer g we can use one of these
several different activated carbon types for a more guality
; filter. These activated carbon types are: KE, PE, GI, NB or
727 manufactured by Barnebey & Sutcliffe corp. of Columbus,
Ohio. This of granular charcoal is laid out in such amounts
as to absorb radioiodine, methyl iodide, hydrocarbons and
odors and/or charcoal pad media manufactured by Lewcott
Corporation of Millbury, Massachusetts. If a greater amount
of the activated charcoal is utilized to achieve a better
quality filter, the activated charcoal can be formed into
several thinner layers to allow for easier air flow. A layer
8 is then used to separate the layers of activated charcoal,
aæ shown in FIGURE l~ The final, fourth layer 10 is the
thinnest mass of the appropriate quality, artificial, water-
resistant fibers. We can use one of these several different
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filter mats, depending on whether we want a better quality
filter or easier air flow. These filter mats are identified
as Viledon filter mats A3/300s, PA/500, PA/560g, or Viledon Rl
~' or C3-300 APB media, manufactured by Filtrair BV of the
Neth-rl~nds, or air filter medla manufactured by 3M Filtration
Pro~ect of St. Paul, Minnesota, laid out so as to eliminate
the smallest particles of pollution, including smoke
particles.
Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 12, a heater plenum
chamber 13 contains the necessary instruments that pull air
from the exterior, clean it, cool or heat it, and conduct it
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to the appropriate outlets. ~he blower 14 pulls air in with
appropriate force from the outside and fcrces it into the
interior,. A door 15 is provided which allows the air from
the outside to enter the vehicle from inlet 11, llA, or 13A
through inlet 16 for the re-circulating air. An evaporator 17
cools the air. A heater core 18 heats the air. An air mix
door 19 is provided by means of which we regulate the heating
or cooling of the air, doors 20, 21, 22 are provided by means
of which we regulate the flow of the air to the defroster
vents 23, front vents 24 and floor vents 25.
Referring now to FIGURE 12, the electric supply line 26
is connected to the electric filament wire 28 at an insulator
27 which is mounted on the inlet side of the container in the
convex parts l-A and also to the electric switch 29 which is
inside the passenger compartment.
~- Referring now to FIGURE 3, hot water heater 28-A is
connected to hoses 28-B between the heater core and a heater
control valve 30 which provides hot water to the heater core
18. If cool air is used, the valve 30 prevents the flow of
hot water between the heater core 18 and the heater 28-A. In
this way the hot water heater is connected to the heating-
cooling system of the motor vehicle. A heater control valve
31 is used in the absence of a heater control valve 30.
While the best mode for carrying out the invention has
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 as
defined by the following claims.
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