# US 5,704,955 A · Air filtration system for vented exhaust system

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- Number: US 5,704,955 A
- Document ID: US5704955A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/610,284
- Filed: 1996-03-04
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1995-02-07
- Assignees: Giles Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors: Ted W. Giles
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704955A

## CPC

- B01D 46/0032: {using electrostatic forces to remove particles, e.g. electret filters}
- B01D 46/0005: {Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames (B01D46/2422 takes precedence)}
- B01D 46/58: connected in parallel
- B01D 50/20: Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
- F24C 15/20: Removing cooking fumes (parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels for withdrawing or condensing cooking vapours from such vessels A47J36/38)
- Y10S 55/36: Kitchen hoods
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

An existing exhaust hood having a single coarse particulate filter for filtering contamination laden air is replaced by a filtration module preferably having two filters and optionally a third filter. The two preferred filters are a grease baffle filter and an electrostatic air cleaner (EAC). Optionally, a charcoal filter would be a third filter in a series of three filters for removing odors from exhausted air. The preexisting exhaust fan of the hood would be maintained in use and the preexisting duct work to the exterior of a building would also be maintained for exhausting the now filtered air to the exterior of the building. The filtration module would lower the amount of volatile organic compounds to an acceptable level so as to prevent pollution of the exterior environment of a building.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air filtration module for removing volatile organic compounds in a vented exhaust system, said air filtration module comprising:
an outer housing, and
an inner housing including channels for removably receiving at least two air filters, said inner housing being pivotably mounted on said outer housing and movable between a closed position where said inner housing is located within said outer housing and an open position where said inner housing is swung away from said outer housing,
said outer housing being electrically connected to a power control module, said power control module including at least one indicator for indicating the presence or absence of at least one air filter in the channels in said inner housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An air filtration module as claimed in claim 1, where said two air filters are a baffle filter and an electrostatic air cleaner.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An air filtration module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner housing includes channels for removably receiving three air filters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An air filtration module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a releasable latch allows movement of said inner housing between said closed position and said open position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An air filtration module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power control module includes an indicator for indicating the position of said inner housing in one of said open position and said closed position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An air filtration module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer housing includes a power contact plate for engagement by an electrostatic air cleaner mounted in said inner housing when said inner housing is in said closed position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An air filtration module as claimed in claim 1, wherein an interlock switch cooperates with said inner housing and said outer housing to prevent operation of the vented exhaust system when said inner housing is in other than said closed position.

### Claim 8

An air filtration module for use, in combination, with a vented exhaust system, said combination comprising:
an exhaust hood having an air vent opening and a passageway in communication with said air vent opening and the atmosphere outside of a building,
an air filtration module secured to said exhaust hood over said air vent opening so that air passing to said passageway through said air vent opening first passes through said air filtration module,
said air filtration module including an outer housing and an inner housing pivotally mounted on said outer housing and movable between a closed position, where said inner housing is located within said outer housing, and an open position, where said inner housing is swung away from said outer housing,
said inner housing including at least two air filter channels for removably receiving a baffle filter and an electrostatic air cleaner,
said outer housing being electrically connected to a power control module located remote from said air filtration module, said power control module including at least one indicator for indicating the presence or absence of at least one air filter in the air filter channels in said inner housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said inner housing includes a third filter channel for a charcoal filter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein a releasable latch allows movement of said inner housing between said closed position and said open position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said power control module includes an indicator for indicating the position of said inner housing in one of said open position and said closed position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said outer housing includes a power contact plate for engagement by an electrostatic air cleaner mounted in said inner housing when said inner housing is in said closed position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein an interlock switch cooperates with said inner housing and said outer housing to prevent operation of the vented exhaust system when said inner housing is in other than said closed position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said inner housing is located in an approximately horizontal orientation in said open position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said air filter channels are formed by guide rails secured inside of said inner housing for supporting air filters in position and for defining a path of travel of said air filters into and out of said inner housing.