Ambient Air Purification Device, Road Vehicle Having an Ambient Air Purification Device and Filter Element

Abstract

An ambient air purification device for a road vehicle for removing dust, particulate matter, and/or gases from ambient air has one or more filter elements. The ambient air purification device is attachable in an external region to a vehicle rear of the road vehicle by a releasable coupling. The ambient air purification device has at least one mating coupling of the releasable coupling, wherein the at least one mating coupling is coupled to a vehicle-side coupling component of the releasable coupling. A road vehicle provided with such an ambient air purification device is provided.

Claims

1. An ambient air purification device for a road vehicle, wherein the ambient air purification device is configured to remove dust, particulate matter, and/or gases from ambient air, wherein the ambient air purification device comprises one or more filter elements, wherein the ambient air purification device is configured to attach in an external region to a vehicle rear of the road vehicle by a releasable coupling, wherein the ambient air purification device comprises at least one mating coupling of the releasable coupling, wherein the at least one mating coupling is configured to couple to a vehicle-side coupling component of the releasable coupling.

2. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, wherein the mating coupling comprises a trailer coupling.

3. The ambient air purification device according to claim 2, wherein the trailer coupling is configured to attach to a ball mount coupling of the road vehicle.

4. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, wherein the mating coupling comprises a hatchback carrier device comprising at least one fastening element connectable to a vehicle door or a vehicle lid.

5. The ambient air purification device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one fastening element is selected from the group consisting of a hook element, a magnetic mating coupling element, and a suction cup.

6. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one receiving housing comprising at least an inlet opening and an outlet opening, wherein the one or more filter elements are received in the at least one receiving housing, wherein the at least one receiving housing is configured to connect by the mating coupling to the road vehicle.

7. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, wherein the ambient air purification device comprises two or more of the filter elements, wherein the two or more of the filter elements are arranged adjacent to each other in a transverse vehicle direction or in a vertical vehicle direction.

8. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one flow deflector arranged at a lower edge of the ambient air purification device, wherein the lower edge is arranged in a travel direction of the road vehicle to the rear of the ambient air purification device and extends in a transverse vehicle direction.

9. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, further comprising a pre- or coarse separator arranged upstream of the one or more filter elements in a flow direction of the ambient air through the ambient air purification device, wherein the pre- or coarse separator is selected from the group consisting of a separator grid, a separator net, a baffle plate, and a preseparator nonwoven.

10. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, further comprising a water separator arranged upstream of the one or more filter elements in a flow direction of the ambient air through the ambient air purification device.

11. The ambient air purification device according to claim 10, wherein the water separator comprises one or more separator elements selected from the group consisting of a lamellar separator, a hydrophobic separator layer, flaps, and lamellas

12. The ambient air purification device according to claim 11, wherein the flaps and lamellas are configured to be closeable dependent on a rain sensor signal and/or a windshield wiper signal.

13. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting opening for the one or more filter elements, wherein the mounting opening is arranged laterally, vertically or to the rear of the ambient air purification device in a travel direction of the road vehicle.

14. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, further comprising a drawer mechanism or releasable locking connections for mounting the one or more filter elements.

15. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more filter elements have one or more specifications selected from the group consisting of: an inflow surface of at least 100 mm250 mm; a volume of at least 6.5 l; and a net filter surface that amounts to at least 3 m.sup.2.

16. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, wherein the ambient air purification device comprises a pressure loss of at most 200 Pa at an inflow of the one or more filter elements with air at standard conditions at 1.5 m/s.

17. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more filter elements are selected from the group consisting of a folded filter element comprising folds, a compact element, a pocket filter element, and a V-filter element.

18. The ambient air purification device according to claim 17, wherein the folded filter element is arranged such that the folds extend in a longitudinal vehicle direction or a vertical vehicle direction, wherein a fold height of the folds amounts to at least 100 mm.

19. The ambient air purification device according to claim 17, wherein the pocket filter element comprises at least three filter pockets.

20. The ambient air purification device according to claim 17, wherein the V-filter element comprises at least three V-shaped filter units.

21. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more filter elements corresponds at least to a particle filter class M6 according to DIN EN 779.

22. The ambient air purification device according to claim 1, further comprising an air conveying device configured to assist in conveying air through the ambient air purification device, wherein the air conveying device comprises an electrical connecting element configured to connect to a power supply of the road vehicle.

23. A road vehicle comprising: a vehicle rear; an ambient air purification device configured to remove dust, particulate matter, and/or gases from ambient air, wherein the ambient air purification device comprises one or more filter elements; a releasable coupling comprising a vehicle-side coupling component connected to the vehicle rear and at least one mating coupling connected to the air purification device; the ambient air purification device releasably connected to the vehicle rear in an external region of the road vehicle by coupling the at least one mating coupling to the vehicle-side coupling component.

24. The road vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the vehicle-side coupling component is a trailer coupling.

25. The road vehicle according to claim 24, wherein the trailer coupling is a ball mount coupling.

26. The road vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the one or more filter elements of the ambient air purification device are flowed through in a longitudinal vehicle direction and at least partially perpendicular thereto in a vertical vehicle direction from bottom to top.

27. The road vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the one or more filter elements of the ambient air purification device are flowed through in a longitudinal vehicle direction.

28. The road vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the one or more filter elements of the ambient air purification device are flowed through at least partially in a vertical vehicle direction from bottom to top.

29. The road vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the ambient air purification device extends in a transverse vehicle direction across at least 30% of a vehicle width.

30. A filter element of an ambient air purification device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Further advantages and expedient embodiments can be taken from the additional claims, the figure description, and the drawings.

[0084] FIG. 1 shows in schematic illustration a road vehicle according to the invention in a side view.

[0085] FIG. 2 shows in schematic illustration a first embodiment of an ambient air purification device preferably for the road vehicle in FIG. 1.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows in schematic illustration a second embodiment of an ambient air purification device preferably for the road vehicle in FIG. 1.

[0087] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic illustration of an inflow-side region of the ambient air purification device, respectively

[0088] FIG. 6 shows an isometric illustration of a modification for an ambient air purification device according to the invention.

[0089] FIG. 7 shows an isometric illustration of a further modification for an ambient air purification device according to the invention.

[0090] FIG. 8 shows an isometric illustration of a pocket filter as it can be used in the ambient air purification device according to the invention.

[0091] FIG. 9 shows an isometric illustration of a V-filter as it can be used in the ambient air purification device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0092] FIG. 1 shows in schematic illustration a road vehicle according to the invention in a side view in which the ambient air purification device 1009 is arranged in the rear region of the road vehicle 1 by means of a releasable coupling 1030 wherein a trailer coupling 1031, for example, a ball mount coupling, of the road vehicle 1 is used at which the ambient air purification device 1009 by means of a mating coupling 1032 encompassed by it is preferably rigidly connected. The mating coupling 1032 of the ambient air purification device 1009 which is attached to the trailer coupling 1031 of the road vehicle, can be advantageously a friction-fit device engaging the ball mount by means of which the weight of the ambient air purification device as well as the flow-dynamical force actions can be absorbed without problem. Of course, the mating coupling 1032 can also be matched in another way at the trailer coupling 1031 and/or can have additional stays, for example, for supporting moments.

[0093] The afore described arrangement of the ambient air purification device 1009 at a trailer coupling 1031 has the advantage that it can be attached or detached by the end user with a few manipulations. When the ambient air is momentarily not loaded with particulate matter and/or harmful gases and/or for traveling in low-load regions, vacation trips etc., he can simply decouple the ambient air purification device 1009 while he can simply selectively attach the ambient air purification device 1009 again for traveling in highly loaded metropolitan areas and/or zones with bans on driving for high emission vehicles.

[0094] FIG. 2 shows in detail view a detail of FIG. 1 with a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an ambient air purification device 1009. The ambient air purification device 1009, as shown, can be embodied L-shaped with a first vertical leg which is flowed through by the incoming flow, whose direction 1123 is schematically indicated, from bottom to top and an adjoining second leg which is projecting away from the road vehicle horizontally. In the first leg, there are optionally arrangeable, configured to be sequentially flowed through from bottom to top, an inlet 1111 that comprises, for example, means for preventing entry of animals such as rodents, birds or the like, for example, a grid; a further protection stage 1112 that, for example, a thrown rock protection or a water separator, for example, comprising grids, baffle plates or deflector plates or deflector flaps that are positioned or positionable at a slant; at least one blower 1113 for enhancing the flow, in particular at low travel speeds, which preferably can be controlled depending on the travel speed, in particular in such a way that the rotary speed decreases with increasing travel speed; at least one guiding system 1114 for guiding the flow within the L-shaped housing; a filter element 1116 that, as shown, is preferably positioned at a slant for separation of particles such as particulate matter; a moisture sensor 1117, in particular for control of a movable water separator depending on the sensor signal; an outlet 1118 that, for example, comprises means for preventing entry of animals such as rodents, birds or the like, for example, a grid. In order to achieve a better utilization of the flow exiting from underneath the vehicle bottom, an inflow-side guide vane or a flow deflector 1119 can be arranged at the inlet 1111, in particular at its side facing away from the vehicle. The ambient air purification device 1009 can comprise at least one further sensor 1020 in its interior which preferably is arranged at the filter element 1116 or is enclosed by it and, for example, can measure moisture, particle or harmful gas concentration, pressure or pressure loss and report to an evaluation unit.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows in detail view a second embodiment as an alternative to FIG. 2 of an ambient air purification device 1010 and differs from the latter substantially in that the ambient air purification device 1010 has no L-shaped configuration but is substantially of a parallelepipedal shape and preferably can be flowed through from bottom to top. Same features are provided with same reference characters. The outlet 1118 in this embodiment is preferably at the end face of the housing 1115 which is facing away from the vehicle, further preferred, as shown, in its upper region. Flow from bottom to top has the decisive advantage that the particulate matter is sucked in where the greatest concentration is existing, i.e., in the ground-near region.

[0096] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic illustration of a possible configuration of an inflow-side region of an ambient air purification device 1009, 1010 according to the invention. As a protective stage 1112, here preferably one or several motor-actuated means for preventing entry of animals such as rodents, birds or the like is encompassed, for example, a grid.

[0097] FIG. 6 shows an isometric illustration of a modification 1017 for an ambient air purification device 1009, 1010, 1017, 1018 according to the invention. According to this modification, the housing 1115 comprises a servicing opening with a closable servicing flap 1122 that permits an exchange of the filter element 1116. In ambient air purification devices which are configured for inflow at the front, at the bottom or at the top, an arrangement of the servicing flap 1122 at a wall of the housing 1115 which in travel direction is laterally arranged is possible and advantageous for servicing, for example, in the embodiment of FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, an arrangement of the servicing flap 1122 at an upper wall of the housing 1115, facing away from the road, is conceivable or advantageous. Moreover, an arrangement of the servicing flap 1122 at a front wall of the housing 1115, facing in travel direction, is conceivable or advantageous. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, an arrangement of the servicing flap 1122 at the rear wall of the housing 1115 which is facing opposite to the travel direction is moreover conceivable or advantageous.

[0098] FIG. 7 shows an isometric illustration of a further modification 1018 for an ambient air purification device 1009, 1010, 1017, 1018 in accordance with the invention. Here, as a protective stage 1112, an inflow-side first motor-driven rolling shutter 1124 and/or a second motor-driven rolling shutter 1125 is arranged in the housing 1115 which can close off inlet 1111 or outlet 1118. As in case of the aforementioned flaps, the control of these rolling shutters or flaps is preferably designed such that the rolling shutters or flaps are closed or will be closed when the vehicle is parked and/or beginning at a predetermined flow speed (travel speed), for example, 100 km/h, or in case of rain, snow or other temporary water introduction (as in a car wash, when actuating the windshield wiper device or the like). A functional connection with the modification illustrated in FIG. 6 is conceivable in such a way that the servicing flap 1122 can be opened only when the flaps or rolling shutters are open wherein the flaps or rolling shutters (i.e., more generally: the inlet 1111 and the outlet 1118) are respectively closed when the vehicle is not in operation and are open when the vehicle is in operation. Of course, the aforementioned functions are also controllable independent from each other, dependent on the operating state of the vehicle.

[0099] In FIG. 8, schematically a pocket filter element 100, 101 is illustrated as it can be used in the ambient air purification device 1009, 1010, 1017, 1018 according to the invention. The pocket filter element 100, 101 has a circumferentially extending rectangular frame 11 to which a plurality of, here eight, filter pockets 15 are attached. The filter pockets 15 are comprised of a suitable filter medium and are formed by sewing from the filter medium. Suitably, the pocket filter element is to be arranged such in the ambient air purification device 1009, 1010, 1017, 1018 that the filter pockets 15 with their hollow spaces 12, which form the respective inflow sides, are facing forwardly in travel direction. In order to prevent that the filter pockets 15 blow open too strongly by the inflow, oppositely positioned flat filter medium sections can be sown together by means of a suitable thread length. In other respects, the configuration of such filter elements is known to a person of skill in the art. Pocket filter elements are available on the market in a plurality of dimensions, for example, in the field of intake filters for gas turbines or the HVAC field. The illustrated pocket filter element 100, 101 has the dimensions 287 mm592 mm365 mm.

[0100] Moreover, in FIG. 9 a V-filter element 100, 101 is illustrated that comprises four filter units, arranged in a V-shape relative to each, which are formed by two flat filter elements 13, respectively, wherein the flat filter elements 13, for example, comprise a folded filter bellows. The illustrated V-filter element 100, 101 comprises therefore eight flat filter elements 13. The V-filter element 100, 101 comprises a frame 11 to which the V-shaped filter units are attached. At the bottom side which is facing away from the frame 11, two flat filter elements each that form a V-shaped filter unit are fluid-tightly connected to each other, respectively. The lateral surfaces which delimit the AV@ are each fluid-tightly closed off by a flat cover 14. For installation, the remarks in relation to FIG. 8 apply: The V-filter element 100, 101 is suitably inserted into the ambient air purification device 1009, 1010, 1017, 1018 such that the hollow spaces 12 face the inflow side, i.e., in the travel direction upon installation in the road vehicle 1 according to the invention. The dimensions of the V-filter element amount to 287 mm592 mm300 mm. The fold heights of the respective flat filter elements 13 amount to 25 mm in the illustrated embodiment.

[0101] For the pocket filter element illustrated in FIG. 8 as well as for the V-filter element illustrated in FIG. 9, it holds true that a suitable number thereof can be arranged adjacent to each other in order to provide an ambient air purification device 1009, 1010, 1017, 1018 with a sufficient width. Both variants can be used in the afore described embodiments of road vehicles or ambient air filter devices 1009, 1010, 1017, 1018.

[0102] As filter materials, fully synthetic nonwovens, glass fiber or cellulose media as well as combinations thereof can be used which in addition may comprise an electret action or can be accordingly furnished in order to achieve a good ratio of pressure loss and separation performance. Preferably, these media have hydrophobic properties and are distinguished by a good water stability. Also a filter medium can be used that completely consists of cellulose. The preferred bursting pressure of the filter elements should be in particular above 500 Pa, preferably above 1,000 Pa. The preferred dust capacity of the filter elements amounts to preferably at least 300 g, preferably more than 700 g.