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:
Sep. 29, 2009
Filed:
May. 26, 2006
Ronald C. Johansson, Stillwater, MN (US);
Ronald C. Johansson, Stillwater, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A system for periodically or continuously monitoring the condition of a filter includes a filter having a peripheral frame and a flexible interior filtering region, a fixed support structure for receiving the filter and maintaining the perimeter of the filter frame in a generally fixed position while allowing the interior filtering region to flex in response to flow through the filter, and a force measuring device mounted on the downstream side of the filter adjacent the interior filtering region in a fixed position relative to the supporting structure, whereby as the interior filtering region flexes in response to flow through the filter, the interior filtering region exerts a force on the force measuring device that increases with the degree of clogging of the filter. A method of monitoring the condition of a filter is also disclosed.