SYSTEM FOR PRESSURISING THE CABIN OF A VEHICULE OPERATING IN PARTICLE-LADEN AIR

Abstract

This system (1) includes an air intake (5) outside the cabin (2), a filter (8), and a turbine (10) for supplying pressurized air to the cabin (2). According to the invention: the air intake (5) is the one used to supply the engine of the vehicle with air; the system (1) includes an air intake duct (6) connected directly to the air delivery duct (7) extending between the air filter (8) of the engine of the vehicle and the engine or turbo compressor (9) with which the engine is equipped; and the turbine is a multi-stage turbine (10) which is capable of generating a depression greater than the maximum depression value likely to exist in the air delivery duct (7) depending on the clogged state of the air filter of the engine (8), the speed of the engine and the load on the engine.

Claims

1. A pressurization system for pressurizing a cabin of a vehicle operating in particle-laden air, comprising: an air intake outside the cabin; an engine air filter; and a turbine for supplying pressurized air into the cabin, wherein: the air intake supplies the vehicle engine with air; the system further includes an air intake duct connected directly to an air delivery duct extending between the engine air filter and an engine or a turbo compressor located on the engine; and the turbine is a multi-stage turbine for generating a depression greater than a maximum depression value that exist in said air delivery duct depending on the state of clogging of the engine air filter, a speed of the engine, and a load on the engine.

2. The pressurization system according to claim 1, wherein said maximum depression value is about 600 mm water column and the turbine generates an air depression of more than 600 mm water column.

3. The pressurization system according to claim 2, wherein the turbine generates an air depression between 650 mm of water column and about 1100 to 1200 mm of water column.

4. The pressurization system according to claim 3, wherein the turbine is an AMETEK turbine.

5. The pressurization system according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is a rotating turbine at a fixed speed.

6. The pressurization system according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is a rotating turbine at a variable speed and the system; comprises: a differential pressure sensor located in the cabin; and a computer connected to the differential pressure sensor on one side and to the turbine on the other side, acting on the rotational speed of the turbine based on the pressure detected by the differential pressure sensor in the cabin, the speed being increased in the event that the differential pressure sensor detects a pressure drop in the cabin with respect to the value set by the differential pressure sensor and stored as a set value in the computer, and being reduced in the event that the differential pressure sensor detects an increase in the pressure in the cabin with respect to the same set value.

7. The pressurization system according to claim 1, wherein turbine is a turbine at a variable speed, and the system comprises: a pressure sensor located in said air delivery duct; and a computer connected to the pressure sensor on one side and to the turbine on the other side, acting on the rotational speed of the turbine based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor in the air delivery duct, the speed being increased in the event that the pressure sensor detects a pressure drop in the duct with respect to the set value stored in the computer, and being reduced in the event that the pressure sensor detects an increase in the pressure in the duct with respect to the same set value.

8. The pressurization system according to claim 1, wherein further includes a sensor for detecting when said maximum depression value is reached in said air delivery duct, and triggering an alarm if the value is reached.

9. The pressurization system according to claim 6, further comprising a check valve located between said air delivery duct and the turbine, the check valve is adjusted so as to close when said maximum depression value is reached in the duct.

10. The pressurization system according to claim 1, further including a sensor for sensing the opening or the closing of a door of the cabin, connected to the computer, allowing the turbine to be activated only if the door is closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0031] The single FIGURE is a very schematic and simplified view of the system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The single FIGURE is a very schematic and simplified view of this system, which is a system 1 for pressurizing cabin 2 of a vehicle operating in particule-laden air, this cabin 2 containing a seat 3 and steering components 4 of the engine.

[0033] The system 1 comprises:

[0034] an external air intake 5, which is the one used to supply the engine of the vehicle with air;

[0035] an air intake duct 6 connected directly to the air delivery duct 7 extending between the air filter 8 of the engine of the vehicle and the turbo compressor 9 with which this engine is equipped; and

[0036] a multistage 10 turbine with variable rotation speed, capable of generating a depression between 650 mm water column and about 1100 to 1200 mm water column; this turbine is notably the one sold by the US company AMETEK (in Kent, Ohio), under the reference 116157-29;

[0037] a differential pressure sensor 11, present in the cabin 2;

[0038] a computer 12 connected to this sensor 11 on the one hand and to the turbine 10 on the other hand;

[0039] a sensor 13, detecting when a maximum depression value is reached in air duct 7, and triggering an alarm (not shown, present in cabin 2) when this value is reached;

[0040] a check valve 14 present between said air delivery duct 7 and turbine 10 closing so as to prevent the air flow from being reversed; and

[0041] a sensor 15 for opening or closing the door of cabin 2, connected to the computer 12, allowing the activation of turbine 10 to be controlled only if this door is closed.

[0042] In practice, turbine 10 transports the captured air in duct 7 to cabin 2 at a pressure that puts the cabin in overpressure, at a level in the order of 20 to 35 Pascals above atmospheric pressure. The differential pressure sensor 11 comprises two pressure detection probes, one in cabin 2 and the other outside this cabin; this outside probe detects the ambient atmospheric pressure and therefore adapts the overpressure value that should exist in cabin 2 according to this atmospheric pressure. This overpressure value is transmitted to computer 12, which acts on the rotational speed of turbine 10 as a function of the pressure detected in cabin 2, this speed being increased when a pressure drop in the cabin is detected in relation to the pressure value established by means of sensor 11 and stored as a set value in computer 12, and reduced when an increase in this pressure in cabin 2 is detected in relation to this same set value.

[0043] The maximum depression value that may exist in air duct 7 is a function of the clogged state of the air filter 8, the current engine speed and the current load to which this engine is subjected; reaching this value is detected by sensor 13, which triggers the alarm to the driver, and closes the check-valve 14; this closure eliminates any risk of depression in the cabin 2 through turbine 10 until this turbine is activated so as to over-pressurize cabin 2 again.

[0044] The invention thus provides a pressurization system for the cabin of a vehicle operating in an air charged with particles, making it possible to take advantage of the air filter of the engine and make it unnecessary to provide a dedicated air filter for the cabin air pressurization system, and thus to free oneself from having to maintain this filter.

[0045] The invention has been described above with reference to an embodiment provided as an example; it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to that embodiment but extends to all embodiment covered by the appended claims.