US 5,501,716 AGranted

Device for cleaning surrounding air fed to passenger compartment of motor vehicle

AssigneeKansei Corporation

InventorsTakatoshi Chiba, Shigeru Kobayashi

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Abstract

Various types of air cleaning devices for cleaning air fed to a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle are described. These air cleaning devices are arranged to incorporate with a cowl top structure of the vehicle. In one type, an air filter is disposed in an external air introduction passage led to the passenger compartment, and when the air filter is blocked with arrested dusts, a bypass passage is established to keep the feeding of atmospheric air to the passenger compartment. In a modified type, the bypass passage is instantly blocked and an internal air circulation mode is established. In one type, an electrostatic air collecting unit is used for arresting very fine particles in the atmospheric air fed to the passenger compartment. In order to achieve a smoothed air flow in the electrostatic air collecting unit, smoothly curved air guide passages are defined between positive and negative electrode plates. In one type, two hood ridge reinforcing hollowed structures are used for feeding the air box and thus the passenger compartment with a satisfied amount of atmospheric air. In order to facilitate the maintenance of the air filter in the air box, an inspection aperture is provided in the cowl top. Usually, the inspection aperture is covered by a lid.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An air cleaning system for use in a motor vehicle having a cowl top and a passenger compartment, comprising:

a first structure secured to said cowl top to provide an air box;
a second structure secured to said first structure to provide an air intake case;
first means for defining in said cowl top a first opening through which the interior of said air box and the surrounding air are communicated;
second means for defining a second opening through which the interior of said air box and that of said air intake case are communicated;
third means for fluidly communicating the interior of said air intake case with said passenger compartment;
an air filter unit located in said air box upstream of said second opening so that air in the air box is filtered by said air filter unit upon flowing from the air box to the air intake case through said second opening;
said air filter unit including an air filter holder and an air filter element held by said holder;
an electric air blower positioned in said air intake case for, which upon energization thereof, generates an air flow from said first opening to said passenger compartment through the interior of said air box, said air filter unit, said second opening, the interior of said air intake case and said third means;
bypass means for producing a bypass passage between the interior of said air box and that of said air intake case bypassing said air filter element when said air filter element is blocked with arrested dusts by a certain degree, said bypass means including means defining, in said air filter holder, at a portion downstream of said air filter element, a third opening through which the interior of said air box and that of said air intake case are freely communicated, a damper door pivotally connected to an inner wall of said air filter holder in a manner to selectively open and close said third opening from the back side, and biasing means for biasing said damper door in a direction to close said third opening, said biasing means comprising a spring which permits said damper door to open said third opening when the pressure in the air filter holder downstream of said air filter element is reduced to a certain level;
means for defining in said air intake case a fourth opening;
passage means for communicating said fourth opening and said passenger compartment;
and
a switch door pivotally connected to said air intake case to selectively open and close said fourth opening and said second opening.

10 more elements

An air cleaning system for use in a motor vehicle having a cowl top and a passenger compartment, comprising:

a first structure secured to said cowl top to provide an air box;
a second structure secured to said first structure to provide an air intake case;
first means for defining in said cowl top a first opening through which the interior of said air box and the surrounding air are communicated;
second means for defining a second opening through which the interior of said air box and that of said air intake case are communicated;
third means for fluidly communicating the interior of said air intake case with said passenger compartment;
means for defining in said air intake case a fourth opening;
passage means for communicating said fourth opening and said passenger compartment;
a switch door pivotally connected to said air intake case to selectively open and close said fourth opening and said second opening;
an air filter unit located in said air box upstream of said second opening so that air in the air box is filtered by said air filter unit upon flowing from the air box to the air intake case through said second opening, said air filter unit including an air filter holder and an air filter element held by said holder, said holder further including at a portion downstream of said air filter element, means defining a third opening through which the interior of said air box and that of said air intake case are freely communicated;
an electric air blower positioned in said air intake case for, upon energization thereof, generating air flow from said first opening to said passenger compartment through the interior of said air box, said air filter unit, said second opening, the interior of said air intake case and said third means;
and
bypass means for producing a bypass passage between the interior of said air box and that of said air intake case bypassing said air filter element when said air filter element is blocked with arrested dust by a certain degree, said bypass means including a damper door pivotally connected to an inner wall of said air filter holder in a manner to selectively open and close said third opening from the back side, and a biasing spring for biasing said damper door in a direction to close said third opening, said biasing spring permitting said damper door to open said third opening when the pressure in the air filter holder downstream of said air filter element is reduced to a certain level.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.