JPH0924209A - Filter equipped with memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely determine a point of time for replacement of a filter by providing the filter with a storage device, in which a series of electronically readable information is stored, in a filter cartridge. SOLUTION: A filter cartridge comprises a filter device made of a polymer material and provided with two end caps 11. Each end cap 11 is formed from plastic material. One of the caps 11 receives one of ends of polymer filter medium 10, while the other end cap 11 receives the other end of the medium 10. The end caps 11 make is possible to mount the filter cartridge to a housing. One of the end caps 11 includes a storage device 12, in which a series of electronically readable information is stored. If the information in the device 12 is read out, a filter can be replaced at a proper point of time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to filters.

[0002]

Filters are most often designed for a particular application. For example, there are filters designed for use in certain medical application devices such as blood filters or heat and moisture exchange filters, and for certain industrial applications such as lubricating oil filtration or beverage filtration. There is a designed filter. In all cases,
It is important that the correct filter be used for the particular application. In some cases, filters that look very similar but have different characteristics may be used in parallel. The filter can be packaged in a packaging method that gives information about the properties of the filter involved, but once the filter is unpacked, it is known whether the filter is suitable for the desired application. Things can be difficult.

It has previously been proposed to provide a filter assembly that includes a filter cartridge within a housing, the housing including a sensor for monitoring filter performance. For example, in US-A-4626344, the housing is equipped with a sensor to detect when engine oil is limited and needs to be replaced. US-
The A-4006083 has a switch in the housing to determine when the filter cartridge is jammed. US-A-4578186 has a pressure sensitive switch at the filter inlet port of the housing to determine the increase in pressure. GB-A-983750 discloses a fuel injection system that includes a filter cartridge and a switch in the inlet passage of the housing for detecting clogging. US-A-5061364 discloses a component which encloses a filter cartridge and which produces an alternating electromagnetic field across it. An eddy current detector detects changes in the electromagnetic field caused by particles in the filter cartridge. US-A-3936
284 discloses an indicator mounted on the housing to monitor changes in pressure in the inlet and outlet chambers of the housing. US-A-5192424 discloses a filter cartridge with an indicia-protected marking.

[0004]

Filters are designed to work in a particular environment and not last for an infinite amount of time. If the environment changes or the filter reaches a state where it no longer works effectively, the filter needs to be removed and replaced. Generally, this is determined by monitoring the operating condition of the filter and observing the pressure drop across the filter. However, this can only give an approximate indication of the operating state of the filter.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a filter capable of accurately determining the time of exchange.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter including a filter cartridge including a storage device containing a series of electronically readable information.

In one aspect, this set of information can be information about the characteristics of the filter, and thus, for example, it can be electronically determined whether the correct filter is being used for a particular application.

It is desirable for a storage device to be associated with an input device and to provide the storage device with a set of information that can be electronically read from the storage device.

The input device can determine, for example, when the filter is operating in an out-of-design temperature range, and / or when the filter is in a clogged condition. Therefore, reading the information in the storage device allows the filter to be replaced at a suitable time.

[0010]

The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a filter cartridge comprises a polymeric material filter medium 10 having two end caps 11. Each end cap 11 is made of a plastic material. One end cap 11 receives one of the ends of the polymeric filter medium 10 and the other end cap 11 receives the other end of the filter medium 10. The end cap 11 allows the filter cartridge to be mounted in a housing (not shown).

One end cap 11 comprises a storage device 12 containing a series of electronically readable information.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, storage device 12 is an electronic read only storage device (ROM) containing information regarding the characteristics of the filter. The filter characteristics may include the physical dimensions of the filter and / or its rating, and / or reference numbers, manufacturer details, operating temperature range,
It could be safety information or other information such as operational instructions. The storage device is associated with a transmitter or transponder 13 which sends this series of information to the reader upon receipt of an interrogation signal from the appropriate reader.

Alternatively, the storage device 12 may be associated with an output device that allows a physical and electrical connection between the reading device and the storage device. This connection may be a permanent wire connection. Alternatively, the storage device could be provided with a cover that can be removed to allow an electrical connection between the reader and the storage device. Another possibility is to pierce the cover with a suitable connector to allow an electrical connection between the connector and the storage device.

In the alternative configuration shown in FIG. 3, the storage device 12 includes an electrical monitor 14 to provide the storage device 12 with a series of electronic information that can be electronically read from the storage device. Associated with a shaped input device. For example, electrical monitor 14 may include filter element 10
Could be detected, or temperature or pressure or any other desired variable parameter for the filter could be monitored.

A further possibility is to provide an electrical sensor for the detection of biochemicals such as enzymes, proteins, antibodies, antigens, bacteria, viruses and generate a series of electrical information related to this biochemical. It is to be. This information is used to identify the presence of a particular biochemical and / or as an integrity measure and / or to control the supply of fluid to the filter or to control the effluent from the filter. You can Electronic storage 12 may simply receive a series of electrical information from such a monitor 14 or sensor, or may receive this information and include information regarding filter 10 of the type described above with reference to FIG. You can do it. Another possibility is to include an electronic calculator 17 for processing the electronic data from the monitor 14 and storing the output data in the storage device 12.

This information is sent to the electrical transmitter 13 as described above.
Or by an electrical output device 15 in physical contact with the input device 16 of the reader in any of the ways described above with respect to FIG.

The storage device 12 could be programmed to send an electronic alert signal when certain detection parameters exceed predetermined limits.

In any of the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings, the memory device 12 and its associated components (including the computer 17 if provided) are a single electronic chip. Can be formed on. Alternatively, the storage device 12 could be written remotely from a remote sensor or from a manually operated input device. A manually operated input device could, for example, be used to input an electronic signal into the memory device 12 corresponding to the number of cyclic processes experienced by the filter 10. Storage device 12 may be associated with its own power source, such as a battery.

In general, of course, the information is stored in binary form as a string of bits of information. Preferably it is more than 100 bits of information, more preferably more than 1000 bits of information.

Any of the storage devices described above can be used with filter cartridges other than the cartridge shown in FIG. 1 that includes a filter medium and the end caps are made of any suitable material. Will. Further, the storage device could be incorporated into a portion of the cartridge other than at the end cap. It could also be incorporated into the filter medium. The final output need not be electronic and the electronically readable information could be converted to voice.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a filter cartridge.

2 is a schematic diagram of a first storage device usable with the cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second storage device that can be used with the cartridge of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Filter Medium 11 End Cap 12 Storage Device 13 Transmitter 14 Monitor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A filter comprising a filter cartridge (10, 11) containing a storage device (12) containing a series of electronically readable information. 2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the storage device (12) is a read-only storage device. 3. A storage device (12) is associated with an input device (14), the input device (14) providing a set of electronically readable information from the storage device (12).
The filter according to claim 1, which is supplied to 2). 4. The input device (14) is a monitor device (1).
4. The filter according to claim 3, which is a monitor device (14) for supplying the storage device (12) with information on the variable parameters monitored by (4). 5. A storage device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage device (12) comprises a transmitter (13) for transmitting an electrical signal containing said series of information. filter. 6. The storage device (12) comprises an output connection (15) for connection to a reading device (17) for reading a series of information in the storage device. Filter according to any one of.