# US 10,768,031 B2 · Air duct airflow sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,031 B2 - Document ID: US10768031B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/251,011 - Filed: 2019-01-17 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-17 - Assignees: Johnson Controls GmbH - Applicants: Johnson Controls, Inc. - Inventors: Jean H. Scholten - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768031B2 ## CPC - G01F 1/40: Details of construction of the flow constriction devices - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/49: ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks - F24F 11/74: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity - F24F 13/10: movable, e.g. dampers - G01F 5/00: Measuring a proportion of the volume flow - G05D 7/00: Control of flow (level control G05D9/00; control of flow ratio G05D11/00) - F24F 2110/40: Pressure, e.g. wind pressure - G01F 1/684: Structural arrangements; Mounting of elements, e.g. in relation to fluid flow - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract An airflow sensor assembly for an air duct is provided. The airflow sensor assembly includes an air duct having an interior wall and an exterior wall, a high pressure detection device, and a low pressure detection device. The low pressure detection device includes a hollow ring disposed within the interior wall of the air duct. The hollow ring includes an inner periphery portion, an outer periphery portion, and a first set of apertures defined therein. The first set of apertures is spaced around the inner periphery portion of the hollow ring. The airflow sensor assembly further includes a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the high pressure detection device and the low pressure detection device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airflow sensor assembly for an air duct, the air duct having an interior wall and an exterior wall; comprising: a high pressure detection device; a low pressure detection device, comprising: a hollow ring configured to be disposed within the interior wall of the air duct, the hollow ring having an inner periphery portion and an outer periphery portion; and a first plurality of apertures defined therein and spaced around the inner periphery portion of the hollow ring; and a pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to the high pressure detection device and the low pressure detection device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the low pressure detection device further comprises: a first connecting opening disposed within the outer periphery portion of the hollow ring; and a first tube fluidly coupled to the first connecting opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 2, wherein the high pressure detection device comprises: a second plurality of apertures defined therein and spaced around an inner periphery of the air duct; a gasket having a recessed area defined therein and a second connecting opening, the gasket being fitted over the exterior wall and proximate the second plurality of apertures; and a second tube fluidly coupled to the second connecting opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the first tube and the second tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 3, further comprising a gasket guard ring configured to fit over an exterior surface of the gasket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a damper control assembly communicably coupled to the pressure sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the damper control assembly comprises an air damper assembly, a motor, and an actuator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of apertures is orthogonal to a direction of airflow through the air duct. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the hollow ring has an outer diameter ranging from 0.5 inches to 0.75 inches. ### Claim 10 An airflow sensor assembly for an air duct, the air duct having an interior wall and an exterior wall; comprising: a high pressure detection device; a low pressure detection device, comprising: an airflow restrictor; and a first plurality of apertures defined therein and spaced around a periphery of the air duct; a first gasket having a recessed area defined therein and a first connecting opening, the first gasket being fitted over the exterior wall and proximate the first plurality of apertures and the airflow restrictor; and a first tube fluidly coupled to the first connecting opening; and a pressure sensor configured to be fluidly coupled to the high pressure detection device and the low pressure detection device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the airflow restrictor comprises a shroud component coupled with the interior wall of the air duct. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the airflow restrictor comprises a channel disposed in the interior wall of the air duct. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the high pressure detection device comprises: a second plurality of apertures defined therein and spaced around the periphery of the air duct; a second gasket having a recessed area defined therein and a second connecting opening, the second gasket being fitted over the exterior wall and proximate the second plurality of apertures; and a second tube fluidly coupled to the second connecting opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 13, wherein the pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the first tube and the second tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of gasket guard rings configured to fit over at least one of an exterior surface of the first gasket or an exterior surface of a second gasket. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 10, further comprising a damper control assembly communicably coupled to the pressure sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The airflow sensor assembly of claim 16, wherein the damper control assembly comprises an air damper assembly, a motor, and an actuator. ### Claim 18 A method of sensing airflow in an air duct, the method comprising: receiving a high air pressure measurement from a high pressure detection device; receiving a low air pressure measurement from a low pressure detection device, the low pressure detection device comprising: a hollow ring disposed within an interior wall of the air duct, the hollow ring having an inner periphery portion and an outer periphery portion; and a first plurality of apertures defined therein and spaced around the inner periphery portion of the hollow ring; a first connecting opening disposed within the outer periphery portion of the hollow ring; and a first tube fluidly coupled to the first connecting opening; and calculating an air velocity through the air duct based on the high air pressure measurement and the low air pressure measurement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the high pressure detection device comprises: a second plurality of apertures defined therein and spaced around an inner periphery of the air duct; a gasket having a recessed area defined therein and a second connecting opening, the gasket being fitted over an exterior wall of the air duct and proximate the second plurality of apertures; and a second tube fluidly coupled to the second connecting opening. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first plurality of apertures is orthogonal to a direction of airflow through the air duct.