Abstract:
A new and improved invention for the purification of quantity of air within an plenum, prior to introduction to an existing HVAC system, consisting of modular air purification units arrayed as to form a wall that may be permeated only through said modules. Each module of the invention is individually serviceable and may be partially removed from the overall system for replacement or maintenance.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This invention related to industrial air purification, and specifically to commercial applications in which large volumes of air must be regularly monitored and purified. Although there are many existing systems available to purify the air, most systems rely on air passing through existing HVAC ducting. There are some instances, where a large amount of air must be purified prior to introduction into an HVAC system. In many existing air purification systems, ultraviolet light is used to kill airborne organisms. The problem that exists is that these systems are expensive and are required to be constructed into a structure.  
         [0002]     Insofar as we are aware, there is not an air purification system or device that is modular in nature that can be adaptable to an existing structure.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     The invention, an improved and modular air purification system is constructed of several modular units that may be stacked upwardly and laterally as to create a wall of air purification units. These units, being powered electronically are capable of eliminating airborne contaminants from passing air. The invention is designed to also facilitate both field service and field technology upgrades. The airflow, controlled by external means may be fixed or adjustable by the operator and will not affect the operation of the invention. Furthermore, the invention will allow a portion of the modular system to be easily removed as to allow an operator access to the space behind the invention.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, several aspects of the invention have been designed to promote safe and easy operation of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention with portions of an existing structure removed to show the proper arrangement of the modular air purifiers as to form a wall. Each modular unit  10  is shown stacked upwardly and laterally against one another as to form a wall. Also shown in the FIG is an internal structure of the invention  20  which holds additional air purification modules  30  that are slightly smaller in construction.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the internal structures of the invention that illustrates the primary structure  20  in relation to an internal and interlocking structure  25 .  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation with portions removed in order to illustrate the modular air purifiers  10  in relation to an existing structure. The FIG also illustrates proper airflow through the modular units  10  from an unpurified environment  105  to a purified air environment  110 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an individual air purification module  10  in order to show its components: an external housing  32 , an internal housing  34 , air filters  35 , ballasts  37 , and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps  38 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation of an individual air purification module  10  in sections to illustrate the proper mating of internal  35  and external  32  housings. The FIG further illustrated the electrical connection between housings, comprised of a male  36  and female  42  electrical connectors.  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation of a working UVGI lamp  38  and an air filter  35  that illustrates the surface area purified by the air purification module.  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the invention with sections removed, which illustrates a possible alternative method of containing an air filter  45  within the inner housing  34 . Through the use of a mechanical slip  46 , an air filter  45  may be set in place within the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation of the invention with sections removed that illustrates a possible secondary embodiment of the invention. The illustration indicates the proper removal of an air filter  45  and a UVGI lamp  38  from within the housing  34 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is similarly a side elevation with sections removed that further illustrates a possible secondary embodiment of the invention, in which both UVGI lamps  38  and air filters  45  may be removed or introduced to the invention  10  through the front face of the housing  34 . 
     
    
     OPERATION  
       [0014]     In operation, one uses this modular air purification system to construct a wall of modular air purifiers  30 , each being modular in design as to fit alongside each other individual air purification modules  10 . Each module  30  is designed as to fit alongside its corresponding units as to produce an airtight seal with one another.  
         [0015]     The invention also uses an internal structure  20 , which serves as a housing for a removable internal structure  25  that is designed to house individual modular units  30  which are constructed as to allow an airtight fit within said internal housing  25 . Each structure contains means to lock itself to its corresponding structure  21  and  23 .  
         [0016]     In proper operation the invention will provide a wall of air purification modules  10  that will only allow air from an outer, non purified, environment  105  to enter a purified environment  110  by passing through said modules  10 . The modules are designed as to create a seal with a floor  100  and existing walls and ceiling  101 . The modular wall is reinforced by a series of vertical braces  25 , which are aligned with each vertical row of the wall and extend from the floor  100  to the ceiling  101 . A series of horizontally aligned cross members  27  are likewise located correspondingly to each horizontal row of modules  10 . Each horizontal cross member  27  contains appropriate conduit  28  as to allow power to be drawn into each module  10 .  
         [0017]     Each air purification module  10  is comprised of an external housing  32 , an internal housing  34 , and air filtration means  35 . The external housing  32  is fitted with a female electrical connector  42 , designed to supply power to the internal housing  34  upon proper mating of the two housing sections. The internal housing also contains a plurality of internal ballasts  37 , filter guides  39 , ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps  38 , light indicators  33 , and fiber optic cabling  31 .  
         [0018]     When activated, the invention will allow an operator to purify a quantity of air from a room through external air movement means, through the air plenum. As power is supplied to the modular units  10 , the UVGI lamps  38  will fire and emit an ultraviolet wavelength  40  that is capable of destroying organic airborne contaminants. A plurality of photoreactive air filtration media  35  will react with said wavelength  40  as to assist in the purification method.  
         [0019]     The invention will provide adequate purification for a quantity of air passing through the invention so long as the power is on and all said modules are active and running. In the event that a repair or change of media  35  is necessary, the internal housing section  34  must be physically pulled away from the outer housing section  32  as to break the electrical connection between the male and female electrical connectors  37  and  42 . When said electrical connection is disengaged, each modular unit  10  will shut off as to prevent accidental exposure by the operator to harmful UVGI radiation. Proper operation will be visually confirmed through the use of light indicators  33  which are connected to fiber optic cabling  31  and will indicate if its corresponding UVGI amp  38  is functioning properly.  
         [0020]     In addition to the preferred embodiment mentioned, an alternative embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , is allowable through which the invention, generally indicated at  10 , may be serviced or inspected through the front face of the housing  34  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In such an embodiment, air filters  45  are held in place through a mechanical means, such as a clip  46  as is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Such mechanical means would allow the air filters  45  to be easily introduced and removed from the inner housing  34  of said invention  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In a similar fashion, the UVGI bulbs  38  could be removed in a similar fashion as illustrated in  FIG. 8 .