Two stage gauge with electrical signal output
AssigneeEngineered Products Company
InventorGregory Matthew Ferris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two stage air filter restriction indicating device communicates with the supply of air passing from an air filter to the air intake of an engine. The amount of vacuum required by the engine to supply air is directly indicative of the amount of blockage in the air filtering system. The gauge or air filter restriction indicating device monitors this vacuum level and provides signals at an output indicating whether a predetermined vacuum level has been achieved. In one configuration, the gauge locks into this configuration and maintains its output, even when the engine is shut off. Alternatively, the gauge of the present invention automatically resets, thus not requiring a manual reset of the gauge.
Claims22
A filter restriction indicator device for monitoring the level of restriction that a filter is experiencing by attaching to the intake of an engine, the restriction indicator device comprising:
- a housing having an inlet in communication with the engine intake;
- a diaphragm assembly attached to the housing so as to form an internal chamber within the housing which is in communication with the inlet;
- the diaphragm assembly having a movable diaphragm which is responsive to a pressure signals existing within the internal chamber, the diaphragm assembly further having a sealing ring attached to the diaphragm opposite the housing;
- a base cap attached to the housing so as to position the diaphragm assembly between the housing and the base cap;
- a lock pin movably attached to the base cap, the lock pin including a lever arm and an extension which extends away from the base cap, the extension interacting with the sealing ring such that the lock pin is capable of being aligned in a first alignment when the pressure signal is above the predetermined level while the lock pin is capable of being aligned in a second alignment when the pressure signal is below the predetermined level;
- and
- a switch attached to the base cap and cooperating with the sealing ring such that the switch is in a first position when the pressure signal is above a predetermined level and the switch is in a second position when the pressure signal is below the predetermined level.
A restriction indicating device for an air filter used with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a power source and a passenger compartment, the restriction indicating device being in fluid communication with the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine, the restriction indicating device comprising:
- a housing having an inner chamber;
- a base cap assembly attached to said housing;
- an attachment member attached to the air intake system of the vehicle, allowing fluid communication of the air intake system with said inner chamber of said housing;
- an alignment cup contained within said housing, said alignment cup being slidably positionable between a between a first position indicating that the air filter is clean and a second position indicating that the air filter is dirty;
- a calibration spring biasing said alignment cup toward said first position;
- a diaphragm attached to said alignment cup and said housing, dividing the interior of said housing from the interior of said base cap assembly;
- a lock ring fixedly attachable to said alignment cup, said lock ring having a central ring and a lower lip;
- a lockpin coupled to said base cap assembly, said lockpin being moveable between a first operating position wherein a portion of said lockpin is located within said central ring of said lock ring thereby permitting slidable movement of said alignment cup, and a second operating position wherein said lockpin is disengaged from said central ring and said lockpin engages said lower lip of said lock ring thereby preventing slidable movement of said alignment cup in at least one direction;
- and
- a switch assembly actuable with a switch actuator integral with and projecting from said lockpin, said switch assembly actuating an electrical circuit for activating a signal device in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, only when said lockpin is in said second position.
A restriction indicating device for an air filter used with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a power source and a passenger compartment, the restriction indicating device being in fluid communication with the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine, the restriction indicating device comprising:
- a housing having an inner chamber;
- a base cap assembly attached to said housing;
- an attachment member attached to the air intake system of the vehicle, allowing fluid communication of the air intake system with said inner chamber of said housing;
- an alignment cup contained within said housing, said alignment cup being slidably and linearly positionable along a first axis, between a first position indicating that the air filter is clean and a second position indicating that the air filter is dirty;
- a calibration spring biasing said alignment cup toward said first position;
- a diaphragm attached to said alignment cup and said housing, dividing the interior of said housing from the interior of said base cap assembly;
- a lockpin pivotally attached to said base cap assembly to allow pivotal movement about a second axis that is perpendicular to said first axis;
- and
- a switch assembly actuable with a switch actuator integral with and projecting from said lockpin, said switch assembly actuating an electrical circuit for activating a signal device in the passenger compartment of the vehicle only when said alignment cup has moved along said first axis a sufficient distance to allow the pivotal movement of said switch actuator to pivot into contact with said switch assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.