Air filter gauge

• US 6,190,442 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Filters, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tishken Products Company
• Inventors: Redner, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, DUANE
• Application Number:
  US09/387,302
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 964/21, 95/19, 95/25, 55D/IG.34, 73/310.4, 116/270, 116/271, 116/272, 116/268, 116/266, 116/DIG.25
• US Class Current: 96/421
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/4254 Allowing or improving visual supervision, e.g. lamps, transparent parts, windows
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/446 by pressure measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2003/0683 the quality of the filter or the air being checked
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/06 Filtering B60H3/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/25 Air filter condition indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/34 Indicator and controllers

Abstract

An air filter cleanness gauge is provided. The gauge in a preferred embodiment includes a transparent cover. The housing has a first opening for fluid communication with the atmosphere and a second opening having fluid communication with a fluid source exposed to a filter. A vane is pivotally connected within the housing and provides a pressure boundary between the first and second openings. Movement of the vane indicates a change in pressure differential between the atmosphere and the fluid source, thereby indicating a need to change the air filter.

Claims

1. A fluid filter cleanness gauge comprising:

a housing with a translucent cover, said housing having a first opening into said housing for fluid communication with a fluid source at a first pressure, said first opening having a variable orifice, and said housing having a second opening spaced away from said first opening, said second opening having fluid communication with a second fluid source exposed to a filter at a second pressure; and

a pivotal vane mounted within said housing providing a pressure boundary between said first and second openings wherein a pressure differential between said first and second pressure sources causes said pivotal vane to pivot to indicate said pressure differential.

2. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said cover is transparent.

3. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said housing has indicator markings for visual communication to an observer at what positions of said pivotal vane a filter replacement is desired.

4. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said second opening is connected with a tubular member which is inserted through a control volume boundary.

5. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said first opening variable orifice is provided by an elongated member with a head and movement of said head with respect to said first opening orifices said first opening.

6. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 5 wherein said elongated member is threaded and rotation of said elongated member moves said head with respect to said first opening.

7. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said pivotal vane in a rest position is generally oriented vertically.

8. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein there is a filter forming a control volume boundary between said first and second openings of said housing.

9. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said pivotal vane moves about in a control volume bounded by said filter and said second opening.

10. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 9 wherein said filter is generally adjacent said pivotal vane when said pivotal vane is in a rest position.

11. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 9 wherein said pivotal vane in a rest position abuts a stop and said stop mounts an end of said filter.

12. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said pivotal vane is formed from a rigid polymeric material.

13. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein the pivotal vane can be molded to a weight to determine a sensitivity range of said fluid cleanness gauge.

14. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 13 wherein said vane has a cavity and the depth of said cavity determines the sensitivity range of said filter cleanness gauge.

15. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said housing is molded from a polymeric material.

16. A fluid filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 1 wherein said housing mounts a pivot pin and said pivotal vane is pivotally connected upon said pivot pin.

17. A fluid filter cleanness gauge comprising:

a polymeric housing with a transparent cover, said housing having a first opening for fluid communication with an atmospheric pressure source, said first opening having a variable orifice provided by a threaded fastener mounted within said opening with a head, wherein said head can be moved toward and away said housing to orifice said first opening, and said housing having a second opening spaced away from said first opening, said second opening having fluid communication with a plenum chamber exposed to an air filter, said second opening being connected with a tubular member extending through a pressure boundary;

a filter member mounted within said housing forming first and second control volumes within said housing between said first and second openings;

a rigid vane pivotally connected within said housing between said first and second openings having a generally vertical rest position wherein a pressure differential between said atmosphere and said plenum chamber causes said pivotal member to indicate said pressure differential.

18. An air filter cleanness gauge comprising:

a plastic housing with a transparent cover, said housing having a first opening for fluid communication with an atmospheric pressure source, said fluid opening having a variable orifice provided by a threaded fastener mounted within said opening with a head, wherein said head can be moved toward and away from said housing to orifice said first opening, and said housing having a second opening spaced away from said first opening, said second opening having fluid communication with a second fluid source at a second pressure source exposed to a filter, said second opening being connected with a tubular member extending through a control volume boundary;

the indicator markings on said housing for visual communication to an observer at what positions of said pivotal vane a filter replacement is desired;

a filter member mounted within said housing forming first and second control volumes within said housing between said first and second openings;

a rigid pivotal vane pivotally connected on a pin mounted within said housing between said first and second openings having a generally vertical rest position wherein a pressure differential between said first and second pressure sources causes said vane to align with said indicator marking on said housing to indicate a need to change said air filter.

19. An air filter cleanness gauge as described in claim 18 wherein said tubular member extends through at least two control volume boundaries.