System and method for monitoring and indicating a condition of a filter element in a fluid delivery system
First Claim
1. A filter condition sensing circuit, comprising:
- a current sensor coupled to a conductor providing electrical current to a motor used to move a fluid through a filter element and configured to produce a signal indicative of a magnitude of the electrical current;
a voltage sensor coupled to a pair of conductors providing electrical voltage to the motor and configured to produce a signal indicative of a magnitude of the electrical voltage; and
a data processor coupled to receive the signals produced by the current sensor and the voltage sensor and configured to use the signals to determine an acceptable range of electrical power required by the electric motor during a first time period, to determine a magnitude of electrical power required by the electric motor during a second time period subsequent to the first time period, and to generate a first output signal indicative of a normal condition of the filter element during the second time period in the event the magnitude of electrical power required by the electric motor is within the acceptable range of electrical power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A filter condition sensing circuit is disclosed including current and voltage sensors and a data processor. The current and voltage sensors produce. signals indicating magnitudes of electrical current and voltage, respectively, provided to an electric motor used to move a fluid (a gas or liquid) through a filter element. During a first time period, the data processor uses the signals to determine an acceptable range of electrical power required by the motor. During a second time period, the data processor uses the signals to determine a magnitude of electrical power required by the motor. When the magnitude of electrical power is within the acceptable range of electrical power, the data processor generates a signal indicating a normal condition of the filter element. A described filter condition indicating system includes the circuit. A method is disclosed for determining a condition of a filter element.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A filter condition sensing circuit, comprising:
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a current sensor coupled to a conductor providing electrical current to a motor used to move a fluid through a filter element and configured to produce a signal indicative of a magnitude of the electrical current;
a voltage sensor coupled to a pair of conductors providing electrical voltage to the motor and configured to produce a signal indicative of a magnitude of the electrical voltage; and
a data processor coupled to receive the signals produced by the current sensor and the voltage sensor and configured to use the signals to determine an acceptable range of electrical power required by the electric motor during a first time period, to determine a magnitude of electrical power required by the electric motor during a second time period subsequent to the first time period, and to generate a first output signal indicative of a normal condition of the filter element during the second time period in the event the magnitude of electrical power required by the electric motor is within the acceptable range of electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A filter condition indicating system, comprising:
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a filter condition sensing circuit, comprising;
a current sensor coupled to a conductor providing electrical current to a motor used to move a fluid through a filter element and configured to produce a signal indicative of a magnitude of the electrical current;
a voltage sensor coupled to a pair of conductors providing electrical voltage to the motor and configured to produce a signal indicative of a magnitude of the electrical voltage;
a data processor coupled to receive the signals produced by the current sensor and the voltage sensor and configured to use the signals to determine an acceptable range of electrical power required by the electric motor during a first time period, to determine a magnitude of electrical power required by the electric motor during a second time period subsequent to the first time period, and to generate a first output signal indicative of a normal condition of the filter element during the second time period in the event the magnitude of electrical power required by the electric motor is within the acceptable range of electrical power; and
a filter status indicator coupled to receive the first output signal and configured to indicate the normal condition of the filter element to a user in response to the first output signal. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for determining a condition of a filter element, comprising:
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during a first time period, determining an acceptable range of electrical power required by an electric motor used to move a fluid through the filter element;
determining a magnitude of electrical power required by the electric motor during a second time period subsequent to the first time period; and
generating a first signal indicative of a normal condition of the filter element in the event the magnitude of electrical power required by the electric motor during the second time period is within the acceptable range of electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification