Air purifier with control sensors

• US 20060034737A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DBG Group Investments LLC
• Original Assignee: EcoQuest International, Inc.
• Inventors: Beam, R. Paul, Morris, Neal, Greene, Tom, Sutton, David, Normark, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,166,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/186.70
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/205 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• 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 46/0036 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/44 controlling filtration
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/22 Cleaning ducts or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/167 using catalytic reactions
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/192 by electrical means, e.g. by applying electrostatic fields or high voltages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/30 by ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/90 Cleaning of purification apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

An air purifier (10) held in a housing (12, 14) with an ambient air inlet (16) and an air outlet (18) and defining an airflow path therethrough for treating ambient air, a filter (disposed in the airflow path and having an air permeable media for communicating air therethrough while retaining particles carried in the flow of air. A purification device attaches to an intermediate chassis in the airflow path for treating the air moved by a fan (70) into operative engagement with the purification device within the housing and out the air outlet. A controller operates the purification device by sensing an operative status of the purification device.

Claims

1. An air purifier, comprising:

a housing with an ambient air inlet and an air outlet and defining an airflow path therethrough for treating ambient air;

a filter disposed in the airflow path and having an air permeable media for communicating air therethrough while retaining particles carried in the flow of air;

a purification device attached to an intermediate chassis in the airflow path for treating the air;

a fan for moving the air from the air inlet into operative engagement with the purification device within the housing and out the air outlet; and

a controller for operating the purification device by sensing an operative status of the purification device.

2. The air purifier as recited in claim 1, wherein the purification device comprises an ultraviolet light source.

3. The air purifier as recited in claim 2, wherein the purification device further comprises a catalytic screen that being exposed to a light from the ultraviolet light source creates hydroxyl radicals for reacting with and neutralizing organic compounds in the flow of air.

4. The air purifier as recited in claim 3, further comprising a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the intermediate chassis at an oblique angle relative to the air flow, the arms slidingly receiving the catalytic screen.

5. The air purifier as recited in claim 3, wherein the catalytic screen comprises a titanium oxide mesh screen.

6. The air purifier as recited in claim 2, further comprising a sensor to detect operation of the ultraviolet light source and communicate a signal to the controller.

7. The air purifier as recited in claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises a photocell mounted in proximity to the ultraviolet light source for being exposed to light therefrom;

and the controller responsive to a signal from the photocell whereby the air purifier is operative during detection of light from the ultraviolet light source.

8. The air purifier as recited in claim 7, further comprising a display that communicates with the controller for displaying a message regarding the status of the ultraviolet light source.

9. The air purifier as recited in claim 3, wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises non-quartz glass through which ultraviolet light emits.

10. The air purifier as recited in claim 2, wherein the purification device further comprises a purification plate disposed in the air flow, the purification plate made of a dielectric material and opposing metal mesh screens in electrical communication with a supply of electrical current to generate an electrical spark for creating ozone in the flow of air.

11. The air purifier as recited in claim 10, further comprising a sensor to detect operation of the purification plate and communicate a signal to the controller in response thereto.

12. The air purifier as recited in claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a current detector that senses electrical flow to the metal mesh screens and signals the controller if the electrical current is below a first preselected threshold and signals the controller if the electrical current is above a second preselected threshold.

13. The air purifier as recited in claim 10, wherein the controller detects an operational status of the purification plate upon startup by applying a maximum power to the purification plate for a predetermined period and with a sensor measures a value of emitted RF which value outside an acceptable predetermined range causes the controller shutdown the operation of the air freshener.

14. The air purifier as recited in claim 10, wherein upon an attempt to start operating the controller enters a reset status within a predetermined period of time, the controller displays a message on a display for replacement of the purification plate.

15. The air purifier as recited in claim 2, wherein the purification device further comprises an ionizer for generating a plurality of ions inserted into the airflow.

16. The air purifier as recited in claim 13, wherein the ionizer comprises a needle that generates negative ions.

17. The air purifier as recited in claim 13, wherein the ionizer comprises an antenna that generates positive ions.

18. The air purifier as recited in claim 2, wherein the purification device comprises a first ionizer that generates negative ions and a second ionizer that generates positive ions, the generated ions inserted into the flow of air communicated through the air outlet.

19. The air purifier as recited in claim 1, further comprising a frame having a detachable member for holding the air filter.

20. The air purifier as recited in claim 18, further comprising a sensor that monitors the positioning of the air filter within the frame and cuts electrical power to the air purifier if positioning thereof is improper.

21. The air purifier as recited in claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises a switch having an arm that is contacted by an edge of the air filter when properly installed in the frame.

22. An air purifier, comprising:

a housing with an ambient air inlet and an air outlet and defining an airflow path therethrough for treating ambient air;

a filter disposed in the airflow path and having an air permeable media for communicating air therethrough while retaining particles carried in the flow of air;

an ultraviolet light source attached to an intermediate chassis in the airflow path for treating the air with an emission of ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light source comprises non-quartz glass through which ultraviolet light emits;

a photocatalytic screen that being exposed to a light from the ultraviolet light source creates hydroxyl radicals for reacting with and neutralizing organic compounds in the flow of air;

a fan for moving the air from the air inlet into operative engagement with the purification device within the housing and out the air outlet; and

a controller for operating the purification device;

a photocell mounted in proximity to the ultraviolet light source for being exposed to light therefrom the controller responsive to a signal from the photocell whereby the air purifier is operative during detection of light from the ultraviolet light source.

23. The air purifier as recited in claim 22, further comprising a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the intermediate chassis at an oblique angle relative to the air flow, the arms slidingly receiving the photocatalytic screen.

24. The air purifier as recited in claim 22, wherein the photocatalytic screen comprises a titanium oxide mesh screen.

25. The air purifier as recited in claim 22, further comprising a display that communicates with the controller for displaying a message regarding the status of the ultraviolet light source.

26. The air purifier as recited in claim 22, further comprising a purification plate disposed in the air flow, the purification plate made of a dielectric material and opposing metal mesh screens in electrical communication with a supply of electrical current to generate an electrical spark for creating ozone in the flow of air.

27. The air purifier as recited in claim 26, further comprising a sensor to detect operation of the purification plate and communicate a signal to the controller in response thereto.

28. The air purifier as recited in claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises a current detector that senses electrical flow to the metal mesh screens and signals the controller if the electrical current is below a first preselected threshold and signals the controller if the electrical current is above a second preselected threshold.

29. The air purifier as recited in claim 22, further comprising an ionizer for generating a plurality of ions inserted into the airflow.

30. The air purifier as recited in claim 29, wherein the ionizer comprises a needle that generates negative ions.

31. The air purifier as recited in claim 29, wherein the ionizer comprises an antenna that generates positive ions.

32. The air purifier as recited in claim 22, further comprising a first ionizer that generates negative ions and a second ionizer that generates positive ions, the generated ions inserted into the flow of air communicated through the air outlet.

33. The air purifier as recited in claim 22, further comprising a frame having a detachable member for holding the air filter.

34. The air purifier as recited in claim 33, further comprising a sensor that monitors the positioning of the air filter within the frame and cuts the power supply if the positioning is improper.

35. The air purifier as recited in claim 32, wherein the sensor comprises a switch having an arm that is contacted by an edge of the air filter when properly installed in the frame.

36. An air purifier, comprising:

a housing with an ambient air inlet and an air outlet and defining an airflow path therethrough for treating ambient air;

a fan for moving the air from the air inlet through the airflow path and out the air outlet;

a filter disposed in the airflow path and having an air permeable media for communicating air therethrough while retaining particles carried in the flow of air;

an ultraviolet light source attached to an intermediate chassis in the airflow path for treating the air with an emission of ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light source comprises non-quartz glass through which ultraviolet light emits;

a photocatalytic screen that being exposed to a light from the ultraviolet light source creates hydroxyl radicals for reacting with and neutralizing organic compounds in the flow of air;

a purification plate disposed in the air flow, the purification plate made of a dielectric material and opposing metal mesh screens in electrical communication with a supply of electrical current to generate an electrical spark for creating ozone in the flow of air;

an ionizer for generating a plurality of ions inserted into the airflow;

a controller for operating the purification device;

a photocell mounted in proximity to the ultraviolet light source for being exposed to light therefrom the controller responsive to a signal from the photocell whereby the air purifier is operative during detection of light from the ultraviolet light source; and

a current detector that senses electrical flow to the metal mesh screens of the purification plate and signals the controller if the electrical current is below a first preselected threshold and signals the controller if the electrical current is above a second preselected threshold, whereby the air purifier is operative if the electrical current to the purification plate is within the preselected range.