Claims
- 1. A system for monitoring air quality in a confined structure having an air filter disposed in an air conduit, comprising:
means defining an opening in the conduit; a monitoring apparatus disposed in fluid communication with the opening for receiving air from the conduit to determine whether the filter has come into contact with unsafe pollutants; said apparatus including a removable monitoring filter for monitoring air quality of air flowing through the opening; and said apparatus having a valve device for sealing off the conduit opening when said filter is removed for examination thereof.
- 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring apparatus is coupled to the air conduit at said opening upstream of the air filter.
- 3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring apparatus includes an inlet connected in fluid communication with the air conduit opening, said apparatus including an outlet, tube means connecting said outlet in fluid communication downstream of the air filter.
- 4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring apparatus is coupled to the air conduit at said opening downstream of the air filter.
- 5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring filter is a filter module.
- 6. A system according to claim 1,
wherein said monitoring apparatus includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet connected in fluid communication with the air conduit opening; said body having an air passage there through in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet; said removable filter mounted within said passage; and a valve member for self-actuating when said monitoring filter is removed for examination purposes.
- 7. A system according to claim 6, further including a valve seat for permitting an air flow through said monitoring filter; and
said valve member for sealing off said valve seat to seal the conduit opening when said monitoring filter is removed for examination thereof.
- 8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said valve member is a septum for helping to seal off said monitoring filter.
- 9. A method of monitoring air quality in a confined structure having an air filter disposed in a conduit, comprising:
receiving air from the conduit through an opening therein to determine whether the filter has come into contact with unsafe pollutants; monitoring air quality of air flowing through the opening with a monitoring filter, removably mounted in fluid communication with the opening; and sealing off the conduit opening when said monitoring filter is removed for examination thereof.
- 10. A method according to claim 9, further including coupling said monitoring apparatus at said opening upstream of the air filter.
- 11. A method according to claim 9, further including connecting in fluid communication with an inlet of said monitoring apparatus, with the air conduit opening, and connecting an outlet of said monitoring apparatus in fluid communication downstream of the air filter.
- 12. A method according to claim 9, further including coupling to the conduit downstream of the air filter.
- 13. A method according to claim 9, wherein said monitoring filter is a filter module.
- 14. A method according to claim 9, wherein said monitoring apparatus includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, said, inlet connected in fluid communication with the air conduit opening;
said body having an air passage there through in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet; said removable filter mounted within said passage; and a valve member for self-actuating when said monitoring filter is removed for examination purposes.
- 15. Air monitoring apparatus for connection to an opening in an air conduit containing air filter for removing pollutants from air moving within a confined structure, comprising:
a body having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the air conduit opening; said body having an air passage therethrough in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet; a removable monitoring filter mounted within said passage for monitoring air quality of air flowing through the opening and into said passage; and a valve member for self-actuating when said monitoring filter is removed for examination purposes.
- 16. Air monitoring apparatus according to claim 15, further including:
a valve seat for permitting air flow through said monitoring filter; and said valve member for sealing off said valve seat to seal the conduit opening when said monitoring filter is removed for examination thereof.
- 17. Air monitoring apparatus according to claim 16, further including resilient means for biasing said valve member toward said valve seat, a filter module being disposed within said air passage and containing said monitoring filter, said module having a valve actuator for holding said valve member away from said valve seat in an open position away from said valve seat against the force of said resilient means.
- 18. Air monitoring apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said valve means includes a septum, and further including a needle inlet for piercing said septum to open it to fluid communication with said passage.
- 19. Air monitoring apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said monitoring filter is disposed within a removable module, further including a suction pump for maintaining pollutants within said module when it is removed for examination of the monitoring filter.
- 20. Air monitoring apparatus according to claim 19, further including seals for closing off the inlets and outlets of said module.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/333,326, filed Nov. 26, 2001, and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING BUILDING AIR FLOW, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60333326 |
Nov 2001 |
US |