US2765046A

US2765046A - Air purifying device

Info

Publication number: US2765046A
Application number: US393460A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rondholz Fritz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-03-11
Filing date: 1953-11-20
Publication date: 1956-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1973-10-02

Description

0st. 2., 1956 F, RoNDHoLz AIR PURIFYING DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 19515 mvE'HTDK. Fan?. Kon DHo z z. B

United States Patent O AIR PURIFYING DEVICE Fritz Rondliolz, Stuttgart, Germany p Application November 20, 1953, Serial No. 393,460

Claims priority, application Germany March 11, 195B 4 Claims. (Cl. 183-4) The present invention relates to air purifying devices.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for purifying the air in the storage space of refrigerators.

In the storage of various kinds of food stutfs together in the storage space of mechanically driven refrigerating devices, it is well known that the odors of the food stuffs are transmitted from one to the other, and that, in addition to this undesirable result, the strong odor of the air usually found in enclosed cooling areas or storage spaces can become exceedingly troublesome. Furthermore, volatile odors from certain food substances, as, for example, volatile acids evolved from cheese, may have an unfavorable elfect on the appearance of certain other food substances, as, for example, on meats.

In order to avoid these commonly known disadvantages, some aid can be found in the use of tight containers for the food to be stored in the refrigerator, or in covering the food with odor-tight, air-tight wrapping material, as for example, aluminum or plastic sheets or foils. However, these materials are inconvenient, inadequate, or uneconomical for bulky food stuffs, and it has been found that they have not been able to prevent excessive odor formation in the cooling storage space. Up to the present, there has not been achieved a means for eliminating from refrigerator cooling spaces the odors which are evolved from the food stuffs stored in the refrigerator.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple, economical, and effective air purifying device for eliminating odors in refrigerator storage areas.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which simultaneously de-odorizes the refrigerator chamber and removes humidity therein.

With the above objects in view, the present invention relates to a refrigerator device comprising a refrigerator housing providing an enclosed storage space adapted to receive material to be cooled therein, cooling means arranged in the refrigerator housing for cooling the storage space and the material adapted to be stored therein, means for purifying the air in the enclosed cold storage space by sorption of odorous gaseous substances produced 'by the material adapted tobe stored in the enclosed storage space, and means securing the purifying means in the refrigerator housing adjacent the cooling means therein.

Preferably, the air purifying material of the present invention consists of granular adsorbing and absorbing air filtering compounds, the material being held in a container means which is provided with air permeable walls, and which may be easily removably attached to the interior of the refrigerator adjacent to the cooling means, i. e. the evaporator or cooling coil of the refrigeration apparatus. The air filter material, in another embodiment of the present invention, may be held in shaped form without the use of a container, the granular lter material being held together by a binding substance.

The latter 1 lCe 2 form of the device may also be provided with attaching means for removably securing the filter material in the interior of the refigerator, in a manner similar to the form which includes a container.

In research on purification of the air in refrigerator storage spaces, it has been found that the area of condensation near or at the evaporator or cooling coil is a favorable location for the collection of odors which are evolved from the substances stored in the refrigerator cooling space. It is in that area that the highest air humidity, strongest odor intensity and lowest vapor tension prevail, due to the influences of the air currents produced by the temperature conditions or by mechanically induced circulation, e. g., by a fan in the closed cooling area. These conditions are favorable for the adsorbtion of cooling vapors in a localized area around the evaporator. For that reason the most favorable results are assured by providing a chemical or physical air purifier inthe region of the greatest condensation. In this connection, the capacity of regeneration of the air purifying material which is used must be considered, since its saturation depends upon the kind and quantity of the materials stored in the cooling space.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a refrigerator chamber showing an embodiment of an air purifying filter of the present invention arranged therein;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the air purifying iilter shown in Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device shown in Figure 2 taken along the lines 2 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an air purifying filter of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to the form of the device shown in Figures l-3, there is shown a frame member 10 which may be made of aluminum and which has a U-shaped cross section, the open end of the U-shaped frame being directed inwardly, as more clearly shown in Figure 3. Another frame 11 of smaller dimensions and of similar U-shaped cross-section is arranged within the outer frame 10 so that a spacing is left between the two frames in which an inner glass mesh 12 and an outer wire mesh 13 are clamped. The frame 10 is covered on its upper portion by cover member 19. Frame 10 and cover 19 have overlapping

flange portions

101 and 191, which are clamped together by screws and bolts 14. The container 2 which is thus formed constitutes an air permeable carrier for holding air filtering material, which is more fully described below.

The container is provided with apertures at the upper ends of the

clamped flanges

101 and 191, the hook elements 15 are inserted in these apertures, the hook elements being in turn engaged by suction cup elements 16, by means of which the container 2 carrying the desired air purifying material may be suspended in the refrigerating chamber 1, as shown in Figure 1, with the suction cup elements 16 in engagement with the ceiling of the refrigerating chamber, so that the air purifying container 2 hangs adjacent to the evaporator 3 of the refrigerator.

Cover 19 is formed with an aperture 192, and frame 11 -is formed at its top portion with an aperture 112, the apertures being arranged ,in register with, one another.

Patented Oct. 2, 1956 l These apertures provide a means for filling the container 2, formedbythe above described frames and mesh members, with air filtering and purifying substances, which are 'preferably .of granular form. Cover 19 is provided -with plate T7 for .covering

apertures

19,2 and 112 after container `2 `has been filled With'iiltering material 18.

Both the `frames v10 and *11 and the Wire mesh )13 may be made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, Orkpreferably of an aluminum-magnesium alloy, inorderito avoid corrosion of .these-metallic parts.

The air 'purifyingtilter material which may be effectively `used in VtheV present invention Lfor purifying refrigerator cooling areas may consist of -various adsorption and absorption substancesfor removing-the gaseous odorvproducing `substances levolved by the-food stuffs'stored in the-refrigerator. Suitable-materials Vof-this type are activated carbon, alumina, silica gel, as -well as acid-com 'bining 'basic substances, such Vas Aburnt lime, magnesia `and :ion-exchange compositions. Examples of `the latter `compositions are Zeolites -and synthetic resin ion `exchangers. ince a single one of the lnamedcompounds lis -usually not -su'fficient ltoovercome all -of the odors, a 'mixture 4'or aplurality of -layersof lt-Wo-or-moreof the abovementionedtilteringcompounds maybe used in suit- -able'quantities The -adsorbing rair iiltermaterials which Vare described above may be regenerated for repeated use inthemanner Yalready known in the art, such regeneration being ithere :results an air-disinfecting ,effectiwhich may be carried out without lossiof the colloidalsilveror silver oxide, lsince 'the latter i materials4 may f also be regenerated as described above so as toindefinitelymaintain,the purifying effects thereof. .In the use of .the-silver materials mentioned,;particularly hygienic conditions inthe refrigerator chamber-.can beachieved tosupplement and improve the odor-removing action of the other air purifying .agents mentioned above.

vThe 'following :examples ,are f given :as `illustrative vof -mixtures of air iilteringmaterial which may be used in the present invention for each V100 litersof refrigerator chamber space, it being'understood that theinvention is not limited to the lspecific examples :set forth:

Example I 1D0-120 g. activated carbon, 80-100 g. of activated alumina, and 90H10() g.,of burnt lime.

Example Il lOO g. of activated carbon, 100 g. Yof activated silica gel, and 100g. ofbasic ion exchange synthetic resin.

Example III 110 g. of activated carbon,'90 g. of activated-silica gel, and 95 g. of magnesia.

Example IV l0() g. of activated carbon, 8O g. of activated alumina, and 9G g. of zeolite.

In arranging the air purifying material in layers there may also be provided hygroscopic, deliquescent chemical compounds, as for-example calciumchloride and magnesium chloride. These chemicals deliquesce in absorbing'moistnre from the air, Vand* such deliquescence may impair the-etfectiveness of theadsorbing air purifying materials. Therefore, these chemicals areprovided in the -air-lterdevice kwithirran absorbent 'packing-'materiahas ltaking place in the enclosed cooling chamber. result the stored 'ifood stuffs retain their original -natural -odor Aand taste, `since they are not affected by foreign 4 for example, a porous ceramic material, in order to keep them separate from "the adsorbing air filter materials.

Figures 4 and S illustrate another embodiment of the air purifying filter of the present invention. In these figures, there is shown a iilter device which is formed of the materials described above, but which, instead of being contained in an air permeable-container, is shaped into a rectangular form, the granular material of which the iilter is made being held together by any suitable binding material suchas glue, `synthetic resin, ;or other bindmedia.

.In thedevices `shown in Figures .4 yand 5 '

bracketfmembers

22 and 23 .are provided .around yfilter block 21, ,the bracket members 'having upwardly extending 'ange portions With apertures in which hook lmembers and attaching elements similar to those described with respect to Figure 2 may be inserted, so that the iilter block 21 may be hung in a refrigerator in the manner described above. Blockll thus serves as an air permeable `iilter- -ing diaphragm through which the air 'in the refrigerator may pass, uand'which'takes up by adsorptiorror absorption the odor-producing substances in the circulating air.

The'filter devices ofthe present invention maybeused Yin-any refrigerator chamber `for purifying the air therein,

the-tiltermaterial taking up by sorption, i. e., by adsorption or absorption orlboth, the undesirable odors from the food stutfs or other -materials stored in the refrigerator, theiodors reaching-the-.lter device by the -air circulation As a odors :from adjacent food stuffs vwhich are removed Vby the iilter device.

|-Furthermore, the refrigerator apparatus remains Efrce .ofbdors -Whichmay detrimentally influence the `tasteof the stored materials. The'draWing-oif of 'theexcesshufmidity, which `acts as acarrying-means -for Vthe odorous substances, bytheiilter device of the persent Iinvention has afurtheradvantage inthatithere is fless ice formation Aon theevaporator.orcooling coil of :therefrigerator apparatus, sov that the. output. of the :refrigerator .is :improved yand its :operation thereby-becomes more.economical.

:it .will vbe understood .that :cach `of .the elements described .above, or :.two vor more together, `may .also iind a useful applicationin otherttypes of airpurifyingdevices differing ffromfthe types described above.

While the invention ,thas :been v.illustrated .and described as iembodied'in-ahousehold refrigeratorfit is notintended :to be limitedfto the details shown, .since variousmoditications and structural changes `may :be .made vwithout-departing in rany way .from the spirit .of the :present `invention.

Without further analysis, the :foregoing will so rfully "What-isclaimed as new:and desiredto be ysecuredby Letters .'Patent 1 is 1. 1An :air :purifying device for a `refrigerator.having .an :enclosed fstorage .space -and cooling means therein,

.comprisingin combination, Vair lter material for sorption of odorous gaseous `substances produced by .material :stored in the storage .space of the; refrigerator, :said .air iilter materiabbeing coated with a .substance selected from the .group consisting .of colloidal :silver and colloidal .silver oxide for disinfecting the air insaidstorage space, said lair filter .material .and `said disinfecting substance .beingadapted .to:-be regenerated'ifor. repeated.use;means for-:retaining theithus coated :air-:lter materialrintshaped 75 zform;.fan`d attaching means-:forssecuringisaid -lterfmaterial in shaped form in the refrigerator storage space adjacent to the cooling means therein.

2. An air purifying device for a refrigerator having an enclosed storage space and cooling means therein, comprising in combination, a mixture of granulated air filter materials for sorption of odorous gaseous substances produced by material stored in the storage space of the refrigerator, each component of said mixture of granulated said air filter materials being coated with a substance selected from the group consisting of colloidal silver and colloidal silver oxide for disinfecting the air in said storage space, said mixture of air filter materials and said disinfecting substance being adapted to be regenerated for repeated use; means for retaining the thus coated mixture of air lter materials in shaped form; and attaching means for securing said mixture of lter materials in shaped form in the refrigerator storage space adjacent to the cooling means therein.

3. In an air purifying device for refrigerators, and the like, an air filter material comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, silica gel and activated alumina and being coated with a substance selected from the group consisting of colloidal silver and colloidal silver oxide.

4. In an air purifying device for refrigerators, and the like, an air lter comprising a mixture of granulated filter materials of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, silica gel and activated alumina and being coated with a substance selected from the group consisting of colloidal silver and colloidal silver oxide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,950,502 Madan Mar. 13, 1934 2,104,589 Hartman Ian. 4, 1938 2,117,570 Philipp May 17, 1938 2,204,910 Randolph .Tune 18, 1940 2,206,705 Newman July 2, 1940 2,222,882 Shames Nov. 26, 1940 2,423,702 Hart July 8, 1947 2,638,179 Yard May 12, 1953