Portable air filter system

• US 5,268,009 A
• Filed: 12/22/1992
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: Teledyne Industries Incorporated (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thompson, Paul M., Wood, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hart, Charles
• Application Number:
  US07/995,153
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 55/DIG. 39, 55/124, 55/126, 55/131, 55/155, 55/360, 55/151
• US Class Current: 96/67
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/019 Post-treatment of gases
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/28 Plant or installations without electricity supply, e.g. using electrets
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/32 Transportable units, e.g. for cleaning room air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/192 by electrical means, e.g. by applying electrostatic fields or high voltages
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/39 Electrets separator

Abstract

A portable air filter system is described for use in the home, offices, or other areas where it is desired to remove airborne particulate matter from the air. The air filter system includes an enclosure having an air inlet and outlet areas, removable air filter which is grounded, a fan for moving air from the inlet to the outlet through the filter, and an ionizer for supplying negative ions to the air exiting through the outlet. The filter includes electrostatically charged fibrous material in a removable cartridge.

Claims

1. Portable air filter system comprising:

(a) an enclosure having air inlet means and air outlet means and defining a path between said inlet and outlet means;

(b) removable air filter means in said path for filtering air between said inlet and outlet means;

wherein said filter means comprises electrostatically charged fibrous filter medium in a removable cartridge;

wherein said filter means comprises electrostatically charged plastic fibers supported by an open frame;

wherein said filter medium is corrugated and is grounded by means of a conductive grid in contact with and adhered to said filter medium;

wherein said grid is in contact with said frame; and

wherein said frame includes a conductive portion which is grounded in said enclosure;

(c) fan means for moving air through said path from said inlet means to said outlet means; and

(d) ionizer means adjacent said outlet means for supplying negative ions to air exiting said outlet means.

2. An air filter system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plastic fibers comprise polypropylene.

3. An air filter system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said enclosure includes upper and lower portions;

wherein said air inlet means is disposed in said lower portion and said air outlet means is disposed in said upper portion.

4. An air filter system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said ionizer means is disposed in said path between said fan means and said air outlet means, and wherein said ionizer means comprises conductive fibers operably connected a voltage source.

5. An air filter system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fan means comprises a blower and an electrical motor including an output shaft;

wherein said blower is supported solely on said output shaft.

6. An air filter system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said motor is supported within said enclosure by means of a cushion material.

7. An air filter system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said fan means is supported within a housing of the type having an expanding radius;

wherein said housing includes a discharge opening forming said air outlet means.

8. An air filter system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said fan means is located below the line of sight through said discharge opening.

9. A portable air filter system comprising:

(a) an enclosure including upper and lower portions; and

further comprising air inlet means disposed in said lower portion and air outlet means disposed in said upper portion;

wherein said enclosure defines a path between said inlet and outlet means;

(b) removable air filter means in said path for filtering air between said inlet and outlet means;

wherein said filter means comprises electrostatically charged plastic fiber filter medium in a removable cartridge having an open frame;

wherein said filter medium is corrugated and is grounded by means of a conductive grid in contact with and adhered to said filter medium;

wherein said grid is in contact with said frame; and

wherein said frame includes a conductive portion which is grounded in said enclosure;

(c) fan means for moving air through said path from said inlet means to said outlet means;

wherein said fan means is supported within a housing of the type having an expanding radius;

wherein said housing includes a discharge opening forming said air outlet means;

wherein said fan means comprises a blower and an electrical motor including an output shaft;

wherein said blower is supported solely on said output shaft; and

(d) ionizer means adjacent said outlet means for supplying negative ions to air exiting said outlet means;

wherein said ionizer means comprises conductive fibers operably connected to a voltage source.

10. An air filter system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said ionizer means is disposed in said path between said fan means and said air outlet means.

11. An air filter system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said discharge opening includes upper and lower surfaces, and further comprising foam layers covering said upper and lower surfaces.

12. A portable air filter system comprising:

(a) an enclosure including upper and lower portions; and

further comprising air inlet means disposed in said lower portion and air outlet means disposed in said upper portion;

wherein said enclosure defines a path between said inlet and outlet means;

(b) removable air filter means in said path for filtering air between said inlet and outlet means;

wherein said filter means comprises electrostatically charged fibrous filter medium in a removable cartridge;

wherein said filter medium is grounded by means of a conductive grid in contact with said filter medium; and

wherein said filter means comprises electrostatically charged plastic fibers supported by an open frame;

wherein said grid is in contact with said frame; and

wherein said frame includes a conductive portion which is grounded in said enclosure;

(c) fan means for moving air through said path from said inlet means to said outlet means;

wherein said fan means comprises a blower and an electrical motor including an output shaft;

wherein said blower is supported solely on said output shaft; and

(d) ionizer means adjacent said outlet means for supplying negative ions to air exiting said outlet means;

wherein said ionizer means is disposed in said path between said fan means and air outlet means, and wherein said ionizer means comprises conductive fibers operably connected to a voltage source.

13. An air filter system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said fan means is supported within a housing of the type having an expanding radius;

wherein said housing includes a discharge opening forming said air outlet means; and

wherein said fan means is located below the line of sight through said discharge opening.

14. An air filter cartridge comprising:

(a) an open frame including a conductive portion;

(b) an electrostatically charged fibrous filter medium spanning said open frame;

wherein said filter medium is corrugated;

(c) a conductive grid in contact with and adhered to said filter medium;

wherein said grid is in contact with said conductive portion of said frame.