Vehicle with a device for collecting dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements of the vehicle, in particular a wheel

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) with a device (6) for receiving dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements, in particular of a wheel (4) of the vehicle (1), wherein the wheel (4) is surrounded by a wheel housing (3) on which a guide channel (7) is arranged, which has at least one inlet opening (13,14). The guide channel (7) has a liquid spray system (8), wherein a collection element (9) designed to collect a liquid-particle mixture is arranged on the guide channel (7) with a conveying system (11) for transporting the liquid-particle mixture collected in the collection element (9) to a collection point (34), wherein the conveying system (11) is connected to a receiving container (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle with a device for collecting dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements of the vehicle, in particular of a wheel, with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In the context of this description, the term dust particles or particles includes all dust particles that are emitted by the vehicle itself or also dust particles that are external to the vehicle, i.e. fine and coarse dust particles that are created, for example, by tire wear and / or brake wear and are also stirred up by the road surface.

[0003] Traffic-related particulate emissions, which result not from exhaust gases but from wear and tear from brakes, tires, clutches, road surfaces, etc., as well as from the resuspension of road dust, contribute significantly to air pollution. Exhaust particulate emissions are expected to decrease due to stricter limits, but other traffic-related particulate emissions will increase due to larger traffic volumes and could become the focus of future regulations. Data from the German Federal Environment Agency show that exhaust particulate emissions account for approximately 18% of all traffic-related particulate emissions. The term "particulate matter" refers to particles with aerodynamic diameters smaller than 10 µm, which are considered particularly harmful to health. The remaining 82% are emissions caused not by exhaust gases, but by wear and tear. This demonstrates the increasing importance of particulate emissions not caused by exhaust gases.

[0004] For a vehicle, e.g., a passenger car, the proportion of airborne tire wear particles is estimated at 50-200 mg / km, orders of magnitude higher than exhaust particles, which are currently less than 1 mg / km. Airborne particles are generated by abrasion processes at the tire-road interface, leading to tire and road wear and the resuspension of road dust. These particles are dispersed around the vehicle wheel and in the vehicle's wake and released into the environment and atmosphere. They contribute to PM10 and PM2.5 air quality problems as coarse and fine particulate matter and are subject to air quality standards or, in the case of brake wear particles, to the new emissions regulation. Tire wear particles are washed from the road and enter the soil or waterways.

[0005] Techniques such as shields, blowers and dust collectors are known to reduce brake dust emissions in particular.

[0006] DE 20 126 A discloses a device for preventing dust formation in vehicles with dust collectors mounted behind the wheels, by means of which the dust is sucked away by a fan and returned to the road. On its way to the exit point, the dust-air mixture is guided in a pipe in such a way that it is compressed by centrifugal action and expelled in the opposite direction to the driving motion at an exit speed approximately corresponding to the driving speed. The end of the pipe can be provided with an attachment lined with a layer of absorbent material and connected to a water pipe leading from the engine's cooling water tank or a special container. The water, mixed with soap or the like if necessary, gradually trickles down the water pipe, soaking the material, and is released through the latter in small quantities.The dust-laden air flowing through the attachment absorbs the moisture, which is added to the weight of the dust and causes the dust particles to clump together, making them less likely to be blown up by air currents hitting them.

[0007] DE 103 299 61 A1 discloses an integrated fine dust extraction device for vehicles with which fine dust can be filtered out of the ambient air and collected for scientific investigations and which can also be analyzed during collection using an aerosol spectrometer as a dust measuring device, whereby the measured data can be transmitted wirelessly.

[0008] DE 10 2019 209 793 A1 relates to a system for the controlled separation of tire particles, comprising a tire, a support structure on which the tire is rotatably mounted, a charging module fastened to the support structure for electrically charging tire particles, and a precipitation module fastened to the support structure for receiving the charged tire particles, wherein the charging module and the precipitation module are arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction directly on the tire.

[0009] A braking system for collecting brake dust generated by the operation of a braking mechanism is disclosed in US 11 002 324 B2. The braking system includes a collecting device coupled to a braking mechanism. The collecting device may include a cover surrounding the braking mechanism and a collecting element coupled to the cover for collecting brake dust escaping from the cover. When the collecting device is coupled to the braking mechanism, most or all of the brake dust, such as copper or other particles from the braking mechanism, emitted from the braking mechanism during operation of the braking mechanism can be removed from the braking mechanism and captured by the filter of the collecting mechanism.

[0010] Motor vehicles have also been proposed that would clean the ambient air of fine dust while driving.

[0011] For example, DE 20 2006 019 335 U1 discloses a fine dust extraction device for vehicles with which the fresh air supplied to the vehicle interior can be cleaned of fine dust, but which can also reduce the fine dust content in the ambient air in order to comply with legally prescribed fine dust limits.

[0012] KR 101 511 663 B1 discloses a motor vehicle with a duct running in the wheel housing, which takes in air laden with swirled dust while driving and conveys it through a dust filter.

[0013] DE 20 2006 004 522 U1 discloses a fine dust filter operating with electrical or magnetic separation, which is arranged between the air intake grille and the radiator of a vehicle in order to clean the ambient air flowing through there of fine dust, including that which has been emitted or stirred up by other vehicles.

[0014] DE 20 2005 005 673 U1 discloses an outside air filter for motor vehicles mounted under a bumper for the general reduction of air pollution.

[0015] DE 10 2016 200 936 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with at least one air guiding structure arranged behind a vehicle wheel in the direction of travel for guiding at least part of the air in the wake of the vehicle wheel to a dust collector, wherein a device is provided for automatically adjusting the distance between a lower edge of the air guiding structure and a road surface traveled by the vehicle as a function of the driving speed of the vehicle.

[0016] An exhaust-free particulate matter collection device using static electricity is disclosed in US 2020 / 0 331 005 A1. The invention provides an exhaust-free particulate matter collection device using static electricity, comprising: An air pipe mounted in a vehicle and provided with an inlet through which particulate matter generated in a vehicle and charged with a first polarity flows together with air; and a dust collector mounted on one side of an outlet of the air pipe and charged with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity to collect the particulate matter charged with the first polarity.

[0017] A particle collection device that can be mounted on a vehicle to collect or capture particles released from a tire or wheel of the vehicle through wear and / or resuspension when the vehicle is driven on a road surface is disclosed in WO 2021 152 331 A1. The particle collection device comprises an electrostatic filter unit that can be mounted in an operative position in close proximity to the tire or wheel of the vehicle to collect a stream of particles from a contact point between the tire or wheel and the road surface. The filter unit is configured to capture or capture the particles in the stream through electrostatic attraction.

[0018] Such systems could only effectively reduce particulate matter in the environment if they were installed in a very large number of vehicles, and the effort required to clean the many filters and dispose of the collected dust would be extreme, especially since comparatively coarse, not really harmful dust would also be collected and the filters would quickly fill up.

[0019] DE 10 2016 224 432 A1, which claims priority from DE 10 2015 224 725, discloses a motor vehicle with a scattered light photometer for measuring a particle concentration in a specific area of ​​the motor vehicle. It is proposed that the scattered light photometer be arranged in an area of ​​the motor vehicle in which dust stirred up by the vehicle's wheels or emitted by the vehicle's brakes tends to occur while driving, and that the motor vehicle have a device for reducing dust stirring or dust emissions by the wheels or brakes, which receives the measurement data from the scattered light photometer, decides on the basis of the measurement data whether measures should be taken to counteract the dust stirring or dust emissions by the wheels or brakes, and takes appropriate measures if necessary.The teaching of DE 10 2016 224 432 A1 makes it possible to limit the restrictions and effort associated with reducing the resuspension or release of particulate matter or dust by wheels or brakes, because these measures can be limited to phases of particularly high dust resuspension or emission. With this relatively low effort, a comparatively significant benefit for the environment can be achieved.

[0020] However, the task of cleaning the ambient air of dust while driving still offers considerable potential for improvement.

[0021] The invention is based on the object of providing a vehicle which makes it possible to collect particularly effectively the dust emitted or stirred up by the vehicle itself, i.e. from abrasion of brakes, tires, clutches, road surface, etc. as well as from the resuspension of road dust.

[0022] According to the invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle having the features of claim 1.

[0023] In a first aspect of the invention, a vehicle is disclosed with a device for collecting dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements, in particular of a wheel of the vehicle. The wheel is surrounded by a wheel house on which a guide channel is arranged, which has at least one inlet opening. The guide channel has a liquid spray system, wherein a collecting element configured to collect a liquid-particle mixture is arranged on the guide channel, with a conveying system for transporting the liquid-particle mixture collected in the collecting element to a collection point, wherein the conveying system is connected to a receiving container.

[0024] It should be noted that the features and measures listed individually in the following description can be combined with one another in any technically reasonable manner and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures.

[0025] The invention provides a vehicle which particularly effectively collects dust that it itself emits or stirs up, i.e. from abrasion of brakes, tires, clutches, road surface, etc., as well as from the resuspension of road dust. In the context of the invention, the term dust is synonymous with the terms fine dust, coarse dust, dust particles, particles or the like. A vehicle within the meaning of the invention comprises any motor vehicle such as cars, trucks, buses, minivans, SUVs and the like which have an internal combustion engine and / or other drive units such as electric motors. In this respect, the term vehicle also includes hybrid vehicles with a combination of different drive units and also electric vehicles.

[0026] As soon as the vehicle starts moving, dust, for example, is stirred up from the road surface. This enters the guide channel through at least one inlet opening. In order to prevent the entry of objects that are too large, i.e. objects that could, for example, block the guide channel, a protective grid with an adapted mesh size to allow the particles to be collected to pass through is arranged at at least one inlet opening. The inlet opening is arranged in particular in an area of ​​the guide channel close to the roadway and in particular in a rear area of ​​the wheel arch, which is why it can also be referred to as a rear inlet opening. When the vehicle is moving forward, stirred up dust particles, for example, can be collected in this way. The air flow entering the guide channel is guided so that it exits at the front area of ​​the wheel arch.It is also conceivable that this opening in the front area of ​​the wheel arch could be used to collect dust that is stirred up when reversing, for example. This opening can also be referred to as the front inlet and outlet opening. The front inlet and outlet opening is also preferably equipped with a protective grille as described above.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the wheel is completely enclosed by the guide channel. This measure is effective in that the dust emitted and stirred up by the vehicle remains in the guide channel. The previously described design of the guide channel with the inlet openings arranged at the front and rear is particularly advantageous in this regard. In particular, a cover element can be arranged on the guide channel or on the wheel housing to cover the visible side opposite the wheel housing, which largely closes off the wheel housing on the visible side.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the guide channel has a plurality of guide elements. The particles located in the guide channel can be deposited on these. The guide elements can be designed as air guide vanes. In particular, the guide elements can have a curved shape. In an expedient embodiment, successive guide elements can be curved in opposite directions, i.e. alternately concave and convex. With regard to a running surface of the wheel, it can be provided in particular that the guide elements which are oriented closest to the running surface in the radial direction have a concave curvature, wherein the guide elements which are further away from the running surface in the radial direction of the wheel can have a convex curvature.

[0029] The liquid spray system supports dust separation by moistening the surface of both the guide elements and the particles, thus preventing the particles from being released back into the air. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid spray system has at least one spray nozzle with which the liquid can be introduced into the guide channel, wherein the at least one spray nozzle is preferably designed to generate a fine spray mist. In particular, the liquid spray system can be a high-pressure spray system, wherein a correspondingly designed high-pressure pump can be provided to generate the high pressure. The spray liquid can in particular be water or another suitable liquid that is not harmful to the environment.

[0030] To further increase the efficiency of particle separation, a preferred embodiment provides for the liquid spray system to be connected to a voltage source, in particular a high-voltage source. In particular, the at least one spray nozzle is connected to the voltage source or the high-voltage source. This allows the liquid droplets atomized by the spray nozzle to be charged, increasing the efficiency of particle separation in the air through electrostatic attraction of tire / dust particles and the charged liquid droplets and / or the guide elements.

[0031] The high-pressure spray fluid also promotes the liquid-particle mixture toward the collecting element, which is assisted by the shape of the guide elements. A separate, supporting or sole-acting scraper can also be provided to convey the particles along the guide channel toward the collecting element.

[0032] The goal is for the particles to reach the collection element in this way. In a preferred embodiment, the collection element is designed as a collecting trough, wherein the conveying system has a conveying means arranged in the collection element. The conveying means arranged in the collection element is designed in particular as a screw conveyor with scraping conveying. This can be adapted particularly flexibly to a curved profile of the collection element, particularly when a flexible shaft is used. The conveying means transports the liquid-particle mixture collected in the collection element to a collection point. In particular, the collection element extends along a lower edge of the wheel housing.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor system, in addition to the conveying means, also has a removal means arranged between the collection element and the receiving container. In particular, the removal means is arranged between the collection point and the receiving container. The removal means is designed, in particular, as a screw conveyor.

[0034] In a further preferred embodiment, the receiving container is arranged, in particular fastened, to an underbody of the vehicle. This means that the receiving container is arranged geodetically higher than the collecting element, which is why the removal means overcomes this height difference.

[0035] The liquid-particle mixture is collected in the receiving container and can be fed into a liquid circuit. In a further preferred embodiment, the receiving container has a filter element so that the liquid containing dust particles can be filtered around the dust particles and then flow into a liquid reservoir in the receiving container. The liquid reservoir is connected to a line in which the aforementioned high-pressure pump and, upstream of the high-pressure pump, a fine filter are arranged. The filtered liquid is fed from the high-pressure pump to at least one spray nozzle. This creates a quasi-closed liquid circuit. However, liquid losses are to be expected, and these can be compensated for by adding liquid externally to the liquid reservoir. In order to be able to detect such deficiencies in the liquid reservoir, a liquid level sensor can be arranged on the liquid reservoir.If the sensor indicates that the fluid reservoir level is too low, the vehicle's user is prompted to refill it. If the fluid level in the reservoir falls below a minimum level, the flow of fluid to the spray nozzle is stopped until the reservoir is refilled.

[0036] The collection container or its filter element also has a finite capacity, which is why it should be cleaned on a time-controlled basis, i.e., at regular intervals and / or via a sensor. A corresponding signal to empty the filter element can be sent to the vehicle user. After removing the collected dust, the user can be given a reward message via an appropriate interface, for example, indicating that they have saved the Earth by collecting xx g of tire / road debris from the environment.

[0037] In a further aspect, a method for operating a vehicle with a device for receiving dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements of the vehicle, in particular of a wheel, is shown, wherein the wheel is accommodated in a wheel house on which a guide channel is arranged, which has at least one inlet opening, wherein the guide channel has a liquid spray system, and wherein a collecting element with a conveying system is arranged on the guide channel, wherein the conveying system is connected to a receiving container, comprising at least the steps: Activating a liquid spray system so that a liquid-particle mixture is collected by the collecting element, and Activating a conveying means of the conveying system in the collecting element so that the liquid-particle mixture is conveyed to a collection point, and activating a removal means of the conveying system so that the liquid-particle mixture is conveyed from the collection point into the receiving container, and Filtering the liquid-particle mixture so that filtered liquid is fed into a liquid reservoir of the receiving container, from which at least one spray nozzle of the liquid spray system is supplied with the spray liquid by a pump.

[0038] The method provides the advantages mentioned above with respect to the vehicle. In particular, the method can be used to operate the vehicle according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments or a combination of at least two of these embodiments.

[0039] The method can be stored in a control unit that can control the individual elements of the device. The control unit can be stored and / or integrated in an existing central control unit (CPU) of the vehicle.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the method, the liquid spray system is only activated when it is determined that a particle emission generated by the vehicle itself and / or a particle emission generated by other vehicles due to dust turbulence exceeds a limit value, and / or if it is determined that current vehicle and environmental limits are exceeded, and / or if it is determined that in a liquid reservoir of the receiving container there is a liquid level above a minimum liquid level.

[0041] The conditions for activating the liquid spray system can be monitored using measurement systems, for example, sensors. The sensors send their measurement results to the control unit, which generates corresponding signals to control the liquid spray system. Vehicle and environmental limit values ​​can be determined using, for example, rain sensors, speed sensors, steering angle sensors, longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration sensors, tire pressure sensors, GPS data, tire speed and torque sensors, temperature sensors, and / or humidity sensors. Camera-based dust emission estimation systems and / or sensor-based wheel arch measurements can also be used.

[0042] For example, the liquid spray system is activated when the vehicle is traveling at a certain minimum speed, so that particles from the road are stirred up or can emit particles itself. At the same time, it is detected that it is not raining or that the air humidity is so low that humidification of, for example, the stirred up dust particles is not to be expected. At the same time, the liquid reservoir must be filled to a sufficient level. If the conditions mentioned only as examples are met cumulatively, the liquid spray system can be activated by activating the pump, whereby the connection to the voltage source can be switched at the same time to improve separation. If, on the other hand, it is raining, or the air humidity is at such a level that humidification of dust particles and / or the guide elements can be expected, the pump or the high-pressure pump does not necessarily have to be activated.However, the voltage source or high voltage source can be activated at any time to improve particle separation.

[0043] The conveying means in the collection element does not have to be activated at the same time as the liquid spray system or when the pump is activated. In a further preferred embodiment, the conveying means is only activated when it is determined that the collection element is full to a certain extent. This can be determined, for example, using appropriate sensors that record the fill level over the entire extent of the collection element. If a maximum possible fill level is reached at only one point, the conveying means is activated. The maximum fill level can, for example, correspond to a partial volume, for example three-quarters of the volume of the collection element at the relevant point. The conveying means conveys the liquid-particle mixture to a collection point at which the removal means is arranged.

[0044] In a further preferred embodiment, the removal means is activated simultaneously with the conveying means. The liquid-particle mixture is thus conveyed into the receiving container and passes through a filter element. This filter element filters out the particles, so that the liquid, purified of the particles, is directed into the liquid reservoir, from where it is pumped back to the spray nozzle.

[0045] In a further preferred embodiment, the filter element is to be cleaned when a timer and / or a filter sensor generates a corresponding signal. For this purpose, the vehicle user can be prompted to drive to a designated collection point where the filter is cleaned. Disassembly of the collection container or the filter element is not necessarily required. Once the filter is cleaned, the user can be given a corresponding signal, which also includes a reward notification regarding the amount of dust released and thus collected, indicating the amount of dust the environment has been relieved of as a result of the vehicle's collection.

[0046] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and the following description of the figures. It shows: Fig. 1 a vehicle with a device for collecting dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements of the vehicle, in particular of a wheel, and Fig. 2 an exemplary flow diagram of a method for operating a vehicle with such a device.

[0047] In the different figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols, which is why they are usually only described once.

[0048] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 1 in a partial view, wherein one of the wheel housings 3 is shown with the associated wheel 4. The other wheel housings of the vehicle 1 are not shown. Fig. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, a front wheel of the vehicle is depicted. The vehicle 1 has a device 6 for collecting dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements, in particular of a wheel 4 of the vehicle. The wheel 4 is surrounded by the wheel housing 3, on which a guide channel 7 is arranged, which has at least one inlet opening 13, 14. The guide channel 7 has a liquid spray system 8, with a collecting element 9 with a conveying system 11 being arranged on the guide channel 7, the conveying system 11 being connected to a receiving container 12.

[0049] In this exemplary embodiment, the guide channel 7 has a rear inlet opening 13 and a front inlet and outlet opening 14. The inlet openings 13 and 14 are each open towards the wheel 4 and are provided with a protective grille 16. The guide channel 7 extends almost around the entire wheel 4 and encloses it almost completely, so that self-emitted and stirred-up dust particles remain within the guide channel 7. The guide channel 7 thus forms a wheel housing, with a cover element 15 being provided on a visible side 2 opposite the wheel housing 3, from which Fig. 1 a lower edge is visible near the roadway.

[0050] Wheel rotation is represented by the rotation arrow 17. In the illustrated embodiment, a forward movement of the vehicle 1 is indicated, during which dust particles are stirred up from a road surface 18 and pass through the rear inlet opening 13 into the guide channel 7, which is indicated by the arrow 19.

[0051] The guide channel 7 has guide elements 21 that are curved in opposite directions. For example, the guide elements 21 extend along the guide channel 7 and are designed with alternating concave and convex curvatures. The guide elements 21 that are arranged closer to the running surface of the wheel 4 in the plane of the drawing are concavely curved, while the guide elements 21 that are further away from the running surface of the wheel 4 in the radial direction than the inner guide elements 21 are convexly curved. The flow effect due to the guide elements 21 arranged in the guide channel 7 is indicated by the arrows 22. The guide elements 21 improve the separation of the particles.

[0052] At its lower end in the drawing plane, i.e. in an area close to the roadway, the guide channel 7 has the collecting element 9. The collecting element 9 is designed as a collecting channel. The collecting element 9 extends along a Fig. 1 arranged lower edge of the wheel arch 3.

[0053] The liquid spray system 8 has a liquid reservoir 23, which is arranged below a filter element 24 in the receiving container 12. A delivery line 26 originates from the liquid reservoir, in which a fine filter 28 is arranged upstream of a pump 27, which can be designed as a high-pressure pump. The pump 27 delivers a spray liquid via a line 29 to a spray nozzle 31, which atomizes the spray liquid in the guide channel 7, as shown in Fig. 1. The liquid spray system 8, in particular its spray nozzle 31, can be connected to a high-voltage source so that the generated liquid droplets are charged. If no liquid is atomized via the spray nozzle, the high-voltage source could still charge liquid droplets in the air via the spray nozzle, which can be the case, for example, in rain or high humidity.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, two optional spray nozzles are provided, one at the rear inlet opening 13 and the other optional spray nozzle 31 arranged, for example, at the zenith of the guide channel 7. A line connection from the pump 27 to this spray nozzle 31 arranged at the zenith is not shown. The particles entering the guide channel 7 are thus moistened and, due to the electrostatic attraction, are separated in the guide channel 7, in particular on the guide elements 21. The moistening of the scraper plates effectively prevents collected particles from bouncing off and becoming detached from the guide channel 7 and guide elements 21. The liquid-particle mixture thus reaches the collecting element 9, whereby a scraper can optionally be provided.

[0055] The conveying system 11 comprises a conveying means 32 and a removal means 33. The conveying means 32 is designed as a screw conveyor, preferably with a flexible shaft, with the removal means 33 also being designed as a screw conveyor. The conveying means 32 is arranged in the collecting element 9 and extends as a continuous conveying means along the extent of the collecting element 9. The conveying means 32 transports the collected liquid-particle mixture to a collection point 34, to which the removal means 33 is connected. The removal means 33 transports the collected liquid-particle mixture to the receiving container 12.

[0056] The receiving container 12 can be arranged, preferably fastened, to an underbody. A measuring system is arranged on the receiving container 12, which monitors the loading of the filter element 24 with tire / dust particles using a filter sensor 36 and the liquid level in the liquid reservoir 23 using a liquid level sensor 37. The two sensors 36, 37 are connected to a control unit 38. For reasons of clarity, the reference numerals of the two sensors 36, 37 are assigned to the schematically illustrated connections (which can be wired or wireless) to the control unit 38. The illustrated connection of the control unit 38 to the pump 27 can also be wired or wireless. The control unit 38 generates signals for operating the liquid spray system 8 and is connected to other sensors, such asRain sensors, speed sensors, steering angle sensors, longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration sensors, tire pressure sensors, tire speed and torque sensors, temperature sensors, and / or humidity sensors can be connected. Camera-based dust emission estimators and / or sensor-based wheel arch measurements and / or GPS data can also be used. The connection of the respective sensors to the control unit 38 can be established via a wired or wireless connection. The control unit 38 can be integrated into a central control unit of the vehicle 1. Each sensor can transmit a measurement result to the control unit 38, which can be used to decide how the liquid spray system 8 is controlled—that is, whether it is activated or kept activated, or whether it is deactivated or kept deactivated. The delivery system can also be controlled independently of the pump.

[0057] Of course, it is within the scope of the invention if a device 6 as described above for collecting dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements, in particular of a wheel 4 of the vehicle, is arranged on each wheel of the vehicle 1. It is advantageous if only a single collecting container 12 is provided, with the respective removal means establishing the connection to the respective collection element. However, it is also conceivable to have several collecting containers for collecting the dust generated / stirred up by the front wheels and the rear wheels. In a four-wheeled vehicle, four collecting containers could therefore be provided. However, only one each could be provided for the two front wheels and the two rear wheels, so that only two collecting containers would be present.

[0058] In Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary flowchart 100 for the operation of the device 6 for collecting dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements, in particular of a wheel 4 of the vehicle. The exemplary flowchart 100 is stored or integrated in the control unit 38.

[0059] The process is started using the start block 101.

[0060] Data from the sensors assigned to the collecting element, the fluid level sensor 37 of the fluid reservoir 23, and the filter sensor 36, is transmitted to the control unit 38, as shown in block 102. Furthermore, data from the rain sensors, speed sensors, steering angle sensors, longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration sensors, tire pressure sensors, tire speed and torque sensors, temperature sensors, and / or humidity sensors are transmitted to the control unit 38, as shown in block 103. Camera-based dust emission estimates and / or sensor-based wheel house measurements and / or GPS data can also be fed to the control unit 38, as shown in block 104.

[0061] In the control unit 38, the transmitted data is processed and control signals are generated.

[0062] If, for example, an estimate of tire wear and / or an expected dust disturbance from the road surface is determined, for example based on the speed sensor signals, i.e., that a minimum speed has been exceeded, that a dust limit is exceeded, a condition for activating the liquid spray system 8 is met. This condition is checked in step 105. If the condition is met, the process continues with step 106. If the condition is not met, the liquid spray system 8, i.e., the pump 27, remains inactive, which is determined in step 107. The method ends with the end block 108 and begins again with the start block 101.

[0063] In step 106, a check is carried out to determine whether the ambient conditions of vehicle 1 require the generation of atomized liquid droplets via spray nozzle 31. For this purpose, it is helpful, for example, to have data from the rain sensors and / or the humidity sensors available. If it is raining, or if the humidity is so high that the dust particles stirred up / generated are sufficiently moistened, the liquid spray system 8, i.e., pump 27, remains inactive, which is determined in step 107. The method ends with end block 108 and begins again with start block 101.

[0064] If it is not raining, or if it is determined that the air humidity is too low to separate or humidify particles, a check is carried out in step 109 to determine whether the fill level of the liquid reservoir 23 is sufficient for operation. The data from the liquid level sensor 37 is helpful for this. If this indicates a fill level below a predetermined minimum level, the liquid spray system 8, i.e. its pump 27, remains inactive. The program proceeds to block 110, which generates a signal for the vehicle user that the liquid reservoir 23 needs to be refilled. From block 110, the program branches to end block 108, from where it proceeds to start block 101 when the liquid reservoir 23 has been refilled, which is detected by the liquid level sensor 37. Block 110 can also be referred to as a human-machine interface, which directly generates a signal for the vehicle user.The signal can be displayed as text on a screen. An acoustic warning can also be issued. If the fluid reservoir 23 has been filled, a warning message appears. Fig. 1 recognizable filling device 39 is provided, the warning signal is deleted and the system goes to the start block 101.

[0065] If the condition that sufficient spray liquid is present in the liquid reservoir 23 is met, the liquid spray system 8, i.e., its pump 27, is activated (step 111). The particles collected in the guide channel 7 are moistened and separated. If the high-voltage source is activated simultaneously with the activation of the pump 27, the separation is improved. From step 111, the program returns to step 105, and the respective conditions are checked again.

[0066] The liquid-particle mixture enters the collection element 9. This also occurs when it rains or when particles are deposited in another way. Once the control unit 38 has detected, via the collection element sensors, that the collection element 9 has reached a certain fill level, the conveying means 32 and the removal means 33 are activated, so that the collection element 9 is emptied and the material is transported towards the receiving container 12. Once the collection element 9 is emptied, the conveying means 32 and the removal means 33 are deactivated. However, it is helpful to activate the conveying means 32 and the removal means 33 at the same time as the pump 27 is activated, and to keep both active for the entire activation duration of the pump 27. List of reference symbols: 1 vehicle 2 3 wheel arches 4 wheel 5 6 Device 7 Guide channel 8 Liquid spray system 9 Collecting element 10 11 Conveyor system 12 receiving containers 13 Rear entrance opening 14 Front inlet and outlet opening 15 Cover element 16 protective grilles 17 Rotation arrow 18 Road surface 19 Arrow 20 21 guiding elements 22 Arrow 23 Liquid reservoir 24 filter element 25 26 conveyor line 27 Pump 28 fine filters 29 Line 30 31 Spray nozzle 32 funding 33 Discharge equipment 34 collection point 35 36 filter sensor 37 Liquid level sensor 38 Control unit 39 Filling device 100 procedures 101 Starting Block 102 Block 103 Block 104 Block 105 steps 106 steps 107 steps 108 End block 109 steps 110 Block 111 steps

Claims

[1] Vehicle (1) with a device (6) for collecting dust particles generated and / or stirred up by movements, in particular of a wheel (4) of the vehicle (1), wherein the wheel (4) is surrounded by a wheel housing (3) on which a guide channel (7) is arranged, which has at least one inlet opening (13, 14), wherein the guide channel (7) has a liquid spray system (8), characterized by that a collecting element (9) designed to collect a liquid-particle mixture is arranged on the guide channel (7) and has a conveying system (11) for transporting the liquid-particle mixture collected in the collecting element (9) to a collecting point (34), the conveying system (11) being connected to a receiving container (12). [2] Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the wheel (4) is completely enclosed. [3] Vehicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the guide channel (7) has a plurality of guide elements (21). [4] Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the liquid spray system (8) has at least one spray nozzle (31). [5] Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the liquid spray system (8) is connected to a voltage source, in particular to a high voltage source. [6] Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the collecting element (9) is designed as a collecting channel. [7] Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conveying system (11) has a conveying means (32) which is arranged in the collecting element (9). [8] Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the conveying system (11) has a removal means (33) which is arranged between the collecting element (9) and the receiving container (12). [9] Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the receiving container (12) is arranged on a subfloor. [10] Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the receiving container (12) has a filter element (24) and a liquid reservoir (23).

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