Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems for an ion generator mounting device for application of bipolar ionization to airflow within a conduit, the device includes a housing for mounting to the conduit having an internal panel within the enclosure, and an arm extending from the housing for extension into the conduit and containing at least one opening. At least one coupling for mounting an ion generator to the arm oriented with an axis extending between a pair of electrodes of the ion generator being generally perpendicular to a flow direction of the airflow within the conduit.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/861,469 filed on Sep. 22, 2015, which in turn is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 9,168,538 granted Oct. 27, 2015, which in turn is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,873,215 issued Oct. 28, 2014, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 8,564,924 issued Oct. 22, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/105,110 filed Oct. 14, 2008 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/221,763 filed Jun. 30, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated in full by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of air treatment, and more particularly to the treatment of air using ionization, including bipolar ionization. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Air and other fluids are commonly treated and delivered for a variety of applications. For example, in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) applications, air may be heated, cooled, humidified, dehumidified, filtered or otherwise treated for delivery into residential, commercial or other spaces. 
         [0004]    Needs exist for improved systems and methods for mounting ion generator devices for treating and delivering air for these and other applications. It is to the provision of improved mounting devices for systems and methods meeting these needs that the present invention is primarily directed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes a housing having base, a first and second pair of spaced-apart, opposed sidewalls projecting from the base to collectively form an interior storage compartment and to define an upper edge, a top portion, at least one opening within the housing and a retention means extending outwardly from the housing. 
         [0006]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes an ion generator disposed within the interior storage compartment. 
         [0007]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes an ion generator containing at least one electrode for dispersing ions from the bipolar ionization generator that is disposed within the interior storage compartment, whereby at least one electrode is disposed adjacent that at least one opening. 
         [0008]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes a power supply. 
         [0009]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes a switch. 
         [0010]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes a retention means disposed on one of the sidewalls and extending therefrom. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes an LED disposed on the housing. 
         [0012]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes an elongate arm that includes a first side and a second side, whereby the first side contains at least one opening and an ion generator with at least one electrode that is disposed adjacent the second side of the arm, such that the at least one electrode is disposed adjacent the at least one opening. 
         [0013]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes an elongate arm with a top side and a bottom side. 
         [0014]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes mountings that engage an ion generator to the arm. 
         [0015]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes electrodes of the ion generator that are axially aligned with the arm. 
         [0016]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes electrical contacts disposed within the arm. 
         [0017]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes a housing that includes a base, a first and second pair of spaced-apart, opposed sidewalls projecting from the base to collectively form an interior storage compartment and to define an upper edge, a top portion, and a securing means for selectively securing the top portion to the base. 
         [0018]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device for application of ionization to an airflow within a conduit, the device includes a housing for mounting to the conduit having an internal panel within the enclosure, an arm extending from the housing for extension into the conduit and containing at least one opening, and at least one coupling for mounting an ion generator to the arm oriented with an axis extending between a pair of electrodes of the ion generator being generally perpendicular to a flow direction of the airflow within the conduit. 
         [0019]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes a coupling that comprises electrical contacts on the arm for delivering power to the at least one ion generator. 
         [0020]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes at least one terminal block for wiring connection to the ion generators via contacts on the arm. 
         [0021]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device includes a power converter for converting input power to operate the ion generators. 
         [0022]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an ion generator mounting device that includes at least one electrode that is recessed within an opening on the arm and below the horizontal plane of the external surface of the arm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    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: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an arm of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
         [0030]    Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. 
         [0031]    The present invention includes a number of ion generator carrier and mounting assemblies for application and control of delivery of ionization to an airflow, including bipolar ionization. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    show an exemplary embodiment of an assembly  100  for mounting to the exterior of a duct, housing, or other conduit for airflow. The assembly includes a housing  110  or other enclosure, such as for example a NEMA 4x enclosure or similar configuration, an internal panel  112  within the housing  110 , and an external arm  114  projecting from the back side of the housing. The external arm  114  includes mountings and electrical contacts for receiving one or more ion generators  140  for delivery of bipolar ionization to airflow within a conduit. Alternatively, the arm  114  may be disposed adjacent a cooling coil. Such ion generator  140  can include the Sterionizer™ device that may be purchased from Filt-Air, a Beth-El Group, Israel, and includes a pair of electrodes that disperse ions. The mountings securely engage the ion generator  140  or ion generators  140  and maintain them in an orientation having their electrodes axially aligned with the arm  114  and generally perpendicular to the airflow. The panel  112  optionally comprises one or more pluggable terminal blocks for wiring connection to the ion generators  140  via the contacts on the arm  114 , a connection for power input, and one or more indicators such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) to indicate the presence/absence and operational state (on/off, ion output, etc.) of the ion generators  140 . Optionally, a power converter or transformer is provided in the housing  110  for converting the input power to the power required to operate the ion generators  140 . One or more connectors are optionally provided for mounting the housing  110  to the exterior of a duct or housing, with the arm  114  extending into the duct or housing through an opening formed therein. Sealing means such as a gasket are optionally provided on the back of the housing  110  around the arm  114  for sealing around the opening. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 2, 3 and 4  show a device  200  according to an alternate embodiment, having a housing  210  with an arm  214  extending therefrom. The length of the arm  214  may vary depending on the size of the conduit it is to be applied to and the number of ion generators to be installed, and in example embodiments is between 2″-24″, for example about 10″ in length. 
         [0034]    The arm  214  is generally elongate and extends outwardly from the housing  210  and has a top side, a bottom side, a first side, and a second side. The arm  214  contains at least one opening  244  contained therein in. The arm  214  includes mountings  248  and electrical contacts  250  for receiving one or more ion generators  240  for delivery of ionization to an airflow within the conduit. Such ion generator can include the Sterionizer™ device that may be purchased from Filt-Air, a Beth-El Group, Israel, and includes a pair of electrodes that disperse ions. The mountings  248  securely engage the ion generators  240  and maintain them in an orientation having their electrodes axially aligned with the arm  214  and generally perpendicular to the airflow. The panel  212  optionally comprises one or more pluggable terminal blocks for wiring connection to the ion generators  220  via the contacts on the arm  214 , a connection for power input, and one or more indicators such as LEDs  242  to indicate the presence/absence and operational state (on/off, ion output, etc.) of the ion generators  220 . Optionally, a power converter or transformer is provided in the housing  210  for converting the input power to the power required to operate the ion generators  240 . One or more connectors are optionally provided for mounting the housing  210  to the exterior of a duct or housing, with the arm  214  extending into the duct or housing through an opening formed therein. Sealing means such as a gasket are optionally provided on the back of the housing  210  around the arm  214  for sealing around the opening. 
         [0035]    The electrodes of the ion generators  240  are placed in close proximity to the opening  220  on the arm  214 , thus allowing the ions to disperse through the arm  214 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the electrodes are recessed within the arm  214 . In other words, the electrodes of the ion generators  240  do not break the horizontal plane of the external of the top side of the arm  214  and are located equal to or beneath the horizontal plane of the arm  214  for allowing the ions to disperse through the openings  244  in the arm  214 . 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 , the arm  214  contains two openings  244  for each ion generator  220 . In another alternative embodiment, the electrodes of the ion generator  220  may protrude through the openings  244  and extend above the horizontal plane of the arm  214 . The housing  210  includes a base  212  that extends to an outer edge. First and second pairs of opposed sidewalls  214 ,  216  extend from the outer edge of the base  212  to an upper edge  218 . The sidewalls  214 ,  216  each have an inner and outer sidewall surfaces  220 ,  222 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each of the second pair of sidewalls  216  interconnects the first pair of sidewalls  214  to define corners  224  and an interior storage compartment  226 . At least one retention member  228  extends from a first or second sidewall  214 ,  216  or the base  212 . A top portion  230  may be selectively secured to the base  212 . As illustrated, the top portion  230  is hingedly connected to the first or second sidewall  214 ,  216  and includes a latch  246  for selectively securing the top portion  230  to the base  212 . 
         [0037]    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.