Apparatus for filtering air and for creating a positive/negative pressure

• US 5,399,319 A
• Filed: 08/02/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vector Technologies Ltd. (Holden Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Vector Technologies Ltd. (Holden Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schoenberger, Stephen B., Reavis, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dawson, E. Leigh
• Application Number:
  US08/100,777
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 422/4, 422/5, 422/121, 422/122, 422/24, 422/117, 55/279, 55/497, 55/498, 55/472, 55/385.2
• US Class Current: 96/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• 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 46/0028 provided with antibacterial or antifungal means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2411 Filter cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/42 Auxiliary equipment or operation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/62 connected in series

Abstract

A portable, convertible apparatus for creating either a negative pressure or a positive pressure in and filtering the air in a room, the apparatus comprising a housing having upper and lower ends. The housing defines an air flow path between the upper and lower ends and contains, within the air flow path, a HEPA filter and a fan. A dome-shaped inlet grille is mounted on the upper end of the housing, and a cylindrical outlet grille is mounted on the lower end of the housing. The apparatus also includes an annular cover for the outlet grille, which cover is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room, and a dome-shaped cover for the inlet grille, which cover is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room. The apparatus creates a negative pressure in the room when the annular cover is placed over the outlet grille and the dome-shaped cover is removed, and creates a positive pressure in the room when the annular cover is removed and the dome-shaped cover is placed over the inlet grille.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for creating a negative pressure in and filtering the air in a room, said apparatus comprising

a generally cylindrical housing having a generally vertical axis and upper and lower ends, said housing defining an air flow path between said upper and lower ends, and said housing containing, within said air flow path, an annular HEPA filter with a lower end having therein an outlet, said filter being centered generally on said axis, a UV light source located inside said annular filter, and a fan located below said outlet of said annular filter,

a dome-shaped inlet grille mounted on said upper end of said housing and centered on said housing axis,

a cylindrical outlet grill mounted on said lower end of said housing and centered on said housing axis,

an annular cover for said outlet grill, said cover having therein a cover outlet,

an outlet conduit which communicates with said cover outlet and which is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room, and

rollers supporting said lower end of said housing for movement on the floor of the room,

said fan causing air flow from the room into said housing through said inlet grille, through said annular filter in adjacent to said UV light source, through said annular filter outlet, through said outlet grille and said cover outlet, and through said outlet conduit to the exterior of the room.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a prefilter located above said annular filter.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing also contains, in said air flow path, a carbon filter adjacent said prefilter.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inlet grille is removable from said housing to provide access to said annular filter, and wherein said annular filter is removable from said housing.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for providing an indication of inadequate air flow through said filter.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means includes a magnahelic gauge.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the height of said apparatus is adjustable to the applicable breathing zone.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes means for providing access to said annular filter, and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for preventing activation of said UV light source when said annular filter is accessed.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes means for providing access to said annular filter, and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for preventing operation of said apparatus when said annular filter is not in place.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein housing has thereon at least one handle allowing said apparatus to be picked up.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fan is a variable-speed fan so that said apparatus is adjustable for different size rooms.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apparatus weighs less than 100 pounds and has a height of six feet or less and a diameter of less than two feet.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inlet grille is the sole passageway for air to enter said housing and said outlet conduit is the sole passageway for air to exit said housing.

14. A portable apparatus for creating a negative pressure in and filtering the air in a room, said apparatus comprising

a generally cylindrical housing having a generally vertical axis and tipper and lower ends, said housing defining an air flow path between said tipper and lower ends, and said housing containing, within said air flow path, an annular HEPA filter with a lower end having therein an outlet, said filter being centered generally on said axis, a UV light source located inside said annular filter, and a fan located below said outlet of said annular filter,

a dome-shaped inlet grille mounted on said upper end of said housing and centered on said housing axis,

an outlet conduit which communicates with said lower end of said housing and which is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room, and

rollers supporting said lower end of said housing for movement on the floor of the room,

said fan causing air flow from the room into said housing through said inlet grille, through said annular filter adjacent to said UV light source, through said annular filter outlet, and through said outlet conduit to the exterior of the room,

said apparatus being convertible to an apparatus for creating a positive pressure in the room, and said apparatus further comprising a cylindrical outlet grille mounted on said lower end of said housing and centered on said housing axis, a dome-shaped cover for said inlet grille, said cover having therein an inlet, and an inlet conduit which communicates with said cover inlet and which is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room, such that when said outlet conduit is removed and said cover is placed over said inlet grille, air flows from the exterior of the room into said housing through said inlet conduit, through said inlet grille, through said annular filter adjacent to said UV light source, through said annular filter outlet, and through said outlet grille into the room.

15. A portable, convertible apparatus for creating either a negative pressure or a positive pressure in and filtering the air in a room, said apparatus comprising

a housing having opposite upper and lower ends, said housing defining an air flow path between said upper and lower ends, and said housing containing, within said air flow path, a HEPA filter, and a fan,

an inlet grille mounted on one of said ends of said housing,

an outlet grille mounted on the other of said ends of said housing,

an outlet cover for said outlet grille, said outlet cover having therein an outlet,

an outlet conduit which communicates with said outlet of said outlet cover and which is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room,

an inlet cover for said inlet grille, said inlet cover having therein an inlet, and

an inlet conduit which communicates with said inlet of said inlet cover and which is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room,

said apparatus being operable to create a negative pressure in the room when said outlet cover is placed over said outlet grille and said inlet cover is removed, said fan causing air flow from the room into said housing through said inlet grille, through said filter, and through said outlet conduit to the exterior of the room,

said apparatus being operable to create a positive pressure in the room when said outlet cover is removed and said inlet cover is placed over said inlet grille, said fan causing air flow from the exterior of the room into said housing through said inlet conduit, through said inlet grille, through said filter, and through said outlet grille into the room.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said housing has upper and lower ends, wherein said inlet grille is mounted on said upper end of said housing, and wherein said outlet grille is mounted on said lower end of said housing.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said inlet grille is dome-shaped.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said outlet grille is cylindrical.

19. A portable, convertible apparatus for creating either a negative pressure or a/positive pressure in and filtering the air in a room, said apparatus comprising

a generally cylindrical housing having a generally vertical axis and opposite upper and lower ends, said housing defining an air flow path between said upper and lower ends, and said housing containing, within said air flow path, an annular HEPA filter with a lower end having therein an outlet, said filter being centered on said housing axis, a UV light source located inside said annular filter, and a fan located below said outlet of said annular filter,

a dome-shaped inlet grille mounted on said upper end of said housing and centered on said housing axis,

a cylindrical outlet grille mounted on said lower end of said housing and centered on said housing axis,

an outlet cover for said outlet grille, said outlet cover having therein an outlet,

an outlet conduit which communicates with said outlet of said outlet cover and which is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room,

an inlet cover for said inlet grille, said inlet cover having therein an inlet, and

an inlet conduit which communicates with said inlet of said inlet cover and which is adapted to communicate with the exterior of the room,

said apparatus being operable to create a negative pressure in the room when said outlet cover is placed over said outlet grille and said inlet cover is removed, said fan causing air flow from the room into said housing through said inlet grille, through said filter, and through said outlet grille and said outlet conduit to the exterior of the room,

said apparatus being operable to create a positive pressure in the room when said outlet cover is removed and said inlet cover is placed over said inlet grille, said fan causing air flow from the exterior of the room into said housing through said inlet conduit and said inlet grille, through said filter, and through said outlet grille into the room.