US5505753A — Aircraft pneumatic air filter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 101 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter, comprising: a substantially transparent filter housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a filter media received within said filter housing; and a filter effectiveness indicator affixed to said filter housing to provide a visible indication of when said filter media has attained a pre-selected level of ineffectiveness, wherein said filter effectiveness indicator provides a plurality of color comparators ranging from white to black such that when the color of said filter media is equivalent to a pre-selected color comparator, the filter effectiveness indicator suggests that said aircraft pneumatic air filter be replaced.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 101 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter, comprising: a substantially transparent filter housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a filter media received within said filter housing; and a filter effectiveness indicator affixed to said filter housing to provide a visible indication of when said filter media has attained a pre-selected level of ineffectiveness, wherein said filter effectiveness indicator provides a plurality of color comparators ranging from white to black such that when the color of said filter media is equivalent to a pre-selected color comparator, the filter effectiveness indicator suggests that said aircraft pneumatic air filter be replaced.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 1, wherein said filter housing has an inflow cover securably attached to an outflow cover, said outflow cover having an internal ring wall.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 2, wherein one end of said filter media is disposed over and secured to said ring wall, the opposite end of said filter media being received within and secured to a deflector cap.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 3, wherein said filter media is secured to said ring wall and said deflector cap by potting material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 3, wherein said filter media is folded into a plurality of pleats having a beginning pleat and an ending pleat, said beginning and ending pleats being joined together by a clip such that said filter media has an outer periphery and an inner periphery.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 5, wherein said filter media is made of a white polyester material that will not sustain a flame once ignited.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 6, wherein said filter housing comprises the material polyetherimide.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 7, wherein said inflow cover is secured to said outflow cover by a solvent.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 8, wherein said filter housing has an air flow indicator.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 99 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter for monitoring the effectiveness of a filter media, comprising: means for receiving a filter media, said receiving means having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and comprising a substantially transparent filter housing; means for visibly inspecting said filter media; and means for comparing said filter media to a preselected criteria of filter effectiveness, wherein said comparing means is affixed to said filter housing and comprises a gradient of color comparators ranging from white to black to accommodate determining when the color of said filter media has exceeded a preselected color comparator.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 99 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter for monitoring the effectiveness of a filter media, comprising: means for receiving a filter media, said receiving means having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and comprising a substantially transparent filter housing; means for visibly inspecting said filter media; and means for comparing said filter media to a preselected criteria of filter effectiveness, wherein said comparing means is affixed to said filter housing and comprises a gradient of color comparators ranging from white to black to accommodate determining when the color of said filter media has exceeded a preselected color comparator.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

An aircraft pneumatic air filter according to claim 10, wherein said filter housing comprises the material polyetherimide.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 124 words

A method for manufacturing an aircraft pneumatic air filter comprising the steps of: providing a substantially transparent outflow cover having an outwardly extending outflow nozzle and an inwardly extending ring wall which is concentric with said outflow nozzle; securing with potting material one end of a filter media around said ring wall and the opposite end of said filter media to a deflecting cap; and securing a substantially transparent inflow cover to said outflow cover over said filter media, said inflow cover having an inflow nozzle, one of said inflow and outflow covers having a filter effectiveness indicator attached thereto, wherein said filter effectiveness indicator comprises a spectrum of colors ranging from white to black and is employed to compare said filter media thereto.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 124 words

A method for manufacturing an aircraft pneumatic air filter comprising the steps of: providing a substantially transparent outflow cover having an outwardly extending outflow nozzle and an inwardly extending ring wall which is concentric with said outflow nozzle; securing with potting material one end of a filter media around said ring wall and the opposite end of said filter media to a deflecting cap; and securing a substantially transparent inflow cover to said outflow cover over said filter media, said inflow cover having an inflow nozzle, one of said inflow and outflow covers having a filter effectiveness indicator attached thereto, wherein said filter effectiveness indicator comprises a spectrum of colors ranging from white to black and is employed to compare said filter media thereto.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 49 words

A method according to claim 12, wherein said filter media is folded into a plurality of pleats having a beginning pleat and an ending pleat, said beginning and ending pleats being joined together by a clip such that said filter media has an outer periphery and an inner periphery.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method according to claim 13, wherein said filter media comprises a white polyester material that will not sustain a flame once ignited.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 14, wherein said inflow cover, said outflow cover and said deflecting cap comprise the material polyetherimide.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method according to claim 15, wherein one of said inflow cover and said outflow cover has an airflow indicator.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-04-09	1999-10-09	2000-04-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-04-09	2003-10-09	2004-04-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-04-09	2007-10-09	2008-04-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Aircraft pneumatic air filter

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