Flow rate threshold sensor
AssigneeFilter Alert Corporation
InventorBarry N. Horowitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow rate sensor for use with an air filter channels air flow to energize an audible sound generator upon development of an air pressure differential within the sensor above a settable threshold, which pressure differential results from a reduction in the air flow rate through the air filter due to clogging of the air filter by filtered matter.
Claims14
A sensor for generating an audible tone upon the presence of a pressure differential in excess of a predetermined threshold across an air filter having an upstream side and a downstream side, said sensor comprising in combination:
- (a) means for securing said sensor to the upstream side of the air filter;
- (b) a first chamber within said sensor for sensing and containing an air pressure equivalent to that present at the upstream side of the air filter;
- (c) a second chamber within said sensor for sensing and containing an air pressure equivalent to that present at the downstream side of the air filter;
- (d) a disk translatable from a first position to a second position within said sensor in response to a predetermined pressure differential threshold between the pressures within said first and second chambers;
- (e) means for restraining translation of said disk until the pressure differential threshold between said first and second chambers is exceeded;
- (f) means for channeling a flow of air from said first chamber through said second chamber in response to translation of said disk;
- and
- (g) means for generating an audible tone in response to the flow of air through said second chamber;
- whereby, the audible tone provides an indication of the existence of a pressure differential across the air filter in excess of a predetermined threshold.
A sensor for generating an audible tone upon the presence of a pressure differential in excess of a predetermined threshold across an air filter having an upstream side and a downstream side, said sensor comprising in combination:
- (a) means for securing said sensor to the upstream side of the air filter;
- (b) a first chamber within said sensor for sensing and containing an air pressure equivalent to that present at the upstream side of the air filter;
- (c) a second chamber within said sensor for sensing and containing an air pressure equivalent to that present at the downstream side of the air filter;
- (d) a magnetically responsive disk translatable from a first position to a second position within said sensor in response to a predetermined pressure differential threshold between the pressures within said first an second chambers;
- (e) means for translating said disk, said translating means including a mandrel for translating the disk along the longitudinal axis of said mandrel and an aperture disposed in said disk for penetrably receiving said mandrel;
- (f) means for restraining translation of said disk until the pressure differential threshold between said first and second chambers is exceeded, and restraining means including a magnet for magnetically attracting said disk;
- (g) means for channeling a flow of air from said first chamber through said second chamber in response to translation of said disk;
- and
- (h) means for generating an audible tone in response to the flow of air through said second chamber;
- whereby, the audible tone provides an indication of the existence of a pressure differential across the air filter in excess of a predetermined threshold.
A method for generating an audible tone upon the presence of a pressure differential in excess of a predetermined threshold air pressure across an air filter having an upstream side and a downstream side, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) sensing the air pressure attendant the upstream side of a the air filter and applying it to one side of a two sided disk;
- (b) sensing the air pressure attendant the downstream side of the air filter and applying it to the other side of the disk;
- (c) translating the disk from a first position to a second position in response to a pressure differenial present across the disk which is greater than a predetermined pressure differential threshold;
- (d) restraining translatory movement of the disk from the first position to the second position as a function of the pressure differential threshold;
- (e) accommodating a flow of air in response to the pressure differential subsequent to translation of the disk from the first position to the second position;
- and
- (f) generating an audible tone in response to the air flow indicative of the pressure differential threshold being exceeded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.