Air cleaner

• US 20060016335A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Kaz Incorporated (Helen of Troy Limited)
• Inventors: Gatchell, Stephen M., Kontorovich, Boris, Vordenberg, Steven, Lozeau, Kevin, Best, James J., Cox, Paul E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/15
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/10 Ionising electrode has multiple serrated ends or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/09 characterised by presence of stationary flat electrodes arranged with their flat surfaces at right angles to the gas stream
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/41 Ionising-electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/51 Catch- space electrodes, e.g. slotted-box form
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/74 Cleaning the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/2351 Atmospheric particulate matter [PM], e.g. carbon smoke microparticles, smog, aerosol particles, dust

Abstract

An improved filter element for use in an electrostatic precipitation air cleaning device, the filter element including rod electrodes arranged through a stack of alternating fluted plastic sheets and plate electrodes. Successive plate electrodes are arranged to make contact with an alternating one or the other of the rod electrodes. The plate and rod electrodes may be composed of high impedance materials such as paper and plastic, respectively. An arrangement for removably inserting a filter element into an air cleaning device is provided. The arrangement also removably provides electrical connectivity between the filter element and the air cleaning device. The filter element can thus be readily removed and re-installed by a user.

Claims

1. A filter for removing particles from an air stream comprising:

a plurality of sheet elements, each sheet element including first and second walls separated from each other so that air may flow between the first and second walls;

a plurality of plate electrodes;

a first rod electrode; and

a second rod electrode,

wherein;

the plurality of sheet elements and plate electrodes are alternately arranged in a stack,

the first and second rod electrodes traverse the stack, and

successive plate electrodes alternately contact one of the first and second rod electrodes.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein the sheet elements include fluted plastic sheets.

3. The filter of claim 1, wherein the plate electrodes are comprised of a high impedance material.

4. The filter of claim 3, wherein the high impedance material includes paper.

5. The filter of claim 1, wherein the rod electrodes are comprised of a high impedance material.

6. The filter of claim 5, wherein the high impedance material includes plastic.

7. The filter of claim 1, wherein the sheet elements and the plate electrodes have similar shapes and the plate electrodes are smaller than the sheet elements.

8. The filter of claim 7, wherein the sheet elements and the plate electrodes are generally rectangular.

9. An air cleaning device comprising the filter of claim 1.

10. An air cleaning device comprising:

a housing, the housing having an opening;

an arm member, the arm member being hingedly attached to the housing proximate to the opening;

a tray member for receiving a filter element therein, the tray member including;

a perforated bottom wall; and

means for slidably engaging the arm member.

11. The air cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the tray member includes electrical contacts for electrically contacting respective contacts on the filter element.

12. The air cleaning device of claim 11, wherein the electrical contacts contact respective contacts in the air cleaning device when the tray member is in the air cleaning device.

13. The air cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the filter element comprises:

a plurality of sheet elements, each sheet element including first and second walls separated from each other so that air may flow between the first and second walls;

a plurality of plate electrodes;

a first rod electrode; and

a second rod electrode,

wherein;

the plurality of sheet elements and plate electrodes are alternately arranged in a stack,

the first and second rod electrodes traverse the stack, and

successive plate electrodes alternately contact one of the first and second rod electrodes.

14. An air cleaning device comprising:

a housing;

an electrostatic filter;

a cross-flow blower; and

an ionizer,

wherein the electrostatic filter, the cross-flow blower and the ionizer are arranged in a generally horizontal configuration in the housing, the cross-flow blower being arranged down stream of the electrostatic filter and the ionizer being arranged down stream of the cross-flow blower.

15. The air cleaning device of claim 14 comprising a pre-filter arranged up stream of the electrostatic filter.

16. The air cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the electrostatic filter comprises:

a plurality of sheet elements, each sheet element including first and second walls separated from each other so that air may flow between the first and second walls;

a plurality of plate electrodes;

a first rod electrode; and

a second rod electrode,

wherein;

the plurality of sheet elements and plate electrodes are alternately arranged in a stack,

the first and second rod electrodes traverse the stack, and

successive plate electrodes alternately contact one of the first and second rod electrodes.