IP Library Granted Patent US 10,533,881
Granted Patent B2
US 10,533,881 · App. 15/705,024 · Granted Jan 14, 2020

Airflow sensor assembly for monitored heat exchanger system

Inventors: Randy Vanberg (Tomball, TX); Hamid Reza Zareie Rajani (Edmonton, CA); Seyed Reza Larimi (Edmonton, CA); Morteza Abbasi (Edmonton, CA)
Assignee: FORUM US, INC.
G01F1/115F24D19/10F24F11/30F24F11/52F24F11/62F24F11/89F24H9/20F28F19/00F28F27/00F24F11/63F24F11/64F24F2110/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,533,881
App. No.
15/705,024
Granted
Jan 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor assembly that includes a mounting frame; and a support platform coupled with the mounting frame. The support platform has a top platform surface with a circuit board disposed thereon. The circuit board is operably configured with a secondary microcontroller and a Hall effect sensor. There is an inner sensor housing configured to extend out and around the circuit board and the support platform. There is a first magnet coupled to an underside of the inner sensor housing. There is a rotating member configured with a plurality of blades and a rotating member mounting ring, the rotating member is proximately disposed on top of the inner sensor housing.

Claims (61)

1. An airflow sensor assembly for a monitored heat exchanger system, comprising:

a casing comprising: a casing outer surface, a casing inner surface, a casing topside, and a casing bottom side, and a casing opening;

a mounting frame disposed proximate to the casing bottom side;

a guard disposed proximate to the casing topside;

a shaft centrally positioned within the casing opening;

a support platform disposed around the shaft;

a plurality of assembly screws disposed through the casing, the mounting frame, and the guard;

a plurality of fasteners configured for connecting with the plurality of assembly screws;

a first bearing disposed around the shaft in a first bearing annulus between the shaft and the support platform;

a second bearing disposed around the shaft in a second bearing annulus between the shaft and the support platform;

a shim disposed around the shaft and between the first bearing and the second bearing;

a circuit board coupled to the support platform, the circuit board being configured with an operable logic circuit further comprising a microcontroller, a Hall effect sensor, and a transceiver;

a first lock nut threadingly engaged around the shaft in an amount sufficient to engage the second bearing;

an inner sensor housing disposed around the shaft, the inner sensor housing configured to extend out and around the circuit board and the support platform;

at least one magnet coupled with the inner sensor housing;

a rotating member comprising a plurality of blades disposed around the shaft; and

a second lock nut threadingly engaged around the shaft sufficiently enough to engage the rotating member.

2. The airflow sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein in operation, as airflow impacts the plurality of blades the rotating member rotates, and the shaft is also thus caused to rotate, wherein as the shaft rotates the at least one magnet periodically comes into proximity with the Hall effect sensor, and wherein a digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the at least one magnet.

3. The airflow sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second magnet coupled to an underside of the inner sensor housing, wherein the at least one magnet is oriented in a N/S pole orientation, and wherein the second magnet is oriented in a S/N pole orientation.

4. The airflow sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein in operation, as airflow impacts the plurality of blades, the rotating member rotates, which resultantly causes the shaft to rotate, wherein as the shaft rotates the at least one magnet periodically comes into proximity with the Hall effect sensor, wherein a first digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the at least one magnet, and wherein a second digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the second magnet.

5. An airflow sensor assembly for a monitored heat exchanger system, comprising:

a mounting frame configured for coupling the airflow sensor assembly with a heat exchanger unit, the mounting frame comprising a central segment;

a support platform coupled with the central segment, the support platform comprising: a platform hollow; and a top platform surface;

a shaft disposed in the platform hollow;

a first bearing disposed around the shaft and proximate the support platform;

a circuit board positioned onto the top platform surface, the circuit board being configured with an operable logic circuit further comprising a microcontroller and a Hall effect sensor;

a rotating member comprising a plurality of blades, the rotating member being disposed around the shaft; and

a lock nut threadingly engaged around the shaft sufficiently enough to engage a rotating member mounting ring.

6. The airflow sensor assembly of claim 5 , wherein in operation, as airflow impacts the plurality of blades the rotating member rotates, and thus causes the shaft to rotate, wherein as the shaft rotates at least one magnet periodically comes into proximity with the Hall effect sensor, and wherein a digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the at least one magnet.

7. The airflow sensor assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a first magnet coupled to an underside of an inner sensor housing and a second magnet coupled to the underside of the inner sensor housing, wherein the first magnet is oriented in a N/S pole orientation, and wherein the second magnet is oriented in a S/N pole orientation.

8. A sensor assembly comprising:

a mounting frame;

a cylindrical support platform coupled with the mounting frame, the cylindrical support platform comprising: a platform hollow; and a top platform surface;

a circuit board positioned onto the top platform surface, the circuit board being configured with a microcontroller and a Hall effect sensor;

an inner sensor housing configured to extend out and around the circuit board and the cylindrical support platform;

a first magnet coupled to an underside of the inner sensor housing; and

a rotating member comprising a plurality of blades and a rotating member mounting ring, the rotating member being disposed on top of the inner sensor housing.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 8 further comprising:

a shaft disposed in the platform hollow;

a first bearing disposed around the shaft, and also disposed at least partially in the platform hollow;

a first lock nut threadingly engaged around the shaft sufficiently enough to exert a holding pressure against the first bearing; and

a second lock nut threadingly engaged around the shaft sufficiently enough to engage the rotating member mounting ring,

wherein the rotating member is disposed around the shaft.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 9 , wherein in operation, as airflow impacts the plurality of blades the rotating member rotates, resultantly causing the shaft to rotate, wherein as the shaft rotates the first magnet periodically comes into proximity with the Hall effect sensor, and wherein a digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by first magnet passing thereby.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:

a casing comprising a casing outer surface, a casing inner surface, a casing topside, a casing bottom side, and a casing opening;

a guard disposed proximate to the casing topside;

a plurality of assembly screws disposed through the casing, the mounting frame, and the guard;

a plurality of fasteners configured for connecting with the plurality of assembly screws;

a second bearing disposed around the shaft and on top of the first bearing; and

a second magnet coupled to the underside of the inner sensor housing.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:

a shim disposed around the shaft and between the first bearing and the second bearing;

a tri-wing shaped support plate disposed on top of the second bearing; and

at least one binding screw mated with a respective binding post coupled together, whereby the tri-wing shaped support plate, the circuit board, the cylindrical support platform, and a central segment of the mounting frame are resultantly coupled together.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a second magnet coupled to the underside of the inner sensor housing, wherein the first magnet is oriented in a N/S pole orientation, and wherein the second magnet is oriented in a S/N pole orientation.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein in operation, as airflow impacts the plurality of blades the rotating member rotates, thus causing the shaft to rotate, wherein as the shaft rotates the first magnet periodically comes into proximity with the Hall effect sensor, wherein a first digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the first magnet passing thereby, and wherein a second digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the second magnet passing thereby.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 12 , wherein in operation, as airflow impacts the plurality of blades the rotating member rotates, thus causing the shaft to rotate, wherein as the shaft rotates the first magnet periodically comes into proximity with the Hall effect sensor, wherein a first digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the first magnet, and wherein a second digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the second magnet.

16. The sensor assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a second magnet coupled to the underside of the inner sensor housing, wherein the first magnet is oriented in a N/S pole orientation, and wherein the second magnet is oriented in a S/N pole orientation.

17. The sensor assembly of claim 16 , wherein in operation, as airflow impacts the plurality of blades the rotating member rotates, thus causing a shaft to rotate, wherein as the shaft rotates the first magnet periodically comes into proximity with the Hall effect sensor, and wherein a digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the first magnet.

18. The sensor assembly of claim 8 , wherein in operation, as airflow impacts the plurality of blades the rotating member rotates, thus causing a shaft to rotate, wherein as the shaft rotates the first magnet periodically comes into proximity with the Hall effect sensor, and wherein a digital signal is generated based on a change in a magnetic field of the Hall effect sensor caused by the first magnet.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 066565/FRAME 0968 Recorded Nov 12, 2024
From: GLAS USA LLC
To: FORUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORUM US, INC.; GLOBAL TUBING, LLC; VARIPERM ENERGY SERVICES INC.
Reel/Frame 069338/0131 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT REEL 053399/FRAME 0930 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FORUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORUM US, INC.; GLOBAL TUBING, LLC
Reel/Frame 069318/0330 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECOND LIEN TERM LOAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Sep 27, 2024
From: VARIPERM ENERGY SERVICES PARTNERSHIP, AS RESIGNING COLLATERAL AGENT AND ASSIGNOR
To: GLAS USA LLC, AS SUCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNEE
Reel/Frame 069067/0317 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2024
From: FORUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORUM US, INC.; GLOBAL TUBING, LLC; VARIPERM ENERGY SERVICES INC.
To: VARIPERM ENERGY SERVICES PARTNERSHIP
Reel/Frame 066565/0968 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: FORUM US, INC.; GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER ULC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK
Reel/Frame 058290/0868 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: FORUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORUM US, INC.; GLOBAL TUBING, LLC
To: US BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053399/0930 →
SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE Recorded Jun 26, 2019
From: GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER ULC
To: FORUM US, INC.
Reel/Frame 049596/0603 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2018
From: HOUSTON GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047410/0154 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: HJORTH, DEREK; GASKA, JOHN; VANBERG, RANDY; PENG, BOB; VISSCHER, KEVIN; LOTEY, IQBAL
To: GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER ULC
Reel/Frame 043821/0985 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: HJORTH, DEREK; GASKA, JOHN; VANBERG, RANDY; PENG, BOB
To: GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER ULC
Reel/Frame 043821/0911 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: GASKA, JOHN; VISSCHER, KEVIN; VANBERG, RANDY; LOTEY, IQBAL
To: GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER ULC
Reel/Frame 043821/0936 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: HJORTH, DEREK; GASKA, JOHN; VANBERG, RANDY; VISSCHER, KEVIN; LOTEY, IQBAL; RAJANI, HAMID REZA ZAREIE; LARIMI, SEYED REZA; ABBASI, MORTEZA; GODBOUT, DAN
To: GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER ULC
Reel/Frame 043822/0114 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: VANBERG, RANDY; RAJANI, HAMID REZA ZAREIE; LARIMI, SEYED REZA; ABBASI, MORTEZA
To: GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER ULC
Reel/Frame 043822/0159 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 15591076 · May 9, 2017
Continuation In Part 15477097 · Apr 2, 2017
Provisional Application 62320606 · Apr 10, 2016
Provisional Application 62320611 · Apr 10, 2016
Related Publication 20180003532A1 · Jan 4, 2018