Patent Publication Number: US-2013232931-A1

Title: Inline duct filter

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application 61,609,216 filed on Mar. 9, 2012 for INLINE DUCT FILTER, which is incorporated by reference for all that is disclosed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Duct filters remove particles and odors from air passing through ducts. Filter elements located within the duct filters are difficult to replace. For example, some duct filters have filter elements located therein that are difficult to access, which makes changing the elements very difficult. 
     SUMMARY 
     Inline filters are disclosed herein. An embodiment of an inline duct filter includes a box with an opening in the box, wherein a door is receivable in the opening. A channel is located in the box and proximate the opening, wherein a filter element is receivable in the opening and the channel. At least two air ports are located in the box, wherein an air path extends between the air ports and through the location for the filter element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a lower isometric view of an embodiment of an inline duct filter, wherein an access door is removed. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the inline duct filter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side isometric view of an embodiment of an inline duct filter. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of an inline duct filter with an access door in place. 
         FIG. 5  is a cut away perspective view of an embodiment of an inline duct filter. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the fitter of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top side elevation view of an embodiment of the inline duct filter of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Inline duct filters are disclosed herein. An embodiment of an inline duct filter  100  (sometimes referred to simply as a filter) is shown in  FIG. 1 , which is a lower isometric view of the filter  100 . The filter  100  includes a box  104 , an input port  106  (sometimes referred to as a first port), and an output port  108  (sometimes referred to as a second port). The input port  106  is sometimes referred to being on a first side of the box  104  and the output port  108  is sometimes referred to being on a second side of the box  104 . The input port  106  and the output port  108  may be interchanged depending on the direction of airflow through the box  104 . The ports  106 ,  108  have openings  110 ,  112  that enable air to flow through the ports  106 ,  108 . 
     The ports  106 ,  108  enable the filter  100  to be connected to conventional duct work. The ports  106 ,  108  are shown as being circular, but they may be any shape and any size. For example, the ports  106 ,  108  may be rectangular or square in order to fit into rectangular or square duct work. The box  104  contains an air filter element  116  that is readily replaceable. In some embodiment, the air filter element  116  may be grasped by a user by opening a door on the box  104 . An air path extends between the openings  110 ,  112 , which is through the box  104  and the element  116 . As described in greater detail below, the element  116  may be sealed against the box  104  so that substantially all the air passing through the box  104  passes through the element  116 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an enlarged view of the filter  100 . The box  104  has a side  120  that is sometimes referred to as a bottom side  120 . However, the side  120  may be oriented in any direction depending on the placement and/or orientation of the filter  100 . The side  120  has an opening  122  that is sized to receive the element  116 ,  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the opening  122  is bounded by a first side  126  and a second side  128 . The first side  126  has a recessed portion  130  and the second side  128  has a recessed portion  132 . The recessed portions  130 ,  132  may be substantially parallel to each other. The recessed portions  130 ,  132  are also shown in  FIG. 6 , which is a side elevation view of the filter  100 . 
     A door  140  is able to seal or otherwise cover the opening  122 . In the embodiments described herein, the door  140  has a first edge  142  and a second edge  144 . The first edge  142  has a recessed portion  146  and the second edge  144  has a recessed portion  148 . The door  140  is slidable into the opening  120  wherein the recessed portions  146 ,  148  on the door  140  engage the recessed portions  130 ,  122  in the side  120  of the box  104 . The door  140  slides from the side  120  to expose the opening  122 . In such a state, the element  116  may be readily changed. For example, at least a portion of the element  116  may be located proximate the opening  122  so that it may be readily grasped. When the element is in the box  140 , the door  140  is slid into the side  120  so as to cover the opening  122 . The use of the door  140  prevents air from leaking through the opening  122 , although, an insignificant amount of it may leak between the door  140  and the sides  126 ,  128 . Therefore, the door  140  prevents air passing between the ports  106 ,  108  from escaping out of the box  104 . The embodiments described herein described the door  140  that is slidable in the opening  120 . Other embodiments of the door may include hinge-type doors and other configurations. On some embodiments, the door  140  contacts at least a portion of the filter element  116 . 
     Further reference is made to  FIG. 4 , which is a plan view of the side  120  of the box  104 . In the view of  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the door  140  is in place in the side  120  of the box  104 . When the door  140  is in place, a continuous, smooth, and flat surface may be created between the door  140  and the side  120 . The smooth surface created by the door  140  prevents protrusions from extending from the side  120 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 5 , which is a cut away view of the filter  100 . The interior of the box  104  has a plurality of rails  150  that form a channel  152 . The channel  152  is sized to receive the element  116   FIG. 1 . The width of the channel  152  may be slightly greater than the width of the element  116 , which enables the element to slide through the opening  122  and into the channel  152 , in other embodiments, the width of the channel  152  may be slightly smaller than the width of the element  116 , which causes the element to have a tight fit within the channel  152 . 
     The channel  152  along with the rails  150  serve to prevent air from passing around the element  116  when the element  116  is located in the box  104 . In some embodiments, the edges of the element  116  may be pliable and the width of the channel  152  may be slightly less then the width of the element  116 . In this embodiment, the element may fit snug within the channel  152 . The snug fit seals the element  116  to the rails  150  and prevents air from passing around the element  116 . Rather, the air flow is through the element  116 . In some embodiments, the rails  150  may be pliable so as to form a seal with the element  116 . In other embodiments, the rails  150  may have a gasket (not shown) or the like formed thereon that seals the element  116  to the rails  150 . In these embodiments, the element  116  is sealed within the box  104  in order to force all the air flowing through the box  104  to pass through the element  116 . The box  104  has been shown with the rails  150 . It is noted that the rails are a securing mechanism for the element  116  and other securing mechanism may be used. In some embodiments, the sides of the box  116  serve to retain the element  116  and the rails  150  are not required and their function is served by the sides of the box  104 . 
     An embodiment of the box  104  with attachment mechanisms  160 ,  162  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . The attachment mechanisms  160 ,  162  are located on opposite sides of the box  104  and serve to secure the filter  100  in a fixed location. The attachment mechanisms  160 ,  162  may each have a hole  164 ,  166  formed therein. The holes may receive screws, nails, or other devices that serve to secure the fitter  100  to a structure, such as a floor joist. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the attachment mechanisms  160 ,  162  extend from the side of the box  104  opposite the door  140 . The attachment mechanism  160 ,  162  may otherwise interfere with the operation of the door  140 . In some embodiments, the attachment mechanisms  100 ,  162  extend proximate the door  140  and have holes to enable the door  140  to slide therethrough. 
     In use, the door  140  is removed from the side  120  and the element  116  is placed through the opening  120  and into the channel  152 . The door  140  is then slid back into place in the side  120 . The air flow between the ports  106 ,  108  then passes through the element  116 . Ducts (not shown) are attached to the ports  106 ,  108  in a conventional manner. For example, clamps or the like may attach the ducts to the ports  110 ,  112 . Air is then forced through the ducts, which passes into the box  104  by way of an opening  110 ,  112  and is filtered by the element  118 . The filtered air then exits the other opening  110 ,  112 . In some embodiments, the filter  100  may be affixed to a structure not shown) by way of the attachment mechanisms  180 ,  182 . When the filter needs to be changed, the door  140  is slid open and the element  118  is removed from the box  104 . A new element is readily inserted into the box  104  and the box is sealed by replacing the door  140 . 
     Having described the filter  100  and its operation, other embodiments of the filter  100  will now be described. Reference is made to  FIG. 7 , which shows an embodiment of an inline duct filter  200  that functions similar to a manifold. The filter  200  has a first side  202  and an opposite second side  204 . The first side  202  may have a single first port  206  that is identical or substantially similar to the input port  106  on the filter  100 . The second side  204  has a plurality of second ports  208 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the filter  200  has four second ports  208 . The filter  200  enables a single air supply to be connected to the first port  208  and be divided to several different locations by way of the plurality of the second ports  208 . More specifically, the second ports  208  may be connected to ducts that divert air to different locations. In some embodiments, the second ports  208  have air valves (not shown) or the like that regulate the amount of air flow in each of the second ports  208 . Therefore, air flow to a plurality of different locations may be regulated from the single filter  200 . 
     The inline duct filters  100 ,  200  described above may be used in indoor growing facilities, such as green houses. In such facilities, filtered air improves growing in that it prevents dust from building up on the plants. The growing facility may have a blower or the like that blows air into the facility by way of a duct that passes through a wall of the facility. The duct may be attached to the first port  106 ,  206 , which may be located within or outside the facility the facility. Another duct may be connected to the second port  108 ,  208 . The air from the second port  208  may be delivered to specific areas within the growing facility. In the embodiment of the duct filter  200  of  FIG. 7 , air may be directed to a plurality of locations within the growing facility by use of the plurality of second ports  208 . 
     While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.