Active combustion air intake system for truck, tractor, or bus vehicle
AssigneeVolvo Truck Corporation
InventorsLinus Hjelm, Rodrigo Caus Martins, Fabio Ribeiro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combustion air intake apparatus for a truck, tractor, or bus vehicle for highway use includes an air deflecting element that is selectively deployable to cause dynamic air pressure created by vehicle motion to increase static air, pressure within the intake apparatus under appropriate conditions. Deployment or retraction of the air deflecting element is responsive to at least one of forward speed of the vehicle, air pressure downstream of an air inlet opening, or throttle position, and may further be responsive to detection of precipitation and/or particulate material. An air deflecting element may include a moveable plate or flap, moveable louvers, or a moveable duct.
Claims20
A combustion air intake apparatus for a truck, tractor, or bus vehicle for highway use, the combustion air intake apparatus comprising:
- a frame defining an air inlet opening in fluid communication with the combustion air intake apparatus;
- at least one air deflecting element proximate to the frame, wherein the at least one air deflecting element comprises a retracted position and comprises a deployed position in which the at least one air deflecting element is arranged to deflect air into the air inlet opening while the truck, tractor, or bus vehicle is traveling in a forward direction;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled with at least one actuator to selectively deploy or retract the at least one air deflecting element, wherein the controller is configured to control deployment or retraction of the at least one air deflecting element responsive to at least one signal indicative of one or more sensed parameters;
- and
- wherein the air inlet opening is open to admit ambient air into the combustion air intake apparatus when the at least one air deflecting element is in the deployed position and when the at least one air deflecting element is in the retracted position.
A method of supplying combustion air to a truck, tractor, or bus vehicle for highway use, the method comprising:
- utilizing a controller operatively coupled with at least one actuator to selectively deploy or retract at least one air deflecting element proximate to a frame defining an air inlet opening, wherein the at least one air deflecting element comprises a retracted position and comprises a deployed position in which the at least one air deflecting element is arranged to deflect air into the air inlet opening while the truck, tractor, or bus vehicle is traveling in a forward direction;
- wherein selective deployment or retraction of the at least one air deflecting element is responsive to at least one signal indicative of one or more sensed parameters;
- and
- wherein the air inlet opening is open to admit ambient air into a combustion air intake apparatus when the at least one air deflecting element is in the deployed position and when the at least one air deflecting element is in the retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.