Filter with memory, communication and pressure sensor
First Claim
1. A method of determining the integrity of individual filtering elements within a multi-filter housing, comprising:
- a. placing a plurality of filtering elements in parallel, each having an input side and an output side, and a corresponding plurality of pressure sensors, inside said multi-filter housing, each of said plurality of sensors being associated with said output side of a respective one of said plurality of filter elements and located in close proximity to said respective one of said plurality of filter elements so as to be able to determine the diffusion rate for said associated individual filtering element;
b. introducing a gas at a predetermined pressure into said multi-filter housing at the input side of each filtering element;
c. measuring with each said sensor a pressure at the output side of each filtering element with which each respective sensor is associated while each of said filtering elements is within said multi-filter housing;
d. determining whether each said measured pressure is within a predetermined range; and
e. identifying any individual filter elements with measured pressures outside said predetermined range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention describes a system and method for accurately measuring the pressure within a filter housing. A pressure sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to be able to measure and transmit the pressure within the filter housing while in use. This system can comprise a single component, integrating both the communication device and the pressure sensor. Alternatively, the system can comprise separate sensor and transmitter components, in communication with one another. In yet another embodiment, a storage element can be added to the system, thereby allowing the device to store a set of pressure values. The use of this device is beneficial to many applications. For example, the ability to read pressure values in situ allows integrity tests to be performed without additional equipment. In addition, integrity testing for individual filters within multi-filter configurations is possible.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of determining the integrity of individual filtering elements within a multi-filter housing, comprising:
- a. placing a plurality of filtering elements in parallel, each having an input side and an output side, and a corresponding plurality of pressure sensors, inside said multi-filter housing, each of said plurality of sensors being associated with said output side of a respective one of said plurality of filter elements and located in close proximity to said respective one of said plurality of filter elements so as to be able to determine the diffusion rate for said associated individual filtering element;
b. introducing a gas at a predetermined pressure into said multi-filter housing at the input side of each filtering element;
c. measuring with each said sensor a pressure at the output side of each filtering element with which each respective sensor is associated while each of said filtering elements is within said multi-filter housing;
d. determining whether each said measured pressure is within a predetermined range; and
e. identifying any individual filter elements with measured pressures outside said predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a. placing a plurality of filtering elements in parallel, each having an input side and an output side, and a corresponding plurality of pressure sensors, inside said multi-filter housing, each of said plurality of sensors being associated with said output side of a respective one of said plurality of filter elements and located in close proximity to said respective one of said plurality of filter elements so as to be able to determine the diffusion rate for said associated individual filtering element;
Specification