1. A vapor mitigation system, comprising:
at least one vacuum pipe constructed and arranged to collect vapors beneath a floor of a building and to vent the vapors;
a blower coupled to the at least one vacuum pipe, the blower constructed and arranged to create a vacuum under the floor of the building; and
a controller configured to dynamically control a level of power supplied to the blower, wherein the controller adjusts the level of power supplied to the blower in response to one or more environmental measurements.
2. The vapor mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more environmental measurements are selected from the group consisting of: ambient temperature, building interior temperature, building exterior temperature, building sub-slab or floor temperature, building interior air pressure, building exterior air pressure, barometric pressure, a level of vacuum created under the floor of the building, contaminant detection and blower mass air flow.
3. The vapor mitigation system of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum sensor, wherein the vacuum sensor is constructed and arranged to determine a level of vacuum created under the floor of the building.
4. The vapor mitigation system of claim 3, wherein the controller adjusts the level of power supplied to the blower in response to the level of vacuum.
5. The vapor mitigation system of claim 4, wherein the controller increases the level of power supplied to the blower when the level of vacuum is less than a predetermined level.
6. The vapor mitigation system of claim 4, wherein the controller decreases the level of power supplied to the blower when the level of vacuum is greater than a predetermined level.
7. The vapor mitigation system of claims 5 and 6, wherein the predetermined level corresponds to regulatory discharge standards for residential structures or commercial buildings.
8. The vapor mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the level of power supplied to the blower so that the vacuum created under the floor of the building remains substantially constant.
9. The vapor mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the level of power supplied to the blower so that the vacuum created under the floor of the building is maintained at a predetermined level.
10. The vapor mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or more parameters of an HVAC system.
11. The vapor mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters are selected from the group consisting of: HVAC supply air pressure, ratio of building return air to fresh air input.
12. The vapor mitigation system of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring system, wherein the monitoring system is configured to transmit a status of the vapor mitigation system to one or more host machines via the Internet.
13. The vapor mitigation system of claim 12, wherein the monitoring system is configured to receive system configuration parameters from a host machine via the Internet.
14. The vapor mitigation system of claim 1 further comprising:
a fresh air intake pipe constructed and arranged to allow dilution air to flow into an area beneath the floor of the building,
wherein the controller is configured to increase a level of power supplied to the blower in response to an increase in contaminant concentration beneath the floor of the building.
15. The vapor mitigation system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a volume of dilution air drawn into the area beneath the floor of the building.
16. A method of mitigating vapors, comprising:
generating an air flow within a passage so as to create a vacuum beneath a floor of a building;
venting the air flow to an exterior of the building; and
dynamically adjusting a level of the air flow in response to one or more environmental measurements.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more environmental measurements are selected from the group consisting of: ambient temperature, building interior temperature, building exterior temperature, building sub-slab or floor temperature, building interior air pressure, building exterior air pressure, a level of vacuum created under the floor of the building, contaminant detection and blower mass air flow.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the level of air flow is dynamically adjusted so that the vacuum created beneath the floor of the building remains substantially constant.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a jacket unit by which a section adjoining the steering wheel-side end of a steering spindle (1) is rotatably supported, and at least one support unit which is securable on a body-stationary part of the motor vehicle and which is fixedly connected or fixedly connectable with the jacket unit, wherein at least one tear region is formed such that under the action of a displacement force in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the section adjoining the steering wheel-side end, of the steering spindle that exceeds a predefined detachment force, the connection of the support unit with the jacket unit or the support unit can be torn open along the tear region, wherein a dislocation of the jacket unit with respect to the body-stationary part occurs.
2. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein the jacket unit with the interconnection of the support unit remains connected with the body-stationary part at least until the action of a displacement force whose value exceeds a predefined break-away force higher than the detachment force.
3. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein the tear region is formed by a tear line in the support unit.
4. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein the tear region is formed by a rupturable securement of the jacket unit on the support unit.
5. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein the support unit comprises at least one first securement section which is securable on the body-stationary part, and at least one second securement section which is secured in position on the jacket unit or is fixedly connectable with the jacket unit.
6. The steering column as in claim 5, wherein the second securement section or a connection section connecting the first securement section and the second securement section with one another includes the tear line or at least one of the tear lines.
7. The steering column as in claim 5, wherein the first securement section and the section comprising the at least one tear line have each a main plane which form an angle between them.
8. The steering column as in claim 6, wherein in the case the first securement section is connected with the second securement section via a connection section, the second securement section has a main plane which is at right angles to the main planes of the first securement section and of the connection section.
9. The steering column as in claim 5, wherein the first securement section includes at least one bore for the securement by means of a securement bolt of the support unit on the body-stationary part.
10. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein the support unit or each particular support unit is overall implemented unitarily.
11. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein the tear line is formed by a linear notching.
12. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein on opposite sides of the jacket unit at least one tear line each is implemented in separate support units disposed on opposite sides of the jacket unit or in a support unit extending on opposite sides of the jacket unit, along which in the event of a vehicle crash the support units can be torn open or the support unit can be torn open.
13. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein in a region, further removed from the steering wheel-side end compared to the at least one support unit, of the steering column at least one further support unit is provided which, on the one hand, is securable on a body-stationary part of the motor vehicle and, on the other hand, is secured on the jacket unit.
14. The steering column as in claim 13, wherein at least the at least one further support unit, further removed from the steering wheel-side end, is deformed during a dislocation of the jacket unit with respect to the body-stationary part.
15. The steering column as in claim 14, wherein at least a support unit deformed during a dislocation of the jacket unit with respect to the body-stationary part is connected with a portion of the steering column via at least one first securement site and at least one second securement site, wherein, in the event of a vehicle crash, at least one of these first securement sites is detached after the action of a displacement force whose value exceeds a predefined detachment force, and at least one of these second securement sites is retained at least until the action of a displacement force whose value exceeds a predefined break-away force that is greater than the detachment force.
16. The steering column as in claim 1, wherein the steering column is implemented such that it is adjustable in length andor inclination, wherein in the closed state of a securement device the jacket unit is retained nondisplaceably with respect to at least one support unit and in the opened state of the securement device is displaceable with respect to this support unit.
17. The steering column as in claim 16, wherein the securement device includes a clamp bolt by means of which, in the closed state of the securement device, at least one support unit is pressed against the jacket unit, wherein a securement under friction andor form closure of the jacket unit with respect to the support unit is attained.