Room air purifier

• US 5,277,877 A
• Filed: 08/06/1991
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Decisions Investments Corporation
• Original Assignee: Space Biospheres Venture
• Inventors: Hahn, Robert G., Hodges, R. Malone, Jeffrey, Robert E., Dempster, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANTIAGO, AMALIA L
• Application Number:
  US07/740,850
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 422/4, 422/120, 422/124, 422/299, 422/300, 47/66, 47/58, 47/1.4, 47/18, 47/39, 47/79, 47/81, 47/62
• US Class Current: 47/66.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/85 with gas-solid contact
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/175 using biological materials, plants or microorganisms
• 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: Y02P 60/20 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2

Abstract

An indoor air purifier has a base and a container on the base with a layer of soil supported above a lower water bath occupying the bottom of the container. The container is fitted on top of the base such that the container can freely rotate upon the base. Room air is drawn into the base and is passed from the base into the bottom of the container through a duct connected between the two. Air passing from the base is directed downwardly into the water bath before passing upwardly into the soil layer. The air passes through the soil layer and is discharged from the soil'"'"'s surface back into the room. Contaminant gases and particulates are removed from the air through contact with the soil layer and are metabolized by microorganisms contained within the soil, producing carbon dioxide and water. The water bath humidifies the air being passed through it and maintains a stable degree of moisture in the lower portion of the soil layer. Water lost through evaporation is replenished through a sleeve passing downward from the soil'"'"'s surface to the water bath. A water bottle inverted within the sleeve maintains a substantially constant water level. Plants may be grown in the soil layer to aid in purification and to provide an attractive room decor.

Claims

1. A soil bed reactor room air purifier comprising:

a base;

a container having an upper chamber retaining a layer of soil containing aerobic microorganisms, and a lower chamber retaining a water bath;

means for fitting the container on top of the base;

means for drawing air from a room into the base; and

means for passing the air from the base into the container and through the water bath, then through the layer of soil and discharging the air into the room.

2. An air purifier as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for fitting the container on the base comprises complementary surface features on the top of the base and an underside of the container for inhibiting the container from sliding off of the base and permitting rotation of the container on the base.

3. An air purifier as recited in claim 2 wherein the complementary surface features comprise a circular rail on the base and a circular groove in the bottom of the container, the rail being divided into a plurality of circumferentially extending segments with gaps between the segments for permitting radial air flow between the base and the container.

4. An air purifier as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for drawing air from a room into the base comprises:

a plurality of air intake openings through said base extending from outside the base to a hollow cavity inside the base; and

a blower inside the cavity for drawing air from a room through the intake openings and into the cavity and for discharging air upwardly into the container.

5. An air purifier as recited in claim 4 wherein the air intake openings are through the top of the base beneath the container and further comprising means for spacing the container away from the base a sufficient distance to permit air flow therebetween.

6. An air purifier as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for passing air comprises:

an opening in the top of the base;

an opening in an underside of the container at an elevation above the bottom of the container;

a duct connecting the opening in the base to the opening in the container;

the water bath in the bottom of the container being at an elevation below the opening in the underside of the container;

means for directing air from the duct through the water bath; and

a soil retainer plate for supporting the layer of soil and having a plurality of openings permitting transfer of air from the water bath to the soil layer.

7. An air purifier as recited in claim 6 comprising means for maintaining the water bath at a level for wetting a lower portion of the soil layer.

8. An air purifier as recited in claim 7 wherein the means for maintaining water level comprises a bottle inverted in the water bath with an opening at a desired water level.

9. An air purifier as recited in claim 1 wherein the water bath is in the bottom of the container and further comprising:

a hollow bottle sleeve mounted within the container extending from an upper opening at the surface of the soil to a lower opening adjacent to the water bath; and

an inverted water bottle removably fitted within the hollow bottle sleeve for replenishing water lost through evaporation.

10. An indoor air purifier for removing oxidizable gases and particulates from room air comprising:

a container having an upper chamber retaining a layer of soil capable of supporting growth of aerobic microorganisms and a lower chamber retaining a water bath below the layer of soil;

means for supporting the layer of soil above the water bath;

means adjacent to the means for supporting the layer of soil for passing room air serially through the water bath and upwardly through the layer of soil; and

porous means immersed in the water bath for diffusing air bubbles formed by passing air through the water bath.

11. An air purifier as recited in claim 10 wherein the means for supporting the layer of soil comprises a horizontal retainer plate having a plurality of air transfer openings through the plate.

12. An air purifier as recited in claim 11 wherein the porous means comprises a porous diffuser element attached to the retainer plate'"'"'s underside covering the plurality of air transfer openings, the diffuser element operating to diffuse air bubbles formed from forcing air through the water bath.

13. An air purifier as recited in claim 12 further comprising a hydrophilic pad fitted on top of the retainer plate for separating the water bath from the soil and for wetting a lower portion of the layer of soil.

14. An indoor air purifier for removing oxidizable gases and particulates from room air comprising:

a container, a layer of soil in the container capable of supporting growth of aerobic microorganisms;

a water bath in the container below the layer of soil;

means in fluid communication with said container for passing room air serially through the water bath and upwardly through the layer of soil comprising;

an air duct,

an air chamber cap means for directing the room air flow from the duct downwardly below the surface of the water bath; and

a horizontal soil retainer plate for supporting the layer of soil and having a plurality of air transfer openings permitting the passage of the room air from the water bath upwardly into the soil layer; and

means for diffusing air bubbles formed by passing the room air through the water bath.

15. An air purifier as recited in claim 14 comprising means for maintaining the level of the water bath so that the soil retainer plate is immersed in the water bath and a lower portion of the layer of soil is in effective liquid contact with the water bath.

16. An indoor air purifier comprising:

a base;

a container having a permeable soil layer and a water bath below the soil layer;

means for supporting the soil layer above the water bath;

means for fitting the container on top of the base;

means for drawing air from a room into the base and then passing the air through the water bath and upwardly through the soil layer; and

means for continually maintaining the water bath at a substantially constant level.

17. An air purifier as recited in claim 16 wherein the means for maintaining water level comprises an inverted bottle having an opening immersed in the water.

18. An air purifier as recited in claim 16 wherein the base comprises:

a hollow member with a top surface of a shape complementary to the bottom of the container; and

a plurality of air intake openings permitting room air to enter a hollow cavity inside the base.

19. An air purifier as recited in claim 16 wherein the means for fitting the container on top of the base comprises:

a raised rail integral with and extending upwardly from a top surface of the base; and

a groove complementary to the rail recessed into an underside surface of the container.

20. An air purifier as recited in claim 19 wherein the rail is divided into a plurality of segments defining a plurality of openings for air to pass to air intake openings on top of the base.

21. An air purifier as recited in claim 16 wherein the container comprises:

a hollow cylindrical member having a closed bottom portion and an open top portion;

a horizontal soil retainer plate inside the hollow cylindrical member;

an upper soil storage chamber;

a lower water bath reservoir;

the horizontal soil retainer plate being located between the upper chamber and lower reservoir; and

a hydrophilic pad fitted on top of the soil retainer plate for separating the water bath from the soil and for wetting a lower portion of the layer of soil.

22. An air purifier as recited in claim 16 wherein the means for drawing air from the room into the base and passing it through the container'"'"'s water bath and soil layer comprises:

means for drawing air from the room into the base;

a duct communicating between the top of the base and underside of the container;

an air chamber cap means for directing air from the duct downwardly into the container'"'"'s water bath; and

wherein the means for supporting the soil layer comprises a horizontal soil retainer plate below the soil for supporting the soil layer and having a plurality of air transfer openings permitting the passage of air from the water bath into the soil layer.

23. An air purifier as recited in claim 22 comprising a hydrophilic pad above the soil retainer plate and at least partially immersed in the water for separating the water bath from the soil and for wetting a lower portion of the layer of soil.

24. An air purifier as recited in claim 22 comprising means in the container for diffusing air bubbles formed by passing air through the water bath.

25. An air purifier as recited in claim 24 wherein the means for diffusing air bubbles comprises a permeable foam element below the retainer plate.

26. An air purifier as recited in claim 16 wherein the means for maintaining the water level in the water bath comprises:

a hollow bottle sleeve vertically mounted within the container extending downwardly from above the layer of soil to the water bath; and

an inverted bottle removably fitted within the bottle sleeve.

27. A soil bed reactor room air purifier comprising:

a hollow base;

a circular rail around a top of the base, the rail being divided into a plurality of circumferentially extending segments leaving gaps between the segments for passage of room air;

a plurality of openings in the top of the base inwardly from the rail for introducing room air into the base;

an open top container on top of the base;

a circular groove in the bottom of the container complementary to the rail on the base for permitting rotation of the container on the base;

a retainer plate in the container above the bottom of the container;

a layer of soil on top of the retainer plate containing microorganisms for metabolizing vapors carried in room air;

a bath of water in the bottom of the container;

a central duct between the base and the bottom of the container, the top of the duct being above the level of the water bath;

a blower in the hollow base connected to the duct for passing room air into the duct;

a cap surrounding the duct in the bottom of the container for deflecting air from the duct below the surface of the water bath; and

openings through the retainer plate for passing air from the water bath into the lower portion of the layer of soil.

28. An air purifier as recited in claim 27 comprising a hydrophilic permeable support pad between the soil and the retainer plate, at least a portion of the support pad being immersed in the water bath.

29. An air purifier as recited in claim 28 comprising a permeable layer below the retainer plate for diffusing air bubbles formed by passing air through the water bath.

30. An air purifier as recited in claim 27 comprising:

a hollow bottle sleeve vertically mounted within the container extending downwardly from above the layer of soil to the water bath; and

an inverted bottle removably fitted within the bottle sleeve for maintaining a substantially constant water level in the water bath.