The present invention relates in general to cleaning intake air to an automobile engine integrated with an After Treatment Device (ATD). More particularly, the present invention relates to construction of a multi-layer filtering apparatus designed to protect the ATD and the automobile engine from electrically charged particles such as soot, So2, NOx especially when the automobile is moving through an area rich in said pollutants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Emission regulations are a hot item for the automotive industry. To meet the latest stringent regulations, automobile manufacturers especially manufacturing trucks and tractors integrate an after treatment device (ATD) in the engine to limit the exhaust of undesired pollutants. With the stringent emission regulations tractor/truck manufacturers among others integrate after treatment devices in their engines. These devices, allows said automobiles to run more efficiently while limiting the exhaust of gaseous pollutants which also results in increasing life of the engine.
An ATD uses regeneration to burn off collected particulate matter. For a successful regeneration the exhaust must be kept at high temperatures for a long time. If the temperatures are not high enough, you risk particulates to jam the diesel particulate filter. This phenomenon is also known as diesel particulate filter plugging. For example, Diesel engines produce nitrous oxide, a toxic air pollutant which forms a serious health risk for drivers. A selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) is added to an after treatment device to reduce nitrous oxide levels. A SCR treats the diesel engine exhaust with ammonia, causing a chemical reaction that transforms nitrous oxide into harmless substances such as nitrogen and water vapour.
Moreover, during on-road vehicle through the areas rich in electrically charged particles such as soot, So2, NOx, the functioning of the ATD can seriously be effected which would certainly not be cost-effective. The after treatment systems (ATDs) like catalytic converters though are used to prevent

the harmful effect of S02 on the engines but the traces of S02 may well hamper the functioning of the ATD and eventually damage it.
In order to protect the ATD and to improve the quality of the intake air to the engine the equipment manufacturers add the air filter section as part of the air intake system. Conventionally, the air filters for cleaning the intake air to the engine integrated with ATD/engine are built on a plastic tube over which the filter element (s) is wrapped. In other existing designs, the air filters have an oil bath (Fig. IB) and in other typically known variants the oil bath type is replaced by a dry type.
However, the conventional air filters of dry or wet type are not very effective in clearing pollutants such as soot and S02 which are electrically charged particles. For example, in Rhinobyon-type nanofiber air filter as taught by CN204208210U uses wet electrostatic air filter nanofibers, silica coat which is not very effective in electrically charged particles such as soot, S02, NOx. Further, in US20110067571, the proposed air filter uses electrostatic atomizer for generating electrically charged particulate water by utilizing the electrostatic atomization effect and releasing the water in the duct. Again the problem with such an arrangement is ineffective removal of electrically charged particles such as soot, S02 and NOx.
The other problem with the existing filters is lack of on demand control with the driver to switch on the dedicated filtering layer implemented to remove electrically charged particles when the on-road vehicle is moving through a highly polluted ambient air. The existing filters do not offer a mechanism to operate in a highly polluted atmosphere i.e. environment with high particulate matter such as bangle factories, dump yards, construction sites or grain trashers. The existing air filters are always "ON" irrespective of the level of pollution in the area, the automobile is moving through.
Yet another shortcoming of the existing air intake filtering systems is related to cleaning of the air filter elements. In the conventional air filters for cleaning

intake air to the ATD and /or engines, the air filter elements have to be removed everytime cleaning is required. This is a hindrance in frequent cleaning of the air filter which if not done reduces life and performance of the air filter and in any case dismantling the air filter elements frequently leads to discomfort to the consumer.
Thus, there is a dire need to come up with an air filtering apparatus designed in order to overcome the shortcomings associated with the conventional air filtering apparatus used for cleaning intake air to the ATD and/or engine.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks existing in the designs of the air filters used for cleaning intake air to the ATD and/or engine.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-layer filtering apparatus for effectively cleaning the intake air containing electrically charged particles.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-layer filtering apparatus with an on-demand control for activating the filtering layer dedicated to operate in a highly polluted area.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-layer filtering apparatus capable of self-cleaning mechanism.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present application discloses an on-demand controlled multi-layer air filtering apparatus integrated with self-cleaning mechanism for cleaning intake air to an engine or an engine integrated with after treatment device (ATD). In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a filter tube provided with at least one orifice for flow of air and configured to be secured inside a horizontally disposed cylindrical frame. In an aspect, the filter tube defines plurality of slot openings spaced apart with a predetermined distance therebetween. Further, the apparatus comprises a filter element removably secured in a first slot opening defined on the filter tube. Furthermore, in an embodiment the apparatus comprises a filter element removably secured in a second slot opening defined on the filter tube. In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a filter element removably secured in a third slot opening defined on the filter tube and connected to plurality of on-demand control mechanism. The apparatus also has electrically actuated rotors attached to the filter element and connected to plurality of on-demand control mechanism for effectuating self-cleaning of the air filtering apparatus. Further, in an embodiment, the electrically actuated rotors comprises: a disc rotor and a disc rotor identical to the disc rotor and adapted to rotate in a twisting motion in opposite directions for effecting dry cleaning of the filtering apparatus, wherein said disc rotor and disc rotor is configurably connected to the positively charged plate and the negatively charged plate respectively. In an embodiment, each of the disc rotors consists of: an outer stationary sliding ring defined with a groove, said groove mounting an inner movable ring which is connected to a stepper motor, said groove acting as a motion restrictor.
In another aspect, the present application discloses a method for securing a filter tube provided with at least one orifice for flow of air inside a horizontally disposed cylindrical frame; removably securing a filter element in a first slot opening among a plurality of slot openings defined on the filter tube; removably securing a filter element in a second slot opening defined on the filter tube; removably securing a filter element in a third slot opening defined

on the filter tube; activating the filter element based on a first activation signal received from on-demand control mechanism; attaching the electrically actuated rotors to the filter element and activating the twisting motion of electrically actuated rotors based on a second activation signal received from on-demand control mechanism.
The above and additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages, of the present invention can be fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description. These features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1: Illustrates a conventional oil bath type air filter.
Fig. 2: Illustrates a cylindrical frame/canister receiving filter elements secured on a filter tube, electrically actuated rotors according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3: Illustrates schematic of a multilayer air filtering apparatus integrated with self-cleaning and on-board control mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 4: Illustrates working of the filter element for cleaning the electrically charged particulates according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 5: Illustrates working of the electrically actuated rotors having identical disc rotors for imparting self-cleaning ability to the air filtering apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without specific details of the well known components, designs and techniques. Further specific numeric references should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. The features discussed in an embodiment may be implemented in another embodiment.
Moreover, occasional references to the conventional air filters for cleaning intake air to the engines are made in order to better distinguish the present inventive disclosure discussed later in greater detail from such conventional designs. Few of the details pertaining to the proposed intake air filter are well known in the art and therefore, are described herein only in the detail required to fully disclose the present invention while unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
Improving upon the conventional air filters discussed at length above (background), in the present disclosure a novel on-demand controlled air filtering apparatus with self-cleaning mechanism as shown in Figs. 2-5B clearly makes the present application advantageous over the existing arts as would also become clearer to the knowledgeable in the art with the particulars of the aforesaid unique design/construction of the air filtering apparatus being described below in greater detail. The present invention will

be described in detail below with reference to embodiments as shown in the drawings.
Turning now to the drawings and referring first to Fig. 2 which shows a cylindrical frame/canister 3. In an embodiment, a filter tube 2 (Fig. 3) has slots or slot openings made on its surface for securing the filter element 4, filter element 5, filter element 6 and electrically actuated rotors 7 attached to the filter element 6. In another embodiment, the filter tube 2 is secured inside a horizontally disposed cylindrical frame 3 to give the multi-layer filtering apparatus 1 a cylindrical shape.
Fig. 3 shows a multilayer air filtering apparatus 1 integrated with self-cleaning and on-board control mechanism 8 for cleaning intake air to an engine or an engine integrated with after treatment device (ATD). In an embodiment, the filtering apparatus 1 has a filter tube 2 with at least one orifice for flow of air. Further, the filter tube 2 is positioned inside the horizontally disposed cylindrical frame 3. In a preferred embodiment, the filter tube 2 has multiple slots/ slots openings defined on its surface spaced apart with a predefined distance between two consecutive slots.
In an embodiment, the filter element 4 is removably secured/fitted on a slot opening constructed on the surface of the filter tube 2. In another embodiment, the filter element 4 is a membrane made of cellophane. Cellophane is the material used for the ultra-filtration of particles and herein used for the filtration of the uncharged particles. Further, the filter element 5 is removably secured/fitted on another slot opening constructed on the surface of the filter tube 2 adjacent to the slot opening fitted with filter element 4. In another embodiment, the filter element 5 is a membrane made of advanced gel having high gel particle retention features for filtering uncharged particles. Furthermore, the filter element 6 is removably secured/fitted on another slot opening constructed on the surface of the filter tube 2 adjacent to the slot opening fitted with filter element 5. In another embodiment, the filter element 6 is an electrostatic charged filter having a

positively charged plate 9 and a negatively charged plate 10 for filtering the electrically charged particulates. Further, in an embodiment, electrically actuated rotors 7 are attached to the Electrostatic charged filter 6 for facilitating self-cleaning of the proposed multi-layer air filtering apparatus 1. In an embodiment, the electrostatic charged filter 6 is activated based on the first activation signal received from the on-demand control mechanism 8. Further, in an embodiment, the self-cleaning mechanism is activated based on the second activation signal received from the on-demand control mechanism 8. The on-demand control mechanism 8 is connected to the electrically actuated rotors 7 and the electrostatic charged filter 6 via a harness. Further, in a variation, the on-demand control mechanism 8 may be a switch at a dashboard, an onboard ECU (Engine control unit), or a VCU (Vehicle control unit) or can also be controlled through programmed instructions.
Fig. 4 shows the Filter element/ Electrostatic charged filter 6 implemented to clean the electrically charged particulates. The Electrostatic charged filter has a negatively charged plate 10 which attract the positively charged particles of SO2, NOx or soot particulates and similarly the positively charged plate will attract negatively charged particles. The above filter 6 works on the “on-demand mechanism” i.e. the filter 6 will be activated only when the operator feels the need to switch it on. For example, in the event when the vehicle is moving through the highly polluted atmosphere with high Particulate matter such as through bangle factories, construction sites, dump yards or grain trashers. The layer of Electrostatic charged filter 6 facilitates in segregating charged air particles. The above filter layer 6 works on the principle that in the event of “intake air” getting electrically charged every component on in the intake air would be positively or negatively charged. Through the Electrostatic charged filter 6, the already charged dust particles along with other contaminant gases like (NOx and SO2) are segregated and eventually filtered out with the output gas being particulate free. In other words, said design ensures that the output gases are of better quality.
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Fig. 5 shows detailed view of electrically actuated rotors 7. In an embodiment, the electrically actuated rotors 7 consists of a disc rotor 11 and a disc rotor 12 which is adapted to rotate in a twisting motion in opposite directions for effecting dry cleaning of the filtering apparatus based on the signal from the operator through the on-demand mechanism control 8. The rotors can be actuated without actually opening the filter. In an embodiment, rotors are primarily pads connected to filter element 6. On receipt of the second activation signal from the operator, a jerky/twisting movement is created in the said rotors (counter clockwise for one rotor and clockwise for another or vice-versa). Due to this sudden jerky motion, all the dust (Particulate Matter and Charged Particles) accumulated is cleared and is collected in a dust collector 17.
Further, Fig.5 also shows working of the electrically actuated rotors 7 for imparting self-cleaning ability to the air filtering apparatus. The electrically actuated rotors 7 consist of two identical disc rotors 11, 12. The unique construction of the disc rotors 11,12 imparts jerky/twisting motion to the disc rotors 11, 12. The disc rotor 11 and a disc rotor 12 are adapted to rotate in a jerky motion in opposite directions for effecting dry cleaning of the filtering apparatus 1. In an embodiment, the disc rotor 11 and the disc rotor 12 is configurably connected to the positively charged plate 9 and the negatively charged plate 10 respectively. In an embodiment, each of the disc rotors 11,12 has an outer stationary sliding ring 13 defined with a groove. Further, the groove mounts an inner movable ring 14 which is connected to a stepper motor 15. In an embodiment, the groove acts as a motion restrictor which abruptly stops the motion of the disc rotors 11,12 enabling tapping off the particulates. In an embodiment, the disc rotors 11,12 is in the form of mesh with one disc rotor 11 attached to the positively charged plate 9 while the other disc rotor 12 being attached to the negatively charged plate 10. The stepper motor 15 is powered through the batter/power supply. In an embodiment, the two concentric rings (inner and outer) are circular in shape. Further, in an embodiment, the electrically actuated rotors 7 (disc rotors 11,12) are removably attached to the filter element 6. Furthermore, the
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jerky/twisting motion of the disc rotors 11,12 is actuated through a second activation signal transmitted from the VCU or the ECU by the operator.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. -

claim:
An on-demand controlled multi-layer air filtering apparatus (1) integrated with self-cleaning mechanism for cleaning intake air to an engine or an engine integrated with after treatment device (ATD), the apparatus comprising:
a filter tube (2) provided with at least one orifice for flow of air and configured to be secured inside a horizontally disposed cylindrical frame (3), said filter tube (2) defining plurality of slot openings spaced apart with a predetermined distance therebetween;
a filter element (4) removably secured in a first slot opening defined on the filter tube (2);
a filter element (5) removably secured in a second slot opening defined on the filter tube (2);
a filter element (6) removably secured in a third slot opening defined on the filter tube (2) and connected to plurality of on-demand control mechanism (8);
electrically actuated rotors (7) attached to the filter element (6) and connected to plurality of on-demand control mechanism (8) for effectuating self-cleaning of the air filtering apparatus (1).
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filter element (4) is a membrane made of cellophane and the filter element (5) is a membrane made of advanced gel configured to filter uncharged particles.
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter element (6) is an electrostatic charged filter having a positively charged plate (9), a negatively charged plate (10) and a wired harness connection to the plurality of the on-demand control mechanism (8), and wherein the

filter element (6) is activated based on a first activation signal received from the on-demand control mechanism (8).
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically actuated rotors (7) are connected to the plurality of the on-demand control mechanism (8) via harness.
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter element (6) is configured to filter electrostatically charged particles.
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the on-demand control mechanism (8) comprises at least a switch at a dashboard, an onboard ECU (Engine control unit) and a VCU (Vehicle control unit).
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically actuated rotors (7) comprises: a disc rotor (11) and a disc rotor (12) identical to the disc rotor (11) and adapted to rotate in a twisting motion in opposite directions for effecting dry cleaning of the filtering apparatus (1), wherein said disc rotor (11) and disc rotor (12) is configurably connected to the positively charged plate (9) and the negatively charged plate (10) respectively, wherein the each of the disc rotors (11,12) consists of: an outer stationary sliding ring (13) defined with a groove, said groove mounting an inner movable ring (14) which is connected to a stepper motor (15), said groove acting as a motion restrictor.
The apparatus as claimed in claims 7, wherein the twisting motion of the disc rotor (11) and the disc rotor (12) is activated based on a second activation signal received from the switch at the dashboard, the onboard ECU (Engine control unit), or the VCU (Vehicle control unit).
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein position of the filter element (4) and the filter element (5) is interchangeable on the filter body (2).

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically actuated rotors (7) are secured to the filter element (6) via pads.
A method for manufacturing an on-demand controlled multi-layer air filtering apparatus (1) integrated with self-cleaning mechanism for cleaning intake air to an engine or an engine integrated with after treatment device (ATD), the method comprising the steps of:
securing a filter tube (2) provided with at least one orifice for flow of air inside a horizontally disposed cylindrical frame (3);
removably securing a filter element (4) in a first slot opening among a plurality of slot openings defined on the filter tube (2);
removably securing a filter element (5) in a second slot opening defined on the filter tube (2);
removably securing a filter element (6) in a third slot opening defined on the filter tube (2);
activating the filter element (6) based on a first activation signal received from on-demand control mechanism (8);
attaching the electrically actuated rotors (7) to the filter element (6) and activating the twisting motion of electrically actuated rotors (7) based on a second activation signal received from on-demand control mechanism (8).