METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING INFORMATION CONCERNING A PARTICLE LOAD IN AN AIRFLOW FLOWING INTO A VEHICLE INTERIOR

Abstract

A method is specified for determining information concerning a particle load of an airflow flowing into a vehicle interior. That method includes determining the initial mass of a filter at the start of a time interval, by means of strain gauges, passing an airflow through the filter for a time interval, determining the end mass of the filter at the end of the time interval, by means of strain gauges, ascertaining the mass difference between the end mass and the initial mass of the filter and outputting of information, based on the ascertained mass difference, concerning the particle load of the airflow. An apparatus for ascertaining information concerning a particle load of an airflow flowing into a vehicle interior is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for determining information concerning a particle load of an airflow flowing into a vehicle interior, comprising: determining an initial mass of a filter at a start of a time interval, by means of strain gauges; passing the airflow through the filter for the time interval; determining, by strain gauges, an end mass of the filter at an end of the time interval; ascertaining a mass difference between the end mass and the initial mass of the filter; and outputting of information, based on the mass difference, concerning the particle load of the airflow.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including: determining a volume of the airflow passed through the filter within the time interval; determining a particle mass concentration as a ratio of the mass difference to a passed-through volume; and outputting of information, based on the particle mass concentration, concerning the particle load of the airflow.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further including determining the initial mass upon starting of a vehicle engine, and/or determining the end mass upon stopping of the vehicle engine.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further including: determining a vehicle location; and correlating the information concerning the particle load with the vehicle location.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further including: compiling and outputting a location-related representation of the information concerning the particle load.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further including: determining humidity of the airflow before the airflow is passed through the filter.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further including: drying the airflow before the airflow is passed through the filter.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further including passing the airflow through a fine-dust filter.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including determining the initial mass upon starting of a vehicle engine, and/or determining the end mass upon stopping of the vehicle engine.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including: determining a vehicle location; and correlating the information concerning the particle load with the vehicle location.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including: compiling and outputting a location-related representation of the information concerning the particle load.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including: determining humidity of the airflow before the airflow is passed through the filter.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including: drying the airflow before the airflow is passed through the filter.

14. An apparatus for ascertaining information concerning a particle load of an airflow flowing into a vehicle interior, comprising: an airflow duct; a filter arranged in the airflow duct; a strain gauge for determining a mass of the filter; a processing unit, configured to ascertain a mass difference of the filter; and an output unit for outputting information, based on the ascertained mass difference, concerning the particle load of the airflow.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, furthermore having: a means for determining a volumetric flow flowing through the filter, wherein the processing unit is furthermore configured to determine a particle mass concentration as a ratio of the mass difference to a passed-through volume.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, furthermore having: a global navigation satellite system for determining the vehicle location, wherein the processing unit is furthermore configured to correlate the information concerning the particle load with the vehicle location.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processing unit is furthermore configured to compile a location-related representation of the particle load, and wherein the output unit is configured to output the location-related representation of the particle load.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, furthermore having: a hygrometer, for determining humidity of the airflow, said hygrometer being arranged upstream of the filter.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, furthermore having: a dryer for drying the airflow.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the filter is realized as a fine-dust filter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0047] The method and apparatus are now to be explained in greater detail in the following on the basis of exemplary embodiments. The associated drawings show:

[0048] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a filter of the current apparatus;

[0049] FIGS. 2-4 are schematic partial views of a filter of an apparatus according to reduce the leakage airflow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In the examples explained in the following, reference is made to the appended drawings, which constitute a part of the example and in which there are shown, for the purpose of illustration, specific embodiments in which the new method and apparatus may be realized. It is understood that other embodiments may be used, and structural or logical changed may be effected, without departure from the protective scope of the present method and apparatus. It is understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with one another, unless otherwise specified. The following description is therefore not to be construed in a limiting sense, and the protective scope of the present method and apparatus is defined by the appended claims. In the figures, elements that are identical or similar are denoted by identical references, insofar as expedient.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a filter 2 of the apparatus for ascertaining information concerning a particle load of an airflow flowing into a vehicle interior. The filter 2 consists of a filtering plate pack, and is arranged in a rectangular filter frame 1.

[0052] The filter frame 1 is fixed in an airflow duct of a passenger vehicle that serves to ventilate the vehicle interior with air supplied from outside (not represented). The filter 2 is fastened in the filter frame 1 by means of four filter suspensions 4, which are located in the corners of the filter frame 1, and there are strain gauges, which serve to determine the mass of the filter, integrated into the filter suspensions 4.

[0053] Formed between the filter frame 1 and the filter 2 there is a gap 3, which is sufficiently large to allow free swinging of the plate pack, but so small that no significant leakage airflow is produced.

[0054] FIGS. 2 to 4 show details of embodiment variants, namely, respectively, a corner of the filter frame 1 with a filter 2 and filter suspensions. Here, the sealing effect during operation is provided in that, in a region 5, as a result of appropriate dimensioning and choice of material of the filter frame 1, the plate pack of the filter 2 and the filter suspensions 4, a region 5 present in the gap 3 is closed, or sealed, reducing the leakage airflow and allowing a better filtering effect. The resulting force caused by the pressure loss across the filter can displace (FIG. 2, 3) or deform (FIG. 4) the filter frame or parts of the filter frame, in order to close the filter as tightly as possible.

[0055] As shown by FIG. 2, the filter frame 1 also goes around the plate pack of the filter 2, such that a better sealing effect is achieved. As shown by FIG. 3, the filter frame 1 is realized in part with a thickened portion, in order to reduce the distance from the filter 2, and thereby to reduce the leakage airflow. As shown by FIG. 4, the filter plates are shaped such that the gap between the filter frame 1 and the filter 2 is as small as possible.