Patents Examined by Sonji Turner
  • Patent number: 9808808
    Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator is constructed with collecting and repelling electrodes. The collecting electrode is partially shielded from gas shear forces by a shielding structure. The shielding structure is mounted to reduce gas flow along a surface of the collector and includes passages for charged particles to travel to be captured by the collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Tsrong-Yi Wen, Alexander V. Mamishev
  • Patent number: 9795971
    Abstract: A semi-enclosed air purifier for an air-conditioner having stable quality, good air purification and dust removal, little generation of ozone, high efficiency, low cost, safety and convenience is provided. The semi-enclosed air purifier comprises a cartridge comprising an assembly of electrostatic generating strips, an anode connector of FBT, and a cathode connector of FBT. The assembly of electrostatic generating strips comprises electrostatic generating strips. The semi-enclosed electrostatic generating strip comprises a PET resin strip and a conductive strip. The assembly of electrostatic generating strips comprises two or more positive conductive strips and the same amount of negative conductive strips. Insulating spacers are provided between adjacent electrostatic generating strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ningbo Dongda Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Anchun Shao, Songchao Shao, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 9797864
    Abstract: A filtration system includes a frame directing a fluid flow through the filtration system. An ionization array is located in the frame and has an ionizer current flowing therethrough. The system further includes a media filter having a plurality of media fibers arranged to capture particles flowing therethrough and a conductive surface located at the media filter and having a filter current flowing therethrough. A comparator is utilized to determine a difference between the ionizer current and the filter current, and compare that difference to a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter Johannes McKinney
  • Patent number: 9789494
    Abstract: Improvements in active field polarized media air cleaner include an aerodynamic front cowling to reduce static air resistance, a rear double hinge to reduce blow by, a resistive center screen permitting the sharing of high voltage power supplies while reducing the tendency to arc and allowing for a higher operational voltage, a dielectric media support frame to produce a more uniform electrostatic field and reduce blow by, while at the same time reducing the tendency to spray corona and/or arc at the edges of the center screen, a substantially flat conductive outer screen to produce a more uniform electrostatic field throughout the filter media and a high-voltage shield to reduce high-voltage arcing and the spraying of corona where the high-voltage probe contacts the center screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Environmental Management Confederation, Inc.
    Inventors: Forwood C. Wiser, III, George R. Summers, Benjamin H. Kaeppner
  • Patent number: 9791158
    Abstract: An electric dust collecting device and an air conditioner having the same are disclosed. The electric dust collecting device includes a first filter unit including a plurality of discharge electrode plates which are spaced apart from each other and have spaces defined therebetween, a high voltage generator electrically connected to all of the plurality of discharge electrode plates, and a second filter unit disposed downstream of the first filter unit in an air flow direction and connected to a ground to cause corona discharge between the discharge electrode plates and the second filter unit, whereby particles electrically charged by corona discharge are collected at the second filter unit. The first filter unit has a simplified structure, and cleaning effect is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yanghwa Lee, Seungjae Baeck, Jihye Ahn, Okchun Hyun
  • Patent number: 9789495
    Abstract: Methods and electrostatic precipitators achieve efficient separation. Scrapers are specifically designed to clean the electrodes in the electrostatic precipitators. Particulates are collected from an entrained air stream by keeping both the discharge and collection electrode surfaces clean during the precipitation process so that the electrical corona discharge remains constant and the electrical field flux lines are maintained. This is accomplished using a plurality of vertical disc electrodes and a plurality of horizontal discharge electrodes preferably combined with the ability to keep the electrodes clean during the exhaust process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: John P. Dunn
  • Patent number: 9782782
    Abstract: A flue gas treatment device is provided. A wet electrostatic precipitator and a flue gas heater are integrated in an integrated flue housing of the flue gas treatment device, thus the occupied area of the flue gas treatment device is smaller than that of the solution with devices being arranged separately. Furthermore, since a bidirectional transition flue is not required to be arranged in the integrated flue housing, the flue gas has a good flow uniformity, and further it is not required to arrange a flow equalization orifice plate in the flue, thus the flue gas has a small resistance, thereby reducing the power consumption of the draught fan and increasing the efficiency of the power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Shanghai Clyde Bergemann Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xinmin Gao, Zhongtao Liu, Mei Wu, Xizhi Yu, Ming Kang
  • Patent number: 9776193
    Abstract: A device and method is provided for separating associated ions within a gaseous fluid stream into a first population of positively-charged hydrated hydrogen ions and a second population of gaseous hydrated anions. The device employs a housing and spinning wheel within a vacuum chamber to expose a flow of associated ions to a combination of microwaves and magnetic energy within the vacuum to cause bifurcation of the associated ions into a first population of positively-charged hydrated hydrogen ions and a second population of gaseous hydrated anions which may be collected in reservoirs. The collected two populations can be further channeled through a transformer to electrically induce a force for locomotion or communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Charles Burdick
  • Patent number: 9770149
    Abstract: A robot cleaner is provided that may include a suction motor installed within a main body to generate a suction force, at least two conductive plates spaced apart from each other to form a flow path for external air introduced by the suction force, and a calculator to measure a capacitance value between the at least two conductive plates. Further, provided is a robot cleaner that may include a suction motor installed within a main body to generate a suction force, a porous structure having at least one through hole, through which external air introduced by the suction force may flow, at least one filter disposed on a surface of the porous structure to filter dust contained in the air, and a power supply configured to apply alternating current (AC) power to at least a portion of the surface of the porous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Kuyoung Son
  • Patent number: 9764332
    Abstract: An improved belt separator system and an improved method to separate particle mixtures based on triboelectric separation of particles is disclosed. One or more gas nozzles, for example, a plurality of gas nozzles are provided as part of the system or installed into a system, such as an existing system, to improve dispersal of particles during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SEPARATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Ted W. Bush, Kyle P. Flynn, Harry Vincent Leaf, Bulent Sert
  • Patent number: 9764331
    Abstract: Filter media for an active field polarized media air cleaner includes two layers of dielectric material with a higher resistance air permeable screen sandwiched between the lower resistivity electric layers. The filter media may further include a mixed fiber filter layer having fibers from different sides of the triboelectric scale. The filter media may further include a layer of relatively higher density dielectric material followed by a layer of relatively lower density dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Environmental Management Confederation, Inc.
    Inventors: Forwood C Wiser, George R. Summers, Benjamin H. Kaeppner
  • Patent number: 9757735
    Abstract: An integrated electrostatic dust collection device for efficiently capturing particles in air and an electret processing technique thereof comprises a main body formed by stacking a plurality of layers of dust collection boards; wherein the dust collection boards are integrated with hole for air to pass through and are formed with micro-foaming, to which plastic materials of an electret enhancement material, a negative ion emission material, and a magnetic material can be added; the upper and lower surfaces of each layer of dust collection board are disposed with an enclosed conductive film applied with a high-voltage electric field, and one or more layers of dust collection boards can be installed with an ion emission device; a stacked structure and a high-voltage power supply are integrally packaged in the outer frame of the protection structure, and a low-voltage direct current or mains power is used externally to supply power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DONGGUAN UNICLEAR NEW-MATERIAL CO., LTD
    Inventor: Baozhu Wang
  • Patent number: 9757736
    Abstract: A filtration assembly (1), which comprises an enclosure (2) which defines inside it a duct (3) for the passage of a fluid which carries pollutant particles (A) to be removed. At a first transverse cross-section of the duct (3) at least one perforated conducting grille (4) is provided, which is kept at a negative electrical potential, so as to emit into the duct (3) electrons which can bond to the pollutant particles (A), consequently giving them a negative electrical charge. Inside the duct (3), downstream of the grille (4), at least one accumulation plate (5) is provided, kept at a positive electrical voltage, for collecting the pollutant particles (A) charged electrically negatively by the electrons emitted by the grille (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TECNOLOGICA S.A.S. DI VANELLA SALVATORE & C.
    Inventor: Simone Vanella
  • Patent number: 9751090
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a precipitator having a hopper defining an interior space and a drain valve is provided. The method includes inserting an explosive device into the interior space defined within the hopper via the drain valve, while the precipitator remains on-line. The method also includes detonating the explosive device to cause particulate matter contained therein to loosen for removal through the drain valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventors: Brian P. Warren, Philip F. Warren, Larry R. Massie
  • Patent number: 9746192
    Abstract: An air conditioner capable of efficiently collecting foreign substances in the air is disclosed. The air conditioner includes a cabinet, an air blower disposed in the cabinet to cause air to flow, a dust collector case forming a channel for the air caused to flow by the air blower, at least one electrode provided in the dust collector case and formed of carbon fibers to generate ions, and a charged dust collecting filter to collect foreign substances charged by ions generated by the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yang Hwa Lee, Jin Hyouk Shin, Yee Kyeong Jung, Hoon Cheol Jeon, Sung Hwa Lee, Hyung Ho Park
  • Patent number: 9737842
    Abstract: An air purifying device includes an air purifier mechanism, a controller, and a sensing device configured to detect one or more conditions in a predetermined area proximate the air purifying device. The controller is configured to receive an input to select one of the predetermined operational settings to govern the operation of the air purifier mechanism. The air purifier mechanism is configured to operate in at least one of a plurality of modes of operation in each of its predetermined operational setting. The controller is configured to change modes of operation of the air purifier mechanism from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to its sensing device detecting a change in said one or more conditions in the predetermined area and based on the selected predetermined operational setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: FELLOWES, INC.
    Inventors: Tai Hoon K. Matlin, Shawn Michael Applegate
  • Patent number: 9694369
    Abstract: An air purifier device includes a chamber defined by a side wall arranged to guide an air flow through the air purifier device. The air purifier device further includes at least one emitter electrode and at least one collector plate electrode arranged to ionize airborne particles. The at least one emitter electrode is arranged to extend from the side wall and inwards in the chamber and the at least one collector plate electrode is arranged to extend from the side wall and inwards in the chamber. The air purifier device enables the side wall to be manufactured from e.g. plastic, or other non-conductive or non-magnetic material. This in turn may enable a lower weight of the air purifier device and facilitated manufacturing, as the side walls of the chamber e.g. may be formed by plastic moulding just as many other parts of the air purifier device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BLUEAIR AB
    Inventors: Elin Engberg, Johan Wennerström
  • Patent number: 9696049
    Abstract: A modular ductwork assembly decontaminates an air stream circulating within a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The assembly includes one or more of (a) an ionizing module for removing particulates from the air stream, (b) a sterilization module for neutralizing airborne pathogens present in the air stream, (c) an ozone treatment module for neutralizing pathogens or odoriferous or gaseous constituents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air stream, optionally (d) baffles for slowing and disrupting the flow rate and promoting turbulence in the air stream traveling through the modules, optionally (e) a fan module for directing a treated air stream, optionally (f) an ozone sensor, optionally (g) a monitoring or ozone control means, and optionally (h) a means of delivering and repurposing generated ozone. Each of the modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Karen Metteer
  • Patent number: 9694216
    Abstract: A face mask includes an electrostatically-precipitating filter configured to be removably coupled to a face of a user, a controller operatively coupled to the electrostatically-precipitating filter, and a fastening member configured to removably couple the electrostatically-precipitating filter to the face of the user. The controller is configured to selectively control operation of the electrostatically-precipitating filter in response to an input received by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Tony S. Pan, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9682384
    Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator may have a set of collector electrodes and a set of repelling electrodes. The conductive portions of the collector electrodes and/or the repelling may be arranged in segments. The segments may have differing electrical properties or may be electrically isolated to facilitate differing potentials along an airflow path. The differing potentials results in differing electric field strengths along the airflow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Andrei Afanasiev, Alexander V. Mamishev