Flow indicator and apparatus for monitoring particles in air

Abstract

A flow indicator includes a horizontally disposed housing having a lower inlet port drawing in an air sample, an interior space passing the air sample, an upper outlet port exhausting the air sample, and a transparent window allowing visual observation of at least a portion of the interior space. The flow indicator also includes a floater disposed within the housing to move vertically in response to the flow of the air sample to indicate a flow rate for the air sample, and a guide member extending upward from a lower portion of the housing and guiding movement of the floater.

1 . A flow indicator comprising: 
 a horizontally disposed housing comprising: 
 a lower inlet port drawing in an air sample;  
 an interior space passing the air sample;  
 an upper outlet port exhausting the air sample; and,  
 a transparent window allowing visual observation of at least a portion of the interior space;  
   a floater disposed within the housing to move vertically in response to the flow of the air sample to indicate a flow rate for the air sample; and    a guide member extending upward from a lower portion of the housing and guiding movement of the floater.    
   
   
       2 . The flow indicator of  claim 1 , wherein the guide member extends upward along a central axis of the housing, and the floater comprises a central hole through which the guide member passes.  
   
   
       3 . The flow indicator of  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of lower inlet ports is disposed radially around a center of the lower portion of the housing.  
   
   
       4 . The flow indicator of  claim 2 , wherein the floater comprises: 
 an inner panel having the central hole;    an outer tube extending downward from an outer edge portion of the inner panel and separated from an inner surface of the housing; and,    a guide tube extending downward from an inner portion of the inner panel and surrounding the guide member, wherein the guide tube guides the movement of the floater.    
   
   
       5 . The flow indicator of  claim 4 , wherein the outer tube comprises: 
 a first color tube having a first color, the first color tube extending downward from the outer edge portion of the inner panel; and,    a second color tube having a second color different from the first color, the second color tube being coupled to a lower end of the first color tube.    
   
   
       6 . The flow indicator of  claim 4 , wherein a gap between the guide tube and the guide member is less than about 0.1 mm.  
   
   
       7 . The flow indicator of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a stopper disposed at an upper portion of the guide member and limiting rise height of the floater.    
   
   
       8 . The flow indicator of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 an exhaust pipe extending through the upper outlet port and exhausting the air sample.    
   
   
       9 . The flow indicator of  claim 8 , wherein the exhaust pipe and the guide member are formed as a single piece; and, 
 a plurality of holes is formed radially around a lower portion of the exhaust pipe disposed within the housing, wherein the housing exhausts the air sample through the plurality of holes.