Agglomerated activated carbon air filter
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsYuan-Ming Tang, John C. Kostecki, Eric G. Graeve
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-supporting filter of adsorbent particles is provided by agglomerating the adsorbent particles with a thermoplastic binder and forming a self-supporting filter with a low pressure drop and high efficiency suitable for use as an automotive cabin filter.
Claims29
A porous gas filter for use as a vehicle compartment filter, or the like, said filter in the form of a unified molded body, said filter body comprising;
- adsorbent particles and particulate thermoplastic binder particles fused into agglomerate particles having a range of particle sizes of random and irregular shapes, and an average particle size of about 15 mesh or larger, said binder particles having an average particles size less than said adsorbent particles;
- said agglomerates fused into said molded filter body providing open interstices between said agglomerates.
A porous filter apparatus for use as a vehicle compartment filter, or the like, said filter in the form of a molded body, said vehicle filter apparatus comprising:
- an air moving means in fluid communication with said molded filter body;
- a filter housing for said molded filter body, said molded filter comprising adsorbent particles and particulate thermoplastic binder particles fused into agglomerate particles having a range of particle sizes of random and irregular shapes, and an average particle size of about 15 mesh or larger, said binder particles having an average particles size less than said adsorbent particles;
- said agglomerates fused into said molded filter body providing open interstices between said agglomerates.
A method for forming a porous filter comprising;
- heating adsorbent particles to a temperature above the softening point of a thermoplastic binder particle,
- mixing said heated adsorbent particles with said thermoplastic binder particles wherein said thermoplastic binder particles have an average size at least 20% less than the adsorbent particle average size,
- agglomerating said adsorbent particles and binder particles into agglomerates having an average size of about 15 mesh or larger,
- forming said agglomerates into a predetermined shape, and
- heating said agglomerates to a uniform temperature above the softening point of said thermoplastic binder to form a fused filter body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.