The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 1987
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1986
Donald P Dattilo, Louisville, KY (US);
Electronic Dust Detection, Inc., Louisville, KY (US);
Abstract
A dust detector ring assembly for detecting extremely small quantities of particulate contamination in air being taken into the carburetor of an engine is disclosed. The assembly includes a series of infrared light emitting diodes alternately interposed with a like series of infrared light detecting diodes and arranged in a circle around an interior surface portion of a frame defining a passageway of circular cross-section therethrough. A light beam generated by each of the emitters is directed against a different one of the detectors so that the light beams intersect one another at a common point in the passageway. The sensitivity of the assembly is thus greatest at the common point of intersection of the light beams and decreases proportionally moving away from the intersection point toward the defining surface of the passageway. A flexible circuit board is formed in a circle and is connected to the emitters and detectors. A flat circuit board is connected to the circular circuit board. The emitters and detectors are inserted into shafts radially projecting through an annular retaining ring. A ring-shaped infrared light glass filter is attached to an interior surface of the retaining ring and defines the passageway. An electronic circuit for sensing and counting interruptions of the light beams and for activating an alarm when potentially engine-damaging amounts of particulate matter flow into an engine carburetor air intake system is also disclosed.