Abstract:
An ionizing structure for ambient air treatment wherein the structure, optionally having ceiling-mounting provisions, incorporates an ionizing element forwardly directed in the direction of airflow through the structure, an electrical power supply coupled to the ionizing element for applying thereto a stepped-up, negative, direct-current voltage of the order of several thousand volts, and a buffer, in effect, in the form of electrical circuit means, e. g. a filter, operatively interposed between the power supply and the blower for preventing feedback of eddy-voltage spikes, transients and the like as may be generated in the power supply to the operative parts of the blower, thus preventing damage to the blower.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a structure or unit for treating ambient air and, more particularly, provides a unique ionizing structure, constructed for the treatment of ambient air, wherein the air conditioning is maximized, and is performed in such a manner that, in addition to producing negative-air-constituent ions, any dust, lint, and other particles will also simply be electrostatically charged negatively, so as to drop out of the air and fall to the floor of a room, for example, in which the structure is placed. A ceiling mount is provided to accommodate ceiling suspension of the unit, where desired. Most importantly, the structure contains an ionizing element, a voltage step-up power supply for applying a negative voltage of several thousand volts to the ionizing element, and a blower or fan for directing forced air over, in proximity with, and forwardly beyond the ionizing element, whereby to produce in the air stream ionized air constituents. A buffer stage, preferably in the form of an eddy-voltage filter, is operatively interposed between the power supply and the operative parts of the blower, whereby to prevent unwanted eddy-voltage spikes as may be generated in the power supply from feeding back to the operative parts of the blower. In a preferred form of the invention, such spikes can simply be filtered and grounded-out at the blower frame. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     The present invention presents an improvement over the inventor&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,429, issued Jan. 13, 1998, which is fully incorporated herein by way of reference and is hereinafter referred to as “patent &#39;429.” Also made of record is the inventor&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,837, issued Jul 25, 1995, likewise fully incorporated herein by way of reference. Tangential to certain aspects of the invention is certain other U.S. patent literature as follows: Reissue 34,346; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,279,586; 3,046,716; 3,624,448; 3,768,258; 3,900,766; 3,915,672; 4,339,782; 4,713,093; 4,955,991; 5,474,600; and 5,484,472. 
     Of special relevance is the inventor&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,429. Optimal operation of the inventor&#39;s ionizing structure has been found to occur when the power supply, supplied by general line power, 120-140 volts (AC), delivers to the ionizing element a stepped-up negative voltage of several thousand volts, generally of the order of 12.7 K volts (DC). Because of this requirement, there may be inadvertently generated at or proximate the power supply and ionizing element eddy-voltage spikes which in magnitude can exceed 62 K volts, which are apt to be fed back to the blower; such spikes can damage the operative parts of the blower, i.e. the armature and field windings of the blower motor. What the present invention addresses is the obviation of this hazard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the present invention, an ionizing structure for ambient air treatment includes a housing provided with an alternating-current voltage power input connection and having rearward inflow and forward outflow air vents; a blower having a frame and mounted in the housing and operatively positioned essentially between the inflow and outflow vents; an ionizing element mounted within the housing forward of the blower and proximate the outflow vents; and an electrical circuit structure coupled to and between the power input connection, blower, and ionizing element, whereby to supply magnitude-elevated, negative, direct-current voltage of the order of several thousand volts to the ionizing element, rated electrical power to the blower, and also to essentially block eddy-voltage spikes, transients and the like as may be generated with the electrical circuit from feeding back to the blower which might otherwise damage the blower. The blocking function may be performed by an eddy-voltage filter interposed between the power supply of the electrical circuit and the blower. Where the blower or fan has an electrically conductive frame, the filter can simply be coupled to the frame, for essentially grounding-out voltage spikes by serving as an energy-spike sink. The unit of the invention may have a housing comprised of upper and lower shells, the upper shell being provided with a bracket and riser structure accommodating a ceiling mount of the unit, as in a hospital where patients are to be deterred from manually manipulating the unit. 
     Broadly, the ionizing structure herein includes: an AC to DC power supply having an output providing a stepped-up negative voltage; an ambient-air ionizing element coupled to the output; a blower disposed rearwardly of the ionizing element for blowing ambient air forwardly over the ionizing element; and an AC eddy-voltage-spike blocking device operatively interposed between the power supply and the blower, whereby to protect the blower from eddy-voltage-spike damage. 
     As to the customary terms used herein: “K” means 1000, “AC” means alternating current, “DC” means direct current, L/C refers to inductance/capacitance, and rated power and line voltage refer to customary home or office AC input power at, e.g., 120-140 volts. 
     Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide an ionizing device for treating ambient air and its constituents, wherein the blower or fan of the device is protected from high voltage transients, eddy-voltage spikes and the like. 
     A further object is to provide an ionizing device having a step-up power supply for generating an output of negative several thousand volts, an ionizing element coupled thereto, and a blower for directing ambient air over the ionizing element, wherein the operative parts of the blower are protected from transients, eddy-voltage spikes and the like, as may inadvertently be generated at or proximate the power supply, that might otherwise cause damage and hazard relative to such blower. 
     An additional object is to provide an ionizing device with structure suitable for mounting to a ceiling of a room, hospital area, and so forth, where occupant handling of the device is to be discouraged. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an improved ionizing structure or unit, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of a bracket, for securement to the unit of FIG. 1 as shown, whereby to accommodate the unit for spaced mounting to the ceiling of a room or hallway, for example; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation assembly view of the unit of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the unit of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the unit with the upper housing shell removed; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectioned view of the unit of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, taken along the arcuate line  7 — 7  in FIG. 3, of an edge portion of the unit&#39;s housing, showing the manner in which the edges of the upper and lower shells of the housing fit together, by way of example, 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross section taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 4 rotated 90 degrees and having an airflow grill, typical for both front and back grill portions of the unit; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectioned detail, looking down, of the fan mounting within the housing of the unit, and is taken along the long  9 — 9  in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 10 is an inverted perspective view of a holder mounted within the housing for mounting the ionizing element; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of the basic concept of the electrical circuitry of the invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is a block diagram, in greater detail, of the electrical circuit employed by the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIGS. 1-8 ionizing structure or unit  10  includes housing  11  provided with upper housing shell  12  and lower housing shell  13 . Lower housing shell  13  includes base pads  14  as indicated. 
     The two shells are secured together by a series of suitable elongated screws “S” which cooperate with the aligned screw receiving bosses  15  representative ones of which are seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The screw heads, not shown, may be covered by removable base pads  14 , as shown in FIG.  3 . It is also seen that, mounted to the lower housing shell  13  are fuse unit  16  and on-off power switch  17  (with light  17 A, FIG.  12 ), which may be of conventional manufacture. A power cord  18  having socket plug PL is likewise provided. 
     It is noted that the two housing shells can be made to overlap, see FIG. 7, as by the provision of a peripheral shoulder  19  which fits in peripheral grooves  20 . These will relate, of course, to the peripheral side walls  21 ′ and  22 ′ of the upper and lower housing shells  12  and  13 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 8 illustrate that the upper housing shell  12 , and lower shell  13  as well, may be provided with a flange-formed pocket  21  into which is seated the rear flange  22  of blower  23  and the rear air-inflow filter grill unit  24 . The rear filter grill unit  24 , see FIG. 8, may take the form of an interior filter  25  having a perforate inner base support  26  and also outer grill member  27 . Base support  26  may include a peripheral base flange  26 A having overlapping lips at  28  to receive the outermost grill member  27 . Referring to FIG. 5, the forward and rearward filter-grill units  24 A and  24  may be identical, see FIG. 8, and also be mounted in similar fashion and with similar provision, both forward and rearward relative to the housing. In all cases, the filter-grill units have and therefore provide rearward air inflow vents  29  and also the forward air outflow vents  30 , proximate and the rear and front of the blower of the unit, respectively. 
     An ionizing element  42  can be mounted to and within the housing, in front of the blower, in any one of several ways. One means, as explained in patent &#39;429, is for the lower housing shell to be provided with an upstanding cylindrical riser  31  over which a cover mount  32 , designed to mount the ionizing element, is secured. The cover mount  32  is provided with a top  33  and opposite sides  34  and  35 . A partition  36  is provided, together with rear and forward cylindrical sectors  37  and  38 , designed to receive the inner bore surface of the riser  31 . A rear surface  39  in combination with cavity  40  is designed to receive the head of the ionizing element. A side slot is also provided to receive a lead that attaches to the ionizing needle or element  42 , as shown in FIG.  6 . All of the above is fully explained in referenced patent &#39;429. The ionizing element  42  is provided with a needle portion  43  and a head  44 , see FIG. 12, integral therewith and fitting into cavity  40 . FIG. 5 illustrates the positioning of the cover mount just prior to positioning the same over riser  31 , and FIG. 6 shows the cover mount  32  positioned in place and containing the ionizing element  42  in operative position. All of the above is fully explained in the referenced patent &#39;429. 
     In certain environments such as hospitals, recreational areas, and so forth, it may be desirous for the ionizing unit to be attached to and suspended from a ceiling structure. For this purpose a bracket  45  is optionally provided, see FIGS. 1 and 2, the same having a mounting plate  46 , provided with mounting apertures  47  and  48 , and also a tubular element  49 , having attachment apertures  49 A, secured thereto as by welding. The bracket is secured to the upper housing shell  12  by, e.g., screws  50 ,  51 . A set screw or pin at  52 , secures a post  53 , depending from a ceiling, with the post being provided with one or more accommodating apertures. In this way, the unit can be suspended out of the reach of occupants of the building so as to meet safety considerations, and so forth. 
     Special attention is now directed to the electrical circuit employed whereby to protect the blower or fan of the system/device, see in particular FIGS. 11 and 12. 
     The basic electrical circuit in generic, block diagram form is seen in FIG.  11 . In this Figure input line power, at a customary voltage of 120-140 V (AC) is fed to power supply  54  and also to the blower or fan, hereinafter simply referred to as blower  23 . The latter has operative parts  23 A such as a rotating fan element, armature and field windings, etc. The blower is or may be a standard off-the-shelf unit. The complete circuit is illustrated in FIG. 12 wherein power supply  54  includes, electrically coupled together as indicated, a step-up transformer  55 , a rectifier and filter unit (standard)  56 , with, e. g., a resister  57  interposed in the output as an isolation or current-limiting element. An oscillator  58 , such as a standard relaxation oscillator, is coupled to the input side of the transformer. The combination of oscillator  58 , the transformer  55 , rectifier and filter  56  and resistor  57  comprise a power supply, designed to be capable of generating a negative high-voltage output of several thousand volts, e.g., −12.7 K volts. This can be steady state or include a slightly undulating or ripple output, as desired. A high-voltage (spike) blocking device or filter  65 , interposed between the oscillator  58  and blower or fan  23 , as shown, prevents transients, high-voltage (HV) eddy spikes, as may be inadvertently generated in or appearing at the power supply, from feeding back to the blower or fan and damage or create a hazard to the operative parts of the blower, i.e. revolving fan element, armature and field windings of the fan motor, etc. One effective way to accomplish this isolation of the blower  23  from the power supply oscillator  58  is to have the filter ground at  63  electrically tied or coupled, e.g. by lead  59 , directly to the frame  23 B of the blower, where the latter is metallic and thus electrically conductive. The frame, when so connected to the oscillator  58 , will serve as an eddy-voltage spike-energy sink, whereby to dissipate transient energies in the frame, that of course will be electrically isolated from the operative parts thereof. Filter  65  itself and standing along, may be a customary L/C filter, a voltage clipping and smoothing micro-circuit, etc., all of standard design, by way of example. The power supply  54  and eddy filter  65  can be encapsulated or potted as a single unit  60 , shown as a darkened rectangle in FIG.  12  and as a block-like unit in FIGS. 5 and 6. This contributes to ease of assembly and connection. Unit  60  may have output terminals or projecting leads  61  (white or common), hot-wire  62  (black), ground  63  for fan frame (green), and ionizing-element negative-high-voltage terminal  64  (red). 
     What results is the provision of an electrical circuit, and components, wherein the fan or blower unit is protected from high-magnitude eddy voltage spikes, transients and the like, as may be generated or appear at the power supply and ionizing element circuit, from being fed back to the operative parts of the blower or fan, and damage the same or create a potential hazard. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the essential features of the invention and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications and fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.