Vehicle with an electric brake dust filter

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (F) with an electric brake dust filter (50). The vehicle (F) has a brake device (20) arranged in a front area (FB) of the vehicle (F); a sill (30) with a cavity arranged below a door entry of the vehicle (F), which is connected to the brake device (20) and extends from the front area (FB) of the vehicle (F) to a rear area (HB) of the vehicle (F); and a diffuser (40) arranged in the rear area (HB) of the vehicle (F), which is connected to the sill (30) and is configured to generate a negative pressure, so that during driving of the vehicle (F) air flows from the front area (FB) of the vehicle (F) into the brake device (20) and the sill (30) to the diffuser (40).It is further provided that the vehicle has an electric brake dust filter (50) arranged in the cavity of the sill (30), which is designed to separate brake dust particles from the air flowing from the brake device (20) during the journey of the vehicle (F).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle with an electric brake dust filter.

[0002] Driving a vehicle produces fine particulate matter from brake dust and tire debris. Since this debris is not collected or captured, the resulting fine particulate matter is released unfiltered into the environment. This is especially true in densely populated areas with daily vehicle use, such as large cities.

[0003] Fine particulate matter is harmful because it can enter the bloodstream of humans and other living beings through the lungs and cause illness. People with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly at risk.

[0004] In this context, the prior art includes publication CN 108 310 862 A, which describes a PM2.5 cleaning system for an electric vehicle. The term PM stands for particulate matter, and PM2.5 refers to very fine dust particles in the air with a diameter of no more than 2.5 micrometers. This also includes inhalable particles that are small enough to penetrate the chest area of ​​the respiratory tract. The PM2.5 cleaning system comprises a friction particle collection device, a brake particle collection device, a cleaning chamber, and a blower.

[0005] The publication DE 10 2013 215 251 A1 concerns a brake dust deflection method in which brake dust deflection measures are carried out during a braking process of a motor vehicle.

[0006] Reducing particulate matter remains a key priority. Particularly after the implementation of the Euro 7 emissions standard (which regulates emissions from brakes and tires as well as the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries), vehicle manufacturers will be obligated to further limit particulate matter emissions. This means that manufacturers of vehicles with alternative drive systems, such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), must also limit particulate matter emissions. In electrically powered vehicles, particulate matter is primarily produced by brake abrasion and tire dust. Consequently, further methods for reducing particulate matter are being explored.

[0007] The object underlying the invention is seen as being to provide a vehicle that enables improved absorption of brake dust particles and thus produces lower emissions of fine dust.

[0008] This problem is solved by a vehicle with the features of the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments with appropriate further developments are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0009] The proposed design is a vehicle equipped with an electric brake dust filter. The vehicle features a brake assembly located at the front, a sill with a cavity located below a door opening, connected to the brake assembly and extending from the front to the rear, and a diffuser located at the rear, connected to the sill and designed to create a vacuum. This vacuum draws air from the front of the vehicle into the brake assembly, the sill, and the diffuser during travel. The vehicle is further equipped with an electric brake dust filter located within the sill cavity, designed to separate brake dust particles from the air flowing from the brake assembly while the vehicle is in motion.

[0010] Collecting brake dust particles reduces the direct emission of fine dust from the vehicle. Furthermore, utilizing the cavity in the rocker panel allows for space-saving installation of the electric brake dust filter, without requiring any additional space.

[0011] The electric brake dust filter can be located in a section of the rocker panel at the rear of the vehicle. This ensures that the velocity of the airflow from the braking system is reduced sufficiently to allow for efficient separation of brake dust particles by the brake dust filter.

[0012] The braking device can include a capsule with a brake caliper arranged inside it.

[0013] The capsule can have an inlet opening connected to the front of the vehicle via a hose, and an outlet opening connected to the sill via another hose, allowing air to flow from the front of the vehicle into the sill.

[0014] The vehicle may have a connecting pipe that links the rocker panel to the diffuser, allowing air to flow from the rocker panel into the diffuser.

[0015] The vehicle may also have a fan located in a section of the sill in the rear area of ​​the vehicle.

[0016] The fan reduces turbulence in the airflow, thereby enabling better separation of brake dust particles.

[0017] The electric brake dust filter can have spray electrodes and separation electrodes. The spray electrodes can be configured to electrically charge the brake dust particles. The separation electrodes can further be configured to collect the electrically charged brake dust particles.

[0018] The vehicle may also have a fleece arranged at the bottom of the sill and designed to capture brake dust particles collected by the electric brake dust filter when the vehicle is stationary.

[0019] The braking system may also include a disc brake system. The brake caliper may be designed to hold and guide brake pads.

[0020] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the figures. These show: Fig. 1 A simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of a vehicle with an electric brake dust filter.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of a vehicle F with an electric brake dust filter 50. The vehicle F can have an internal combustion engine and / or an electric drive, and thus can also be a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle.

[0022] The vehicle F comprises a brake device 20 arranged in a front area FB of the vehicle F and a sill 30 with a cavity connected to the brake device 20. The sill 30 is arranged below a door opening of the vehicle F and extends from the front area FB of the vehicle F to a rear area HB of the vehicle F.

[0023] Furthermore, the vehicle F comprises a diffuser 40 arranged in the rear area HB of the vehicle F, which is connected to the sill 30. The vehicle F also has an electric brake dust filter 50 arranged in the cavity of the sill 30, which, in a later detailed illustration, is located in a lower area in the Fig. 1 is shown with additional elements.

[0024] The braking device 20 can, for example, comprise a disc brake system consisting of a brake disc connected to a wheel or wheelset and a brake carrier (not in Fig. 1 shown), is attached to a brake caliper 24. The brake caliper 24 (also called brake caliper) can include the brake disc, brake pads, and brake pistons, which press the brake pads axially against the disc. In particular, the brake caliper 24 can accommodate and guide the brake pads. The in Fig. 1 The brake caliper 24 is arranged in a capsule 22, which may be made of metal or plastic and surrounds the front brake caliper 24 at a small distance. (The figure only shows schematic representations.)

[0025] Furthermore, the sill 30 can be designed as an element of a self-supporting body of the vehicle F, for example, consisting of a side wall (side panel), a reinforcing part, and a reinforcing web plate of the vehicle F. It can serve to absorb forces, particularly in a frontal collision.

[0026] The diffuser 40 (also called rear diffuser 40) of vehicle F is a component that optimizes the airflow beneath the vehicle F to reduce lift and improve driving stability. The diffuser 40 can have a special shape that accelerates the airflow and reduces pressure as air exits from under the vehicle F. This results in lower pressure below the vehicle F compared to the upper surface, generating aerodynamic downforce. More precisely, the diffuser 40 creates a low-pressure area, while a high-pressure area exists on the top and front of the vehicle F.

[0027] The negative pressure generated by the diffuser 40 allows air to flow from the front area FB of the vehicle F into the brake assembly 20 (for example, into the capsule 22) and the sill 30 to the diffuser 40 during vehicle travel. This allows brake dust particles generated by brake abrasion and tire dust to be drawn into the air. Fig. 1 simplified by circles, illustrating the airflow from the brake device 20 into the sill 30.

[0028] In this case, the electric brake dust filter 50 is arranged in the cavity of the sill 30, which separates the brake dust particles from the air flowing from the brake device 20 during the journey of the vehicle F.

[0029] With this arrangement, it is therefore possible to collect fine dust generated from brake abrasion and tire dust in the sill 30 of vehicle F by means of the electric brake dust filter (also electrostatic precipitator) 50 and to reduce its direct emission. Utilizing the cavity present in the sill 30, which offers optimal geometric conditions for the electric brake dust filter 50, allows it to be integrated into vehicle F in a space-saving manner.

[0030] The electric brake dust filter 50 can be arranged in a section of the sill 30 located in the rear area HB of the vehicle F.

[0031] In general, electrostatic filters or electrostatic precipitators require relatively low flow velocities for optimal particle separation, as the particles move very slowly towards the corresponding separation electrodes.

[0032] This can be achieved through the arrangement described above in the sill 30. On the one hand, the sill 30 has a cross-section that is many times larger than, for example, the (connecting) hoses S1 and S2 to the brake caliper 24, which reduces the flow velocity to a fraction of its original size. On the other hand, the sill 30 also has a very large length relative to its diameter.

[0033] By arranging the electric brake dust filter 50 in a rear area of ​​the sill 30, the airflow velocity is reduced sufficiently to allow the brake dust particles to effectively reach the corresponding separation electrodes 54 of the electric brake dust filter 50. The details concerning the construction of the electric brake dust filter 50 and the hoses S1 and S2 are described in more detail below.

[0034] The capsule 22 can have an inlet opening O1, which is connected to the front area FB of the vehicle F via a hose S1, and an outlet opening O2, which is connected to the sill 30 via another hose S2. This allows air to flow from the front area FB of the vehicle F into the sill 30. The hoses S1 and S2 are in Fig. 1 is indicated by dotted lines. The airflow in the sill 30 is represented by dashed arrows.

[0035] According to further embodiments, the foremost hose S1 and the inlet opening O1 into the capsule 22 can also be omitted. The air can then, for example, enter through a necessary gap between the brake disc and the capsule 22 (not in Fig. 1 shown) are drawn in, which can further improve the separation of brake dust particles.

[0036] Furthermore, the vehicle F can have a connecting pipe 60 that connects the sill 30 to the diffuser 40, so that air can flow from the sill 30 into the diffuser 40. The connecting pipe 60 is shown by dashed lines in Fig. Figure 1 illustrates this. More precisely, a rear end of the sill 30 can open into the connecting pipe 60, which connects the sill 30 to the diffuser 40. The connecting pipe 60 can run along the inside of one of the rear wheels of the vehicle F, past it, and along the body. This allows air to flow from the front of the vehicle into the capsule 22 of the brake caliper 24, into the sill 30, and through the connecting pipe 60 to the diffuser 40 while driving.

[0037] The vehicle F can further include a fan 70, which can be arranged in a section of the sill 30 located in the rear area HB of the vehicle F. For example, the fan 70 can be positioned in the sill 30 at low speeds to force an airflow. At higher speeds, the fan 70 can then rotate freely. The fan 70 can be arranged in the rearmost area of ​​the sill 30 to ensure that the air flows through the sill 30 as laminarly as possible.

[0038] The arrangement of the fan 70 in the rearmost part of the sill 30 also ensures that no turbulence is induced in the airflow, so that the brake dust particles can adhere well to the separating electrodes 54 of the electric brake dust filter 50.

[0039] The electric brake dust filter 50 can have spray electrodes 52 and separation electrodes 54. The spray electrodes 52 can electrically charge the brake dust particles, which, simplified, is then deposited in the lower area in Fig. Figure 1 shows a detailed representation of the electric brake dust filter 50. The separation electrodes 54 can then collect the electrically charged brake dust particles and thus separate them from the air flowing through them. A high voltage of several thousand volts can exist between the two electrodes 52, 54.

[0040] As shown in the detailed view in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, several parallel separation electrodes 54 in the form of plates can be provided in the sill 30, arranged vertically so that brake dust particles can fall onto the bottom of the sill 30 after separation.

[0041] According to embodiments, the plates of the deposition electrodes 54 can, for example, be more than ten times as long as they are high, thus enabling excellent filtration. The distance between the plates of the deposition electrodes 54 can, in turn, be one-tenth of the height. For example, the plates can have a distance of 1 cm between them, with a plate height of 10 cm and a plate length of 100 cm.

[0042] When vehicle F is switched off and the voltage is removed from electrodes 52, 54, the brake dust particles separated from the air fall downwards and can be collected by a fleece 80 of vehicle F at the bottom of the sill 30. In other words, vehicle F can collect the brake dust particles that are in Fig.1. A fleece 80, indicated by a hatched area, is located on the bottom of the sill 30 and collects the brake dust particles gathered by the electric brake dust filter 50 when the vehicle F is stationary. The fleece 80 can be easily replaced during servicing.

[0043] It should be noted that the arrangement of an electric brake dust filter 50 described above in a sill 30 can be provided on both sides of a motor vehicle F. In other words, the motor vehicle has at least one side sill 30 with a corresponding electric brake dust filter 50.

[0044] It should be noted that the arrangement described above does not allow for the collection of brake dust particles from the rear brake system. However, the rear brakes generate significantly less braking force and therefore less brake dust, so the required emission limits can still be met. If, for example, brake drums are installed in the rear (as is common in small electric cars), little to no brake dust will be released. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 108 310 862 A

[0004] DE 10 2013 215 251 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Vehicle (F) with an electric brake dust filter (50), the vehicle (F) comprising: a braking device (20) arranged in a front area (FB) of the vehicle (F); a sill (30) arranged below a door entry of the vehicle (F) with a cavity, which is connected to the brake device (20) and extends from the front area (FB) of the vehicle (F) to a rear area (HB) of the vehicle (F); a diffuser (40) arranged in the rear area (HB) of the vehicle (F), which is connected to the sill (30) and is designed to create a negative pressure, so that during a journey of the vehicle (F) air flows from the front area (FB) of the vehicle (F) into the brake device (20) and the sill (30) to the diffuser (40); and an electric brake dust filter (50) arranged in the cavity of the sill (30), which is designed to separate brake dust particles from the air flowing from the brake device (20) during the journey of the vehicle (F). [2] Vehicle (F) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the electric brake dust filter (50) is arranged in a section of the sill (30) located in the rear area (HB) of the vehicle (F). [3] Vehicle (F) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the brake device (20) has a capsule (22) with a brake caliper (24) arranged therein. [4] Vehicle (F) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the capsule (22) further comprises an inlet opening (O1) which is connected to the front area (FB) of the vehicle (F) via a hose (S1) and an outlet opening (O2) which is connected to the sill (30) via another hose (S2) so that air can flow from the front area (FB) of the vehicle (F) into the sill (30). [5] Vehicle (F) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that it further comprises a connecting pipe (60) that connects the sill (30) to the diffuser (40), so that air can flow from the sill (30) into the diffuser (40). [6] Vehicle (F) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , furthermore, that it has a fan (70) which is arranged in a section of the sill (30) located in the rear area (HB) of the vehicle (F). [7] Vehicle (F) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the electric brake dust filter (50) has spray electrodes (52) and separation electrodes (54), wherein the spray electrodes (52) are configured to electrically charge the brake dust particles, and wherein the separation electrodes (54) are configured to collect the electrically charged brake dust particles. [8] Vehicle (F) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , furthermore, that it has a fleece arranged on the bottom of the sill (30) and designed to capture the brake dust particles collected by the electric brake dust filter (50) during a standstill of the vehicle (F). [9] Vehicle (F) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the braking device (20) comprises a disc brake system.

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