Abstract: A device for the detection of an air filter having an auxiliary air duct opening upstream and downstream of the air filter so as to generate in the auxiliary duct an air flow due to the head loss of the air filter and having a velocity varying in accordance with the head loss; and an electronic circuit delivering from the signals of first and second sensing devices, a signal representative of a limit clogging of the air filter when the air flow speeds within a main duct and the auxiliary duct are differing by a determined value corresponding to a limit head loss of the air filter, the device being applicable to air conditioning equipments fitting automotive vehicles.

Abstract: A machine and method for separating chip-like particles according to thickness which provides low blinding and high efficiency at high throughput in sustained operation. The machine has a sloping deck mounting a series of spaced flexible louvers or slats which extend parallel to the direction of chip flow down the deck. The slats are canted transversely to the direction of flow, and present unobstructed full length slot-like chip openings between them. The deck is driven with a horizontal gyratory motion such that during the upstream half of each cycle of movement, each slot moves toward chips on the adjacent slat which slopes toward it, and moves away from such chips during the downstream half of the cycle. The path of screening movement is uniform over the entire deck, that is, the motion of the lower or discharge end of the deck matches that of the upper or feed end.