Filter leak detection apparatus

1 . An apparatus for the detection of a leak in a filter comprising: a control device, an actuator, and a first leak detection sensor;

wherein the actuator places the first leak detection sensor at a first location in front of a membrane of the filter responsive to one or more actuation control signals received from the control device;

wherein the first leak detection sensor is activated responsive to a first sensor activation signal received from the control device;

wherein the first leak detection sensor measures a first leak detection parameter value;

wherein the control device compares the first leak detection parameter value with a predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value in a first comparison; and

wherein the control device determines the presence of a leak in the filter at a location in proximity to the first location based on the first comparison.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an antenna;

wherein the control device generates an alert signal based on the determination of the presence of a leak; and

wherein the control device communicates the alert signal to a user device or to a server computer via the antenna.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device calculates an average value of some or all of the leak detection parameter values measured previously by the leak detection apparatus;

wherein the control device calculates the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value based on the average value.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device calculates a standard deviation value of some or all of the leak detection parameter values previously measured by the apparatus;

wherein the control device calculates a predetermined leak detection parameter difference value based on the standard deviation value; and

wherein the control device determines the presence of a leak if the magnitude of the difference value between the leak detection parameter value measured by the first leak detection sensor and the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value is greater than the predetermined leak detection parameter difference value.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprising a second leak detection sensor;

wherein the actuator places the second leak detection sensor at a second location in front of the membrane of the filter responsive to the one or more actuation control signals;

wherein the second leak detection sensor is activated responsive to a second sensor activation signal received from the control device;

wherein the second leak detection sensor measures a second leak detection parameter value;

wherein the control device compares in a second comparison the first leak detection parameter value with the second leak detection parameter value; and

wherein the control device determines the presence of a leak in the filter at a location in proximity to the second location based on the second comparison.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device comprises a processing unit, a sensor controller, an actuator arm, an actuator controller, and a memory unit;

wherein the first leak detection sensor is attached to the actuator arm;

wherein the control device generates and sends the one or more actuation control signals responsive to a computer program stored in the memory unit and run in the processing unit; and

wherein the actuator moves the actuator arm along with the first leak detection sensor attached to the actuation arm to the first location responsive to the actuation control signal.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the control device receives a message containing the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value; and

wherein the control device stores the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value in the memory unit.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first leak detection sensor is one of an air pressure measurement device, a piezoelectric device, a capacitance change measurement device, and a resistance change measurement device.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first leak detection sensor is an air velocity measurement device, wherein the first leak detection parameter is the velocity of air.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value is calculated based on a differential air pressure value; and

wherein the differential air pressure value is the difference between the air pressure value on the upstream side of the filter and the air pressure value on the downstream side of the filter.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device receives a system status signal from an external source indicating if air is being blown through the filter; and

wherein the control device activates the actuator and the first leak detection sensor only if the system status signal indicates that air is being blown through the filter.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing, a communication device, an actuator controller, a first sensor controller, an actuator arm, a leak alert generation device, and an antenna;

wherein the housing comprises one or more enclosures to enclose the control device, the actuator arm and the first leak detection sensor;

wherein the one or more enclosures are fixed in a location away from a membrane of the filter when the housing is mounted on a frame of the filter or on a part of an air circulation system;

wherein the first leak detection sensor is attached to the actuator arm;

wherein the communication device formats and sends the actuation control signal to the actuator controller;

wherein the communication device formats and sends the first sensor activation signal to the first sensor controller;

wherein the apparatus moves the actuator arm to place the first leak detection sensor to the first location responsive to the first actuation control signal;

wherein the first sensor controller activates the first leak detection sensor responsive to first sensor control signal;

wherein the first sensor controller sends the measured leak detection parameter value to the communication device;

wherein the leak alert generation device comprises a CPU, a memory and a network communication link;

wherein the CPU generates the first sensor control signal responsive to the execution of a computer program stored in the memory;

wherein the CPU sends the first sensor control signal to the first leak detection sensor using the network communication link;

wherein the CPU receives the leak detection parameter value;

wherein the CPU generates a leak alert signal based on the leak detection parameter value; and

wherein the CPU sends the alert signal to a user device.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a mobile device, an application program and a user interface;

wherein the application program is stored in the mobile device;

wherein the application program communicates with the leak alert generation device via the user interface;

wherein a user of the mobile device inserts a data indicative of the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value via the user interface; and

wherein the mobile device sends the data to the leak alert generation device.

14 . An apparatus for the detection of a leak in a filter comprising: a first actuator, a first leak detection sensor, a second actuator, a second leak detection sensor, and a control device;

wherein the first actuator places the first leak detection sensor on a first side of a membrane of the filter responsive to a first actuation control signal received from the control device;

wherein the first leak detection sensor is activated responsive to a first sensor activation signal received from the control device;

wherein the first leak detection sensor measures the value of a first leak detection parameter value;

wherein the second actuator places the second leak detection sensor on a side opposite to the first side with respect to the filter membrane of the filter responsive to a second actuation control signal received from the control device;

wherein the second leak detection sensor is activated responsive to a second sensor activation signal received from the control device;

wherein the second leak detection sensor measures the value of a second leak detection parameter value;

wherein the control device calculates a difference value between the first leak detection parameter value and the second leak detection parameter value;

wherein the control device compares the difference value with a predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value; and

wherein the control device determines the presence of a leak in the filter based on the comparison.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control device calculates an average value of some or all of the difference values previously calculated by the control device;

Wherein the control device calculates the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value based on the average value; and

wherein the control device stores the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value in a memory device.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control device calculates a standard deviation value of some or all of the difference values previously calculated by the control device; and

wherein the control device calculates the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value based on the standard deviation.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an external computer system;

wherein the computer system receives a leak alert signal from the control device when the control device determines the presence of a leak in the filter; and

wherein the computer system communicates the leak alert signal to a user.

18 . A method for detecting a leak in a filter by a filter leak detection apparatus comprising the steps of:

mounting a first leak detection sensor on a first location of a first sensor arm;

actuating a first actuator arm to place the first sensor arm at a second location on a first side of the filter responsive to a first actuation signal from a control device;

activating the first leak detection sensor to measure the value of a first leak detection parameter responsive to a first activation signal from the control device;

comparing the first leak detection parameter value with a predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value; and

generating a filter leak detection signal based on the comparison.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:

calculating an average value of some or all of the first leak detection parameter values previously measured by the filter leak detection apparatus; and

determining the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value based on the average value.

20 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:

mounting a second leak detection sensor on a third location of a second sensor arm;

actuating a second actuator arm to place the second sensor arm at a fourth location on a second side which is on the opposite side of the first side of the filter responsive to a second actuation signal received from the control device;

activating the second leak detection sensor responsive to a second activation signal to measure a second leak detection parameter value;

calculating a difference value between the first leak detection parameter value and the second leak detection parameter value;

calculating an average value of some or all of the difference values;

calculating the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value based on the average value; and

storing the predetermined threshold leak detection parameter value in a memory.

21 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:

determining a location of the filter leak on the filter based on one or both of the first location and the second location.