Air filter condition indicating device

• US 4,014,209 A
• Filed: 12/15/1975
• Issued: 03/29/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wayne L. Emerick
• Original Assignee: Wayne L. Emerick
• Inventors: Emerick, Wayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swisher, S. Clement
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corr, Denis E.
• Application Number:
  US05/641,692
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 116/114 AE, 116/DIG. 25, 116/114 AD, 116/114 R, 116/117 R, 116/117 C, 73/38, 73/211, 73/401, 73/119 R, 55/270, 55/274
• US Class Current: 73/114.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/18 using liquid as the pressure-sensitive medium, e.g. liquid-column gauges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/25 Air filter condition indicator

Abstract

An air filter condition indicating device particularly adapted for use with an air filter positioned in an air flow path, such as in an air induction system of an internal combustion engine for continuously sensing and indicating flow condition of an air filter in the air induction system. The disclosed device includes a transparent tubular member having liquid therein and arranged in a generally U-shaped path with a first leg thereof positioned adjacent an indicia member and adjacent an observation aperture in one wall of a gauge housing. A first flow member communicates between an upstream side of the filter or an air intake portion of the air induction system and an upper end portion of the first leg of the tubular member. A second flow member communicates between a downstream side of the filter or a central cavity of the air filter and an upper end portion of a second leg of the tubular member whereby reduced pressure adjacent the downstream side or central cavity of the air filter effects movement of the liquid in the tubular member first leg relative to the indicia member.

Claims

1. An air flow condition indicating device for continuously sensing and indicating the flow conditions of an air induction system and filter of an internal combustion engine and comprising in combination:

a. an air filter housing having an air intake portion and a central cavity communicating with a carburetor of an internal combustion engine, said air filter housing being positioned in an air induction system of an internal combustion engine;

b. a generally cylindrical air filter having an exterior surface and a central cavity therein, said air filter being positioned in said central cavity of said air filter housing and sealingly engaged therewith between the air intake portion and the communication with the carburetor;

c. a gauge housing mounted on an automobile dashboard in spaced relation with said air filter housing, said gauge housing having walls defining a chamber therein, one of said gauge housing walls having an abservation aperture therein;

d. a tubular member positioned in said gauge housing and arranged to define a generally U-shaped path having a first leg and a second leg each having an upper end portion, said first leg of said tubular member having a transparent portion positioned adjacent and visible through said observation aperture in said gauge housing;

e. a liquid in said tubular member and positioned in said first and second legs;

f. indicia means in said gauge housing and positioned between said observation aperture in said gauge housing and said first leg of said tubular member, said indicia means being visible through said observation aperture in said guage housing;

g. first flow means having one end thereof connected to the upper end portion of said first leg of said tubular member and communicating between said air intake portion of said air filter housing and said tubular member first leg;

h. second flow means having one end thereof connected to the upper end portion of said second leg of said tubular member and communicating between said central cavity of said air filter and said tubular member second leg whereby reduced pressure in said air filter central cavity effects movement of the liquid in said tubular member first leg relative to said indicia means;

i. means defining a neck portion in said tubular member second leg and positioned adjacent said upper end portion of said second leg;

j. a float member in said tubular member second leg and adapted to float on said liquid therein and seat in said neck portion of said second leg to prevent flow of said liquid through said second flow means in the event of reduction in pressure in said air filter central cavity in response to reduced flow through said air filter; and

k. illuminating means mounted in said gauge housing and positioned adjacent said tubular member first leg for illuminating said indicia means and said tubular member first leg.

2. An air flow condition indicating device for continuously sensing and indicating the flow conditions of an air induction system and filter of an internal combustion engine and comprising in combination:

a. an air filter housing having an air intake portion and a central cavity communicating with a carburetor of an internal combustion engine, said air filter housing being positioned in an air induction system of an internal combustion engine;

b. a generally cylindrical air filter having an exterior surface and a central cavity therein, said air filter being positioned in said central cavity of said air filter housing and sealingly engaged therewith between the air intake portion and the communication with the carburetor;

c. a gauge housing mounted on an automobile dashboard in spaced relation with said air filter housing, said gauge housing having walls defining a chamber therein, one of said gauge housing walls having an observation aperture therein;

d. a tubular member positioned in said gauge housing and arranged to define a generally U-shaped path having a first leg and a second leg each having an upper end portion, said first leg of said tubular member having a transparent portion positioned adjacent and visible through said observation aperture in said gauge housing;

e. a colored liquid in said tubular member and positioned in said first and second legs;

f. indicia means positioned to be exposed and visible through said observation aperture in said guage housing upon movement of the colored liquid from said first leg of said tubular member;

g. first flow means having one end thereof connected to the upper end portion of said first leg of said tubular member and communicating between said air intake portion of said air filter housing and said tubular member first leg;

h. second flow means having one end thereof connected to the upper end portion of said second leg of said tubular member and communicating between said central cavity of said air filter and said tubular member second leg whereby reduced pressure in said air filter central cavity effects movement of the colored liquid in said tubular member first leg to expose said indicia means.