Inline, point-of-use air/gas dryness indicator
First Claim
1. A low-profile dryness indicator apparatus for point-of use operation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool, comprising:
- a vessel having a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between said first and second ends;
said central portion of said vessel being formed by a light transmissive vessel wall that defines a containment chamber for containing a desiccant material;
a dryness-indicating, color-changing desiccant in said containment chamber;
a rigid protective housing having first and second ends and a durable, crush-resistant, central cover portion disposed around said vessel wall;
a closed-perimeter view port in said central portion of said protective housing for viewing said dryness-indicating material in said containment chamber;
first and second air/gas-permeable closures respectively closing said first and second ends of said vessel, said closures each having a central raised portion on an inner side thereof extending into said containment chamber and a plenum-defining cavity on an outer side thereof facing away from said containment chamber;
first and second end cap fittings respectively disposed on said first and second ends of said protective housing, said end cap fittings each being configured for connection to an air/gas line or a tool and comprising an air passage for transferring air or gas to or from an adjacent one of said plenum-defining cavities; and
said protective housing having a major surface portion that is substantially the same cross-sectional size as an air/gas line to which said dryness indicator is adapted to be attached.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low-profile dryness indicator for point-of-use operation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool. The apparatus includes a vessel having a first end, a second end, and a central portion formed by a light transmissive wall that defines a containment chamber containing a dryness-indicating material, such as a color-changing desiccant or moisture sensitive paper. A rigid protective housing is disposed around the vessel wall and has one or more view ports for viewing the dryness-indicating desiccant in the containment chamber. The protective housing is closed by first and second end cap fittings that are each configured for connection to a compressed air/gas line, or to an air tool, and include a passage for transferring air or gas to or from an adjacent one of the plenum-defining cavities.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A low-profile dryness indicator apparatus for point-of use operation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool, comprising:
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a vessel having a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between said first and second ends; said central portion of said vessel being formed by a light transmissive vessel wall that defines a containment chamber for containing a desiccant material; a dryness-indicating, color-changing desiccant in said containment chamber; a rigid protective housing having first and second ends and a durable, crush-resistant, central cover portion disposed around said vessel wall; a closed-perimeter view port in said central portion of said protective housing for viewing said dryness-indicating material in said containment chamber; first and second air/gas-permeable closures respectively closing said first and second ends of said vessel, said closures each having a central raised portion on an inner side thereof extending into said containment chamber and a plenum-defining cavity on an outer side thereof facing away from said containment chamber; first and second end cap fittings respectively disposed on said first and second ends of said protective housing, said end cap fittings each being configured for connection to an air/gas line or a tool and comprising an air passage for transferring air or gas to or from an adjacent one of said plenum-defining cavities; and said protective housing having a major surface portion that is substantially the same cross-sectional size as an air/gas line to which said dryness indicator is adapted to be attached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A low-profile dryness indicator apparatus for point-of use operation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool, comprising:
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a vessel having a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between said first and second ends; said central portion of said vessel being formed by a light transmissive vessel wall that defines a containment chamber for containing a dryness indicating material; a dryness-indicating material in said containment chamber; said vessel comprising a major surface portion that is smaller in cross-sectional size than an air/gas line to which said dryness indicator is adapted to be attached; a rigid protective housing having first and second ends and a durable, crush-resistant, central portion that contains said vessel and whose inner surface is substantially proximate to said major surface portion of said vessel; a closed-perimeter view port in said central portion of said housing for viewing said dryness-indicating material in said containment chamber; first and second air/gas-permeable closures respectively closing said first and second ends of said vessel and retaining said dryness-indicating material in said containment chamber; first and second end fittings respectively mounted on said first and second ends of said protective housing, said end fittings being configured for attachment to an air/gas line or a tool and each comprising an air passage for transferring air or gas to or from said vessel; and said protective housing and said first and second end fittings each having a major surface portion that is substantially the same cross-sectional size transverse to a longitudinal axis of said dryness indicator as an air/gas line to which said dryness indicator is adapted to be attached, and said protective housing having a length dimension that does not substantially exceed its cross-sectional size. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A low-pressure-drop dryness indicator apparatus for point-of-use operation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool, comprising:
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a vessel having first and second seal support surfaces and a central portion disposed between said first and second seal support surfaces; said central portion of said vessel being formed by a light transmissive vessel wall that defines a containment chamber for containing a desiccant material; a dryness-indicating, color-changing desiccant material in said containment chamber; first and second air/gas-permeable screen closures each comprising a peripheral seal adapted to seat on one of said seal support surfaces, said closures each further including a non-planar screen that creates a protuberance on a first side thereof extending into said containment chamber and a plenum-defining cavity on a second side thereof facing away from said containment chamber; said vessel and said first and second air/gas-permeable screen closures being disposed in a protective housing having a view port for viewing said color changing desiccant in said containment chamber; a pair of end cap fittings on said protective housing configured for attachment to an air/gas line or a tool and each comprising an air passage for transferring air or gas to or from an adjacent one of said plenum-defining cavities; and said end cap fittings each including a shoulder engaging one of said peripheral seals and urging it against one of said seal support surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A dryness indicator apparatus for point-of use operation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool, comprising:
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a vessel having a first end, a second end, and a central portion disposed between said first and second ends; said central portion of said vessel being formed by a light transmissive vessel wall that defines a containment chamber for containing a desiccant material; a dryness-indicating, color-changing desiccant material in said containment chamber; first and second air/gas-permeable closures respectively closing said first and second ends of said vessel, said closures each having a central raised portion extending into said containment chamber and a plenum-defining cavity on an outer side thereof facing away from said containment chamber; said vessel and said first and second closures being disposed in a protective housing having a view port for viewing said color changing desiccant in said containment chamber; a pair of end cap fittings on respective ends of said protective housing configured for attachment to an air/gas line or a tool and each comprising an air passage for transferring air or gas to or from an adjacent one of said plenum-defining cavities; and said end cap fittings each engaging one of said closures and retaining it in position on said vessel.
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33. A low-profile dryness indicator apparatus for point-of use operation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool, comprising:
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an indicator body assembly; a quantity of dryness-indicating material disposed in said indicator body assembly; said indicator body assembly being configured so that said dryness-indicating material is visible from outside said indicator apparatus; first and second air/gas-permeable closures respectively closing said first and second ends of said vessel and retaining said dryness-indicating material in said containment chamber; a pair of end connectors at respective ends of said indicator body assembly, said end connectors being configured for attachment to a compressed air/gas line or a tool; and said indicator body assembly and said first and second end connectors each having a major surface portion that is substantially the same cross-sectional size transverse to a longitudinal axis of said dryness indicator as an air/gas line to which said dryness indicator is adapted to be attached, and said indicator body assembly having a length dimension that does not substantially exceed its cross-sectional size. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification