Method and apparatus for determining pressure differentials

Claim 2

Apparatus for determining a pressure differential between first and second areas in which the pressure in one said area is higher than the other, said apparatus comprising: (a) conduit means extending between said first and second areas to permit the free flow of air therethrough from said area having the higher pressure to the other said area, said conduit means being hollow and having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. (b) pivot means mounted in said hollow conduit means to extend transversely thereacross with respect to said flow of air therethrough, and a movable vane element mounted on said pivot means to depend freely therefrom in the path of said air flow for pivotal movement determined by the quantity of said air flow, said movable vane element having a shape corresponding to the shape of said conduit means beneath said pivot means except for a small clearance between the edges of said vane element and said conduit; and (c) sensing means for sensing the extent of said pivotal movement of said vane element and for generating a signal which is a function of said sensed movement of said movable means.

Claim 3

Apparatus for determining a pressure differential as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said conduit means includes an inlet portion having an open end for location within said area having the higher pressure, an outlet portion having an open end for location within said other area, and an intermediate portion between said inlet and outlet portions and connected thereto by curved connecting proportions formed to prevent any light being transmitted to said intermediate portion from said open ends of said inlet and outlet portions, and in that said sensing means includes photoelectric cell means disposed within said intermediate portion of said conduit means for sensing movement of said movable means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for determining a pressure differential as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said conduit means includes a cylindrical portion, in that a pivot means is mounted in said cylindrical portion to extend horizontally across the diameter of the cross-section of said cylindrical portion, and in that said vane element includes a flat semi-circular portion connected to and depending from said pivot shaft.

Claim 5

Apparatus for determining a pressure differential as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that said vane element includes a flat projection portion extending outwardly from said flat semi-circular portion of said vane element in generally perpendicular relation thereto and in radial relation to said cross-section of said conduit means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for determining a pressure differential as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said flat projecting portion of said vane element has a trapezoidal shape with the extending edge thereof defining a gradually decreasing projecting thickness from said flat projecting portion along said radial extent thereof in a direction away from said pivot shaft.

Claim 7

Apparatus for determining a pressure differential as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said sensing means includes photoelectric cell means mounted in said conduit means to direct a beam generally diametrically thereacross, said flat projecting portion of said vane element being disposed for movement into and out of said beam during said movement of said vane member.

Claim 8

Apparatus for determining a pressure differential between first and second areas in which the pressure in one said area is higher than the other, said apparatus comprising: (a) cylindrically-shaped conduit means having an inlet end portion having an open end adapted to be disposed within said area having said higher pressure, an outlet end portion having an open end adapted to be disposed within said other area, and an intermediate portion between said inlet and outlet end portions and connected thereto by curved connecting portions formed to prevent any light being transmitted to said intermediate portion from said open ends of said inlet and outlet portions, said conduit means being open along the length thereof to permit the free flow of air therethrough from said area having the higher pressure to said other area; (b) a flat semi-circular vane element mounted for movement in said intermediate conduit portion on a pivot shaft extending diametrically and horizontally across said intermediate conduit portion so that vane element depends from said pivot shaft to normally occupy the area between said pivot shaft and the lower half of said intermediate conduit portion, and a projecting portion extending outwardly from said flat semi-circular vane element in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of said flat semi-circular vane element and that is radial with respect to said cylindrical intermediate conduit portion; and (c) sensing means disposed in said intermediate conduit portion, said sensing means including photoelectric cell means for directing a beam generally diametrically across said intermediate conduit portion, said projecting portion of said vane element being disposed for movement into and out of said beam during said movement of said vane element, and including means for generating a signal which is a function of said movement of said vane element.

Claim 9

Apparatus for determining a pressure differential between first and second areas in which the pressure in one said area is higher than the other, said apparatus comprising: (a) cylindrically-shaped conduit means having an inlet end portion having an open end adapted to be disposed within said area having said higher pressure, an outlet end portion having an open end adapted to be disposed within said other area, and an intermediate portion between said inlet and outlet end portions and connected thereto by curved connecting portions formed to prevent any light being transmitted to said intermediate portion from said open ends of said inlet and outlet portions, said conduit means being open along the length thereof to permit the free flow of air therethrough from said area having the higher pressure to said other area; (b) a flat semi-circular vane element mounted for movement in said intermediate conduit portion on a pivot shaft extending diametrically and horizontally across said intermediate conduit portion so that vane element depends from said pivot shaft to normally occupy the area between said pivot shaft and the lower half of said intermediate conduit portion, and a projecting portion extending outwardly from said flat semi-circular vane element in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of said flat semi-circular vane element and that is radial with respect to said cylindrical intermediate conduit portion; and (c) sensing means disposed in said intermediate conduit portion, said sensing means including photoelectric cell means for directing a beam generally diametrically across said intermediate conduit portion, said projecting portion of said vane element being disposed for movement into and out of said beam during said movement of said vane element, and including means for generating a signal which is a function of said movement of said vane element.

Claim 10

Apparatus for maintaning a predetermined pressure differential between first and second areas in which the pressure in one such area is higher than the other, said apparatus comprising: (a) wall means separating said first and second areas; (b) conduit means extending between said first and second areas with one end thereof opening into said first area and the other end thereof opening into said second area, said conduit means permitting the free flow of air therethrough from said area having the higher pressure to said other area; (c) movable means mounted in said conduit and in the path of said air flow for movement caused by said air flow, the extent of said movement being a function of quantity of the air flow through said conduit means; (d) sensing means for sensing the extent of said movement of said movable means and for generating a signal proportional to the extent of said movement; and (e) control means receiving said generated signal and maintaining a predetermined pressure differential between said first and second areas by varying the pressure in at least one of said areas.

Claim 11

Apparatus for maintaning a predetermined pressure differential between first and second areas in which the pressure in one such area is higher than the other, said apparatus comprising: (a) wall means separating said first and second areas; (b) conduit means extending between said first and second areas with one end thereof opening into said first area and the other end thereof opening into said second area, said conduit means permitting the free flow of air therethrough from said area having the higher pressure to said other area; (c) movable means mounted in said conduit and in the path of said air flow for movement caused by said air flow, the extent of said movement being a function of quantity of the air flow through said conduit means; (d) sensing means for sensing the extent of said movement of said movable means and for generating a signal proportional to the extent of said movement; and (e) control means receiving said generated signal and maintaining a predetermined pressure differential between said first and second areas by varying the pressure in at least one of said areas.

Claim 12

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 8 and further characterized in that said control means includes exhaust blower means for removing air from said other area, and in that the quantity of air removed by said exhaust blower is varied in response to said signal received from said sensing means to maintain said predetermined pressure differential between said first and second areas.

Claim 13

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 8 and further characterized in that said control means includes a selectively movable damper means disposed in an exhaust conduit extending from said other area to control the quantity of air exhausted therefrom, and in that the position of said damper means is varied in response to said signal received from said sensing means to maintain said predetermined pressure differential between said first and second areas.

Claim 14

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 8 and further characterized in that said control means includes a blower for introducing pressurized air into said area having the higher pressure, and in that the quantity of air introduced by said blower is varied in response to said signal received from said sensing means to maintain said predetermined pressure differential between said first and second areas.

Claim 15

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 8 and further characterized in that said movable means includes a vane element mounted in said conduit for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to said flow of air through said conduit means.

Claim 16

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 12 and further characterized in that said conduit means includes a cylindrical portion, in that a pivot shaft is mounted in said cylindrical portion to extend horizontally across the diameter of the cross-section of said cylindrical portion, and in that said vane element includes a flat semi-circular portion connected to and depending from said pivot shaft.

Claim 17

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 13 and further characterized in that said vane element includes a flat projection portion extending outwardly from said flat semi-circular portion of said vane element in generally perpendicular relation thereto and in radial relation to said cross-section of said conduit means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 14 and further characterized in that said flat projecting portion of said vane element has a trapezoidal shape with the extending edge thereof defining a gradually decreasing projecting thickness from said flat projecting portion along said radial extent thereof in a direction away from said pivot shaft.

Claim 19

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 14 and further characterized in that said sensing means includes photoelectric cell means mounted in said conduit means to direct a beam generally diametrically thereacross, said flat projecting portion of said vane element being disposed for movement into and out of said beam during said movement of said vane member.

Claim 20

Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 8 and further characterized in that said conduit means includes an inlet portion having an open end for location within said area having the higher pressure, an outlet portion having an open end for location within said other area, and an intermediate portion between said inlet and outlet portions and connected thereto by curved connecting proportions formed to prevent any light being transmitted to said intermediate portion from said open ends of said inlet and outlet portions, and in that said sensing means includes photoelectric cell means disposed within said intermediate portion of said conduit means for sensing movement of said movable means.

Claim 23

A method of maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 18 and further characterized by the step of disposing a movable element directly in said flow path for movement by said air flowing along said flow path, the extent of said movement being in proportion to the quantity of air flowing along said flow path, and in that said extent of said movement of said movable element is sensed to determine the quantity of said air flowing along said flow path.

Claim 24

A method of maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 18 and further characterized in that said pressure in said one area is increased and decreased in response to said sensed quantity of air flow, and in that said pressure in said other area is atmospheric pressure.

Claim 25

A method of maintaining a predetermined pressure differential as defined in claim 18 and further characterized in that said pressure in said other area is increased and decreased in response to said sensed quantity of air flow, and in that said pressure in said one area is atmospheric pressure.