Modular air purification unit

• US 7,520,910 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immediate Response Technologies, LLC (AirBoss of America Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TVI Incorporated (AutoWeb, Inc. (California))
• Inventors: Tilley, Greg A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORLANDO, AMBER ROSE
• Application Number:
  US11/299,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20060230730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 552/79, 554/71, 553/501
• US Class Current: 55/471
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/16 using physical phenomena
• 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 46/0013 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0091 Including arrangements for environmental or personal protection
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/44 controlling filtration

Abstract

A modular air filtration unit having a disposable filter section separable from an inlet cap and a blower section. The modular air filtration unit is of rugged, lightweight construction and eases the interchange of used filter assemblies without jeopardizing leakage that might cause contamination of the intended clean environment.

Claims

1. An air purification unit, comprising:

a filter section, comprising;

an air inlet on a first end,

a rigidly framed filter inside said filter section and attached to said filter section on said first end such that the rigid frame is sealed with respect to said air inlet such that the only available flow path through said filter section is through said filter, and

a fan coupling extending from a second end of said filter section; and

a blower section, comprising;

an air outlet, and

an internally mounted motor and fan, said fan being configured to provide a pressure differential boundary between a high pressure on a discharge side of the fan and a low pressure on an inlet side of the fan when said fan is in operation,

wherein the fan coupling of said filter section extends sufficiently into said blower section when said filter section is joined to said blower section such that the pressure differential boundary of said fan is no further downstream than the free end of said fan coupling

and wherein the fan coupling is configured such that a section joining interface between said filter section and said blower section is located on the high pressure side of said pressure differential boundary such that risk of ingress of contaminated air from exterior of the air purification unit in the event of an imperfect seal at the section joining interface between said filter section and said blower section is eliminated.

2. The air purification unit of claim 1, said filter section further comprising a rigid outer shell.

3. The air purification unit of claim 1, said filter section further comprising an inlet section configured to receive a flexible hose or conduit.

4. The air purification unit of claim 3, wherein the inlet section further comprises an inlet coupling.

5. The air purification unit of claim 3, wherein the inlet section is integrated as a single unit with said filter section.

6. The air purification unit of claim 3, wherein the inlet section is sealingly attached to said filter section.

7. The air purification unit of claim 1, said blower section further comprising a rigid outer shell.

8. The air purification unit of claim 1, wherein said air outlet is configured to receive a flexible hose or conduit.

9. The air purification unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one clamp to connect said filter section to said blower section.

10. The air purification unit of claim 1, further comprising a control panel accessible from the exterior of said blower section.