Ambient air inlet assembly for a hazardous gas mixing apparatus

• US 5,980,835 A
• Filed: 01/02/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovative Engineering Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovative Engineering Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Porozni, Gordon B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hien
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENNEDY, JAMES C
• Application Number:
  US09/002,427
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 422/4, 422/110, 422/111, 422/120, 422/168, 422/176, 422/172, 137/3, 137/100, 72/861.66
• US Class Current: 422/111
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/46 Pitot tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/131 by measuring the values related to the quantity of the individual components G05D11/139 takes precedence

Abstract

A hazardous gas mixing apparatus includes a mixing chamber wherein air is mixed with such a gas to render same inert. An air inlet assembly admits an air flow induced into the mixing chamber and includes an air flow sensor having a probe located in a housing of the assembly. Differential air pressures detected by the probe are provided to a signal generating transmitter and signal converter serving a logic controller providing a display correlated to linear feet per minute air flow in the apparatus mixing chamber. A honeycomb air straightener serves to provide a laminar flow of air past the sensor probe. An intake screen on the housing reduces the intake of foreign particles.

Claims

1. An air inlet assembly for admitting an air flow into a hazardous gas mixing apparatus having an air inlet opening and comprising,

a housing for communication with air inlet opening of the apparatus, an air flow assembly including an inner tube and an outer tube in place in said housing for simultaneous communication with different air pressures occuring in said housing,

an air flow straightening means in said housing and located upstream in the air flow from said air flow sensor assembly, and

means in communication with said air flow sensor assembly for providing a display correlated to air flow velocity in the mixing apparatus,

a diffuser in said housing downstream from said air flow sensor assembly and adjacent an end of said housing and diverting portions of the air flow through said air inlet opening of the mixing apparatus and along paths inclined to a projected axis of said housing.

2. The assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a perforate air intake.

3. The assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said air flow straightening means is of honeycomb configuration.

4. The assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said air flow sensor assembly includes a probe having both high and low pressure ports.

5. In combination,

an air inlet assembly, an apparatus having walls defining a mixing chamber for mixing of an air flow with a hazardous gas, said walls terminating at their corresponding ends in securement to an end wall, said end wall of the apparatus defining an air inlet opening,

said air inlet assembly comprising,

a housing in place on said end wall and defining a passageway for an air flow entering the apparatus through said air inlet opening,

air flow straightening means partially occupying said housing and through which the air flow passes,

an air flow sensor assembly in said passageway and offset from said air flow straightening means in the direction of the air flow and sensing differential pressures occurring in said housing,

means in communication with the air flow sensor assembly and converting air pressures into output signals,

a programmable logic controller responsive to the signals and including a display indicating a flow rate of air through said mixing chamber of said apparatus occurring prior to air flow mixing with the hazardous gas, and

a diffuser in said housing downstream from said air flow sensor assembly and adjacent an end of said housing and diverting portions of an air flow through said air inlet opening of the mixing apparatus and along paths inclined to the projected axis of said housing.