CA1106705A - Air filter restriction indicating device - Google Patents
Air filter restriction indicating deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1106705A CA1106705A CA328,320A CA328320A CA1106705A CA 1106705 A CA1106705 A CA 1106705A CA 328320 A CA328320 A CA 328320A CA 1106705 A CA1106705 A CA 1106705A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- chamber
- indicating
- diaphragm
- infold
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
An air filter restriction indication device communicating with the supply of air passing from an air filter to the air intake of an internal com-bustion engine. The indicating device senses a decrease in the supply of air drawn through the air filter by the engine based upon changes in the amount of vacuum in the negative side of the air supply, the amount of restriction being indicated by the movement of an indicating device. Improved means included in the indicating device senses the movement of the indicating device and progressively locks the indicating device into various indicating positions as the vacuum increases due to an increased restriction of the filter, so that the maximum reading of restriction achieved during engine operation remains visible to the operator or maintenance personnel even after the engine is turned off.
An air filter restriction indication device communicating with the supply of air passing from an air filter to the air intake of an internal com-bustion engine. The indicating device senses a decrease in the supply of air drawn through the air filter by the engine based upon changes in the amount of vacuum in the negative side of the air supply, the amount of restriction being indicated by the movement of an indicating device. Improved means included in the indicating device senses the movement of the indicating device and progressively locks the indicating device into various indicating positions as the vacuum increases due to an increased restriction of the filter, so that the maximum reading of restriction achieved during engine operation remains visible to the operator or maintenance personnel even after the engine is turned off.
Description
'X?~;
BACKGROUND OF 'L'H~: INVENTION
The improved device of the present invention is used in connection with an air filter for internal combustion engines. It i8 particularly useful for application to turbo-charged dies01 engines on trucks, tractors and in-dustrial and marine applica-tions. The device indicates and locks itself in position when the air filter has become so loaded with contaminants that the supply of air required by the engine for its operating efficiency is not being drawn through the filter and that the filter therefore requires cleaning or replacement. It also locks itself in various positions so a~ to provide a 10 continuous indication as to how much useful life remains in the air filter before it should be cleaned or changed.
~ Ieretofore, flag, gauge or warning light indicators have been used to indicate when an air filter is filled with dust or other contaminants which re-strict the air flow to the engine but do not give gradual fixed readings from a clean to a dirty filter condition. Many operators unnecessarily and improp-erly clean or change an air filter element rather than take a chance of having a warning signal appear even though the filter is not full of contaminants.
Over-servicing prevents a normal dust build-up from filtering out the fine particles that lodge in the pores of the filter paper element of, for example, 20 a dry air filter. This shortens the life of the filter element and more fre-quent cleaning is needed, which increases the risk of filter element damage and improper installation. A hole as small as l/16" can pass enough dust to ruin an engine within eight hours of operation. Most air cleaners are designed to retain a certain amount of dust until 25" of vacuum is reached.
At that point the air filter is full and is incapable of taking any more dust without a rapid increase in vacuum downstream of the filter elements. The high vacuum can pull dust through the filter element and may even pull par-ticles of the filter element and oil from the engine crank case into the com-bustion chamber, particularly with turbo-charged diesel engines. Therefore, -1- ~
' ` ~ . ':
either dust, contaminanks or lack of oil may ruin the engine in a relatively short time.
With the flag or switch type indicators or with a continuously reading or dial gauge, it is virtually impossible to ascertain how much capacity is left in the air filter when the engine is shut down or twrned off. Furthermore, dial type gauges vary the indication of vacuum depending on the load on the engine while the engine is in operation. The load and the engine air flow may be highest when the operator of the vehicle may not be able to readily visually observe the gauge or indicator. When less load is placed on the engine an erroneous gauge reading may be indicated. When the engine is stopped com-pletely, the gauge or indicator does not continue to indicate the true condition of the air filter as when the engine was under maximurrl load condition. There-fore, the maintenance personnel or the driver of the vehicle may not know the true condition of the air filter at the end of a run, since operators rarely main-tain a log of readings o~ the air filter indicator. To make such an observation7 the engine must be restarted and preferably operated with a dynomometer to simulate maximum load conditions. Such procedures take considerable time and expense and if not done frequently, may result in the engine dangerously operating with an overloaded air filter.
Furthermore, the ideal situation when a dial type gauge is used is for the operator of the engine to monitor and log and report maximum readings.
It is difficult to train operators to follow such procedures and many times the operator neglects to do so, with resultant poor engine operation.
In addition, more fuel is used to maintain horsepower at above 20" of vacuum and if cleaning the air filter does not reduce the vacuum below 20", the filter element should be replaced to avoid frequent cleaning and to save fuel.
The device herein gives a gradual reading from a clean to adirty filter condition and automatically locks into the highest clogged air flow 3~
condition during engine operation so that it may be read after shutdown and may also be monitored during engine operation.
Furthermore, after cleaning or replacement, it is easy to reset the indicator and it will then assume a position away from a danger line on the indicator showing how much air filter use is left. Obviously air filters should be replaced when there is not much filter capacity left after cleaning.
The device herein is designed to give a continuous progressive reading to indicate the build-up of contaminants within the air filter and to indicate the condition of the filter through eliminating guess work as to the time when cleaning or replacement of an air filter is approaching because the condition of the filter is indicated by the movement of an indicating member with respect to a visible scale. Furthermore, the indicating device indicates the condition of contamination of the air filter progressively and locks itself into its highest vacuum indicating position, whereby regardless of whether or not the engine to which it is attached is operating, there is a positive indication of the condi-tion of contamination of the air filter and an indication to the extent to which the air filter is still useful.
Indicators for registering the restriction present in air filters have been utilized heretofore and are the subject matter of patents such as United States Patents Witchell 3, 068, 831, Lee 3, 443, 365 and Kashiwaba 3, 465, 707.
The indicators disclosed in these patents lock themselves into position only when they have indicated a restriction in the air filter which only indicates that the filter life is expended. Such high restriction may occur at a time unknown to the operator of the vehicle, particularly when intent on driving, for example, when passing another vehicle on a hill and he will, therefore, not be aware of the degree to which the air filter is contaminated. There is no progressively locked indication of contamination as in the case of the device of the present invention.
Other prior patents in this field are Nelson United States Patents - ' . " , 71,~
" 939, 457 and 4, 033, 733. However, the prior Nelson patènts do not include the progressive locking feature of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a contamination indicating device fol an air filter for internal co~bustion engines, which device provides a positive indication of the increasing contamination of the air filter by having the contamination indicating member therein progressively lock itself into various indicating positions and to maintain the indication of the highest amount of contamination even in the absence of operation of the engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air restriction indicating device for use in connection with an air filter for internal combustion engines which indicates and maintains a progressive and continuous showing of the degree of contamination of the air filter so that air filter servicing may be scheduled before the filter life is expended and before higher fuel consumption occurs.
PREFERRED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation showing the device herein in its operating position;
FIGURE 2 is a view inside elevation of the indicating device shown in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 on an enlarged scale;
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing a different operating position; and FIGURE 5 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the device 10 forming an air filter restric-tion indicating device constructed and operated in accordance with the inven-tion is shown in an operating position connected by an air line 12 to communi-cate with negative air pressure zone at the air stream 14 passing through a stack 16 from an air filter 18 comprising an intake air side to the air intake 20 of an internal combustion engine 22, of which only a portion is shown.
The device 10 comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 24 pref-erably formed of a suitable plastic material and consists of an annular side wall 26 and upper end wall 28 defining a chamber 30 within said housing.
Upstanding centrally from said upper end wall 28 is a neck portion 32 having a passage 34 therethrough for communication through the air line 12 between the air stream passing through the air line 12 and the chamber 30.
An annular outward offset portion 36 is formed about the bottom por-~ion of said side wall and an annular right angled shou~der 38 is shown formed at the upper inner side of said offset portion as an underlying annular inward-ly extending flange 39.
Forming the lower end portion of said housing 26 is a relatively short cylindrical cup-shaped member 40 which may be a metal stamping or plastic molding and which has a lesser diameter than that of said housing and having an end or bottom wall 42 and an annular side wall 44. Said end wall has a cylindrical recess 46 formed therein with the bottom wall 48 of said recess having an opening or hole 50 therethrough. ;
The side wall 44 of said member terminates in a right angled flange 52 of a width to be set upon said annular flange 38.
An inverted or cup-shaped diaphragm 54 formed of pliable plastic having an end or bottom wall 56 and a side wall 58 terminating in an annular flange 60 is disposed within said housing. Said flange 60 is disposed to over-lie said flange 52 ancl to underlie said flange 38. A suitable adhesive (not sho~,vn) may secure said flanges 52 and 60 and between said shoulder 38 and the flange 39.
Seated upon and either adhesively or mechanically secured to said diaphragm 54 by a washer (not shown) is an upright tapered cup-shaped member -6Z formed of rigid plastic having a bottom wall 64 overlying the bottom wall 56 of said diaphragm 54 and having an annular flared side wall 66 terminating in a vertical rim portion 68 which rim portion will form a brightly colored ring 70 to form a readily visible indication member or indicator which by its vertical position indicates the amount of restriction or extent of contamina-tion in the air filtar.
The bottom wall 64 of said member 62 has a substantially narrower ~,vidth than the underlying wall portion of said diaphragm as indicated in FIGURE 5.
Said end wall 28 has a central depending cylindrical boss 72 having a bore 74 therein.
Slidably disposed into said bore 74 is a tubular guide member 76 having an open lower end portion 78 extending through and being secured to the underlying central wall portions of said members 56 and 64. Said guide member 76 is of such a length as not to be fully withdrawn from within said bore ~,vhen said diaphragm is folded in upon itself as indicated in FIGURE 3.
Disposed within said chamber is a tapered coil spring 80 having its upper end portion 82 bearing against the inner side of said end wall 28 and its lower end portion 84 being seated against the inner side of the bottom or end wall 64 of the cup-shaped tnember 62.
Said chamber is sealed away from the outer atmos-phere by being in direct communication with the air line 16 and thus air-borne contaminants cannot affect the condition or operati~n of either the indicating member 62 or the spring 80.
Appearing on said housing are vertically spaced horizontal lines 86 indicating linear restriction levels of the filter, and indicating operating ranges with an uppermost band 88 which when reached by the rim portion indicates full restrict:ion. The particular indicia indicated is merely for illustration.
Integral with the housing is a mounting plate 90 indicated as being rectangular in form with notches 9Z being formed at each side edge portion 94 thereof to accommodate appropriate fastening means to secure the same as to the instrument panel of a vehicle.
The particular novelty of the device will now be described which comprises the lock-up feature whereby the degree of restriction is locked into the scale as the restriction advances until manually released.
Extending upwardly into said guide member 76 is an elongated locking member 96 angled as shown at its upper end 106 and having a notched side portion 98. Corresponding complementary notches 100 are formed in an inner adjacent wall portion 102 of the guide member 76. Said notches 100 are so formed that relative upward movement of said member 96 is permit-ted but it is locked against downward movement by interengagement of said notched portions 98 and 100.
Said guide member 96 has a flange 104 adjacent its lower end portion 108 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, resting freely on the inner side of bottom wall 42 to retain the member 96 in position but to afford movement thereof through hole 50 which is larger than extension 108.
The upper end portion 106 of said locking member is offset as shown from its lower portion 108, said lower portion being a cylindrical depending portion extending freely through the recess 50.
Said external lower portion 108 is connected to an operating member or button 114 having a coil spring 116 carried thereon between said button and the adjacent bottom wall 42 of said member urging said member in a direc-tion upwardly and laterally which is limited in its lateral movement by engage-ment of said ring 104 resting on said bottom wall 42 and the guide member portion 106 is cocked to an off-center position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 4.
Surrounding said coil spring 116 is a compressible annular filter 118 which filters air at atmospheric pressure entering the space below the dia-~5 phragm 54 through the opening 50.
When it is desiIed to reset the indicator after cleaning or replace-ment of the air filter and after the member 96 has locked itself in its upper position, the thumb o the operator, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 4, is pressed against the button 114 to move the member 96 to the dotted line position by reason of enlarged hole 50, as shown in FIC~URE 4, to release the notched latching elernents 96 and 100 and permit spring 80 to return the , indicating assembly to its home position shown in FIGURE 1, and indicating ~; that the lowest amount of inches of water vacuum is present in the negative air supply to the engine.
It will be seen from the fs~regoing that I have provided an eff~ ciently ~,"
operating air filter gauge, or detection, device which is simply constructed i of inexpensive stampings and molded plastic parts which gives a clear indica-' ~ tion of the remaining usefulness of an air filter and also positively indicates when the air filter requires or i8 approaching attention for cleaning or re-placement, which indication i8 continuously visible and remains at a point which is controlled by the highest amount of restriction in the air filter.
. - This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satis-factory for accomplishment of the purpose set forth above.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be specifically understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
: ~`
:
~'
BACKGROUND OF 'L'H~: INVENTION
The improved device of the present invention is used in connection with an air filter for internal combustion engines. It i8 particularly useful for application to turbo-charged dies01 engines on trucks, tractors and in-dustrial and marine applica-tions. The device indicates and locks itself in position when the air filter has become so loaded with contaminants that the supply of air required by the engine for its operating efficiency is not being drawn through the filter and that the filter therefore requires cleaning or replacement. It also locks itself in various positions so a~ to provide a 10 continuous indication as to how much useful life remains in the air filter before it should be cleaned or changed.
~ Ieretofore, flag, gauge or warning light indicators have been used to indicate when an air filter is filled with dust or other contaminants which re-strict the air flow to the engine but do not give gradual fixed readings from a clean to a dirty filter condition. Many operators unnecessarily and improp-erly clean or change an air filter element rather than take a chance of having a warning signal appear even though the filter is not full of contaminants.
Over-servicing prevents a normal dust build-up from filtering out the fine particles that lodge in the pores of the filter paper element of, for example, 20 a dry air filter. This shortens the life of the filter element and more fre-quent cleaning is needed, which increases the risk of filter element damage and improper installation. A hole as small as l/16" can pass enough dust to ruin an engine within eight hours of operation. Most air cleaners are designed to retain a certain amount of dust until 25" of vacuum is reached.
At that point the air filter is full and is incapable of taking any more dust without a rapid increase in vacuum downstream of the filter elements. The high vacuum can pull dust through the filter element and may even pull par-ticles of the filter element and oil from the engine crank case into the com-bustion chamber, particularly with turbo-charged diesel engines. Therefore, -1- ~
' ` ~ . ':
either dust, contaminanks or lack of oil may ruin the engine in a relatively short time.
With the flag or switch type indicators or with a continuously reading or dial gauge, it is virtually impossible to ascertain how much capacity is left in the air filter when the engine is shut down or twrned off. Furthermore, dial type gauges vary the indication of vacuum depending on the load on the engine while the engine is in operation. The load and the engine air flow may be highest when the operator of the vehicle may not be able to readily visually observe the gauge or indicator. When less load is placed on the engine an erroneous gauge reading may be indicated. When the engine is stopped com-pletely, the gauge or indicator does not continue to indicate the true condition of the air filter as when the engine was under maximurrl load condition. There-fore, the maintenance personnel or the driver of the vehicle may not know the true condition of the air filter at the end of a run, since operators rarely main-tain a log of readings o~ the air filter indicator. To make such an observation7 the engine must be restarted and preferably operated with a dynomometer to simulate maximum load conditions. Such procedures take considerable time and expense and if not done frequently, may result in the engine dangerously operating with an overloaded air filter.
Furthermore, the ideal situation when a dial type gauge is used is for the operator of the engine to monitor and log and report maximum readings.
It is difficult to train operators to follow such procedures and many times the operator neglects to do so, with resultant poor engine operation.
In addition, more fuel is used to maintain horsepower at above 20" of vacuum and if cleaning the air filter does not reduce the vacuum below 20", the filter element should be replaced to avoid frequent cleaning and to save fuel.
The device herein gives a gradual reading from a clean to adirty filter condition and automatically locks into the highest clogged air flow 3~
condition during engine operation so that it may be read after shutdown and may also be monitored during engine operation.
Furthermore, after cleaning or replacement, it is easy to reset the indicator and it will then assume a position away from a danger line on the indicator showing how much air filter use is left. Obviously air filters should be replaced when there is not much filter capacity left after cleaning.
The device herein is designed to give a continuous progressive reading to indicate the build-up of contaminants within the air filter and to indicate the condition of the filter through eliminating guess work as to the time when cleaning or replacement of an air filter is approaching because the condition of the filter is indicated by the movement of an indicating member with respect to a visible scale. Furthermore, the indicating device indicates the condition of contamination of the air filter progressively and locks itself into its highest vacuum indicating position, whereby regardless of whether or not the engine to which it is attached is operating, there is a positive indication of the condi-tion of contamination of the air filter and an indication to the extent to which the air filter is still useful.
Indicators for registering the restriction present in air filters have been utilized heretofore and are the subject matter of patents such as United States Patents Witchell 3, 068, 831, Lee 3, 443, 365 and Kashiwaba 3, 465, 707.
The indicators disclosed in these patents lock themselves into position only when they have indicated a restriction in the air filter which only indicates that the filter life is expended. Such high restriction may occur at a time unknown to the operator of the vehicle, particularly when intent on driving, for example, when passing another vehicle on a hill and he will, therefore, not be aware of the degree to which the air filter is contaminated. There is no progressively locked indication of contamination as in the case of the device of the present invention.
Other prior patents in this field are Nelson United States Patents - ' . " , 71,~
" 939, 457 and 4, 033, 733. However, the prior Nelson patènts do not include the progressive locking feature of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a contamination indicating device fol an air filter for internal co~bustion engines, which device provides a positive indication of the increasing contamination of the air filter by having the contamination indicating member therein progressively lock itself into various indicating positions and to maintain the indication of the highest amount of contamination even in the absence of operation of the engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air restriction indicating device for use in connection with an air filter for internal combustion engines which indicates and maintains a progressive and continuous showing of the degree of contamination of the air filter so that air filter servicing may be scheduled before the filter life is expended and before higher fuel consumption occurs.
PREFERRED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation showing the device herein in its operating position;
FIGURE 2 is a view inside elevation of the indicating device shown in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 on an enlarged scale;
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing a different operating position; and FIGURE 5 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the device 10 forming an air filter restric-tion indicating device constructed and operated in accordance with the inven-tion is shown in an operating position connected by an air line 12 to communi-cate with negative air pressure zone at the air stream 14 passing through a stack 16 from an air filter 18 comprising an intake air side to the air intake 20 of an internal combustion engine 22, of which only a portion is shown.
The device 10 comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 24 pref-erably formed of a suitable plastic material and consists of an annular side wall 26 and upper end wall 28 defining a chamber 30 within said housing.
Upstanding centrally from said upper end wall 28 is a neck portion 32 having a passage 34 therethrough for communication through the air line 12 between the air stream passing through the air line 12 and the chamber 30.
An annular outward offset portion 36 is formed about the bottom por-~ion of said side wall and an annular right angled shou~der 38 is shown formed at the upper inner side of said offset portion as an underlying annular inward-ly extending flange 39.
Forming the lower end portion of said housing 26 is a relatively short cylindrical cup-shaped member 40 which may be a metal stamping or plastic molding and which has a lesser diameter than that of said housing and having an end or bottom wall 42 and an annular side wall 44. Said end wall has a cylindrical recess 46 formed therein with the bottom wall 48 of said recess having an opening or hole 50 therethrough. ;
The side wall 44 of said member terminates in a right angled flange 52 of a width to be set upon said annular flange 38.
An inverted or cup-shaped diaphragm 54 formed of pliable plastic having an end or bottom wall 56 and a side wall 58 terminating in an annular flange 60 is disposed within said housing. Said flange 60 is disposed to over-lie said flange 52 ancl to underlie said flange 38. A suitable adhesive (not sho~,vn) may secure said flanges 52 and 60 and between said shoulder 38 and the flange 39.
Seated upon and either adhesively or mechanically secured to said diaphragm 54 by a washer (not shown) is an upright tapered cup-shaped member -6Z formed of rigid plastic having a bottom wall 64 overlying the bottom wall 56 of said diaphragm 54 and having an annular flared side wall 66 terminating in a vertical rim portion 68 which rim portion will form a brightly colored ring 70 to form a readily visible indication member or indicator which by its vertical position indicates the amount of restriction or extent of contamina-tion in the air filtar.
The bottom wall 64 of said member 62 has a substantially narrower ~,vidth than the underlying wall portion of said diaphragm as indicated in FIGURE 5.
Said end wall 28 has a central depending cylindrical boss 72 having a bore 74 therein.
Slidably disposed into said bore 74 is a tubular guide member 76 having an open lower end portion 78 extending through and being secured to the underlying central wall portions of said members 56 and 64. Said guide member 76 is of such a length as not to be fully withdrawn from within said bore ~,vhen said diaphragm is folded in upon itself as indicated in FIGURE 3.
Disposed within said chamber is a tapered coil spring 80 having its upper end portion 82 bearing against the inner side of said end wall 28 and its lower end portion 84 being seated against the inner side of the bottom or end wall 64 of the cup-shaped tnember 62.
Said chamber is sealed away from the outer atmos-phere by being in direct communication with the air line 16 and thus air-borne contaminants cannot affect the condition or operati~n of either the indicating member 62 or the spring 80.
Appearing on said housing are vertically spaced horizontal lines 86 indicating linear restriction levels of the filter, and indicating operating ranges with an uppermost band 88 which when reached by the rim portion indicates full restrict:ion. The particular indicia indicated is merely for illustration.
Integral with the housing is a mounting plate 90 indicated as being rectangular in form with notches 9Z being formed at each side edge portion 94 thereof to accommodate appropriate fastening means to secure the same as to the instrument panel of a vehicle.
The particular novelty of the device will now be described which comprises the lock-up feature whereby the degree of restriction is locked into the scale as the restriction advances until manually released.
Extending upwardly into said guide member 76 is an elongated locking member 96 angled as shown at its upper end 106 and having a notched side portion 98. Corresponding complementary notches 100 are formed in an inner adjacent wall portion 102 of the guide member 76. Said notches 100 are so formed that relative upward movement of said member 96 is permit-ted but it is locked against downward movement by interengagement of said notched portions 98 and 100.
Said guide member 96 has a flange 104 adjacent its lower end portion 108 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, resting freely on the inner side of bottom wall 42 to retain the member 96 in position but to afford movement thereof through hole 50 which is larger than extension 108.
The upper end portion 106 of said locking member is offset as shown from its lower portion 108, said lower portion being a cylindrical depending portion extending freely through the recess 50.
Said external lower portion 108 is connected to an operating member or button 114 having a coil spring 116 carried thereon between said button and the adjacent bottom wall 42 of said member urging said member in a direc-tion upwardly and laterally which is limited in its lateral movement by engage-ment of said ring 104 resting on said bottom wall 42 and the guide member portion 106 is cocked to an off-center position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 4.
Surrounding said coil spring 116 is a compressible annular filter 118 which filters air at atmospheric pressure entering the space below the dia-~5 phragm 54 through the opening 50.
When it is desiIed to reset the indicator after cleaning or replace-ment of the air filter and after the member 96 has locked itself in its upper position, the thumb o the operator, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 4, is pressed against the button 114 to move the member 96 to the dotted line position by reason of enlarged hole 50, as shown in FIC~URE 4, to release the notched latching elernents 96 and 100 and permit spring 80 to return the , indicating assembly to its home position shown in FIGURE 1, and indicating ~; that the lowest amount of inches of water vacuum is present in the negative air supply to the engine.
It will be seen from the fs~regoing that I have provided an eff~ ciently ~,"
operating air filter gauge, or detection, device which is simply constructed i of inexpensive stampings and molded plastic parts which gives a clear indica-' ~ tion of the remaining usefulness of an air filter and also positively indicates when the air filter requires or i8 approaching attention for cleaning or re-placement, which indication i8 continuously visible and remains at a point which is controlled by the highest amount of restriction in the air filter.
. - This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satis-factory for accomplishment of the purpose set forth above.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be specifically understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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Claims (12)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An improved restriction indicating device for an air filter used with an internal combustion engine where the improved indicating device is in communication with the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine, the improved indicating device comprising:
a housing having a first end, a second end and a side wall that includes a transparent portion, the first and second ends and side wall define a cylindrical, overall chamber in the housing; a flexible, cup-shaped dia-phragm member disposed within the housing, with the diaphragm member having a closed, central portion and an open edge portion secured to the housing between its first and second ends so that the diaphragm divides the overall chamber into a first chamber, adjacent to the first end of the housing, and a second chamber, adjacent to the second end of the housing, the closed central portion of the diaphragm being movable between an infold portion wherein it is more closely adjacent to the second end of the housing and an outfold position wherein it is more closely adjacent to the first end of the housing; a cup-shaped indicating member that has outwardly tapered side wall portions and that is disposed within the first chamber in the housing and that is mounted on and carried by the diaphragm member, with the open, larger end of the indicating member being adjacent to and facing the first wall of the housing and with the closed end of the indicating member being nested adjacent to the closed central portion of the diaphragm when the closed central portion of the diaphragm is in its infold position, the indicating member being visible through the transparent portion of the side wall of the housing at least as the diaphragm member moves between from its infold portion to its outfold position; means for permitting communication between the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine and the first chamber in the housing; means for permitting communication between the atmosphere and the second chamber in the housing;
a tapered, coil compression spring disposed in the first chamber of the housing, with one end of the compression spring being in contact with the first end of the housing and the other end of the compression spring being in contact with the indicating member, with the compression spring having a compression force sufficient to balance the differential between atmos-pheric pressure in the second chamber of the housing and the vacuum being drawn in the first chamber by the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine so that the indicating member will deform the diaphragm member into its infold position when the vacuum in the first chamber is relatively low and so that the diaphragm member, and the indicating member, will be moved from its infold position toward its outfold position in response to increases in the vacuum in the first chamber; and lock-up and guiding means for guiding the indicating member as the diaphragm member moves from its infold position to its outfold position, for progressively locking the indicating member in various positions which it attains within the first chamber as the diaphragm member moves from its unfold position to its outfold position and for maintaining the indicating member in its last such position even though the diaphragm member may thereafter return towards its infold position due to a subsequent decrease in the vacuum in the first chamber, the lock-up means and guiding means including a centrally disposed, tubular hub portion on the first end of the housing that extends into the first chamber toward the second end of the housing, and also including a centrally disposed cylindrical rod that is mounted on the closed end of the indicating member, that projects toward the first end of the housing and that protrudes into and is slidable within the tubular hub portion of the first end of the housing as the diaphragm member moves from its infold position to its outfold position.
a housing having a first end, a second end and a side wall that includes a transparent portion, the first and second ends and side wall define a cylindrical, overall chamber in the housing; a flexible, cup-shaped dia-phragm member disposed within the housing, with the diaphragm member having a closed, central portion and an open edge portion secured to the housing between its first and second ends so that the diaphragm divides the overall chamber into a first chamber, adjacent to the first end of the housing, and a second chamber, adjacent to the second end of the housing, the closed central portion of the diaphragm being movable between an infold portion wherein it is more closely adjacent to the second end of the housing and an outfold position wherein it is more closely adjacent to the first end of the housing; a cup-shaped indicating member that has outwardly tapered side wall portions and that is disposed within the first chamber in the housing and that is mounted on and carried by the diaphragm member, with the open, larger end of the indicating member being adjacent to and facing the first wall of the housing and with the closed end of the indicating member being nested adjacent to the closed central portion of the diaphragm when the closed central portion of the diaphragm is in its infold position, the indicating member being visible through the transparent portion of the side wall of the housing at least as the diaphragm member moves between from its infold portion to its outfold position; means for permitting communication between the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine and the first chamber in the housing; means for permitting communication between the atmosphere and the second chamber in the housing;
a tapered, coil compression spring disposed in the first chamber of the housing, with one end of the compression spring being in contact with the first end of the housing and the other end of the compression spring being in contact with the indicating member, with the compression spring having a compression force sufficient to balance the differential between atmos-pheric pressure in the second chamber of the housing and the vacuum being drawn in the first chamber by the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine so that the indicating member will deform the diaphragm member into its infold position when the vacuum in the first chamber is relatively low and so that the diaphragm member, and the indicating member, will be moved from its infold position toward its outfold position in response to increases in the vacuum in the first chamber; and lock-up and guiding means for guiding the indicating member as the diaphragm member moves from its infold position to its outfold position, for progressively locking the indicating member in various positions which it attains within the first chamber as the diaphragm member moves from its unfold position to its outfold position and for maintaining the indicating member in its last such position even though the diaphragm member may thereafter return towards its infold position due to a subsequent decrease in the vacuum in the first chamber, the lock-up means and guiding means including a centrally disposed, tubular hub portion on the first end of the housing that extends into the first chamber toward the second end of the housing, and also including a centrally disposed cylindrical rod that is mounted on the closed end of the indicating member, that projects toward the first end of the housing and that protrudes into and is slidable within the tubular hub portion of the first end of the housing as the diaphragm member moves from its infold position to its outfold position.
2. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 1 which includes means for selectively unlocking the indicating member and for permitting the indicating member to return to its nested position adjacent to the closed end portion of the diaphragm member.
3. The improved restriction device described in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical rod includes a recess that is defined by a closed end, an internal side wall and an open end and that is in communication with the second chamber; wherein the lock-up and guiding means includes an elongated locking member having first and second ends, with the first one end of the locking member being supported by the second end of the housing and with the second end of the locking member extending into the recess in the cylindrical rod; and wherein the indicating member is progressively locked and maintained in position by interenegagement between the other end of the locking member and the cylindrical rod.
4. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 1 wherein the second end of the housing includes a centrally disposed opening therein; wherein the cylindrical rod includes a recess that is defined by the closed end, an internal side wall and an open end that is in communication with the second chamber; wherein the lock-up and guiding means includes a locking member having first and second ends, with one end of the locking member being supported within the opening in the second end of the housing and with the second end of the locking member extending into the recess in the cylindrical rod; and wherein interengageable notches are formed on the second end of the locking member and in the recess in the cylindrical rod and are adapted to interengage so as to progressively lock and maintain the indicating member in the last position which it attains as the diaphragm member is moved from its infold position to its outfold position.
5. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 4 which includes means for permitting the selective disengagement of the notches from without the housing.
6. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 4 wherein the first end of the locking and guiding member is disposed within the opening in the second end of the housing so that a portion thereof extends through the housing; and wherein lateral movement of the extending portion of the first end of the locking member causes disengagement of the notches.
7. An improved restriction indicating device for an air filter used with an internal combustion engine where the improved indicating device is in communication with the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine, the improved indicating device comprising:
a housing having a first end, a second end and a side wall that includes a transparent portion, with the first and second ends and side wall defining a cylindrical, overall chamber in the housing and with the second end having an opening therein; a flexible diaphragm member disposed within the housing, with the diaphragm member having a central portion and an open edge portion securing to the housing so that the diaphragm divides the overall chamber into a first chamber, adjacent to the first end of the housing, and a second chamber, adjacent to the second end of the housing, the central portion of the diaphragm being movable between an infold portion wherein it is more closely adjacent to the second end of the housing and an outfold position wherein it is more closely adjacent to the first end of the housing; an indicating member that is disposed within the first chamber in the housing and that is mounted on and carried by the diaphragm member, the indicating member being visible through the transparent portion of the side wall of the housing at least as the diaphragm member moves between its infold portion and its outfold position; means for permitting communication between the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine and the first chamber in the housing; means for permitting communication between the atmosphere and the second chamber in the housing;
a coil compression spring disposed in the first chamber of the housing, with one end of the compression spring being in contact with the first end of the housing and the other end of the compression spring being in contact with the indicating member, with the compression spring having a compression force sufficient to balance the differential between atmospheric pressure in the second chamber of the housing and the vacuum being drawn in the first chamber by the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine so that the indicating member will deform the diaphragm member into its infold position when the vacuum in the first chamber is relatively low and so that the diaphragm member, and the indicat-ing member, will be moved from its infold position toward its outfold position in response to increases in the vacuum in the first chamber; and lock-up means for progressively locking the indicating member in the various positions which it attains within the first chamber as the diaphragm member moves from its infold position to its outfold position and for maintaining the indicating member in its last such position even though the diaphragm member may thereafter return towards its infold position due to a subsequent decrease in the vacuum in the first chamber, the lock-up means including a centrally disposed cylindrical rod that is carried by the central portion of the diaphragm member, that is disposed in the second chamber, and that projects from the diaphragm member toward the second end of the housing, with the cylindrical rod having a recess defined by a closed end, an internal side wall, and an open end that is in communication with the second chamber, the lock-up means also including an elongated locking member having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the locking member being support-ed by the second end of the housing and with the second end of the locking member extending adjacent to the open end of the cylindrical rod and co-operating with the cylindrical rod so that the indicating member is progres-sively locked and maintained in position by engagement between the second end of the locking member and the cylindrical rod.
a housing having a first end, a second end and a side wall that includes a transparent portion, with the first and second ends and side wall defining a cylindrical, overall chamber in the housing and with the second end having an opening therein; a flexible diaphragm member disposed within the housing, with the diaphragm member having a central portion and an open edge portion securing to the housing so that the diaphragm divides the overall chamber into a first chamber, adjacent to the first end of the housing, and a second chamber, adjacent to the second end of the housing, the central portion of the diaphragm being movable between an infold portion wherein it is more closely adjacent to the second end of the housing and an outfold position wherein it is more closely adjacent to the first end of the housing; an indicating member that is disposed within the first chamber in the housing and that is mounted on and carried by the diaphragm member, the indicating member being visible through the transparent portion of the side wall of the housing at least as the diaphragm member moves between its infold portion and its outfold position; means for permitting communication between the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine and the first chamber in the housing; means for permitting communication between the atmosphere and the second chamber in the housing;
a coil compression spring disposed in the first chamber of the housing, with one end of the compression spring being in contact with the first end of the housing and the other end of the compression spring being in contact with the indicating member, with the compression spring having a compression force sufficient to balance the differential between atmospheric pressure in the second chamber of the housing and the vacuum being drawn in the first chamber by the air flowing from the air filter to the air intake of the internal combustion engine so that the indicating member will deform the diaphragm member into its infold position when the vacuum in the first chamber is relatively low and so that the diaphragm member, and the indicat-ing member, will be moved from its infold position toward its outfold position in response to increases in the vacuum in the first chamber; and lock-up means for progressively locking the indicating member in the various positions which it attains within the first chamber as the diaphragm member moves from its infold position to its outfold position and for maintaining the indicating member in its last such position even though the diaphragm member may thereafter return towards its infold position due to a subsequent decrease in the vacuum in the first chamber, the lock-up means including a centrally disposed cylindrical rod that is carried by the central portion of the diaphragm member, that is disposed in the second chamber, and that projects from the diaphragm member toward the second end of the housing, with the cylindrical rod having a recess defined by a closed end, an internal side wall, and an open end that is in communication with the second chamber, the lock-up means also including an elongated locking member having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the locking member being support-ed by the second end of the housing and with the second end of the locking member extending adjacent to the open end of the cylindrical rod and co-operating with the cylindrical rod so that the indicating member is progres-sively locked and maintained in position by engagement between the second end of the locking member and the cylindrical rod.
8. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 7 wherein the lock-up means is supported within the opening in the second end of the housing and with the second end of the locking member extending into the recess in the cylindrical rod; and wherein notches are formed on the second end of the locking member and are adapted to engage the cylindrical rod so as to progressively lock and maintain the indicating member in the last position which it attains as the diaphragm member is moved from its infold position to its outfold position.
9. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 7 or 8 which includes means for selectively unlocking the engagement between the second end of the locking member and the cylindrical rod from without the housing.
10. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 7 or 8 which includes means for guiding the indicating member as the diaphragm member moves between its infold position and its outfold position; and wherein the opening in the second end of the housing is centrally disposed and forms a portion of the means for permitting communications between the atmosphere and the second chamber in the housing.
11. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 7 or 8 which has means for guiding the indicating member as the diaphragm member moves between its infold position and its outfold position, the guiding means including a centrally disposed tubular hub portion mounted on the first end of the housing and extending into the first chamber toward the second end of the housing; and wherein the cylindrical rod protrudes into and is slidable within the tubular hub portion as the diaphragm moves between its infold position and its outfold position.
12. The improved restriction indicating device described in claim 8 wherein the first end of the locking member is disposed within the opening in the second end of the housing so that a portion thereof extends from the housing; and wherein the locking member is pivotable about a portion of the side of the opening so that lateral movement of the extending portion of the first end of the locking member causes disengagement of the notches and the cylindrical rod.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US91677678A | 1978-06-19 | 1978-06-19 | |
| US916,776 | 1978-06-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1106705A true CA1106705A (en) | 1981-08-11 |
Family
ID=25437824
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA328,320A Expired CA1106705A (en) | 1978-06-19 | 1979-05-25 | Air filter restriction indicating device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1106705A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-05-25 CA CA328,320A patent/CA1106705A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |