Remote Restriction Detecting System for Clothes Dryer Exhaust Systems
OwnerRichard J. Harpenauinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A restriction sensor system for identifying the existence of blockages in exhaust conduits of clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may be used as a retrofit system that is capable of being installed on existing clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may include a fitting configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer and a blockage indicator housing positioned remote from a clothes dryer. The pressure sensing device may be capable of determining changes in air pressure in the exhaust conduit. Once the air pressure present in the exhaust conduit exceeds a threshold air pressure, the pressure sensing device may send a signal to an indicator to generate an alarm, which may be a visual alarm or audible alarm, or both.
Claims20
An air pressure sensing system for a clothes dryer, comprising:
- a fitting having at least one cavity therethrough and configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer, the fitting being configured for sampling air passing through the exhaust conduit, the fitting comprising:
- a spigot having a barbed end;
- a nut;
- an external flange;
- and
- an internal flange, wherein the nut is threaded to an external thread on the spigot of the fitting, the nut being configured to tighten the external flange and the internal flange with respect to the exhaust conduit;
- a conduit configured to be connected to the fitting via the barbed end of the spigot;
- a blockage indicator having a second spigot, the blockage indicator housing being physically remote from the fitting and configured to be connected to the conduit via the second spigot;
- and
- an indicator contained within the blockage indicator housing, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate that air pressure in the exhaust conduit is exceeding a threshold air pressure.
An air pressure sensing system for a clothes dryer, comprising:
- a fitting having at least one cavity therethrough and configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer, the fitting being configured for sampling air passing through the exhaust conduit, the fitting comprising a spigot, a nut, an external flange, and an internal flange;
- a conduit configured to be connected to the fitting via the spigot;
- a blockage indicator having a second spigot, the blockage indicator housing being physically remote from the fitting and configured to be connected to the conduit via the second spigot;
- and
- an indicator contained within the blockage indicator housing, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate that air pressure in the exhaust conduit is exceeding a threshold air pressure.
An air pressure sensing system for a clothes dryer, comprising:
- a fitting having at least one cavity therethrough and configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer, the fitting being configured for sampling air passing through the exhaust conduit, the fitting comprising a spigot having a barbed end;
- a conduit configured to be connected to the fitting via the barbed end of the spigot;
- a blockage indicator having a second spigot, the blockage indicator housing being physically remote from the fitting and configured to be connected to the conduit via the second spigot;
- and
- an indicator contained within the blockage indicator housing, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate that air pressure in the exhaust conduit is exceeding a threshold air pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.