Pyramid air cleaner

• US 6,797,042 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pyramid Air Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pyramid Air Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Dan Jr., LaFerriere, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US10/177,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20040020363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 554/13, 554/14, 554/15, 554/67, 554/71, 554/72, 554/73, 554/81, 554/86, 554/90, 554/95, 55D/IG.37, 962/24, 963/97, 964/17, 952/73, 952/86
• US Class Current: 95/273
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0028 provided with antibacterial or antifungal means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0036 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/12 in multiple arrangements

Abstract

A self contained air purification pyramid shaped system and apparatus that can form up to approximately 300 cfm of air flow at high speed, that can remove allergy causing particulates, microorganisms, and odors/chemicals from the air so as to create a healthier environment. The system and apparatus can use a carbon prefilter for removal of larger particulate and odors/chemicals and gases, a UV(ultra violet) lamp for destruction of bacteria, viruses, and molds, and a hospital grade HEPA filter (approximately 99.97% efficient at approximately 0.3 microns) for removal of smaller particulate and bacteria. Air can first enter the peak of the pyramid shaped apparatus, pass through a carbon prefilter, past the UV lamp(s), through filter, such as a HEPA filter, and through a motorized impeller which pushes the air out lower sides of the apparatus. In addition to attacking airborne bacteria and viruses, the UV lamp can continually bathe the “dirty” side of the HEPA filter (the side of the filter on which the microorganisms are collected), thereby deactivating any microorganisms that have been collected and preventing bacteria/mold growth on the HEPA. The invention can be used in commercial, personal and any environment for improving indoor air quality. Embodiments can include floor supported stand, a table top version and a mount for securing to a wall.

Claims

1. A self contained air purification apparatus, comprising:

upright pyramid with upper face portions, and lower face portions;

an air inlet port on at least one of the upper face portions for receiving incoming air;

means for filtering the incoming air inside the apparatus;

means for pulling the air through the apparatus; and

an exhaust port on at least one of the lower face portions, spaced below the inlet port for allowing cleaned air to be substantially circulated out the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air inlet port is located on two faces of the pyramid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pyramid includes:

an upper pyramid portion separate from a lower pyramid portion, the upper pyramid portion having at least one face with a different slanted angle than at least one other face.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exhaust port is located on three faces.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pyramid includes:

three exterior faces.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pyramid includes:

four exterior faces.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pyramid includes:

five exterior faces.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulling means includes:

means for circulating up to approximately 300 cfm of cleaned air.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a UV(ultra violet) source positioned adjacent and above a surface of the filtering means for simultaneously cleaning both the incoming air and the filtering means, so that at least one of;

bacteria, viruses and mold, is cleaned and filtered from the incoming air.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filtering means includes:

a HEPA filter tested to achieve up to approximately 99.97% efficiency at approximately 0.3 microns.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one removable filter for the filtering means; and

means for sealing edges of the at least one filter, within the apparatus so that incoming air does not bypass the at least one filter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sealing means includes:

a gasket and rail for allowing the at least one filter to slide in and out of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a removable back panel on the apparatus so that components within the apparatus can be serviced without using extra tools to open and access the components in the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for automatically turning off power to the apparatus when the removable back panel is opened.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filtering means includes:

a carbon filter positioned within the apparatus for removing odors and chemicals; and

a HEPA filter positioned below the carbon filter; and

a UV lamp positioned between the carbon filter and the HEPA filter.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a removable floor based stand for positioning the apparatus above various floor locales.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for mounting the apparatus to various wall height positions.

18. A method of cleaning and circulating air from a self-contained system, comprising the steps of:

providing an air cleaning device having pyramid shaped exterior walls;

pulling incoming air into at least one upper face portion on at least one of the pyramid shaped exterior walls;

filtering the air inside the device; and

exhausting resultant air from at least one lower face portion of the pyramid shaped exterior walls of the device below the at least one upper face portion of the pryamid shaped exterior walls.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the exhausting step includes the step of:

circulating up to approximately 300 cfm of cleaned air into a space.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the exhausting step includes the step of:

exhausting the resultant air through at least two faces of the pyramid shaped walls.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one filter for the step of filtering; and

simultaneously cleaning the incoming air and the at least one filter with light having a wavelength which provides for removal of bacteria, viruses, and mold.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of simultaneously cleaning includes the step of:

simultaneously bathing a side of the filter where contaminants collect, and the incoming air with UV(ultraviolet) light.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of filtering includes the steps of:

removing odors with a first filter positioned adjacent to the incoming air; and

removing particulates of up to approximately 0.3 microns with a second filter positioned below the first filter.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

destroying at least one of bacteria, viruses and mold, from the incoming air passing between the first filter and the second filter.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

sealing sides of a filter within the apparatus so that incoming air does not bypass the filter.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

attaching a removable stand to the device for supporting on various floor locations.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

mounting the device to various wall location heights with a removable mount.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

supporting the device on a surface of a table.

26. The method of 18, further comprising the step of:

accessing interior components within the device with a removable panel; and

servicing components within the device without using tools.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of:

automatically shutting off power to the components when the removable panel is opened.

31. A self contained air purification apparatus, comprising:

sloped angled exterior walls on the apparatus;

an air inlet port adjacent to a top portion of the apparatus for receiving incoming air;

means for filtering the incoming air inside the apparatus;

means for positioning a UV source adjacent and above a surface of the filtering means where microorganisms and mold become collected;

means for pulling the air through the apparatus; and

an exhaust port adjacent to a lower portion of the apparatus spaced below the inlet port for allowing cleaned air to be substantially circulated about the apparatus.

32. A self contained air purification apparatus, comprising:

sloped angled exterior walls on the apparatus;

an air inlet port adjacent to a top portion of the apparatus for receiving incoming air;

means for filtering the incoming air inside the apparatus;

at least one removable filter for the filtering means; and

means for sealing edges of the at least one filter, within the apparatus so that incoming air does not bypass the at least one filter, the sealing means having a gasket and rail for allowing the at least one filter to slide in and out of the apparatus;

means for pulling the air through the apparatus; and

an exhaust port adjacent to a lower portion of the apparatus spaced below the inlet port for allowing cleaned air to be substantially circulated about the apparatus.

33. A self contained air purification apparatus, comprising:

sloped angled exterior walls on the apparatus;

an air inlet port adjacent to a top portion of the apparatus for receiving incoming air;

means for filtering the incoming air inside the apparatus;

means for pulling the air through the apparatus;

an exhaust port adjacent to a lower portion of the apparatus spaced below the inlet port for allowing cleaned air to be substantially circulated about the apparatus; and

a removable back panel on the apparatus so that components within the apparatus can be serviced without using extra tools to open and access the components in the apparatus.

34. A self contained air purification apparatus, comprising:

sloped angled exterior walls on the apparatus;

an air inlet port adjacent to a top portion of the apparatus for receiving incoming air;

a carbon filter positioned within the apparatus for removing odors and chemicals;

a HEPA filter positioned below the carbon filter;

a light source between the carbon filter and the HEPA filter;

means for pulling the air through the apparatus; and

an exhaust port adjacent to a lower portion of the apparatus spaced below the inlet port for allowing cleaned air to be substantially circulated about the apparatus.

35. A self contained air purification apparatus, comprising:

sloped angled exterior walls on the apparatus;

an air inlet port adjacent to a top portion of the apparatus for receiving incoming air;

means for filtering the incoming air inside the apparatus;

means for pulling the air through the apparatus;

an exhaust port adjacent to a lower portion of the apparatus spaced below the inlet port for allowing cleaned air to be substantially circulated about the apparatus; and

supporting the apparatus on one of;

a removable floor based stand, and a wall mount.

36. A method of cleaning and circulating air from a self-contained system, comprising the steps of:

providing an air cleaning device having outwardly sloping exterior walls;

pulling incoming air into at least one upper face portion on at least one of the walls;

filtering the air inside the device;

exhausting resultant air from at least one lower face portion of the walls of the device, the lower face portion located beneath the upper face portion;

accessing interior components within the device with a removable panel; and

servicing components within the device without using tools.

37. A method of cleaning and circulating air from a self-contained system, comprising the steps of:

providing an air cleaning device having outwardly sloping exterior walls;

pulling incoming air into at least one upper face portion on at least one of the walls;

filtering the air inside the device;

exhausting resultant air from at least one lower face portion of the walls of the device, the lower face portion located beneath the upper face portion; and

supporting the device on one of;

a floor based stand and a wall mount.