Active field polarized media air cleaner

• US 7,686,869 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Environmental Management Confederation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Environmental Management Confederation, Inc.
• Inventors: Summers, George R, Kaeppner, Benjamin H, Wiser, Forwood C
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa; Richard L
• Application Number:
  US11/617,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20070199449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 96/66, 96/67, 96/69, 96/83, 96/84, 96/96, 96/99, 554/95, 554/97, 555/01, 555/03, 555/06, 55D/IG.31
• US Class Current: 96/66
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0032 using electrostatic forces to remove particles, e.g. electret filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/50 Means for discharging electrostatic potential
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/28 Parts being easily removable for cleaning purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/366 located in the filter, e.g. special shape of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/31 Filter frame

Abstract

Improvements in active field polarized media air cleaner include an aerodynamic front cowling to reduce static air resistance, a rear double hinge to reduce blow by, a resistive center screen permitting the sharing of high voltage power supplies while reducing the tendency to arc and allowing for a higher operational voltage, a dielectric media support frame to produce a more uniform electrostatic field and reduce blow by, while at the same time reducing the tendency to spray corona and/or arc at the edges of the center screen, a substantially flat conductive outer screen to produce a more uniform electrostatic field throughout the filter media and a high-voltage shield to reduce high-voltage arcing and the spraying of corona where the high-voltage probe contacts the center screen.

Claims

1. A filter media comprising:

a first pad of dielectric filter material;

a second pad of dielectric filter material being substantially the same shape and area as said first pad of fibrous dielectric material;

a center screen disposed between said first and second pads of dielectric material, said center screen being substantially the same shape and area as said first and second pads of dielectric material; and

a dielectric media support frame having an inner side and outer side, said inner side enclosing said first and second pads of dielectric material, the dielectric media support frame having on the inner side thereof a shelf for holding said center screen between said first and second pads of dielectric material;

wherein said dielectric media support frame further comprises a protrusion on the outer side thereof.

2. A filter media in accordance with claim 1, wherein said dielectric media support frame further comprises flexible fins extending from said protrusion.

3. A filter media in accordance with claim 1, for use in an active field polarized media air cleaner, said active field polarized media air cleaner further comprising:

a first conductive outer screen;

a first conductive holding frame for holding said first conductive outer screen;

a second conductive outer screen;

a second conductive holding frame for holding said second conductive outer screen;

said first and second holding frames being disposed substantially parallel to each other on either side of said dielectric media support frame, whereby said protrusion on the outer side of said dielectric media support frame is substantially in contact with and held between said first and second conductive holding frames.

4. The filter media in accordance with claim 3, wherein the second conductive outer screen comprises a high-voltage probe passing through said conductive outer screen;

and

an insulating shield attached to said first conductive outer screen, said insulating shield surrounding said high-voltage probe.

5. The filter media in accordance with claim 4, wherein said high-voltage probe comprises a spring contact.

6. The filter media in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a contact attached to said center screen, said contact positioned so as to contact said high-voltage probe.

7. The filter media in accordance with claim 6, wherein said contact comprises:

a fastener having a head and a shank, said shank passing through said center screen, said head of said fastener being in contact with said high-voltage probe.

8. The filter media in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a metallic disk disposed on the shank of said fastener, said metallic disk being in contact with said center screen.

9. The filter media in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a second insulating shield attached to said second conductive outer screen, said second insulating shield disposed opposite said first insulating shield.