US3583218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle air filter condition indicator
Assignee: NOSTRAND VAN
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Filing: 1969-07-23
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1989-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A vertically disposed transparent airflow chamber with its inlet end disposed lowermost and having a lightweight airflow restricting member loosely received therein. The airflow restricting member is held captive within the chamber for free vertical movement therein and is ''''floatable'''' upwardly in the chamber in response to airflow through the chamber above a predetermined rate. The outlet end of the airflow chamber is communicated, by suitable duct means, with the air inlet chamber of a conventional automotive carburetor on the downstream side of the air cleaner filter operatively associated with the carburetor. The weight of the airflow restricting member and its cross-sectional area in relation to the internal cross-sectional area of the airflow chamber is computed so as to cause the airflow restricting member to be ''''floated'''' upwardly in the transparent airflow chamber as the airflow through the airflow chamber is increased above a predetermined value which is exceeded when the air filtering element of the associated carburetor is reduced in efficiency by an excess accumulation of dirt therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford E Van Nostrand Sr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/20; G01F1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An airflow responsive meter including an upstanding transparent tubular member including open upper and lower ends, the lower end of said tubular member being adapted for communication with the ambient atmosphere, an excessive airflow indicating member loosely slidably disposed in said tubular member and constructed of light material, said airflow indicating member being floatable upwardly in said tubular member in response to upward flow of air therethrough above a predetermined rate, said meter including stop means at the upper end of said tubular member engageable by said airflow member to limit upward travel of the latter in said tubular member, said stop means comprising a portion carried by the upper end of said tubular member having an outlet bore formed therethrough whose inlet end includes a downwardly facing valve seat, the upper end of said airflow indicating member including means defining a valve head seatingly engaged with said seat when the airflow indicating member is in its upper limit position and operative to substantially block the passage of air from said tubular member through said outlet bore, the lower end of said tubular member being adapted to be momentarily manually blocked against the passage of air thereinto, a source of engine carburetor intake vacuum downstream of an air cleaner element operatively associated with said carburetor intake and with which the outlet end of said outlet bore is communicated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An airflow responsive meter including an upstanding transparent tubular member including open upper and lower ends, the lower end of said tubular member being adapted for communication with the ambient atmosphere, an excessive airflow indicating member loosely slidably disposed in said tubular member and constructed of light material, said airflow indicating member being floatable upwardly in said tubular member in response to upward flow of air therethrough above a predetermined rate, said meter including stop means at the upper end of said tubular member engageable by said airflow member to limit upward travel of the latter in said tubular member, said stop means comprising a portion carried by the upper end of said tubular member having an outlet bore formed therethrough whose inlet end includes a downwardly facing valve seat, the upper end of said airflow indicating member including means defining a valve head seatingly engaged with said seat when the airflow indicating member is in its upper limit position and operative to substantially block the passage of air from said tubular member through said outlet bore, the lower end of said tubular member being adapted to be momentarily manually blocked against the passage of air thereinto, a source of engine carburetor intake vacuum downstream of an air cleaner element operatively associated with said carburetor intake and with which the outlet end of said outlet bore is communicated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said meter includes abutment means at the lower end of said tubular member engageable by said airflow indicating member to limit downward travel of the latter in said tubular member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said tubular member is supported from a body having a large diameter horizontal bore formed therethrough, said tubular member being disposed generally on a diameter of said bore intermediate its opposite ends and with the upper and lower ends of said tubular member being embraced by portions of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said seat is conical and said head is also conical, the inclined conical surface portions of said seat being such that said head seats against the minor diameter end portion of said seat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the weight of the airflow indicating member and its cross-sectional area in relation to the internal cross-sectional area of the tubular member is such as to cause the airflow indicating member to be buoyed upwardly in said tubular member as the airflow through the tubular member is increased above a predetermined value exceeded at engine idle speed when said air cleaner element is reduced in efficiency by an excess accumulation of dirt therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
168 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the weight of tHe airflow indicating member and its cross section area in relation to the internal cross-sectional are of the tubular member is such as to cause the airflow indicating member to be buoyed upwardly in said tubular member as the air flows through the tubular member is increased above a predetermined value exceeded at engine idle speed when said air cleaner element is reduced in efficiency by an excess accumulation of dirt therein, and the indicating member is buoyed upwardly through said tubular member, when the efficiency of the air cleaner element is not reduced, into seated engagement with said seat about an increase in carburetor intake vacuum as a result of the associated carburetor throttle valve being opened and the resultant pressure differential acting upon said indicating member is thereafter operable to maintain the indicating member in seated engagement with said seat even during engine idling operations until the associated engine is stopped and carburetor intake vacuum is terminated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |