US 6,152,998 A · Automatic filter cartridge

Abstract

An automatic filter cartridge in accordance with the present invention includes a frame which is formed with an aperture and an elongated filter medium which is attached to a supply roller and a take-up roller. Specifically, the supply and take-up rollers are placed into respective supply and take-up containers which are mounted on the frame across the aperture. The frame is then positioned in the ducting of an air conditioning system to filter the airflow through the filter medium which extends across the aperture. To monitor the airflow through the ducting, the automatic filter cartridge can further include a computer. With this configuration, a sensor is positioned in the ducting to monitor the airflow through the ducting. When the sensor indicates the filter medium in the ducting is dirty, the computer activates a motor to rotate the take-up roller. As the take-up roller rotates, the dirty filter medium from the aperture is advanced and taken up in the take-up roller, and clean filter medium from the supply roller is advanced to cover the aperture.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A filter cartridge for removing dust and airborne particulates from an airflow that is flowing through a ducting of an air conditioning system which comprises:

a frame formed with an aperture, said frame being positioned in said ducting for receiving the airflow in said ducting through said aperture, said airflow having airflow characteristics;
a supply roller;
a first container fixedly mounted on said frame for holding said supply roller;
a take-up roller;
a second container fixedly mounted on said frame opposite said aperture from said first container for holding said take-up roller;
an elongated strip of filter medium having a first end attached to said supply roller and a second end attached to said take-up roller to extend said filter medium across said frame to cover said aperture;
a computer means for analyzing said airflow characteristics in said ducting to generate a control signal when said airflow characteristics indicate said filter medium in said aperture is dirty;
and
a means mounted on said second container for rotating said take-up roller in response to said control signal to advance said filter medium from said supply roller to said take-up roller.

6 more elements

A filter cartridge for removing dust and airborne particulates from an airflow having airflow characteristics that is flowing through a ducting of an air conditioning system which comprises:

an elongated strip of filter medium having a first end at a first location and a second end at a second location, a portion of said strip between said first location and said second location being positioned in said ducting for receiving said airflow therethrough until said strip in said ducting becomes dirty;
a computer means for analyzing said airflow in said ducting and for generating a control signal when said airflow characteristics indicate said portion of said strip in said ducting is dirty;
and
a means for advancing said strip from said first location to said second location in response to said control signal to replace said dirty portion of said strip in said ducting with a clean portion of said strip.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic filter cartridge

Life of this patent

Automatic filter cartridge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17