# US 7,421,852 B2 · Media sampling device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,421,852 B2 - Document ID: US7421852B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/450,185 - Filed: 2006-06-12 - Published: 2007-12-13 - Granted: 2008-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-12 - Assignees: Dectron Inc. - Inventors: Ness Lakdawala; Bhuvan Pant; Brian Monk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7421852B2 ## CPC - B01D 46/0086: {Filter condition indicators} - F24F 11/39: Monitoring filter performance - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - 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) ## Abstract A monitoring device for use in monitoring the life of a filter used in the operating unit of an air conditioning system. The monitoring device has a support for use in attaching the device to the housing of the operational unit in the air conditioning system, the unit having a least one air conditioning filter holding filter material. At least one tubular arm attached to the support, each arm having an air inlet and an air outlet. The support is mounted in a manner to have a portion of the air passing through the air conditioning unit pass through the arm on the support as well. A sample filter is provided along with mounting means for removably mounting the sample filter on the arm to have air passing through the arm also pass through the sample filter. The sample filter holds the same filter material as the air conditioning filter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A monitoring device having a support for use in attaching the device to the housing of an operational unit in an air conditioning system which unit has a least one air conditioning filter holding filter material; at least one tubular arm attached to the support, each arm having an air inlet and an air outlet, the support mounted in a manner to have a portion of the air passing through the air conditioning unit pass through the arm as well; a sample filter; mounting means for removably mounting the sample filter on the arm to have air passing through the arm also pass through the sample filter; the sample filter holding the same filter material as the air conditioning filter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sample filter holds the filter material in a space having the same width, in a direction parallel to the air flow through it, as the width of the space in the air conditioning filter holding the filter material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A monitoring device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the mounting means has a counterbore into the arm from the outlet end to form a stop shoulder within the arm, the outside of the outlet end of the arm threaded, and a cap internally threaded to threadably fit over the outlet end and to hold the sample filter within the arm between the stop shoulder and the cap, the cap having a central opening allowing air to pass through the arm and filter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support is a tubular member arranged to have an air inlet facing the air flow through the air conditioning unit when mounted therein, each arm connected at its inlet end to the member to have air flow from the member through the arm and the sample filter carried by it. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A monitoring device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sample filter holds the filter material in a space having the same width, in a direction parallel to the air flow through it, as the width of the space in the air conditioning filter holding the filter material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A monitoring device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the mounting means has a counterbore into the arm from the outlet end to form a stop shoulder within the arm, the outside of the outlet end of the arm threaded, and a cap internally threaded to threadably fit over the outlet end and to hold the sample filter within the arm between the stop shoulder and the cap, the cap having a central opening allowing air to pass through the arm and filter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A monitoring device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mounting means has a counterbore into the arm from the outlet end to form a stop shoulder within the arm, the outside of the outlet end of the arm threaded, and a cap internally threaded to threadably fit over the outlet end and to hold the sample filter within the arm between the stop shoulder and the cap, the cap having a central opening allowing air to pass through the arm and filter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting means has a counterbore into the arm from the outlet end to form a stop shoulder within the arm, the outside of the outlet end of the arm threaded, and a cap internally threaded to threadably fit over the outlet end and to hold the sample filter within the arm between the stop shoulder and the cap, the cap having a central opening allowing air to pass through the arm and filter. ### Claim 9 An air conditioning unit having a housing with an air entrance and an air exit, a fan for moving air through the housing, at least one air conditioning filter unit mounted within the housing, the filter unit holding filtering material; a monitoring device having a support, the support mounted onto the housing of the air conditioning unit and located within the unit but accessible from outside the unit, the support carrying at least one tubular arm having an air inlet and an air outlet, the support locating the arm within the path of the airflow through the unit, the arm carrying a sampling filter, mounting means for removably mounting the sampling filter on the arm, the sampling filter carrying the same filtering material as the air conditioning filter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the sample filter holds the filter material in a space having the same width, in a direction parallel to the air flow through it, as the width of the space in the air conditioning filter holding the filter material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the mounting means has a counterbore into the arm from the outlet end to form a stop shoulder within the arm, the outside of the outlet end of the arm threaded, and a cap internally threaded to threadably fit over the outlet end and to hold the sample filter within the arm between the stop shoulder and the cap, the cap having a central opening allowing air to pass through the arm and filter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) An air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the support is a tubular member arranged to have an air inlet facing the air flow through the air conditioning unit when mounted therein, each arm connected at its inlet end to the member to have air flow from the member through the arm and the sample filter carried by it. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sample filter holds the filter material in a space having the same width, in a direction parallel to the air flow through it, as the width of the space in the air conditioning filter holding the filter material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) An air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the mounting means has a counterbore into the arm from the outlet end to form a stop shoulder within the arm, the outside of the outlet end of the arm threaded, and a cap internally threaded to threadably fit over the outlet end and to hold the sample filter within the arm between the stop shoulder and the cap, the cap having a central opening allowing air to pass through the arm and filter.