Self-contained, portable room air treatment apparatus and method therefore

• US 5,240,478 A
• Filed: 06/26/1992
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gary D. Messina
• Original Assignee: Gary D. Messina
• Inventors: Messina, Gary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SPITZER, ROBERT H
• Application Number:
  US07/905,105
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 55/97, 55/279, 55/316, 55/356, 55/467, 55/471, 55/472, 55/502
• US Class Current: 95/273
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 11/00 Devices for reconditioning breathing air in sealed rooms chemical purification, disinfection, or sterilisation of air A61L; in aircraft or submarines, insofar as they influence the construction of the vehicle or are influenced by its construction B63B, B64D, respectively; air-conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2273/30 Means for generating a circulation of a fluid in a filtration system, e.g. using a pump or a fan
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/65 for the sterilisation of air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0028 provided with antibacterial or antifungal means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0038 with means for influencing the odor, e.g. deodorizing substances
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/522 with specific folds, e.g. having different lengths
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/54 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using ultra-fine filter sheets or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/88 Replacing filter elements

Abstract

A self-contained, portable air purification device is designed to continuously cleanse airborne particulates which include infectious respiratory organisms such as tuberculosis bacilla. Contaminated air is drawn into the device about 360° from the breathing or working zone to capture the airborne infectious respiratory organisms. The airborne microbial particulates are extracted by a high efficiency particulate air filter capable of eliminating 99.97% of all airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger. The filter is permanently sealed within a filter cube that is disposable in its entirety for replacement purposes. The filter cube is releasably secured within the device to provide a leak-free air tight seal eliminating any potential air bypass. Clean filtered air is discharged at the bottom of the device in a 360° circumference to create a recirculating flow pattern that effectively eliminates airborne particulate while diluting the air within the room with clean filtered air on a continuous basis. The device is designed to operate at various capacity levels depending upon the size of the room to be treated. When adjusted to its mid range operating level, the device will provide the average size room with more than five times the air changes as recommended by the Center for Disease Control.

Claims

1. A method for the treatment of contaminated air using a self-contained room air treatment apparatus, said method comprising drawing contaminated air flow at a first elevation from the surrounding environment into a first housing within said apparatus, filtering contaminating matter from said contaminated air flow by drawing contaminated air flow through an air filter assembly containing an air filter to provide clean filtered air, discharging said clean filtered air from a second housing within said apparatus into said surrounding environment at a second elevation below said first elevation, said air filter assembly being releasably secured to aid first and second housings, and periodically replacing said air filter assembly containing said air filter as an integral unit by another one of said air filter assembly upon detaching from said first and second housings.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising drawing contaminated air flow from the surrounding environment radially about 360°

.

3. The method claim of 2, comprising discharging clean filtered air into said surrounding environment radially about 360°

.

4. The method claim of 2, comprising discharging clean filtered air into said surrounding environment at said second elevation adjacent a surface supporting said apparatus in the environment to be treated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said air inlet means includes a plurality of openings for drawing contaminated air flow radially thereinto about 360°

, and said air outlet means includes a plurality of openings for discharging clean air flow radially therefrom about 360°

.

5. A self-contained room air treatment apparatus comprising a first housing having contaminated air inlet means arranged at a first elevation for drawing contaminated air flow thereinto, an air filter assembly secured at one end thereof to said first housing in air flow communications with said air inlet means, an air filter secured within said air filter assembly, a second housing having clean air outlet means arranged at a second elevation below said first elevation in air flow communications with said air filter assembly for discharging clean air flow radially therefrom, said air filter assembly releasably secured at another end thereof to said second housing, and blower means within said second housing arranged between said air filter and said air outlet means for drawing contaminated air at said first elevation through said air inlet means and said air filter assembly and discharging clean air radially through aid air outlet means at said second elevation, said air filter being replaceable along with said air filter assembly as a unit upon detaching said air filter assembly at least from said second housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said blower means includes said second housing divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber in air flow communications therewith, and impeller means within said lower chamber for drawing contaminated air through said air inlet means and discharging clean air radially through said air outlet means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said air outlet means includes a plurality of openings within said second housing arranged 360°

about said impeller means.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further including a plurality of ultraviolet lamps within said upper chamber underlying said air filter assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said air filter is replaceable with said air filter assembly as an integral unit by another one of said air filter assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said air filter assembly is releasably secured to said first housing for detachment therefrom upon replacement of said air filter assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first housing comprises a cap having a plurality of openings releasably secured to said air filter assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said air filter assembly comprises an outer housing providing a filter chamber and said air filter contained within an inner housing, said inner housing permanently sealed within said filter chamber to said outer housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said outer housing includes an L-shaped flange circumscribing one end thereof for receiving one end of said inner housing in sealed relationship.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said blower means includes said second housing having an L-shaped flange circumscribing one end thereof for receiving said L-shaped flange of said outer housing of said air filter assembly in sealed relationship.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said outer housing and said inner housing are constructed of combustible material.

17. A self-contained, portable room air treatment apparatus comprising contaminated air inlet means for drawing contaminated air flow thereinto, a disposable air filter assembly releasably secured at one end thereof to said air inlet means in air flow communications therewith, said air filter assembly comprising an outer housing providing a filter chamber and an air filter permanently sealed to said outer housing within said filter chamber, a blower unit releasably secured to said air filter assembly at the other end thereof in air flow communications therewith, said blower unit including clean air outlet means for discharging clean air flow therefrom and blower means for drawing contaminated air through said air inlet means and said air filter and discharging clean air through said air outlet means, said air filter assembly replaceable as an integral unit by another one of said air filter assemblies upon detachment from said air inlet means and said blower unit.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said air inlet means includes a plurality of openings for drawing contaminated air flow radially thereinto about 360°

, and said air outlet means includes a plurality of openings for discharging clean air flow radially therefrom about 360°

.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said air inlet means includes an inclined roof wall having a plurality of openings for drawing contaminated air axially thereinto.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said air filter is contained within an inner housing, said inner housing permanently sealed to said outer housing within said filter chamber.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said outer housing includes an L-shaped flange circumscribing one end thereof for receiving one end of said inner housing in sealed relationship.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said blower means includes a housing having an L-shaped flange circumscribing one end thereof for receiving said L-shaped flange of said outer housing of said air filter assembly in sealed relationship.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said blower means includes a housing divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber in air flow communications therewith, and impeller means within said lower chamber for drawing contaminated air through said air inlet means and discharging clean air radially through said air outlet means.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said air out means includes a plurality of openings within said housing arranged 360°

about said impeller means.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said air in means, said air filter assembly and said blower unit are arranged in longitudinal alignment with each other.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said outer housing includes an L-shaped flange circumscribing one end thereof for receiving one end of said inner housing in sealed relationship.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said blower means includes a housing having an L-shaped flange circumscribing one end thereof for receiving said L-shaped flange of said outer housing of said air filter assembly in sealed relationship.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said air outlet means includes a plurality of openings within said housing arranged 360°

about said impeller means.

26. A self-contained, portable room air treatment apparatus comprising contaminated air inlet means arranged at a first elevation for drawing contaminated air flow radially thereinto, a disposable air filter assembly releasably secured at one end thereof to said air inlet means in air flow communications therewith, said air filter assembly comprising an outer housing providing a filter chamber and an air filter within said filter chamber permanently sealed to said outer housing, and a blower unit releasably secured to said air filter assembly at the other end thereof in air flow communications therewith, said blower unit including clean air outlet means arranged at a second elevation below said first elevation for discharging clean air flow radially therefrom and blower means arranged between said air filter assembly and said air outlet means for drawing contaminated air at said first elevation through said air inlet means and said air filter and discharging clean air radially through said air outlet means at said second elevation, said air filter assembly replaceable as an integral unit by another one of said air filter assemblies upon detachment from said air inlet means and said blower unit.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said air filter includes an inner housing, therefor permanently sealed to said outer housing within said filter chamber.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said air inlet means includes a plurality of openings for drawing contaminated air flow radially thereinto about 360°

, and said air outlet means includes a plurality of openings for discharging clean air flow radially therefrom about 360°

.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said blower means includes a housing divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber in air flow communications therewith, and impeller means within said lower chamber for drawing contaminated air through said air inlet means and discharging clean air radially through said air outlet means.

33. A self-contained room air treatment apparatus comprising a first housing having contaminated air inlet means arranged at a first elevation for drawing contaminated air flow thereinto and contaminated air flow outlet means for expelling contaminated air flow therefrom, an air filter assembly releasably secured at one end thereof to said outlet means of said first housing in air flow communications with said air inlet means, an air filter secured within said air filter assembly, a second housing having clean air inlet means and clean air outlet means arranged at a second elevation below said first elevation in air flow communications with said air filter assembly for discharging clean air flow radially therefrom, said air filter assembly releasably secured at another end thereof to said inlet means of said second housing, and blower means within said second housing arranged between said air filter and said air outlet means of said second housing for drawing contaminated air at said first elevation through said air inlet means of said first housing and said air filter assembly and discharging clean air radially through said air outlet means of said second housing at said second elevation, said air filter being replaceable as an integral unit along with said air filter assembly by another one of said air filter assemblies upon detaching said air filter assembly from said first and second housings.