US2945554A - Air cleaning devices and components therefor - Google Patents

Description

E. M. BERLY 2,945,554

AIR CLEANING DEVICES AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR July 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1957 INVENTOR wmrd 7%Zarly M 9 A'ZTY' 7 E. M. BERLY July 19, 1960 AIR CLEANING DEVICES AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR (Edward 2%ZZZ- ATTY United States Patent '0 AIR CLEANING DEVICES AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR Edward M. Berly, 149 Christina Ave., Newton Highlands, Mass.

Filed Jan. 11, 1957, Ser. NO. 633,774

10 Glaims. (Cl. 183-37) The present invention relates to air cleaningdevices and, more jparticularly, to devices for removing from the air undesired particles and contaminants such as soot, pollen and otherdusts and/or ozone, fumes and other vapors.

Objects of the present invention are: to provide, for

effectively collecting particles of all sizes found in ordi- .nary air, anair cleaning device simply constructed from a filter of large area and long life and a fan of low .power consumption that cooperate in a novelrnanner, the filter coupling eflicient dust collection witha low presvdisposablecomponentsare readily accessible; and to dis- ..pose the components of a device of the foregoing type at advantageouspositions relative tO-each-other as well asrelative tothe floor of a room in which-the device is located.

Other objects of the-present'invention will inipart be obvious and will in'part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the devices and components thereof possessing the features, properties and relation of elements that -ar'eexernplified in.the following detailed disclosure, and-thescope of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature-andobjects of the present invention, referenceshould'be had to-the following detailed description taken in, con'ection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a cross sectional view ofapreferredembodiment of the present invention the cross section being taken along the line 1-1 ofFi gure 3 to be described below;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary crosssectional viewrof the preferred embodiment, taken -along the dine 2- -2- of Figure .j Figure 3 is a cross sectional view o f the preferred-embodiment, taken along the line 3-3 of- Figure '1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a component of the preferred embodiment;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view'of janother component of the preferred embodiment, taken along-the line '5-5 ofFigure 3; I

Figure 6 is abroken away cross sectional view ofzthe the preferred embodiment, taken along the line 6 6 ofFig'ure'l; i i V Figure 7 is "a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitof the preferredembodiment; and Y j Figure-'8 is-a broken away-perspective view-of the pre- 'rferredsembodim'ent *YWith'freference first-toFig'ures land 8 generally, the

I,illustratedidevice comprises a=housing 20-"through which from its supporting ribs 48.

air is drawn by a motor driven fan 22. Within the housing are a bank 24 of filter bags that remove dust from the air, a germicidal lamp 26 that acts upon air from the filter bags, and a porous matrix 28 that abf sorbs and/or adsorbs vapors from air passing therethrough and therearound.

Housing 29 has substantially vertical side walls 32, a substantially horizontal bottom wall 34 and an open 'top' covered by a removable lid 36. Lid 36 has a substantially horizontal top wall 38 and substantially vertical sidewalls 40, the lower edges of which normally are held in register with the upper edges of side walls 32' by frictional engagement with corner stays 42 that are secured at each of the four corners of housing 20 and project upwardly therefrom. The edges of side walls 40 are medially cut away to provide ports 44 through which air may enter housing 20. Bottom wall 34 is cut away at its four corners to provide large ports 46. Housing 10 is supported. above the floor by four legs 47. Ports 46, through which air leaves the housing at a low velocity, and legs 47 which separate ports 46 from the floor by a considerabledistance, preferably 8 to 18 inches, prevent the stirring up of dust from the floor. 7

The four filter bags that constitute bank 24 are supported as follows. Affixed to walls SZadjacent to their upperedges are foursupportingribs 48. Removably resting Onthese ribs is a plate Silhaving outer edges 52 that snuglyfollow the inner edges of walls 32 and 'stays 42. -Plate,50-is-provided with four openings 54 out its periphery so thatresil-ient' band 59 exerts pressure throughout the mouth .of bag24. .A rail 57 extends up: wardly from plate 50 throughout its peripheryto prevent any view of the interior of housing 32through ports 44 and to enable manual grippingfor. removal of plate 50 Affixed to sidewalls 32 on bottom. wall 34 are four supporting ribs 60.. Secured to the upper edges of supporting ribs .60 is a centrally apertured panel 62, the outer edgesof which snugly follow side walls 32. The blades of fan 22 are positioned within. the aperture so that vertically they extend both above and below panel,62.

Germicidal lamp 26 and porousmatrix 28 arecarried by four upstanding posts 64, 66, 68 and 70, which are secured to the upper face ofpanel 62. The edges of porous matrix 28 rests on .these posts and are retained thereon by clips 72 and 74 which are affixed by screws to posts 64 and 66. Sockets 76 and.7$, for the opposite terminals of lamp 26 are carried by brackets 82 and 84 that are aflixedtoposts 68 and 70. The inner faces. 86 of side walls 32 are providedwith .reflective aluminized paper to maximize theefiect of germicidal lamp 26.

. Asindicated above, filter bags 24, .porous matrix 28 and fan 22 are designed to cooperate in a particular manner which will now be described specifically. v Filter b ags,24 are composed of ,highly dispersed nonwoven fibres, ,f 0r examplev of regenerated .cellulose that range from 0.5 to 15 microns in diameter. Preferably, fan, 22 produces a face velocity of air throughthe bag of from 1 to 40 ft/min. (cubic feet of air per square foot of bag face per minute), the best'velocit'ylbeing generally excellent pressure drop being .002 p.-'s.i-. Because the bags hang-freely, they may be supported only .attheirimouths notwithstanding their. large area,

Porous matrix 28 (Figure 5 includes a layer of activated carbon granules 38 (of large surface area) carried by a support that minimizes attrition of the carbon resulting from shock due to motion of the air with respect to it, and that keeps the granules dispersed in order to provide minimum air resistance. This support includes a pair of fibre mats 90 and 92 between which the carbon granules are sandwiched in a quantity ranging preferably between 2 and 8 oz./sq. ft. In alternative embodiments carbon granules 88 are replaced by other inorganic granules composed, for example, of an aluminum compound such as alumina or a silicon compound such as silica. Preferably these granules are characteriezd by a ratingwithin the range 4 to 200 mesh (Tyler, A.S.T.M.). Thesefibre mats are composed of any suitable natural or synthetic strands, e.g. strands of straw or glass, woven into springy, ope'n structures. A pair of metallic webs 94 and 96, the edges of which are clamped together by a channel shaped frame 98, compress - mats 90 and 92 sufliciently to keep the carbon dispersed and immobile. Porous matrix 28 is positioned on posts 64, 66, 68 and 70 so that air from filter bags 24 passes around as well as through it. Nevertheless, recycling of air through the apparatus unit is sufficient to reduce the undesired vapor concentration effectively. In an alternative embodiment the arrangement is such that all air passing through the apparatus must pass through the porous matrix.

It has been found from experience that most of the noise generated from a fan is air noise and, that for quiet operation, the rmistance to air fiow must be minimized. This consideration dictates the selection of a fan that has very low power requirements. A fan of maximum efiiciency when delivering the required power in operating on a filtering system with minimum resistance provides the quietest operation possible. It has been found from experimental data that for quiet operation (below conversational level) the brake horsepower should not exceed 4X10" H.P./ft./min. for waking hours or 1.5 X 10- H.P./ft./min. for sleeping hours. The present embodiment has been designed so that at high speed the fan delivers 0.007 HP. at 250 ft./min. and at low speed .0025 HP. at 175 ft./min.

A schematic diagram of the electrical control circuitry for fan 22 and lamp 26 is shown in Figure 7. Mechanical details of the circuit diagram are shown in Figures 1 and 6. As shown, alternating curent from a source 96 is applied through leads 98 and 100 across a lamp channel 102 and a motor channel 104. Channel 102 includes lamp 26 having a parallel starter 106 and a series ballast 108. Channel 104 includes the motor for fan 22 in series with a resistor 110 shunted by a switch 112 for varying the motor speed. A line switch 114 controls the operation of the entire unit.

In operation, matrix 28 and lamp 26 are readily replaceable when lid 36 and plate 50 are removed. When lid 36 is removed, bags 24 are readily replaceable by similar bags, the free edges of which are folded over rims 58 and secured thereto by resilient bands 59. The entire device operates when switch 114 is closed, i.e., fan 22 draws air through bags 24, past lamp 26 and through and around matrix 28. The speed of fan 22 is controlled by switch 112. The device recycles the air in a large room with suificient rapidity to cleanse it efficaciously in a short time and thereafter to maintain a low level of undesired dust, vapor and bacteria.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An air cleaning device comprising a housing defining a compartment having first ports and second ports, means between said first ports and said second ports providin a plurality of openings except for which said means substantially seals the portion of said compartment providing said first ports from the portion of said compartment providing said second ports, a plurality of filter bags composed of highly dispersed non-woven fibers, the mouth portion of one each of said filter bags joining the portion of said means defining one each of said openings, the closed portion of said one each of said filter bags extending into said portion of said compartment defining said second ports, and a fan in said portion of said compartment defining said second ports, a matrix of dispersed granules of activated inorganic material positioned be tween said bags and said fan, said fan drawing air in sequence through said first ports, said bags, said matrix and said second ports, said fibers ranging from 0.5 to 15 microns in diameter, said fan being operative to draw air through said bags such that the face velocity of said air through said bags ranges from 1 to 40 cu. ft./sq. ft./min., the resistance to the flow of said air being such that the pressure drop across the face of said bags is within the range of from .0007 to .007 p.s.i.

2. The air cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said fibers are composed of regenerated cellulose.

3. An air cleaning device comprising a housing defining a compartment having a first portion providing first ports and a second portion providing second ports, a panel between said first portion and said second portion, said panel providing openings except for which said panel substantially seals said first portion from said second portion, a plurality of filter bags composed of highly dispersed nonwoven fibers ranging from 0.1 to 15 microns in diameter, the open portion of said bags defining the mouths thereof being connected to portions of said panel defining said openings, the closed portion of said bags extending into the second portion of said compartment, a fan in said second portion of said compartment, a matrix of dispersed granules of activated inorganic material, positioned between said bags and said fan, said fan drawing air, in sequence, through said first ports, said bags, said matrix and said second ports, the face velocity of said air through said bags being within the range of from 1 to 40 cu. ft./ sq. ft./min., the resistance to flow of said air being such that the pressure drop across the face of said bags is Within the range of from .0007 to .007 p.s.i.

4. An air cleaning device comprising a housing defining a compartment having a first portion defining first ports and a second portion defining second ports, a panel between said first portion and said second portion providing openings except for which said panel substantially seals said first portion from said second portion, a plurality of filter bags having mouth portions connected to portions of said panel defining said openings and closed portions extending freely into said second portion of said compartment, a porous matrix mounted in said housing with one face of said matrix adjacent to said closed portion of said bags, said matrix being composed of activated carbon granules, and a fan mounted in said housing adjacent to the other face of said matrix remote from the closed portions of said bags, said fan serving to draw air in sequence through said first ports, said bags, said matrix and said second ports, said porous matrix including a pair of fibrous mats, dispersed granules of activated inorganic material, sandwiched between said fibrous mats, reticulated webs pressing said fibrous mats toward each other, and a clamping rim engaging the edges of said reticulated webs, said granules being characterized by a rating within the range 4 to 200 mesh, said fibrous mats being composed of woven strands.

5. An air cleaning device comprising a housing defining a compartment having a first portion defining first ports and second portion defining second ports, a panel between said first portion and said second portion providing openings except for which said panel substantially seals said first portion from said second portion, a plurality of filter bags having mouth portions connected to portions of said panel defining said openings and, closed portions extending freely into said second portion of said compartment, a porous matrix of activated inorganicmaterial mounted in said housing with one face of said matrix adjacent to said closed portions of said bags, a fan mountedin said housing adjacent to the other face of said matrix remote from the closed portions of said bags, saidfanserving to draw air in sequence through said first ports, said bags,rsaid matrix and said second ports, and a germicidal lamp positioned between said filter bags and said porous matrix.

6. An air cleaning device comprising a housing defining a compartment having a first portion providing first ports and a second portion providing second ports, a panel between said first portion and said second portion, said panel providing openings except for which said panel substantially seals said first portion from said second portion, a plurality of filter bags composed of highly dispersed non-woven fibers ranging from 0.1;to,,1-5 microns indiameter, the open portion of'said bags defining the mouths thereof being connected ,to portions-of said panel defining said openings, the closed portion of said bags extending into the second portion of said compartment, a fan in said second portion of said compartment, a matrix of dispersed inorganic material positioned between said bags and said fan, said fan drawing air, in sequence, through said first ports, said bags, said matrix and said second ports, the 'face velocity of said air through said bags being within the range of from 1 to 40 cu. ft./sq. ft. /min., the resistance to flow of said air being such that the pressure drop across the face of said bags is within the range of from .0007 to .007 p.s.i., said fan operating at substantially maximum efficiency when delivering the required power.

7. The air cleaning device of claim 6 wherein each of said openings in said panel is defined by a rim and the mouth portions of said bags are connected to said rim by being wrapped thereon and joined thereto by an elastic band.

8. An air cleaning device comprising a housing defining a compartment having a first portion providing first ports and a second portion providing second ports, a panel between said first portion and said second portion, said panel providing openings except for which said panel substantially seals said first portion from said second portion, a plurality of filter bags composed of highly dispersed non-woven fibers ranging from 0.1 to 15 microns in diameter, the open portion of said bags defining the mouths thereof being connected to portions of said panel defining said openings, the closed portion of said bags extending into the second portion of said compartment, a fan in said second portion of said compartment, a matrix of inorganic material selected from the class consisting of carbon, silicon and aluminum containing gas absorptive materials, said matrix being disposed between said bags and said fan, said fan drawing air, in sequence, through said first ports, said bags, said matrix and said second ports, the face velocity of said air through said bags being within the range of from 1 to 40 cu. ft./sq. ft./min. the resistance to flow of said air being such that the pressure drop across the face of said bags is within the range of from .0007 to .007 p.s.i., said fib e-rs being composed of regenerated cellulose.

9. An air cleaning device comprising a housing and, therewithin, a motor drive fan for drawing air therethrough, a bank of filter bags for removing dust from said air, a germicidal lamp for destroying bacteria in said air, and a porous matrix for absorbing and adsorbing vapors from said air, said housing having substantially vertical side walls and a substantially horizontal bottom wall, said housing providing an open top, a removable lid covering said open top, said lid having a substantially horizontal top wall and substantially vertical side walls, the lower edges of said side walls of said lid being registered with the upper edges of said side walls of said housing, said lower edges of said lid being medially cut y t rrovidepon thr ug w h a r may'ent s housing, saidbnttomwall of said housing being cut away to, provideports through which air may leave said housing, a .pluralityioflegs affixed to said housing for supporting. said housingaboveaffioor with said ports of said bottom-wall-spaced from said floor a distance ranging fromS (0,18 inches,.supporting ribs afiixed tosaid side walls of: saidhousing adjacent to said upper edges, a plate removablyrresting on said ribs, said plate having outer edges that snugly follow the inner edges of said side walls of ..said,housing, said platebeing provided with aplurality of openings that account for a proportion greater thanone-third of the areaof said plate, upstanding-rims bounding said openings of said plate, supporting ribsadjacent tothe lower edges of said side walls of said housing,-a panel securedtothe upper edges of saidssupportingfribs, said :panel having a central aperture, :the outer edges of said panel snugly tollowingsaid side wallsof-said housing, said fan being so supported withinsaidhousing:thatitsblades are positioned within said central aperture so that they extend both above and below said panel, a plurality of posts upstanding from said panel, the edges of said porous matrix resting upon said posts, sockets carried by said posts, said sockets receiving the terminals of said germicidal lamp, a reflective aluminized layer covering a proportion of the inner surfaces of the side walls of said housing, said porous matrix including a pair of fibrous mats, dispersed granules of activated inorganic material sandwiched between said fibrous mats, reticulated webs pressing said fibrous mats toward each other, said edges of said porous matrix including a clamping rim engaging the edges of said reticulated webs, said granules being characterized by a rating within the range 4 to 200 mesh, said fibrous mats being composed of woven strands, said filter bags be ng composed of highly dispersed non-woven fibers ranging from 0.1 to 15 microns in diameter, said fan being operative to draw air through said bags such that the face velocity of said air through said bags ranges from 1 to 40 cu. ft./sq. ft./min., the resistance to the flow of said air being such that the pressure drop across the face of said bags is within the range of from .0007 to .007 psi.

10. An air cleaning device comprising ahous ing and, therewithin, a motor driven fan for drawing arr therethrough, a bank of filter bags for removing dust from said air, a germicidal lamp for destroying bacteria in said air, and a porous matrix for absorbing and adsorbing vapors from said air, said housing having snbstantially vertical side walls and a substantially horizontal bottom wall, said housing providing an npen top and a removable lid covering said open top, said lid having a top wall that is substantially horizontal and edges that are substantially registered with the upper edges of said side walls of said housing, means at theupper portion of said housing providing ports through which an may enter said housing, means at the lower portion of said housrng providing ports through which air may leave said housing, a plurality of legs affixed to said housing for supporting said housing above a floor with said ports of said bottom wall spaced from said floor a distance ranging from 8 to 18 inches, a plate at said upper edges of said housing, said plate having outer edges that snugly follow the inner deges of said side walls of said housing; said plate being provided with a plurality of openings that account for a proportion greater than one-third of the area of said plate, boundary means at said openings of said plate, said filter bags projecting downwardly through said openings of said plate, said filter bags defining said open tops overlapping said boundary means, fastening means for securing said filter bags to said boundary means, said openings being such that said fastening means exert pressure completely around said edge portions of said bags,

a panel of said lower portion of said housing, said panel 7 having a central aperture, the outer edges of said panel snugly following said side walls of said housing, said fan being so supported within said housing that its blades are positioned within said central aperture so thatthey extend both above and below said panel, said porous matrix and said germicidal lamp being disposed between said bags and said panel, a reflective aluminized layer covering a proportion of the inner surfaces of the side walls of said housing, said porous matrix including a pair of fibrous mats, dispersed granules of activated inorganic material sandwiched between said fibrous mats, reticulated webs pressing said fibrous mats toward each other, said edges of said porous matrix including a clamping rim engaging the edges of said reticulated webs, said granules being characterized by a rating within the range 4 to 200 mesh, said fibrous mats being composed of woven strands, said filter bags being composed of highly dispersed non-woven fibers ranging from 0.1 to 15 microns in diameter, said fan being operative to draw air through said bags such that the face velocity of said air through said bags ranges from 10 to 40 cu. ft./sq. ft./min., the resistance to the flow of said air being such 8 that the pressure drop across the face of said bags is within the range of from .0007 to .007 psi.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I 1,786,361 Pahl Dec. 23, 1930 2,221,351 Kempf Nov. 12, 1940 2,225,389 OSterdahI Dec. 17, .1940

2,414,564 Silverman et al Jan. 21, 1947 2,671,528 Gross Mar. 9, 1954 2,719,600 Brace Oct. 4, 1955 2,774,443 Slayter Dec. 18, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,998 Great Britain Dec. 12, 1908 19,172 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1911 711,735 Great Britain July 7, 1954 595,686 Germany Apr. 23, 1934 855,750 Germany Nov. 17, 1952 787,871 France July 16, 1935

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