GB2136215A - Ionisation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Room ionization apparatus comprising a high voltage, low current power source and a carbon filament ion generator element 20 coupled to the power source for emitting negative ions in the air. The ion generator element is preferably a multi-filament string, rope, cord or yarn. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION lonisation apparatus The present invention relates to ionization apparatus and more particularly to negative ion generators for consumer use.

Various types of room ionizing apparatus as known in the patent literature and in the marketplace.

Common to the design of conventional room ionization apparatus is the use of a sharp needle as an ionization source. The sharp point of the needle operates as a source of negative ions by virtue of the corona effect when the needle is coupled to a high voltage source, in the range of about 7000 volts. The sharpness of the needle provides a strong field about the point thereof due to the absence of counteracting fields adjacent thereto.

The use of a needle in room ionizer apparatus has a number of drawbacks. Principally, safety considerations require that the needle be shielded in order to prevent contact therewith by a person and subsequent injury. The provision of a shield for the needle often produces a counteracting field which significantly lowers the ion producing efficiency of the apparatus.

The present invention seeks to provide ionization apparatus which does not require the use of a pointed needle or like element and thereby overcomes the disadvantages associated with the use thereof.

There is thus provided room ionization apparatus comprising a high voltage, low amperage power source and a carbon ion generator element coupled to the power source for emitting negative ions in the air.

The carbon ion-generation element preferably comprises a multi-filament string, rope or yarn element. Preferably the individual filaments have a diameter of from approximately 2 microns to approximately 5 microns.

It has been found by experimentation that it is.

possible to construct apparatus in accordance with the present invention that has a significantly higher ion generation efficiency than previously proposed apparatus employing needles.

Furthermore, and significantly, the carbon ion generation element does not always need to be shielded since contact therewith by a person does not pose a danger due to the low amperage involved, in the range of 0.5 milliamperes. In order to limit the current, a resistance may be provided in series with the ion generation element.

Alternatively, this resistance may be omitted.

Various forms of ionisation apparatus and ionisation elements for use therein constructed in accordance with the present invention wili now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustration of a first form of room ionization apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1: Fig. 3A is a top plan view of a second form of room ionization apparatus; Fig. 3B is a side elevation view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3A; Fig. 4A is a top plan view of a third form of room ionization apparatus; Fig. 4B is a side elevation view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4A showing it suspended from a ceiling: Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one form of ionization element in modular form; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of a second form of ionization element in the form of an ioniser rope.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the first form of room ionization apparatus comprises a housing 10 in which is mounted a fan 12 which provides a flow of air past an ion generator 14.

The ion generator 14, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises a length of string, or yarn formed of carbon filaments, typically graphite, having a diameter of from about 5 to about 12 microns or any other suitable small diameter. Carbon fibre products of this type are available commercially from Le Carbon Lorraine in France and other carbon products manufacturers.

The ion generator 14 is coupled to a source of high voltage, typically from 7,000 to 14,000 volts D.C. This voltage source typically comprises a transformer (not shown), which is located in the housing 10 and is coupled to a source of conventional electrical current.

As is possible in accordance with the present invention, the ion generator 1 4 is exposed to the atmosphere and to possible contact with a human or animal, without requiring any shielding. The ion generator 14, in the form of a string or yarn, has sufficient mechanical strength to operate in such an exposed environment.

If desired, a predetermined resistance, for example, from 100 to 300 megohms, may be provided in series with the ion generator 14 to provide a control on current to earth on the high voltage side. It should preferably not be possible for this current to exceed 0.5mA.

Referring now to Figs. 3A and 3B, in the second form of ionization apparatus a cord 20 of multifilament carbon material of the general type used in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is employed in a rectangular configuration on insulating supports 22. The cord 20 is connected to a high voltage power source (not shown) located within a housing 24 and is arranged to be suspended, for example, from the ceiling in a room.

Referring to Figs. 4A and 48, the third form is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, except for the differences shown, and is based on the same general construction principles. Corresponding features have been -given the same reference numerals in Figs. 3A and 3B and in Figs. 4A and 48.

Referring to Fig. 5, modular ionization element comprises a housing 30 having a plug 32 for connection to a high voltage source, a resistor 34, for example, of value 100 megohms, and an ion generator 36 connected to the plug 32 through the resistor 34. The ion generator 36 comprises one or more short pieces of multifilament carbon cord or yarn which are exposed to the atmosphere.

Alternatively, the resistor 34 may be omitted and the ion generator 36 connected directly to the plug 32.

Referring to Fig. 6, one form of ionizer rope comprises alternating ion generator elements 40 and high voltage conductor elements 42 and in use is connected to a high voltage generator (not shown). The ion generator elements 40 comprise one or more short pieces of multifilament carbon cord or yarn which are exposed to the atmosphere and are joined by the high voltage conductor elements 42 to permit the effective aperation of the ionization apparatus along the length of a large room or other space.

It is possible to construct and operate ionization apparatus in accordance with the invention so as to give high ion generation efficiency as compared with standard ionization needles.

Claims (11)

1. Ionization apparatus comprising: a high voltage, low current power source; and a carbon filament ion generation element coupled to the power source for emitting negative ions in the air.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon filament ion generator comprises a multifilament element.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diameter of each of the individual filaments of the multi-filament element is from 2 to 5 microns.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amperage of said power source is approximately 0.5 milliampere.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising resistance means in series with the ion generation element.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising high voltage conductor means in series with the ion generation element.

7. Apparatus substantially as shown and described hereinabove.

8. Apparatus substantially as illustrated in any of the drawings.

9. lonisation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs. 3A and 3B, or Figs. 4A and 4B, of the accompanying drawings.

10. An ion generation element suitable for use as the ion generation element of apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. An ion generation element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.