Non-locking switch for filter monitoring
First Claim
1. A filter-monitoring switch comprising:
- first and second contacts for connection to an electric circuit;
a non-conductive pin extending between the first and second contacts and having a portion surrounded by a conductive cylinder, with the conductive cylinder for electrically coupling the first contact to the second contact; and
an annular diaphragm coupled to move the non-conductive pin and the conductive cylinder relative to the first and second contacts along an axis parallel to the non-conductive pin.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Commercially available filter-monitoring switches suffer from problems related to over sensitivity and reliability. Accordingly, the present inventors have devised, among other things, various embodiments of filter-monitoring switches and related components, subassemblies, methods, and systems. One exemplary filter-monitoring switch includes a diaphragm operably couple to move a conductive element back and forth between a pair of fixed terminals in response to pressure differences across the diaphragm. The conductive element is mounted to an insulative pin of substantially uniform width, and the terminals include leaf contacts that constantly engage the pin or the contacts throughout normal operation of the switch, thereby reducing flexure of the contacts and effectively providing a self-cleaning and self-healing electrical switch.
56 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A filter-monitoring switch comprising:
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first and second contacts for connection to an electric circuit; a non-conductive pin extending between the first and second contacts and having a portion surrounded by a conductive cylinder, with the conductive cylinder for electrically coupling the first contact to the second contact; and an annular diaphragm coupled to move the non-conductive pin and the conductive cylinder relative to the first and second contacts along an axis parallel to the non-conductive pin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a non-locking filter-monitoring switch, the method comprising:
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providing a substantially uniformly wide pin having a non-conductive portion and a conductive portion; biasing first and second contacts to provide a substantially constant contact force against the pin; and electrically coupling the first and second contacts by moving the conductive portion of the pin along an axis between the first and second contacts in response to a differential pressure condition. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification