Air purifier with control sensors

• US 7,166,259 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DBG Group Investments LLC
• Original Assignee: EcoQuest International, Inc.
• Inventors: Beam, R. Paul, Morris, Neal, Greene, Tom, Normark, James, Sutton, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayekar; Kishor
• Application Number:
  US10/918,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20060034737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 422/186.3, 422/186.07, 422/186.04, 422/121
• US Class Current: 422/186.04
• 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 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 a 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 configured to be exposed to a light from the ultraviolet light source to create hydroxyl radicals for reacting with and neutralizing organic compounds in the flow of air;

a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the chassis at an oblique angle relative to the air flow, the arms slidingly removingly receiving the photocatalytic screen;

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 air purifier;

a photocell mounted in proximity to the ultraviolet light source for being exposed to light from the ultraviolet light source, 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; and

a current detector configured to sense electrical flow to the metal mesh screens of the purification plate and to signal the controller if the electrical current is below a first preselected threshold and to signal 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.

2. The air purifier as recited in claim 1, wherein the photocatalytic screen comprises a titanium oxide mesh screen.

3. The air purifier as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display configured to communicate with the controller for displaying a message regarding the status of the ultraviolet light source.

4. The air purifier as recited in claim 1, 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.

5. The air purifier as recited claim 4, wherein upon an attempt to start operating and 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.

6. The air purifier as recited in claim 1, wherein the ionizer comprises a needle configured to generate negative ions.

7. The air purifier as recited in claim 1, wherein the ionizer comprises an antenna configured to generate positive ions.

8. The air purifier as recited in claim 1, wherein the ionizer comprises a first ionizer configured to generate negative ions and a second ionizer configured to generate positive ions, the generated ions inserted into the flow of air communicated through the air outlet.

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

10. The air purifier as recited in claim 9, further comprising a sensor configured to monitor the positioning of the air filter within the frame and to stop communication of electrical power to the air purifier if positioning thereof is improper.

11. The air purifier as recited in claim 10, 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.