Flow rate control of temperature control fluids
First Claim
1. A method for the control of flow rate of a filtered temperature control fluid through equipment comprising:
- passing the fluid through a length portion of filter material at the upstream end of a fluid flow passage of the equipment and the along the passage; and
upon attaining an undesirably low rate of fluid flow through the length portion of filter material as determined by one of a drag effect created upon a rotational speed of a fan disposed close to the length portion of filter material, an amount of flex of the length portion of filter material, and a temperature in a downstream region of the fluid flow passage, causing the length of filter material to advance longitudinally to move at least some of the length portion from the upstream end of the fluid flow passage and move unused filter material across the upstream end of the flow passage thereby to increase fluid flow through the filter material above the undesirably low rate.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic equipment having a temperature control air flow passage. A length of filter material has a length portion extending across the upstream end of the flow passage, the filter material being movable longitudinally to replace the clogged length portion with unused filter material. A filter advancement device is operable by a control device actuated when an undesirably low fluid flow rate is achieved through the length portion so as to effect filter replacement. Roller devices give up unused filter material and take up used material. A stepper motor may be used to advance filter material for replacement purposes. The control device is preferably operated upon drop in rotational speed of a fan located immediately downstream of the filter length portion, the speed drop being caused by drag as the filter becomes clogged. Alternatively, the control device comprises a switch which is operated as the filter length portion flexes it becomes clogged, or temperature sensors located at chosen sites.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for the control of flow rate of a filtered temperature control fluid through equipment comprising:
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passing the fluid through a length portion of filter material at the upstream end of a fluid flow passage of the equipment and the along the passage; and
upon attaining an undesirably low rate of fluid flow through the length portion of filter material as determined by one of a drag effect created upon a rotational speed of a fan disposed close to the length portion of filter material, an amount of flex of the length portion of filter material, and a temperature in a downstream region of the fluid flow passage, causing the length of filter material to advance longitudinally to move at least some of the length portion from the upstream end of the fluid flow passage and move unused filter material across the upstream end of the flow passage thereby to increase fluid flow through the filter material above the undesirably low rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 13)
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5. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing, a fluid flow passage for flow of a filtered temperature control fluid through the housing, a length of filter material having a length portion extending across an upstream end of the flow passage for filtering undesirable material from the fluid, a fan means for causing fluid flow through the length portion and along the flow passage, the fan means having at least one fan disposed downstream in the flow passage from the length portion of the filter material, filter advancement means, and control means, actuable upon reaching an undesirably low rate of fluid flow through the length portion as determined by a drag effect created upon a rotational speed of the fan, to operate the advancement means so as to advance the length of filter material for a distance longitudinally to move at least some of the length portion from the upstream end of the flow passage and move unused filter material across the upstream end of the flow passage thereby to increase fluid flow through the filter material above the undesirably low rate. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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14. A filter arrangement comprising:
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a length of filter material, a length portion of the filter material disposed in the flow path of a flowable fluid to be filtered, filter advancement means, and control means, actuable upon reaching an undesirably low rate of fluid flow through the length portion as determined by an amount of flex of the length portion of filter material, to operate the advancement means so as to advance the length of filter material longitudinally to move at least some of the length portion out of the flow path and move unused filter material into the flow path thereby to increase fluid flow through the filter material above the undesirably low rate.
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing, a fluid flow passage for flow of a filtered temperature control fluid through the housing, a length of filter material having a length portion extending across an upstream end of the flow passage for filtering undesirable material from the fluid, means for causing fluid flow through the length portion and along the flow passage, filter advancement means, and control means, actuable upon reaching an undesirably low rate of fluid flow through the length portion as determined by an amount of flex of the length portion of filter material, to operate the advancement means so as to advance the length of filter material for a distance longitudinally to move at least some of the length portion from the upstream end of the flow passage and move unused filter material across the upstream end of the flow passage thereby to increase fluid flow through the filter material above the undesirably low rate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing, a fluid flow passage for flow of a filtered temperature control fluid through the housing, a length of filter material having a length portion extending across an upstream end of the flow passage for filtering undesirable material from the fluid, means for causing fluid flow through the length portion and along the flow passage, filter advancement means, and control means, actuable upon reaching an undesirably low rate of fluid flow through the length portion as determined by a temperature in a downstream region of the fluid flow passage, to operate the advancement means so as to advance the length of filter material for a distance longitudinally to move at least some of the length portion from the upstream end of the flow passage and move unused filter material across the upstream end of the flow passage thereby to increase fluid flow through the filter material above the undesirably low rate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification