Automotive climate control system and method for exhaust odor abatement
OwnerCharles Francis Weberinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A climate control system and method for preventing exhaust odors from entering the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The climate control system includes a duct network and a damper system that is moveable between a fresh air mode and a recirculation air mode. The damper system being moved based at least in part upon a vehicle acceleration condition. During operation, the system is operated in the recirculation air mode during acceleration in a situation that probably has a high concentration of the exhaust odor and gases. The system operates in the fresh air mode when the situation is one that does not have a high probability of a high concentration of exhaust odors and gases.
Claims17
A climate control system for preventing outside engine exhaust odors from entering the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the climate control system comprising:
- a duct network including a fresh air intake that receives air from outside the vehicle, an interior air intake that receives air from the passenger compartment of the vehicle, an air outtake that provides air to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a damper system moveable between a fresh air mode and a recirculation air mode, in the fresh air mode the damper system generally preventing the passage of air into the duct network from the interior air intake, in the recirculation air mode the damper system generally preventing the passage of air into the duct network from the fresh air intake;
- and
- a controller coupled to the damper and configured to cause movement of the damper system between the fresh air mode and the recirculation air mode, the controller being configured to operate the climate control system in the fresh air mode upon the detection of a first condition that is based at least in part upon a vehicle acceleration condition, the controller being configured to operate the climate control system in the recirculation air mode upon the detection of a second condition that is based at least in part upon a vehicle acceleration condition.
A method of operating an automotive climate control system to prevent exhaust odor from entering the passenger compartment of a vehicle, the climate control system including a fresh air intake, an interior air intake, an air outtake, a damper system and a controller, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining vehicle acceleration;
- detecting a first condition based at least in part upon a vehicle acceleration condition;
- upon detecting the first condition, operating the climate control system in a fresh air mode to accept outside air through the fresh air intake and provide the outside air to the passenger compartment of the vehicle;
- detecting a second condition based at least in part upon a vehicle acceleration condition;
- and
- upon detecting the second condition, operating the climate control system in a recirculation air mode to accept recirculation air from the interior air intake and provide the recirculation air to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.