Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems for an ion generation device that includes an elongate housing having a back portion and a pair of side portions extending from the back portion and forming a cavity therein. A conductive portion is disposed within the cavity and connected to a power supply for providing power to the conductive portion. A plurality of tines are engaged to the conductive portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The current application claims the benefit of the earlier priority filing of provisional application serial number 61/660,301 that was filed on Jun. 15, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an ion generation device and more generally relates to a ion generation device that includes tines composed of polypropylene impregnated with carbon for discharging ions within the proximate area of the device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Current ionization tubes utilize a cathode that is completely surrounded by a glass tube. The inside of the glass tube contains a wire mesh that serves as an anode. Glass by its very nature has a fragile structure and is prone to breaking. The glass tube in an ionization tube also produces a corona discharge, which minimizes the effect of the ionization tube and increases the amount of energy consumed during operation of ionization tube. The glass tube breaks down over time and must be replaced by the user and the replacement cost for such a tube is high. Additionally, the glass tube requires a voltage high enough to break down the dielectric strength of the glass, and during the break down process, a corona discharge is created, thus causing uncontrolled and undesirable ozone. 
         [0004]    For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0247389 discloses a bipolar ionization tube that has a cathode that is completely surrounded by a glass tube. An anode is provided that circumscribes the interior wall of the glass tube. 
         [0005]    There is a need for a bipolar ionization device that is not breakable, eliminates the need for expensive replacement parts, saves energy, provides higher output, and minimizes corona discharge. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes an elongate housing having a back portion and a pair of side portions extending from the back portion and forming a cavity therein. A conductive portion is disposed within the cavity and connected to a power supply for providing power to the conductive portion. A plurality of tines are engaged to the conductive portion. 
         [0007]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes an extrusion disposed within the cavity of the housing. 
         [0008]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes a plurality of tines composed of polypropylene impregnated with carbon. 
         [0009]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes tines that are composed of a homopolypropylene impregnated with carbon. 
         [0010]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes an extrusion composed of rubber having a hollow interior portion for receiving the power supply and conductive portion. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes a shelf positioned on the inner portion of each side portion of the housing for receiving a first rib of the extrusion. 
         [0012]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes tines that are spaced an equal distance apart along the length of the conductive portion. 
         [0013]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes an elongate housing having a back portion and a pair of side portions having an interior portion and exterior portion and extending generally perpendicularly from the back portion and forming a cavity therein. The extrusion is disposed within the cavity of the housing and having a hollow for receiving a power supply and a conductive portion, wherein the conductive portion includes an elongate portion and a plurality of tines that extend generally perpendicularly outwardly from the elongate portion. 
         [0014]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes an extrusion that has a frustoconical upper portion and a hollow interior portion therein for receiving the power supply and elongate portion of the conductive portion. 
         [0015]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes a plurality of tines extending from the conductive portion and having a lower portion and a top portion, wherein the lower portion is engaged to the conductive portion and is wider than the top portion. 
         [0016]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes an upper end of the tine that contains a point that is from about 0.01 inches to about 0.05 inches in length. 
         [0017]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ion generation device includes an outer housing composed of aluminum. 
         [0018]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of ionizing air that includes providing an ion generator device that comprises an elongate housing having a back portion and a pair of side portions extending from the back portion and forming a cavity therein. A conductive portion is disposed within the cavity and connected to a power supply for providing voltage to the conductive portion, and a plurality of tines engaged to the conductive portion. An ion generator is placed in an HVAC system that includes a heat transfer device, wherein the ion generator device is positioned next to the heat transfer device. 
         [0019]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of ionizing air that includes providing an extrusion disposed within the cavity of the housing. 
         [0020]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of ionizing air that includes providing a plurality of tines extending perpendicularly from the conductive portion and having a lower portion and a top portion, wherein the lower portion is engaged to the conductive portion and is wider than the top portion. 
         [0021]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of ionizing air that includes a conductive portion composed of polypropylene impregnated with carbon. 
         [0022]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of ionizing air that includes an ion generation device that is positioned such that air flows perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the tines. 
         [0023]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of ionizing air that includes a power supply engaged to an electrical connector for supplying power to the power supply. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the device; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the device; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the housing of the device; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the housing of the device; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the conductive portion; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the conductive portion; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the extrusion; 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the extrusion; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a view of the method of using the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Referring now specifically to the drawings, an ion generation device is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  and is shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The ion generation device  10  generally comprises a power supply  12 , a conductive portion  14 , and a housing  16 . The power supply  12  spans substantially the length of the ion generation device  10  and carries electrical current. The conductive portion  14  also spans substantially the length of the ion generation device  10  and is disposed in close proximity to the power supply  12 . The housing  16  contains a cavity  18  for retaining the power supply  12  and a conductive portion  14 . Preferably, the housing  16  contains a back portion  20  and two side portions ( 22 ,  24 ) each extending generally perpendicularly from the back portion  20 . The cavity  18  is located within the back portion  20  and two side portions ( 22 ,  24 ) and having an opening opposite the back portion  20 . The cavity  18  is designed to house, retain, and protect the power supply  12  and conductive portion  14 . 
         [0036]    The cavity of the housing  16  is generally u-shaped. The side portions ( 22 ,  24 ) each have an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the inner portion is disposed within the cavity  18  and the outer portion forms the exterior of the housing  16 . A pair of elongate knobs  26  are formed within the inner portion of each side portion ( 22 ,  24 ) and generally extend along the length of the side portion ( 22 ,  24 ). A first recess  28  is positioned above each knob  26  on the inner portion of each side portion ( 22 ,  24 ). The bottom portion of the first recess  28  and upper portion of the knob  26  form a shelf  30  for positioning an extrusion  32  within the cavity  18  of the housing  16 . A second recess  34  is formed within the housing below the knob  26 , and preferably the second recess  34  is formed at the upper end of each side portion ( 22 ,  24 ). The second recess  34  is designed to receive a bottom portion of the extrusion  32 . The housing  16  may be composed of aluminum or composed of an material with insulative properties such as rubber. 
         [0037]    The back portion  20  of the housing  16  has an inner portion and an exterior portion, wherein the inner portion is disposed within the cavity  18  and the outer portion forms the exterior of the housing  16 . A channel  36  is disposed on the exterior portion of the back portion  20  of the housing  16  and extends generally along the entire length of the housing  16 . 
         [0038]    The conductive portion  14  may be made of any material that conducts electricity. In one embodiment, the conductive portion  14  is composed of a thermoplastic polymer imbedded with conductive material that allows the polymer to conduct electricity. For example, the conductive portion  14  may be composed of polypropylene impregnated with carbon. Generally, the conductive portion  14  may contain between about 20 to about 80 wt % polypropylene copolymer, between about 5 to about 40 wt % talc, and from about 5 to 40 wt % carbon black. However, any other resistive, inductive, reactive or conductive plastic or non-metallic material may be utilized for the conductive portion  14 . 
         [0039]    The ion generator device  10  also includes a plurality of tines  38  disposed on the conductive portion  14 . The tines  38  may be embedded into bores in a concave manner or they may extend outwardly in a convex manner. The tines  38  are spaced along the axial length of the top end of the conductive portion  14 . The tines  38  contain a base and an upper end. The base of the tines  38  are larger than the upper end. Preferably, the upper end of each tine  38  has a point. In other words, the tines  38  have a base that is integral with the conductive portion  14  and spaced along the axial length of one side of the conductive portion  14  and the top end of the tines  38  forms a point. The conductive portion  14  and tines  38  may be composed of stainless steel, gold, titanium, brass, or any other conductive, but oxidation resistant material, but preferably are formed from a thermoplastic polymer imbedded with conductive material that allows the polymer to conduct electricity. For example, the conductive portion  14  and tines  38  may be composed of polypropylene impregnated with carbon. The tines  38  may contain between about 20 to about 80 wt % polypropylene copolymer, between about 5 to about 40 wt % talc, and from about 5 to 40 wt % carbon black. The conductive portion  14  and tines  38  are preferably formed by injection molding a liquid polypropylene that is impregnated with carbon. 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  6  and  7 , an extrusion  32  may be positioned between the power supply  12  and conductive portion  14  and the housing  16 . The extrusion  32  is preferably made of a non-conductive material, such as rubber or plastic, so that the extrusion  32  acts as an insulator between the power supply  12  and conductive portion  14  and housing  16 . More preferably, the extrusion  32  is composed of UL V0 rated plastic. The extrusion  32  contains an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the extrusion  32  is frustoconical and disposed adjacent the inner portion of the back portion of the housing  16 . A first pair of ribs  42  extend generally perpendicularly from the extrusion  32  and below the frustoconical upper portion on either side of the extrusion  32 . The first pair of ribs  42  are designed to be received within the first recess  28  of the inner portion of each side portion ( 22 ,  24 ) of the housing  16 . Each of the first pair of ribs  42  is designed to be engaged to the shelf formed by the bottom portion of the first recess  28  and upper portion of the knob  26 . A second pair of ribs  44  are disposed on the lower portion of the extrusion  32  and extend generally perpendicularly from the extrusion  32  and are in a spaced-apart relationship and are generally parallel to the first pair of ribs  42 . The second pair of ribs  44  are designed to be disposed within the second pair of recesses  34  of the housing  16 . 
         [0041]    The tines  38  consist of a base and a stem with a generally consistant and constant diameter that extends to an upper end, containing a point. The point consists of a reduction in the diameter of the stem to a sharp point. The length of the reduction in diameter of the stem to the point is from about 0.01 to about 0.05 inches. In other words, the upper end of the tine  38  contains a point that is from about 0.01 to about 0.05 inches in length. 
         [0042]    The frustoconical upper portion of the extrusion  32  contains a hollow for receiving the power supply  12  and conductive portion  14 . The hollow is contained within the inner side of the frustoconical upper portion. Two opposed flanges  46  extend angularly downward from the inner side of the extrusion  32  and form the opposed end of the hollow. The tines  38  of the conductive portion  14  extend between the flanges  46  and the flanges  46  provide stability to the tines  38  and to keep the tines  38  properly aligned. 
         [0043]    The conductive portion  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , contain an elongate rod, whereby the tines  38  extend generally outwardly from the elongate rod. The elongate rod contains a first side and a second side. The first side may be arcuate shaped and designed to receive the generally circular power supply  12 . The base of the tines  38  are disposed on the second side of the elongate rod of the conductive portion  14 . 
         [0044]    The power supply  12  is preferably a generally circular high voltage power supply wire that spans substantially the length of the ion generator device  10 . The high voltage wire preferably carries voltage ranging between about 2,000 Volts to about 15,000 Volts, including all points in-between or any voltage and frequency outside these parameters that will cause a cold plasma discharge. The high voltage wire creates a magnetic field and the conductive portion  14 , which acts as a resistor, draws the electrons from the magnetic field. The electrons migrate through the conductive portion and progress to the tines  18 . The power supply  12  may have an alternating current or direct current component, including a high frequency component that is easy to adjust the ion concentration (e.g. a pulse wave). 
         [0045]    The conductive portion  14  and the tines  18  are designed to create positive ions, negative ions, or both simultaneously. The conductive portion  14  and tines  18  are designed to create a differential voltage for attraction or opposition of a flowing median of products within the flowing median, such as contaminants in air and water. 
         [0046]    In an exemplary embodiment, when the ions reach the base of the tine  18 , the ions flow from the pointed upper end of the tine  18  positioned on the conductive portion  14 . The ions flow into the surrounding area and collide with air molecules and particles in the air stream, thus ionizing the air molecules and particles. The ionization of the air aids in cleaning the air, removing odors, and helps reduce pollutants. 
         [0047]    In one use, the ion generator device  10  may be installed in a heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system. The ion generator device  10  may be engaged to a structure so that the air flows perpendicular to longitudinal length of the tines  18 . In other words, the ion generator device  10  should be positioned such that the tines  18  are upright in relation to the air flow and the air flow is able to flow between the tines  18 . In another embodiment, the ion generator device  10  may be installed near a copy machine, industrial machinery, conveyor belts, or generally anywhere where there is a desire to control static electricity. 
         [0048]    A horizontal flow, flat heat transfer device  48  is shown in  FIG. 10 . The device  10  is positioned preferably adjacent the heat transfer device  48  with reference to the air flow. However, it should be understood that the device  10  may be positioned upstream from the heat transfer device  48  if desired by the user. The heat transfer device  48 , which is well known in the art, comprises circuited tubes through which refrigerant circulates and may contain a number of substantially flat, planar parallel fins that are attached or adjacent at generally regular spaces on the tubes. The fins increase the effective surface area of the tubes, thereby increasing heat transfer from the air to the surface of the heat transfer device  48 . Because of the excellent heat transfer properties, low expense and ease of manufacture of aluminum, a typical heat transfer device  48  may be constructed of aluminum. In determining the spatial relationship between the heat transfer device  48  and the device  10 , the objective is to obtain a uniform distribution of the ions across the face of the heat transfer device  48  positioned upstream relative to the air flow. 
         [0049]    During use, the power supply  12  is engaged to an electrical connector to supply power to the power supply  12  that in turn supplies power to the power supply  12 . The power supply  12  creates a magnetic field and the ions are drawn to the conductive portion  14 . The ions progress through the conductive portion  14  and are injected into the tines  18 . The ions flow up the tines  18  from the base to the pointed upper end. When the ions reach the pointed upper end of the tine  18 , the ions flow from the pointed upper end of the tine  18  and into the surrounding area and collide with air molecules and particles in the air stream, thus ionizing the air molecules and particles. The ionization of the air or other median aids in cleaning the median, removing odors, and helps reduce m contaminants. 
         [0050]    In another embodiment, the tines  18  may generate positive and negative ions by utilizing an alternating current or direct-current high voltage power supply with each polarity. 
         [0051]    Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.