VEHICLE AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A vehicle air filtration system includes a housing having a first air filter having a first filtration level and positioned upstream of a second air filter having a second filtration level that is different than the first filtration level and a bypass door selectively operable to bypass air flow around the second air filter through a bypass passage.

Claims

1. A vehicle air filtration system for a vehicle, the system comprising: a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet connected by an air passage; a first air filter positioned within the air passage having a first filtration level; a second air filter positioned downstream of the first air filter within the air passage and having a second filtration level that is different than the first filtration level; and a bypass door positioned in the housing selectively operable to connect the air passage a bypass passage further defined by the housing, the bypass passage having a bypass passage inlet at the bypass door, wherein the bypass inlet is positioned in the air passage downstream of the first air filter and upstream of the second air filter, and wherein the bypass passage has a bypass passage outlet positioned in the air passage downstream of the second air filter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an HVAC module housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second filtration level is higher than the first filtration level.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second air filter comprises a HEPA filter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second air filter filters out smaller particles than the first air filter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second air filter has a higher air flow resistance than the first air filter.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a blower positioned in the housing; a heater core positioned in the housing; and an evaporator positioned in the housing.

7. The system of claim 7, wherein the blower, heater core, and evaporator are positioned downstream of the first air filter and second air filter within the housing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the air inlet of the housing is selectively connectable to an outside air source for receiving fresh air and a vehicle passenger cabin air source for receiving recirculating air.

9. A vehicle having a vehicle air filtration system, the vehicle comprising: a vehicle body defining a vehicle passenger cabin; a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet connected by an air passage; a first air filter positioned within the air passage having a first filtration level; a second air filter positioned downstream of the first air filter within the air passage and having a second filtration level that is different than the first filtration level; and a bypass door positioned in the housing selectively operable to connect the air passage a bypass passage further defined by the housing, the bypass passage having a bypass passage inlet at the bypass door, wherein the bypass inlet is positioned in the air passage downstream of the first air filter and upstream of the second air filter, and wherein the bypass passage has a bypass passage outlet positioned in the air passage downstream of the second air filter.

10. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises an HVAC module housing.

10. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the second filtration level is higher than the first filtration level.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the second air filter comprises a HEPA filter.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the second air filter filters out smaller particles than the first air filter.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the second air filter has a higher air flow resistance than the first air filter.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising: a blower positioned in the housing; a heater core positioned in the housing; and an evaporator positioned in the housing.

15. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the blower, heater core, and evaporator are positioned downstream of the first air filter and second air filter within the housing.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the air inlet of the housing is selectively connectable to an outside air source for receiving fresh air and a vehicle passenger cabin air source for receiving recirculating air.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic of a vehicle incorporating an exemplary vehicle air filtration system in accordance with the present disclosure:

[0019] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a cross-section of a conventional HVAC module with a vehicle air filtration system;

[0020] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a cross-section of an HVAC module with an exemplary vehicle air filtration system in a first configuration in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0021] FIG. 4 is another elevation view of the HVAC module of FIG. 3 in a second configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to several examples of the disclosure that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

[0023] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic of a vehicle 10 incorporating an exemplary vehicle air filtration system in accordance with the present disclosure. The vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 14 defining a passenger cabin 16. In addition, the vehicle 10 includes at least one door 200 movably coupled to the vehicle body 14. Aside from the door 20, the vehicle 10 includes front wheels 22 and rear wheels 24. The front and rear wheels 22, 24 are operatively coupled to the vehicle body 14.

[0024] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a cross-section of a conventional HVAC module 200 with a vehicle air filtration system 202. The HVAC module 200 includes an air inlet 204, an air conduit 206, and an air filter 208 and a blower 210 positioned within the air conduit 206. The HVAC module 200 may be positioned in a vehicle passenger cabin and the air inlet 204 may selectively receive air either from within the vehicle passenger cabin (recirculated air) or from outside of the vehicle (fresh air). The HVAC module 200 provides a compact package which may be easily placed within a small area such as, for example, under an instrument panel (not shown) within the vehicle passenger cabin. The HVAC module 200 is configured such that air flowing through the HVAC module is always filtered by the air filter 208. Therefore, the filtering capacity of the air filter 208 is limited because it must be capable of flowing a sufficient flow of air to satisfy window clearing requirements and without clogging prematurely.

[0025] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a cross-section of an HVAC module 300 with an exemplary vehicle air filtration system 302 in a first configuration in accordance with the present disclosure. The HVAC module 300 includes an air passage 304 which is selectively configurable to provide fresh air 306 and/or recirculating air 308. The vehicle air filtration system 302 includes a first air filter 310 and a second air filter 312 positioned within the air passage 304. The second air filter 312 provides a higher level of air filtration than the first air filter 310. The vehicle air filtration system 302 also includes a bypass passage 314 and a bypass door 316 which selectively enables a flow of air through the HVAC module to bypass the second air filter 312. FIG. 3 illustrates the HVAC module 300 with the bypass door 316 closed such that the flow of air through the module 300 does not bypass the second air filter 312.

[0026] In contrast, FIG. 4 illustrates the HVAC module 300 in a bypass configuration where the bypass door 216 is open and the air flowing through the module 300 flows through the bypass passage 314 and does not flow through the second air filter 312. In this manner, the vehicle air filtration system is able to provide a high flow of air when needed as in, for example, a window clearing operation by opening the bypass door 316 while also providing the capability of providing a higher level of filtration by closing the bypass door 316 such that the air flows through both the first air filter 310 and the second air filter 312.

[0027] As mentioned previously, the second air filter 312 may provide a higher level of filtration than the first air filter 310. For example, the second air filter 312 may provide for HEPA level of filtration while the first air filter 310 may provide a lower level of filtration. In general, the higher level of filtration provided by the second air filter 312 means that the second air filter 312 has a higher resistance to air flowing through the filter 312. In contrast, air may flow more easily through the first air filter 310, thereby enabling a higher flow of air when in the bypass mode of operation with the bypass door 316 open. The use of a first air filter 310 before the more restrictive second air filter 312 also has the benefit of extending the useful life of the second air filter 312. The larger particles which are captured by the first air filter 310 do not reach the second air filter 312. Therefore, in comparison to vehicle air filtration systems which do not have the inventive configuration, an air filter having a higher level of filtration is protected from clogging as early as previously has been experienced. The inventive vehicle air filtration provides all of these benefits while being packaged in a small space which may be conveniently positioned within the vehicle passenger cabin such as, for example, under a vehicle instrument panel.

[0028] This description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims.