CA2130584C - Filter air cleaner - Google Patents
Filter air cleanerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2130584C CA2130584C CA2130584A CA2130584A CA2130584C CA 2130584 C CA2130584 C CA 2130584C CA 2130584 A CA2130584 A CA 2130584A CA 2130584 A CA2130584 A CA 2130584A CA 2130584 C CA2130584 C CA 2130584C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air
- base
- disposed
- centrifugal fan
- filter element
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D46/00—Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours
- B01D46/24—Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using rigid hollow filter bodies
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F8/00—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
- F24F8/10—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by separation, e.g. by filtering
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0071—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units with means for purifying supplied air
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2273/00—Operation of filters specially adapted for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours
- B01D2273/30—Means for generating a circulation of a fluid in a filtration system, e.g. using a pump or a fan
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2221/00—Details or features not otherwise provided for
- F24F2221/12—Details or features not otherwise provided for transportable
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F8/00—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
- F24F8/10—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by separation, e.g. by filtering
- F24F8/108—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by separation, e.g. by filtering using dry filter elements
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A50/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
- Y02A50/20—Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
Abstract
A portable air cleaner comprising a cylindrical filter element mounted on a circular base and encased by a cylindrical cover. A centrifugal fan mounted within the cover draws unpurified air into inlet openings disposed in the base and the side wall of the cover, and through the filter element. The resulting purified air is drawn into the centrifugal fan and forced radially outward therefrom. An air deflector dish redirects the purified air through the exhaust openings disposed on the top surface of the cylindrical cover. Buch an exhaust flow which is perpendicular to and spaced from the inlet flow results in an improved efficiency in purifying the entire volume of air within a room.
Description
213~~8~-1 HACK~RQUND aF THE INVENTxO~T
2 The invention relates to portable air cleaners for use in 3 removing smoke, dust, pollen, bacteria and other particulate 4 matter from the air through the use of filter elements such as high efficiency particulate six- (HBPA) filters. A HEPA filter, 6 by definition, has a 99.97% minimum efficiency of removing 7 airborne particulates of a size of 0,3 microns or larger.
8 Portable 'HEPA filter air cleaners are known. For instance, 9 U.S. Patent No. 4,629,482 granted to G.B. Davis on December 16, 1986 discloses a portable alr purification apparatus which 11 employs a cylindrical HEPA filter, which is mounted between a 12 base and a cov~=r, and a centrifugal fan disposed in the base to 13 produce a purified air flow. Tn operation, the centrifugal fan 14 draws unpurifi~ad air through the exposed wall of the cylindrical HEPA filter. 'the resulting purified air is then radially 16 directed by th~° centrifugal fan through radially disposed exhaust 17 openings in the base. Davis U.S. Patent No. 4,629,482 further i8 discloses that it is critical that the radially disposed exhaust 19 openings be horizontally aligned with the centrifugal fan blades so as to produce a nnn-turbulent exhaust flow which ie said to 21 pulsate when the inlet flow is reduced below a certain level due 22 to a clogged H1~PA filter. This pulsation o~ the exhaust air flow 23 is intended to alert the user to replacE the HEPA filter.
24 The configuration of HEPA f~.ltex air cleaners wherein the inlet openings and the exhaust openings are both radially 26 dioposed has several significant drawbacks. First, given the 27 proximity of the exhaust openings to the inlet openings, a 28 portion of the exhausted purified air will be immediately 29 recirculated brick into the air cleaner. This flow pattern results in a reduced efficiency of room air purification, i.e., 21 30584_ reduced number of complete room air changes. Second, 2 exhaust flow through exhaust openings that are radially 3 disposed in the lower base portion of the air cleaner may 4 cause particulates on the flooring on which the portable air cleaner is placed, for example, carpeting, to be 6 dispersed into the air thereby temporarily worsening the 7 condition of the air within the room. Third, exhaust 8 flow through radially disposed openings, impinge on 9 objects in the room, such as furniture, thereby reducing the dispersal of purified air throughout the room. The 11 radially disposed exhaust flow also directly blows on 12 people relatively :near the air cleaner. Obviously, such 13 direct blowing can be annoying and may lead the user to 14 employ the air cleaner only sparingly.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present 16 invention to provi~3e an air cleaner having an exhaust 17 flowpath that results in an improved efficiency of room 18 air purification a:zd a more thorough dispersal of 19 purified air.
Another objecv of the present invention is to reduce 21 noise levels during air cleaner operation.
24 Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided <~ portable air cleaner comprising: a 26 circular base having a centrally disposed upwardly 27 extending conical ~~ortion with a centrally disposed 28 opening; a cylindrical cover having a top and a side 29 wall, said cylindrical cover having a plurality of air inlet openings formed in said side wall and a plurality 31 of air exhaust openings formed in said top adjacent the 32 periphery of said t=op so that inlet openings are oriented 33 perpendicular to said air exhaust openings; a hollow B
2~ 3058 cylindrical filter element mounted on said base about 2 said conical porti~~n and encased by said cylindrical 3 cover; an annular supporting plate disposed within said 4 cylindrical cover and formed integral with said cylindrical cover; a hub disposed within said cylindrical 6 cover, said hub having a threaded opening; a supporting 7 member affixing said hub to said annular supporting 8 plate; an electrical motor disposed within said 9 cylindrical cover .and carried by said hub; electric supply means for supplying electrical power to said 11 electrical motor; ,~ centrifugal fan disposed within said 12 cylindrical cover, said centrifugal fan having a 13 plurality of fan blades; a drive shaft operatively 14 connecting said electric motor and said centrifugal fan so that operation ~~f said electrical motor causes said 16 centrifugal fan to draw air into said air inlet openings, 17 through said cylindrical filter element, into said 18 centrifugal fan an~3 to disperse air radially outward from 19 said centrifugal f,~n; and an air deflector dish disposed in said cylindrical cover and affixed to said annular 21 supporting plate, ;paid air deflector dish having an 22 opening formed therein to permit air flow to said 23 centrifugal fan, s;~id air deflector dish further encasing 24 said centrifugal fan so that said air dispersed radially outward from said ~~entrifugal fan is redirected through 26 said air exhaust o~~enings; and a handle having a thread 27 portion extending i~hrough said opening in said base and 28 engageable with said threaded opening in said hub so that 29 said cover may be :secured to said base.
According to another aspect of the present invention 31 there is provided ~~ portable air cleaner comprising: a 32 base devoid of electrical components and electric 33 circuitry; a cylindrical filter element mounted on said - 2 (a) -base; a cover enca:~ing said cylindrical filter element, 2 said cover having a top portion defining an air exhaust 3 opening therein, arid said cover further having a side 4 wall defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said exhaust opening; a centrifugal fan disposed with 6 said cover; and drive means disposed in said cover for 7 driving said fan so that said fan draws air into said air 8 inlet opening, through said filter element, and exhausts 9 said air through said air exhaust opening.
According to fret another aspect of the present 11 invention there is provided a portable air cleaner 12 comprising: a base devoid of electrical components and 13 electric circuitry,; a top cover portion; a filter element 14 disposed between s<~id base and said top cover portion; a side wall portion disposed between said base and said top 16 cover portion, said side wall portion surrounding said 17 filter element, and said side wall portion defining an 18 air inlet opening i~herein; an air exhaust opening defined 19 in said top cover portion disposed above said air inlet opening relative to said base; a fan disposed between 21 said base and said top cover portion; a drive mechanism 22 disposed between said base and said top cover portion 23 adapted to drive s<~id fan so that said fan draws air into 24 said air inlet opening, and through said filter element;
and exhaust means Eor exhausting filtered air from said 26 fan out of said ai:r exhaust opening.
27 According to still another aspect of the present 28 invention there is provided a portable air cleaner 29 comprising: a base devoid of electrical components and electric circuitry; a top cover portion, said top cover 31 portion defining a plurality of exhaust openings therein, 32 and said plurality of air exhaust openings arranged in a 33 substantially circular ring; a filter element disposed - 2 fib) -1 between said base and said top cover portion; a side wall 2 portion disposed between said base and said top cover 3 portion, said side wall portion surrounding said filter 4 element, and said wall portion defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said air exhaust 6 openings; a centrifugal fan disposed between said base 7 and said top cover portion; an electric motor disposed 8 between said base ;end said top cover portion; a drive 9 shaft operatively ~~onnecting said electric motor and said centrifugal fan so that operation of said electrical 11 motor causes said centrifugal fan to draw air into said 12 air inlet opening, through said filter element, and to 13 disperse air radia:Lly outward from centrifugal fan; and 14 an air deflector dash disposed between said base and top cover portion, said air deflector dish having an opening 16 formed therein to permit air flow to said centrifugal 17 fan, said air deflector dish further encasing said 18 centrifugal fan so that said air dispersed radially 19 outward from said centrifugal fan is redirected through said air exhaust openings.
21 The air cleaner of the present invention comprises a 22 cylindrical filter element that is mounted on a base and 23 encased by a removable cylindrical cover. Air inlet 24 openings are radia=_ly disposed in the circular base and/or along the periphery of the cylindrical cover.
26 Exhaust openings are disposed perpendicular to the air 27 inlet openings along the periphery of the top portion of 28 the cylindrical corer.
29 A centrifugal fan is disposed within the top portion of the cylindrical cover. The centrifugal fan is driven 31 by an - 2 (c) 1 electrical motor mounted within the cover. The centrifugal fan 2 is surrounded by an air deflector dish mounted within the top 3 portion of the cylindrical cover.
4 operation of the centrifugal fan draws unpurified air within the vicinity ~~f the air cleaner into the air inlet openings and 6 through the wall. o.f the cylindrical filter element. The passage 7 of air through the filter element puxifies the air. The purified 8 air is drawn :into the centrifugal fan and then forced radially 9 outward there:Erom. The radially directed purified air is ZO redirected by the air deflector dish eo that it flows through the 11 exhaust openings in a direction perpendicular to the inlet flow.
14 The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference. to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
16 FIG. 1 isa a perspective view of the HEPA filter air cleaner.
17 FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of the HEPA filter air cleaner as 18 shown in FIG. 7..
19 FIG. 3 i~3 an exploded perspective view of the HEPA filter air cleaner.
21 FIG. 4 ie~ a front view of a portion of the base of the HEPA
22 filter air cleaner.
23 FIG. 5 i~, a cross-sectional vzew of the base of the HEPA
24 filter air cleaner when viewed along line 5-5 in FIG. 9.
FIG, 6 is a top elevaLional view of. the HEPA filter six 26 cleaner.
27 FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the HEPA filter air 2e cleaner when viewed along line 7-7 in FIG. 6.
1 FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the HEPA filter air 2 cleaner when viewed along line 8-a in FIG. 6 including dimensions 3 stated in millimeters.
4 FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the HEPA filer air cleaner.
7 DETAxLED DESCRIPTION OF THE~PREFERRED EMBODIM~NTB
a Ir; should be noted that while the Following description will 9 be specifically in the context of a HEPA filter air cleaner, the invention is not so limited and is applicable to air cleaners 11 using other types of filter media.
12 keferring to FIGS. 1 and 2, air cleaner 10 comprises a HEPA
13 filter element 15, a base 20 and a cover 30.
14 H)PA filtex element 15 is a hollow cylinder in configuration and comprises 11EPA pleated paper 13 and annulax diBke 17 disposed Z6 at the ends of the cylinder. The annular disks 17, which are 17 preferably formed from an elastomer, maintain the HEPA paper 13 18 in a cylindrical configuration.
19 In a preferred embodiment, a removable prefilter element 29 may be wrapped around the outer cylindrical surface of HEPA
21 filter element 15. Prefi.lter element 29 removes larger airborne 22 particles from t=he air before such particles enter the HEPA
23 filter element 15. More preferably, the prefiJ.ter element 29 ie 24 formed from an .inexpensive medium such as a charcoal impregnated open cell foam. By reducing the number and size of particles 26 retained by HEPA filter element 15, prefilter element 29 extends 27 tha useful life of the more expensive HEPA filter element 15.
28 Referring to FIGS, 2 and 3, base 20 is generally circular in 29 configuration and has centrally disposed hollow, conical upwardly extending portion 22 having a hole 24 at tile ceIlter of conical _ 4 _ 1 portion 22. ~rhe conical portion 22 forms a recess 25 in the 2 bottom of base 20. An upwardly extending flange 26 extends 3 around the circumference of the base 20. Four upwardly extending 4 supporting take 28 are disposed along flange 26. An annular supporting shoulder 14 is disposed at the top portion ol< each 6 supporting tah 28. Preferably, supporting tabs 28 are disposed 7 equidistant to one another.
8 A locking handle 11 having a threaded portion 27 is disposed 9 within recess 25 in the bottom of base 20. Preferably, locking l0 handle 11 is tapered to correspond to the slope of conical 11 portion 22 forming recess 25. An advantage of having locking 12 handle 11 disposed on the underside of air cleaner 10 in recess 13 25 is that locking handle 11 ie not readily accessible to small 14 children, thez-eby rendering air cleaner 10 safer around small children.
16 The HEPA filter element 15 is mounted on the base 20 such 17 that bottom annular disk Z7 contacts the base 20 about the bottom 18 surface of annular disk :L7 and such that conical portion 22 19 extends upwardly within the hollow cylindrical HEPA filter element 15. I~referably, the radius of the base of conical 21 portion 22 is about equal to the radius of the inner surface of 22 HEPA filter element 15 so that the base of conical portion 22 23 nearly abuts the inner surface of HEPA filter element 15. HEPA
24 filter element 15 is maintained in position on base 20 by flange - 7.5 26 and conical portion 22.
26 Cover 30 is generally cylindrical in configuration and 27 comprises a circular top portion 32 and side wall 34 downwardly 28 extending from circular top portion 32. Cover 30 is sized such 29 that the aide ~~aall 34 wil:L surround the HEPA filter element 15 sad the bottom of side wall 34 will engage supporting shoulders 1 14 of upwardl~l extending supporting tabs 28. Referring to FIGS.
2 4 and 5, it is preferable that each support tab 28 has a 3 centering member 47 which upwardly extends beyond supporting 4 shoulder 14 and facilitat=es the engagement of the bottom edge of S side wall 34 and supporting shoulders 14. Centering members 47 6 maintain cover 30 in position relative to base 20. Centering 7 members 47 also assist in maintainiz2g HEPA filter element 15 in 8 position on base 20. More preferably, each centering member 47 9 comprises a plurality of centering fins 48, each of which has a 1o cambered surface to facilitate the engagement of the bottom edge Z1 of side wall 34 and supporting shoulders 14.
12 Air inlet. openings 36 are formed by the bottom of aide wall 13 34 and those portions of base flange 26 between upwardly 14 extending supporting tabs 28. Additional air inlet openings 38 15 may be dlspost~d about the circumference of side wall 34. In a 7.6 preferred embodiment, air inlet openings 38 axe disposed at about 17 mid-height of the cover 34 and comprises four segments 31 18 disposed equidistant about the circumference of side wall 34 19 wherein each c3egment comprises a plurality of discrete 20 rectangular-shaped openings 39. Discrete rectangular-shaped 21 openings 39 are defined by inlet fins 43. More preferably, inlet 22 fins 43 are curved so. as to direct air inlet flow towards HEPA
23 filter element: 15.
24 Referrinct to FIG. 6, an exhaust opening 40 is disposed 25 adjacent to the periphery of circular top portion 32. In a 26 preferred embodiment, exhaust openzng 40 comprises a plurality of 2,7 oiscrete opening: 41 disposed adjacent to the periphery of 28 circular top portion 32. In a more preferred embodiment, 29 discrete openings 41 are rectangular-shaped in configuration.
1 Thus, exhaust opening 40 is arranged perpendicular to air 2 inlet openings 36 and 38. In the preferred embodiment, discrete 3 exhaust openings 41 are spaced away from air inlet openings 38 by 4 a distance of about half the height of cover 30. Exhaust ~low through discrete exhaust openings 41 will be axially directed 6 relative to air cleaner 10.
7 The flow characteristics of exhaur~t flow through exhaust 8 openings 41, such as flow rate and turbulence, can be adjusted by 9 varying the number of discrete openings 41 and the size of each discrete opening 41. For example, the turbulence of exhaust flow 11 through rectangular-shaped discrete exhaust openingp 41 may be 12 reduced by decreasing the width of exhaust openings 41. A
13 reduction in exhaust flow turbulence reduces the noise of air 14 cleaner 10 dura.ng operation.
ReFerring to FIG. 3, cover 30 comprises a bottom portion 50 16 and a top portion 60. An annular supporting plate 52 is disposed 17 within cover 30 and is integral with side wall 34. In a 19 preferred emb~~diment, annular supporting plate 52 is fprmed 19 unitary with aide wall 34. Cylindrical bottom cover portion 50 is defined by side wall 34 and annular supporting plate 52 21 disposed at the top thereof. Cylindrical. top cover portion 60 is 22 defined by side wall 34 and circular top portion 32 disposed at 23 the top thereof.
24 Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, a centrifugal fan 62, which comprises radially extending and equally spaced blades 64, is 26 disposed in top cover portion 60. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, top 27 surface 61 of centrifugal. fan 62 is concave. The centrifugal fan 28 62 is encased by an air deflector dish 69 having an upwardly 29 extending con.~.cal-shaped side wall 65, a curved-shaped bottom wall 67 and a central opening 66 allowing air flow through _ 7 _ 1 annular supporting plate 52 to centrifugal fan 62. Air deflector 2 dish 69 is seecured in position relative to centrifugal fan 62 by 3 screws 68 afi:ixing air deflector dish 69 to supporting plate 52.
4 Conical side wall 65 extends beyond centrifugal fan blades 64.
In a preferrE_d embodiment, conical aide wall 65 extends beyond 6 centrifugal fan blades 64 with their respective heights in the 7 representative dimensional proportional relationship depicted in a FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 8, conical side wall 65 terminates 9 adjacent to the circular top portion 32 and is coextensive with exhaust opening 40.
11 Circular tap portion 32 includes a concaved central portion 12 45 which is d:ispoaed radially inward of exhaust opening 4p.
13 Inside surface 33 of circular top portion 32 includes reflector 14 37 which is curved to correspond to the concavity of central portion 45_ Curved reflector 37 and concaved top surface 61 of 16 centrifugal fan 62 are substantially aligned to define a z7 generally continuous conical air flow surface.
18 Exhaust chamber 77 is defined by conical--shaped side wall 65 19 and curved-shaped bottom wall of air deflectoz dish 69, exhaust opening 40 and curved reflector 37.
21 Centrifugal fan 62 ie operatively connected to an electric 22 motor 70 by a drive shaft 72. Electric motor 70 i.s mounted in a 23 hub 73 which is disposed in the bottom cover portion 50 and 24 located within supporting plate 52 by supporting members 74.
2S Referrin~~ to T=TG. 9, electric supply means 80 su~pliee 26 electric power to electric motor 70. Electric supply control 27 means 82 inCludas an on/off switch 83 for controlling the supply 28 of electric pc>wzr to the motor. Electric supply control means 82 29 rnay also include an el.ectxic light bulb 84 which illuminates to indicate that electric power is being supplied to electric motor g _ 1 70. An advantage of having electric motor 70 disposed in cover 2 30 is that electric supply control 82 means may be mounted on 3 central portion 45 of circular top portion 32 for the user's 4 convenience. For the user's safety, lid 89 may be provided to covex' the electric supply control means 82.
6 In a preferred embodiment, electric motor 70 ie a variable 7 speed electric motor. In this preferred embodiment, on/off 8 owiteh 83 includes additional positions corresponding the 9 variable speeds of the electric motor.
1.0 _ Referring to FIG. 7, a threaded opening 90 ie provided in 11 hub 73 so ae to threadingly receivz threaded portion 27 of 12 locking handle 25. The engagement of the threaded portion 27 oL
13 locking handle 25 within threaded opening 90 results in the cover 14 30 being drawn into a tightly fitted engagement with base 20.
This engagement also results in supporting plate 52 being drawn 16 into sealing engagement with annular dir~k 77 disposed at the top 17 of HEPA filte_c element 15 and base 20 being drawn into sealing 18 engagement with annular disk 17 disposed at the bottom of HEPA
19 filter element: 15 _ 2o In a prei:erred embodiment, the engagement of threaded 21 portion 27 and threaded opening 90 results in a sealing 22 engagement of supporting plate 52 and elastomeric annular disk 17 23 without hub 73. being in contact with conical portion 22. Tn this 24 preferred embodiment, relatively heavy electric motor 70 is ' 2S supported by supporting plate 52 which, in turn, is supported by 26 elastomeric annular disks 17 and HEPA pleated paper 13.
27 Vibrations caused by operation of electric motor 70 axe 28 transmitted to supporting plate 52 and absorbed by elastomeric 29 annular dir~kH 17 and HEPA pleated paper 13. An advantage of the 30 invention of this preferred embodiment is that vibration and 1 noise experienced during operation of air cleaner 10, that is 2 attributable to electric motor 70, is significantly reduced, and 3 also that resistance to shock, for example during ehi.pping, is significantly increased.
Operation of centrifugal fan 62 causes unpurified air within 6 the vicinity of side wall 34 to be drawn into air inlet openings 7 36 and 38 and through HEPA filter element 15. The passage of air 8 through the HEPA filter element 15 removes particles .of a size of 9 0.3 microns or larger at a minimum efficiency of 99.97X. The l0 resulting purified air is drawn into Centrifugal fan 62 and then 11 forced radially outward therefrom into exhaust chamber 77. The 12 radially dire~~ted purified air impinges on air deflector dish 69 13 and is redire~~ted by conical-shaped side wall 65, curve-shaped 14 bottom wall 6'7 and curved reflector 37 so that it flows through exhaust opening 40 in a direction perpendicular to the inlet 16 flow.
17 In a pre~_erred embodiment, the width of exhaust opening 40 18 is limited to a width in a representative dimensional 19 proportional relationship to the height of centrifugal fan blades 64 ae depicted in FIG. 8. This preferred width Gf exhaust 21 opening 40 reduces the turbulence of the flow through exhaust 22 opening 40, and thereby reduces the noise of air cleaner 10 23 during operation.
24 The above:-described structure signifl.cantly improves the aerodynamic characteristics of air cleaner 10 over that of other 26 air cleaners. First, exhaust chamber 77 is defined by curved 27 surfaces only and contains no corners. This configuration 28 improves air flow efficiency and reduces no-ir~e. Second, conical 29 portion 22, which upward~.y extends within HF.t~A filter element 15, 3U directs air drawn through HEPA filter element 15. upwards towards 1 centrifugal Fan 62. In this manner, conical portion 22 reduces 2 the noise of air cleaner 10 during operation and improves its 3 efficiency.
4 In accordance with the invention, base 20, which is preferably molded from a plastic material, is devoid of 6 electrical circuitry. 'fhia feature is particularly advantageous 7 when it becomes necessary to replace a dirty prefilter or filter 8 element. Specifically, after a long period of operation of air 9 cleaner 10, prefilter element 29 and/or HEPA filter 15 will l0 become clogged with particles and will require replacement.
11 During removal of the prefilter element 29 and/or HEPA filter 15, 12 particles, dirt, duet and the like will tall from the prefilter 13 element 29 and/or HEPA filler 7.5 and will be contained in base 20 14 between flange 26 and conical portion 22. Because all electrical components arc carried by cover 30, the debris does r>ot fall onto 16 electrical components, thus avoiding fouling of the circuitry.
17 Moreover, because base 20, with flange 26, provides a container 18 for the falling debris, base 2o can be easily carried to a trash 19 bag, emptied .and then washed in a sink.
A further advantage of the above-described invention is that 21 an exhaust flow that is perpendicular to and spaced away from the 22 inlet opening:a will not result in an immediate recirculation of 23 the exhausted purified ai.r into the air cleaner. This flow 24 pattern reault:a in an increased efficiency in purifying the cornpl ee.e volume of air wi thin a room.
26 A further advantage of the above-described invention is that 27 the upwardly exhausted purified air results in an increased 2a dispersion of the purified six throughout the room. This 29 upwardly directed flow patron avoids direct blowing of purified air on nearby people and furniture.
- 1.~ -1 A furthf:r advantage of the above-described invention ie that 2 the exhausted purified air does not directly impinge on the 3 flooring on which the air cleaner is placed. Where an air 4 cleaner is p7_aced on a carpeted flooring, radially directed .exhaust flow that impinges Che carpet will disperse particles 6 previously de:po~ited within the carpet into the air, and thereby 7 ternporarily worsening the air quality.
Having described the invention in specific detail and 9 exemplified the manner in which it may be carried into practice, it will now rye readily apparent to those skilled in the art that 11 innumerable variations, applications, modifications and 12 extensions of the basic principles involved may be made without 13 departing from its sphere or scope.
8 Portable 'HEPA filter air cleaners are known. For instance, 9 U.S. Patent No. 4,629,482 granted to G.B. Davis on December 16, 1986 discloses a portable alr purification apparatus which 11 employs a cylindrical HEPA filter, which is mounted between a 12 base and a cov~=r, and a centrifugal fan disposed in the base to 13 produce a purified air flow. Tn operation, the centrifugal fan 14 draws unpurifi~ad air through the exposed wall of the cylindrical HEPA filter. 'the resulting purified air is then radially 16 directed by th~° centrifugal fan through radially disposed exhaust 17 openings in the base. Davis U.S. Patent No. 4,629,482 further i8 discloses that it is critical that the radially disposed exhaust 19 openings be horizontally aligned with the centrifugal fan blades so as to produce a nnn-turbulent exhaust flow which ie said to 21 pulsate when the inlet flow is reduced below a certain level due 22 to a clogged H1~PA filter. This pulsation o~ the exhaust air flow 23 is intended to alert the user to replacE the HEPA filter.
24 The configuration of HEPA f~.ltex air cleaners wherein the inlet openings and the exhaust openings are both radially 26 dioposed has several significant drawbacks. First, given the 27 proximity of the exhaust openings to the inlet openings, a 28 portion of the exhausted purified air will be immediately 29 recirculated brick into the air cleaner. This flow pattern results in a reduced efficiency of room air purification, i.e., 21 30584_ reduced number of complete room air changes. Second, 2 exhaust flow through exhaust openings that are radially 3 disposed in the lower base portion of the air cleaner may 4 cause particulates on the flooring on which the portable air cleaner is placed, for example, carpeting, to be 6 dispersed into the air thereby temporarily worsening the 7 condition of the air within the room. Third, exhaust 8 flow through radially disposed openings, impinge on 9 objects in the room, such as furniture, thereby reducing the dispersal of purified air throughout the room. The 11 radially disposed exhaust flow also directly blows on 12 people relatively :near the air cleaner. Obviously, such 13 direct blowing can be annoying and may lead the user to 14 employ the air cleaner only sparingly.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present 16 invention to provi~3e an air cleaner having an exhaust 17 flowpath that results in an improved efficiency of room 18 air purification a:zd a more thorough dispersal of 19 purified air.
Another objecv of the present invention is to reduce 21 noise levels during air cleaner operation.
24 Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided <~ portable air cleaner comprising: a 26 circular base having a centrally disposed upwardly 27 extending conical ~~ortion with a centrally disposed 28 opening; a cylindrical cover having a top and a side 29 wall, said cylindrical cover having a plurality of air inlet openings formed in said side wall and a plurality 31 of air exhaust openings formed in said top adjacent the 32 periphery of said t=op so that inlet openings are oriented 33 perpendicular to said air exhaust openings; a hollow B
2~ 3058 cylindrical filter element mounted on said base about 2 said conical porti~~n and encased by said cylindrical 3 cover; an annular supporting plate disposed within said 4 cylindrical cover and formed integral with said cylindrical cover; a hub disposed within said cylindrical 6 cover, said hub having a threaded opening; a supporting 7 member affixing said hub to said annular supporting 8 plate; an electrical motor disposed within said 9 cylindrical cover .and carried by said hub; electric supply means for supplying electrical power to said 11 electrical motor; ,~ centrifugal fan disposed within said 12 cylindrical cover, said centrifugal fan having a 13 plurality of fan blades; a drive shaft operatively 14 connecting said electric motor and said centrifugal fan so that operation ~~f said electrical motor causes said 16 centrifugal fan to draw air into said air inlet openings, 17 through said cylindrical filter element, into said 18 centrifugal fan an~3 to disperse air radially outward from 19 said centrifugal f,~n; and an air deflector dish disposed in said cylindrical cover and affixed to said annular 21 supporting plate, ;paid air deflector dish having an 22 opening formed therein to permit air flow to said 23 centrifugal fan, s;~id air deflector dish further encasing 24 said centrifugal fan so that said air dispersed radially outward from said ~~entrifugal fan is redirected through 26 said air exhaust o~~enings; and a handle having a thread 27 portion extending i~hrough said opening in said base and 28 engageable with said threaded opening in said hub so that 29 said cover may be :secured to said base.
According to another aspect of the present invention 31 there is provided ~~ portable air cleaner comprising: a 32 base devoid of electrical components and electric 33 circuitry; a cylindrical filter element mounted on said - 2 (a) -base; a cover enca:~ing said cylindrical filter element, 2 said cover having a top portion defining an air exhaust 3 opening therein, arid said cover further having a side 4 wall defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said exhaust opening; a centrifugal fan disposed with 6 said cover; and drive means disposed in said cover for 7 driving said fan so that said fan draws air into said air 8 inlet opening, through said filter element, and exhausts 9 said air through said air exhaust opening.
According to fret another aspect of the present 11 invention there is provided a portable air cleaner 12 comprising: a base devoid of electrical components and 13 electric circuitry,; a top cover portion; a filter element 14 disposed between s<~id base and said top cover portion; a side wall portion disposed between said base and said top 16 cover portion, said side wall portion surrounding said 17 filter element, and said side wall portion defining an 18 air inlet opening i~herein; an air exhaust opening defined 19 in said top cover portion disposed above said air inlet opening relative to said base; a fan disposed between 21 said base and said top cover portion; a drive mechanism 22 disposed between said base and said top cover portion 23 adapted to drive s<~id fan so that said fan draws air into 24 said air inlet opening, and through said filter element;
and exhaust means Eor exhausting filtered air from said 26 fan out of said ai:r exhaust opening.
27 According to still another aspect of the present 28 invention there is provided a portable air cleaner 29 comprising: a base devoid of electrical components and electric circuitry; a top cover portion, said top cover 31 portion defining a plurality of exhaust openings therein, 32 and said plurality of air exhaust openings arranged in a 33 substantially circular ring; a filter element disposed - 2 fib) -1 between said base and said top cover portion; a side wall 2 portion disposed between said base and said top cover 3 portion, said side wall portion surrounding said filter 4 element, and said wall portion defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said air exhaust 6 openings; a centrifugal fan disposed between said base 7 and said top cover portion; an electric motor disposed 8 between said base ;end said top cover portion; a drive 9 shaft operatively ~~onnecting said electric motor and said centrifugal fan so that operation of said electrical 11 motor causes said centrifugal fan to draw air into said 12 air inlet opening, through said filter element, and to 13 disperse air radia:Lly outward from centrifugal fan; and 14 an air deflector dash disposed between said base and top cover portion, said air deflector dish having an opening 16 formed therein to permit air flow to said centrifugal 17 fan, said air deflector dish further encasing said 18 centrifugal fan so that said air dispersed radially 19 outward from said centrifugal fan is redirected through said air exhaust openings.
21 The air cleaner of the present invention comprises a 22 cylindrical filter element that is mounted on a base and 23 encased by a removable cylindrical cover. Air inlet 24 openings are radia=_ly disposed in the circular base and/or along the periphery of the cylindrical cover.
26 Exhaust openings are disposed perpendicular to the air 27 inlet openings along the periphery of the top portion of 28 the cylindrical corer.
29 A centrifugal fan is disposed within the top portion of the cylindrical cover. The centrifugal fan is driven 31 by an - 2 (c) 1 electrical motor mounted within the cover. The centrifugal fan 2 is surrounded by an air deflector dish mounted within the top 3 portion of the cylindrical cover.
4 operation of the centrifugal fan draws unpurified air within the vicinity ~~f the air cleaner into the air inlet openings and 6 through the wall. o.f the cylindrical filter element. The passage 7 of air through the filter element puxifies the air. The purified 8 air is drawn :into the centrifugal fan and then forced radially 9 outward there:Erom. The radially directed purified air is ZO redirected by the air deflector dish eo that it flows through the 11 exhaust openings in a direction perpendicular to the inlet flow.
14 The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference. to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
16 FIG. 1 isa a perspective view of the HEPA filter air cleaner.
17 FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of the HEPA filter air cleaner as 18 shown in FIG. 7..
19 FIG. 3 i~3 an exploded perspective view of the HEPA filter air cleaner.
21 FIG. 4 ie~ a front view of a portion of the base of the HEPA
22 filter air cleaner.
23 FIG. 5 i~, a cross-sectional vzew of the base of the HEPA
24 filter air cleaner when viewed along line 5-5 in FIG. 9.
FIG, 6 is a top elevaLional view of. the HEPA filter six 26 cleaner.
27 FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the HEPA filter air 2e cleaner when viewed along line 7-7 in FIG. 6.
1 FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the HEPA filter air 2 cleaner when viewed along line 8-a in FIG. 6 including dimensions 3 stated in millimeters.
4 FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the HEPA filer air cleaner.
7 DETAxLED DESCRIPTION OF THE~PREFERRED EMBODIM~NTB
a Ir; should be noted that while the Following description will 9 be specifically in the context of a HEPA filter air cleaner, the invention is not so limited and is applicable to air cleaners 11 using other types of filter media.
12 keferring to FIGS. 1 and 2, air cleaner 10 comprises a HEPA
13 filter element 15, a base 20 and a cover 30.
14 H)PA filtex element 15 is a hollow cylinder in configuration and comprises 11EPA pleated paper 13 and annulax diBke 17 disposed Z6 at the ends of the cylinder. The annular disks 17, which are 17 preferably formed from an elastomer, maintain the HEPA paper 13 18 in a cylindrical configuration.
19 In a preferred embodiment, a removable prefilter element 29 may be wrapped around the outer cylindrical surface of HEPA
21 filter element 15. Prefi.lter element 29 removes larger airborne 22 particles from t=he air before such particles enter the HEPA
23 filter element 15. More preferably, the prefiJ.ter element 29 ie 24 formed from an .inexpensive medium such as a charcoal impregnated open cell foam. By reducing the number and size of particles 26 retained by HEPA filter element 15, prefilter element 29 extends 27 tha useful life of the more expensive HEPA filter element 15.
28 Referring to FIGS, 2 and 3, base 20 is generally circular in 29 configuration and has centrally disposed hollow, conical upwardly extending portion 22 having a hole 24 at tile ceIlter of conical _ 4 _ 1 portion 22. ~rhe conical portion 22 forms a recess 25 in the 2 bottom of base 20. An upwardly extending flange 26 extends 3 around the circumference of the base 20. Four upwardly extending 4 supporting take 28 are disposed along flange 26. An annular supporting shoulder 14 is disposed at the top portion ol< each 6 supporting tah 28. Preferably, supporting tabs 28 are disposed 7 equidistant to one another.
8 A locking handle 11 having a threaded portion 27 is disposed 9 within recess 25 in the bottom of base 20. Preferably, locking l0 handle 11 is tapered to correspond to the slope of conical 11 portion 22 forming recess 25. An advantage of having locking 12 handle 11 disposed on the underside of air cleaner 10 in recess 13 25 is that locking handle 11 ie not readily accessible to small 14 children, thez-eby rendering air cleaner 10 safer around small children.
16 The HEPA filter element 15 is mounted on the base 20 such 17 that bottom annular disk Z7 contacts the base 20 about the bottom 18 surface of annular disk :L7 and such that conical portion 22 19 extends upwardly within the hollow cylindrical HEPA filter element 15. I~referably, the radius of the base of conical 21 portion 22 is about equal to the radius of the inner surface of 22 HEPA filter element 15 so that the base of conical portion 22 23 nearly abuts the inner surface of HEPA filter element 15. HEPA
24 filter element 15 is maintained in position on base 20 by flange - 7.5 26 and conical portion 22.
26 Cover 30 is generally cylindrical in configuration and 27 comprises a circular top portion 32 and side wall 34 downwardly 28 extending from circular top portion 32. Cover 30 is sized such 29 that the aide ~~aall 34 wil:L surround the HEPA filter element 15 sad the bottom of side wall 34 will engage supporting shoulders 1 14 of upwardl~l extending supporting tabs 28. Referring to FIGS.
2 4 and 5, it is preferable that each support tab 28 has a 3 centering member 47 which upwardly extends beyond supporting 4 shoulder 14 and facilitat=es the engagement of the bottom edge of S side wall 34 and supporting shoulders 14. Centering members 47 6 maintain cover 30 in position relative to base 20. Centering 7 members 47 also assist in maintainiz2g HEPA filter element 15 in 8 position on base 20. More preferably, each centering member 47 9 comprises a plurality of centering fins 48, each of which has a 1o cambered surface to facilitate the engagement of the bottom edge Z1 of side wall 34 and supporting shoulders 14.
12 Air inlet. openings 36 are formed by the bottom of aide wall 13 34 and those portions of base flange 26 between upwardly 14 extending supporting tabs 28. Additional air inlet openings 38 15 may be dlspost~d about the circumference of side wall 34. In a 7.6 preferred embodiment, air inlet openings 38 axe disposed at about 17 mid-height of the cover 34 and comprises four segments 31 18 disposed equidistant about the circumference of side wall 34 19 wherein each c3egment comprises a plurality of discrete 20 rectangular-shaped openings 39. Discrete rectangular-shaped 21 openings 39 are defined by inlet fins 43. More preferably, inlet 22 fins 43 are curved so. as to direct air inlet flow towards HEPA
23 filter element: 15.
24 Referrinct to FIG. 6, an exhaust opening 40 is disposed 25 adjacent to the periphery of circular top portion 32. In a 26 preferred embodiment, exhaust openzng 40 comprises a plurality of 2,7 oiscrete opening: 41 disposed adjacent to the periphery of 28 circular top portion 32. In a more preferred embodiment, 29 discrete openings 41 are rectangular-shaped in configuration.
1 Thus, exhaust opening 40 is arranged perpendicular to air 2 inlet openings 36 and 38. In the preferred embodiment, discrete 3 exhaust openings 41 are spaced away from air inlet openings 38 by 4 a distance of about half the height of cover 30. Exhaust ~low through discrete exhaust openings 41 will be axially directed 6 relative to air cleaner 10.
7 The flow characteristics of exhaur~t flow through exhaust 8 openings 41, such as flow rate and turbulence, can be adjusted by 9 varying the number of discrete openings 41 and the size of each discrete opening 41. For example, the turbulence of exhaust flow 11 through rectangular-shaped discrete exhaust openingp 41 may be 12 reduced by decreasing the width of exhaust openings 41. A
13 reduction in exhaust flow turbulence reduces the noise of air 14 cleaner 10 dura.ng operation.
ReFerring to FIG. 3, cover 30 comprises a bottom portion 50 16 and a top portion 60. An annular supporting plate 52 is disposed 17 within cover 30 and is integral with side wall 34. In a 19 preferred emb~~diment, annular supporting plate 52 is fprmed 19 unitary with aide wall 34. Cylindrical bottom cover portion 50 is defined by side wall 34 and annular supporting plate 52 21 disposed at the top thereof. Cylindrical. top cover portion 60 is 22 defined by side wall 34 and circular top portion 32 disposed at 23 the top thereof.
24 Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, a centrifugal fan 62, which comprises radially extending and equally spaced blades 64, is 26 disposed in top cover portion 60. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, top 27 surface 61 of centrifugal. fan 62 is concave. The centrifugal fan 28 62 is encased by an air deflector dish 69 having an upwardly 29 extending con.~.cal-shaped side wall 65, a curved-shaped bottom wall 67 and a central opening 66 allowing air flow through _ 7 _ 1 annular supporting plate 52 to centrifugal fan 62. Air deflector 2 dish 69 is seecured in position relative to centrifugal fan 62 by 3 screws 68 afi:ixing air deflector dish 69 to supporting plate 52.
4 Conical side wall 65 extends beyond centrifugal fan blades 64.
In a preferrE_d embodiment, conical aide wall 65 extends beyond 6 centrifugal fan blades 64 with their respective heights in the 7 representative dimensional proportional relationship depicted in a FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 8, conical side wall 65 terminates 9 adjacent to the circular top portion 32 and is coextensive with exhaust opening 40.
11 Circular tap portion 32 includes a concaved central portion 12 45 which is d:ispoaed radially inward of exhaust opening 4p.
13 Inside surface 33 of circular top portion 32 includes reflector 14 37 which is curved to correspond to the concavity of central portion 45_ Curved reflector 37 and concaved top surface 61 of 16 centrifugal fan 62 are substantially aligned to define a z7 generally continuous conical air flow surface.
18 Exhaust chamber 77 is defined by conical--shaped side wall 65 19 and curved-shaped bottom wall of air deflectoz dish 69, exhaust opening 40 and curved reflector 37.
21 Centrifugal fan 62 ie operatively connected to an electric 22 motor 70 by a drive shaft 72. Electric motor 70 i.s mounted in a 23 hub 73 which is disposed in the bottom cover portion 50 and 24 located within supporting plate 52 by supporting members 74.
2S Referrin~~ to T=TG. 9, electric supply means 80 su~pliee 26 electric power to electric motor 70. Electric supply control 27 means 82 inCludas an on/off switch 83 for controlling the supply 28 of electric pc>wzr to the motor. Electric supply control means 82 29 rnay also include an el.ectxic light bulb 84 which illuminates to indicate that electric power is being supplied to electric motor g _ 1 70. An advantage of having electric motor 70 disposed in cover 2 30 is that electric supply control 82 means may be mounted on 3 central portion 45 of circular top portion 32 for the user's 4 convenience. For the user's safety, lid 89 may be provided to covex' the electric supply control means 82.
6 In a preferred embodiment, electric motor 70 ie a variable 7 speed electric motor. In this preferred embodiment, on/off 8 owiteh 83 includes additional positions corresponding the 9 variable speeds of the electric motor.
1.0 _ Referring to FIG. 7, a threaded opening 90 ie provided in 11 hub 73 so ae to threadingly receivz threaded portion 27 of 12 locking handle 25. The engagement of the threaded portion 27 oL
13 locking handle 25 within threaded opening 90 results in the cover 14 30 being drawn into a tightly fitted engagement with base 20.
This engagement also results in supporting plate 52 being drawn 16 into sealing engagement with annular dir~k 77 disposed at the top 17 of HEPA filte_c element 15 and base 20 being drawn into sealing 18 engagement with annular disk 17 disposed at the bottom of HEPA
19 filter element: 15 _ 2o In a prei:erred embodiment, the engagement of threaded 21 portion 27 and threaded opening 90 results in a sealing 22 engagement of supporting plate 52 and elastomeric annular disk 17 23 without hub 73. being in contact with conical portion 22. Tn this 24 preferred embodiment, relatively heavy electric motor 70 is ' 2S supported by supporting plate 52 which, in turn, is supported by 26 elastomeric annular disks 17 and HEPA pleated paper 13.
27 Vibrations caused by operation of electric motor 70 axe 28 transmitted to supporting plate 52 and absorbed by elastomeric 29 annular dir~kH 17 and HEPA pleated paper 13. An advantage of the 30 invention of this preferred embodiment is that vibration and 1 noise experienced during operation of air cleaner 10, that is 2 attributable to electric motor 70, is significantly reduced, and 3 also that resistance to shock, for example during ehi.pping, is significantly increased.
Operation of centrifugal fan 62 causes unpurified air within 6 the vicinity of side wall 34 to be drawn into air inlet openings 7 36 and 38 and through HEPA filter element 15. The passage of air 8 through the HEPA filter element 15 removes particles .of a size of 9 0.3 microns or larger at a minimum efficiency of 99.97X. The l0 resulting purified air is drawn into Centrifugal fan 62 and then 11 forced radially outward therefrom into exhaust chamber 77. The 12 radially dire~~ted purified air impinges on air deflector dish 69 13 and is redire~~ted by conical-shaped side wall 65, curve-shaped 14 bottom wall 6'7 and curved reflector 37 so that it flows through exhaust opening 40 in a direction perpendicular to the inlet 16 flow.
17 In a pre~_erred embodiment, the width of exhaust opening 40 18 is limited to a width in a representative dimensional 19 proportional relationship to the height of centrifugal fan blades 64 ae depicted in FIG. 8. This preferred width Gf exhaust 21 opening 40 reduces the turbulence of the flow through exhaust 22 opening 40, and thereby reduces the noise of air cleaner 10 23 during operation.
24 The above:-described structure signifl.cantly improves the aerodynamic characteristics of air cleaner 10 over that of other 26 air cleaners. First, exhaust chamber 77 is defined by curved 27 surfaces only and contains no corners. This configuration 28 improves air flow efficiency and reduces no-ir~e. Second, conical 29 portion 22, which upward~.y extends within HF.t~A filter element 15, 3U directs air drawn through HEPA filter element 15. upwards towards 1 centrifugal Fan 62. In this manner, conical portion 22 reduces 2 the noise of air cleaner 10 during operation and improves its 3 efficiency.
4 In accordance with the invention, base 20, which is preferably molded from a plastic material, is devoid of 6 electrical circuitry. 'fhia feature is particularly advantageous 7 when it becomes necessary to replace a dirty prefilter or filter 8 element. Specifically, after a long period of operation of air 9 cleaner 10, prefilter element 29 and/or HEPA filter 15 will l0 become clogged with particles and will require replacement.
11 During removal of the prefilter element 29 and/or HEPA filter 15, 12 particles, dirt, duet and the like will tall from the prefilter 13 element 29 and/or HEPA filler 7.5 and will be contained in base 20 14 between flange 26 and conical portion 22. Because all electrical components arc carried by cover 30, the debris does r>ot fall onto 16 electrical components, thus avoiding fouling of the circuitry.
17 Moreover, because base 20, with flange 26, provides a container 18 for the falling debris, base 2o can be easily carried to a trash 19 bag, emptied .and then washed in a sink.
A further advantage of the above-described invention is that 21 an exhaust flow that is perpendicular to and spaced away from the 22 inlet opening:a will not result in an immediate recirculation of 23 the exhausted purified ai.r into the air cleaner. This flow 24 pattern reault:a in an increased efficiency in purifying the cornpl ee.e volume of air wi thin a room.
26 A further advantage of the above-described invention is that 27 the upwardly exhausted purified air results in an increased 2a dispersion of the purified six throughout the room. This 29 upwardly directed flow patron avoids direct blowing of purified air on nearby people and furniture.
- 1.~ -1 A furthf:r advantage of the above-described invention ie that 2 the exhausted purified air does not directly impinge on the 3 flooring on which the air cleaner is placed. Where an air 4 cleaner is p7_aced on a carpeted flooring, radially directed .exhaust flow that impinges Che carpet will disperse particles 6 previously de:po~ited within the carpet into the air, and thereby 7 ternporarily worsening the air quality.
Having described the invention in specific detail and 9 exemplified the manner in which it may be carried into practice, it will now rye readily apparent to those skilled in the art that 11 innumerable variations, applications, modifications and 12 extensions of the basic principles involved may be made without 13 departing from its sphere or scope.
Claims (24)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A portable air cleaner comprising:
a circular base having a centrally disposed upwardly extending conical portion with a centrally disposed opening;
a cylindrical cover having a top and a side wall, said cylindrical cover having a plurality of air inlet openings formed in said side wall and a plurality of air exhaust openings formed in said top adjacent the periphery of said top so that inlet openings are oriented perpendicular to paid air exhaust openings;
a hollow cylindrical filter element mounted on said base about said conical portion and encased by said cylindrical cover;
an annular supporting plate disposed within said cylindrical cover and formed integral with said cylindrical cover;
a hub disposed within said cylindrical cover, said hub having a threaded opening;
a supporting member affixing said hub to said annular supporting plate;
an electrical motor disposed within said cylindrical cover and carried by said hub;
electric supply means for supplying electrical power to said electrical motor;
a centrifugal fan disposed within said cylindrical cover, said centrifugal fan having a plurality of fan blades;
a drive shaft operatively connecting said electric motor and said centrifugal fan so that operation of said electrical motor causes said centrifugal fan to draw air into said air inlet openings, through said cylindrical filter element, into said centrifugal fan and to disperse air radially outward from said centrifugal fan; and an air deflector dish disposed in said cylindrical cover and affixed to said annular supporting plate, said air deflector dish having an opening formed therein to permit air flow to said centrifugal fan, said air deflector dish further encasing said centrifugal fan so that said air dispersed radially outward from said centrifugal fan is redirected through said air exhaust openings; and a handle having a thread portion extending through said opening in said base and engageable with said threaded opening in said hub so that said cover may be secured to said base.
a circular base having a centrally disposed upwardly extending conical portion with a centrally disposed opening;
a cylindrical cover having a top and a side wall, said cylindrical cover having a plurality of air inlet openings formed in said side wall and a plurality of air exhaust openings formed in said top adjacent the periphery of said top so that inlet openings are oriented perpendicular to paid air exhaust openings;
a hollow cylindrical filter element mounted on said base about said conical portion and encased by said cylindrical cover;
an annular supporting plate disposed within said cylindrical cover and formed integral with said cylindrical cover;
a hub disposed within said cylindrical cover, said hub having a threaded opening;
a supporting member affixing said hub to said annular supporting plate;
an electrical motor disposed within said cylindrical cover and carried by said hub;
electric supply means for supplying electrical power to said electrical motor;
a centrifugal fan disposed within said cylindrical cover, said centrifugal fan having a plurality of fan blades;
a drive shaft operatively connecting said electric motor and said centrifugal fan so that operation of said electrical motor causes said centrifugal fan to draw air into said air inlet openings, through said cylindrical filter element, into said centrifugal fan and to disperse air radially outward from said centrifugal fan; and an air deflector dish disposed in said cylindrical cover and affixed to said annular supporting plate, said air deflector dish having an opening formed therein to permit air flow to said centrifugal fan, said air deflector dish further encasing said centrifugal fan so that said air dispersed radially outward from said centrifugal fan is redirected through said air exhaust openings; and a handle having a thread portion extending through said opening in said base and engageable with said threaded opening in said hub so that said cover may be secured to said base.
2. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said base is devoid of electrical components and electrical circuitry so that said base is washable.
3. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 2 wherein said base further comprises an upwardly extending flange extending around the circumference of said circular base so that said flange and said conical portion maintain said filter element in position on said base.
4. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 3 wherein said base further comprises a plurality of upwardly extending supporting tabs disposed along said flange and a supporting shoulder outwardly extending from each of said supporting tabs so that the bottom edge of said side wall of said cylindrical cover will engage said supporting shoulders.
5. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 4 wherein each of said supporting tabs has a guiding member upwardly extending beyond said supporting shoulder so as to guide the engagement of the bottom edge of said side wall of said cylindrical cover and said supporting shoulders.
6. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 5 wherein said cylindrical filter element is a HEPA filter element.
7. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 6 wherein said HEPA filter element comprises HEPA pleated paper and two annular disks formed from an elastomeric material.
8. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 6 wherein said annular supporting plate and said electrical motor are supported by said HEPA filter element.
9. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 8 wherein said cylindrical cover has a top portion and a bottom portion, and said centrifugal fan is disposed in said top portion of said cylindrical cover.
10. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 9 wherein said air inlet openings formed in said side wall of said cylindrical cover are disposed about mid-height of said cylindrical cover.
11. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 10 wherein further inlet openings are formed in a peripheral portion defined by said circular base and said cylindrical cover.
12. A portable air cleaner comprising:
a base devoid of electrical components and electric circuitry;
a cylindrical filter element mounted on said base;
a cover encasing said cylindrical filter element, said cover having a top portion defining an air exhaust opening therein, a.nd said cover further having a side wall defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said exhaust opening;
a centrifugal fan disposed with said cover; and drive means disposed in said cover for driving said fan so that said fan draws air into said air inlet opening, through said filter element, and exhausts said air through said air exhaust opening.
a base devoid of electrical components and electric circuitry;
a cylindrical filter element mounted on said base;
a cover encasing said cylindrical filter element, said cover having a top portion defining an air exhaust opening therein, a.nd said cover further having a side wall defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said exhaust opening;
a centrifugal fan disposed with said cover; and drive means disposed in said cover for driving said fan so that said fan draws air into said air inlet opening, through said filter element, and exhausts said air through said air exhaust opening.
13. A portable air cleaner comprising:
a base devoid of electrical components and electric circuitry;
a top cover portion;
a filter element disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a side wall portion disposed between said base and said top cover portion, said side wall portion surrounding said filter element, and said side wall portion defining an air inlet opening therein;
an air exhaust opening defined in said top cover portion disposed above said air inlet opening relative to said base;
a fan disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a drive mechanism disposed between said base and said top cover portion adapted to drive said fan so that said fan draws air into said air inlet opening, and through said filter element; and exhaust means for exhausting filtered air from said fan out of said air exhaust opening.
a base devoid of electrical components and electric circuitry;
a top cover portion;
a filter element disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a side wall portion disposed between said base and said top cover portion, said side wall portion surrounding said filter element, and said side wall portion defining an air inlet opening therein;
an air exhaust opening defined in said top cover portion disposed above said air inlet opening relative to said base;
a fan disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a drive mechanism disposed between said base and said top cover portion adapted to drive said fan so that said fan draws air into said air inlet opening, and through said filter element; and exhaust means for exhausting filtered air from said fan out of said air exhaust opening.
14. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 13, wherein said air exhaust opening is oriented perpendicular to said air inlet opening.
15. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 14, wherein said top cover portion defined said air exhaust opening adjacent to the periphery of said top cover portion.
16. A portable air cleaner comprising:
a base devoid of electrical components and electrical circuitry;
a top cover portion, said top cover portion defining a plurality of exhaust openings therein, and said plurality of air exhaust openings arranged in a substantially circular ring;
a filter element disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a side wall portion disposed between said base and said top cover portion, said side wall portion surrounding said filter element, and said side wall portion defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said air exhaust openings;
a centrifugal fan disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a drive mechanism disposed between said base and said top cover portion adapted to drive said centrifugal fan so that said centrifugal fan draws air into said air inlet opening, through said filter element, and disperses said air radially outward from said centrifugal fan; and an air deflector disposed between said base and said top cover portion for redirecting said air dispersed radially outward from said centrifugal fan to a direction generally perpendicular to said centrifugal fan and through said air exhaust openings.
a base devoid of electrical components and electrical circuitry;
a top cover portion, said top cover portion defining a plurality of exhaust openings therein, and said plurality of air exhaust openings arranged in a substantially circular ring;
a filter element disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a side wall portion disposed between said base and said top cover portion, said side wall portion surrounding said filter element, and said side wall portion defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said air exhaust openings;
a centrifugal fan disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a drive mechanism disposed between said base and said top cover portion adapted to drive said centrifugal fan so that said centrifugal fan draws air into said air inlet opening, through said filter element, and disperses said air radially outward from said centrifugal fan; and an air deflector disposed between said base and said top cover portion for redirecting said air dispersed radially outward from said centrifugal fan to a direction generally perpendicular to said centrifugal fan and through said air exhaust openings.
17. A portable air cleaner comprising:
a base devoid of electrical components and electric circuitry;
a top cover portion, said top cover portion defining a plurality of exhaust openings therein, and said plurality of air exhaust openings arranged in a substantially circular ring;
a filter element disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a side wall portion disposed between said base and said top cover portion, said side wall portion surrounding said filter element, and said wall portion defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said air exhaust openings;
a centrifugal fan disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
an electric motor disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a drive shaft operatively connecting said electric motor and said centrifugal fan so that operation of said electrical motor causes said centrifugal fan to draw air into said air inlet opening, through said filter element, and to disperse air radially outward from centrifugal fan; and an air deflector dish disposed between said base and top cover portion, said air deflector dish having an opening formed therein to permit air flow to said centrifugal fan, said air deflector dish further encasing said centrifugal fan so that said air dispersed radially outward from said centrifugal fan is redirected through said air exhaust openings.
a base devoid of electrical components and electric circuitry;
a top cover portion, said top cover portion defining a plurality of exhaust openings therein, and said plurality of air exhaust openings arranged in a substantially circular ring;
a filter element disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a side wall portion disposed between said base and said top cover portion, said side wall portion surrounding said filter element, and said wall portion defining an air inlet opening therein perpendicular to said air exhaust openings;
a centrifugal fan disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
an electric motor disposed between said base and said top cover portion;
a drive shaft operatively connecting said electric motor and said centrifugal fan so that operation of said electrical motor causes said centrifugal fan to draw air into said air inlet opening, through said filter element, and to disperse air radially outward from centrifugal fan; and an air deflector dish disposed between said base and top cover portion, said air deflector dish having an opening formed therein to permit air flow to said centrifugal fan, said air deflector dish further encasing said centrifugal fan so that said air dispersed radially outward from said centrifugal fan is redirected through said air exhaust openings.
18. The portable air cleaner defined in claims 16 or 17, wherein said top cover portion is round and said side wall portion is cylindrical.
19. The portable air cleaner defined in claims 16 or 17, wherein said plurality of air exhaust openings are arranged in a substantially circular ring having an outer diameter disposed at about the outer edge of said round top cover portion.
20. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 19, wherein said plurality of air exhaust openings are arranged in a substantially circular ring having an inner diameter disposed at about the outer edge of said centrifugal fan.
21. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 20, wherein said plurality of air exhaust openings are arranged in a substantially circular ring disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said base.
22. The portable air cleaner defined in claim 18, wherein said sidewall portion is integral with said top cover portion.
23. The portable air cleaner defined in claims 12, 13, 16 or 17, wherein said filter element is a cylindrical HEPA filter element.
24. The portable air cleaner defined in claims 16 or 17, further comprising a locking handle engageable with said top cover portion for disengageably securing said base to said top of said over portion.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US11054493A | 1993-08-23 | 1993-08-23 | |
| US08/110,544 | 1993-08-23 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2130584A1 CA2130584A1 (en) | 1995-02-24 |
| CA2130584C true CA2130584C (en) | 1999-12-07 |
Family
ID=22333602
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2130584A Expired - Fee Related CA2130584C (en) | 1993-08-23 | 1994-08-22 | Filter air cleaner |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US5753000A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0640372B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2919744B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU677678B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2130584C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69421023T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2136708T3 (en) |
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1994
- 1994-08-22 EP EP94306193A patent/EP0640372B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-08-22 DE DE69421023T patent/DE69421023T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-08-22 CA CA2130584A patent/CA2130584C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-08-22 ES ES94306193T patent/ES2136708T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-08-23 AU AU71421/94A patent/AU677678B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1994-08-23 JP JP6198702A patent/JP2919744B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1995
- 1995-06-07 US US08/485,656 patent/US5753000A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1998
- 1998-04-03 US US09/054,823 patent/US6156085A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU677678B2 (en) | 1997-05-01 |
| US6156085A (en) | 2000-12-05 |
| US5753000A (en) | 1998-05-19 |
| EP0640372B1 (en) | 1999-10-06 |
| CA2130584A1 (en) | 1995-02-24 |
| DE69421023T2 (en) | 2000-02-24 |
| EP0640372A2 (en) | 1995-03-01 |
| JPH07208779A (en) | 1995-08-11 |
| ES2136708T3 (en) | 1999-12-01 |
| EP0640372A3 (en) | 1995-04-12 |
| DE69421023D1 (en) | 1999-11-11 |
| JP2919744B2 (en) | 1999-07-19 |
| AU7142194A (en) | 1995-03-02 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |