Choked condition detector for an air-purifying device

Claim 1

A device for detecting the choked condition of an air purifier for an internal combustion engine, the device comprising, in combination: a casing having a wall including a transparent portion; means within the casing for defining an opening; a flexible diaphragm supported within the casing, the diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into first and second compartments; means for supplying a variable pressure to the first compartment, the second compartment being exposed to an atmospheric reference pressure; an indicator connected to the diaphragm within the casing, the indicator being normally located in a nonvisible position but being movable by said diaphragm to a visible position adjacent said transparent portion in response to a predetermined difference in pressure between the two compartments; and locking means for releasably maintaining the indicator in its visible position, the locking means including a hairpin-shaped member having a central portion connected to the diaphragm and a pair of arms extending through said opening for axial movement therein in response to movement of said diaphragm.

Claim 2

A device for detecting the choked condition of an air purifier for an internal combustion engine, the device comprising, in combination: a casing having a wall including a transparent portion; means within the casing for defining an opening; a flexible diaphragm supported within the casing, the diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into first and second compartments; means for supplying a variable pressure to the first compartment, the second compartment being exposed to an atmospheric reference pressure; an indicator connected to the diaphragm within the casing, the indicator being normally located in a nonvisible position but being movable by said diaphragm to a visible position adjacent said transparent portion in response to a predetermined difference in pressure between the two compartments; and locking means for releasably maintaining the indicator in its visible position, the locking means including a hairpin-shaped member having a central portion connected to the diaphragm and a pair of arms extending through said opening for axial movement therein in response to movement of said diaphragm.

Claim 3

A device for detecting the choked condition of an air purifier for a combustion engine, the device comprising, in combination: a casing having a wall including a transparent portion and an opaque portion; a transverse partition mounted within the casing and defining an opening; a flexible diaphragm carried by the transverse partition, the diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into first and second compartments; means for supplying the pressure within said purifier to the first compartment, the second compartment being exposed to a reference pressure; an indicator connected to the diaphragm within the casing, the indicator being normally located in a nonvisible position adjacent the opaque portion of said wall but being movable by said diaphragm to a visible position adjacent said transparent portion in response to a predetermined difference in pressure between the two compartments; switch means located in the first compartment in position to be actuated by the diaphragm, the switch means being movable between an open position and a closed position; and locking means for releasably maintaining the indicator in its visible position and the switch means in its closed position, the locking means including a control knob and a resilient member connected to the diaphragm, the control knob being movably mounted on the casing in position to engage the resilient member.

Claim 4

A device for detecting the choked condition of an air purifier for a combustion engine, the device comprising, in combination: a casing having a wall including a transparent portion and an opaque portion; a transverse partition mounted within the casing and defining an opening; a flexible diaphragm carried by the transverse partition, the diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into first and second compartments; means for supplying the pressure within said purifier to the first compartment, the second compartment being exposed to a reference pressure; an indicator connected to the diaphragm within the casing, the indicator being normally located in a nonvisible position adjacent the opaque portion of said wall but being movable by said diaphragm to a visible position adjacent said transparent portion in response to a predetermined difference in pressure between the two compartments; switch means located in the first compartment in position to be actuated by the diaphragm, the switch means being movable between an open position and a closed position; and locking means for releasably maintaining the indicator in its visible position and the switch means in its closed position, the locking means including a control knob and a resilient member connected to the diaphragm, the control knob being movably mounted on the casing in position to engage the resilient member.

Claim 5

A device for detecting the choked condition of an air purifier for an internal combustion engine, the device comprising, in combination: a casing having a wall including a transparent portion and an opaque portion; a transverse partition mounted within the casing and defining an opening; a flexible diaphragm carried by the transverse partition, the diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into first and second compartments; means for supplying the pressure within said purifier to the first compartment, the second compartment being exposed to atmospheric pressure; an indicator connected to the diaphragm within the casing, the indicator being normally located in a nonvisible position adjacent the opaque portion of said wall but being movable by said diaphragm to a visible position adjacent said transparent portion in response to a predetermined difference in pressure between the two compartments; switch means located in the first compartment in position to be actuated by the diaphragm, the switch means being movable between an open position and a closed, actuated position; locking means for releasably maintaining the indicator in its visible position and the switch means in its closed position, the locking means including a control knob and a hairpin-shaped member having a central portion connected to the diaphragm and a pair of arms extending through said opening in resilient engagement with said transverse partition, the control knob being slidably mounted on the casing and defining a conical cavity in position to engage the arms to move said arms toward one another and thereby disengage the same from said transverse partition.

Claim 6

A device for detecting the choked condition of an air purifier for an internal combustion engine, the device comprising, in combination: a casing having a wall including a transparent portion and an opaque portion; a transverse partition mounted within the casing and defining an opening; a flexible diaphragm carried by the transverse partition, the diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into first and second compartments; means for supplying the pressure within said purifier to the first compartment, the second compartment being exposed to atmospheric pressure; an indicator connected to the diaphragm within the casing, the indicator being normally located in a nonvisible position adjacent the opaque portion of said wall but being movable by said diaphragm to a visible position adjacent said transparent portion in response to a predetermined difference in pressure between the two compartments; switch means located in the first compartment in position to be actuated by the diaphragm, the switch means being movable between an open position and a closed, actuated position; locking means for releasably maintaining the indicator in its visible position and the switch means in its closed position, the locking means including a control knob and a hairpin-shaped member having a central portion connected to the diaphragm and a pair of arms extending through said opening in resilient engagement with said transverse partition, the control knob being slidably mounted on the casing and defining a conical cavity in position to engage the arms to move said arms toward one another and thereby disengage the same from said transverse partition.

Claim 7

A device for detecting the choked condition of an air purifier for an internal combustion engine, the device comprising, in combination: a casing having a cylindrical wall including a transparent portion and an opaque portion; a transverse partition mounted within the casing and defining an axial opening; a flexible diaphragm carried by the transverse partition, the diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into first and second compartments; means for supplying the pressure within the purifier to the first compartment, the second compartment being exposed to atmospheric pressure; a cylindrical indicator connected to the diaphragm in coaxial relationship with the cylindrical wall of the casing, the indicator being normally located in a nonvisible position adjacent the opaque portion of said wall but being movable by said diaphragm to a visible position adjacent said transparent portion in response to a predetermined difference in pressure between the two compartments; switch means located in the first compartment in position to be actuated by the diaphragm, the switch means being movable between an open position and a closed position; locking means for releasably maintaining the indicator in its visible position and the switch means in its closed position, the locking means including a control knob and a hairpin-shaped member having a central portion connected to the diaphragm and a pair of arms extending through said axial opening in resilient engagement with said transverse partition, the control knob being slidably mounted on the casing and defining a conical cavity in position to engage the arms to move said arms toward one another and thereby disengage the same from said transverse partition.

Claim 8

A device for detecting the choked condition of an air purifier for an internal combustion engine, the device comprising, in combination: a casing having a cylindrical wall including a transparent portion and an opaque portion; a transverse partition mounted within the casing and defining an axial opening; a flexible diaphragm carried by the transverse partition, the diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into first and second compartments; means for supplying the pressure within the purifier to the first compartment, the second compartment being exposed to atmospheric pressure; a cylindrical indicator connected to the diaphragm in coaxial relationship with the cylindrical wall of the casing, the indicator being normally located in a nonvisible position adjacent the opaque portion of said wall but being movable by said diaphragm to a visible position adjacent said transparent portion in response to a predetermined difference in pressure between the two compartments; switch means located in the first compartment in position to be actuated by the diaphragm, the switch means being movable between an open position and a closed position; locking means for releasably maintaining the indicator in its visible position and the switch means in its closed position, the locking means including a control knob and a hairpin-shaped member having a central portion connected to the diaphragm and a pair of arms extending through said axial opening in resilient engagement with said transverse partition, the control knob being slidably mounted on the casing and defining a conical cavity in position to engage the arms to move said arms toward one another and thereby disengage the same from said transverse partition.