Patent US5955682A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5955682A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable sensor manifold for air conditioning diagnostics
Assignee: ENALASYS Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-12
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2017-11-12
Abstract
Abstract An air sampling system includes a chamber that is formed with an exhaust port and a plurality of intake ports. A plurality of air collector arms are each attached in fluid communication with a respective intake port of the chamber. Further, each collector arm is formed with an inlet slot and an air channel which establishes fluid communications between the inlet slot and the respective chamber intake port. All of the collector arms extend outwardly from the chamber so that their respective inlet slots lie in a first plane. Relative to the inlet slots, the exhaust port of the chamber lies in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane. Accordingly, a portion of the air that passes through the first plane toward the second plane, enters the inlet slots of the collector arms and is diverted into the chamber. In the chamber the diverted air is redirected out the exhaust port. A sensor mounted on the chamber at the exhaust port measures selected characteristics of the diverted and redirected air at the second plane to sample the air that is flowing through the first plane.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Faircloth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/2273; G01N1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An air sampling system which comprises: a chamber formed with an exhaust port and at least one intake port; at least one air collector arm formed with an air channel and an inlet slot, said collector arm being attached to said chamber and extending therefrom to establish fluid communication through said air channel between said inlet slot of said collector arm and said intake port of said chamber; and a sensor mounted with said chamber and positioned in said exhaust port to measure temperature, volumetric flow and relative humidity of air flowing from said inlet slot to said exhaust port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An air sampling system which comprises: a chamber formed with an exhaust port and at least one intake port; at least one air collector arm formed with an air channel and an inlet slot, said collector arm being attached to said chamber and extending therefrom to establish fluid communication through said air channel between said inlet slot of said collector arm and said intake port of said chamber; and a sensor mounted with said chamber and positioned in said exhaust port to measure temperature, volumetric flow and relative humidity of air flowing from said inlet slot to said exhaust port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said inlet slot defines a first area and said exhaust port defines a second area, and wherein said first area is substantially equal to said second area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said first area lies in a first plane and said second area lies in a second plane, and wherein said first plane is substantially parallel to said second plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said collector arm has a first end and a second end, with said first end being attached in fluid communication to said intake port of said chamber, and said second end being extended a distance from said chamber in said first plane, and wherein said inlet slot is tapered to decrease from said second end toward said first end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as recited in claim 4 further comprising a shroud for interconnecting said second end of said collector arm to direct airflow toward and through said first plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as recited in claim 5 further comprising a skirt attached to said shroud for sealing said system to define an air flow to be sampled by said sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said inlet slot of said collector arm defines an area and said intake port of said sampling chamber defines an area, and wherein said area of said inlet slot is substantially equal to said area of said intake port.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for determining selected characteristics of a volume of air passing sequentially through a first plane and a second plane, wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane and the air volume travels in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second planes, the method which comprises the steps of: diverting the movement of a portion of the air volume at the first plane into a direction substantially parallel to the first plane; redirecting the diverted portion of the air volume toward the second plane in a direction of travel substantially perpendicular to the second plane; measuring characteristics of the diverted air at the second plane, said measured characteristics being temperature, volumetric flow and relative humidity; and using the measured characteristics of the diverted air as being representative of the selected characteristics of the volume of air.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for determining selected characteristics of a volume of air passing sequentially through a first plane and a second plane, wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane and the air volume travels in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second planes, the method which comprises the steps of: diverting the movement of a portion of the air volume at the first plane into a direction substantially parallel to the first plane; redirecting the diverted portion of the air volume toward the second plane in a direction of travel substantially perpendicular to the second plane; measuring characteristics of the diverted air at the second plane, said measured characteristics being temperature, volumetric flow and relative humidity; and using the measured characteristics of the diverted air as being representative of the selected characteristics of the volume of air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of mixing the diverted portion of the air volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said diverting step is accomplished by using a scoop positioned in said first plane and said redirecting step is accomplished by using a chamber attached in fluid communication with said scoop.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |