Indicator device for compressed air systems

• US 4,999,035 A
• Filed: 01/13/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Dry Air Products Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Dry Air Products Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Warndorf, Eugene R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nozick, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US07/297,114
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 55/275, 55/316, 116/206
• US Class Current: 96/117.5
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/004 Draining and drying devices

Abstract

A device for indicating humidity in a line. A T-fitting has a cross bar portion connected in series with the line. An upright portion of the T-fitting extends outwardly from the cross bar portion. A hollow indicator body is mounted on the upright portion with a bore in the upright portion in communication with the hollow interior of the body. An end portion of the hollow interior of the body is exposed behind a transparent plate. A chamber is formed in the hollow interior of the body, and a humidity sensitive pad in the chamber is visible through the transparent panel.

Claims

1. The combination an air compressor, a desiccating tower receiving compressed air from the compressor, a storage tank, first line means connecting the desiccating tower to the storage tank, and second line means connecting the storage tank to the compressor with an upright fitting connected to the first line means downstream of desiccant in the desiccating tower, an indicator device connected to the upright fitting, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright fitting with a bore in the upright fitting in communication with the hollow interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow interior of the body being exposed, a transparent plate closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent plate in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, and a humidity sensitive indicator pad in the chamber visible through the transparent plate.

2. A combination as in claim 1 in which the desiccating tower has a purge chamber downstream of the desiccant and the hollow interior of the hollow body mounted on the upright fitting portion is in communication with the purge chamber.

3. A combination as in claim 1 in which the upright fitting portion is the stem of a T-fitting having the cross-bar portion thereof connected in series between the desiccating tower and the storage tank.

4. The combination of an air compressor, a desiccating tower receiving compressed air from the compressor, a storage tank, first line means connecting the desiccating tower to the storage tank, and second line means connecting the storage tank to the compressor with an upright fitting connected to the first line means downstream of desiccant in the desiccating tower, an indicator device connected to the upright fitting, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright fitting with a bore in the upright fitting in communication with the hollow interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow interior of the body being exposed, a transparent plate closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent plate in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, a humidity sensitive indicator pad in the chamber visible through the transparent plate, and a plug of porous material disposed in the bore of the body for catching liquid and solid material from compressed air moving through the hollow body toward the indicator pad.

5. The combination of an air compressor, a desiccant container and line means connected to the air compressor and to the desiccant container with a device for indicating humidity downstream of the air compressor and the desiccant container which comprises a hollow upright fitting portion extending outwardly from the line means, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright fitting portion with the interior of the hollow body in communication through a bore in the upright fitting portion with the interior of the line means, an end portion of the hollow of the body being exposed, a transparent plate closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent plate in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, and a humidity sensitive indicating pad in the chamber visible through the transparent plate.

6. The combination of an air compressor, a desiccant container, and line means connected to the air compressor and to the desiccant container with a device for indicating humidity downstream of the air compressor and the desiccant container which comprises a hollow upright fitting portion, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright portion with a bore in the upright portion in communication with the line means and the interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow body being exposed, a transparent member closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent member in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, a humidity sensitive indicator pad in the chamber visible through the transparent member, and the humidity sensitive pad exhibiting an appearance indicating the humidity of air in the line relative to a predetermined relative humidity value.

7. A device for indicating humidity in a portion of a compressed air system relative to a predetermined relative humidity value which comprises an upright portion extending outwardly from a compressed air containment portion of the system, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright portion with a bore in the upright portion in communication with the interior of the system and the interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow body being exposed, a transparent member closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent member in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, a humidity sensitive indicator pad in the chamber visible through the transparent member, a plug of porous material in the hollow indicator body and spaced from the sensitive pad to catch liquid and solid material in air in the line means before it can reach the sensitive pad, and the humidity sensitive pad exhibiting an appearance indicating the humidity of air in the line relative to a predetermined relative humidity value.

8. A combination as in claim 7 in which the upright portion is a branck of line means connecting in series the desiccant container and a storage tank.

9. The combination of an air compressor, a desiccating tower receiving compressed air from the compressor, a storage tank for storing compressed air line means connecting the desiccating tower to the storage tank, and line means connecting the storage tank to the compressor with an indicator device connected to one of the line means which comprises a T-fitting which includes a cross bar portion connected in series with said one of the line means and an upright portion extending outwardly from the cross bar portion, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright portion with a bore in the upright portion in communication with the hollow interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow interior of the body being exposed, a transparent plate closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent plate in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, and a humidity sensitive pad in the chamber visible through the transparent plate.

10. The combination of an air compressor, a desiccating tower receiving compressed air from the compressor, a storage tank, line means connecting the desiccating tower to the storage tank, and line means connecting the storage tank to the compressor with an indicator device connected to one of the line means which comprises a T-fitting which includes a cross bar portion connected in series with said one of the line means and an upright portion extending outwardly from the cross bar portion, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright portion with a bore in the upright portion in communication with the hollow interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow interior of the body being exposed, a transparent plate closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent plate in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, a plug of porous material disposed in the bore of the body for catching liquid and solid material from said one of the lines, and a humidity sensitive pad in the chamber visible through the transparent plate.

11. A combination as in claim 10 in which the cross bar portion of the T-fitting is connected in series between the desiccating tower and the storage tank.

12. A device for indicating humidity in a line which comprises a T-fitting which includes a cross bar portion connected in series with the line, an upright portion extending outwardly from the cross bar portion, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright portion with a bore in the upright portion in communication with the interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow of the body being exposed, a transparent plate closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent plate in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, a humidity sensitive pad in the chamber adjacent and visible through the transparent plate, and a plug of porous material in the hollow indicator body spaced from the T-fitting and from the sensitive pad to catch liquid and solid material from the T-fitting before it can reach the sensitive pad.

13. A device for indicating humidity in a line relative to a predetermined relative humidity value which comprises a T-fitting which includes a cross bar portion connected in series with the line, an upright portion extending outwardly from the cross bar portion, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright portion with a bore in the upright portion in communication with the interior of the line and the interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow of the body being exposed, a transparent member closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent member in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, a humidity sensitive pad in the chamber visible through the transparent member, a plug of porous material in the hollow indicator body spaced from the T-fitting and from the sensitive pad to catch liquid and solid material from the T-fitting before it can reach the sensitive pad, and the humidity sensitive pad exhibiting an appearance indicating the humidity of air in the line relative to a predetermined relative humidity value.

14. A combination as in claim 13 in which the cross bar portion of the T-fitting is connected in series in a line between the desiccating tower and the storage tank.

15. A device for indicating humidity in a line relative to a predetermined relative humidity value which comprises a T-fitting which includes a cross bar portion connected in series with the line, an upright portion extending outwardly from the cross bar portion, a hollow indicator body mounted on the upright portion with a bore in the upright portion in communication with the interior of the line and the interior of the hollow body, an end portion of the hollow of the body being exposed, a transparent member closing the exposed end portion, means for holding the transparent member in position closing the exposed end portion, a chamber being formed in the hollow interior of the body portion, a humidity sensitive pad in the chamber visible through the transparent member, a plug of porous material in the hollow indicator body and spaced from the line and from the sensitive pad to catch liquid and solid material from the said line before it can reach the sensitive pad, and the humidity sensitive pad exhibiting an appearance indicating the humidity of air in the line relative to a predetermined relative humidity value.