GB2415627A

GB2415627A - Electro-optical air purifier

Info

Publication number: GB2415627A
Application number: GB0512546A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Se Kit Yuen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-28
Filing date: 2005-06-20
Publication date: 2006-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-20
Also published as: GB2415627B; CN100545524C; GB0513184D0; JP2006006923A; GB2415879A; CN1715794A; GB2415879B; GB0512546D0

Abstract

An air purifier comprising a housing 1, 2, the housing having a plurality of air inlets 5 and a plurality of air outlets 3, an ultraviolet radiation tube means 21 located within said housing between said air inlets and air outlets for generating ultraviolet rays, at least one extractor fan means 8 drawing air into said housing through said air inlet, over the ultraviolet radiation means and out of the housing through the air outlet. An air collector 27 is provided between said extractor fan and said housing. A high negative voltage discharge/carbon fibre 10 is located between the ultraviolet radiation tube and the air outlet to produce and increase the quantity of anions. The purifier may be provided with protection means to prevent extreme ultraviolet radiation being emitted from the housing to protect the eyes of the user. The system may emit ultraviolet radiation at a wavelength of 253.7nm. The UV tube may be replaceable and the system may be placed in an air-conditioning device. Also claimed is an air purifier comprising inlets and outlets, a filter (6, 7), an ultraviolet radioactive ray chamber for housing an ultraviolet radiation means, a carbon fibre for regenerating anions, the housing including a rectangular hole-site which fastens an external power line, the air purifier further comprising a switch to turn the power on or off.

Description

24 1 5627

AN ELECTRO-OPTICAL AIR PURIFIER

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an air purifier, more particularly to an air purifier which employ UV tube to generate UV which is able to kill bacteria, virus and mildew in the air while emitting negative ions into the environment. In particular, but not exclusively, the UV tube generates UV with a wavelength of 253.7 namometers.

Background of the Invention

Most conventional air purifiers require normal indoor power supply such as 220V or volt depending on geographical limitation. Some are designed for use in vehicles, and the air purifier is to function with a power supply generated by the vehicle, ie. 12 volt. None of the conventional air purifiers have the ability to operate with both an indoor power supply and an automobile power supply.

Examples of the some of the known air filters are disclosed by US Patent No. 3,967,927; US Patent No. 4,210,429; US Patent No. 5,171,060 and US Patent No. 5,330,722. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

US Patent No. 3,967,927 discloses an ultraviolet lamp fixture for purifying the air within a room by means of passing the air over a plurality of hot cathode or other commercially available ultraviolet ray tubes. The tubes are mounted vertically within a decoratively covered, easily movable, pole-mounted housing having a motorized fan, which moves air through an opening in the lower portion of the housing over the tubes for purification. The purified air stream is exhausted through the top portion of the housing and returned to the room. The interior of the housing has deflector vanes which function to create a turbulent airflow in the area of the tubes to insure that contacting the lamps purifies all of the air passing through the lamp fixture. The lamp fixture is provided with means for filtering the circulating air. In an alternate embodiment, the air passes through a dehumidifier prior to passing by the tubes.

Further, US Patent No. 4,210,429 discloses a room air purifier for quietly removing irritating or harmful impurities from the air circulating within the room. The purifier removes from room air, particles down to 0.3 microns in size with 99.9% efficiency.

The air purifier comprises a somewhat elongated upright housing having an easily removable back, a two-speed blower that is preferably AC operated and disposed at the bottom of the housing, a pair of vertically disposed ultraviolet lamps and associated means for powering the lamps including push button switch means, and preferably three separate filters including a pre-filter disposed at the inlet of the blower, a highly efficient main filter element vertically stacked over the blower and lamps and a charcoal filter disposed over the main filter element. The blower sucks the air in the bottom of the purifier through the pre-filter and up adjacent to the lamps to the main filter element and charcoal filter, and from there the purified air passes to a top baffle cover where the air is exited in preferably four directions from the purifier.

US Patent No.5,171,060 comprises an ornament-displaying article of furniture comprises a weight-bearing surface member and pedestal base. The weight-bearing surface member is releasably connected to a, preferably, transparent column to support the column. The appearance of the column may be altered with an agglomeration or reflective fill material, such as marbles, which may be exchanged by detaching the column from the weight-bearing surface member. In a preferred embodiment, a light source irradiates light reflective or light radiant material of the fill.

In US Patent No. 5,330,722 a germicidal air purifier for trapping and destroying airborne microorganisms is disclosed. The air purifier includes an ultraviolet radiation source and a juxtaposed filter medium. One ultraviolet radiation source and filter medium is fixed and the other is displaceable, so that at least an upstream side of the filter medium is systematically exposed to germicidal levels of radiation. In a first preferred embodiment, a fixed ultraviolet lamp irradiates a cylindrical air filter, which is rotated on its longitudinal axis in close proximity to the lamp, so that the upstream side of the filter is systematically irradiated. In a second preferred embodiment, a radiant lamp fixture is moved reciprocally across an upstream side of a planar filter, to systematically irradiate the filter. In a third preferred embodiment, a radiant lamp fixture is rotated about an axis, which is orthogonal to its longitudinal midpoint, so that a circular area of a planar filter is irradiated. The advantage is that microorganisms trapped on the filters are exposed to a lethal dose of radiation and the air purifier is consistently effective at destroying a significant percentage of airborne microorganisms suspended in the air passed through the filter.

Most conventional air purifiers can only separate unwanted airborne particles from air to achieve purification of air. However, it is known that anions are beneficial to health.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide an air purifier which can produce anions while separating unwanted airborne particles from air flows.

Summarv of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide an air purifier can produce anions while separating unwanted airborne particles from air flows, ie. an air purifier which is able to kill bacteria, virus and mildew in the air while emitting negative ions into the environment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air purifier which has the ability of operating with both an indoor power supply and an automobile power supply.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an air purifier, comprising: a housing, the housing having a plurality of air inlets and a plurality of air outlets; an ultraviolet radiation tube means located within said housing between said air inlets and air outlets for generating ultraviolet rays; at least one extractor fan means for drawing air into said housing through said air inlet, over the ultraviolet radiation tube means and out of said housing through said air outlet; an air collector provided between said extractor fan means and said housing; and a high negative voltage discharge/carbonated fiber located between said ultraviolet radiation tube and said air outlet to produce and increase the quantity of anions.

Brief Description of the Drawinns

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of the present invention; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof; Figure 3 is a cross profile thereof; Figure 4 is a front view thereof; Figure 5 is a rear view thereof; Figure 6 is another side view of thereof; Figure 7 is a supine view thereof; Figure 8 is a bottom view thereof; and Figure 9 is a perspective assembly chart of the preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

A preferred embodiment of an air purifier is shown in the figures. The air purifier comprises a three dimensional cylinder shaped body with distinctive front panel 1 and rear panel 2. Ark shaped air outlet lattice 3 is fixed on the front of the unit's air outlet vent 4. The air outlet lattice 3 and vent 4 is an outlet of ionized air.

As shown in the figures, the air purifier also comprises an air inlet lattice 5 located at an upper part of the rear panel 2 of the air purifier. The air inlet lattice 5 has a fixed dust filtering shelf 6 and dust filtration screen 7. Behind the front of the air outlet vent 4 is an air ventilator or extractor fan 8 and photoelectrical air outlet device 9. A carbonization fiber 10 is located at the rear of the air outlet lattice 3. The carbonization fiber 10 is charged via a negative high voltage, which effectively ionizes the air passing therethrough. A second photoelectron air inlet device 19 and the first photoelectron outgoing device 9 combine to form an air collector 27. A UV emission tube 21 is located in a UV tube fixture. The top portion of the UV tube fixture 20 is connected to a rotational lid 22. The top portion of the front panel 1 and rear panel 2 of the unit locates a flat board 23 and a top cover 24. As the rotational lid 22 is turned it disengages the top cover 24, it can be pulled upwards. The UV fixture 20 is removed through a rectangular hole 25 in the flat board 23 and a rectangular hole of the top cover 24. In this way the UV tube 21 can be easily cleaned or replaced. The unit further includes an on/off switch 17 for turning off power to the air purifier, thus securing the electrical circuits, and preventing the user from harmful effect caused by electrical shocks when removing the UV tube 21.

A handle 11 is located at the top portion of the rear panel 2, providing convenience for the user to carry the air purifier.

The unit further comprises a high negative voltage output circuit system which is to operate within the range of 4.5kv and 8.5kv. The system comprises a power electron generator 13, an electron converter 14 and a timer 15 placed on a support base 12.

Above the electron generator 13 and electron converter 14 sits a UV tube power receptacle 16, on/off switch 17 and power receptacle 18. The support base 12 is connected to the bottom of the front panel 1 and the rear panel 2 of the unit. The support base 12 comprises four shockproof feet to support the air purifier unit on any surface.

At the lower part of the front panel 1 are located two holes 26 to fasten an on/off switch 32 and timer control 28. Smaller holes 29 also located at the lower part of the front panel 1 fasten different color light emission bipolar tubes 30 or LEDs for light indications of various functions.

In use, when the air purifier is activated, the ventilator 8 absorbs the contaminated air with bacteria, virus and mildew through the dust filtration screen 7 and directs the air into the air collector 27 just inside the rear panel 2. Downstream of the air collector 27 is a plurality of strip frames 38 which guide the moving air through the air collector 27 towards the air outlet lattice 3. The UV tube 21 is located at the center of the air collector 27. Thus, the incoming, contaminated air travels into collecting pockets 29 either side of the air collector 27 and then into an air intake vent 30 which is located between the UV tube 21 and collecting pockets 29. As the contaminated air passes through the air intake vent 30, bacteria, virus, and mildew are killed by the UV emitted from the UV tube 21. The purified air is then forced by the ventilator 8 toward the negative high voltage carbonization fiber 10 and is ionized. The purified, ionized air is released through air outlet lattice 3, improving the indoor air quality.

The walls 31 of the air collector 27 are coated to prevent UV from emitting outside of the unit, to protect user's eyes from harmful effects caused by exposure of UV.

There are various circuit paths for input power to the purifier. The first path is via the on/off switch 28 to circuitry for generating the high negative voltage. The second path comprises a rectifier for providing power to the ventilator 8, circuitry for connecting DC and AC, and activating circuitry for the UV tube 21. A third path provides power to negative ion generator and UV tube's 21 automatic circulating controlled circuitry, in charge of the operation of negative ion generator and UV tube 21.

When the on/off switch 28 is turned on, the user can choose long term or specific time settings for the air purifier. If time setting is chosen, the user can adjust the timer control 27 to shut off the electricity supply at a desired time in advance.

Negative ions generated by the unit can promote a biochemistry process in the human body. Increased quantities of negative ions, when inhaled, can lower the hormonal secretion for depression and fatigue.

Preferably, the UV tube of the air purifier generates UV with a wavelength of 253.7 nanometers, which is capable of killing bacteria, virus and mildew in the air. In most modern society, air condition is a must-have appliance for families, hospitals, senior citizen centers, shopping malls, theaters, restaurants, office buildings, automobile manufacturers, elevators, different cars, ships, airplanes, and trains. The air purifier of the present invention improves the environment of the lives, habitations, medical treatments, work conditions, shopping and transportations etc; it provides clean spaces in a constant naturedemolishing modern society.

Although a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous variations, modifications without departing from the scope of the invention set out in the following claims.

Claims

1. An air purifier, comprising: a housing, the housing having a plurality of air inlets and a plurality of air outlets; an ultraviolet radiation tube means located within said housing between said air inlets and air outlets for generating ultraviolet rays; at least one extractor fan means for drawing air into said housing through said air inlet, over the ultraviolet radiation tube means and out of said housing through said air outlet; an air collector provided between said extractor fan means and said housing; and a high negative voltage discharge/carbonated fiber located between said ultraviolet radiation tube and said air outlet to produce and increase the quantity of anions.

2. An air purifier according to claim 1, wherein said high negative voltage discharge carbonated fiber is operated by a control circuit having a high negative voltage output volume within the range of 4.5kv and 8.5kv.

3. An air purifier according to claim 2, wherein said high negative voltage output volume is adjusted by means of a variable resistor means.

4. An air purifier according to claim 2, wherein said ultraviolet radiation tube means has a start-up circuit, said start-up circuit comprising variable resistor functions to adjust a high negative voltage output volume.

5. An air purifier according to claim 2, wherein said air purifier is operated in two alternate modes, said two alternate modes comprising: a first mode, said first mode outputs high negative voltage intermittently, at about 3 to 4 minutes between each interception via a carbonated fiber discharge, said anions produced being blown out through said at least one extractor fan means; a second mode, said second mode ignites the extreme ultraviolet radiation intermittently, at about 7 to 10 minutes between each interception, to eliminate the germs, viruses, funguses and other harmful airborne microorganisms or particles in the air, the operation of the air purifier being controlled independently and continuously in said first mode and/or second mode.

6. An air purifier according to claim 1, wherein said air collector has front and rear portions, said front and rear portions comprising protection means, said protection means for keeping extreme ultraviolet radiation from radiating beyond said housing to protect the eyes of the user.

7. An air purifier comprises: a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of inlet bars located on a rear panel of said housing and outlet bars located on a front panel of said housing; and a filter is mounted to a front panel of said housing, and an ultraviolet radioactive ray chamber for housing an ultraviolet radiation means, said chamber located within a central position of said housing, and each end of said ultraviolet radioactive ray chamber comprises a contact for connecting said ultraviolet radiation means to an external power via a terminal box, and a carbon fiber located within an extended portion of said housing between said ultraviolet radioactive ray chamber and said outlet bars to regenerate anions, said housing further comprises: a rectangular holesite which fastens an external power line, the air purifier further comprises a switch connected to a central section of said external power line to turn power on or off to said air purifier.

8. An air purifier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system controls operation of said ultraviolet radiation means to produce an output having a wavelength of 253.7 nanometers.

9. An air purifier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said air purifier is adaptable for both conventional indoor power supply and power generated by any transportation vehicles.

10. An air purifier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said the UV tube is replaceable.

11. An air purifier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the air purifier is installed in an exhaust inleVoutlet, within external shield or outside of an air conditioning device, such that air enters said inlets of said air purifier passes over said ultraviolet radiation means deprived of bacteria, viruses and molds by ultraviolet radioactive rays emitted from said ultraviolet radiation means, the clean air is passed out of said outlets of said air purifier to enter said air conditioning device via its respective inlet, and discharges from the respective outlet of said air conditioning device.

12. An air purifier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying figures.