Filtration monitoring system

• US 9,517,429 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Complete Filter Management LLC
• Original Assignee: Complete Filter Management LLC
• Inventors: Beier, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MacChiarolo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siwoku, Yusuf O
• Application Number:
  US14/079,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 73/38
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/429 Means for wireless communication

Abstract

The present disclosure is a filtration monitoring system. Filtration monitoring system may include a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of usage of a monitored filter. The sensor may be communicatively coupled to a controller which is configured to transfer measured data to a server of the filter monitoring system. Server may be configured to store historical data regarding representative filter usage and may determine a predicted expiration time for a monitored filter which may be adjusted based upon the measured data from the sensor.

Claims

1. A filtration monitoring system, comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of usage of a monitored filter;

a second sensor configured to measure a characteristic of usage of a second monitored filter;

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, said controller configured to receive measured data of said characteristic of usage of said monitored filter from said sensor;

a second controller communicatively coupled to the second sensor;

a server communicatively coupled to said controller and said second controller, wherein said server is configured to retrieve historical data regarding usage of a representative filter to determine a predicted expiration time of said monitored filter, said server configured to adjust said predicted expiration time of said monitored filter based upon the measured data received from said controller, wherein said server is configured to retrieve historical data regarding usage of another representative filter to determine a predicted expiration time of said second monitored filter, said server configured to adjust said predicted expiration time of said second monitored filter based upon the measured data received from said second controller, wherein said predicted expiration time accounts for estimated periods of use of said second monitored filter and accounts for estimated periods of non-use of said second monitored filter wherein said controller includes a wireless transceiver.

2. The filtration monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said sensor includes a differential pressure sensor.

3. The filtration monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a differential pressure across said filter.

4. The filtration monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver is configured to transmit data according to IEEE 802.11 standard.

5. The filtration monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said representative filter shares at least one characteristic in common with said monitored filter.

6. The filtration monitoring system of claim 5, wherein said at least one characteristic in common with said monitored filter includes one of filter type, filter size, filter manufacturer, or filter environment.

7. The filtration monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said server is configured to send a notification to a user regarding the predicted expiration time of said monitored filter.

8. The filtration monitoring system of claim 7, wherein said server is configured to determine a service technician route for replacement of filters based upon the predicted expiration time of said monitored filter, the predicted expiration time of said second monitored filter, a location of said monitored filter, and a location of said second monitored filter.

9. The filtration monitoring system of claim 8, wherein said server is configured to schedule a replacement of said monitored filter at a time approximately near the predicted expiration of said monitored filter.

10. The filtration monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said server is configured to generate a graphical user interface accessible by a user via a worldwide network, said graphical user interface including information regarding the predicted expiration time of said monitored filter.

11. The filtration monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitored filter is an air filter.

12. A filtration monitoring system, comprising:

a differential pressure sensor configured to measure a differential pressure across a monitored air filter;

a wireless transceiver communicatively coupled to the differential pressure sensor, said wireless transceiver configured to receive measured differential pressure data across said monitored air filter from said differential pressure sensor;

a server communicatively coupled to said wireless transceiver, wherein said server is configured to retrieve historical data regarding usage of a representative filter to determine a predicted expiration time of said monitored air filter, said server configured to adjust said predicted expiration time of said monitored air filter based upon the measured differential pressure data received from said wireless transceiver, said server configured to retrieve the historical date regarding usage of the representative filter in combination with the measured differential pressure data to determine the predicted expiration time of the monitored air filter, said predicted expiration time accounts for estimated periods of use of said monitored air filter and accounts for estimated periods of non-use of said monitored air filter.

13. The filtration monitoring system of claim 12, wherein said representative filter is a similar filter type and a similar filter size.

14. The filtration monitoring system of claim 12, wherein said server is configured to send a notification to a user regarding the predicted expiration time of said monitored air filter.