Patent ID: 7501100

Claim:
A filter system for treating air entering an electrochemical air separation device designed to separate oxygen from air, said filter system comprising: a first filter section formed of a plurality of sheets of woven mesh containing surface deposits of at least one substance effective to interact and combine with at least one airborne contaminant to remove the at least one airborne contaminant from the air; a second filter section configured to filter particulate matter and situated adjacent to the first filter section; the second filter section having accordion-like folds and formed of at least a high efficiency particulate accumulation filter sheet configured to filter particulates of at least about 0.03 microns in diameter and at an efficiency of about 99.97 percent a retaining structure peripherally engaging the first filter section and the second filter section at opposite locations thereof so that the air to be treated is constrained to pass through the first filter section and then the second filter section; a connection flange permanently connected to an air inlet of the electrochemical device; and a clasp releasably connecting the retaining structure to the connection flange to permit removal and replacement of the retaining structure and the first filter element and the second filter section as a single unit.