U.S. patent number RE39,361 [Application Number 09/413,747] was granted by the patent office on 2006-10-24 for assembly of filtering apparatus and replaceable filter; and filtering apparatus and filter for use therein.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Doctro A.V.V.. Invention is credited to Dirk Jan Marinus Den Dekker.
United States Patent |
RE39,361 |
Den Dekker |
October 24, 2006 |
Assembly of filtering apparatus and replaceable filter; and
filtering apparatus and filter for use therein
Abstract
A filtering apparatus and replaceable filter assembly including
an electronic filter identification system having an electronic
label on the filter and a read-out mechanism on the filtering
apparatus. The read-out mechanism is connected to a control unit of
the filtering apparatus and the control unit is influenced by the
read-out mechanism. The control unit may be actuable only upon
disposing a filter in the filtering apparatus having a proper or
predetermined electronic label. The filter identification system
may also be interactive. The electronic label on the filter
includes a read/write memory which can store the number of
operating hours of the filter.
Inventors: |
Den Dekker; Dirk Jan Marinus
(Bergen, NL) |
Assignee: |
Doctro A.V.V. (Aruba,
NL)
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Family
ID: |
19862229 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/413,747 |
Filed: |
March 29, 1994 |
PCT
Filed: |
March 29, 1994 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/NL94/00067 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
November 29, 1995 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO94/22551 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
October 13, 1994 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
08532618 |
Nov 29, 1995 |
05674381 |
Oct 7, 1997 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 29, 1993 [NL] |
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9300554 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/85; 210/87;
210/94; 96/423; 96/417; 210/91; 210/143; 210/138; 210/100 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D
35/143 (20130101); B01D 46/0086 (20130101); B01D
46/009 (20130101); B01D 46/429 (20130101); B01D
2201/56 (20130101); B01D 2201/4046 (20130101); B01D
2201/52 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
35/143 (20060101); B01D 17/12 (20060101); B01D
35/14 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;210/85,87,91,94,100,138,143,282,739,743,266 ;95/1,23,26,417,423
;235/462.01,487,488,491,492,493,462,462.43,462.45,472.01 ;250/304
;365/189.01 ;96/417,423 ;55/DIG.2,DIG.34 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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31 26 850 |
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Mar 1982 |
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DE |
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202201 |
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Nov 1986 |
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EP |
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3-144396 |
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Jun 1991 |
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JP |
|
H 4-284807 |
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Oct 1992 |
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JP |
|
4284807 |
|
Oct 1992 |
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JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Drodge; Joseph
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Young & Thompson
Claims
I claim:
1. An assembly of a filtering apparatus and a replaceable filter
which comprises an electronic filter identification system,
including an electronic label on the filter and .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.read-out means on the filtering apparatus, said electronic
label comprising means.Iadd., .Iaddend.including a read and write
memory.Iadd., .Iaddend.adapted to count and store a number of
actual operating hours of the replaceable filter.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the read-out means is connected
to a control unit of the filtering apparatus, said control unit
being responsive by the read-out means.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the control unit is actuable
only upon said filter being disposed in the filtering apparatus
which has a predetermined electronic label.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter identification
system is interactive.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the filtering apparatus
comprises an indicating means including a display or indicator and
a control panel, for showing information on the filter.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the label comprises means
allowing use or refusal of the filter by the filtering
apparatus.
7. A filtering apparatus adapted to receive a replaceable filter
wherein said apparatus comprises .Iadd.a .Iaddend.read-out means
adapted to cooperate with an electronic label on the filter to form
an electronic filter identification system, said electronic label
comprising means.Iadd., .Iaddend.including a read and write
memory.Iadd., .Iaddend.adapted to count and store a number of
actual operating hours of the replaceable filter, said read-out
means adapted to respond to said memory means to effect at least
one of providing a warning or actuating shutdown of flow through
the filter.
8. A filter adapted to be placed in a filtering apparatus wherein
said filter comprises an electronic label adapted to cooperate with
.Iadd.a .Iaddend.read-out means on the filtering apparatus to form
an electronic filter identification system, said electronic label
comprising means.Iadd., .Iaddend.including a read and write
memory.Iadd., .Iaddend.adapted to count and store a number of
actual operating hours of the replaceable filter.
.Iadd.9. An assembly of a filtering apparatus and a replaceable
filter, the assembly comprising an electronic filter identification
system, including an electronic label on the filter and a read-out
on the filtering apparatus, said electronic label comprising a read
and write memory; wherein the assembly stores actual operating data
from the filtering apparatus in the read and write
memory..Iaddend.
.Iadd.10. An assembly of a filtering apparatus and a replaceable
filter, the assembly comprising an electronic filter identification
system, including an electronic label on the filter and a read-out
on the filtering apparatus, said electronic label comprising means,
including a read and write memory, for storing actual operating
data from the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.11. An assembly of a filtering apparatus and a replaceable
filter, the assembly comprising an electronic filter identification
system, including an electronic label on the filter and a read-out
on the filtering apparatus, said electronic label comprising
electronics, including a read and write memory, that obtain and
store actual operating data from the filtering
apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.12. An assembly of a filtering apparatus and a replaceable
filter, the assembly comprising an electronic filter identification
system, including an electronic label on the filter and a read-out
on the filtering apparatus, said electronic label comprising means,
including a read and write memory, for obtaining and storing actual
operating data from the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.13. An assembly of a filtering apparatus and a replaceable
filter, the assembly comprising an electronic filter identification
system, including an electronic label on the filter and a read-out
on the filtering apparatus, said electronic label comprising a read
and write memory that stores data and that maintains the
data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the data is actual data
from the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the read and write
memory maintains the data if the replaceable filter is removed from
the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the data stored in the
read and write memory is related to a type of said replaceable
filter..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the data stored in the
read and write memory is related to actual operating time of said
replaceable filter..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the data stored in the
read and write memory is related to incorrect fitting of the filter
to the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the electronic label is
copy protected so that only approved filters adapted to
requirements of the filtering apparatus can be used..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the electronic label
stores data related to at least one of the filter and use of the
filter, and wherein the electronic label and read-out can exchange
the stored data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the data stored in the
read and write memory is data relating to substances retained
within the filter..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said read-out is
coupled to a control unit of the filtering apparatus and said
control unit is responsive to the read-out..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said read-out is
coupled to a control unit of the filtering apparatus and said
control unit is actuable only upon said filter being disposed in
the filtering apparatus correctly..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said read-out is
coupled to a control unit of the filtering apparatus and said
control unit is actuable only upon said filter being disposed in
the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said electronic label
comprises means for use or refusal of the filter by the filtering
apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the data stored in the
read and write memory is data relating to the attainment of the
maximum operating time of the filter..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the read and write
memory is an EEPROM..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the read and write
memory is a programmable identification tag..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the read and write
memory is a smart card..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. An assembly of a filtering apparatus and a replaceable
filter, the assembly comprising an electronic filter identification
system, including an electronic label on the filter and a read-out
on the filtering apparatus, said electronic label comprising a read
and write memory adapted to count and store actual operating time
of the replaceable filter as data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the read and write
memory maintains the data if the replaceable filter is removed from
the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. An assembly of a filtering apparatus and a replaceable
filter, the assembly comprising an electronic filter identification
system, including an electronic label on the filter and a read-out
on the filtering apparatus, said electronic label comprising
electronics, including a read and write memory selected from a
group consisting of EEPROMS, Programmable Identification Tags
(PIT's), and smart cards, to store information..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the information stored
in the read and write memory is related to a type of said
replaceable filter..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the information stored
in the read and write memory is related to actual operating time of
said replaceable filter..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the information stored
in the read and write memory is related to incorrect fitting of the
filter to the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the electronic label is
copy protected so that only approved filters adapted to
requirements of the filtering apparatus can be used..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the electronic label
stores information related to at least one of the filter and use of
the filter, and wherein the electronic label and read-out can
exchange the stored information..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the information stored
in the read and write memory is data relating to substances
retained within the filter..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. The assembly of claim 32, wherein said read-out is
coupled to a control unit of the filtering apparatus and said
control unit is responsive to the read-out..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. The assembly of claim 32, wherein said read-out is
coupled to a control unit of the filtering apparatus and said
control unit is actuable only upon said filter being disposed in
the filtering apparatus correctly..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. The assembly of claim 32, wherein said read-out is
coupled to a control unit of the filtering apparatus and said
control unit is actuable only upon said filter being disposed in
the filtering apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. The assembly of claim 32, wherein said electronic label
comprises means for use or refusal of the filter by the filtering
apparatus..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the information stored
in the read and write memory is data relating to attainment of a
maximum operating time of the filter..Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the read and write
memory is an EEPROM..Iaddend.
.Iadd.45. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the read and write
memory is a programmable identification tag..Iaddend.
.Iadd.46. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the read and write
memory is a smart card..Iaddend.
Description
The invention relates to an assembly of a filtering apparatus and a
replaceable filter.
In various types of filtering apparatuses, such as industrial
exhausters, vacuum cleaners, filtering devices in lubrication
systems etc., the filter should be replaced periodically because
clogging will degrade its operation. When it is replaced several
things can go wrong, such as incorrect fitting, fitting of a wrong
or unapproved type and the like, which jeopardizes the correct
operation of the filtering apparatus or even personal safety.
It is the object of the invention to provide an assembly of a
filtering apparatus and a replaceable filter in which this
disadvantage is removed in an effective way.
For this purpose, the assembly according to the invention is
characterized by an electronic filter identification system
including an electronic label on the filter and read-out means on
the filtering apparatus.
Due to these features it is permitted that the read-out means
checks the correct fitting of a proper filter type by means of the
label thereby avoiding mistakes.
It is for example possible that the read-out means is connected to
a control unit of the filtering apparatus and the control unit is
influenced by the read-out means, in which case preferably the
control unit is only actuable upon disposing a filter in the
filtering apparatus having a proper label. In this way it is
impossible to operate the filtering apparatus together with an
improper filter, thus avoiding undesirable or even dangerous
situations.
In a further development of the invention, the filter
identification system may be interactive permitting for example the
provision of a label with a read and write memory adapted to store
the number of operating hours of the filter and to switch off the
filtering device if the maximum permitted number of operating hours
has been reached. This prevents the filter from being used too long
which would endanger the proper operation of the filter. Since the
label in the filter itself counts the number of operating hours, a
correct counting is maintained also when the filter is removed from
the filtering apparatus and is fitted again in the same or another
filtering apparatus, so that a timely warning for the end of the
operating time is ensured.
Preferably, the filtering apparatus comprises an indicating means
such as a display or indicator lamps of a control panel, for
showing information on the filter.
With this indicating means an operator can be provided with
information received by the read-out means of the filter label, for
example the fitting of an incorrect filter, or the attainment of
the maximum operating time, so that the necessary actions can be
taken immediately.
The invention includes both the assembly of a filtering apparatus
and a filter, and the filtering apparatus and the filter having the
features as mentioned separately.
The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to the
drawing showing a substantially simplified diagram of an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
The only FIGURE of the drawing shows a filtering apparatus
indicated by reference numeral 1 and accommodating therein an
exchangeable filter 2. The filtering apparatus 1 may be part of a
great number of different types of apparatus, such as for instance
industrial exhausters to be used in welding operations for example,
in vacuum cleaners or also in fluid circuits in which a fluid is
filtered during each circulation. The fluid includes both air, gas
and liquids. The filter 2 will preferably be a mechanical filter in
which the fluid is guided through a porous material or a material
structure having small passage openings separating solid matter
from the fluid. For this purpose, the drawing shows a fluid line 3
extending through the filter 2, and a pressure or vacuum source 4,
for example a pump, for forcing the fluid through the filter 2.
The replaceable filter 2 has an electronic label 5 to be read out
by a read-out means 6 which is mounted in the filtering apparatus 1
and in this case being connected to a central control unit 7
controlling the operation of the filtering apparatus 1 or the
machine accommodating the filtering apparatus 1 and to which the
pressure or vacuum source 4 is connected. The FIGURE also shows a
control panel 8 connected to the control unit 7.
The electronic label 5 comprises information on the filter 2 which
is readable by the read-out means 6. Label 5 and read-out means 6
together form an electronic identification system which may be
provided in several embodiments. In a simple embodiment one may use
for example resonance circuits, magnetic strip cards or optical
cards, in which systems the label can only act as a transmitter and
the read-out means as a receiver. In more sophisticated systems
there may be an interaction of the label and read-out means so that
both the label and read-out means are transmitter and receiver at
the same time. In these identification systems use can be made of a
chip card having a small piece of an EEPROM (a read and write
memory remaining in tact without electric supply), a "PIT"
(programmable identification tag) in which a chip card is used, but
in which both the energy and the information is transmitted a
distance without contact, or a so-called smart card in which the
memory of a chip card is extended to a complete micro controller
able to carry out full computations.
All systems are able to transmit information from the label to the
read-out means in the filtering apparatus. As a result it is
possible to use the read-out means to check the fitting of the
correct type of filter in the filtering apparatus. The program of
the filtering device may be such that, if the right filter is not
fitted, the control unit 7 is inhibited and the filter apparatus or
the machine incorporating said filtering apparatus is prevented
from being switched on. Consequently, the personal safety and the
correct operation of the apparatus is secured. It might be possible
to have the control panel 8 indicate that another filter should be
fitted.
When an interactive system is used, the features of the filter
identification system may be extended substantially. For example,
the actual operating time of the filter may be stored in the label
5 of the filter 2 which will prevent the filter from being used too
long. The user may be warned by an indication on the control panel
8 or the apparatus may be switched off if the maximum permitted
operating time is exceeded. During the use of the filter, the
operator may be kept informed of the number of operating hours of
the filter 2 through the operating panel 8. Of course, other
exchanges of information within the interactive system are
conceivable.
Particularly, with filters which are used for filtering danger
substances, for example asbestos, it may be useful to provide the
label 5 of the filter 2 with a copy protection so that only
approved filters adapted to the requirements may be used and other
filters will be refused by the filtering apparatus 1.
The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in the
drawing and described herein before which may be varied in
different manners within the scope of the invention.
A further extension of the embodiment includes an interactive
identification system to store data from the filtering apparatus in
the label, data may for example relate to substances which are
retained within the filter during filtration. These data may be
read out with a portable unit in a waste treatment works in order
to determine the best way to dispose of the filter as waste.
* * * * *