ELECTROSTATIC FILTER FOR TOBACCO ASHES

Abstract: The electrostatic filter with Volta-effect, with first-class conductors, for the deionization of the ashes of cigarettes, cigars and similar according to the present invention, consists of a condenser with an external electrode (Mo) and a central electrode (M1), applied to the cigarette or similar, so that, following to the inhalation of the smoker, the ionized components and the consequent electrones, pass inside the electric field existing between the electrodes (Mo) and (M1) and are diverted from their axial direction towards said electrodes, on which the neutralization of the charges takes place, with the consequent retaining in the diameter between the coils of the condenser.

Description: ELECTROSTATIC FILTER FOR TOBACCO ASHES The present invention concerns an electrostatic filter with Volta-effect, for the deionization of ashes and flames in general, and in particular of ashes and flames of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and similar, making use of first- class as well as of second-class conductors, and semi¬ conductors of the kind N-P (diods). Electrostatic filters are already known with a high electric field in which the smokes of chimneys, industrial emissions and similar are subject to a preventive deionization and then a following destruction, due to the collection of the deionized particles onto one of the electrodes. Said destruction is so considerable, that it is able to eliminate nearly all the smoke. It is the aim of the present invention to realize an electrostatic filter with a relative weak electric field that may be preferably applied to cigarettes, cigars and similar for removing the iones produced by the burning and by the ashes, thus obtaining a complete deionization thereof. The object of the present invention is based on the exploitation of the Volta-effect, according to which a potential difference is established between the points of a dielectric, near to a couple of first-class conductors. Whereas a second-class conductor is used in an open chain, in which the ends consist of first-class conductors, as in the Volta pile, a potential difference is established due to the sum of the differences of partial potentials, according to following scheme: (metal)1 + electrolyte + (metal)2. The filter according to the present invention exploits, as already mentioned, such effect and makes use of the electric field that is determined between the coils of a cylindrical condenser, being integral part of the bimetallic couple. Said field has the purpose of collecting the pre-existing deionized particles of the smoke. The cylindrical geometry of said condenser has appeared to be the most natural, due to the peculiarity of the cigarette's shape, but also other geometric shapes may be applied, like e.g. a spherical one. The coils of the electrostatic filter according to the present invention make use of metals, that combine to their own low cost a higher Volta-effect for what concerns the potential differences. The present invention will be described more in detail hereinbelow according to the enclosed drawings, in which some preferred embodiments are shown. Figures 1 and 2 show a cylindrical condenser respectively in an axonometric view, in a transparency view and in a lateral scheme. Figure 3 shows an axonometric view of an electrostatic filter with Volta-effect according to the present invention, applied to a known cigarette filter. Figure 4 shows a development in plane of the elements of the electrostatic filter with Volta-effect according to the present invention. Figure 5 shows an axonometric exploded view of the elements of the object of the present invention. Figures 6 and 7 show an axonometric and a transparency view of two variants of an electrostatic filter, provided with porous septa near the electrodes. Figure 8 shows an exploded view of the components of a variant of an electrostatic filter according to the present invention, provideed with a porous septum relating to the central electrode, closed inside a cylindrical structure provided with microholes. Figures 9 and 11 show an exploded and an exonometric view of two variants of the electrostatic filter according to the present invention, provided with a micropile Po, and in an axonometric view, two variants of the electrostatic filter each respectively provided with a micropile Po and with a diode d. Figure 10 shows a scheme of a micropile p, consisting of an external electrode pl-Mo, an electrolyte E, a depolarizer DE and an internal electrode p2-Ml. Figure 12 shows a longitudinal section of a variant of the electrostatic filter according to the present invention, comprising a solenoid S wrapped around the cylindrical external electrode Mo. Figure 13 shows an axonometric exploded view of a variant of the electrostatic filter according to the present invention, with the external electrode Mo being comprised between a porous septum SP and a protecting covering rp. The figures show an electrostatic filter with Volta-effect, with first-class conductors of the kind allowing the deionzation of the ashes of cigarettes, cigars and similar, comprising: - a cylindrical condenser with an external electrode Mo and a central electrode Ml; - a connecting element for determining the bimetallic contact between Mo and Ml, out of the same material than Ml or even different, linked to an end C put into contact with Mo; - an eventual cigarette filter F around which said electrode Mo is provided and inside which said central electrode Ml is inserted so that the iones present in the smoke are diverted, passing through the electric field of the condenser, towards the electrodes Mo and Ml, and are neutralized. The functioning of the present invention may be described as follows: following to the inhalation of the smoker, the ionized components of the smoke and the following electrones are diverted, passing through the electric field existing between the electrodes Mo and Ml, from their axial direction, according to the law of Lorentz, towards said electrodes, on which the neutralization of the charges takes place, with the following retaining in the dielectric placed between the coils of the condenser. For obtaining a greater and more efficient retaining of the deionized molecules following to the neutralization of their charge onto the electrodes Mo and Ml, in the variant according to figure 6, layers of porous material SP are provided, with a minimum thickness, wrapped around the central electrode Ml and inside the external cylindrical electrode Mo, while in the variant according to figures 7 and 8 the presence of an eventually closed cylindrical container CC with microholes is provided, around the central electrode Ml, with the interposition of a porous septum SP' and with an end C to be inserted in contact between the porous septum SP, internal and adjacent to the external electrode Mo, and said electrode Mo. For obtaining optimal values in the filtering process according to the present invention, and on the basis of the known theory of the cylindrical condenser, the electrodes may be dimensioned in two ways: - with a very small radius Rl of the central electrode Ml - about 0.2 mm - in relation to an average radius of a cigarette, which is about 4 mm; - with a radius Rl of the central electrode Ml, being 90% - 95% of the cigarette's radius. Relating to electrodes Mo and Ml of the cylindrical - external and internal - condenser, it shall be underlined that their electric coupling is to be realized between metals perfectly clean and without any trace of oxidation, or also between metals both showing, on their surface, a layer of oxid, as it is the case with copper (cupric oxid), so as to realize following sequence: metall - oxid layerl - oxid layer2 - metal2, where metal means the metal under its own oxid layer. In the variant according to figure 9, one of the poles of the micropile p forms the central electrode p2-ml, and the other pole pi-mo is the connector of the micropile connected to the external electrode Mo. In the solenoid S of figure 12, the charges of the iones of the smoke, neutralized onto the electrodes, form a current transient which, in turn, determines an axial magnetic field that cooperates to the radial deflexion, towards the electrodes, of the passing iones. Furthermore, it shall be underlined that, even if non influent for what concerns the potential jump due to the Volta-effect of the bimetallic couple, the earth connection of one of the electrodes, in this case Mo, is determining for the introduction, through said connection, of polluting substances like saliva, grease traces and similar. Therefore, for protecting the external electrode Mo, the present invention provides, as shown in figure 13, the protective covering rp of said electrode with an insulating material like rice paper, cork paper, poliethylene or couplings between aluminium and paper, colloid carbon and paper, metal and plastic polymer. Among the evident advantages for the health of the smokers, it' must be added that the filter according to the present invention produces very white ashes, as the removal of the spatial charge by the electrodes favours the burning , determining a more complete oxidation of the carbon , and avoids partial burnings , which are the reason for disagreable smells and tastes of smoking.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An electrostatic filter with Volta-effect, with first-class conductors, for the deionization of the ashes of cigarettes, cigars and similar, of the kind making use of first-class as well as of second-class conductors and of semi-conductors of the N-P (diods) kind, for retaining the ionized particles already existing in the smoke, created by the flames and by the ashes, and characterized in: - a cylindrical condenser with an external electrode (Mo) and a central electrode (Ml) ; - a connecting element for establishing the bimetallic connection between (Mo) and (Ml), of the same material than (Ml) or even different, linked to an end (C) put into contact with (Mo); - an eventual cigarette filter (F) around which said electrode (Mo) is provided and inside which said central electrode (Ml) is inserted, so that the iones present in the smoke are diverted, passing through the electric field of the condenser, towards the electrodes (Mo) and (Ml), and are neutralized. 2. An electrostatic filter according to claim 1, characterized in that it makes use of a micropile consisting of an external metal capsule (first pole), comprising an electrolyte and a depolarizer, both coaxially wrapped, like two sheets, around the second pole which, extending outside of the micropile, also serves and central electrode-coil (Ml). 3. An electrostatic filter according to claim 1, characterized in that it adopts electrodes. 4. An electrostatic filter according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in an internal electrode having a length equal to the one of the external electrode, as well as equal to any segment thereof. 5. An electrostatic filter according to claim 1, characterized in the presence of porous septa (SP) near the electrodes. 6. An electrostatic filter according to claim 1, characterized in the presence of a porous septum (SP) relating to the central electrode (Ml), closed inside a cylindrical structure with microholes (CC), and with the interposition of a porous septum (SP') and with the end (C) to be inserted into contact between the porous septum (SP), inside and adjacent to the external electrode (Mo), and said electrode (Mo). 7. An electrostatic filter according to claim 1, characterized in the presence of a solenoid (S) wrapped around the external electrode (Mo). 8. An electrostatic filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, for obtaining optimal filtering values, the electrodes may have the following dimensions: - with a very small radius (Rl) of the central electrode (Ml) - about 0.2 mm - related to the average radius of a cigarette, that is about 4 mm; - with a radius (Rl) of the central electrode (Ml), having dimensions corresponding to 90% - 95% of the cigarette's radius. 9. An electrostatic filter according to claim 1, characterized in the presence, for the protection of the external electrode (Mo), of a protecting covering (rp) of said electrode, out of an insulating material.

Inventors: BRIGUGLIO RICCARDO, BRIGUGLIO, RICCARDO
Applicants: BRIGUGLIO RICCARDO, BRIGUGLIO, RICCARDO
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B03C3
IPC codes: A24D3, A24F19, B03C3