Automotive by-pass air cleaning and particulate motor vehicle interior air quality system

Apparatus for removing contaminants from the air circulation system of a vehicle which circulates air to the passenger compartment of the vehicle comprising:

• a blower positioned within said air circulation system;
• supply and return ducts connecting said blower to the passenger compartment;
• an untreated air inlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system downstream of said blower and a treated air outlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system downstream of said blower;
• a treating module connected to said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit for treating air flowing there through;
• at least one air decontaminant disposed within said treating module to contact air flowing through the treating module;
• and
• a bypass conduit interconnecting said inlet and outlet conduits, wherein said bypass conduit is in parallel with said treating module and bypasses said treating module.

A treating assembly for removing contaminants from the air circulation system of a vehicle, such circulation system including a blower and supply and return ducts between the blower and the interior of the vehicle, the treating assembly comprising:

• a module adapted to contain an air decontaminant and having an inlet and an outlet;
• a prefilter interconnecting the inlet into the circulation system downstream of the blower;
• and
• an after filter interconnecting the outlet into the suction side of the blower.

A method of improving air quality in the air circulation system for heating and cooling the passenger compartment of a vehicle wherein the system includes a blower which circulates air through ductwork past an air cooling evaporator and a heater, said method comprising:

• (a) sensing the air stream for contaminants to generate a first signal indicative of the presence of excessive contaminants;
• (b) recycling at least a portion of the air stream from the blower discharge to the blower intake to bypass the remainder of said system in response to such first signal;
• (c) causing the recycled portion of the air stream to pass through at least one filter including at least one decontaminant prior to reaching the blower intake;
• (d) reducing the contamination of the recycled portion of the air stream prior to reaching the blower intake;
• (e) sensing the static pressure in the air stream downstream from the blower discharge to generate a second signal indicative of excessive static pressure;
• and
• (f) bypassing a sufficient portion of the recycled portion of the air stream around the decontamination step in response to said second signal to reduce such excessive pressure.

Apparatus for improving air quality in an air circulation system of a vehicle, said air circulation system having a blower and supply and return ducts between the blower and the interior of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a treating module having an inlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system upstream or downstream of said blower, and an outlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system upstream or downstream of said blower;
• and
• at least one air decontaminant disposed within said treating module to contact air flowing through the treating module;
• said treating module further comprising a bypass conduit that defines an air flow path that bypasses the treating module, wherein the bypass conduit has an inlet adapted to be positioned upstream of the blower and an outlet adapted to be positioned downstream of the blower.

Apparatus for improving air quality in an air circulation system of a vehicle, said air circulation system having a blower and supply and return ducts between the blower and the interior of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a treating module having an inlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system upstream or downstream of said blower, and an outlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system upstream or downstream of said blower;
• and
• at least one air decontaminant disposed within said treating module to contact air flowing through the treating module;
• said treating module further comprising a bypass conduit that defines an air flow path that bypasses the treating module, wherein the bypass conduit has an inlet and an outlet adapted to be positioned upstream of the blower.

Apparatus for improving air quality in an air circulation system of a vehicle, said air circulation system having a blower and supply and return ducts between the blower and the interior of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a treating module having an inlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system downstream of said blower, and an outlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system upstream of said blower;
• and
• at least one air decontaminant disposed within said treating module to contact air flowing through the treating module;
• said treating module further comprising a bypass conduit that defines an air flow path that bypasses the treating module, wherein the bypass conduit has an inlet and an outlet.

Apparatus for removing contaminants from the air circulation system of a vehicle which circulates air to the passenger compartment of the vehicle comprising:

• a blower positioned within said air circulation system;
• supply and return ducts connecting said blower to the passenger compartment;
• an untreated air inlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system upstream of said blower, and a treated air outlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system downstream of said blower;
• a treating module connected to said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit for treating air flowing there through;
• at least one air decontaminant disposed within said treating module to contact air flowing through the treating module;
• and
• a bypass conduit interconnecting said inlet and outlet conduits, wherein said bypass conduit is in parallel with said treating module and bypasses said treating module.

Apparatus for removing contaminants from the air circulation system of a vehicle which circulates air to the passenger compartment of the vehicle comprising:

• a blower positioned within said air circulation system;
• supply and return ducts connecting said blower to the passenger compartment;
• an untreated air inlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system downstream of said blower, and a treated air outlet conduit adapted to be connected into said circulation system upstream of said blower;
• a treating module connected to said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit for treating air flowing there through;
• at least one air decontaminant disposed within said treating module to contact air flowing through the treating module;
• and
• a bypass conduit interconnecting said inlet and outlet conduits, wherein said bypass conduit is in parallel.