Device with acoustic cowl and active shut-off valve

Abstract

Device with an acoustic cowl (13), comprising the acoustic cowl (13), a shut-off flap (12) with actuator (11), at least one sensor, a control unit, and a forced ventilation attachment (14), and designed to ensure forced ventilation of a vehicle interior (18) with reduced noise input, wherein the shut-off flap (12) is arranged in a side of the acoustic cowl (13) open to the vehicle interior (18), wherein the actuator (11) is designed to allow or close a media-tight air exchange (16) through the acoustic cowl (13) by means of the shut-off flap (12) according to the control unit, wherein the at least one sensor is designed as a pressure sensor and is designed to continuously determine a pressure ratio between the vehicle interior (18) and the environment (17) with a measured value and to transmit the measured value to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured toAccording to the measured value, at the same pressure ratio or in the case of a negative pressure prevailing in the vehicle interior (18), the acoustic hood (13) is closed off from the vehicle interior (18) by means of the actuator (11) and the shut-off valve (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device with an acoustic cowl, which is arranged for forced ventilation of a vehicle interior with reduced noise input and has an active shut-off flap.

[0002] Forced ventilation systems in vehicles serve to equalize pressure between the vehicle interior and the ambient pressure. To reduce noise entering the vehicle interior through the forced ventilation system, an acoustic cowl on the vent (inside or outside) is known from the prior art. When there is positive pressure in the vehicle interior, the vent's louvers open passively, allowing air to escape from the interior to the outside. Ideally, no air should pass through the louvers from the outside, especially in critical situations such as thermal propagation (TPOPA) from a traction battery, even under identical pressure conditions or negative pressure in the vehicle interior. However, in practice, it has been observed that the louvers do not provide a complete seal.

[0003] German patent application DE 20 2019 106 262 U1 discloses a vehicle cabin vent with an actively controlled shut-off flap which, when closed, prevents the ingress of dust or harmful gases. An arrangement with passive, self-opening louvers is not disclosed.

[0004] The publication JP H03-143 728 A discloses an actively operated device which can open and close two different openings between the vehicle cabin and the environment depending on its position, in order to, in particular, direct air from the vehicle to the outside. In one position, a first opening is blocked and a second opening is opened, while in the other position, the first opening is opened and the second opening is blocked.

[0005] German patent application DE 198 45 196 B4 discloses a forced ventilation device for a motor vehicle with at least one ventilation opening leading to the outside of the vehicle, in which a closing device is arranged that opens depending on a pressure difference between a pressure inside the vehicle body and an ambient pressure, wherein the forced ventilation device is associated with a sound-absorbing damping mat. The forced ventilation device has a passively actuated closing element, for example in the form of a flap. Noise reduction is achieved by a damping mat.

[0006] German patent DE 10 2010 012 087 A1 describes a ventilation device for a vehicle interior, which has a frame with at least one opening and at least one non-return valve. Depending on a pressure differential, the at least one non-return valve closes the at least one opening.

[0007] DE 10 2011 015 026 A1 relates to a ventilation housing for a motor vehicle, which can be installed in the area of ​​a body-in-white opening. A section of pipe for a drainage line is integrated into the ventilation housing.

[0008] US Patent 7,517,280 B2 deals with an air duct arrangement for a vehicle in which a first duct element and a second duct element are connected. A door element with several flaps is arranged between the first and second duct elements, controlling the airflow through the first and second duct elements.

[0009] JP H04-110 540 A describes a ventilation device that prevents the inflow of contaminated outside air. The device's frame structure comprises a valve seat and a one-way valve, both held together by permanent magnets. An electromagnet is also present; when current flows, it counteracts the magnetic force of the permanent magnets, thus allowing the ventilation device to open. Current is only switched on if a sensor detects no contamination of the outside air.

[0010] JP S64-16 413 U deals with an internal air outlet opening at the rear of a vehicle, which has two check valves with tongue-shaped thin plates. The direction of the first and second check valves is chosen such that one of them is closed when a centrifugal force occurs.

[0011] Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to present a device with an acoustic cowl which prevents the ingress of ambient air into a vehicle interior.

[0012] To solve the aforementioned problem, a device with an acoustic cowl is proposed, comprising the acoustic cowl, a shut-off valve with actuator, at least one sensor, a control unit, and a forced ventilation attachment. It is designed to ensure forced ventilation of a vehicle interior with reduced noise ingress. The shut-off valve is located on the side of the acoustic cowl that opens towards the vehicle interior. The actuator is configured to allow air exchange between the vehicle interior and the acoustic cowl, as controlled by the valve, or to seal it tightly. The at least one sensor is a pressure sensor designed to continuously measure the pressure difference between the vehicle interior and the environment and transmit this measurement to the control unit.The control system is configured to close the acoustic cowl from the vehicle interior according to the measured value, either at the same pressure ratio or when there is a negative pressure prevailing in the vehicle interior, using the actuator and the shut-off valve.

[0013] The pressure ratio between the vehicle interior and the environment can be determined, for example, by measuring the difference using a pressure sensor positioned between the interior and exterior. Alternatively, a first pressure sensor could be located inside the vehicle and a second pressure sensor on the vehicle, outside the interior. In this case, the pressure would be measured absolutely and the readings transmitted to the control unit, which would then calculate the pressure ratio.

[0014] The device according to the invention thus advantageously prevents the ingress of ambient air if the forced ventilation does not close tightly. This is particularly advantageous if the ambient air in front of the forced ventilation contains unwanted gases that could be hazardous to comfort or health. These could be, for example, battery gases escaping from a vehicle's traction battery in the event of a TPOPA incident.

[0015] In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control unit is configured to open the shut-off valve according to the measured value when there is an overpressure prevailing in the vehicle interior.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the forced ventilation attachment has passively self-opening flexible louvers facing outwards. The louvers are designed to dissipate any overpressure prevailing in the acoustic cowl or, when the shut-off valve is open, in the vehicle interior, to the outside. Each louver is, for example, implemented as a rubber mat. However, such a rubber mat, resting on a frame of the forced ventilation attachment – ​​particularly when there is negative pressure prevailing in the vehicle interior compared to the surroundings – does not provide a media-tight seal for the vehicle interior. The device according to the invention advantageously ensures this.

[0017] In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device includes a gas sensor as a further sensor in addition to the at least one sensor. The gas sensor is arranged on an inner side of the acoustic cowl and is designed to continuously transmit a measurement result of currently measured toxic gases to the control unit. The control unit is additionally configured to keep the shut-off valve of the acoustic cowl closed according to the measurement result. This is particularly advantageous in cases where the acoustic cowl should remain closed by the actuator and the shut-off valve even when there is an overpressure prevailing in the vehicle interior relative to the surrounding environment, especially since the louvers could be damaged and thus unable to prevent the ingress of gases into the acoustic cowl—and, in the case of slight overpressure, into the vehicle interior.

[0018] In a further different embodiment of the device according to the invention, the toxic gases are formed by exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine.

[0019] In a further, yet different embodiment of the device according to the invention, the toxic gases are formed by combustion products of a battery fire or TPOPA event.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device includes a particle sensor as an additional sensor to the at least one sensor. The particle sensor is arranged on the outside of the forced ventilation attachment and is designed to continuously transmit a measurement result regarding the currently measured particle sizes to the control unit. The control unit is additionally configured to keep the shut-off flap of the acoustic cowl closed according to the measurement result. This is particularly advantageous in cases where the acoustic cowl should remain closed by the actuator and the shut-off flap even when there is an overpressure prevailing in the vehicle interior relative to the surrounding environment, especially since the louvers could be damaged and thus unable to prevent the ingress of particles into the acoustic cowl—and, at low overpressure, into the vehicle interior.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control system keeps the shut-off valve closed if a particle size exceeds a predetermined measurement. This is particularly relevant when, for example, larger dust particles are likely to be generated when passing construction sites.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control system keeps the shut-off valve closed when the measured particle size is below a predetermined threshold. This advantageously prevents particularly small particles, such as smoke particles from combustion processes, from entering the vehicle interior.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the predetermined particle size is selected according to fine dust particle sizes from the following list: PM1, PM2.5, PM10.

[0024] Furthermore, it is possible to automatically close the flap in the event of a battery failure or an accident. In this case, no sensor is activated.

[0025] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawing.

[0026] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention. Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows several views of the acoustic cowl with shut-off valve in one embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0027] In Fig.Figure 1 schematically shows several views 1, 2, 3 of the acoustic cowl 13 with shut-off flap 12 in an embodiment of the device according to the invention. By means of an actuator 11, the acoustic cowl 13 can be closed off from the vehicle interior 18 by means of the shut-off flap 12, either to create a media-tight seal or to allow air exchange 16 with the vehicle interior. The acoustic cowl is arranged on a forced ventilation attachment 14 in relation to the surroundings 17. The forced ventilation attachment 14 has several louvers 19 which, when there is negative pressure in the vehicle interior 18 relative to the surroundings 17, rest on a frame of the forced ventilation attachment 14, thus preventing direct air exchange 15 with the surroundings 15, but not completely sealing it off. Reference symbol list 1 Top view of acoustic cowl 2 First side view acoustic hood 3 Second side view acoustic hood 11 Actuator 12 Butterfly valve 13 Acoustic hood 14 Forced ventilation attachment 15 Ambient air exchange 16 Vehicle interior air exchange 17 Surroundings 18 Vehicle interior 19 slats

Claims

[1] Device with an acoustic hood (13) comprising the acoustic hood (13), a shut-off flap (12) with actuator (11), at least one sensor, a control unit and a forced ventilation attachment (14) and designed to ensure forced ventilation of a vehicle interior (18) with reduced noise input, wherein the shut-off flap (12) is arranged in a side of the acoustic hood (13) open to the vehicle interior (18), wherein the actuator (11) is designed to allow or close a media-tight air exchange (16) through the acoustic hood (13) by means of the shut-off flap (12) according to the control unit, wherein the at least one sensor is designed as a pressure sensor and is designed to continuously determine a pressure ratio between the vehicle interior (18) and the environment (17) with a measured value and to transmit the measured value to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured toAccording to the measured value, at the same pressure ratio or in the case of a negative pressure prevailing in the vehicle interior (18), the acoustic hood (13) is closed off from the vehicle interior (18) by means of the actuator (11) and the shut-off valve (12). [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein the control is configured to open the shut-off valve (12) according to the measured value when there is an overpressure prevailing in the vehicle interior (18). [3] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the forced ventilation attachment (14) has passively self-opening flexible louvers (19) facing outwards, wherein the louvers (19) are designed to dissipate an overpressure prevailing in the acoustic cowl (13) relative to the environment (17) to the outside. [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, which has a gas sensor as a further sensor of the at least one sensor, wherein the gas sensor is arranged on an inside of the acoustic hood (13) and is designed to continuously transmit a measurement result about currently measured toxic gases to the control unit, and wherein the control unit is additionally configured to keep the shut-off valve (12) of the acoustic hood (13) closed according to the measurement result. [5] Device according to claim 4, wherein the toxic gases are formed by exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. [6] Device according to claim 4, wherein the toxic gases are formed by combustion products of a battery fire. [7] Device according to one of the preceding claims, which has a particle sensor as a further sensor of the at least one sensor, wherein the particle sensor is arranged on an outside of the forced ventilation attachment (14) and is designed to continuously transmit a measurement result about currently measured particle sizes to the control unit, and wherein the control unit is additionally configured to keep the shut-off flap (12) of the acoustic hood (13) closed according to the measurement result. [8] Device according to claim 7, wherein the control system keeps the shut-off valve (12) closed when the measurement result is above a predetermined particle size. [9] Device according to claim 7, wherein the control system keeps the shut-off valve (12) closed when the measurement result is below a predetermined particle size. [10] Device according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the predetermined particle size is selected according to fine dust particle sizes from the following list: PM1, PM2.5, PM10.

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