Induced voltage electrode filter system with disposable cartridge

Filter apparatus for trapping particles suspended in a gaseous fluid stream, said filter apparatus comprising:

• filter chamber means for defining an air flow path between an inlet and an outlet;
• a plurality of porous filter cartridges positioned in said flow path, each porous filter cartridge comprising a different filter material having a pore size substantially larger than the average diameter of the particles to be trapped, each filter material having a collection surface thereon substantially larger than a cross-section of the flow path;
• first and second electrodes disposed with one of the porous filter cartridges therebetween and having means defining openings therein for enabling air flow therethrough;
• means for applying a selected DC voltage across the first and second electrodes;
• a third electrode having means defining openings therein for enabling air flow therethrough;
• and
• frame means for removably supporting one of the filter cartridges and supporting said first, second, and third electrodes in order to electrify, by induction, the third electrode with a voltage in said third electrode in order to increase trapping of the particles by the filter apparatus.

Filter apparatus for trapping particles suspended in a gaseous fluid stream, said filter apparatus comprising:

• a porous filter;
• first and second electrodes disposed with the porous filter therebetween and having means defining openings therein for enabling air flow therethrough;
• means for applying a selected DC voltage across the first and second electrodes;
• a third electrode having means defining openings therein for enabling air flow therethrough;
• and
• means for positioning and supporting said third electrode proximate said first and second electrodes in order to electrify, by induction, the third electrode with a voltage in said third electrode and increase trapping of the particles by the filter apparatus.

In filter apparatus for trapping particles suspended in a gaseous fluid stream, said filter apparatus comprising a porous filter cartridge including:

• a porous filter;
• impelling means for causing a gaseous fluid stream and particles suspended therein to flow through said porous filter;
• first and second electrodes disposed with the filter material therebetween and having means defining openings therein for enabling air flow therethrough;
• means for applying a selected DC voltage across the first and second electrodes;
• and a third electrode having means defining openings therein for enabling air flow therethrough;
• the improvement comprising frame means for positioning and supporting said first, second and third electrodes in order to electrify, by induction, the third electrode with a voltage in said third electrode in order to increase trapping of the particles by the filter apparatus, said frame means including separable sub-frame means for supporting said porous filter and enabling replacement thereof by separation of the sub-frame means.

A filter cartridge for filter apparatus, the filter apparatus having filter chamber means for defining an air flow path between in inlet and an outlet;

• impelling means for causing said gaseous fluid stream and particles suspended therein to flow along said flow path and through said porous filter;
• an induction electrode having means defining openings therein for enabling air flow therethrough;
• and means for removably supporting the filter cartridge;
• said filter cartridge comprising:
• a porous filter;
• first and second electrodes disposed with the porous filter therebetween and having means defining openings therein for enabling air flow therethrough;
• means for applying a selected DC voltage across the first and second electrodes;
• and
• means for enabling positioning and supporting said first and second electrodes proximate said induction electrode in order to electrify, by induction, the induction electrode with a voltage in said induction electrode in order to increase trapping of the particles by the filter cartridge.