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

#This invention relates generally to devices that produce ozone and an electrokinetic flow of air from which particulate matter has been substantially removed, and more particularly to cleaning the wire or wire-like electrodes present in such devices.

#The use of an electric motor to rotate a fan blade to create an air flow has long been known in the art. Unfortunately, such fans produce substantial noise, and can present a hazard to children who may be tempted to poke a finger or a pencil into the moving fan blade. Although such fans can produce substantial air flow, e.g., 1,000 ft3/minute or more, substantial electrical power is required to operate the motor, and essentially no conditioning of the flowing air occurs.

#It is known to provide such fans with a HEPA-compliant filter element to remove particulate matter larger than perhaps 0.3 μm. Unfortunately, the resistance to air flow presented by the filter element may require doubling the electric motor size to maintain a desired level of airflow. Further, HEPA-compliant filter elements are expensive, and can represent a substantial portion of the sale price of a HEPA-compliant filter-fan unit. While such filter-fan units can condition the air by removing large particles, particulate matter small enough to pass through the filter element is not removed, including bacteria, for example.

#FIG. 1A is a plan, cross-sectional view, of a first embodiment of a prior art electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner system, according to the prior art;

#FIG. 1B is a plan, cross-sectional view, of a second embodiment of a prior art electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner system, according to the prior art;

#FIG. 2A is an perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIGS. 2A and 2B depict an electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner system 100 whose housing 102 includes preferably rear-located intake vents or louvers 104 and preferably front and side-located exhaust vents 106, and a base pedestal 108. Internal to the transporter housing is an ion generating unit 160, preferably powered by an AC:DC power supply that is energizable or excitable using switch S1. Ion generating unit 160 is self-contained in that other than ambient air, nothing is required from beyond the transporter housing, save external operating potential, for operation of the present invention.

#The upper surface of housing 102 includes a user-liftable handle member 112 to which is affixed a second array 240 of electrodes 242 within an electrode assembly 220. Electrode assembly 220 also comprises a first array of electrodes 230, shown here as a single wire or wire-like electrode 232. In the embodiment shown, lifting member 112 upward lifts second array electrodes 240 up and, if desired, out of unit 100, while the first electrode array 230 remains within unit 100. In FIG. 2B, the bottom ends of second array electrode 242 are connected to a member 113, to which is attached a mechanism 500 for cleaning the first electrode array electrodes, here electrode 232, whenever handle member 112 is moved upward or downward by a user. FIGS. 5A-7E, described later herein, provide further details as to various mechanisms 500 for cleaning wire or wire-like electrodes 232 in the first electrode array 230, and for maintaining high resistance between the first and second electrode arrays 220, 230 even if some moisture is allowed to pool within the bottom interior of unit 100.

#The first and second arrays of electrodes are coupled in series between the output terminals of ion generating unit 160, as best seen in FIG. 3. The ability to lift handle 112 provides ready access to the electrodes comprising the electrode assembly, for purposes of cleaning and, if necessary, replacement. The general shape of the invention shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is not critical. The top-to-bottom height of the preferred embodiment is perhaps 1 m, with a left-to-right width of perhaps 15 cm, and a front-to-back depth of perhaps 10 cm, although other dimensions and shapes may of course be used. A louvered construction provides ample inlet and outlet venting in an economical housing configuration. There need be no real distinction between vents 104 and 106, except their location relative to the second array electrodes, and indeed a common vent could be used. These vents serve to ensure that an adequate flow of ambient air may be drawn into or made available to the unit 100, and that an adequate flow of ionized air that includes safe amounts of O3 flows out from unit 130.