Electrode self-cleaning mechanism for electro-kinetic air transporter conditioner devices

• US 6,709,484 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tessera, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Parker, Andrew J., Lee, Jimmy Luther, Lau, Shek Fai
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US09/924,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20030196887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 95/74, 95/76, 96/29, 96/39, 96/40, 96/51, 96/96, 361/225-235
• US Class Current: 95/76
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/104 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/32 by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/323 by electrostatic effects or by high-voltage electric fields
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/08 Ionising electrode being a rod
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/14 the gas being moved electro-kinetically
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/08 characterised by presence of stationary flat electrodes arranged with their flat surfaces parallel to the gas stream
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/12 characterised by separation of ionising and collecting stations
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/32 Transportable units, e.g. for cleaning room air
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/68 Control systems therefor electricity supply or control systems for cleaning the electrodes B03C3/746, B03C3/763
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/743 by using friction, e.g. by brushes or sliding elements
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/115 characterised by the electrical circuits producing the electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/12 Plate-type dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/20 Electrodes used for obtaining electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/22 Constructional details of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/62 Air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/30 by ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/40 by ozonisation for sterilisation F24F8/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 23/00 Apparatus for generating ions to be introduced into non-enclosed gases, e.g. into the atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a mechanism to clean the wire-like electrodes in the first electrode array. A length of flexible Mylar type sheet material projects from the base of the second electrode array towards and beyond the first electrode array. The distal end of each sheet includes a slit that engages a corresponding wire-like electrode. As a user moves the second electrode array up or down within the conditioner housing, friction between slit edges and the wire-like electrode cleans the electrode surface. The sheet material may be biasedly pivotably attached to the base of the second electrode array, and may be urged away from and parallel to the wire-like electrodes when the conditioner is in use. Another embodiment includes a bead-like member having a through opening or channel, through which the wire-like electrode passes. As the conditioner is turned upside down and rightside up, friction between the opening in the bead-like member and wire-like electrode cleans the electrode surface. The bead-like member may be made of ceramic, glass, or even metal. The through channel may be symmetrically formed in the bead-like member, but preferably will be asymmetrical to create a mechanical moment and increased friction with the surface of the wire-like electrode being cleaned.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a first group of electrodes contained within an electro-kinetic air conditioner, wherein the first group of electrodes has at least one electrode with a cleaning device connected with the electrode, such that the cleaning device can travel along the length of the electrode, the method comprising:

(a) rotating the electro-kinetic air conditioner from an original position so that the cleaning device travels from an initial position along the electrode and frictionally removes contaminates from the outer surface of the electrode;

(b) returning the electro-kinetic air conditioner to the original position, so that the cleaning device returns to the initial position; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) when the accumulation of contaminants on the electrode require subsequent cleaning to maintain the efficiency of the air conditioner.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the cleaning device is a bead-like member.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the cleaning device has a bore to allow the electrode to pass through with a characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) a bore formed through a geometric center of the bead-like member, (b) a bore formed parallel to, but offset from a longitudinal axis of the bead-like member, (c) a bore formed at an inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the bead-like member.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the cleaning device is spherically shaped.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning device is cylindrically shaped.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning device is bell shaped.

7. A method for cleaning an electrode contained within an electro-kinetic air conditioner, wherein the first electrode has a cleaning device connected with the electrode, such that the cleaning device can travel along the length of the electrode, the method comprising:

(a) rotating the electro-kinetic air conditioner from an original position so that the cleaning device travels along the electrode and frictionally removes contaminates from the outer surface of the electrode;

(b) returning the electro-kinetic air conditioner to the original position; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) when the accumulation of contaminants on the electrode require subsequent cleaning to maintain the efficiency of the air conditioner.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the cleaning device is a bead-like member.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the cleaning device has a bore to allow the electrode to pass through with a characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) a bore formed through a geometric center of the bead-like member, (b) a bore formed parallel to, but offset from, a longitudinal axis of the bead-like member, (c) a bore formed at an inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the bead-like member.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the cleaning device is spherically shaped.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning device is cylindrically shaped.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning device is bell shaped.

13. A method for cleaning a first electrode contained within an electro-kinetic air conditioner, wherein the first electrode has a cleaning device connected with the first electrode, such that the cleaning device can travel along the length of the first electrode, the method comprising:

(a) rotating the electro-kinetic air conditioner from an original position so that the cleaning device travels from an initial position along the first electrode and frictionally removes contaminates from the outer surface of the first electrode;

(b) returning the electro-kinetic air conditioner to the original position, so that the cleaning device returns to the initial position; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) when the accumulation of contaminants on the first electrode require subsequent cleaning to maintain the efficiency of the air conditioner.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the cleaning device is a bead-like member.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the cleaning device has a bore to allow the first electrode to pass through with a characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) a bore formed through a geometric center of the bead-like member, (b) a bore formed parallel to, but offset from, a longitudinal axis of the bead-like member, (c) a bore formed at an inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the bead-like member.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the cleaning device is spherically shaped.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the cleaning device is cylindrically shaped.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the cleaning device is bell shaped.

19. A method for cleaning an electrode contained within an electro-kinetic air conditioner, wherein the first electrode has a cleaning device connected with the electrode, such that the cleaning device can travel along the length of the electrode, the method comprising:

(a) rotating the electro-kinetic air conditioner from an original position so that the cleaning device travels along the electrode and frictionally removes contaminates from the outer surface of the electrode; and

(b) returning the electro-kinetic air conditioner to the original position.

20. The method of claim 19, further including the shape of:

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) when the accumulation of contaminants on the electrode require subsequent cleaning to maintain the efficiency of the air conditioner.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the cleaning device is a bead-like member.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the cleaning device has a bore to allow the electrode to pass through with a characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) a bore formed through a geometric center of the head-like member, (b) a bore formed parallel to, but offset from, a longitudinal axis of the bead-like member, (c) a bore formed at an inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the bead-like member.

23. A method for cleaning an emitter electrode with an electrode cleaning mechanism, the emitter electrode being located within an elongated housing including a base adapted to support the housing in an upright position, the method comprising:

(a) lifting the housing such that the base no longer supports the housing;

(b) rotating the housing from the upright position so that the electrode cleaning mechanism travels, from an initial position, along the emitter electrode and frictionally removes debris from the emitter electrode;

(c) rotating the housing generally back to the upright position so that the electrode cleaning mechanism travels back to the initial position; and

(d) setting down the housing such that the base again supports the housing in the upright position.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) at least one more time prior to step (d).

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the electrode cleaning mechanism continues to remove debris from the emitter electrode while it travels back to the initial position in step (c).

26. A method for cleaning an emitter electrode with an electrode cleaning mechanism, the emitter electrode being located within an elongated housing including a base adapted to support the housing in an upright position, the method comprising:

(a) lifting the housing such that the base no longer supports the housing;

(b) generally inverting the housing so that the electrode cleaning mechanism travels, from an initial position, along the emitter electrode and frictionally removes debris from the emitter electrode;

(c) rotating the housing generally back to the upright position so that the electrode cleaning mechanism travels back to the initial position; and

(d) setting down the housing such that the base again supports the housing in the upright position.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) at least one more time prior to step (d).

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the electrode cleaning mechanism continues to remove debris from the emitter electrode while it travels back to the initial position in step (c).

29. A method for cleaning an emitter electrode with an electrode cleaning mechanism, the emitter electrode being located within an elongated housing including a base adapted to support the housing in an upright position, the method comprising:

(a) rotating the housing from the upright position so that the electrode cleaning mechanism travels, from an initial position, along the emitter electrode and frictionally removes debris from the emitter electrode; and

(b) rotating the housing generally back to the upright position so that the electrode cleaning mechanism travels back to the initial position.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising repeating steps (a) and (b).

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the electrode cleaning mechanism continues to remove debris from the emitter electrode while it travels back to the initial position in step (a).

32. A method for cleaning an emitter electrode with an electrode cleaning mechanism, the emitter electrode being located within an elongated housing including a base adapted to support the housing in an upright position, the method comprising:

(a) generally inverting the housing so that the electrode cleaning mechanism travels, from an initial position, along the emitter electrode and frictionally removes debris from the emitter electrode; and

(b) rotating the housing generally back to the upright position so that the electrode cleaning mechanism travels back to the initial position.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising repeating steps (a) and (b).

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the electrode cleaning mechanism continues to remove debris from the emitter electrode while it travels back to the initial position in step (a).