Vehicle Door Cabin Pressure Relief Air-Extractor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current passive pressure relief valves in vehicles are inadequate in quickly relieving cabin pressure build-up during door closure, leading to discomfort and potential noise and exterior element intrusion, as they must trade off between rapid pressure relief and minimizing noise and element entry.
Innovation Solution
An active pressure relief system utilizing a door-position sensor and controller to manage an air-extractor, which opens when the cabin-door is closed to equalize pressure and closes when the door is fully shut, using an actuator to maintain louvers in an open position to vent excess pressure and prevent external elements from entering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If passive pressure relief valves are designed as small as possible to reduce noise and exterior element entry, then noise and element intrusion are minimized, but the rate at which pressure relief valve may equalize pressure is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief valve transitions from a static passive design to a dynamic active system with movable louvers controlled by an actuator. The valve opening area dynamically adjusts based on door position and pressure differential, allowing the system to achieve both low noise operation and rapid pressure equalization when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the pressure relief valve by using an actuator to control louver position. The valve opening area is varied as a controllable parameter rather than being fixed, enabling optimization of both noise reduction and pressure equalization performance under different operating conditions.
2Reliability
If current pressure relief valves are designed to relieve cabin pressure fast enough during door closure, then passenger comfort is improved, but the size of the pressure relief valve may allow for more noise and exterior elements to enter the cabin than desired
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback from door position sensors and pressure differential detection to control the actuator. This closed-loop control enables the pressure relief valve to respond appropriately to door closure events, opening sufficiently to maintain passenger comfort while closing to prevent noise and element entry when the door is fully closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by opening the pressure relief valve in anticipation of pressure build-up during door closure. The controller detects door opening and prepares the valve to be in an open position, allowing pressure to equalize before the door closes, thereby preventing discomfort while maintaining noise reduction.
3Productivity
If an active actuator is used to maintain louvers in an open position to vent excess pressure, then pressure relief capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief valve system uses the natural pressure differential created during door closure to drive the actuator, eliminating the need for an external power source. The high-pressure cabin air directly actuates the mechanism that opens the valve, and the valve closes automatically when pressure equalizes, making the system self-powered and reducing overall complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively reduces cabin pressure build-up during door closure, enhancing passenger comfort by maintaining pressure equality with the external environment and minimizing noise and exterior element intrusion.
Implementation Method 1
The air-extractor may spring-biased louvers in a closed position in which the actuator overcomes a spring force to open the air-extractor. In this case, the actuator is energized to maintain the louvers in the open position, and when the actuator is no longer energized, the spring force returns the air-extractor to the closed position.
Data Source
AI summary
An active pressure relief system for a vehicle cabin in response to a cabin-door closure. An air-extractor may be configured to open when a cabin-door is opened, and remain open until the last of a number of cabin-doors are closed. The air-extractor allows for the increased pressure resulting from the cabin-door closure to be equalized with the external environment through the air-extractor. After the last of a number of cabin-doors are closed, the air-extractor closes to inhibit noise and external elements from entering the cabin through the air-extractor.