PARTICLE FLOW MONITOR

• US 3,842,791 A
• Filed: 07/03/1972
• Issued: 10/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert J De Brey
• Original Assignee: Robert J De Brey
• Inventors: De Brey, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruehl, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US05/268,538
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 73/194A,194B,28,214 340/239R 181/DIG.1 179/181F 302/65 15/415 138/104 285/93 116/67R,112,117R
• US Class Current: 116/67.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/281 the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners

Abstract

A particle flow monitor mounted on a housing having a passage for carrying moving fluid and particles produces audio signals that are in proportion to the amount of particles moving with the fluid. The monitor has a sensing unit having one or more enclosed chambers or cells closing an open end of the housing. A portion of the sensing unit is exposed to a flow chamber within the housing. Particles that impinge on the portion of the sensing unit produce an audio signal which provides audio information feedback as to the amount of particles moving with the fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing particles in a flowing fluid comprising:

first means having a passage for carrying fluid;

second means having a second passage for carrying fluid;

connecting means joining the first means with the second means, said connecting means comprising a housing having an inside wall surrounding a chamber open to the first passage and a 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 opposite the inlet opening, said inside wall of the housing tapers outwardly whereby the chamber increases in size as a function of distance from the inlet opening into the chamber, particle sensing means located across the open end of said chamber opposite the inlet opening for producinG audio signals related to the amount of particles which hit the sensing means, said sensing means comprising a member having at least one enclosed cell, a first particle impaction surface located adjacent one side of and facing the chamber whereby said first surface does not interfere with the flow of fluid and particles through said chamber, a portion of said particles flowing through said chamber hit said first particle impaction surface producing the audio signals, and a second surface located outside the chamber, said enclosed cell being located between said first surface and said second surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the member of the sensing means is a foamed body having a plurality of enclosed cells.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the body has a recess in its outer surface forming said second surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the body has an annular lateral flange to increase the surface area of its outer surface forming said second surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the body has means to increase the surface area of its outer surface forming said second surface.

6. An apparatus for sensing particles in a flowing fluid comprising:

means having a chamber through which fluid and particles can flow and an opening, particle sensing means located in said opening for producing audio signals related to the amount of particles which hit the sensing means, said sensing means comprising a member having at least one enclosed cell, a first particle impaction surface facing the chamber upon which particles hit, said first particle impaction surface located adjacent one side of said chamber whereby said first surface does not interfere with the flow of particles and fluid through said chamber, and a second surface located outside the chamber for transmitting audio signals to the surrounding environment, said enclosed cell being located between said first surface and said second surface, said member of the sensing means being a foamed body having a plurality of enclosed cells, said body having a recess in its outer surface forming said second surface.

7. An apparatus for sensing particles in a flowing fluid comprising:

means having a chamber through which fluid and particles can flow and an opening, particle sensing means located in said opening for producing audio signals related to the amount of particles which hit the sensing means, said sensing means comprising a member having at least one enclosed cell, a first particle impaction surface facing the chamber upon which particles hit, said first particle impaction surface located adjacent one side of said chamber whereby said first surface does not interfere with the flow of particles and fluid through said chamber, and a second surface located outside the chamber for transmitting audio signals to the surrounding environment, said enclosed cell being located between said first surface and said second surface, said member of the sensing means being a foamed body having a plurality of enclosed cells, said body having means to increase the surface area of its outer surface forming said second surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the means on said body to increase the surface area includes an annular laterally outward flange.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the means having a chamber includes an inside wall which tapers outwardly whereby the chamber increases in size as a function of distance toward said opening.

10. An apparatus for sensing particles moving with a flowing fluid comprising:

a housing having an inside wall surrounding a chamber providing a passage for carrying fluid and particles, an inlet into the chamber, an outlet from the chamber, and an opening to the chamber;

said inside wall of the housing tapering outwardly from the inlet toward the opening whereby the chamber increases in size as a function of distance from the inlet, particle sensing means located across the opening and closing the opening, said sensing means having a member having at least one enclosed space, a first particle impaction surface upon which particles moving with the flowing fluid can impinge thereby producing audio signals, said first particle impaction surface located adjacent one side of said chamber whereby said first surface does not interfere with the flow of particles and fluid through said chamber, and a second surface spaced from the first surface for transmitting the audio signals to the surrounding environment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

the first surface has a smaller area than the area of the second surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

the member is a foamed body having a plurality of enclosed cells.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the body has a recess in its outer surface forming said second surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the body has an annular lateral flange to increase the surface area of its outer surface forming said second surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the body has means to increase the surface area of its outer surface forming said second surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

the member is a foamed plastic body having an annular lateral outward flange to increase the surface area of the second surface, said surface area of the second surface being substantially larger than the surface area of the first surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 including:

means in the central portion of the second surface providing a concave recess.