Air filter sensor and alarm
AssigneeSchneider Electric USA, Inc.
InventorConrad Weiden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A filter sensor to monitor an air filter in an air conditioning system is disclosed. The filter sensor includes a housing having an interior passage. The housing is located in relation to an air vent of the air conditioning system. A propeller is mounted in the interior passage. The propeller is rotated by the filtered air flow of the air conditioning system. A motion sensor is provided in proximity to the propeller or its shaft. A controller is coupled to the motion sensor to determine the rotational speed of the propeller and correlate the rotational speed of the propeller with the condition of the filter. An indicator is coupled to the controller to indicate a status of the air filter.
Claims20
A filter sensor to monitor an air filter in an air conditioning system, comprising:
- a housing having an interior passage, the housing located in relation to an air vent of the air conditioning system;
- a propeller mounted in the interior passage, the propeller rotated by air flow through the air conditioning system;
- a motion sensor to sense the rotation of the propeller;
- a controller in communication with the motion sensor to determine the rotational speed of the propeller and correlate the rotational speed of the propeller with the condition of the air filter in the air conditioning system;
- and
- an indicator coupled to the controller to indicate the status of the air filter.
A method of determining the status of an air filter of an air conditioning system, comprising:
- attaching a filter sensor having a housing holding a propeller in proximity of an air vent on the air conditioning system, the propeller being rotated by air flow through the air conditioning system;
- sensing the rotational speed of the propeller;
- determining the air flow through the air vent based on the rotational speed of the propeller;
- and
- providing an indication of the status of the air filter based on the determined air flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.