Air flow sensor

Claim 2

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; a shoulder formed on said one end of the housing; an end piece comprising a cap portion and a post portion, the cap portion being mounted on said shoulder with the post portion extending away from said sensing face outwardly through said field when the same is present, the end piece being made of non-magnetic material; a glass cylinder disposed on said post portion; a first rubber O-ring mounted on said glass cylinder; a metal disk mounted on said glass cylinder for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face, through said field when the same is present, the metal disk being disposed between said first O-ring and said face and the O-ring functioning as abutment means to prevent the metal disk from sliding off of the glass cylinder, the weight and cross-sectional area of the metal disk permitting the same to be moved on the glass cylinder by the flow of air; and a second rubber O-ring mounted on said post portion, the second O-ring functioning to maintain said glass cylinder on the post portion.

Claim 3

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; an end piece including a post portion, the end piece being mounted on said one end of the housing and extending away from said sensing face outwardly through said field when the same is present, the end piece being made of non-magnetic material; a glass cylinder disposed on said post portion; a rubber O-ring mounted on said glass cylinder; and a metal disk mounted on said glass cylinder for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present, the metal disk being disposed between said O-ring and said sensing face and the O-ring functioning as abutment means to prevent the metal disk from sliding off of the glass cylinder, the weight and cross-sectional area of said metal disk permitting the same to be moved on the glass cylinder by the flow of air.

Claim 4

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; an end piece including a post portion, the end piece being mounted on said one end of the housing and extending away from said sensing face outwardly through said field when the same is present, the end piece being made of non-magnetic material; a glass cylinder disposed on said post portion; a rubber O-ring mounted on said glass cylinder; and a metal disk mounted on said glass cylinder for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present, the metal disk being disposed between said O-ring and said sensing face and the O-ring functioning as abutment means to prevent the metal disk from sliding off of the glass cylinder, the weight and cross-sectional area of said metal disk permitting the same to be moved on the glass cylinder by the flow of air.

Claim 5

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; a metal disk; and means mounting said metal disk adjacent said one end for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present and including abutment means to limit the movement of the metal disk in a direction away from said face, the weight and cross-sectional area of said metal disk permitting the same to be moved by the flow of air.

Claim 6

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; a metal disk; and means mounting said metal disk adjacent said one end for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present and including abutment means to limit the movement of the metal disk in a direction away from said face, the weight and cross-sectional area of said metal disk permitting the same to be moved by the flow of air.

Claim 7

Air flow sensor means comprising: support means; a proximity switch mounted on the support means and having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; an end piece including a post portion, the end piece being mounted on said support means and extending away from said sensing face outwardly through said field when the same is present, the end piece being made of non-magnetic material; abutment means on said post portion, the abutment means being made of non-magnetic material; and a metal disk mounted on said post portion for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present, the metal disk being disposed between said abutment means and said sensing face and the abutment means functioning to prevent the metal disk from sliding off of the post portion and the weight and cross-sectional area of said metal disk permitting the same to be moved on said post portion by the flow of air.

Claim 8

Air flow sensor means comprising: support means; a proximity switch mounted on the support means and having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; an end piece including a post portion, the end piece being mounted on said support means and extending away from said sensing face outwardly through said field when the same is present, the end piece being made of non-magnetic material; abutment means on said post portion, the abutment means being made of non-magnetic material; and a metal disk mounted on said post portion for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present, the metal disk being disposed between said abutment means and said sensing face and the abutment means functioning to prevent the metal disk from sliding off of the post portion and the weight and cross-sectional area of said metal disk permitting the same to be moved on said post portion by the flow of air.

Claim 9

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of said housing being a sensing face and having means to develop an electrical field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; an end piece including a post portion, the end piece extending away from said sensing face outwardly through said field when the same is present; abutment means on said post portion; and disk means mounted on said post portion for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present, the disk means being disposed between said abutment means and said sensing face and the abutment means functioning to prevent the disk means from sliding off of the post portion and the weight and cross-sectional area of the disk means permitting the same to be moved on said post portion by the flow of air.

Claim 10

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of said housing being a sensing face and having means to develop an electrical field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; an end piece including a post portion, the end piece extending away from said sensing face outwardly through said field when the same is present; abutment means on said post portion; and disk means mounted on said post portion for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present, the disk means being disposed between said abutment means and said sensing face and the abutment means functioning to prevent the disk means from sliding off of the post portion and the weight and cross-sectional area of the disk means permitting the same to be moved on said post portion by the flow of air.

Claim 11

The flow-sensor means according to claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 further including helical spring means made of non-magnetic material disposed between said abutment means and said metal disk which urges the metal disk toward said sensing face and which provides for the metal disk to move toward the abutment means under the influence of air flow.

Claim 12

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of said housing being a sensing face and having means to develop an electrical field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; disk means; and means mounting said disk means adjacent said one end for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present to respective positions inside and outside the effective zone of said field.

Claim 13

Air flow sensor means comprising: a proximity switch having a housing, one end of said housing being a sensing face and having means to develop an electrical field in a zone adjacent the sensing face; disk means; and means mounting said disk means adjacent said one end for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face through said field when the same is present to respective positions inside and outside the effective zone of said field.

Claim 14

Equipment for use on the face of a person to provide a signal each time the person inhales or exhales, the equipment comprising: a hollow, flexible mask to fit over the face of a person and form a chamber covering the nose and mouth of the person whereby air exhaled or inhaled will pass through the chamber; check valve means on the mask which opens when the person exhales to provide for the flow of air from inside the mask to the outside of the mask and which closes when the person inhales; an air intake tube formed on the mask; an elongated tubular member having a top section and a bottom section, the top section extending into said air intake tube and secured thereto and being open to the interior of the mask to form a mask air inlet, the top section having a shoulder and a plurality of air inlet means formed intermediate the shoulder and the bottom section; an air flow sensor including a proximity switch having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face disposed closely adjacent said shoulder, means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face, a metal disk mounted for reciprocating motion toward and away from said shoulder through said field when the same is present, and abutment means to limit movement in a direction away from said shoulder; the housing being connected with the bottom section of said tubular member and extending through the tubular member and spaced from the inside thereof to form an air passageway between said air inlet means and said mask air inlet; said air inlet means, said air passageway, and said mask air inlet providing for outside air to flow through the air inlet means, said air passageway and through said mask air inlet into the mask and the weight and cross-sectional area of the metal disk providing for the disk to function as follows: (a) when the patient inhales and air flows through the air inlet means, the air passageway, and the mask air inlet, the air flow lifts the metal disk away from said shoulder; and (b) when the patient stops inhaling and said flow ceases, the disc moves down on said shoulder and remains on said shoulder while the patient exhales.

Claim 15

Equipment for use on the face of a person to provide a signal each time the person inhales or exhales, the equipment comprising: a hollow, flexible mask to fit over the face of a person and form a chamber covering the nose and mouth of the person whereby air exhaled or inhaled will pass through the chamber; check valve means on the mask which opens when the person exhales to provide for the flow of air from inside the mask to the outside of the mask and which closes when the person inhales; an air intake tube formed on the mask; an elongated tubular member having a top section and a bottom section, the top section extending into said air intake tube and secured thereto and being open to the interior of the mask to form a mask air inlet, the top section having a shoulder and a plurality of air inlet means formed intermediate the shoulder and the bottom section; an air flow sensor including a proximity switch having a housing, one end of which is a sensing face disposed closely adjacent said shoulder, means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face, a metal disk mounted for reciprocating motion toward and away from said shoulder through said field when the same is present, and abutment means to limit movement in a direction away from said shoulder; the housing being connected with the bottom section of said tubular member and extending through the tubular member and spaced from the inside thereof to form an air passageway between said air inlet means and said mask air inlet; said air inlet means, said air passageway, and said mask air inlet providing for outside air to flow through the air inlet means, said air passageway and through said mask air inlet into the mask and the weight and cross-sectional area of the metal disk providing for the disk to function as follows: (a) when the patient inhales and air flows through the air inlet means, the air passageway, and the mask air inlet, the air flow lifts the metal disk away from said shoulder; and (b) when the patient stops inhaling and said flow ceases, the disc moves down on said shoulder and remains on said shoulder while the patient exhales.

Claim 16

Equipment for use on the face of a person to provide a signal each time the person inhales or exhales, the equipment comprising: a hollow, flexible mask to fit over the face of a person and form a chamber covering the nose and mouth of the person whereby air exhaled or inhaled will pass through the chamber; check valve means on the mask which opens when the person exhales to provide for the flow of air from inside the mask to the outside of the mask and which closes when the person inhales; an air intake tube formed on the mask; an elongated tubular member having a top section and a bottom section and a plurality of air inlet means formed intermediate the top and bottom sections, the top section extending into said air intake tube and secured thereto and being open to the interior of the mask to form a mask air inlet; an air flow sensor including a proximity switch having a housing one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face, a metal disk mounted for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face between a position adjacent the sensing face and a position away from the sensing face through said field when the same is present, and abutment means to limit said movement of the metal disk; the housing being connected with the bottom section of said tubular member and extending through the tubular member and spaced from the inside thereof to form an air passageway between said air inlet means and said mask air inlet; said air inlet means, said air passageway, and said mask air inlet providing for outside air to flow through the air inlet means, said air passageway and through said mask air inlet into the mask and the weight and cross-sectional area of the metal disk providing for the disk to function as follows: (a) when the patient inhales and air flows through the air inlet means, the air passageway, and the mask air inlet, the air flow lifts the metal disk to a position away from said sensing face; and (b) when the patient stops inhaling and said flow ceases, the disk moves down to a position adjacent said sensing face and remains in said last position while the patient exhales.

Claim 17

Equipment for use on the face of a person to provide a signal each time the person inhales or exhales, the equipment comprising: a hollow, flexible mask to fit over the face of a person and form a chamber covering the nose and mouth of the person whereby air exhaled or inhaled will pass through the chamber; check valve means on the mask which opens when the person exhales to provide for the flow of air from inside the mask to the outside of the mask and which closes when the person inhales; an air intake tube formed on the mask; an elongated tubular member having a top section and a bottom section and a plurality of air inlet means formed intermediate the top and bottom sections, the top section extending into said air intake tube and secured thereto and being open to the interior of the mask to form a mask air inlet; an air flow sensor including a proximity switch having a housing one end of which is a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the sensing face, a metal disk mounted for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face between a position adjacent the sensing face and a position away from the sensing face through said field when the same is present, and abutment means to limit said movement of the metal disk; the housing being connected with the bottom section of said tubular member and extending through the tubular member and spaced from the inside thereof to form an air passageway between said air inlet means and said mask air inlet; said air inlet means, said air passageway, and said mask air inlet providing for outside air to flow through the air inlet means, said air passageway and through said mask air inlet into the mask and the weight and cross-sectional area of the metal disk providing for the disk to function as follows: (a) when the patient inhales and air flows through the air inlet means, the air passageway, and the mask air inlet, the air flow lifts the metal disk to a position away from said sensing face; and (b) when the patient stops inhaling and said flow ceases, the disk moves down to a position adjacent said sensing face and remains in said last position while the patient exhales.

Claim 18

Equipment for use on the face of a person to provide a signal each time the person inhales or exhales, the equipment comprising: a hollow, flexible mask to fit over the face of a person and form a chamber covering the nose and mouth of the person whereby air exhaled or inhaled will pass through the chamber; check valve means on the mask which opens when the person exhales to provide for the flow of air from inside the mask to the outside of the mask and which closes when the person inhales; an air intake tube formed on the mask; an elongated tubular member having a top section and a bottom section and a plurality of air inlet means formed intermediate the top and bottom sections, the top section extending into said air intake tube and secured thereto and being open to the interior of the mask to form a mask air inlet; an air flow sensor including a proximity switch having a housing, one end of said housing being a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the exterior of the sensing face, disk means mounted for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face between a position adjacent the sensing face and a position away from the sensing face through said field when the same is present, and abutment means to limit said movement of the disk means; the housing being connected with the bottom section of said tubular member and extending through the tubular member and spaced from the inside thereof to form an air passageway between said air inlet means and said mask air inlet; said air inlet means, said air passageway, and said mask air inlet providing for outside air to flow through the air inlet means, said air passageway and through said mask air inlet into the mask and the weight and cross-sectional area of the disk means providing for the disk means to function as follows: (a) when the patient inhales and air flows through the air inlet means, the air passageway, and the mask air inlet, the air flow lifts the disk means to a position away from said sensing face; and (b) when the patient stops inhaling and said flow ceases, the disk means moves down to a position adjacent said sensing face and remains in said last position while the patient exhales.

Claim 19

Equipment for use on the face of a person to provide a signal each time the person inhales or exhales, the equipment comprising: a hollow, flexible mask to fit over the face of a person and form a chamber covering the nose and mouth of the person whereby air exhaled or inhaled will pass through the chamber; check valve means on the mask which opens when the person exhales to provide for the flow of air from inside the mask to the outside of the mask and which closes when the person inhales; an air intake tube formed on the mask; an elongated tubular member having a top section and a bottom section and a plurality of air inlet means formed intermediate the top and bottom sections, the top section extending into said air intake tube and secured thereto and being open to the interior of the mask to form a mask air inlet; an air flow sensor including a proximity switch having a housing, one end of said housing being a sensing face and having means to develop a magnetic field in a zone adjacent the exterior of the sensing face, disk means mounted for reciprocating motion toward and away from said sensing face between a position adjacent the sensing face and a position away from the sensing face through said field when the same is present, and abutment means to limit said movement of the disk means; the housing being connected with the bottom section of said tubular member and extending through the tubular member and spaced from the inside thereof to form an air passageway between said air inlet means and said mask air inlet; said air inlet means, said air passageway, and said mask air inlet providing for outside air to flow through the air inlet means, said air passageway and through said mask air inlet into the mask and the weight and cross-sectional area of the disk means providing for the disk means to function as follows: (a) when the patient inhales and air flows through the air inlet means, the air passageway, and the mask air inlet, the air flow lifts the disk means to a position away from said sensing face; and (b) when the patient stops inhaling and said flow ceases, the disk means moves down to a position adjacent said sensing face and remains in said last position while the patient exhales.

Claim 20

In equipment to provide a signal each time a person inhales or exhales during breathing comprising: a hollow flexible mask to fit over the face of a person and form a chamber covering the nose and mouth of the person whereby air exhaled or inhaled will pass through the chamber; check valve means on the mask which opens when the person exhales to provide for the flow of air from inside the mask to the outside of the mask and closes when the person inhales; an air intake tube formed on the mask the air intake tube having an axis; support means connected to said air intake tube; air flow sensor means connected to said support means to provide a signal each time a person inhales or exhales; a pair of mercury switches mounted on said support means each including liquid mercury, contacts, and an elongated housing containing the mercury and the contacts the elongated housing having an axis; the mercury switches being disposed opposite one another on opposite sides of the axis of said air intake tube and oriented so that the projection of the axis of each housing intersects first and second planes oriented at right angles to one another and intersecting each other along the axis of the tubular member; said orientation of the mercury switches providing that: (a) when the patient is upright the mercury in both switches closes the contacts; (b) when the patient is lying horizontally face up, the mercury in both switches opens the contacts; and (c) when the patient is lying horizontally, face to the side, the mercury in the lowermost switch opens the contacts and the mercury in the other switch closes the contacts; the mercury switch being for use in generating signals respectively that the patient has assumed the position of (a), (b), and (c).

Claim 21

In equipment to provide a signal each time a person inhales or exhales during breathing comprising: a hollow flexible mask to fit over the face of a person and form a chamber covering the nose and mouth of the person whereby air exhaled or inhaled will pass through the chamber; check valve means on the mask which opens when the person exhales to provide for the flow of air from inside the mask to the outside of the mask and closes when the person inhales; an air intake tube formed on the mask the air intake tube having an axis; support means connected to said air intake tube; air flow sensor means connected to said support means to provide a signal each time a person inhales or exhales; a pair of mercury switches mounted on said support means each including liquid mercury, contacts, and an elongated housing containing the mercury and the contacts the elongated housing having an axis; the mercury switches being disposed opposite one another on opposite sides of the axis of said air intake tube and oriented so that the projection of the axis of each housing intersects first and second planes oriented at right angles to one another and intersecting each other along the axis of the tubular member; said orientation of the mercury switches providing that: (a) when the patient is upright the mercury in both switches closes the contacts; (b) when the patient is lying horizontally face up, the mercury in both switches opens the contacts; and (c) when the patient is lying horizontally, face to the side, the mercury in the lowermost switch opens the contacts and the mercury in the other switch closes the contacts; the mercury switch being for use in generating signals respectively that the patient has assumed the position of (a), (b), and (c).