FILTER PURGE CONTROL FOR HVAC VARIABLE AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A variable air circulation system for the cab enclosure of an off-highway vehicle is disclosed and described. The system provides for adjustment of the ratio between fresh air circulation and recirculation of cab air. Fresh air is introduced into the cab through a fresh air inlet having a fresh air filter therein. The air inlet leads to a circulation conduit. When a cab door is opened, a valve to the conduit is opened. When the door is closed, the air pulse created in the cab is effective, through the valve, to dislodge dust and dirt from the filter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, including its construction and method of operation, is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a fixed cab air HVAC system with dedicated pressurizer blower(s) for an off road vehicle cab incorporating an automatic cab air filter purge system embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a variable or fixed cab air HVAC system without dedicated pressurizer blower(s) for an off road vehicle cab incorporating an automatic cab air filter purge system embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the purge control 75; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the purge control 175.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the cab of an off-highway vehicle is seen generally at 10. The cab 10 comprises a cab body 11 including a roof 12 supported on a pair of cab front posts 15, between which a front windshield 17 is mounted. The roof 12 is supported at its back by cab rear posts 19.

Between front and rear cab posts 15 and 19 on at least one side of the cab body 11, is a cab access door 22. Access to the cab 10 for the operator is provided through the door 22, which is hinged at 23, and the door is normally closed to provide a substantially dust tight enclosure 25 for the operator.

Modern off-highway vehicles generally have HVAC systems. Such a system conventionally takes one of two forms; either a fixed fresh air/recirculated air system or a variable fresh air/recirculated air system. A fixed fresh air/recirculated air system may or may not be equipped with a dedicated pressurizer blower(s). The cab 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 depicts a fixed air system 30 with a dedicated pressurizer blower 61.

The fixed air system 30 in the cab 10 is mounted in the cab roof 12 between the outer roof shell 32 and the inner headliner 34. The system 30 distributes a combination of fresh air and recirculated air through a distribution plenum 41 over the windshield 17. It takes in fresh air through a fresh air inlet port 43 formed in the roof 12 under a rear overhang 45 of the roof. As one of skill in the art would understand, the inlet and outlet can be positioned in other locations, those shown in the figures being the most effective for a cab of the general design depicted.

The system 30 comprises a recirculation blower 47 mounted over the plenum 41; the blower 47 is connected by an air conduit 48 to a heating and air conditioning core housing 52 adjacent to the blower.

The heating and air conditioning core housing 52 is connected, through a main air conduit 55 in the roof 12 above the headliner 34, with the pressurizer blower 61. The pressurizer blower 61 is, in turn, connected by a fresh air duct 63 to the fresh air inlet port 43. Mounted over the inlet port 43, between it and the duct 63, is a cab fresh air filter 65.

In the headliner 34, connected to the conduit 55, is a recirculation air louver 67. Also, in the headliner 34, above the rear posts 19, is a fresh air bypass valve 70. According to the invention, the bypass valve 70 is opened and closed by a purge control 75 to place the enclosure 25 of the cab 10 in communication with the fresh air duct 63 and, as such, with the air filter 65.

The purge control 75 includes, in the embodiment illustrated (see FIG. 3), a dome light circuit 77 in the cab enclosure 25. When the operator opens the door 22, a door-actuated switch 76 closes and current is directed to the dome light circuit 77, which includes a dome light 78. According to the invention, the dome light circuit 77 is also connected to an actuator 79 for the normally closed bypass valve 70. Opening of the cab door 22 causes, according to the invention, the actuator 79 to open the bypass valve 70.

The dome light circuit 77 is also connected to a relay 83 for the pressurizer blower 61. Current in the circuit 77 activates the relay 83, shutting off the blower 61. The recirculation blower 47 may continue to run so that the HVAC core receives air flow.

When the operator closes the door 22, an air pressure pulse is created in the enclosure 25. This causes air to flow through the by-pass valve 70 into the fresh air duct 63 and outwardly through the filter 65. Dust and dirt are dislodged outwardly. The dome light circuit 77 is subsequently opened, causing both the actuator 79 and the relay 83 to revert to their normal states. The result is a closing of the bypass valve 70 and resumption in operation of the blower 61. According to the invention, for this type of HVAC system, when the door 22 is opened, the purge control 75 may also open any or all air discharge louvers/vents 71.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the cab of another off-highway vehicle is seen generally at 110. The cab 110 includes a body 111 having a roof 112 supported on a pair of cab front posts 115, between which a front windshield 117 is mounted. The roof 112 is supported at its back by cab rear posts 119. Between front and rear cab posts 115 and 119 is a cab access door 122. The door 122 is hinged at 123, and the door is normally closed to provide a substantially dust tight enclosure 125 for the operator.

The cab 110 illustrated in FIG. 2 is equipped with a variable or fixed air HVAC system 130, without a dedicated pressurizer blower. The variable air system 130 in the cab 110 is also mounted in the cab roof 112 between the outer roof shell 132 and the inner headliner 134. The system 130 distributes a combination of fresh air and recirculated air through a distribution plenum 141 over the windshield 117. It takes in fresh air through a fresh air inlet port 143 formed in the roof 112, under a rear overhang 145 of the roof.

The system 130 comprises a blower 147 mounted over the plenum 141. The blower 147 is connected by an air conduit 148 to a heating and air conditioning core housing 152 adjacent to the blower.

The heating and air conditioning core housing 152 is connected, through a main air conduit 155 in the roof 112 above the headliner 134, with the fresh air inlet port 143. Mounted over the inlet port 143, between it and the conduit 155, is a cab fresh air filter 165.

In the headliner 134, connected to the conduit 155, is a recirculation air louver 167. The louver 167 may be allowed to move incrementally between fully open and fully closed positions. This movement may be accomplished manually, or automatically by means of an electronic control system (e.g., an ATC system). In the latter case, the purge control (FIG. 4) may be a part of, or work closely with, the electronic control system.

When the HVAC system 130 is set for maximum recirculation/minimum fresh air, the fresh air filter 165 life is generally extended.

Both systems, fixed and variable, may use pressurization as described with reference to blower 61. Further, if used, the pressurization may be selectively activated or deactivated as an operational function of the controls. The inclusion or non-inclusion of an ATC is an additional variable that adds to the overall design flexibility afforded by the invention disclosed and claimed herein.

The purge control includes, in the embodiment illustrated (see FIG. 4), a dome light circuit 177 in the cab enclosure 125. When the operator opens the door 122, a door-actuated switch 176 closes and current is directed to the dome light circuit 177, which includes a dome light 178. According to the invention, for an HVAC system without dedicated pressurizer, this circuit is connected to an actuator 179 for the recirculation louver(s) 167. Opening the cab door 122 causes the actuator 179 to fully open the recirculation louver(s) 167, for as long as the door remains open. The signal may also, according to the invention, activate a relay 183, automatically shutting off the recirculation blower 147 until the cab door is again closed.

When the operator closes the door 122, an air pressure pulse is created in the enclosure 125. This causes air to flow through the recirculation louver(s) 167 and outwardly through the filter 165. Dust and dirt are dislodged outwardly. The dome light circuit 177 is subsequently opened, causing the actuator 179 and, optionally, the relay 183 to resume their normal states. The result is that the recirculation louver(s) 167 reverts to its normal setting, based on current cab conditions. If the blower 147 was shut off (optional), it now also resumes operation.

The drawings show optional additional actuators 79A and 179A which could be used to control second louvers or bypass valves in alternative system embodiments employing such second components. It is, however, possible to control more than one louver or bypass valve with a single actuator, such as 79 or 179.

According to the invention, for this type of HVAC system, when the door 122 is opened, the purge control may also automatically open any or all air discharge louvers/vents 171.

A time delay device 180 is provided to delay the time period between closure of the cab door and turning on the blower 147.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventions. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown. cm 1. A variable air circulation system for an off-highway vehicle having a cab body, a generally dust-tight operator's enclosure and work station within said cab body, and a cab door pivotally mounted on said cab body and adapted to open and close said operator's enclosure to permit ingress thereto and egress therefrom, said circulation system comprising:

• • a distribution plenum for distributing a combination of fresh air and recirculated air into said operator's enclosure;
  • a heating and air conditioning core housing;
  • a fresh air inlet port through said cab body;
  • an air flow duct between said plenum and said fresh air inlet port, said core housing in said air flow duct;
  • a fresh air filter adjacent said fresh air inlet port, arranged such that air passing through said fresh air inlet port also passes through said filter;
  • a recirculation port between said operator's enclosure and said air flow duct;
  • a recirculation valve with a variable closure mechanism in said recirculation port controlling the amount of air flow through said recirculation port;
  • a recirculation blower in air flow communication with said plenum and said core housing, said recirculation blower, core housing, recirculation port, fresh air inlet port and air filter arranged such that said recirculation blower causes recirculated air from within said operator's enclosure to flow through said recirculation valve and recirculation port and fresh air from outside the cab to flow through said fresh air inlet port and air filter along said air flow duct where the fresh air mixes with the recirculated air, then through said core housing into said plenum and thence into said operator's enclosure;
  • a pressurizer blower in said air flow duct to increase the flow of air into said operator's enclosure;
  • a control device connected to said recirculation valve and a sensor, said sensor causing said recirculation valve to fully open when said sensor senses that said vehicle has been put into a rest, yet operative condition signaling that the operator is about to leave said operator's enclosure; and
  • said control device also connected to said recirculation blower such that said blower is inactivated when said cab door is opened, and activated when said cab door is closed, whereby closing said cab door creates an air pressure pulse within the operator's enclosure, causing a reverse air flow through said air filter.

Claims

2. The air circulation system of claim 1, further including: a time delay device to delay the time period between closure of said cab door and turning on of said blower.

3. The air circulation system of claim 1, wherein: closing of said cab door further causes said recirculation valve to return to the position it was in prior to the opening of the cab door.

4. The air circulation system of claim 3, wherein: said control device includes an electro-mechanical actuator connected to said recirculation valve, said actuator activated by electrical pulses generated by the opening and closing of said cab door.

5. The air circulation system of claim 4, wherein said control device further includes: an automatic temperature control circuit controlling the components of said air circulation system to maintain the temperature set by the operator.

6. The air circulation system of claim 5, further including a time delay device to delay the time period between closure of said cab door and turning on of said blower, and wherein: said recirculation valve is a louvered flow control valve.

7. A variable air circulation system for an off-highway vehicle having a cab body, a generally dust-tight operator's enclosure and work station within said cab body, and a cab door pivotally mounted on said cab body and adapted to open and close said operator's enclosure to permit ingress thereto and egress therefrom, said circulation system comprising: a distribution plenum for distributing a combination of fresh air and recirculated air into said operator's enclosure;a fresh air inlet port through said cab body;an air flow duct between said plenum and said fresh air inlet port, said core housing in said air flow duct;a fresh air filter adjacent said fresh air inlet port, arranged such that air passing through said fresh air inlet port also passes through said filter;a recirculation port between said operator's enclosure and said air flow duct;a recirculation valve with a variable closure mechanism in said recirculation port controlling the amount of air flow through said recirculation port;a recirculation blower in air flow communication with said plenum and said core housing, said recirculation blower, core housing, recirculation port, fresh air inlet port and air filter arranged such that said recirculation blower causes recirculated air from within said operator's enclosure to flow through said recirculation valve and recirculation port and fresh air from outside the cab to flow through said fresh air inlet port and air filter along an air flow duct where the fresh air mixes with the recirculated air, then through said core housing into said plenum and thence into said operator's enclosure;a pressurizer blower in said air flow duct to increase the flow of air into said operator's enclosure;a control device with an operator-selected temperature setting, said control device optimizing the ratio of fresh air and recirculated air flowing within the air circulation system to seek and maintain the temperature setting, said ratio controlled by the volume of recirculated air flowing through said recirculation valve;said control device further connected to said recirculation valve and a sensor, said sensor causing said recirculation valve to open from a first position determined by said operator-selected temperature setting to a second fully open position when said sensor senses that said vehicle has been put into a rest, yet operative condition signaling that the operator is about to leave said operator's enclosure;said control device also connected to said recirculation and pressurizer blowers such that said blowers are inactivated when said cab door is opened, and activated when said cab door is closed, and said recirculation valve returns to said first position, whereby closing said cab door creates an air pressure pulse within the operator's enclosure, causing a reverse air flow through said air filter.

8. The air circulation system of claim 7, wherein said control device further includes: an automatic temperature control circuit controlling the components of said air circulation system to maintain the temperature set by the operator.

9. The air circulation system of claim 8, further including a time delay device to delay the time period between closure of said cab door and turning on of said blower, and wherein when said cab door is closed said control device returns said recirculation valve to the opening size immediately prior to moving to fully open.

10. (canceled)

11. The air circulation system of claim 10, wherein: said control device includes an electromechanical actuator connected to said recirculation valve, said actuator activated by electrical pulses generated by the opening and closing of said cab door.

12. The air circulation system of claim 11, wherein: said recirculation valve is a louvered flow control valve.

13. In a variable air circulation system for an off-highway vehicle having a cab body, a generally dust-tight operator's enclosure and work station within said cab body, and a cab door pivotally mounted on said cab body and adapted to open and close said operator's enclosure to permit ingress thereto and egress therefrom, a distribution plenum for distributing a combination of fresh air and recirculated air into said operator's enclosure, a heating and air conditioning core housing, the improvement comprising: a fresh air inlet port through said cab body;an air flow duct between said plenum and said fresh air inlet port, said core housing in said air flow duct;a fresh air filter adjacent said fresh air inlet port, arranged such that air passing through said fresh air inlet port also passes through said filter;a recirculation port between said operator's enclosure and said air flow duct;a recirculation valve with a variable closure mechanism in said recirculation port controlling the amount of air flow through said recirculation port;a recirculation blower in air flow communication with said plenum and said core housing, said recirculation blower, core housing, recirculation port, fresh air inlet port and air filter arranged such that said recirculation blower causes recirculated air from within said operator's enclosure to flow through said recirculation valve and recirculation port and fresh air from outside the cab to flow through said fresh air inlet port and air filter along an air flow duct where the fresh air mixes with the recirculated air, then through said core housing into said plenum and thence into said operator's enclosure;a control device with an operator-selected temperature setting, said control device optimizing the ratio of fresh air and recirculated air flowing within the air circulation system to seek and maintain the temperature setting, said ratio controlled by the volume of recirculated air flowing through said recirculation valve;said control device further connected to said recirculation valve and a sensor, said sensor causing said recirculation valve to open from a first position determined by said operator-selected temperature setting to a second fully open position when said sensor senses that said vehicle has been put into a rest, yet operative condition signaling that the operator is about to leave said operator's enclosure;said control device also connected to said recirculation blower such that said blower is inactivated when said cab door is opened, and activated when said cab door is closed, and said recirculation valve returns to said first position, whereby closing said cab door creates an air pressure pulse within the operator's enclosure, causing a reverse air flow through said air filter.

14. The air circulation system of claim 13, wherein said control device further includes: an automatic temperature control circuit controlling the components of said air circulation system to maintain the temperature set by the operator.

15. The air circulation system of claim 14, wherein when said cab door is closed said control device returns said recirculation valve to the opening size immediately prior to moving to fully open.

16. The air circulation system of claim 15, further including a time delay device to delay the time period between closure of said cab door and turning on of said blower, and wherein: closing of said cab door further causes said recirculation valve to return to the relative open position it was in prior to the opening of the cab door.

17. The air circulation system of claim 16, wherein: said control device includes an electro-mechanical actuator connected to said recirculation valve, said actuator activated by electrical pulses generated by the opening and closing of said cab door.

18. The air circulation system of claim 17, wherein: said recirculation valve is a louvered flow control valve.

19. A variable air circulation system for an off-highway vehicle having a cab body, a generally dust-tight operator's enclosure and work station within said cab body, and a cab door pivotally mounted on said cab body and adapted to open and close said operator's enclosure to permit ingress thereto and egress therefrom, said circulation system comprising: a distribution plenum for distributing a combination of fresh air and recirculated air into said operator's enclosure;a heating and air conditioning core housing;a fresh air inlet port through said cab body;an air flow duct between said plenum and said fresh air inlet port, said core housing in said air flow duct;a fresh air filter adjacent said fresh air inlet port, arranged such that air passing through said fresh air inlet port also passes through said filter;a recirculation port between said operator's enclosure and said air flow duct;a recirculation valve with a variable closure mechanism in said recirculation port controlling the amount of air flow through said recirculation port;a recirculation blower in air flow communication with said plenum and said core housing, said recirculation blower, core housing, recirculation port, fresh air inlet port and air filter arranged such that said recirculation blower causes recirculated air from within said operator's enclosure to flow through said recirculation valve and recirculation port and fresh air from outside the cab to flow through said fresh air inlet port and air filter along said air flow duct where the fresh air mixes with the recirculated air, then through said core housing into said plenum and thence into said operator's enclosure;a control device connected to said recirculation valve and a sensor, said sensor causing said recirculation valve to fully open when said sensor senses that said vehicle has been put into a rest, yet operative condition signaling that the operator is about to leave said operator's enclosure; andsaid control device also connected to said recirculation blower such that said blower is inactivated when said cab door is opened, and activated when said cab door is closed, whereby closing said cab door creates an air pressure pulse within the operator's enclosure, causing a reverse air flow through said air filter.

20. The air circulation system of claim 19, further including: a time delay device to delay the time period between closure of said cab door and turning on of said blower, and wherein said control device further includes:an automatic temperature control circuit controlling the components of said air circulation system to maintain the temperature set by the operator.

21. The air circulation system of claim 19, further including: a pressurizer blower system and wherein said control device is also connected to said pressurizer blower such that said recirculation and pressurizer blowers are both inactivated.

22. The air circulation system of claim 19, wherein: closing of said cab door further causes said recirculation valve to return to the position it was in prior to the opening of the cab door.

23. The air circulation system of claim 22, wherein: said control device includes an electro-mechanical actuator connected to said recirculation valve, said actuator activated by electrical pulses generated by the opening and closing of said cab door.

24. The air circulation system of claim 23, further including a time delay device to delay the time period between closure of said cab door and turning on of said blower, and wherein said control device further includes: an automatic temperature control circuit controlling the components of said air circulation system to maintain the temperature set by the operator.

25. The air circulation system of claim 24, wherein: said recirculation valve is a louvered flow control valve.

26. The air circulation system of claim 21, wherein: closing of said cab door further causes said recirculation valve to return to the position it was in prior to the opening of the cab door.

27. The air circulation system of claim 26, wherein: said control device includes an electro-mechanical actuator connected to said recirculation valve, said actuator activated by electrical pulses generated by the opening and closing of said cab door.

28. The air circulation system of claim 27, wherein said control device further includes: an automatic temperature control circuit controlling the components of said air circulation system to maintain the temperature set by the operator.

29. The air circulation system of claim 28, wherein: said recirculation valve is a louvered flow control valve.