US6582295B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of detecting clogging of an air filter and ventilation system employing such a method
Assignee: Valeo Climatisation SA
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Filing: 2000-06-29
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Granted: 2003-06-24
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Expires: 2020-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of measuring clogging of an air filter in a system for ventilation, air conditioning and/or heating of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, includes starting up an electric motor ( 11 ) driving a fan, measuring a characteristic value of the electric motor for driving the air passing through the filter ( 3 ) the clogging of which is being measured; comparing the measured value with a calibration value, to deduce therefrom a measure of the clogging of the filter.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicolas Abouchaar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:35
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D46/00; B01D46/0084; B01D46/0086; B01D46/0039; B01D46/42; B01D46/44; B01D46/46; B60; B60H; B60H3/00; B60H3/06; B01D2273/00; B01D2273/30; B60H2003/0683
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of measuring clogging of an air filter of a system for ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: starting up an air-pumping device including an electric motor driving an air-driving rotating aerodynamic component; measuring a single characteristic value of the electric motor driving at least one rotating aerodynamic component for driving the air passing through the filter the clogging of which is being measured, in order to obtain a single measurement value; comparing the measurement value with a single calibration value in order to deduce solely therefrom a measure of the clogging of the filter, wherein said calibration value is obtained by measurement of said characteristic value of the electric motor driving a rotating aerodynamic component for driving air passing through a new filter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of measuring clogging of an air filter of a system for ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: starting up an air-pumping device including an electric motor driving an air-driving rotating aerodynamic component; measuring a single characteristic value of the electric motor driving at least one rotating aerodynamic component for driving the air passing through the filter the clogging of which is being measured, in order to obtain a single measurement value; comparing the measurement value with a single calibration value in order to deduce solely therefrom a measure of the clogging of the filter, wherein said calibration value is obtained by measurement of said characteristic value of the electric motor driving a rotating aerodynamic component for driving air passing through a new filter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , further including a step of displaying a clogging index determined at step c).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , further including a step of displaying an alarm when the clogging of the filter exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , further including a step of obtaining the said calibration value by measurement of a characteristic value of the electric motor driving a rotating aerodynamic component for driving air passing through a new filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , further including a step of obtaining the said calibration value by measurement of a characteristic value of the electric motor driving a rotating aerodynamic component for driving air not passing through the filter the clogging of which is being measured.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement of the characteristic value of the electric motor is a measurement of the strength of the current drawn by this motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 , including a step of measuring an electrical voltage at the terminals of an electrical resistor connected in series with the motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement of the characteristic value of the motor is a measurement of the speed of rotation of this motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
Installation for ventilation, air conditioning and/or heating of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle employing the method of claim 1 , the installation including an air filter, air-pumping means including an electric motor driving a rotating aerodynamic component for driving the air, means for measuring a characteristic value of an electric motor driving at least one rotating aerodynamic component for driving the air passing through the said filter in order to obtain a measured value, and means for comparison with a calibration value in order to generate a clogging indication such as an alarm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Installation according to claim 9 , wherein the air-conditioning system includes a computer, the computer carrying out said comparison of the measured value of the current with the said calibration value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
Installation according to claim 9 , including a means of obtaining the said calibration value for measurement of a characteristic value of the electric motor driving at least one rotating aerodynamic component for driving the air not passing through the filter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Installation according to claim 11 , wherein the air which does not pass through the filter is recirculated air.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of measuring clogging of an air filter of a ventilation system in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: running an air pumping device driven by an electric motor to produce air flow through said ventilation system; determining a calibration value of a single characteristic of said electric motor; storing said calibration value in a memory of a computer; measuring a present value of said characteristic of said electric motor; comparing said present value with said-calibration value; and determining a clogging index based solely upon said step of comparing said present value to said calibration value, wherein said step of determining said calibration value is determined when said filter is known to be unclogged.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of measuring clogging of an air filter of a ventilation system in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: running an air pumping device driven by an electric motor to produce air flow through said ventilation system; determining a calibration value of a single characteristic of said electric motor; storing said calibration value in a memory of a computer; measuring a present value of said characteristic of said electric motor; comparing said present value with said-calibration value; and determining a clogging index based solely upon said step of comparing said present value to said calibration value, wherein said step of determining said calibration value is determined when said filter is known to be unclogged.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 13 , wherein said step of determining said calibration value is determined when said filter is known to be unclogged.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 13 , wherein said step of determining said calibration value is determined when said air flow through said filter bypasses said filter and said step of measuring said present value is measured when said air flow through said ventilation system passes through said filter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 13 , wherein said characteristic value of said motor is an amount of current drawn by said electric motor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 15 , wherein said characteristic value of said motor is an amount of voltage across a resistor connected in series to said electric motor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 15 , wherein said characteristic value of said motor is a speed of rotation of said motor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 13 , wherein said clogging index is determined by calculating a ratio of said calibration value to said present value of said characteristic of said electric motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 18 , comprising the additional step of: actuating an alarm when said ratio of said calibration value to said present value falls below a predetermined threshold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-23 | 2006-12-23 | 2007-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-23 | 2010-12-23 | 2011-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-23 | 2014-12-23 | 2015-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |