Patents Assigned to Columbus Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11819792
    Abstract: A filtration media that may be mounted in a frame and placed in a central heating, cooling and/or ventilation system. The media has symmetrical characteristics such that, when mounted in the frame, the resulting filter may be mounted with either one major surface of the filtration media receiving the air flow or the opposite major surface receiving the air flow. Regardless of how the filter is oriented, the performance of the filter is the same due to the symmetrical characteristics of the filtration media mounted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Chrystal Gillilan
  • Patent number: 11745206
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus having a housing with lateral, upstream and downstream walls, and a top plate disposed at a significant angle to incoming overspray air to accelerate and guide the particulate-laden air. The angle of the top plate directs the air upstream and away from the filters so the larger solids impact the top plate and wall and adhere, removing paint from the air. Larger solids too massive to turn while accelerating through an opening into an entry chamber collect on the upstream sidewall and the highly filtered air flows toward filter units disposed downstream of the entry opening. Lighter solids that flow downstream are removed by the filtration media. An overhang of the angled top plate reduces flow into the filter units of collected solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Baizel, James E. Large, Mounir B. H. Slama
  • Patent number: 11014113
    Abstract: A filter for industrial coating filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall extending around the periphery. The housing is preferably made of a suitably rigid material. A preferably rigid support backing is mounted within the housing. The support backing has a planar configuration with openings formed through it so that gas can flow through without substantial resistance. The preferably planar sheet of which the support backing is made is pleated. The pleated support backing defines a series of panels, each of which is angled to a next adjacent panel. Filtration media is mounted to the support backing, end caps are attached to the ends of the support backing to maintain the pleated configuration, and the assembly is inserted into the housing, which can have end flaps to seal using tape or adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mounir B. H. Slama, James E. Large, Daniel J. Baizel, Michael K. Haufe
  • Patent number: 10596585
    Abstract: A filter for industrial coating filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall extending around the periphery. The housing is preferably made of a suitably rigid material. A preferably rigid support backing is mounted within the housing. The support backing has a planar configuration with openings formed through it so that gas can flow through without substantial resistance. The preferably planar sheet of which the support backing is made is pleated. The pleated support backing defines a series of panels, each of which is angled to a next adjacent panel. Filtration media is mounted to the support backing, end caps are attached to the ends of the support backing to maintain the pleated configuration, and the assembly is inserted into the housing, which can have end flaps to seal using tape or adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mounir B. H. Slama, James E. Large, Daniel J. Baizel, Michael K. Haufe
  • Patent number: 10427077
    Abstract: A collapsible HVAC filter that includes pleated filtration media having side members mounted on opposite sides of the filtration media. The filtration media collapses to reduce filter volume. Supports maintain spacing between the side members when the filtration media is expanded. The supports may extend into openings on the upstream and downstream sides of each of the side members. The collapsed filter occupies little space relative to the expanded filter, and can be expanded to form a completed filter with little effort required by the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell L. Baldinger
  • Patent number: 10213722
    Abstract: A rigid support is disposed in a filtration media element. A first gas-permeable filtration media layer is disposed in an overlapping orientation with a second gas-permeable filtration media layer. The first and second layers define a void in which the support is disposed. The first layer is attached to the second layer near opposing edges of the first and second layers and at an attachment termination point substantially centrally located on the filtration media element. The filtration media element has a first media end and an opposite, second media end. The support has a first support portion that extends from the first media end toward the attachment termination point. The support has second and third support portions that extend from the first support portion toward the second media end with a gap between the second and third support portions in which the attachment termination point is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. Haufe, James E. Large
  • Patent number: 10124317
    Abstract: A filter contains fluent particulate, such as carbon granules. The filter is divided into a plurality of cell chambers by walls, including an upper wall. The upper wall has a surface that faces, and is closest to, the top surface of the particles. The upper wall surface is oriented so that, as the particles settle, any gap formed between the top surface of the particles and a portion of the upper wall surface will not extend from the upstream to the downstream sides of the filter. Instead, contact is maintained between the top surface of the particles and the upper wall surface during fluid flow through the filter, and therefore any gas flowing through the frame must flow through, and through spaces around, particles. An angle between the upper wall surface and the flow direction of gas striking the filter is greater than about three degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell L. Baldinger
  • Patent number: 9993835
    Abstract: A filter for industrial coating filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall extending around the periphery. The housing is preferably made of a suitably rigid material. A preferably rigid support backing is mounted within the housing. The support backing has a planar configuration with openings formed through it so that gas can flow through without substantial resistance. The preferably planar sheet of which the support backing is made is pleated. The pleated support backing defines a series of panels, each of which is angled to a next adjacent panel. Filtration media is mounted to the support backing, end caps are attached to the ends of the support backing to maintain the pleated configuration, and the assembly is inserted into the housing, which can have end flaps to seal using tape or adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mounir B. H. Slama, James E. Large, Daniel J. Baizel, Michael K. Haufe
  • Patent number: 9943796
    Abstract: A filter media and a pleated filter with a first layer of filtration media, a layer of support material and a second layer of filtration media on the opposite side of the support material as the first layer of filter media. All three layers are laminated together and pleated. The support material provides the required stiffness and rigidity for the pleating process. The physical characteristics of the upstream layer of filtration media are contemplated to be different than the characteristics of the downstream layer of filtration media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus J. Ptak, Chrystal B. Gillilan, Russell Baldinger
  • Patent number: 9555358
    Abstract: A filter for industrial coating filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall extending around the periphery. The housing is preferably made of a suitably rigid material. A preferably rigid support backing is mounted within the housing. The support backing has a planar configuration with openings formed through it so that air can flow through without substantial resistance. The preferably planar sheet of which the support backing is made is pleated. The pleated support backing defines a series of panels, each of which is angled to a next adjacent panel. Filtration media is mounted to the support backing, end caps are attached to the ends of the support backing to maintain the pleated configuration, and the assembly is inserted into the housing, which can have end flaps to seal using tape or adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. Haufe, Mounir B. H. Slama, James E. Large
  • Patent number: 9481004
    Abstract: The invention is a filter for paint booth filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall, which extends around the entire periphery of the filter, and opposing filter-retaining screens. The filter-retaining screens form the upstream and downstream faces of the filter. The filtration element may be a frame with lattice and a rigidifying channel therearound combined with a filtration material extended around the frame. The filtration material may be slit and expanded paper that is joined at overlapping edges, or merely overlapped, to form a sleeve. One or more of the filtration elements are mounted in the housing substantially parallel to one another and to the screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Wayne Vickers, Mounir B. H. Slama
  • Patent number: 9320998
    Abstract: A collapsible HVAC filter that includes a pleated filter media pack with ends that attach to ends of a planar filter frame member. The structure collapses by folding the filter frame member along score lines and compressing the pleated filter media while the media and frame member are attached. The collapsed components occupy little space relative to the expanded filter, and can be expanded to form a completed filter with little effort required by the end user. Most of the filter media is collapsed in a generally U-shaped channel formed from the folded filter frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Chrystal B. Gillilan
  • Patent number: 9199189
    Abstract: An ozone and odor removing filter media having a filtration layer and a supporting layer. The supporting layer includes activated carbon fibers or powders, or both, incorporated within the supporting layer. The activated carbon particles can be added to the supporting layer by combining them with binder in a slurry and extending the already-formed supporting layer through the slurry. The wetted layer then extends through opposed rollers to remove all but a desired amount of slurry. Alternatively, the activated carbon particles can be added to the mixture when forming the supporting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thaddeus J. Ptak
  • Publication number: 20140298764
    Abstract: A filter for industrial coating filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall extending around the periphery. The housing is preferably made of a suitably rigid material. A preferably rigid support backing is mounted within the housing. The support backing has a planar configuration with openings formed through it so that air can flow through without substantial resistance. The preferably planar sheet of which the support backing is made is pleated. The pleated support backing defines a series of panels, each of which is angled to a next adjacent panel. Filtration media is mounted to the support backing, end caps are attached to the ends of the support backing to maintain the pleated configuration, and the assembly is inserted into the housing, which can have end flaps to seal using tape or adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: COLUMBUS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael K. Haufe, Mounir B.H. Slama, James E. Large
  • Publication number: 20140260140
    Abstract: The invention is a filter for paint booth filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall, which extends around the entire periphery of the filter, and opposing filter-retaining screens. The filter-retaining screens form the upstream and downstream faces of the filter. The filtration element may be a frame with lattice and a rigidifying channel therearound combined with a filtration material extended around the frame. The filtration material may be slit and expanded paper that is joined at overlapping edges, or merely overlapped, to form a sleeve. One or more of the filtration elements are mounted in the housing substantially parallel to one another and to the screens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Wayne Vickers, Mounir B. H. Slama
  • Patent number: 8641794
    Abstract: An air filter and frame that cooperate to require alignment of the filter in a desired orientation in order for insertion to occur. At least one edge of the filter is offset from a right angle relative to other edges and the faces of the filter, and an obstruction is formed in the frame so that the filter can be inserted into the frame in only the desired orientation. Preferably two opposing edges of the frame are angled, and obstructions, such as small rails, are mounted in opposing sidewalls of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Chrystal B. Gillilan
  • Publication number: 20130205732
    Abstract: A collapsible HVAC filter that includes a pleated filter media pack with ends that attach to ends of a planar filter frame member. The structure collapses by folding the filter frame member along score lines and compressing the pleated filter media while the media and frame member are attached. The collapsed components occupy little space relative to the expanded filter, and can be expanded to form a completed filter with little effort required by the end user. Most of the filter media is collapsed in a generally U-shaped channel formed from the folded filter frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Columbus Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8343251
    Abstract: A composite filter media having excellent dust-releasing properties provided with a layer of netting formed of a low surface free energy material that is hot calendered to the upstream surface of a supporting layer formed of non-woven synthetic fibers. A filtering layer formed of non-woven synthetic fibers is laminated to the downstream surface of the supporting layer. The filtering layer may include an electrostatic charge to increase filter efficiency at a reduced pressure drop across the composite media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus J. Ptak, Russell Baldinger
  • Patent number: 8105425
    Abstract: An air filter including a plurality of air-pervious sheets of electret filtration material. The sheets are disposed in a parallel relationship to form a stack of sheets, and each of the sheets has a plurality of slits formed therein for subsequent expanding to form openings. The stack is connected together at opposing ends, such as by bonding. The sheets can be pleated by mounting in a frame. The frame has opposing ends to which the opposing ends of the stack are mounted. The filter media initially has no frame and is not pleated, but is in a flat pad form that is expanded to be installed into a frame. The frame is then mounted in an appliance, such as a room air filter. When the filter is inserted into the filter housing it is expanded and can take a pleated form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Columbus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus J. Ptak, Chrystal B. Gillilan, Russell Baldinger
  • Publication number: 20110308209
    Abstract: An air filter and frame that cooperate to require alignment of the filter in a desired orientation in order for insertion to occur. At least one edge of the filter is offset from a right angle relative to other edges and the faces of the filter, and an obstruction is formed in the frame so that the filter can be inserted into the frame in only the desired orientation. Preferably two opposing edges of the frame are angled, and obstructions, such as small rails, are mounted in opposing sidewalls of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: COLUMBUS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Chrystal B. Gillilan