Active precleaner system and methods of use

An air cleaner assembly for filtering intake air for an internal combustion engine, the air cleaner assembly comprising:

• a) a filter cartridge disposed within a housing of the air cleaner assembly;
• b) a precleaner assembly including at least one particle separator for separating particulates from an airflow stream and an ejection port for discharging the separated particulates, the precleaner assembly being located upstream of the filter cartridge;
• c) a fan assembly for evacuating the separated particulates out of the ejection port, the fan assembly including a motor coupled to a fan;
• d) a controller varying a speed of the fan assembly motor in a normal operating mode in which the speed is a function of an input signal relating to one or more operational parameters associated with the precleaner assembly, the air cleaner assembly, the internal combustion engine receiving air from the air cleaner assembly, and/or a vehicle associated with the internal combustion engine;
• and
• e) a first sensor arranged to sense a condition between the precleaner assembly and the filter cartridge, wherein the controller receives an input from the first sensor and sends an output signal to the fan assembly motor based on the input;
• f) wherein the controller includes one or both of a minimum operating condition and a high operating condition, wherein the controller overrides the output signal to the fan assembly motor to a different speed when parameters associated with either of the minimum and the high operating conditions are met.

An air cleaner assembly for filtering intake air for an internal combustion engine, the air cleaner assembly comprising:

• a) a filter cartridge disposed within a housing of the air cleaner assembly;
• b) a precleaner assembly for separating particulates from an airflow stream and an ejection port for discharging the separated particulates, the precleaner assembly being located upstream of the filter cartridge;
• c) a fan assembly including a motor and a fan, wherein the fan is driven by the motor to ensure the separated particles are evacuated from an interior of the precleaner assembly;
• d) a first sensor configured to provide an input signal relating to one or more operational parameters associated with the precleaner assembly, the air cleaner assembly, the internal combustion engine receiving air from the air cleaner assembly, and/or a vehicle associated with the internal combustion engine;
• and
• e) a controller receiving the input signal and providing an output signal to the fan assembly motor, wherein the controller includes one or both of a transfer function and a look up table to generate the output signal from the first sensor input.