Sound Signal Patents (Class 96/419)
  • Patent number: 11717123
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a suctioning unit, a main body including a cyclone unit for separating dust from the air suctioned through the suctioning unit, a body forming a dust container for storing the dust separated by the cyclone unit, and a body cover for opening and closing the lower side of the body. A filter unit is arranged in the body for filtering air. An actuating unit is configured to move in the body along a space between the outside of the filter unit and the inner circumferential surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngjoo Lee, Jungmin Ko, Soohan Eo, Kietak Hyun, Inkyu Hwang
  • Patent number: 8940078
    Abstract: A filter sensor to monitor an air filter in an air conditioning system is disclosed. The filter sensor includes a housing having an interior passage. The housing is located in relation to an air vent of the air conditioning system. A propeller is mounted in the interior passage. The propeller is rotated by the filtered air flow of the air conditioning system. A motion sensor is provided in proximity to the propeller or its shaft. A controller is coupled to the motion sensor to determine the rotational speed of the propeller and correlate the rotational speed of the propeller with the condition of the filter. An indicator is coupled to the controller to indicate a status of the air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad Weiden
  • Publication number: 20140216257
    Abstract: An air contaminant filtration system (10) for a cabin (12) comprising an external air drawing system (14) for drawing air from an atmosphere surrounding the cabin (12), an internal air extraction system (16) for drawing air from an atmosphere within the cabin (12), a main filtration system (18), and a filtered air delivery system (20). Air drawn from the external drawing system (14) and from the internal air extraction system (16) is directed towards the main filtration system (18) for filtration and the filtered air is then directed towards the filtered air delivery system (20) for delivery to the cabin (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Greg Brian Knowles
  • Publication number: 20140083292
    Abstract: A filter sensor to monitor an air filter in an air conditioning system is disclosed. The filter sensor includes a housing having an interior passage. The housing is located in relation to an air vent of the air conditioning system. A propeller is mounted in the interior passage. The propeller is rotated by the filtered air flow of the air conditioning system. A motion sensor is provided in proximity to the propeller or its shaft. A controller is coupled to the motion sensor to determine the rotational speed of the propeller and correlate the rotational speed of the propeller with the condition of the filter. An indicator is coupled to the controller to indicate a status of the air filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad Weiden
  • Publication number: 20130312616
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system for a working machine reliably issues filter regeneration warnings to the operator, prompting manual regeneration, so that damage to the DPF device can be avoided. When a PM estimate becomes higher than a given value, a screen displays a warning message prompting manual regeneration. If the warning message fails to prompt the operator to perform manual regeneration and reference time t1 has passed since the display of the warning message, a speaker outputs a first warning sound. When the operator notices the first warning sound and turns on a regeneration switch, regeneration control is started. If the operator fails to notice the first warning sound and reference time t2 passes, the speaker instead outputs a second warning sound louder than the first warning sound. When the operator notices the second warning sound and turns on the regeneration switch, regeneration control is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shibamori, Yutaka Watanabe, Hidenobu Tsukada, Keiichiro Nakamura, Akira Kimura, Yuuki Gotou, Kouta Fujieda
  • Patent number: 8580008
    Abstract: The invention hereby disclosed is a vertical filtering and separating suction machine of chips, steam and smoke for machining center, lathe machine or other machines, which operates by sudden changes of sucked air, thus generating hits which separate heavy particles, whose suction pipe extends almost up to the bottom of the rotor, which only uses filters at the end of the process of air purification, whose rotor has outer paddles modified in order to improve suction power and to cause more hits of air flow, and which includes an air pressure alarm showing the filter is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Tomio Ota
  • Publication number: 20130276629
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring quality of filters within a filtering system are disclosed. The system includes at least one pressure sensor which monitors a force applied by a filter on a filter housing. The system further includes a control system which provides notification to a user when the force measured by the at least one pressure sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abdolreza SALAHSHOUR, Nagarjuna R. VEMIREDDY
  • Publication number: 20120125206
    Abstract: A heating device including a heat chamber to accommodate an object to be heated, a heater, an exhaust port, an exhaust fan to eject air from inside the heat chamber through an exhaust port, and a filter to eliminate oily smoke from an exhaust gas, the heating device further including a first temperature detector to detect a temperature inside the heat chamber, a second temperature detector to detect the temperature of the air ejected through the exhaust port, and a controller to judge whether the filter is clogged or not based on a rotation number of the exhaust fan, and a difference between a temperature To in the heat chamber and a temperature Tex of the air ejected through the exhaust port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Yamane
  • Publication number: 20120118163
    Abstract: A notifier device and method of use which can be placed into an air filter for an HVAC system and which produces a whistling sound when the filter needs replacement. The device generally forms an air pathway and includes a resonator so that air passing through the pathway creates a whistling sound. So as to be useable with different types of filter media (113), the device can include a door which can selectively open and close the air pathway depending on the air pressure differential desired to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Aaron Gorga
  • Publication number: 20110296999
    Abstract: A compressed air filter and a filter element which is for separating foreign bodies from a compressed air stream and which has an element lower portion, an element upper portion which has a neck portion which forms a first flow channel and a collar portion which is constructed so as to extend at least partially around the neck portion and which is connected to the neck portion so as to form a second flow channel, and a filter medium which is sealingly connected to the element lower portion and the element upper portion in order to form a gas flow path between the first flow channel and the second flow channel through the filter medium, the collar portion having an abutment face, which is provided at least partially at the outer periphery and which tapers in the direction of the element lower portion, in order to receive an associated sealing ring in such a manner that a force which acts substantially axially on the sealing ring from the direction of the element lower portion brings about radial expansion of t
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Andreas Foerster, Norbert Fischer, Michael Feisthauer
  • Patent number: 8070139
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for dispensing an air treatment and audibly indicating the dispensing and/or a change in the dispensing intensity. An exemplary audible indicator may include a pattern of a plurality of audible indicators having the same or different durations, having the same or different intensities, separated by the same or different intervals, and having the same or different audible impressions. Different audible indicators are associated with different device states, such as not dispensing, dispensing to create ambiance, dispensing in response to a malodor, or dispensing to offset habituation. Different audible indicators may also be associated with different malodors, or different intensities of the same or different malodors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: The Dial Corporation
    Inventors: Sanam Nassirpour, Jeffrey Bankers, Jeff Gaunt
  • Patent number: 8016927
    Abstract: A computing device having a cooling fan, a heat exchanger, and a filter disposed between the heat exchanger and the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark S. Tracy, Paul J. Doczy, Jonathan R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20110146486
    Abstract: A system includes a resonant frequency modeler for determining a resonant frequency of a node on a collecting plate that collects particles from a gas flow; and a wave generating device that applies a wave having an applied frequency substantially equal to the resonant frequency to the node of the collecting plate to remove particles from the collecting plate. An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) including the system and related method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert W. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7922789
    Abstract: A portable gas fractionalization apparatus that provides oxygen rich air to patients is provided. The apparatus is compact, lightweight, and low-noise. The components are assembled in a housing that is divided into two compartments. One compartment is maintained at a lower temperature than the other compartment. The lower temperature compartment is configured for mounting components that can be damaged by heat. The higher temperature compartment is configured for mounting heat generating components. An air stream is directed to flow from an ambient air inlet to an air outlet constantly so that there is always a fresh source of cooling air. The apparatus utilizes a PSA unit to produce an oxygen enriched product. The PSA unit incorporates a novel compressor system which includes the use of free piston linear compressors so as to reduce power consumption, noise and vibration reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Inogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Frank Deane, Brenton Alan Taylor
  • Publication number: 20100192777
    Abstract: A filter device has a filter housing of connected housing parts with an inlet for unfiltered fluid and an outlet for filtered fluid. A filter element arranged in the filter housing separates the inlet seal-tightly from the outlet. A releasable anchoring device connects the housing parts. The anchoring device has a rotary insert having a guide and anchoring section and an interacting receptacle with an insertion/removal section. The rotary insert of the first housing part is arranged in the receptacle of the second housing part. The guide and anchoring section has a first rotary state in which it is positively guided for gliding in the insertion/removal section to guide the housing parts when being connected or separated. In a second rotary state the guiding and anchoring section is secured in an anchoring section of the receptacle for securing the housing parts. The insertion/removal section passes into the anchoring section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Walz, Juergen Kosicki, Joachim Streich, Markus Hanselmann, Thomas Jessberger
  • Patent number: 7621978
    Abstract: A timer that starts a time cycle when a filter is placed into a housing is disclosed. The timer cycle will not reinitiate a new time cycle when the previously used filter is removed from the housing and reinserted into the housing. In one embodiment, the filter timer assembly includes a filter having a filter media surrounded by a filter frame, a housing for supporting the filter, a piercing post connected to the housing moveable between a first resting position and a second position in direct contact with the filter frame, and a timer connected to the piercing post. The piercing post punctures a portion of the filter frame to create an opening in the filter frame. The timer initiates a count when the piercing post is actuated to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Ronald C. Johansson
  • Publication number: 20090183636
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to devices useful in insuring the proper installation of a high efficiency particulate air (“HEPA”) filter into a room air purifier. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a magnetic interlock device is provided wherein the filter must be properly installed within the air purifier to enable closure of an electrical switch (74) within the air purifier, thereby completing an electrical circuit and permitting the air purifier motor and fan (20) to operate or to provide an audible or visual signal provided by electrically acuated means indicating incorrect placement of the filter within the device. In a second aspect of the invention, the air purifier is designed to create an audible signal to alert a user if the air purifier is operated without an air filter or if the air filter is improperly installed in the air purifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Levine, Jay Packman
  • Publication number: 20090185958
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for dispensing an air treatment and audibly indicating the dispensing and/or a change in the dispensing intensity. An exemplary audible indicator may comprise a pattern of a plurality of audible indicators having the same or different durations, having the same or different intensities, separated by the same or different intervals, and having the same or different audible impressions. Different audible indicators are associated with different device states, such as not dispensing, dispensing to create ambiance, dispensing in response to a malodor, or dispensing to offset habituation. Different audible indicators may also be associated with different malodors, or different intensities of the same or different malodors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sanam Nassirpour, Jeffrey Bankers, Jeff Gaunt
  • Publication number: 20090165644
    Abstract: An air filter apparatus with a self-contained detachable programmable clogging indicator for use in forced air HVAC systems, air heaters, internal combustion engines, vacuum cleaners, medical devices, biomedical devices, inert atmosphere glove boxes, scientific equipment, etc. . . . and method of use is disclosed. The self contained detachable clogging indicator consists of downstream rotating vane anemometer to measure the air flowing through the filter as a means to accurately estimate the degree of filter clogging. A detachable user interface allows manipulation of the operating parameters and threshold limits and provides a means to alert the user of filter replacement. The filter media is inserted into the filter housing and may be a specialty or commercially available filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: David F. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7449038
    Abstract: A method of detecting leaks in the filter bags of a baghouse filter chamber that includes determining when the filter bags have been cleaned and, during a post-cleaning period after the cleaning of the filter bags, determining whether the opacity level of the exhaust of the baghouse filter chamber exceeds a predefined opacity limit. The determining whether the opacity level of the exhaust of the baghouse filter chamber exceeds a predefined opacity limit may include monitoring the opacity level of the exhaust of the baghouse filter chamber with an opacity sensor during the post-cleaning period and comparing the opacity readings during the post-cleaning period with the value of the predefined opacity limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Wesley Grant, Donald R. Pegelow
  • Patent number: 7445665
    Abstract: A method for detecting the cleanliness of a filter. The filter is disposed on an air inlet or an air outlet of a fan. The method includes the following steps. At first, outputting a rotation control voltage to the fan, and an airflow generated by the rotation of the fan flows through the filter. Then, detect an actual rotation rate of the fan, and calculate an actual dust value f1 according to the actual rotation rate and the rotation rate control voltage. Then, a dust upper limit value of the filter is defined. Finally, the cleanliness of the filter is determined according to the actual dust value and the dust upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Chang Hsieh, Hung-Jen Wei
  • Patent number: 7393380
    Abstract: A method for guaranteeing at least one characteristic of a fluid used for producing food products. This method utilizes a system for piping and delivering the fluid, combined with means for producing the products, in order to use the fluid for producing the products; the measuring a value of the characteristic; the comparing the measured value with a predetermined threshold value; the act of executing an action if the measured value departs from the threshold value; the combining the measured value with first information for identifying at least one product; and then the storing the associated value and the associated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-François Vie, Henry Ledon, Philippe Girardon, Christel Girault
  • Patent number: 7374600
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing or minimizing false back pressure faults caused by a new particulate filter in an engine exhaust system. When a new particulate filter is placed in an engine exhaust system, the normal back pressure threshold for the fault detection system is increased by a new filter offset amount. Back pressure faults at the normal level are not recorded for a limited period of engine operation and only records back pressure faults that exceed the normal back pressure threshold by the value of the new filter offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Avery, Jr., Dennis M. Letang
  • Patent number: 7364610
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a sensor including, inter alia, a body having first and second spaced-apart apertures, the first aperture having a shape producing an audible noise upon a fluid passing therethrough; a piston positioned within the body; and a chamber having an additional fluid disposed therein, with a volume of the additional fluid placing the piston between first and second positions, the first position impeding the first volume of fluid and the second position allowing the first volume of fluid to pass through the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: Michael D. Falcon
  • Patent number: 7306661
    Abstract: A service recording device for a filter is particularly suited for an extraction hood with an air flow device with a variable volumetric flow. The service recording device has a counter device with a variable counting speed. The counting speed of the air flow device is thus a function of the volumetric flow of the air flow device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Rohrbach, Christoph Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7303613
    Abstract: A pressure actuated electrical switch and indicator to indicate to a user that a filter vacuum cleaner requires cleaning or replacing. In a first embodiment, the pressure actuated electrical switch measures the pressure present between the filter media and the flow inducing device to determine whether a minimum absolute pressure threshold has been exceeded. The pressure actuated switch has a chamber with two electrical leads that are connected when the pressure in the vacuum cleaner raises above a predetermined level. A tube from the chamber to the vacuum cleaner housing draws a conductive part into contact with both leads. In additional embodiments, the pressure measure is the difference in air pressure above and below the filter media, or the difference in air pressure between the pressure in the air stream between the filter media and the flow inducing source, and the ambient air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Rosenzweig
  • Patent number: 7285149
    Abstract: An oil separator for use in a vehicle air system includes a recycling valve for removing coalesced oil. The recycling valve may include a piston movable in a cylinder in response to a control air pressure to open the recycling valve and thus drain coalesced oil from a sump under the influence of residual air pressure in the sump. The separator may include a fixture for mounting the separator to a vehicle, including a plurality of ports extending from an inlet port for directing air into the cartridge with a combined flow area at least equal to the flow area of the inlet port. The plurality of ports preferably extend at a right angle to the direction of flow of air through the inlet port. A safety relief valve on the separator releases air when the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William P. Fornof, Gregory R. Ashley, Leonard A. Quinn, Fred W. Hoffman, Gregory C. Smith
  • Patent number: 7264642
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas cleaning apparatus (30) in which a before and after differential pressure (?P) of a filter (32) used to trap particulates is detected for regeneration of the filter (32), a time at which, during filter regeneration, the temperature of the outlet section of the filter (32) falls below the temperature of the inlet section thereof (?T>M), using a first temperature sensor (36) and a second temperature sensor (37), is determined as being the timing of the completion of the regeneration of the filter (32). The value of the before and after differential pressure (?P) at the time of this regeneration completion is used to estimate the quantity of residual ash in the filter (32), and when this estimated residual ash quantity is the same as, or greater than, a prescribed value (PX), a replacement warning signal (K3) is output urging replacement of the filter (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hamahata, Shoko Tanida, Toru Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7261762
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting and predicting air filter condition for an air handling system operates by determining a system resistance to air flow. The system resistance is utilized to determine a detection statistic indicative of current filter condition and to predict remaining life of the air filter. The system resistance is determined using models that approximate the expected operation of the air handling system. The approximation is then compared to actual values to obtain a difference. Once the difference between the approximated value exceeds a threshold value, an alarm is initiated that is indicative of system resistance. The remaining air filter life is then determined by using historically gathered data, or by using a known degradation rate of the air filter. Once the remaining life of the air filter is estimated, replacement can be scheduled that would coincide with other maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Pengju Kang, Mohsen Farzad, Slaven Stricevic, Payman Sadegh, Alan M. Finn
  • Patent number: 7101420
    Abstract: Self cleaning air filtration machine and a method for using same comprising; a filter with a motor driven belt or disk or counter rotating disks that are perforated, a spray bar, a recirculation pump and supply line, a wet tank, a ultrasonic transducer, ultraviolet submersible bulbs, a water fill port, a liquid level sensor, a liquid and sediment drain port, and a power source. A preferred embodiment includes a subsonic transducer on the wet tank. A preferred embodiment includes a air diffuser, a toxic and noxious gas detection and recognition and radiation detection with automatic safety shut down and audible and visual alarm, a ultraviolet saturation chamber. A preferred embodiment includes a secondary wet filter, a secondary air diffuser, a secondary ultraviolet saturation chamber. A preferred embodiment includes a inline dryer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventors: Adria Valley Anne Nelson Ellis, Rob Nelson
  • Patent number: 6991674
    Abstract: An air quality monitoring arrangement is associated with an enclosed cab of an agricultural tractor used for towing or carrying spraying implements for treating crop with substances which might be toxic or otherwise harmful to people. A signal from a contaminant sensor is sent to a control arrangement which compares the actual sensed contamination of the air within the cab over time with a value from a performance map representing the performance expected from normal performance of the air circulating system of the cab. When the sensed contamination is higher than that of the performance map the operator is warned of a malfunction. The blower of the air circulating system may have its speed increased so as to pressurize the cab so as to exclude the entry of contaminated air through seals and other small openings of the cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Gunnar Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6837922
    Abstract: An air filter sensor kit and method of using the same for permitting a person to modify the filtering portion of a heating or cooling system that uses an air filter to enable the determination of when the air filter is dirty and needs changing. The air filter sensor kit includes an air filter sensor with a portion shaped for insertion through the air filter and a portion with an indicator for indicating the condition of the air filter. The kit includes an air filter sensor connecting and support member for connecting the air filter sensor to an air filter grill and for supporting the air filter sensor and a cutting tool for cutting a hole in an air filter grill to allow the passage of a portion of the air filter sensor connecting and support member to permit a portion of the air filter sensor to be inserted through the air filter. The air filter sensor kit also includes a cutting tool guide that is adjustable to conform to various configurations of air filter grills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: Barney F. Gorin
  • Patent number: 6666070
    Abstract: A method for inspecting the integrity of diesel exhaust filter by introducing air under pressure through one end of the structure and detecting the presence of air flow at an opposing end surface. The diesel exhaust filter is tested green.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Ralph H. Hagg, Jeffrey G. Payne, Leon R. Zoeller, III
  • Patent number: 6620222
    Abstract: A system for filtering air entering the housing of a computer. A filter is placed in the path of air entering the computer housing. A timing program is installed on the computer to keep track of the total amount of time the computer has run since installation or service of the filter. After the computer has run for a predetermined amount of time, the program causes the computer to prompt the computer user to change or service the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Troy Elliott White
  • Patent number: 6478849
    Abstract: A vapor recovery system for a fuel storage tank. The system includes a pair of VOC adsorbent canisters that alternately recover VOC vapors from the fuel tank ullage or are regenerated. Regeneration of the VOC adsorbent canisters is provided by exhausting the VOC vapors from the VOC canisters using a vacuum pump and back into the fuel tank ullage. When the operating pressure of the fuel tank ullage is elevated, an auxiliary VOC adsorbent canister is operated in parallel with the pair of canisters in order to recover the increased amount of VOC vapors in the tank ullage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignees: Dresser, Inc., Nitrotec Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Ken W. Taylor, Robert G. McKinney, Herbert E. Reinhold
  • Patent number: 6375725
    Abstract: An end-of-service indicator for use with a respirator cartridge, the end-of-service indicator having an optical waveguide having two extremities, one of the extremities being connected to a light source, the other of the extremities being connected to a detector which measures the intensity of light guided and transmitted by the fiber. An alarm is connected to the detector and is triggered when the intensity of light measured by the detector is below a predetermined level. An important aspect of the end-of-service indicator is that at least a portion of the optical fiber is porous. In use, the end-of-service indicator is placed inside a respirator cartridge having a gas/vapor sorbent, so that when the respirator cartridge is used in a toxic environment, the gas/vapor sorbent and the porous glass gradually become saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignees: Institut National D'Optique, Institut de Recherche en Santa et Securite du Travail du Quebec
    Inventors: Pierre Bernard, Serge Caron, Marco St-Pierre, Jaime Lara
  • Publication number: 20020029733
    Abstract: A dirty filter indicator device adapted for use with a furnace, an air conditioning assembly and the like. As the filter collects dirt and dust, the overall airflow is restricted causing more air to flow through the whistle device. This increased air flow through the device alerts the occupants to the need to change the air filter. The device has a canopy to prevent large dust particles from clogging the device and an adjustable nozzle element which can be adjusted to begin whistling according to the degree of dirtiness of the filter by cutting portions of the distal end of the whistle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Ronald G. Timmons
  • Patent number: 6273935
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for trapping a toxic gas contained in an exhaust gas from a process chamber are disclosed. In the apparatus, two toxic gas traps are provided which are connected in series with a toxic gas sensor provided thereinbetween and in fluid communication with the two traps. When toxic gas is detected by the toxic gas sensor, i.e., an indication that the first toxic gas trap is fully consumed, the second toxic gas trap is used to replace the first toxic gas trap, while a new toxic gas trap is installed as the second toxic gas trap. The present invention novel apparatus and method enables the full use or utilization of a toxic gas trap and results in significant cost savings. Furthermore, the present invention novel apparatus and method improves the yield of a fabrication process by reducing the machine down time since the service frequency for the chamber is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Shih, Yung-Dar Chen, Fu-Shun Lo, Wen-Hsiung Wu
  • Patent number: 6228155
    Abstract: An automatic detection and warning device of the filtering net of an air conditioner comprises: an outer frame installed with at least one wind inlet and at least one wind outlet, a wind groove being formed between the wind inlet and the wind outlet; a sampling filtering net installed in the wind groove of the outer frame; a detecting unit comprising a transmitter and a receiver for detecting the amount of collecting dusts on the sampling filtering net; and a circuit unit installed within the outer frame for controlling the operation of the detecting unit. Thereby, the amount of collecting dusts on the filtering net of an air conditioner can be determined so as to warn the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: Kuo Cheng Tai
  • Patent number: 6168645
    Abstract: A gas purification system includes a gas purification unit and one or more safety devices. The gas purification unit includes an enclosure containing a purification material that exhibits an exothermic reaction when exposed to certain gas contaminants. The gas purification unit also has an inlet coupled to an unpurified gas inlet line and an outlet coupled to a purified gas outlet line. A safety device can be coupled either to the unpurified gas input line or the purified output line, or both, and develops an alarm signal when gas contaminants exceed a given concentration level for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: SAES Getters S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Succi, Giorgio Vergani, D'Arcy H. Lorimer
  • Patent number: 6077336
    Abstract: An air filter system that includes a mechanism for notifying a user when a proper filter replacement period had elapsed that further includes a scenting mechanism for scenting the air flowing through the filter system with a pleasant odor. The air filter system includes a scent impregnated filter element held within a filter element frame provided with a user notification system and multiple scent impregnated strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventors: Marcia A. Ulrich, Uwe J. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 5961919
    Abstract: A deodorizing and disinfecting apparatus having catalyst deterioration detection function of the present invention comprises: an air supply portion for inhaling air inside; an ozone generating portion for discharging ozone to the inhaled air: a catalyst for accelerating deodorizing and disinfecting actions and decomposition of the ozone disposed downstream from the ozone generating portion; an ozone sensor for detecting the concentration of remaining ozone disposed downstream from the catalyst; and means for repeating a cycle including stop of ozone discharge from the ozone generating portion for a predetermined time period when the concentration of the remaining ozone reaches a predetermined concentration or more, and for determining that the catalyst is deteriorated when a condition wherein an interval between times when the concentration of the remaining ozone is not less than a predetermined concentration becomes shorter than a predetermined time period is recognized at a predetermined frequency, and then
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tachibana, Akiyoshi Hattori, Nobuyuki Yoshiike, Akihiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5917141
    Abstract: An air filter monitoring device that includes an attachment mechanism for attaching the monitoring device to the cover grate of an air return of an air conditioning system and a first and a second air flow actuated switch wired electrically in series with an alerting device, such as a light emitting diode and/or an audible alarm, each having an air resistance plate positioned within an air flow chamber. The air flow chamber is formed within a housing having an adjustable air intake inlet in connection with the air flow chamber. Air flowing through the air flow chamber within a range between a first and a second predetermined value causes the first and second air flow actuated switches to activate the alerting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Clyde J. Naquin, Jr.