PARTICLE MONITOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for sensing particles in a flowing fluid comprising:
- first means having a first passage for carrying fluid, second means having a second passage for carrying fluid, said second passage located offset from the first passage and having a portion thereof in substantial Parallel alignment with the first passage, connecting means joining the first means with the second means, said connecting means comprising a housing having an inside wall surrounding a large chamber open to the first passage and an outlet opening to the second passage whereby fluid and particles flow through said chamber, said housing having an inlet opening in communication with the first passage and an open end, said open end being substantially larger than the inlet opening, said chamber increasing in cross section as a function of distance away from the inlet opening toward the open end, particle sensing means mounted on said housing and located across the open end of said housing opposite the inlet opening adjacent the outlet opening and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first passage, said sensing means comprising flexible sheet means located across the open end of the housing, said sheet means having an outer peripheral portion and a portion extendible in a concave shape into the chamber to provide a barrier for particles moving with the fluid flowing through said chamber whereby when said particles strike said sheet means a readable sound signal related to the flow of particles through the chamber is established, and means mounting only said outer peripheral portion of the sheet means to said housing.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A particle monitoring device located in a line carrying a moving fluid, as air, containing particles. The device has a particle sensing member providing signals that are in direct proportion to the amount of particles in the moving fluid. The sensing member can be a flexible cover enclosing the large end of a housing having a side wall that increases in diameter as a function of distance from its inlet, as a funnel-shaped housing. Particles that hit the cover produce an audio signal providing information feedback of the amount of particles in the moving fluid.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for sensing particles in a flowing fluid comprising:
- first means having a first passage for carrying fluid, second means having a second passage for carrying fluid, said second passage located offset from the first passage and having a portion thereof in substantial Parallel alignment with the first passage, connecting means joining the first means with the second means, said connecting means comprising a housing having an inside wall surrounding a large chamber open to the first passage and an outlet opening to the second passage whereby fluid and particles flow through said chamber, said housing having an inlet opening in communication with the first passage and an open end, said open end being substantially larger than the inlet opening, said chamber increasing in cross section as a function of distance away from the inlet opening toward the open end, particle sensing means mounted on said housing and located across the open end of said housing opposite the inlet opening adjacent the outlet opening and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first passage, said sensing means comprising flexible sheet means located across the open end of the housing, said sheet means having an outer peripheral portion and a portion extendible in a concave shape into the chamber to provide a barrier for particles moving with the fluid flowing through said chamber whereby when said particles strike said sheet means a readable sound signal related to the flow of particles through the chamber is established, and means mounting only said outer peripheral portion of the sheet means to said housing.
-
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- the housing has a generally funnel-shaped chamber.
-
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- the center portion of the sheet means is in general axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the first passage.
-
4. The apparatus of claim 1 including:
- mechanical barrier means located adjacent the sheet means.
-
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- the sheet means is a relatively thin and flexible sheet of material.
-
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- said means mounting only said outer peripheral portion of the sheet means on the housing includes annular means cooperating with only the outer peripheral portion of the sheet means.
-
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- the sheet means is a sheet of plastic film.
-
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- said sheet means comprises laminated sheet members.
-
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- said sheet means comprises laminated sheet members in combination with reinforcing mechanical barrier means.
-
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- the sheet means is a sound producing membrane closing the large end of the housing and including a source of vacuum pressure coupled to the second means whereby a vacuum force maintains the membrane under tension.
-
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- the means holding only the outer peripheral portion of the sheet means on the housing is an annular member mounted on the housing and engageable with the outer peripheral portion of the sheet means.
-
12. The apparatus of claim 1 including:
- mechanical barrier means comprising open screen means attached to the housing and located adjacent said sheet means.
-
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- the sheet means is in an inclined position to direct gas and particles toward the outlet opening.
Specification