Field of application of the invention

The invention is applied to the field of means of transport commonly referred to as “vehicles”, i.e. means of transport adapted to move people, animals or items by means of road or rail circulation, by means of navigation on waters or there in, or by air.

The present invention particularly relates to the so-called “motorized” vehicles, i.e. the vehicles including an engine for the movement thereof and preferably, but not necessarily, a source of power for feeding said engine. Motorized vehi cles include, by way of example, motor vehicles, light commercial vehicles, vans provided with passenger cells (commonly referred to as “campers”), railway lo comotives intended to transport people (such as for example, the so-called “trams”), railway convoys (consisting of a locomotive driving one or more wag- ons), motor boats, submarine ships and motorized aircraft (known also as “air planes”).

More precisely, the present invention relates to a motorized vehicle integrating a suction system acting in a compartment of said vehicle. The latter expression (“acting in a compartment of said vehicle”) means that the suction system is in- eluded in said vehicle so that the suction effect generated by an actuation of said system is manifested in said compartment. The term “compartment” here and later in the present description means a portion of space of a vehicle in- tended to accommodate people, animals or goods being transported. The com partments of motorized vehicles include, by way of example, passenger com partments of motor vehicles, i.e. the portion of space in a motor vehicle for ac commodating a driver and one or more passengers. Note on the technical problem and review of the background art

During the use of a motorized vehicle, dust and bits may be deposited onto items securely accommodated in a compartment of the vehicle (such as the seats, for example) or at the bottom and on the walls delimiting said compart ment. An electric suction apparatus, such as a vacuum cleaner, for example, may be conveniently employed to remove the dust and bits. The use of a vacu um cleaner is particularly advantageous if the compartment is covered with car pet or fabric upholstery items, as usually occurs in the passenger compartments of motor vehicles.

If the vacuum cleaner to be used is not provided with a battery, it is to be con- nected to an electric alternating current distribution grid, for example a 220 V grid. This however forces the person intending to clean the passenger com partment of a motor vehicle to position the latter in a location where a vacuum cleaner may be fed by means of electric alternating current. Further, if the aforesaid location is not already equipped with one or more vacuum cleaners, the cleaner of the vehicle is to go to said location not only with his/her own mo tor vehicle, but also with a vacuum cleaner.

Portable vacuum cleaners have been conceived in an attempt to obviate the aforesaid drawbacks, the vacuum cleaners being equipped with a 12 V DC connector connectable to the electric system of a motor vehicle (by means of a socket commonly referred to as a “cigarette lighter”). However, not all vehicles are equipped with 12 V DC sockets. Further, similarly to the foregoing, the cleaner of the motor vehicle is to have the portable vacuum cleaner with him/her.

To avoid any misunderstanding, in order to note a technical problem, although reference is made, merely by way of example in the present paragraph, to the passenger compartments of motor vehicles, said problem occurs more general ly and in similar manner when there is a need to clean a dusty compartment of a motorized vehicle.

Objects of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by indicating a motorized vehicle integrating a suction system fed by the engine of said vehicle and adapted to create a vacuum in at least one compartment thereof (i.e. of the vehicle).

Summary and advantages of the invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising:

• at least one engine for moving said vehicle;

• at least one compartment adapted to accommodate people and/or animals and/or goods which can be transported by said vehicle, said compartment being delimited by at least one wall;

• at least one duct comprising an inlet mouth, at a first end, and an outlet mouth, at a second end opposite to said first end, said inlet mouth being at said wall, wherein, according to the invention, said vehicle further comprises:

• a suction tube including a suction mouth at a first end thereof, said suction tube being flexible and capable of being accommodated in said compartment at least at said suction mouth so that air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter may flow from said compartment into said suction tube through said suction mouth, said suction tube, at a second end thereof opposite to the first end thereof, being joined with said duct at said inlet mouth so that air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter may flow from said suction tube into said duct through said inlet mouth;

• a suction system including:

- a suction chamber, said duct being in communication with said suction chamber at said outlet mouth so that air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter may flow from said duct into said suction chamber through said out let mouth;

- a tank adapted to accommodate dust and bits therein, said tank comprising an access mouth at which it is in communication with said suction chamber so that air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter may flow from said suction chamber into said tank through said access mouth;

- pneumofore means which may be electrically fed and adapted to create a vacuum in said suction chamber with respect to said duct at least at said outlet mouth, and accordingly also with respect to said suction tube and to said compartment, so as to cause a suction of air, in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter, from said compartment into said suction tube through said suction mouth, from said suction tube into said duct through said inlet mouth, and from said duct into said suction cham ber through said outlet mouth, said pneumofore means being further suitable for creating an overpres sure in said suction chamber with respect to said tank at least at said ac cess mouth so as to cause a blowing, from said suction chamber into said tank, of air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter, sucked into said suction chamber through said outlet mouth;

- filter means capable of being crossed by air and simultaneously adapted to at least partially prevent dust and bits from passing therethrough, said tank being in communication, through said filter means, with an envi ronment which is outside said tank, and preferably outside said suction chamber, said duct, said suction tube and said compartment as well, so that:

> air blown by said pneumofore means into said tank may reach said ex ternal environment through said filter means, and, conversely,

> dust and bits possibly dragged by air sucked from said compartment in to said suction chamber and blown into said tank by said pneumofore means are retained in said tank;

• power storage means connected both to said pneumofore means and to said engine, the connection between said storage means and said pneumofore means be- ing such as to allow a power supply of said pneumofore means, the connection between said storage means and said engine being such as to allow an electric charge of said storage means by said engine, when actu ated; · control means of said pneumofore means, said control means being operable by a user of said vehicle.

The pneumofore means comprise, by way of example, a rotor with blades commonly referred to as a “fan”.

The vehicle of the invention integrates a suction system which can be advanta- geously employed to clean a compartment of said vehicle without the need to use “extraneous” vacuum cleaners to the vehicle itself. Therefore, it is not re quired to connect any vacuum cleaner to the “cigarette lighter” socket with which the vehicle possibly is equipped, nor to move the latter to a location where a vacuum cleaner may be connected to an electric alternating current distribution grid. Advantageously, in order to clean the compartment (of a vehi cle according to the present invention) in which the suction system acts (i.e. with which the suction tube at the suction mouth communicates), the pneumo fore means are to be simply actuated by means of the control means and the suction mouth of the tube is to be positioned close to the surface to be cleaned, thus taking advantage of the dragging effect that the air has on the dust and bits possibly at the area being sucked. The flexibility of the suction tube advanta geously allows multiple areas in the compartment to be reached with the suction mouth.

The suction system integrated in the vehicle of the invention is equipped with an accumulator (i.e. with a “battery”, included in the aforementioned power storage means) which can be recharged by means of the vehicle engine. By virtue of the accumulator, the suction system is also advantageously operable when the vehicle is turned OFF. In the case of an internal combustion engine, the accu mulator of the suction system is for example, rechargeable by means of the al- ternator with which the vehicle usually is equipped, in conjunction with a rectifi er.

Other innovative features of the present invention are disclosed in the descrip- tion below and referred to in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, said suction tube is reversibly joined with said duct, i.e. can be disconnected from said duct and is reconnectable to the latter an indefinite number of times. According to this aspect of the invention, when the pneumofore means are not actuated, the suction tube may be advantageously disconnected from the duct and placed elsewhere so as not to obstruct the compartment in which the suc tion system acts in any manner. The suction tube may i.e., be connected to said duct only when needed. According to another aspect of the invention, said vehicle comprises first re versible occlusion means of said inlet mouth, said first occlusion means being movable between at least a first closed position at which they occlude said inlet mouth, and a second open position at which said first occlusion means do not occlude said inlet mouth. Incidentally, the expression “reversible occlusion” means that the first occlusion means are movable between the closed position and the open one an indefinite number of times.

According to this aspect of the invention, the inlet mouth may be advantageous ly closed by the first occlusion means (comprising for example, a small sliding door), thereby avoiding, when the pneumofore means are not actuated (and therefore the suction system is not in use), objects possibly in the compartment in which the suction system acts from undesirably entering the duct, with the risk of the same being obstructed. This aspect is particularly advantageous when the suction tube - if removable - is disconnected from the duct. According to another aspect of the invention, said suction tube is reversibly ex tendible, i.e. it is extendible and retractable an indefinite number of times. According to this aspect of the invention, in addition to being flexible, the suction tube is advantageously extendible and retractable. This allows a plurality of ar eas in the compartment to be reached more easily with the suction mouth. In addition to the foregoing, the suction tube being retractable, it may be com pletely retracted when the suction system is not in use so as to minimize the volume thereof. According to another aspect of the invention, said vehicle comprises a seat where said suction tube can be at least partially accommodated.

According to this aspect of the invention, the suction tube is at advantageously least partially “retractable”. When the pneumofore means are not actuated, the suction tube may be replaced in the aforesaid seat (if possible, possibly after being disconnected from the duct and/or retracted) so as not to obstruct the compartment in which the suction system acts in any manner or only minimally. The suction tube may i.e. be extracted from the seat thereof (and possibly con nected to the duct and/or extended) only when needed. According to another aspect of the invention, said seat is accessible through at least an opening so that said suction tube can be accommodated in said seat and extracted from the latter through said opening, said vehicle comprising second reversible occlusion means of said opening, said second occlusion means being movable between at least a first closed po- sition at which they occlude said opening, and a second open position at which said second occlusion means do not occlude said opening.

Incidentally, similarly to the foregoing with reference to the first occlusion means, the expression “reversible occlusion” means that the second occlusion means are movable between the closed position and the open one an indefinite number of times.

According to this aspect of the invention, regardless of the suction tube being accommodated or not in the seat thereof, the opening of the latter may be ad vantageously closed by the second occlusion means (comprising for example, a small sliding door), thereby avoiding objects possibly close to the aforesaid seat from undesirably falling, or more generally entering, the same seat. Additionally, if the opening of the seat is closed by the second occlusion means after the suction tube is replaced therein, it is advantageously avoided for objects possi bly close to the aforesaid seat from undesirably entering the suction tube, with the risk of the same being obstructed. According to another aspect of the invention, said seat is at least partially at said wall and is in communication with said inlet mouth.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, the inlet mouth of the duct being at the aforesaid wall and the suction tube being joined with said duct at the inlet mouth of the latter, the suction tube can be more easily accommo dated in said seat and extracted therefrom.

According to another aspect of the invention:

• when said suction tube is completely retracted, said suction tube can be completely accommodated in said seat and

• when said suction tube is completely retracted and is completely accommo dated in said seat, when in the closed position, said second occlusion means oppose an extension of said suction tube.

According to this aspect of the invention, when the suction tube is completely retracted and accommodated in said seat, the second occlusion means advan tageously keep the suction tube retracted, thus overcoming possible elastic re turns tending to extend the tube (as it could occur, for example, if the tube is accordion-folded).

According to another aspect of the invention, said wall is integral with the suc tion system.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, by extending from said wall to the suction chamber, the duct may be a rigid body. Therefore, there are fewer risks for the duct to be damaged with respect to the case in which the duct comprises, by way of example, at least one joint as a result of said wall and the suction system being movable with respect to each other.

According to an aspect of the invention, said tank is reversibly connected to said suction chamber, i.e. it can be disconnected from said chamber and recon nected to the latter an indefinite number of times.

According to this aspect of the invention, when it is no longer capable of con taining dust and bits because it is full, the tank may be advantageously removed from the suction system, emptied of the dust and bits, and reconnected to the suction chamber.

Brief description of the Figures

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof and from the ac- companying drawings, given by mere way of non-limiting explanation, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a partial sectional perspective and diagrammatic view of a vehicle according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a suction system in conjunction with a duct and a suction tube belonging to the vehicle in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 shows a first variant of the assembly of components in Figure 2;

- Figure 4 shows a second variant of the assembly of components in Figure 2. Detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention

For convenience of disclosure, reference is made in the present description only to a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the vehicle of the invention is a motor vehicle and the compartment of said vehicle in which the above- mentioned suction system acts, is the passenger compartment of the vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to the aforesaid example. It relates to a motorized vehicle integrating a suction system acting in a compartment of said vehicle.

Later in the present description, a figure may also be illustrated with reference to elements not expressly indicated in that figure, but in other figures. The scale and proportion of the various elements depicted do not necessarily correspond to the actual ones. Figure 1 shows a vehicle 1 of the invention comprising an engine 2 for moving the same. Vehicle 1 further includes a compartment 3 delimited by at least one wall 4 and adapted to accommodate people and/or animals and/or goods there in, which can be transported by vehicle 1. By way of example, vehicle 1 is a mo tor vehicle, engine 2 is in the front area of the motor vehicle 1 , under the hood, compartment 3 is the passenger compartment of vehicle 1 , and wall 4 is the bottom of the passenger compartment 3 (i.e. the “floor” thereof).

With reference to the schematization shown in Figure 2, the motor vehicle 1 comprises a duct 10 including an inlet mouth 11 , at a first end, and an outlet mouth 12, at a second end opposite to said first end. Mouth 11 is at wall 4, for example close to the area where a passenger rests his/her feet when sitting in a back seat. Duct 10 preferably lies outside the passenger compartment 3, more preferably below floor 5 of the motor vehicle 1. Duct 10 preferably extends from wall 4 up to being close to engine 2, in the front area of the motor vehicle 1.

The motor vehicle 1 further comprises a suction tube 13 (not shown in Figure 1) including a suction mouth 14 at a first end thereof. Tube 13, at a second end thereof opposite to the first end thereof, is joined (and therefore connected) to duct 10 at mouth 11 of the latter. Tube 13 is flexible and is accommodated in the passenger compartment 3 (at least at least mouth 14). Due to this, tube 13 is in communication with the passenger compartment 3 at mouth 14 so that air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter may flow from the passenger compartment 3 into tube 13 through mouth 14. Similarly, tube 13 being joined with duct 10 at mouth 11 , air in conjunction with dust and bits pos sibly dragged by the latter may flow from tube 13 into duct 10 through mouth 11. The motor vehicle 1 comprises a suction system 15 connected to duct 10 and preferably accommodated close to engine 2, in the front area of the motor vehi cle 1 (in the so-called “engine compartment”). More precisely, system 15 in- eludes a suction chamber 16 in communication with duct 10 at mouth 12 so that air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter may flow from duct 10 into chamber 16 through mouth 12. In addition to being in communica tion with duct 10, chamber 16 is in communication with tank 17 which is suitable for accommodating dust and bits therein. More precisely, tank 17 is in commu- nication with chamber 16 at an access mouth 18 thereof so that air in conjunc tion with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter may flow from chamber 16 into tank 17 through mouth 18.

System 15 comprises a suction member (not shown in the drawings) which is preferably accommodated in chamber 16 and is suitable for creating a vacuum in chamber 16 with respect to duct 10 at least at mouth 12, and accordingly also with respect to tube 13 and to the passenger compartment 3, so as to cause a suction of air, in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter, from the passenger compartment 3 into tube 13 through mouth 14, from tube 13 into duct 10 through mouth 11 and from duct 10 into chamber 16 through mouth 12. The aforesaid suction member, included in the aforementioned “pneumofore means”, is also suitable for creating an overpressure in chamber 16 with re spect to tank 17, at least at mouth 18, so as to cause a blowing of air, from chamber 16 into tank 17, in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter, sucked into chamber 16 through mouth 12. The suction member can be electrically fed and comprises, by way of example, a rotor with blades. System 15 also comprises a filter 19 which is crossable by air but suitable for at least partially preventing dust and bits from passing therethrough. Filter 19 is connected to tank 17. More precisely, the latter, through filter 19, is in commu nication with an environment which is outside tank 17, and preferably outside chamber 16, duct 10, tube 13 and passenger compartment 3 as well. By way of example, said external environment corresponds to the “free” space (i.e. not oc- cupied by any component) below the hood of the motor vehicle 1 (in the engine compartment). As tank 17 is in communication with the aforesaid external envi ronment by means of filter 19, air blown by the suction member into tank 17 (through mouth 18) reaches said external environment through filter 19, while dust and bits possibly dragged by the air sucked from the passenger compart- ment 3 into chamber 16 (through mouth 14, tube 13, mouth 11 , duct 10 and mouth 12) and blown by the suction member into tank 17 (through mouth 18) are retained therein. Filter 19 is preferably self-cleaning and corresponds, by way of example, to a wall of tank 17 or to a portion of said wall. Filter 19 may be or comprise a so-called ‘ΉERA” filter and/or an anti-mite filter and/or an anti- allergic filter.

As specified above, the suction member can be electrically fed. For this pur pose, the motor vehicle 1 comprises a power accumulator (not shown in the drawings) connected both to the aforesaid suction member and to engine 2. More precisely, the accumulator is connected to the suction member so as to electrically feed the latter. The accumulator is connected to engine 2 so that when actuated, the latter electrically charges the accumulator. Therefore, the latter is “rechargeable”. In particular, if engine 2 is an internal combustion en gine, the accumulator is connected to engine 2 “indirectly”, i.e. it is preferably electrically rechargeable by engine 2 by means of the alternator (connected to engine 2) with which the motor vehicle 1 is equipped, in conjunction with a recti fier.

Finally, the motor vehicle 1 comprises a command for actuating the suction member. Said command is operable by a user of the motor vehicle 1.

In light of the foregoing, the motor vehicle 1 integrates a suction system 15 fed by engine 2 and adapted to create a vacuum in the passenger compartment 3 (i.e. in at least one compartment of the motor vehicle 1). System 15 therefore allows cleaning the passenger compartment 3 (by suction) without using “extra neous” vacuum cleaners to the motor vehicle 1. More precisely, in order to clean the passenger compartment 3, the suction member simply is to be actu ated (by means of the aforesaid command), and the mouth 14 of tube 13 is to be positioned close to the surface to be cleaned, thus taking advantage of the dragging effect that the air has on the dust and bits possibly at the area being sucked. The suction member creates a vacuum in chamber 16 with respect to duct 10. Due to the effect of this vacuum, air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter is sucked from the passenger compartment 3 into tube 13 (through mouth 14), from the latter into duct 10 (through mouth 11) and from said duct into chamber 16 (through mouth 12). The air sucked therefore is blown, in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter, into tank 17. The increase in pressure (due to the effect of said blowing) in tank 17 push es the air through filter 19 towards the external environment, while the dust and the bits possibly dragged by the air into tank 17 accumulate in the latter. Tank 17 is preferably reversibly connected to chamber 16 so as to be removable from system 15 in order to be emptied of dust and bits accumulated therein, when needed. Incidentally, if tank 17 is reversibly connected to chamber 16, tank 17 “reversibly communicates” with the latter: i.e. tank 17 communicates with cham ber 16 when it is connected thereto, does not communicate with chamber 16 when it is disconnected from the latter and resumes communication with cham ber 16 when it is reconnected thereto.

In addition to being suitable for sucking air in conjunction with dust and bits possibly dragged by the latter from the passenger compartment 3, system 15 is also preferably suitable for sucking liquids or steam from mouth 14, introducing them into tank 17. That is, the suction member of system 15 is also suitable for causing a suction of liquids or steam from the passenger compartment 3 into tube 13 through mouth 14, from tube 13 into duct 10 through mouth 11 and from duct 10 into chamber 16 through mouth 12. The aforesaid suction member is further suitable for creating an overpressure in chamber 16 with respect to tank 17 at least at mouth 18 so as to cause an introduction of liquids or steam sucked into chamber 16 through mouth 12 from chamber 16 into tank 17. Here, filter 19, in addition to being suitable for at least partially preventing dust and bits from passing therethrough, is suitable for preventing liquids and steam from passing therethrough, which thus collect in tank 17.

As mentioned previously, system 15 is preferably accommodated close to en gine 2, in the front area of the motor vehicle 1. More preferably, system 15 is in- tegral with engine 2 and accordingly also with wall 4 at which there is the mouth 11 of duct 10. Therefore, the latter is preferably a rigid body.

Mouth 11 is at the bottom of the passenger compartment 3 by mere way of ex ample. It could be in a different area of the passenger compartment 3 (for ex ample, at the roof or a door) or in a different compartment of the motor vehicle 2 (such as for example, the trunk).

Tube 13 may be reversibly joined with duct 10 so as to be disconnected from duct 10 and placed elsewhere (as shown in Figure 3) when the suction member is not actuated and therefore system 15 is not being used. Tube 13 being dis- connectable from duct 10 and reconnectable to the latter, tube 13 can be ac- commodated in the passenger compartment 3 (at least at mouth 14).

Regardless of tube 13 being or being not disconnectable from duct 10, mouth 11 may be reversibly closable by means of a door 20 (shown in Figure 3) or by similar occlusion means (corresponding to the above-mentioned “first occlusion means”). Door 20 i.e. is movable between a first closed position, at which it oc- eludes mouth 11 (so as to prevent items possibly in the passenger compartment 3 from undesirably entering duct 10 when the suction member is not actuated and therefore system 15 is not being used), and a second open position at which door 20 does not occlude mouth 11 (so as to allow a suction of air from the passenger compartment 3 into chamber 16). In Figure 3, tube 13 is disconnected from duct 10 and door 20 is in the closed position.

Regardless of tube 13 being or being not disconnectable from duct 10, the mo- tor vehicle 1 may comprise a seat 21 (shown both in Figure 3 and in Figure 4) where tube 13 can be at least partially accommodated when the suction mem ber is not actuated (and therefore system 15 is not being used). Preferably, seat

21 is at least partially obtained at wall 4 and is accessible by means of an open- ing 22 (so that tube 13 can be accommodated in seat 21 and can be extracted from the latter through opening 22).

Regardless of tube 13 being or being not disconnectable from duct 10, opening

22 may be reversibly closable by means of a door 23 (shown both in Figure 3 and in Figure 4) or by similar occlusion means (corresponding to the above- mentioned “second occlusion means”). Door 23 i.e. is movable between a first closed position at which it occludes opening 22 (so as to prevent items possibly in the passenger compartment 3 from undesirably entering seat 21), and a sec ond open position at which door 23 does not occlude opening 22 (so as to allow the introduction of tube 13 into seat 21 or the extraction thereof from the latter). In Figure 3, tube 13 is disconnected from duct 10 and is completely stored in seat 21. Tube 13 therefore may be extracted from seat 21 and connected to duct 10 when needed. The doors 20 and 23 are in the closed position. Incidentally, if tube 13 is not disconnectable from duct 10, seat 21 is in commu nication with mouth 11 , as shown in Figure 4. Regardless of being or being not disconnectable from duct 10, tube 13 may be reversibly extendible, as shown in Figure 4. By way of example, tube 13 may be accordion-folded.

Regardless of being or being not disconnectable from duct 10, if tube 13 is re versibly extendible, when tube 13 is completely retracted, it can be preferably accommodated in seat 21 , as shown in Figure 4. The foregoing applies regard less of seat 21 being in communication with mouth 11 (as shown in Figure 4) or being not in communication therewith (as shown in Figure 3).

Regardless of being or being not disconnectable from duct 10, if tube 13 is re versibly extendible and when it is completely retracted, it can be accommodated in seat 21 , and if opening 22 of seat 21 is reversibly closable by means of said door 23, when tube 13 is completely retracted and accommodated in seat 21 , door 23, preferably when in the closed position, opposes an extension of tube 13, thus keeping the latter retracted (and therefore overcoming possible elastic returns tending to extend tube 13). The foregoing applies regardless of seat 21 being in communication with mouth 11 (as shown in Figure 4) or being not in communication therewith (as shown in Figure 3). In Figure 4, albeit it is connected by duct 10, tube 13 is completely retracted and completely accommodated in seat 21. Tube 13 may therefore be extracted from seat 21 when needed. Door 23 is in the closed position.

The motor vehicle 1 may comprise a plurality of ducts 10 communicating with system 15 (or with respective systems 15) through respective mouths 12, and with respective tubes 13 through respective mouths 11. The motor vehicle 1 may therefore comprise a plurality of mouths 11 (i.e. “suction intakes”) posi tioned in different areas of the passenger compartment 3 or in different com partments of the motor vehicle 1. One or more mouths 11 may be reversibly closable by means of respective doors 20. One or more tubes 13 may be re- versibly extendible and/or reversibly joined with the respective ducts 10 and can be at least partially accommodated in respective seats 21 having respective openings 22. One or more openings 22 may be reversibly closable by means of respective doors 23.

In addition to system 15, the motor vehicle 1 may comprise a water vapor emis- sion system. Said vapor emission system comprises, by way of example, a tank adapted to accommodate water, means adapted to bring the water to a boil in said tank (such as a resistor, for example) and a valve for emitting the vapor generated by the boiling of the water. Like system 15, the vapor emission sys tem is electrically fed by an electrically rechargeable accumulator by means of engine 2. The vapor emission system is connected by suitable ducts to mouth

14, or to one or multiple mouths 14 if more than one, so as to emit vapor at the latter outside tube 13, and at the same time so as to allow a suction of said va por into tube 13 up to tank 17 by system 15. In light of the foregoing, according to this variant, the motor vehicle 1 integrates an exhauster which can be quali- fied as a “steam” vacuum cleaner.

On the basis of the description provided for a preferred embodiment, it is obvi ous that certain changes may be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.