Patent US4332173A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4332173A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fan type mass airflow meter

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1980-06-09
•
Granted: 1982-06-01
•
Expires: 2000-06-09
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A fan in a duct driven by a permanent magnet D.C. motor powered by a constant voltage source varies in speed according to the airflow through the duct. The current drawn by the motor is a direct function of the air speed and the density. The motor current is measured to provide a measure of mass airflow.

Inventors

  • 👤 Daniel C. MacManus

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 16:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/76; G01F1/78; G01F1/80

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 93 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, a permanent magnet D.C. motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan, supply means for supplying a substantially constant voltage to the motor for operation of the motor at a speed depending on the mass airflow, wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal proportional to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 93 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, a permanent magnet D.C. motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan, supply means for supplying a substantially constant voltage to the motor for operation of the motor at a speed depending on the mass airflow, wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal proportional to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 98 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, a permanent magnet D.C. motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan in a direction to aid the airflow through the duct, supply means for supplying a substantially constant voltage to the motor for operation of the motor at a speed which increases with increased mass airflow, wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal varying substantially in inverse proportion to mass airflow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 98 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, a permanent magnet D.C. motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan in a direction to aid the airflow through the duct, supply means for supplying a substantially constant voltage to the motor for operation of the motor at a speed which increases with increased mass airflow, wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal varying substantially in inverse proportion to mass airflow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 123 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, means for inhibiting airflow around the fan so that substantially all the airflow passes through the fan, a permanent magnet D.C. motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan in direction to aid the flow of air through the duct, supply means for supplying a substantially constant voltage to the motor for operation of the motor at a speed which increases linearly with increased mass airflow, wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal proportional to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 123 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, means for inhibiting airflow around the fan so that substantially all the airflow passes through the fan, a permanent magnet D.C. motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan in direction to aid the flow of air through the duct, supply means for supplying a substantially constant voltage to the motor for operation of the motor at a speed which increases linearly with increased mass airflow, wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal proportional to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 114 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, a permanent magnet D.C. motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan, supply means for supplying a substantially constant voltage to the motor for operation of the motor at a speed depending on the mass airflow, the supply means including a temperature responsive circuit for compensating for temperature effects on the motor wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed independently of temperature, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal varying in proportion to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 114 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, a permanent magnet D.C. motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan, supply means for supplying a substantially constant voltage to the motor for operation of the motor at a speed depending on the mass airflow, the supply means including a temperature responsive circuit for compensating for temperature effects on the motor wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed independently of temperature, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal varying in proportion to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 125 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, the airflow through the duct acting on the fan to vary the torque on the fan as a function of mass airflow, an electric motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan, said motor having a speed-current characteristic such that current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, supply means for supplying a substantially constant energizing voltage to the motor, the varying fan torque operative to vary the speed of the energized motor as a function of mass airflow, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal proportional to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 125 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, the airflow through the duct acting on the fan to vary the torque on the fan as a function of mass airflow, an electric motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan, said motor having a speed-current characteristic such that current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, supply means for supplying a substantially constant energizing voltage to the motor, the varying fan torque operative to vary the speed of the energized motor as a function of mass airflow, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal proportional to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 154 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, the airflow through the duct acting on the fan to vary the torque on the fan as a function of mass airflow, an electric motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan, said motor having a speed-current characteristic such that current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, supply means for supplying a substantially constant energizing voltage to the motor, the varying fan torque operative to vary the speed of the enlarged motor as a function of mass airflow, the supply means including a temperature responsive circuit for compensating for temperature effects on the motor wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed independently of temperature, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal proportional to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 154 words
A mass airflow meter for measuring the mass airflow through a duct comprising a fan in the duct, the airflow through the duct acting on the fan to vary the torque on the fan as a function of mass airflow, an electric motor coupled to the fan for driving the fan, said motor having a speed-current characteristic such that current varies substantially inversely with fan speed, supply means for supplying a substantially constant energizing voltage to the motor, the varying fan torque operative to vary the speed of the enlarged motor as a function of mass airflow, the supply means including a temperature responsive circuit for compensating for temperature effects on the motor wherein the motor current varies substantially inversely with fan speed independently of temperature, and current sensing means connected to the supply means for providing an output signal proportional to the motor current to provide a substantially linear measure of mass airflow.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2591478A Cited
US2614417A Cited
US3037383A Cited
US3044294A Cited
US3353406A Cited
US3364741A Cited
US3360989A Cited
US3440877A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-05-31 1985-11-30 1986-06-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-05-31 1989-11-30 1990-06-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-05-31 1993-11-30 1994-06-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag