Hygienic air handler

• US 6,234,241 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Elmore
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Elmore
• Inventors: Elmore, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEO, LEONARD R
• Application Number:
  US08/710,853
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 165/122, 165/133, 422/121
• US Class Current: 165/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/96 for removing pollen

Abstract

Interior surfaces of an air handler unit are coated with a dense, non-porous material, which discourages and prohibits growth of mold, spores, algae, bacteria, germs, viruses and other organisms and microorganisms and allergens. Air is drawn into the air handler unit through a return duct and one or more filters, through a heat exchanger and into a blower within the air handler unit. The blower draws and discharges air through highly reflective, interiorly coated chambers, where the air is bathed with direct and reflected ultraviolet light. The clean, conditioned air is then delivered through main distribution and supply ducts.

Claims

1. Hygienic air handler apparatus, comprising an indoor commercial and residential air handler enclosure having interior surfaces and first and second open ends for respectively connecting to a main return duct and a main distribution supply duct, and having successive mounts extending across the enclosure successively from the first end toward the second end for mounting a filter on one mount, a heat exchanger on one mount, the heat exchanger being a heat exchange evaporator coil wherein relative humidity of air in the enclosure is increased by chilling the air, which provides dampness on the interior surfaces, and a blower connected to the air handler enclosure, a dense, non-porous, highly reflective coating on substantially all of the interior surfaces of the air handler for discouraging and prohibiting adherence and preventing growth on the damp, coated interior surfaces of mold, algae, bacterial germs, viruses and other organisms and microorganisms and preventing adherence of allergens to the dense, non-porous, highly reflective surface coating.

2. The hygienic air handler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coating further comprises a primer and a high gloss white acrylic paint and/or other reflective, antimicrobial, antifungal coating material.

3. A method of supplying hygienic air, comprising coating substantially all of an interior of an indoor commercial and residential air handler with a high density, non-porous, highly reflective coating, drawing the air through a return duct and through a filter into the interiorly coated air handler, drawing air through a heat exchanger evaporator coil where relative humidity of the air is increased by chilling the air, which provides a damp interior providing appropriate conditions for the culture of mold, algae, bacteria and the proliferation of spores, bacteria and viruses, and delivering the air by a blower through an outlet and through air delivery distribution ducts, and preventing growth of microorganisms, mold, algae, bacteria and viruses, and preventing surface accumulation of allergens.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the coating further comprises initially coating the entire interior of the air handler with the high density, non-porous, highly reflective coating.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising initially coating interior walls of the air handler downstream of the heat exchanger with the high density, non-porous, highly reflective coating.