Patent ID: 8407004

Claim:
An airflow detecting device comprising: at least one pivot rod; a first vane portion hingedly secured to and extending along a length of the at least one pivot rod; a second vane portion hingedly secured to and extending along a length of the at least one pivot rod, the arrangement being that the first vane portion is hingedly secured on one side of the at least one pivot rod and the second vane portion is hingedly secured to an opposite side of the at least one pivot rod so that the first vane portion and the second vane portion generally lie along a common plane; a first sensor assembly connected to the first vane portion and the second vane portion, the first sensor assembly generating a signal when the one of the first vane portion and the second vane portion is moved relative to the other of the second vane portion and the first vane portion when effected by airflow; and a control module secured to the at least one pivot rod and coupled to the first sensor assembly to receive the signal from the first sensor assembly, the control module being configured to determine the direction and the amount of airflow based on the signal from the first sensor assembly.