For Advancing Filter Media Patents (Class 96/429)
  • Patent number: 11779870
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the condition of a filter incorporated into a vehicle or other apparatus in order to identify when the filter should be cleaned or replaced is provided. This system generally comprises a receiving device and a smart filter element. The smart filter element a filter media having a first side and a second side; a frame comprising a plurality of walls that surrounds at least a portion of the screen; and a sensor configured to gauge pressure and to communicate wirelessly with the receiving device. The sensor being located approximate to the second side of the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Aaron Garofalo, Luke Harrison
  • Publication number: 20150053081
    Abstract: The invention is directed to replacement media advancing air filter in air handling units with a flow channel. The filter having a housing and an exposure slot with filter media storage area that has an unexposed pleated, folded filter media portion stored therein. The filter media portion being folded and stacked in and compactly held at least in part within the storage area. A motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. The motor moves a movement member that moves a portion of the filter media from a stored state in the storage area into the exposure slot and is exposed to the air in the air flow channel creating an exposed portion of the filter media. The exposed portion is collected within a containment area as a further portion of media is moved into the exposure slot to replace the exposed portion therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8657936
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a direct replacement air filtration or handler filter that is placed within an air flow channel within an air handler unit having a housing. A motor in communication with a controller and having an at least one sensor input or a timer or a transceiver and processing module. A filter media storage area is located on one end of the housing, with a pleated, folded filter media folded and compactly stored inside the filter media storage area. An exposed filter media containment area is located on an opposed end within the housing with the filter media extending therebetween. The filter media being paid out or advanced from the filter media storage area across the housing where it is exposed to air within the air flow channel as it removes contaminants from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8657906
    Abstract: The invention is directed to replacement media advancing air filter in air handling units with a flow channel. The filter having a housing and an exposure slot with filter media storage area that has an unexposed pleated, folded filter media portion stored therein. The filter media portion being folded and stacked in and compactly held at least in part within the storage area. A motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. The motor moves a movement member that moves a portion of the filter media from a stored state in the storage area into the exposure slot and is exposed to the air in the air flow channel creating an exposed portion of the filter media. The exposed portion is collected within a containment area as a further portion of media is moved into the exposure slot to replace the exposed portion therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8617278
    Abstract: A replacement filter deployed within a flow channel with a housing having a first frame member and a second frame member that are detachable with an exposure slot formed within the housing. A filter media storage area is within the housing, having unexposed, folded, pleated filter media stored therein. The unexposed folded, pleated filter media is compactly held within the filter media storage area. A motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. The motor moving a movement member that advances an unexposed portion of the stacked pleated filter media into the exposure slot, expanding and exposing the unexposed portion of the media to the flow channel while retaining pleats and creating an exposed portion of the filter media. A containment area is provided where the exposed portion of the pleated filter media is collected folded, restacked and compactly stored and retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8591616
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a direct replacement filter having a housing with an exposure slot with a filter media storage area having unexposed folded, pleated filter media stored therein, being unexposed pleated, folded, and stacked to be compactly held within storage area. An at least one motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. An at least movement member is coupled to an at least one support member coupled to the media. A containment area also provided where the controller signals the motor engaging the movement member which is driven such that the movement member drives the at least one support member which engages the unexposed folded pleated filter material, moving the unexposed folded pleated filter media the storage area toward the containment area and moving an exposed portion of the filter media through the at least one exposure slot toward the containment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8404030
    Abstract: A method for renewing a sheet-type filtering material to a flowing gas stream inside a conduit by converting some of the energy of a flowing gas stream traversing the filter assembly to rotate a propeller and the propeller shaft. The rotational energy from the propeller shaft is operably coupled to a gear that causes a supply of unused sheet-type filter material on a first side of the filter assembly top move across the filter assembly to a second side of the filter assembly, so that the portion of the sheet-type filtering material in a position to filter a flowing gas stream changes over time as the flowing gas stream rotates the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: MLS Innovations LLC
    Inventor: Jerry H Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20130068099
    Abstract: The invention is directed to replacement media advancing air filter in air handling units with a flow channel. The filter having a housing and an exposure slot with filter media storage area that has an unexposed pleated, folded filter media portion stored therein. The filter media portion being folded and stacked in and compactly held at least in part within the storage area. A motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. The motor moves a movement member that moves a portion of the filter media from a stored state in the storage area into the exposure slot and is exposed to the air in the air flow channel creating an exposed portion of the filter media. The exposed portion is collected within a containment area as a further portion of media is moved into the exposure slot to replace the exposed portion therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8313567
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a direct replacement air handler filter placed within an air flow channel having a housing. The housing having a motor coupled to a power source. The motor being in communication with a controller having an at least one sensor input or a timer. With a filter media storage area located on one end of the housing, having a folded filter media compactly stored inside the filter media storage area, and an exposed filter media containment area located on an opposed end. The filter media extending there between. The filter media is paid out from the filter media storage area across the housing where it is exposed to air within an exposure area and removes contaminants from the air. It is further passed through a seal that seals the containment area where the filter media is re-folded, collected, and compactly stored with the filtered contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Smart Air Filter, LLC
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8292980
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a rolled filter stretched between first and second winding shafts and, unused part of the filter being wound around the second winding shaft; a brush provided between the first and the second winding shafts so as to come into contact with a surface of the filter; a feeding mechanism for driving the first and the second winding shafts to take up or rewind the filter; and a feeding control unit for controlling the feeding mechanism. When activating a renewing operation for feeding unused part of the filter from the second winding shaft, the feeding control unit controls the feeding mechanism such that once the filter is taken up by the first winding shaft by an take-up amount La, the filter is rewound by the second winding shaft by a rewind amount Lb, and La and Lb satisfy a relationship La?Lb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Shingo Oidate, Masato Tanaka, Mitsuru Kotaka
  • Publication number: 20120222560
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a direct replacement filter having a housing with an exposure slot with a filter media storage area having unexposed folded, pleated filter media stored therein, being unexposed pleated, folded, and stacked to be compactly held within storage area. An at least one motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. An at least movement member is coupled to an at least one support member coupled to the media. A containment area also provided where the controller signals the motor engaging the movement member which is driven such that the movement member drives the at least one support member which engages the unexposed folded pleated filter material, moving the unexposed folded pleated filter media the storage area toward the containment area and moving an exposed portion of the filter media through the at least one exposure slot toward the containment area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8192516
    Abstract: Disclosed is a filter cassette magazine and an apparatus for sequentially gathering fine particles using the same, in which a ‘filter cassette not having gathered fine particles yet,’ is received from a first magazine and the received filter cassette is transferred to a lower portion of an upper filter holder, the ‘filter cassette not having gather fine particles yet’ is pushed up toward the upper filter holder by lifting a lower filter holder so as to gather fine particles from outside, the ‘filter cassette having gathered fine particles’ is transferred to a lower portion of a second magazine, and the ‘filter cassette having gathered fine particles’ is pushed up and stored into the second magazine by lifting a push rod. Therefore, it is possible to implement simple maintenance and management, reduction in malfunction, and reduction in parts for machines and equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: APM Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwan Hoon Yoon, Won Sik Chae
  • Patent number: 8048205
    Abstract: A lint filter device for an airflow in a tumble dryer, comprising an endlessly circulating element, arranged around at least two deflector elements and positioned such as to be crossed by the airflow. The circulating element has an upper edge and a lower edge and first engaging elements are arranged on at least one of the two edges which, on opening a loading door of the tumble dryer may come to cooperate with at least one second engaging element, arranged inside the tumble dryer such that, on the opening process of the loading door, the circulating element may be automatically moved in a circulating direction and may be passed across at least one device for the removal of lint from the circulating element. The invention further relates to a method for cleaning such a lint filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Hartmut Schaub
  • Publication number: 20110061537
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a direct replacement air handler filter that is placed within an air flow channel within an air handler unit having a unitary housing comprised of at least one of an environmentally friendly plastic, cellulose, cardboard, paper or similar material with a uniform thickness throughout its length and width and having an exposure slot there through. The unitary housing being sealed throughout to prevent opening of the unitary housing by a user and containing a motor coupled to a lithium ion battery power source. The motor being in communication with a controller having an at least one sensor input or a timer. A filter media storage area can be located on one end of the unitary housing, with a pleated, folded filter media folded and compactly stored inside the filter media storage area, and an exposed filter media containment area located on an opposed end within the unitary housing with the filter media extending therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Challen Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20100328620
    Abstract: A filter device includes: a filter unit including a housing in which a roll filter stretched between a feeding shaft and a take-up shaft is housed, the housing including, between the two shafts, an opening for exposing a part of the filter; a filter installation detection sensor for detecting installation of the filter unit; a filter winding driving unit for taking up or rewinding the installed filter; and a control unit for controlling operations of the filter winding driving unit based on a detection signal from the filter installation detection sensor. When the control unit determines based on the detection signal from the filter installation detection sensor that the filter is installed, the control unit causes the filter winding driving unit to rewind the filter by a predetermined amount and determines whether the filter is new or not based on the rewinding. By detecting filter replacement, information on the replaced filter can be reset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaya Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100288128
    Abstract: Disclosed is a filter cassette magazine and an apparatus for sequentially gathering fine particles using the same, in which a ‘filter cassette not having gathered fine particles yet,’ is received from a first magazine and the received filter cassette is transferred to a lower portion of an upper filter holder, the ‘filter cassette not having gather fine particles yet’ is pushed up toward the upper filter holder by lifting a lower filter holder so as to gather fine particles from outside, the ‘filter cassette having gathered fine particles’ is transferred to a lower portion of a second magazine, and the ‘filter cassette having gathered fine particles’ is pushed up and stored into the second magazine by lifting a push rod. Therefore, it is possible to implement simple maintenance and management, reduction in malfunction, and reduction in parts for machines and equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: APM ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gwan Hoon YOON, Won Sik CHAE
  • Patent number: 7794529
    Abstract: An exemplary air filtering system is for filtering air passing through a ventilating opening of an electronic device casing. The air filtering system includes an air filtering unit, an actuating unit, and a monitoring and controlling unit. The air filtering unit includes a flexible air filtering mesh, a driving shaft and a following shaft. The driving and following shaft are rotatably positioned at opposite sides of the ventilating opening. The air filtering mesh is wrapped around the driving and following shafts with opposite ends thereof positioned to the driving and following shaft respectively. A portion of the air filtering mesh between the driving and following shafts covers the ventilating opening. The actuating unit is connected to the driving shaft of the filtering unit. The monitoring and controlling unit is configured to monitor a temperature in the electronic device casing and control the actuating unit according to the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Huan-Liang Lo
  • Patent number: 7309365
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including an electric blower for generating suction air, a collecting unit for collecting dust contained in the suction air, a dust removing unit for removing dust adhered to the collecting unit, and a dust removing stop unit for stopping an operation of the dust removing unit. The dust removing stop unit stops the operation of the dust removing unit in response to a user's selection or an operation mode of the vacuum cleaner, thereby saving a power consumption of the dust removing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yuasa, Akihito Ito, Takafumi Ishibashi, Kazuhisa Morishita
  • Patent number: 7186290
    Abstract: A filter system includes a source of clean filter media adjacent a channel through which fluid passes. The filter media is automatically advanced from the source to the channel and eventually to a sealed container adjacent the channel. The filter media is automatically advanced through the channel, where it is replaced with clean filter media in the channel. A controller controls the advancement of the filter media based upon time or based upon a current condition of the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Darren S. Sheehan, Susan D. Brandes, Robert Chiang, Brad Reisfeld
  • Patent number: 6811685
    Abstract: A self-cleaning strainer which may be installed upstream of a heat exchanger to prevent debris greater than a critical size from reaching the heat exchanger. The strainer is preferably mounted just upstream of a heat exchanger in order to minimize the possibility of debris reaching the heat exchanger. The strainer comprises a screen element which can be advanced across the flow path of the fluid between two rollers. The screen element is placed so that the fluid must flow across the screen element face to continue through the process pipe; the screen may be perpendicular or parallel to the fluid flow axis of the strainer body or at an intermediate angle to it. Flow blocking members are used so as to direct the flow to pass through the screen element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Amar S. Wanni, Thomas M. Rudy, Marciano M. Calanog
  • Patent number: 6743282
    Abstract: A furnace filter system or kit for installation on an existing furnace duct having upper and lower supply roll supports respectively mountable on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent one side wall of the duct for removably receiving a supply roll of filter media therebetween, and upper and lower take-up roll supports respectively mounted on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent the other side thereof for removably receiving a filter media take-up roll therebetween. Slots are provided in the side walls of the duct inwardly adjacent the corresponding one of the supply roll and take-up roll and between the top and bottom walls of the duct, and a filter media supporting frame assembly is received in the duct and has opposite sides provided with guide slots therein aligned with the duct slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph L. Najm
  • Patent number: 6632269
    Abstract: A furnace filter assembly for removing dirt and contamination from air entering an existing furnace is installable on the existing furnace without the need for modification thereof, and includes a filter frame, a supply roll for supporting a continuous length of bulk filter media, a take-up roll for receiving the filter media as it is advanced from the supply roll across the filter frame, a motor for rotating the take-up roll for advancing the filter media, all of which components are mounted on the filter frame. The assembly further includes a motor control system having a pressure sensor, a timer, and a switch in electrical communication with a controller for energizing and de-enegizing the motor in response to conditions of the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph L. Najm
  • Patent number: 6596059
    Abstract: An automated filter changing device (20) includes a filter reel system (22). A motor (24) is connected to the filter reel system (22). An airflow sensor (26) is in an airflow of the filter reel system (22). A controller (28) is connected to the motor (24) and the airflow sensor (26). The airflow sensor (26) determines when the airflow is below an acceptable threshold. When the airflow is below an acceptable threshold, the controller (28) tells the motor (24) to index the filter reel system (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Skyline Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Clarkson Greist, Robert Charles Stadjuhar, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030033937
    Abstract: A furnace filter system or kit for installation on an existing furnace duct comprises upper and lower supply roll supports respectively mountable on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent one side wall of the duct for removably receiving a supply roll of filter media therebetween, and upper and lower take-up roll supports respectively mounted on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent the other side thereof for removably receiving a filter media take-up roll therebetween. Slots are provided in the side walls of the duct inwardly adjacent the corresponding one of the supply roll and take-up roll and between the top and bottom walls of the duct, and a filter media supporting frame assembly is received in the duct and has opposite sides provided with guide slots therein aligned with the duct slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph L. Najm
  • Publication number: 20020069763
    Abstract: A furnace filter system or kit for installation on an existing furnace duct comprises upper and lower supply roll supports respectively mountable on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent one side wall of the duct for removably receiving a supply roll of filter media therebetween, and upper and lower take-up roll supports respectively mounted on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent the other side thereof for removably receiving a filter media take-up roll therebetween. Slots are provided in the side walls of the duct inwardly adjacent the corresponding one of the supply roll and take-up roll and between the top and bottom walls of the duct, and a filter media supporting frame assembly is received in the duct and has opposite sides provided with guide slots therein aligned with the duct slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph L. Najm
  • Patent number: 6402822
    Abstract: A furnace filter system or kit for installation on an existing furnace duct includes upper and lower supply roll supports respectively mountable on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent one side wall of the duct for removably receiving a supply roll of filter media therebetween, and upper and lower take-up roll supports respectively mounted on the top and bottom walls of the duct adjacent the other side thereof for removably receiving a filter media take-up roll therebetween. Slots are provided in the side walls of the duct inwardly adjacent the corresponding one of the supply roll and take-up roll and between the top and bottom walls of the duct, and a filter media supporting frame assembly is received in the duct and has opposite sides provided with guide slots therein aligned with the duct slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph L. Najm
  • Patent number: 6168646
    Abstract: Electronic equipment having a temperature control air flow passage. A length of filter material has a length portion extending across the upstream end of the flow passage, the filter material being movable longitudinally to replace the clogged length portion with unused filter material. A filter advancement device is operable by a control device actuated when an undesirably low fluid flow rate is achieved through the length portion so as to effect filter replacement. Roller devices give up unused filter material and take up used material. A stepper motor may be used to advance filter material for replacement purposes. The control device is preferably operated upon drop in rotational speed of a fan located immediately downstream of the filter length portion, the speed drop being caused by drag as the filter becomes clogged. Alternatively, the control device comprises a switch which is operated as the filter length portion flexes it becomes clogged, or temperature sensors located at chosen sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: William L. Craig, John S. Moss
  • Patent number: 6152998
    Abstract: An automatic filter cartridge in accordance with the present invention includes a frame which is formed with an aperture and an elongated filter medium which is attached to a supply roller and a take-up roller. Specifically, the supply and take-up rollers are placed into respective supply and take-up containers which are mounted on the frame across the aperture. The frame is then positioned in the ducting of an air conditioning system to filter the airflow through the filter medium which extends across the aperture. To monitor the airflow through the ducting, the automatic filter cartridge can further include a computer. With this configuration, a sensor is positioned in the ducting to monitor the airflow through the ducting. When the sensor indicates the filter medium in the ducting is dirty, the computer activates a motor to rotate the take-up roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Federal Air Conditioning Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Eric Taylor