FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Obj ect of the present invention is a vehicular system for puri fying the air .

In particular, the system of the invention is a system for puri fying the air expressly designed to be able to operate on board vehicles , e . g . road and special vehicles , both in motion and stationary .

KNOWN PRIOR ART

As known, problems caused by the pollution created by vehicles travelling on the roads and by industrial activities are increasingly felt in today ' s world .

With regard to systems for puri fying the air of urban and suburban areas , it should be noted that none of the vehicles for the movement of people and things , currently designed and/or on the market , puri fy the air around them, both when they are in motion and when they are stationary . Puri fication systems of the type described in KR20210014895A in the name of Lee Ju Houng or CN108067067 in the name of Zhej iang Qunshiwang Network Tech Co Ltd are known to use an air intake and a filtered air outlet , wherein, however, the airflow perpendicularly strikes the inlet section of the air intake , thus causing enormous resistance to the vehicle ' s forward motion .

Obj ect of the present invention is to provide a system that allows vehicles to be trans formed from pollutants into depollutants even during their normal operation but without increasing their consumption .

A particular obj ect of the invention is to provide a system that enables vehicles to eliminate even more polluting particles and microparticles than they could possibly produce , even when stationary, i . e . parked, individually or collectively .

Last but not least , obj ect of the invention is to achieve the aforesaid results in a practical and economical way .

Finally, obj ect of the present invention is to implement a method that allows a reduction in environmental pollution to be ensured, through the use of road or special vehicles . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

These obj ects are achieved by a vehicular system for puri fying the air, where the aforesaid system is configured to be mounted on board a road or special vehicle , said system comprising at least one centri fugal separator and at least one air intake for the access of external air within said separator, the aforesaid system further comprising one or more absolute HEPA, H14 or higher filters arranged downstream with respect to said at least one centri fugal separator, at least one container for collecting non-volatile particles and debris , which is arranged between at least one of said one or more HEPA, H14 or higher filters and said at least one centri fugal separator, and one or more filtered air outlets , characterised in that said at least one air intake and at least one outlet of said one or more outlets are arranged on said road vehicle in such a position that , at least when said vehicle is moving forward, the access of air within said at least one air intake takes place by low pressure produced at said at least one outlet of said one or more outlets in such a way as to cause airflow to flow from said air intake to said at least one outlet .

Among the advantages of this implementation is that the system of the invention trans forms the road and special vehicles from pollutants into depollutants , enabling them to eliminate , individually or collectively, even more polluting particles and micro-particles than they may have produced during their use . The passage of the airflow from the air intake to the above-mentioned at least one outlet is not caused by the air directly striking the air intake to reach said at least one outlet , but through the low pressure that is generated at the above-mentioned said at least one outlet of one or more filtered air outlets . In other words , at said at least one outlet , as a result of the vehicle ' s forward motion, a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure is generated for aerodynamic reasons and to such an extent that airflow from the air intake to said at least one outlet is caused . Compared to prior art documents , this has the advantage of not causing any resistance to the vehicle moving forward .

In particular, said at least one outlet of said one or more outlets at which such low pressure is generated is arranged on the rear of said vehicle , preferably in the proximity of the roof of the vehicle .

It should be noted, however, that said at least one outlet can also be found in some particular embodiments also at the front of the vehicle ( e . g . on the bonnet ) .

Further, said at least one air intake comprises an air inlet section, wherein said inlet section is arranged on the flank of said vehicle in such a position that , at least when said vehicle is moving forward, the air inflow direction within said inlet section is inclined with respect to the lying surface of said inlet section, preferably said lying surface is substantially flush with said flank of said vehicle . This way, the direction of the air may, in some cases , also be tangent to the lying surface of said inlet section of the above-mentioned air intake . In systems of known art , the surface for lying the inlet section is generally arranged orthogonally to the direction of the air . This certainly creates an increase in the aerodynamic load to which the vehicle is subj ected in its forward motion .

The reciprocal position between the air intake and said at least one outlet on said car allows the passage of the flow through the air intake to be generated by low pressure until it reaches the outlet for the filtered air subj ect to low pressure .

In particular, the system subj ect matter of the present patent application puri fies the air both by means of special centri fuges and HEPA - High Ef ficiency Particulate Air, H14 or higher filters capable of absolute filtration, equal to 99 . 995% , thus releasing into the atmosphere air free of those polluting particles or microparticles , which adversely af fect the health of people , animals and vegetation .

Further, in an embodiment of the invention, the system comprises connecting pipes and fittings for connecting the centri fugal separator to at least one of said one or more HEPA, H14 or higher filters .

Still , the system comprises at least one spoiler capable of generating an underlying low pressure in view of its forward- facing longitudinal aerodynamic friction, said spoiler is arranged on the roof of said road or special vehicle , at said at least one filtered air outlet of said one or more filtered air outlets . Further, the spoiler is movable in such a way that it is capable of automatically modi fying its inclination and, therefore , the underlying low pressure in view of its forward- facing longitudinal aerodynamic friction and the puri fied air outflow speed .

Among the advantages of this implementation is that the aforesaid spoiler allows air to be directed inside the system through the air intake as a result of the low pressure , to allow it to be puri fied more ef ficiently .

According to an alternative embodiment , such spoiler can also be implemented on the extension of the vehicle ' s roof and thus can be essentially hori zontal .

Moreover, such spoiler could also be formed by lengthening the surface of the vehicle ' s flank ( or side ) or also its bumper .

According to a further implementation of the present invention, the system comprises one or more heater fans to suction air from said centri fugal separator in the direction of at least one of said one or more HEPA, H14 or higher filters .

This one or more heater fans could also be replaced by wind turbines .

According to a further implementation of the present invention, the system comprises solar panels to power said one or more heater fans and/or said centri fugal separator, at least when said vehicle is stationary .

In particular, the system comprises at least one battery and means for recharging said battery, wherein said recharging means are functionally combined with said one or more heater fans , at least when said vehicle is stationary . Further, said at least one battery is functionally combined with said one or more heater fans for their actuation, at least when said vehicle is stationary .

An advantage of the present invention is that it allows the system to operate even when the vehicle is stationary, since the heater fans can create a flow from the air intake to the outlet for filtered air at which, when the vehicle is in motion, a strong low pressure is generated .

According to yet another implementation of the present invention, at least said centri fugal separator and said at least one air intake are arranged in the rear, or front , wheelhouse of said road or special vehicle .

An advantage of this solution is that it allows the use of normally empty and unused spaces of the road or special vehicles .

Further obj ect of the invention is a road or special vehicle comprising a puri fication system for urban areas as described above .

Finally, obj ect of the invention is a method for puri fying air by means of a system according to one or more of claims 1 to 10 , where the aforesaid system is configured to be mounted on board a road or special vehicle , said method comprising the step of : a ) starting said road or special vehicle ; b ) driving said road, or special , vehicle forward; c ) causing airflow to pass through said at least one air intake in order to make it flow out through at least one outlet of said one or more outlets ; d) filtering said external airflow which passes from said at least one air intake to said at least one outlet ; and e ) collecting, within said at least one container, particles and debris filtered during said step d) ; said method being characterised in that , at least during said step b ) of the method, the access of air within said at least one air intake during said step c ) takes place by low pressure produced at said at least one outlet of said one or more filtered air outlets , in such a way as to generate airflow from said air intake to said at least one outlet for filtered air .

Further, said step c ) comprises the step cl ) of modi fying the inclination of said movable spoiler and thus the underlying low pressure in view of its forward- facing longitudinal aerodynamic friction and the puri fied air outflow speed .

Again, said step c ) comprises the step c2 ) of causing said one or more heater fans to rotate by means of said airflow flowing from said air intake to said at least one outlet ; said one or more heater fans are capable of actuating said means for recharging said at least one battery, wherein said at least one battery is functionally connected to said one or more heater fans in order to power them, especially when the vehicle is stationary .

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, said step c ) further comprises the step c3 ) of recharging said at least one battery by means of said solar panels , wherein said at least one battery is functionally connected to said one or more heater fans .

Finally, prior to said step a ) or b ) , said one or more heater fans are powered by said at least one battery by means of the energy recovered during said step c2 ) and/or during said step c3 ) .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from reading the following description provided by way of non-limiting example , with the aid of the figure depicted in the accompanying drawings , wherein :

- Figure 1 is a side view of an automotive vehicle on which the system is installed according to an implementation of the invention;

- Figure 2A is a partial side view of the vehicle of figure 1 at the air intake ;

- Figure 2B is a partial top view of the vehicle of figure 1 at the air intake .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

The present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying figures which show the main components of the same invention .

The system of the invention is configured to be mounted on board an automotive vehicle 100 , such as the one shown in figure 1 which acts as an example but of course the system of the invention can be mounted on board any road and special vehicle .

The system comprises at least one centri fugal separator 11 and at least one air intake 9 to allow external air to supply the aforesaid separator 11 .

The system further comprises one or more absolute HEPA, H14 or higher filters 1 , 14 arranged downstream with respect to the centri fugal separator 11 and further comprises at least one container 13 for collecting non-volatile particles and debris , which is arranged between at least one of the HEPA, H14 or higher filters and the centri fugal separator 11 .

The collection container 13 of the centri fugal separator 11 can also act as a support for the lower HEPA filter 14 . Preferably, the centri fugal separator 11 is provided with a non-return valve 12 , the aforesaid non-return valve 12 being controlled by a respective actuator 10 .

The system further comprises one or more filtered air outlets , e . g . a relief hole 15 of the pressure inside the collection container 13 . Such outlet hole 15 is used for emptying the collection container 13 .

Further, the system is configured in such a way that the air intake 9 and an outlet 4 of the filtered air outlets are arranged on the road vehicle 100 in such a position that , at least when the vehicle is moving forward, the access of air within the air intake 9 takes place by low pressure produced at the outlet 4 in such a way as to generate airflow from the air intake 9 to the same outlet 4 .

Furthermore , the outlet 4 subj ected to low pressure during the forward motion of the vehicle 100 , is arranged on the rear 103 of the same vehicle 100 . Preferably, this outlet 4 on which the above-mentioned low pressure is generated, is arranged in the proximity of the roof 102 of the vehicle 100 , it is therefore arranged on the upper portion of the rear 103 of the vehicle 100 .

Again, the air intake 9 comprises an air inlet section 50 . This inlet section 50 is arranged on the flank 101 of the vehicle 100 in such a position that , at least when the vehicle 100 is moving forward, the direction of the air striking the vehicle , is substantially tangent to the inlet section 50 of the air intake . Such inlet section 50 may also not be flat , but curvilinear . Basically, this inlet section 50 is substantially flush with the flank 101 of the vehicle 100 , thus tracing its shape . This way, the airflow which strikes the vehicle and laps the side ( or flank) 101 thereof would not enter, except to a very small extent , the inlet section 50 of the air intake 9 . The air inflow through the inlet section 50 of the air intake 9 is obtained thanks to the low pressure generated at an outlet 4 of the above-mentioned filtered air outlets .

In the absence of such low pressure , this airflow would continue undisturbed its travel along the side 101 of the vehicle 100 . In the solutions of known art , on the other hand, the inlet surface of the air intake is always arranged orthogonally to the forward motion direction of the vehicle , i . e . orthogonally to the airflow hitting the vehicle , in order to accommodate as much air as possible . This , however, signi ficantly increases the resistance to vehicle ' s forward motion and, therefore , the same vehicle ' s fuel consumption .

The puri fication system of the invention comprises connecting pipes and fittings 8 for connecting said centri fugal separator 11 to at least one of the HEPA, H14 or higher filters .

Preferably, these pipes and fittings can be housed in the upper upright of the vehicle .

The puri fication system further comprises a spoiler 3 capable of generating an underlying low pressure in view of its forward- facing longitudinal aerodynamic friction . This spoiler 3 is arranged on the roof 102 of the road vehicle 100 , at the filtered air outlet 4 where the low pressure is generated to suck air from the air intake 9 . The spoiler 3 is capable of considerably increasing or decreasing, depending on its inclination, this low pressure ef fect achievable at the outlet 4 .

In particular, the spoiler 3 is preferably movable in such a way that it is capable of automatically modi fying its inclination and, therefore , the underlying low pressure in view of its forward-facing longitudinal aerodynamic friction and the puri fied air outflow speed .

The spoiler 3 is , according to an implementation of the invention, mounted on an additional raised plane of the roof .

In addition to constituting the support of the movable spoiler 3 , this additional plane can also act as a " flush- with-roof" container of a solar panel 2 , whose function will be better explained below .

Below the spoiler 3 there is a HEPA, H14 filter denoted by the reference numeral 5 .

The system of the invention further comprises heater fans 17 for suctioning air from said centri fugal separator 11 in the direction of at least one of said one or more HEPA, H14 or higher filters , at least when the vehicle is stationary .

In particular, the heater fans 17 can be put into action thanks to an electric motor 6 .

The electric motor 6 can be powered, e . g . , by electric power recovered during the decelerating or braking steps , or be produced by the same motor .

The solar panels 2 can be used to power the heater fans 17 and/or said centri fugal separator 11 when the vehicle is stationary .

In particular, the system comprises a battery (not shown here ) and means for recharging the battery (not shown here ) ; said recharging means are functionally combined with the heater fans 17 . These recharging means may comprise a dynamo . Basically, the heater fans 17 are rotated thanks to the airflow which is generated and passes from the air intake 9 to the filtered air outlet 4 . The rotation of the heater fans 17 causes the consequent rotation of the dynamo which, in turn, recharges the battery .

The battery is then functionally combined with the heater fans 17 for their actuation, at least when the vehicle is stationary .

Preferably, at least said centri fugal separator 11 and said at least one air intake 9 are arranged in the rear, or front , wheelhouse of said automotive vehicle .

Of course , said centri fugal separator 11 and said air intake 9 can also be arranged in other compartments of the vehicle .

For example , the spoiler 3 can also be installed on the side or the front bonnet of the vehicle 100 . In these cases , the outlet 4 in which the low pressure is created will also be positioned with respect to the air intake 9 in such a position that , at least when said vehicle is moving forward, the access of air within said at least one air intake 9 takes place by low pressure produced at said at least one outlet 4 for said filtered air, in such a way as to generate airflow from said air intake 9 to said at least one outlet 4 .

Further, the centri fugal separator 11 and the air intake 9 are positioned in the rear wheel bay of the vehicle but can be positioned in any other compartment , even separately ( e . g . front air intake and rear centri fugal separator ) , since they are in any case connected to each other and to the whole system by means of piping.

In addition to this, the solar panels 2 can be used to power the heater fans 17 but they can also charge specific electric accumulators, such as e.g. the above-mentioned battery, when the suction is generated by the low pressure, i.e. by the flow resulting from the vehicle's movement.

It should be noted that, in the accompanying drawing, there are the numerals 4, 7 and 16, which respectively denote the upper vortices of the air drawn as a result of the low pressure moving under the spoiler 3, the air inflow direction into the centrifugal separator and the outflow direction of the purified air from the lower filter.

It should be noted that, although only one air intake 9 and only one outlet 4 have been described so far, in other embodiments the number of air intakes 9 and the number of outlets 4 in which the low pressure is generated may also be two or more, e.g. they are installed on both sides of the vehicle, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The operation of the system of the invention is as follows. During the movement of the vehicle 100 in the direction of travel, the external air to be purified enters through the air intake 9 and supplies the centrifugal separator 11. The inflow of this air is obtained by the low pressure that is generated at the filtered air outlet 4, as a result of the vehicle moving forward.

Downstream of the centrifugal separator 11, one or more absolute HEPA, H14 or higher filters 1,14 provide air filtration, while the container 13 is used for collecting non-volatile particles and debris, while the non-return valve 12 of the centrifugal separator 11 allows only one direction of the flow of air to be puri fied .

Preferably, these pipes and fittings can be housed in the upper upright of the vehicle .

The spoiler 3 applied to the roof of the vehicle allows to create an additional low pressure which allows to increase the air flow rate flowing out through the outlet 4 after it has been filtered by the HEPA, H14 filter 5 placed at the top position .

Further, preferably with the vehicle stationary, the air to be puri fied is suctioned from the centri fugal separator 11 by means of the heater fans 17 put in action by the electric motor 6 and sent in the direction of the HEPA, H14 or higher filters .

As already set forth, the electric motor 6 can be powered, e . g . , by electric power recovered during the decelerating or braking steps , which is stored, e . g . , in a battery .

The electric motor 6 can also be a dynamo that recharges the above-mentioned battery every time the heater fans 17 are rotated by the airflow that is generated between the air intake 9 and the filtered air outlet 4 .

Alternatively, the solar panels 2 can be used to power the heater fans 17 and/or said centri fugal separator 11 when the vehicle is stationary .

The puri fication system described above and, in any case , according to one or more of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the aforesaid system is configured to be mounted on board a road or special vehicle 100 , operates according to a method comprising the step of : a ) starting the road, or special , vehicle 100 ; b ) driving the road, or special , vehicle 100 forward; c ) causing airflow to pass through the air intake 9 in order to make it flow out through an outlet 4 of the two outlets 4 and 15 mentioned above ; d) filtering said external airflow passing from air intake 9 to the outlet 4 ; and e ) collecting, within a container 13 , particles and debris filtered during step d) ; advantageously, at least during the step b ) of the method, the access of air within the air intake 9 during step c ) takes place by low pressure produced at the outlet 4 in such a way as to generate airflow from the air intake 9 to the outlet 4 .

Further, said step c ) comprises the step cl ) of modi fying the inclination of the movable spoiler 3 and, therefore , the underlying low pressure in view of its forward- facing longitudinal aerodynamic friction of the vehicle 100 and the puri fied air outflow speed . This increases the low pressure taking place at the filtered air outlet 4 and, therefore , also results in an increase in the flow rate of the air theoretically to be filtered .

Again, step c ) also comprises the step c2 ) of causing the heater fans 17 to rotate by means of the airflow flowing from the air intake 9 to the outlet 4 . The heater fans 17 are capable of actuating the battery recharging means . However, the battery is functionally connected to the heater fans 17 .

Further, step c ) comprises the step c3 ) of recharging the battery also by means of the solar panels 2 , wherein the battery is , as mentioned, functionally connected to the heater fans 17 .

Finally, prior to step a ) or b ) , the heater fans are powered by the battery by means of the energy recovered during step c2) and/or during step c3) .

Modifications or improvements, which are dictated by contingent or particular reasons, may be made to the invention as described without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.