VEHICLE DOOR CLOSE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT PRESSURE RELIEF SYSTEM

Abstract

Vehicle passenger compartment pressure relief system, which includes the following: a pressure relief valve (30) that remains closed until it is acted upon by an external force and that is in fluid communication with a vehicle passenger compartment (12); a door position sensor (44) to indicate a closed and unclosed position of a passenger compartment door (20) and a control unit (46) which is connected to the door position sensor (44) and is programmed to open the pressure relief valve (30) with an actuator (52) on the basis that the passenger compartment door (20) is in the unclosed position, characterized by the fact that the pressure relief valve (30) has a vent slot blade (34) and the actuator (52) is mechanically connected to the vent slot blade (34) to open and close the pressure relief valve (30), wherein the pressure relief valve (30) has a vent slot gear (62) for rotating the vent slot blade (34), and wherein the actuator (52) is connected to a drive gear (68) which drives a chain or belt (70) and rotates the vent slot gear (62) to open the pressure relief valve (30).

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to pressure relief systems for vehicle passenger compartments and, in particular, an active pressure relief valve that opens in response to the opening of passenger compartment doors and closes in response to the closing of passenger compartment doors. Such pressure relief systems are disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2012 014 569 A1, DE 33 20 551 A1, DE 10 2008 007 462 B2 and EP 2 406 090 B1.

[0002] Vehicles can use pressure relief valves to influence the airflow from the passenger compartment to improve passenger comfort. If a climate control system draws in ambient air from outside the vehicle, releasing this air through the pressure relief valves may be necessary to maintain proper circulation and reduce pressure buildup in the passenger compartment.

[0003] Passive pressure relief valves for releasing pressure from a vehicle passenger compartment are known in the art. These valves typically consist of a plastic housing with an elastomeric flap that opens when the internal pressure exceeds the external pressure. The higher internal pressure forces the flap to open, and passenger compartment air is released through the valve until the pressure is equalized. Once equalized, the flap closes under its own weight. These flaps generally rely on gravity to remain closed. This type of valve tends to allow external noise and elements to enter the passenger compartment through the pressure relief valve when the vehicle is in motion.To reduce the amount of noise and the elements from outside penetrating into the passenger compartment, passive pressure relief valves are designed to be as small as possible, which limits the speed at which the pressure relief valve can equalize the pressure.

[0004] When passenger compartment doors close, a sudden pressure increase can occur. A closing passenger compartment door quickly builds up air pressure within the passenger compartment, resulting in high closing effort and potential passenger discomfort. Current pressure relief valves may not be able to relieve the passenger compartment pressure buildup quickly enough. Even if current pressure relief valves can reduce the passenger compartment pressure quickly enough, the size of the pressure relief valve may allow more noise and elements from outside to enter the passenger compartment than desired. Either way, current pressure relief valves require a trade-off that may not be desirable for the driver or passengers of the vehicle.

[0005] According to the invention, a vehicle passenger compartment pressure relief system according to claim 1 is provided. The system uses an active pressure relief valve, a door position sensor, and a controller which, in combination, reduce the air pressure build-up in a passenger compartment that occurs during a passenger compartment door closing operation. The pressure relief valve is in fluid communication with a vehicle passenger compartment. The door position sensor is used to indicate a closed and / or open position of a passenger compartment door. The controller is connected to the door position sensor and is programmed to open the pressure relief valve based on the fact that the passenger compartment door is in the open position.

[0006] The system can use an actuator connected to the pressure relief valve to open slotted vent blades within the valve. The pressure relief valve can spring-load the vent blades into a closed position, where the actuator will overcome a spring force to open the valve. In this case, the actuator is energized to hold the vent blades in the open position, and when the actuator is no longer energized, the spring force returns the pressure relief valve to the closed position. Conversely, it is possible, though not claimed, for the pressure relief valve to be unspring-loaded, and the actuator is used to both open and close the valve, requiring no energy to hold the vent blades in the open position.The pressure relief valve can limit the pressure differential that occurs between the passenger compartment and the outside world when the pressure relief valve is in the closed position.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle passenger compartment pressure relief system for relieving passenger compartment pressure build-up during the closing of a passenger compartment door according to claim 6. This system has a controller programmed to hold a pressure relief valve in an open position based on the fact that a passenger compartment door is open. The controller is programmed to keep the pressure relief valve in an open position, thereby compensating for any increase in air pressure within the passenger compartment with the outside environment caused by the closing of the passenger compartment door. The controller can also be programmed to close the pressure relief valve.

[0008] The present system can be used on a vehicle with a passenger compartment with a single passenger compartment door or with a series of passenger compartment doors. In the case where the vehicle passenger compartment has a series of doors, each passenger compartment door can have its own pressure relief valve, or a series of passenger compartment doors can share a pressure relief valve. In the case where passenger compartment doors share a pressure relief valve, the controller can be programmed to open the pressure relief valve when one of the passenger compartment doors opens and to hold the pressure relief valve in an open position until the last of the passenger compartment doors associated with the pressure relief valve is closed.

[0009] The aspects of the present revelation mentioned above, and other aspects, will be explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle with a passenger compartment, an open door and a pressure relief valve opened in response to the open door. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a pressure relief valve in a closed position and the accompanying components. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a pressure relief valve in an open position and the accompanying components.

[0010] The embodiments shown are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention, which can be implemented in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of respective components. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis to teach a person skilled in the art how to use the disclosed concepts in various ways.

[0011] Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle 10 with a passenger compartment 12 having an internal air pressure p. The vehicle 10 is surrounded by an external environment 16 having an external air pressure (not specified). The vehicle 10 has a passenger compartment door 20 that provides access to the passenger compartment 12. A passenger compartment door 20 is a movable structure of a vehicle 10 that allows access to a passenger compartment 12. The passenger compartment door 20, as used in the present disclosure, is a movable structure of a vehicle 10 which, when closed, can increase the internal pressure p within the passenger compartment 12.A passenger compartment door 20 can be a forward-edge hinged door, a rear-edge hinged door, a top-edge hinged door such as a gullwing or hatchback door, a bottom-edge hinged door such as a tailgate, a vertically upward-swinging door such as a scissor door, a top-mounted door such as a cab door or hatchback, or a non-hinged sliding door which instead slides on a track along one side of a vehicle and moves inwards towards the passenger compartment at the end of the track. A passenger compartment door 20 can also be a window or an access panel which, when closed, increases the internal air pressure p within the passenger compartment 12.

[0012] The passenger compartment door 20 is shown in an open position 22. An open position 22 is any position from fully open to slightly ajar in which the passenger compartment door 20 is not completely closed and sealed against the passenger compartment 12. A passenger compartment door 20 in an open position 22 allows the interior air pressure p of the passenger compartment to equalize with the exterior air pressure of the outside environment 16 when the passenger compartment door is opened. The vehicle 10 also has several passenger compartment doors 20 in a closed position 24. A passenger compartment door 20 in a closed position 24 is completely closed and sealed against the passenger compartment 12 in such a way that the interior air pressure p of the passenger compartment cannot equalize with the exterior air pressure of the outside environment 16.The vehicle 10 in the illustration is a motor vehicle with multiple passenger compartment doors 20, although any vehicle 10 with one passenger compartment 12 or multiple passenger compartments 12, each with a single or multiple passenger compartment doors 20, could be used.

[0013] The passenger compartment door 20 can be opened or closed further than indicated by arrow 26. When the passenger compartment door 20 closes, it can force air from the outside environment 16 into the passenger compartment 12, increasing the interior air pressure p. Increased interior air pressure p may require more force to close the passenger compartment door 20 completely. Improved vehicle body sealing (not shown) has also contributed to the increased closing effort required. A significant increase in interior air pressure p may cause discomfort for a driver or passenger.

[0014] The vehicle 10 is therefore equipped with a pressure relief valve 30, which is in fluid communication with the passenger compartment 12 and the external environment 16 for releasing the increased air pressure p caused by a closing door into the external environment 16. The increased internal air pressure p caused by the closing of the door 20 can leave the passenger compartment 12 through the pressure relief valve 30, as shown by arrow 32. The pressure relief valve 30 can also be referred to as a passenger compartment valve 30 or a door closing pressure release valve 30. The pressure relief valve 30 is shown with a vent blade 34 in an open or unclosed position 36. The vent blade 34 can also be opened and closed as shown by arrow 38. The pressure relief valve 30 can also be moved to a closed position 40 (see Fig. 2) are displaced, in which the air pressure between the passenger compartment 12 and the outside environment 16 may not be equalized.

[0015] Vehicle 10 has a series of door position sensors 44 located at each passenger compartment door 20. The door position sensor 44 is used to indicate whether its respective passenger compartment door 20 is in a closed position 24 or an open position 22. A controller 46 is connected to the door position sensors 44, as indicated by the dashed lines 48. The controller 46 could, for example, be a door control module. Fig. In Figure 1, the controller 46 communicates with the door position sensors 44 via an internal communication network 50. This internal communication network 50 can be a Controller Area Network, or CAN, a standard network designed to allow communication between microcontrollers and devices within a vehicle without a host computer. Although the door position sensors 44 are shown connected to the CAN 50, they can also be directly connected to the controller 46. A single controller 46 can be used to process the data from all the door position sensors 44, or each door position sensor can be connected to its own controller 46.

[0016] The controller 46 receives data regarding the position of the passenger compartment door 20. The controller 46 is programmed to open a pressure relief valve 30 based on the passenger compartment door 20 being in an open position 22. The controller 46 can also be programmed to keep the pressure relief valve 30 in an open or open position 36 based on the passenger compartment door 20 remaining in an open position 22. Keeping the pressure relief valve 30 open while a passenger compartment door 20 is open allows any increase in air pressure p inside the passenger compartment 12, caused by the closing of the passenger compartment door 20, to be equalized by the pressure relief valve 30 with the outside environment 16.The control unit 46 can be programmed to close the pressure relief valve 30 based on the passenger compartment door 20 being in a closed position 24. A pressure relief valve 30 in a closed position 40 (see . Fig. 2) prevents elements from outside and noise from the external environment 16 from entering the passenger compartment 12 through the pressure relief valve 30.

[0017] In connection with a series of passenger compartment doors 20, a single pressure relief valve 30 can be used, or each passenger compartment door 20 or a subset of the passenger compartment doors 20 can have its own pressure relief valve 30. In the case where each passenger compartment door 20 has its own pressure relief valve 30, the controller 46 would be programmed to open and close the pressure relief valve 30 based on the position of its respective passenger compartment door 20.In the case where a series of passenger compartment doors 20 share a single pressure relief valve 30, the controller 46 can be programmed to open the pressure relief valve 30 based on one of the passenger compartment doors being in an unclosed position 22, to keep the pressure relief valve 30 in an open position 36 while one of the passenger compartment doors 20 remains open, and to close the pressure relief valve 30 based on the last of the passenger compartment doors being in a closed position 24. In other words, the pressure relief valve 30 opens when the first passenger compartment door 20 is opened and remains open until the last passenger compartment door 20 is closed.

[0018] The controller 46 can be programmed to actuate an actuator 52 to open the pressure relief valve 30. The controller is connected to the actuator 52, as shown by the dashed line 54. The actuator 52 is connected to the pressure relief valve 30, as shown by the dashed line 56. The controller 46 can activate the actuator 52 and, based on the fact that a passenger compartment door 20 is in an open position 22, open the pressure relief valve 30.

[0019] Fig. Figure 2 shows a pressure relief valve 30 with two vent blades 34 in a closed position 40. Although two vent blades 34 are shown, a single vent blade 34 or a series of vent blades 34 can be used. The pressure relief valve 30 is closed by overlapping the vent blades 34, although other valve configurations can be used. The vent blades 34 have a seal added to them (not shown), or they can be made of an elastomeric material to help exclude air movement and / or pressure through the pressure relief valve 30. When the pressure relief valve 30 is in the closed position 40, it prevents elements from the outside and noise from passing through it.Examples of outdoor elements include dust, water, insects, and rodents.

[0020] The pressure relief valve 30 can have vent blades 34, each with a rotating shaft 60 with which the vent blades 34 can rotate. Each rotating shaft 60 can be connected to a vent gear 62, as shown by the connecting lines 64. The vent gears 62 can be used to pivot the vent blades 34 to the open position, as shown by the arrows 66. The vent gears 62 can be connected to a drive gear 68 by means of a chain or belt 70. The actuator 52, shown here as a motor, can be connected to the drive gear 68, as shown by the dashed line 56. A controller 46 can energize the motor 52, as shown by the dashed arrow 54, and rotate a shaft on the motor that is connected to the drive gear 68.The drive gear 68 can drive the belt 70 and rotate the ventilation slot gears 62 as indicated by the rotation arrow 74. The rotation of the ventilation slot gears 62 rotates the rotary shaft 60, causing the ventilation slot blades 34 to open as shown by arrows 66.

[0021] In this configuration, the pressure relief valve 30 can remain open without additional energy or input from the controller 46. The controller 46 can then reverse the polarity and energize the motor 52 to rotate the ventilation slot blades 34 in the opposite direction to closing the pressure relief valve 30.

[0022] Fig.Figure 3 shows a pressure relief valve 30 with two vent blades 34 in an open or unclosed position 36. When the pressure relief valve 30 is in an open position 36, pressurized air inside the vehicle 10 can be released through the pressure relief valve 30. The pressure relief valve 30 can have vent blades 34, each with a rotating shaft 60. The vent blades 34 can be mechanically connected to each other, as indicated by the linkage 78, to move together. The motor 52 can be directly connected to a rotating shaft, as shown by the dashed line 56.

[0023] The pressure relief valve 30 remains closed until it is acted upon by an external force. The ventilation slot blades 34 can be held in a closed position 40 by a torsion spring 80. The torsion spring 80 biases the pressure relief valve 30 into a spring-loaded closed position 40. A single torsion spring 80 can be connected to a ventilation slot blade 34, as shown by the connecting lines 82, or several torsion springs 80 can be used for each ventilation slot blade 34 or for a series of ventilation slot blades 34. When unwound from its normal position, the torsion spring 80 exerts a spring force in the opposite direction, as shown by arrow 84. The spring force 84 rotates the ventilation slot blades 34 toward the closed position 40, as shown by the rotation arrows 86.

[0024] The control unit 46 can energize a motor 52 and rotate an upper ventilation slot blade 34 into the open position 36. The linkage 78 between the upper and lower ventilation slot blades 34 simultaneously moves the lower ventilation slot blade 34 into the open position. The torsion spring 80, which is connected to the lower ventilation slot blade 34, opposes the motor's rotation, causing the motor 52 to overcome the spring force and open the pressure relief valve 30. The motor 52 remains energized to hold the pressure relief valve 30 in the open position 36. When the control unit 46 cuts off the energization to the motor 52, the spring force of the torsion spring 80 overcomes the frictional forces of the motor 52 and returns the ventilation slot blades 34 to their closed position 40.

[0025] Although embodiments of the present invention are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the present invention. Instead, the terms used in the description serve for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, and various modifications can be made without departing from the concept and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the features of different implementation embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

[1] Vehicle passenger compartment pressure relief system comprising the following: a pressure relief valve (30) that remains closed until it is acted upon by an external force and that is in fluid communication with a vehicle passenger compartment (12); a door position sensor (44) to indicate a closed and unclosed position of a passenger compartment door (20) and a control unit (46) which is connected to the door position sensor (44) and is programmed to open the pressure relief valve (30) with an actuator (52) on the basis that the passenger compartment door (20) is in the unclosed position, characterized by , that the pressure relief valve (30) has a vent slot blade (34) and the actuator (52) is mechanically connected to the vent slot blade (34) to open and close the pressure relief valve (30), wherein the pressure relief valve (30) has a vent slot gear (62) for rotating the vent slot blade (34), and wherein the actuator (52) is connected to a drive gear (68) which drives a chain or belt (70) and rotates the vent slot gear (62) to open the pressure relief valve (30). [2] System according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator (52) which is connected to the pressure relief valve (30) and can open it, wherein the control (46) is programmed to actuate the actuator (52) to open the pressure relief valve (30) on the basis that the passenger compartment door (20) is in the unclosed position (22). [3] System according to claim 2, wherein the pressure relief valve (30) is spring-biased into a closed position (40), wherein the control (46) actuates the actuator (52) to overcome a spring force to open the pressure relief valve (30), and the spring force returns the pressure relief valve (30) to the closed position (40) when the actuator (52) is no longer actuated by the control (46). [4] System according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator (52) which is connected to the pressure relief valve (30) and can close it, wherein the control (46) is programmed to actuate the actuator (52) to close the pressure relief valve (30) on the basis that the passenger compartment door (20) is in the closed position (24). [5] System according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle passenger compartment (12) has a series of passenger compartment doors (20) and each passenger compartment door (20) has a pressure relief valve (30). [6] Vehicle passenger compartment pressure relief system for reducing passenger compartment pressure build-up during the closing of a door (20), the system comprising: a pressure relief valve (30) and a control (46) programmed to keep the pressure relief valve (30) in an open position (36) due to the fact that a door (20) is open, so that an increase in air pressure inside the passenger compartment (12) caused by the closing of the door (20) is equalized by the pressure relief valve (30) with an outside environment, characterized by , that the pressure relief valve (30) has a vent slot blade (34) and an actuator (52) is mechanically connected to the vent slot blade (34) to open and close the pressure relief valve (30), wherein the pressure relief valve (30) has a vent slot gear (62) for rotating the vent slot blade (34), and wherein the actuator (52) is connected to a drive gear (68) which drives a chain or belt (70) and rotates the vent slot gear (62) to open the pressure relief valve (30). [7] System according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle (10) has a series of doors (20) and the control (46) holds the pressure relief valve (30) in an open position (36) when one of the series of doors (20) remains open. [8] System according to claim 7, wherein the control (46) is further programmed to close the pressure relief valve (30) on the basis that the last of the series of doors (20) is closed. [9] System according to claim 8, wherein the pressure relief valve (30) is closed by a spring (80). [10] System according to claim 6, wherein the controller (46) receives a notification that the door (20) is open from an internal communication network (50). [11] System according to claim 6, wherein the control (46) is a door control module. [12] System according to claim 6, wherein the pressure relief valve (30) is held by a torsion spring (80), the control (46) energizes a motor to overcome a force of the torsion spring (80) to open the pressure relief valve (30), the motor remains energized by the control to keep the pressure relief valve (30) open, and the torsion spring (80) overcomes friction of the motor when the motor is no longer energized to close the pressure relief valve (30). [13] System according to claim 6, wherein the pressure relief valve (30) is opened by energizing a motor and rotating a ventilation slot blade (34) on the pressure relief valve (30) into an open position (36), and the pressure relief valve (30) is closed into a closed position (40) by reversing the polarity and energizing the motor and rotating the ventilation slot blade (34) in the opposite direction, so that no energy is required from the control to keep the pressure relief valve (30) in the open position (36).

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