IT202100012266A1 - PARTICULATE FILTER DETECTOR DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Attached to a patent application for INDUSTRIAL INVENTION having the title

?DETECTOR DEVICE OF AN ANTI-PARTICULATE FILTER?

The present invention relates to a device for detecting the presence of an anti-particulate filter which is widely used in the automotive sector and in particular in the sector relating to monitoring the level of pollution produced by means of transport such as cars, trucks and the like.

As ? known, all new generation diesel powered vehicles are equipped with a filter mounted in the vehicle exhaust to reduce polluting emissions from fine dust, in particular (but not limited to) PM10 emissions. This filter works by collecting the combustible gases in the exhaust manifold and then conveys them towards the catalytic muffler passing through the actual filter.

As ? It is known that these anti-particulate filters often get clogged, producing side effects in the car such as for example frequent oil changes, continuous switching on of warning lights and the like. In this situation, it is therefore necessary to replace the filter. In this case, the levels of pollution and toxic substances released by the vehicle into the air increase, reaching levels not permitted by law.

In light of the above, it is therefore necessary to check the presence and condition of the anti-particulate filter. To date, devices are known which, in addition to other functions, perform the function of determining the level of pollution of the diesel engine mounted on the vehicle being analysed.

Disadvantageously, known devices are expensive and do not allow real-time detection of the presence or absence of the anti-particulate filter on the vehicle.

Through known devices, not ? for example, it is possible, during a check by the competent bodies, to know in real time whether or not the stationary vehicle includes an anti-particulate filter.

In addition, even vehicle inspection centers are not able to detect or not the presence of the particulate filter in real time unless the vehicle muffler is removed. The known devices are therefore slow in use and therefore? poorly suited for the aforementioned control functions where ? a certain speed is required.

A further drawback derives from the fact that these devices are large and therefore impractical.

A further drawback derives from the fact that these devices are very expensive and therefore not very accessible.

A further drawback derives from the fact that the known devices are designed to perform functions other than that of detecting the anti-particulate filter. There? this means that the known devices are scarcely reliable in detecting the presence or absence of the anti-particulate filter. The technical task of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for detecting the presence of an anti-particulate filter which is capable of overcoming the drawbacks arising from the prior art.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for detecting the presence of a particulate filter which allows detection in real time.

A further object of the present invention is therefore that of providing a device for detecting the presence of an anti-particulate filter which is inexpensive and easy to use.

A further object of the present invention is therefore that of providing a device for detecting the presence of an anti-particulate filter which avoids disassembly of the muffler during the inspection of the vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is therefore that of making available a detector device of contained dimensions so as to facilitate its use and to make it portable and therefore usable in contexts such as for example checks carried out by the competent bodies.

The specified technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a device for detecting the presence of a particulate filter comprising the technical characteristics disclosed in one or more of the joint claims. The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the indicative and therefore non-limiting description of an embodiment of a device for detecting the presence of a particulate filter.

This description will set out below with reference to the attached drawings, provided for indicative and, therefore, non-limiting purposes only, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a front view of a diagram of a device for detecting the presence of an anti-particulate filter;

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a diagram of a device for detecting the presence of an anti-particulate filter of figure 1. With reference to the enclosed figures, with 1? A detector device configured to detect the presence of a particle filter on a vehicle has been indicated.

The device 1 comprises a casing 2. This casing 2 has small dimensions which make the latter portable and convenient to use.

Preferably, the casing 2 has a substantially rectangular section and comprises a first gripping portion 2a and a second gripping portion 2b.

As shown in Figure 1, the first and second gripping portions 2a, 2b are mutually opposite with respect to an axis of symmetry ?X? of the device 1 and are also equipped with an anti-slip pattern configured to facilitate gripping of the device 1 by an operator. In a preferred embodiment, the casing 2 is entirely made of a plastic material so as to be light and at the same time resistant to use.

Advantageously, the aforementioned characteristics make the device 1 comfortable to use even if an operator wears gloves. The device 1 further comprises an inlet duct 3 extending away from the crankcase 2 and configured to allow the vehicle's exhaust fumes to enter the device 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the inlet duct 3 extends over a side portion of the casing 2.

Alternatively, the inlet duct 3 could develop around the symmetry axis ?X? so as to occupy a central position with respect to casing 2.

In a further possible embodiment, the inlet duct 3 could occupy any one offset from the axis ?X?.

Preferably, the inlet duct 3 comprises at least one metal portion which is inserted deeply into the in the muffler of the vehicle and a portion of cloth rubber proximal to the crankcase 2.

The device 1 also comprises a particulate sensor 4 suitable for measuring a concentration of particulate matter in the exhaust fumes entering the device 1, in particular a concentration of PM10 and/or PM2.5, and for generating a value representative of the concentration itself.

Preferably, the particulate sensor 4 uses the principle of laser scattering on the particles so as to perform a precise measurement of the concentration of PM10 and/or PM2.5.

The representative value of the concentration of particulate matter in the fumes is sent to a unit? processing and control unit 5 configured to receive this representative value and derive on the basis of the latter a condition of presence or absence of the particulate filter.

Preferably, the detector device 1 can furthermore comprise a memory module 7 on which a plurality of of threshold values relating to particulate concentrations. This memory module 7 ? configured to interface with the? unit? processing and control unit 5 in order to recognize the presence or absence of the particle filter by comparing the representative value and the threshold values. In other words, once the particulate sensor 4 has derived a concentration value (usually measured in mg/m<3>), the unit? of processing and control 5 deals with comparing this value with the threshold values present in the memory module 7. If, for example, the representative value ? greater than one or more of the threshold values, ? possible to derive a particulate filter absence condition in the vehicle. Advantageously, the device 1 is fast in data processing allowing to detect the presence of the anti-particulate filter substantially immediately.

In a preferred embodiment, the unit? processing and control 5 ? also configured to derive a damage condition and/or a particulate filter tamper condition. By comparing the representative value with the threshold values of the memory module 7 ? possible to understand if the particle filter ? present in the vehicle, and in that case, if ? intact or damaged/tampered with.

To communicate to the operator if the particle filter ? present or not in the vehicle and, if so, if ? damaged, the device 1 also comprises a user interface 6 connected to the unit? processing and control 5.

In a preferred embodiment, the user interface 6 comprises a display 6a configured to show at least one of: a message indicating the presence or absence of the anti-particulate filter; the representative value; the threshold values.

Preferably, this 6a display ? of the touchscreen type so as to make the device 1 practical, intuitive and easy to use.

In other words, once the unit? processing and control unit 5 has carried out the comparison between the representative value of the concentration of particulate matter in the fumes with the threshold values contained in the memory module 7, it sends a signal to the user interface 6 so that a? information for the operator.

In some cases, as in the case of annual vehicle inspections, ? it is also useful to record the data relating to the representative values obtained by means of the device 1. In this regard, the device 1 can? furthermore comprise a data reception and transmission module 9 configured to allow data exchange between the unit? processing and control system 5 and one and one data collection terminal, preferably a proprietary data collection and comparison server. In such a way? It is possible to keep track of all the measurements carried out over time in an easy and fast way without occupying the memory module 7 of the detector device 1.

Preferably, the data reception and transmission module 9 ? selectable between: a Wi-Fi module, a GSM/GPRS type module.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the device 1 can also include a further sensor 10 configured to record a datum relating to a percentage of humidity? and/or a data relating to a temperature of the exhaust fumes and to send the data to the unit? processing and control 5.

Advantageously, the possibility to detect data relating to the percentage of humidity? and at the temperature of the exhaust fumes makes the analysis of the presence of the particulate filter more? reliable and accurate.

Advantageously, the possibility to detect data relating to the percentage of humidity? and at the temperature of the exhaust fumes it allows to understand the state of wear of the anti-particulate filter and possibly the presence of tampering, making the device 1 particularly useful also for the checks carried out by the competent bodies.

Preferably, the device 1 further comprises a battery 8 configured to power the unit? of processing and control 5. Preferably, the battery 8 ? a lithium battery.

Advantageously, the presence of the battery 8 allows the device 1 to be completely autonomous since it does not require an external power supply.

Advantageously, the presence of the battery 8 allows the device 1 to be portable and therefore to be used wherever there is a need. quickly and easily.

Furthermore, the subject of the present patent is a method for detecting the presence of a particulate filter in a vehicle.

The method comprises the steps of preparing a device 1 in accordance with what has been described above and of inserting the inlet duct 3 in a muffler of a vehicle to allow the exhaust fumes to enter the device 1. In this way the exhaust fumes pass within the inlet duct 3 and are analyzed by the particulate sensor 4 which measures a concentration of particulate matter in the exhaust fumes. The method further comprises the step of generating a representative value of this concentration. This phase is carried out by the unit? processing and control system 5 which takes care of deriving the representative value which is then compared with the threshold values contained in the memory module 7. In fact, the method also comprises the step of deriving a condition of presence or absence of said anti-particulate filter .

Preferably, the step of deriving the condition of presence or absence of the anti-particulate filter? made by comparing the representative value with a plurality? of threshold values. In other words, the condition of presence or absence of the particle filter is derived by comparing the representative value processed by the unit? of processing and control 5 with the threshold values contained in the memory module 7 so that it is possible to understand whether the anti-particulate filter ? present or not in the vehicle.

At the end of the comparison operations, the method comprises the step of informing an operator (or other user) of the presence or absence of the anti-particulate filter. In particular, the unit? processing and control unit 5 sends a signal of presence or absence of the particulate filter to the user interface 6 which allows display 6a to display at least one of: a message of presence or absence of the particulate filter and possibly the representative value. In this way the? operator ? able to understand if the filter ? present and also, if it is actually present, what is its state of wear and whether it has been tampered with or not.

The present invention achieves the intended aims by eliminating the drawbacks emerging from the prior art.

In particular, the present invention provides a device 1 capable of detecting in real time the presence or absence of a particulate filter on a vehicle.

Device 1 makes it possible to detect the presence or absence of a particulate filter without there being the need to to disassemble the vehicle as it includes the particulate sensor 4 which supplies the unit? of processing and control 5 a datum relating to the concentration which is immediately compared with the threshold values of the memory module 7.

A further advantage derives from the fact that the device 1 ? portable, therefore easy to use even in workshops and/or in the places set up to carry out these checks.

? otherwise? the fact that the device 1 is electronically simple and therefore easy to use, very reliable and inexpensive is advantageous.

Claims (11)

A detector device (1) configured to detect the presence of a particle filter on a vehicle, said detector device (1) comprising: - a casing (2); - an inlet duct (3) extending away from said crankcase (2) and configured to allow the entry of exhaust fumes of said vehicle into said detector device (1); - a particulate sensor (4) suitable for measuring a particulate concentration in said exhaust fumes entering the device (1), in particular a concentration of PM10 and/or PM2.5, and for generating a representative value of said concentration ; - a?unit? processing and control unit (5) configured to receive said representative value and derive on the basis of said value a condition of presence or a condition of absence of said anti-particulate filter; - a? user interface (6) connected to said unit? processing and control unit (5) configured to inform an operator of the presence or absence of said anti-particulate filter. 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a memory module (7), on which a plurality of memory modules are recorded. of threshold values relating to concentrations of particulate matter, configured to interface with said unit? of processing and control (5) in order to recognize the presence or absence of said anti-particulate filter through a comparison between said representative value and said threshold values. 3. Detector device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said user interface (6) comprises a display (6a) configured to display at least one of: a message of presence or absence of said particle filter; said representative value; called threshold values. 4. Device (1) detector according to one or more? of the preceding claims, comprising a battery (8) configured to power said unit? of processing and control (5), preferably said battery (8) being a lithium battery. 5. Device (1) detector according to one or more? of the preceding claims, comprising a data reception and transmission module (9) configured to allow data exchange between said unit? processing and control (5) and a data collection terminal. 6. Detector device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said data reception and transmission module (9) ? selectable between: a Wi-Fi module, a GSM/GPRS type module. 7. Device (1) detector according to one or more? of the previous claims, in which said unit? processing and control (5) ? further configured to derive a condition of damage and/or a condition of tampering with said anti-particulate filter. 8. Device (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, comprising a further sensor (10) configured to record a datum relating to a percentage of humidity? and/or a data relating to a temperature of said exhaust fumes and to send said data to the unit? of processing and control (5). 9. Device (1) detector according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said casing (2) has a substantially rectangular section and comprises a first gripping portion (2a) and a second gripping portion (2b), said first and second gripping portion (2a, 2b) being opposite each other to each other with respect to an axis of symmetry (X) of said device (1) and also being equipped with an anti-slip pattern configured to facilitate gripping of said detection device (1) by an operator. 10. Method of detecting the presence of a particulate filter in a vehicle comprising the steps of: - set up a detector device (1) in accordance with one or more? of the preceding claims; - inserting said inlet duct (3) into a muffler of a vehicle to allow said exhaust fumes to enter said device (1); - measuring by means of said particulate sensor (4) a concentration of said particulate in the exhaust fumes; - generating a representative value of said concentration; - deriving a condition of presence or absence of said particle filter; - inform an operator of the presence or absence of said particulate filter. 11. Detection method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of deriving the condition of presence or absence of the particle filter? made by comparing said representative value with a plurality? of threshold values.