An electrostatic air cleaning device having ionization apparatus which causes the air to flow therethrough

A device for pumping air and collecting airborne particulates by electrostatic techniques comprising:

• a case means, tubular in shape and constructed of electrically non-conductive material, for supporting the components of the device and for providing a channel for the convection of air through the device, having a first opening for the admittance of air and having a second opening for the exit of air, between the openings and within the case means are a plurality of air pumping and particulate collecting arrangements in series, each said arrangement comprising:
• a first grid means positioned in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the case means occupying the entire plane extending to the internal surface of the wall of the case means, said first grid means formed of metal wire, said first grid means is connected to a negative high voltage source, said first grid means is constructed and arranged so as to provide a defined negative field across the convection channel within the case means to repel negatively charged molecules or particulates, generated within the case means, away from the first opening and causing them to flow toward the interior of the case means;
• an electrode means adjacent to the first grid means near the center of the first grid means and on the side of the first grid means away from the first opening, said electrode means having a sharp point facing away from the first grid means and toward the second opening, said electrode means is connected to a high voltage negative source, said electrode means is constructed and arranged in relation to the first grid means so that the negatively charged field produced by the first grid means encompasses the electrode means and in combination with the negative potential produced by the electrode means acts to generate a high charge density at its sharp point sufficient to transfer a negative electric charge to atmospheric molecules and particulates adjacent thereto;
• a second grid means spaced apart from the electrode means toward the second opening, said second grid means positioned in a plane orthagonal to the axis of the case means and occupying the entire plane extending to the internal surface of the wall of the case means, said second grid means formed of metal wire, providing a tortuous pathway with minimal impedance to the flow of air through the case means, said second grid means is connected to a positive high voltage source, said second grid means is constructed and arranged so as to attract negatively charged molecules and particulates away from the electrode means causing the molecules and particulates to flow through the case means in a direction toward the second opening of the case means and also serving to provide surface area upon which negatively charged particulates will adhere and to which negatively charged molecules will give up their charge and flow through;
• wherein said negative high voltage source and said positive high voltage source are mounted externally of said case means.

A device for pumping air and collecting airborne particulates by electrostatic techniques comprising:

• a case means, tubular in shape and constructed of electrically non-conductive material, for supporting the components of the device and for providing a channel for the convection of air through the device, having a first opening for the admittance of air and having a second opening for the exit of air, between the openings and within the case means are a plurality of air pumping and particulate collecting arrangements side of side in parallel, each said arrangement comprising:
• a first grid means positioned in a plane orthagonal to the axis of the case means occupying the entire plane extending to the internal surface of the wall of the case means, said first grid means formed of metal wire, said first grid means is connected to a negative high voltage source, said first grid means is constructed and so arranged to provide a defined negative field across the convection channel within the case means to repel negatively charged molecules or particulates, generated within the case means, away from the first opening and causing them to flow toward the interior of the case means;
• an electrode means adjacent to the first grid means near the center of the first grid means and on the side of the first grid means away from the first opening, said electrode means having a sharp point facing away from the first grid means and toward the second opening, said electrode means is connected to a high voltage negative source, said electrode means is constructed and arranged in relation to the first grid means so that the negatively charged field produced by the first grid means encompasses the electrode means and in combination with the negative potential produced by the electrode means acts to generate a high charge density at its sharp point sufficient to transfer a negative electric charge to atmospheric molecules and particulates adjacent thereto;
• a second grid means spaced apart from the electrode means toward the second opening, said second grid means positioned in a plane orthagonal to the axis of the case means and occupying the entire plane extending to the internal surface of the wall of the case means, said second grid means formed of metal wire, providing a tortuous pathway with minimal impedance to the flow of air through the case means, said second grid means is connected to a positive high voltage source, said second grid means is constructed and arranged so as to attract negatively charged molecules and particulates away from the electrode means causing the molecules and particulates to flow through the case means in a direction toward the second opening of the case means and also serving to provide surface area upon which negatively charged particulates will adhere and to which negatively charged molecules will give up their charge and flow through;
• wherein said negative high voltage source and said positive high voltage source are mounted externally of the case means.

A device for pumping air and collecting airborne particulates by electrostatic and convection means comprising:

• a case means, tubular in shape and constructed of electrically non-conductive material, for supporting the components of the device and for providing a channel for the convection of air through the device, having a first opening for the admittance of air and having a second opening for the exit of air, between the openings and within the case means are the following:
• a first grid means located near the first opening and positioned in a plane orthagonal to the axis of the case means occupying the entire plane extending to the internal surface of the wall of the case means, said first grid means formed of metal wire of circular cross section, said first grid means is connected to a negative high voltage source, said first grid means is constructed and arranged so as to provide a defined negative field across the convection channel within the case means to repel negatively charged molecules and particulates, generated within the case means, away from the first opening and causing them to flow toward the interior of the case means;
• an electrode means, adjacent to the first grid means located near the center of the first grid means and on the side of the first grid means away from the first opening, said electrode means having a sharp point facing in a direction away from the first grid means and toward the second opening, said electrode means is connected to a high voltage negative source, said electrode means is constructed and arranged in relation to the first grid means so that the negatively charged field produced by the first grid means encompasses the electrode means and in combination with the negative potential produced by the electrode means acts to generate a high charge density at its sharp point sufficient to transfer a negative electric charge to atmospheric molecules and particulates adjacent thereto;
• a second grid means spaced apart from the electrode means toward the second opening, said second grid means positioned in a plane orthagonal to the axis of the case means and occupying the entire plane extending to the internal surface of the wall of the case means, said second grid means formed of metal wire of circular cross section, providing a tortuous pathway while maintaining minimal impedance to the flow of air through the case means, said second grid means is connected to a positive high voltage source, said second grid means is constructed and arranged so as to attract negatively charged molecules and particulates away from the electrode means causing the molecules and particulates to flow through the case means in a direction toward the second opening of the case means and also serving to provide surface area to which negatively charged particulates will adhere and to which negatively charged molecules will give up their negative charge and flow through;
• an electric motor driven fan means spaced apart from the second grid means toward the second opening of the case means, said fan means located in a plane orthagonal to the axis of the case means, the blades of said fan means extending toward but not contacting the walls of the case means, said fan means serving to augment the flow of air through the device;
• wherein said negative high voltage source and said positive high voltage source are mounted externally of said case means.