HEPA room air purifier
AssigneeEnviracaire Corporation
InventorGeorge B. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Portable room air purifiers having replaceable and generally cylindrical high efficiency particulate air filters which are mounted to receive incoming air which is drawn therethrough by centrifugal fans positioned adjacent deflectors in such a manner that air is directed radially outwardly through generally annular exhaust openings in a quiet and yet highly efficient manner. The fans, air deflectors and exhaust openings are designed to create outlet air flow patterns which will give a positive physical indication that the air filters should be replaced. In one embodiment of the invention, the filter units are stackable so as to permit increased air flow rates without modifying the centrifugal fan or fan motor.
Claims20
A portable air purification apparatus comprising a housing including a base portion and cover means, said base portion including an air deflectin means and a plate means mounted in spaced relationship to said air deflection means so as to create a substantially continuous air exhaust opening therebetween, a centrifugal fan means disposed between said plate means and said air deflection means and being mounted so as to direct air radially outwardly therefrom through said air exhaust opening, at least one opening through said plate means to permit air flow therethrough to said centrifugal fan means, motor means carried by said base portion and extending upwardly with respect to said opening in said plate means, said motor means having drive shaft means for driving said centrifugal fan means, air filter means mounted between said base portion and said cover means so that air is drawn therethrough toward said centrifugal fan means, and means for securing said cover means relative to said base means to thereby retain said air filter means therebetween.
A portable room air purification apparatus comprising a base, a generally tubular filter means carried by said base, cover means for securing said air filter means to said base, said base including a plate means and an air deflector means mounted in spaced relationship with respect to one another, at least one opening through said plate means so as to permit air flow from said air filter means therethrough, a motor means carried by said base, centrifugal fan means mounted in driven relationship to said motor means and positioned between said plate means and said air deflection means, said air deflector means including a recessed area defined by side walls which extend toward said plate means and outwardly with respect to said centrifugal fan means, said centrifugal fan means being at least partially disposed within said recessed area and having a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from a central hub portion so as to direct air radially outwardly thereof, an exhaust opening between said plate means and said air deflection means so as to be in generally radial alignment with a portion of the blades of said centrifugal fan means, said exhaust opening being defined by a width W between said plate means and said side walls of said air deflection means which will create a pulsation of air passing therethrough when the air flow through said filter means is below a predetermined minimum.
In a portable room air purification unit having a housing in which a filter element is mounted so that a motor driven fan means will urge air through the filter element the improvement comprising, said housing having a base portion, the fan means being a centrifugal fan having a plurality of radially extending blades which are mounted within said base of the housing, said base having a peripheral substantially continuous opening therethorugh which is generally radially aligned with said fan blades and which forms an exhaust outlet from the housing, said opening being of a width to initiate pulsation of the air flow therethrough when the air flow through the filter element falls below a predetermined minimum.
A portable air purification apparatus comprising a housing including a base portion and cover means, said base portion including an air deflection means and a plate means mounted in spaced relationship to said air deflection means so as to create an air exhaust opening therebetween, a centrifugal fan means disposed between said plate means and said air deflection means and being mounted so as to direct air radially outwardly therefrom through said air exhaust opening, at least one opening through said plate means to permit air flow therethrough to said centrifugal fan means, motor means mounted adjacent said opening in said plate means, said motor means having drive shaft means for driving said centrifugal fan means, at least one air filter means mounted between said base portion and said cover means so that air is drawn therethrough toward said centrifugal fan means, said air filter means including a HEPA filter element, and means for securing said cover means relative to said base means to thereby retain said air filter means therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.