PORTABLE CLEAN-AIR GENERATOR

• US 3,861,894 A
• Filed: 10/13/1972
• Issued: 01/21/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Environmental Air Control, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Robert Claude Marsh
• Inventors: Marsh, Robert Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Nozick, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US05/297,332
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 55/233,279,316,467,357,473,493,DIG.29,482,502 21/74R 190/17,51,41R 417/411
• US Class Current: 96/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/12 in multiple arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/29 Air curtains

Abstract

A hinged case is divided into an intake chamber and an exhaust chamber, said chambers being connected by a centrifugal blower. An intake opening is formed in the case communicating the atmosphere with the intake chamber through a filter disposed within said opening. An exhaust opening is formed within said case communicating the exhaust chamber with the atmosphere. A humidifier is disposed within said second opening for humidifying the exhaust air. A filter assembly, including a peripheral frame, is mounted within said case so that one edge of said frame is in sealing engagement with the case about the exhaust opening. An odor filter and a high efficiency particle filter are mounted within said frame for properly treating and filtering the exhaust air. The case is shaped so that either a horizontally or downwardly directed laminar flow of air is provided.

Claims

1. A portable air filtering device, comprising:

a portable case including first and second separable sections;

a particle filter mounted in a frame extending about the entire periphery thereof, said frame including means for being sandwiched between the first and second sections when said case is closed;

means on said first and second sections for effecting a seal between the frame and the first and second sections of the case when the case is closed;

latch means for holding the first and second sections in a closed position; and

circulation means for circulating unfiltered air through said case and said filter, whereby a flow of filtered air is exhausted from said case, the case including an inlet opening, coupled to the ciRculation means, and an outlet opening disposed along the path of the flow of air in the case on the opposite side of the filter from the inlet opening.

2. A portable clean-air generator as described in claim 1, additionally comprising an odor filter positioned so that air passing through the outlet opening passes through said odor filter for removal of obnoxious odors and gases.

3. A portable clean-air generator as described in claim 1, additionally comprising a humidifer positioned in the flow of filtered air for humidifying the filtered air.

4. A portable clean-air generator as described in claim 1, wherein the high efficiency filter is positioned adjacent the outlet opening and includes a frame in which said filter is mounted, said frame functioning to establish a laminar flow of filtered air.

5. A portable clean-air generator as described in claim 4, additionally comprising:

an outwardly extending flange formed around the entire periphery of the filter frame;

a continuous deformable portion formed on said flange; and

means associated with said first and second sections of said portable case for engaging said deformable portion along its entire length when said case is closed and latched, whereby said deformable portion is deformed and forms a seal between said engaging means and said flange.

6. A portable air filtering device as described in claim 1, wherein the portable casing includes means for selectively positioning said casing in one of two positions to establish either a horizontal laminar flow or a downwardly directed laminar flow of filtered air.

7. A portable air filtering device as described in claim 6, wherein the means for selectively positioning the casing in either of two positions comprises:

a bottom surface formed in said casing so that when said casing is standing on said bottom surface a horizontal laminar flow of filtered air is provided; and

a sloped front panel on which said casing may stand to provide a downwardly directed laminar flow of filtered air.

8. A portable air filtering device as described in claim 1, wherein the means for being sandwiched comprises:

an outwardly extending flange formed about the entire periphery of the frame;

a continuous deformable portion being disposed between said flange and said first and second sections so that said portion is deformed to effect a seal between said flange and said first and second sections when said case is closed.

9. A portable air filtering device as described in claim 8, wherein the continuous deformable portion is associated with said flange and the first and second sections each comprise a continuous inwardly directed member formed about the edge of each section, said members being spaced from said edge to form a continuous channel when the case is closed, said deformable portion being disposed within said channel in sealing engagement therewith.

10. A portable clean-air generator adapted to receive a high efficiency filter of the type that is mounted in a frame extending around the entire periphery of the filter and has a continuous outwardly extending flange around said frame and a continuous deformable portion formed on said flange, said generator comprising:

a portable case including first and second separable sections;

means on said first and second sections for engaging and sandwiching said deformable portion about its entire length when the case is closed, whereby a seal is effected between the flange and the engaging means;

latch means for holding the first and second sections in a closed position; and

circulation means for circulating unfiltered air through said case and said filter so that a flow of filtered air is exhausted from said case, the case including an inlet opening, coupled to the circulation means, and an outlet opening disposed along the path of the flow of air in the case on the opposite side of the filter from the inlet opening.

11. A portable clean-air geneRator as described in claim 10, wherein the first section of the case is hingedly attached to the second section of the case.