Impeller Upstream Of Separating Media Patents (Class 55/473)
  • Patent number: 5746795
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cyclonic air cleaning device having a self cleaning, replaceable cartridge filter. The device essentially includes a barrel having a vortex tube concentrically positioned therein and a cylindrical, pleated filter cartridge concentrically positioned within the vortex tube, and a cone portion removably attached to and extending downwardly from the bottom of the barrel. The cone funnels debris to a collection receptacle securely attached to the bottom thereof. The filter is held in place by an upper plate fixedly secured to the vortex tube, a lower plate, and a T-bar extending centrally through the two plates and filter. A wing nut engages the bottom end of the T-bar in abutting relation to the bottom plate to hold the filter in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Witter
  • Patent number: 5746790
    Abstract: A trap for collecting solid is connected to either an exhaust port or a suction port of a vacuum pump for trapping a solid material separated from a sublimed gas discharged by the vacuum pump. The trap includes a casing, a passage defining member disposed in the casing and defining a gas passage in the casing, and an intermediate member disposed between the casing and the passage defining member. The intermediate member is made of a flat thin sheet which is formed into a tubular member, and the tubular member is capable of being spread when taken out from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Niimura, Tetsuma Ikegami, Naoya Hanafusa, Masaru Nakaniwa
  • Patent number: 5733348
    Abstract: The air filtering apparatus has a perimeter mounting frame for placement within a grid opening of a ceiling structure. Within the mounting frame is a filter cartridge having upper and lower surfaces. Each such surface has a perimeter border area. An upper assembly is removably fastened to the perimeter mounting frame and includes a plenum perimeter wall having a lower edge for pressing downwardly to form a seal impervious to air along the perimeter border area on the upper surface of the filter cartridge. A lower assembly is removably fastened to the perimeter mounting frame for pressing upwardly against at least a portion of the perimeter border area on the lower surface of the filter cartridge. Either the upper assembly or the lower assembly may be removed to permit filter cartridge replacement either from above or below the perimeter mounting frame without removing the perimeter mounting frame from the grid opening of the ceiling structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Darrell L. Skarsten
  • Patent number: 5713791
    Abstract: A cleanroom conduit (44) is used for transporting products between two cleanroom environments through an area that is less clean than either cleanroom environments. The conduit is modular in nature and thus can be adapted for various distances between the two cleanrooms. Each modular section (10 & 30) has a perforated floor (12) for exhausting gas and contaminants out of the modular section. Additionally, each modular section (30) has a filter (38) attached to a wall, with an opening therein, for filtering the incoming gas that is being supplied recirculated through the conduit. In effect, the conduit is maintained as a mini-cleanroom such that products being moved from the first cleanroom through the conduit do not require a decontamination step before they can be reintroduced into the second cleanroom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis C. Long, Michael L. Pape
  • Patent number: 5665128
    Abstract: A clean air cabinet includes a blower chamber and a sample chamber separated by a filter. A blower within the blower chamber forces air through the filter into the sample chamber. A perforated wall between the sample chamber and the filter provides a pressurized zone between the wall and the filter. An exhaust plenum connects the pressurized zone with an exterior of the cabinet. A cap is provided to close off the plenum when the blower is not operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: NuAire, Inc.
    Inventors: Max D. Peters, Gerald D. Peters, Teddy Lee Henderson
  • Patent number: 5660605
    Abstract: A window fan incorporating a filter. The fan has a low, flat profile for fitting in a window while occupying limited viewing area of the window. The fan includes laterally projecting extensions for sealing a gap which might otherwise exist at the right and left sides of the fan. The fan includes a motorized squirrel cage blower for forcing air through a flow path defined within the window fan. The blower is elongated, and oriented with its rotational axis arranged horizontally to enable the low profile. The filter is washable, and is installed by sliding into a holding chamber, and located serially within the air flow path. The window fan has a manually adjustable air deflector for directing discharged air as desired. The electrical circuit conducting power to the motor includes a touch sensitive switch for on-off control, a thermostatic switch for operating the fan when the touch switch is on and a predetermined temperature is detected, a speed selector switch, and an indicating lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Holmes Products Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas Chan, Johnson Hsu
  • Patent number: 5645480
    Abstract: A clean air facility is proposed in which a clean air room is formed by welding the sides, ceiling, ducts and flooring together to avoid any friction movement between the wall and ceiling of the clean air room. A filter-blower is supported on a frame support outside of the room so that it is easier to service the filter-blower and it is easier to move the facility since the filter-blower can be detached and separately moved. The air from the filter-blower is directed directly into elongate cells in the ceiling from which the air is distributed via apertures in the ceiling evenly throughout the clean air room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Charles W. Spengler
  • Patent number: 5641340
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of filtering air within an enclosed space which includes the combination of a fan and air filtration media, which is positioned relative to the fan so as to avoid aerodynamic and mechanical vibrations within the filter media. The filter is positioned relative to the fan such that the airflow passing through the filter will be within the laminar regime. The filter is connected to the fan or to a structural element within the enclosed space by vibration isolation units, which serve to dampen or eliminate mechanical vibration within the filter media caused by the operating fan. The invention provides efficient dust collection by virtue of the low velocity, laminar airflow through the filter, and greatly reduces release of dust particles from the filter media by virtue of the reduction of vibration within the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventor: Anton Kagan
  • Patent number: 5597385
    Abstract: An exhaust system, including a hand-held exhaust wand is employed to remove laser smoke plumes generated at a surgical site. The wand includes a transparent cylindrical shroud containing a conical filter that diverges in the proximal direction. An adapter, removably coupled to the shroud at its proximal end, enables coupling of the wand to standard vacuum tubing, connectors and other components for exhausting air that flows through the wand. The wand is positioned with its distal end confronting the surgical site, whereby plumes and odor generated at the site are immediately drawn into the wand through its distal opening. As air passes through the filter toward a proximal opening of the wand, the conical filter traps the airborne contaminants to protect against contamination of downstream components. The removable coupling of the shroud enables convenient exchange of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Moerke Custom Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Duane C. Moerke
  • Patent number: 5516349
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dust collector that is essentially modular in structure, thereby making it easy to transport, position and assemble by the user himself or herself. This dust collector includes one or more filter modules, a fan module operatively connectable to one end of the filter module(s), an end plate for closing the opposite end of the filter module(s), and optionally a silencer module intercalatable between the fan module and the filter module(s) to reduce the noise of the fan. In use, the dust collector can be easily upgraded whenever required by merely changing the motor, fan wheel and inlet of the fan module and/or adding one or more filter module in order to increase the filtering surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Pyradia, Inc.
    Inventor: Mario Bouthillier
  • Patent number: 5514196
    Abstract: An air cleaning apparatus includes an air passage chamber having a suction port, from which air is sucked, and a discharge port from which the air sucked from the suction port is discharged, an air blower, provided in the air passage chamber, for sucking the air from the suction port into the air passage chamber and discharging the sucked air from the discharge port, and a particle removing mechanism for removing particles contained in the air sucked from the suction port, the entire body of the particle removing mechanism being formed of a material which generates little impurity gas detrimental to processing in a processing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, Tokyo Electron Tohoku Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Tanahashi, Syuji Moriya, Tsuyoshi Wakabayashi, Takenobu Matsuo
  • Patent number: 5512086
    Abstract: A high-efficiency air filtering apparatus for cleaning and circulating air in a closed room is in the shape of a vertical cylinder and includes a semi-cylindrical housing and a semi-cylindrical filtering chamber, both enclosing a centrifugal blower configured to suck filtered air out of the apparatus through the filter and to blow it into the room. The apparatus is characterized by that the filtering chamber contains a closely pleated filter sheet of HEPA-filter which is covered on top and bottom by flat panels and is air-tightly pressed onto the semi-cylindrical housing, thus making the apparatus completely air tight. The filtering chamber is urged onto the contour of the filtering chamber and is releasably fastened to the top and bottom of the housing, permitting replacement of the filter after clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Appliance Development Corporation
    Inventor: Dov Z. Glucksman
  • Patent number: 5496389
    Abstract: A clean air fan filter module including a fan shroud, a fan/motor mount, a centrifugal fan, a fan motor, and a HEPA filter, the fan shroud having an air inlet and two inclined ends, the fan/motor mounted below the air inlet on the fan/motor mount, the centrifugal fan blowing air radially towards the fan shroud, the HEPA filter constituting the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Microzone Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5487766
    Abstract: An air filtration apparatus includes a lower intake duct and an upper exhaust duct interconnected by a telescoping vertical pipe section permitting vertical length adjustability of the exhaust duct relative to the intake duct. A blower is mounted in the vertical pipe section to draw air through an intake opening in the forward end of the intake duct, through the vertical pipe section and outwardly through an exhaust opening in the bottom surface of a forward end of the exhaust duct. Particulate filters are mounted in the intake and exhaust openings. A length adjustable upright extending between the intake duct and exhaust duct permits selective adjustment of the height of the exhaust duct over the intake duct. A filter rack on the forward end of the intake duct includes a clamping apparatus which permits various sizes of filters to be inserted in the filter rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Inventor: Mervin R. Vannier
  • Patent number: 5474584
    Abstract: In an electronically controlled apparatus and method therefore for treating ot, dirty industrial exhaust gases utilizing dry environmental particulate separation, a plenum is constructed surrounding vertical hot gas exhaust duct, in which a concentric inlet connects the exhaust duct to the plenum, forming a bellow-discharge-gas-off-take. The plenum forms a settling chamber for coarse particles and housed within the settling chamber is a built in battery of high efficiency, high temperature cyclones, to separate the fine particles from the hot exhaust gases before the gases go through a gas-to-air-heat-exchanger, to transfer the sensible heat of the hot clean gases to the combustion air which in turn saves fuel. The apparatus has a servo-valve through which the cooled clean gases from the heat exchanger pass, and are taken in by a first suction fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Centro de Investigacion y Asistencia Technica Del Edo. De Qro. A.C.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Beckwith, Carlos M. Beckwith, Francisco J. Barraza
  • Patent number: 5462484
    Abstract: A module for the construction of a cleaning room ceiling has a housing wh can be fitted like a tile in the ceiling and which is divided internally into three chambers. A fan in an upper false floor draws air into the housing along an upper chamber which is aligned with a sound-damping lining. Sound-damping baffles are provided on the underside of the upper floor and the upper side and lower floor in the intermediate chamber and the bottom of the lower chamber is closed by high efficiency particle filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Babcock BSH Aktiengesellschaft Vormals Butner-Schilde-Haas AG
    Inventors: Udo Jung, Herbert Eidam, Wilhelm Gerk
  • Patent number: 5459943
    Abstract: An air cleaning apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus body having a suction port through which air in a processing space is sucked and a discharge port through which the air sucked through the suction port is discharged into the processing space. A blower is provided in the apparatus body for sucking the air from the processing space into the apparatus body through the suction port and discharging the sucked air into the processing space through the discharge port. In addition an impurity gas removing device in the apparatus body is provided for removing impurity gases contained in the air sucked through the suction port and harmful to processing in the processing space, and a particle removing device is provided on the exhaust side of the impurity gas removing device for removing particles in the sucked air cleared of the impurity gases by impurity gas removing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, Tokyo Electron Tohoku Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 5438965
    Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement relating to a cutting machine, a circular saw machine, a chain saw machine or the like, which is powered by an internal combustion engine. The machine comprises a working unit and a power unit, the power unit comprising at least a pre-filter and a main filter for intake air, and a motor cylinder. The pre-filter and the main filter are provided in a closed pre-filter chamber and in a closed main filter chamber, respectively, the pre-filter chamber forming a top portion of the power unit extending substantially over the entire length and substantially over the entire width of the power unit. The main filter chamber is located under the pre-filter chamber. A closed hood space is provided between the upper side of the pre-filter body and the inside of the roof of a filter cover, and a passage extends from the closed hood space at the side of or through the pre-filter chamber and the pre-filter body, down to the main filter chamber located under the pre-filter chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Tore Aronsson, Ove Donnerdal
  • Patent number: 5425793
    Abstract: According to the present invention, chamber units are sequentially coupled with each other to thereby provide a volume of clean space, and whereby different environments can be maintained in the different chamber units. An air blowhole or door is provided at an opening section of each chamber unit. Moreover, a space section can be defined at the coupling part of the chamber units, and a suction pump and a suction hose can be provided in the space section, so as to prevent the environments of the different chambers from influencing one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mori, Yoshiyuki Kubota, Naoyuki Hashimoto, Tatsuki Nogiwa
  • Patent number: 5422795
    Abstract: A lighting fixture includes a lamp shade having a lamp holder to hold a lamp bulb on the inside and a plurality of hooks around the lamp holder, an air filter fastened to the hooks around the lamp holder, an electrical fan mounted on the lamp shade at the top and controlled to cause currents of air blowing through vent holes on the top of the lamp shade or to draw currents of air out of the lamp shade, and a covered on the electrical fan at the top and having a wire hole for passing electrical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Wen-Chin Liu
    Inventor: Ming-Jen Liu
  • Patent number: 5409511
    Abstract: A centralized system for removing the plume resulting from laser surgery, electrocauterization or orthopaedic surgery that takes advantage of the articulating arms frequently found in medical procedure rooms. The plume is drawn away from the surgery location by a vacuum. The tubing that carries the plume is held near the location of the medical procedure, and the plume is then drawn into the tubing. The tubing leads through the articulating arm to a main located above the ceiling. The main leads to a central room that includes, in series, a centrifugal separator, a vacuum producer and a high efficiency air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Michaud, Cooley, Erickson & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Gwen A. Paul
  • Patent number: 5395408
    Abstract: A chimney smoke scrubber adapted for domestic use includes a chimney cap enclosure secured atop the chimney or flue pipe of a combustion unit. A blower is connected to the chimney cap enclosure to draw smoke and combustion gases from the enclosure and deliver them under pressure to a scrubber chamber. The scrubber chamber comprises a tank holding a charge of aqueous solution, and the duct outlet from the blower is submerged within the tank. The smoke and flue gases bubble through the water, cooling and cleaning them, extinguishing all cinders, and removing all fly ash. A thermal sensor within the chimney or flue pipe is connected to start the blower motor whenever there is a sufficient temperature rise to indicate that a fire has been started within the combustion unit. The unit switches on automatically only when needed, and remains in operation as long as the fire burns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Nikolaos Zeritis
  • Patent number: 5358443
    Abstract: A device for use with at least one workspace, to produce an umbrella of clean room air for a distance of one meter from the device and 98% fewer particles than the air in the area three meters from the device. The device has a chamber defined by an outer wall, end walls and a filter as the inner wall. The filter functions as tile sole outlet of air. A motor with an axially extending drive shaft is mounted inside said filter. The shaft has an intake fan mounted on one end to define a sealed path which is the sole air inlet to the chamber. An exhaust fan is mounted on the other end of the shaft to define a path from the sole outlet. Air is exhausted in an axial direction is then deflected from the axial direction to the radial direction onto a baffle to reduce the velocity of the air to laminar flow. The baffle includes an upper terminal lid and a plurality of annular stepped vanes that divide the axially exhausted air into turbulent air streams and converts the turbulent air streams into radial laminar flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: CenterCore, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Mitchell, George Havrilla
  • Patent number: 5348563
    Abstract: A ceiling mounted air purifier that provides a high velocity, multi-directional air exhaust pattern that distributes filtered air to all areas of a room which includes a plurality of filters and centrifugal fans. The centrifugal fans are substantially surrounded by baffles which form generally equally spaced exhaust outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: George B. Davis
  • Patent number: 5316560
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the environment of an enclosed space is disclosed. The apparatus includes a workspace compartment within a gas-tight chamber, a mechanism for circulating dehumidified gas in true laminar flow through the workspace compartment, and a highly efficient filtering component for removing contaminants from the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Wilfried Krone-Schmidt, James R. Markle
  • Patent number: 5312465
    Abstract: An air filtering apparatus includes a fan body having an air intake and an air outlet. There is a fan within the body which draws air into the intake and forces it out of the outlet. There is at least one air filter between the intake and the outlet. A plenum chamber is connected to the fan body about the air outlet. The plenum chamber is a flexible bag of a sheet-like material which is inflated by air forced out of the outlet of the fan body. At least a portion of the plenum chamber is an air diffuser for air exiting the apparatus. The diffuser is more permeable than the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Raine Riutta
  • Patent number: 5307538
    Abstract: The improved carpet cleaning machine, intended for use with "dry" carpet cleaning systems using dampened granules or particles, can be used in either of two modes. One involves carpet "brushing" for dirt removal by urging particles into the carpet and along the fibers. The other involves later vacuuming for particle removal. To facilitate the latter, one embodiment of the machine has first and second particle-removing media such as a concentrically-mounted cyclone separator and conical screen filter, respectively. The separator has air flowing through it downwardly along a vortical path and then upward, such air flow often carrying along a few particles. Such high-velocity particles impinge on the outer surface of the screen filter and many particles adhering to such filter are dislodged. The filter is said to thereby be "purged" or cleaned. There may also be a third medium and even a fourth medium to remove very fine particles before the air is expelled back into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Racine Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rench, Stephen Jacobs, Frank Jolly
  • Patent number: 5297990
    Abstract: A filter-ventilator-arrangement for employment with clean chambers with at least one ventilator of which the pressure side is located toward an air flow chamber which is limited by boundary walls including a flow chamber formed by at least one annular channel of which one of two boundary walls at least consists of a noise-damping material. Furthermore at least an outer boundary wall consists of noise-damping material. The arrangement includes modular units having several annular channels of which the boundary walls decrease in height from the outside to the inside. Each unit has at least one filter which is arranged in a region below the flow chamber. Innermost boundary walls with inner sides thereof adjoin a plate consisting of noise-damping material. The boundary walls are secured, hanging or suspended on the cover sealing part. At least one heat exchanger lies in a suction region of the ventilator via which the return air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Meissner & Wurst GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Manfred Renz, Helmut Bauer
  • Patent number: 5294410
    Abstract: Gas purification systems presently use air bleed from an engine and further remove carbon dioxide therefrom. The present gas purification and thermal conditioning system also bleeds from the engine, however; the gas is further partially filtered to remove solids. The gas is heated to a preestablished level having a temperature of between 800 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit by using a first heat exchanger or recuperator. The system further purifies the gas by using a reactor system including a thermal reactor and a catalytic reactor. The system further purifies the gas by using a polisher and an absorber. After the gas has been purified, the gas is thermally conditioned by a supersonic turbine so that the gas temperature is usable for its intended purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Solar Turbine Incorporated
    Inventor: David J. White
  • Patent number: 5290331
    Abstract: A localized clean air system for operating theaters and a method of supplying clean air to a localized region in such situations. A fan is connected to a delivery head, which has an outlet for directing inlet clean air to the localized region in a particular pattern. A streamlined body is positioned in the outlet so that, in use, the clean air flows around the body and is modified thereby to form, immediately downstream of the body, an inner region of low velocity air encircled by an outer region of higher velocity air. Preferably, the streamlined body is symmetrical about its axis and is aligned with the clean air flow, for instance by being centrally positioned in the air outlet. The streamlined body preferably comprises a rounded head and a tapered tail. A diffuser is disposed in the clean air flow upstream of the streamlined body to minimize turbulence in the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: University of Bath
    Inventors: Anthony W. Miles, Norman J. Wood, Guy A. Wilson, Stephen C. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5264015
    Abstract: A space surrounded by screens to provide a stable negative pressure preventing contaminated air from flowing out of the space and cleaning the contaminated air before discharged from the space. Air ports and fans are provided in the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Japan Air Curtain Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeo Matsui
  • Patent number: 5256104
    Abstract: In the case of a multi-part housing of a heating or air-conditioning system, there is provided, in order to prevent the passage of an unfiltered portion of air conveyed by a fan, a space receiving the leakage air produced, which space is connected to the suction side of the fan. In order to obtain a modular unit which is economical in terms of installation space, each receiving air leakage is formed by the fact that a wall area of the suction housing is attached in one piece to a bottom part of the housing. The channel thus produced is covered by an outwardly pointing flange area of the suction housing top part, which forms, on the pressure side, connected to a bar separating, on the housing side, the pressure area from the suction area of the fan, the top part of the bottom part of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventor: Klaus Arold
  • Patent number: 5236476
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air circulation and filtration system for use with an indoor ice-skating arena. The air circulation and filtration system consists of intake and return air panels which replace and simulate in substantially all respects the boundary "boards" commonly used in indoor ice-skating facilities. The circulation and filtration system remains designed to remove undesirable gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and exhaust gases emanating from ice resurfacing machinery, from the ice-skating areas used by skaters. The return air panels contain a plurality of angularly offset air passage apertures which direct an air circulation course within an indoor ice-skating arena. The angularly offset air passage apertures promote a circular air course proximal to the ice-skating surface. The location of the intake air panels also promotes a circular air flow course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Inventor: Ronald C. Klick
  • Patent number: 5231956
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a portable handheld work apparatus including a motor-driven chain saw, cutoff machine and the like. The work apparatus includes a housing and an internal combustion engine mounted in the housing for driving a work tool. The housing defines a space from which said engine draws combustion air and a fan wheel is disposed in the housing for generating a cooling-air flow which leaves the fan wheel in a direction tangential to the periphery of the fan wheel for cooling the engine. The housing has a U-shaped channel for conducting the cooling-air flow. The U-shaped channel is disposed so as to face toward the fan wheel with the base wall thereof being disposed at a predetermined spacing from the periphery of the fan wheel. The U-shaped channel has a pass-through formed in the base wall at a pregiven spacing downstream from the fan wheel for passing a portion of the cooling-air flow to the space as combustion air for the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl
    Inventors: Helmut Lux, Lothar Ulrich
  • Patent number: 5230722
    Abstract: A final filter is provided for cleaning the cooling air drawn into the motor driven pump of a vacuum cleaner featuring a centrifugal separator. The final filter comprises a large area foam block filter and a sheet filter element received in a filter tray which is slideably received in a filter plenum disposed between the centrifugal separator and the motor/pump combination of the vacuum cleaner. The filter tray is supported horizontally within the filter plenum to define an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold having optimum flow characteristics and a detent is provided for snap locking the slideable filter tray within the filter plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Yonkers
  • Patent number: 5188644
    Abstract: A comprehensive particulate filtering unit in which the filter includes bag like elements secured to infuser members which surround a blower and motor, designed to operate and be used as a compact portable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventor: Keith Landy
  • Patent number: 5167681
    Abstract: A modular, low-profile ceiling air filtration unit is disclosed having a diffuser plate with an unperforated zone along one edge, the remainder of the plate being perforated. A blower in the unit plenum directs air toward the end of the plenum having the unperforated zone. Turbulent air impinging on the housing end wall is prevented from passing through to a filter by the unperforated zone of the diffuser plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Clean Rooms International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. O'Keefe, Thomas J. Belka, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5163985
    Abstract: A movable industrial dust collector comprises mainly a base having a plurality of casters and a column provided with a columnar hole. The base further comprises a support set holding thereon a suction set communicating with the columnar hole of the base by means of a suction hose. A filtration set disposed on the suction set is provided with a filtration bag permitting the air drawn into the dust collector to be released and with a dust bag for use in depositing the dust and other unwanted objects drawn into the dust collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventor: Peter Chen
  • Patent number: 5160517
    Abstract: A system for indoor pollution control that purifies ambient air in a room. The air-purification components can be housed, for example, in an item of ordinary furniture such as a chair. This allows large components capable of high purification rates to be used, but without the large space requirements hitherto normally required with previously known high-rate systems. In addition, the air flow is directed so that a localized spatial zone can be preferentially purified without the need for physical enclosures. The system can be used to prevent dispersion of harmful substances such as pathogens or tobacco smoke that originate from a source, and can also create a microenvironment of purified air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Inventors: Richard E. Hicks, Richard R. Fenner
  • Patent number: 5154893
    Abstract: An air circulator comprises an inlet open to an interior space, an outlet open to the interior space, an air path connecting the inlet with the outlet, and a blower interfering with the air path and driven by motor. A container is provided to connect with the air path and includes therein air treatment agents such as deodorants and aromatics. Furthermore, a venturi tube is provided facing the outlet to suck and discharge the surrounding air together with the air ejected from the outlet, while treating the air in the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Masuda Harmo K.K.
    Inventor: Kouichi Nakade
  • Patent number: 5154743
    Abstract: A grease extractor includes a fan for forcibly flowing grease laden air to remove grease therefrom in cooperation with a membrane filter and a trap member. The grease extractor comprises a vessel with an inlet for introduction of the grease laden air and an outlet for discharging clear air removed of the grease. The membrane filter is disposed in a flow path between an inlet and an outlet of the extractor to seize the grease while passing the grease laden air therethrough. A trap member is disposed downstream of the membrane filter to deflect the air to cause collision of the grease laden air against the trap member to deposit the grease thereon. The trap member is formed with a recovery line for collecting and draining the deposit grease out of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Kuraco Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Takato, Toshihiro Higashino
  • Patent number: 5141539
    Abstract: An apparatus to direct cigarette smoke and the like in an ambient environment relative to a filter housing includes a base, with the base mounting a support plate to an upper distal end of an adjustable tube adjustably mounted within the base. A filter housing is mounted to the plate to include a fan organization to direct ambient air through the filter, with a surrounding truncated conical shield oriented about the filter housing to effect directing of smoke and the like to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: Mouloud Hiouani
  • Patent number: 5141540
    Abstract: This low-profile filtration module has a blower partially occupying an equalization chamber above a standard filter unit. A diffuser plate is interposed between the filter and the equalization chamber, and has a plurality of openings elongated in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the filter pleats. The density of the openings is increased at the portions of the equalization chamber where the space for lateral air flow is decreased by the presence of the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Clestra Comp-Aire Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin C. Helmus
  • Patent number: 5139546
    Abstract: A low profile nail vapor and dust collection and treatment device is provided for use in a manicuring and/or beauty salon environment. The device has a compact shape for use on a table of standard height, and includes a fan and filters for collecting and/or treating dustlike particulate and potentially toxic vapors at a manicurist work station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Inventor: Carl G. Novobilski
  • Patent number: 5137545
    Abstract: A vapor clarification system includes a suction box and a plurality of fans located on top of the suction box. The fans withdraws a moisture-laden stream from the suction box and centrifugally accelerates it, producing a clarified vapor stream and a secondary vapor stream that is heavily laden with particulate matter. The secondary vapor stream leaving each fan passes through a cyclone, where particulate matter falls out of the vapor stream. The partially clarified vapor stream leaving the cyclone is returned to the suction box and re-accelerated in the fans. By placing the fans on top of the suction box, there is a reduction in the temperature drop occurring in the vapor stream which exits the fans; this in turn reduces condensation and improves the efficiency of the system. Primary cyclones are preferably disposed within the suction box, and secondary cyclones may be placed outside of the suction box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Combustion Design Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5133690
    Abstract: Disclosed is a large-scale controlled environment booth for performing maintenance operations such as painting an aircraft. The booth is a building within a building having an air circulation system, filter banks, heating and air conditioning equipment, a fume oxidizer,and circulating and exhaust air fans. The invention is capable of several modes of operation permitting thermal conditioning and complete, partial or no recirculation of air through the booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Inventor: Gerald J. Bowe
  • Patent number: 5125939
    Abstract: An apparatus for filtering contaminated gases. An extraction device provides a slow passage for the gases. The extracton device is in fluid communication with an intake port of a fan aggregation. The fan aggregation provides a vacuum for drawing the gases through the extraction device. The fan aggregation is rigidly supported on top of a filtration container. The gases are expelled by the fan aggregate through an exhaust port and into an interior chamber of the filtration container. A filter blocks the passage of contaminant components of the gases and permits the passage of noncontaminant of the gases from the interior chamber to the atmosphere. A gas-permeable housing surrounds the filter to retain the filter and support the weight of the aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: AB Ph. Nederman & Co.
    Inventor: Hakan R. Karlsson
  • Patent number: 5120331
    Abstract: A comprehensive gas filtering unit in which the preferred embodiment includes sheet(s) of flexible, coilable, permeable, carbon impregnated fabric that are spirally wound around a center structure is disclosed. Active gas filtering spacers are optionally employed between the adjacent layers of wound fabric to physically separate same, thus creating air flow channel(s). Further, the active filtering spacers promote pneumatic agitation and pressure differentials. The air path typically is shaped to varying patterns including an outward flow perpendicular to or traversing the layers of the filtering fabric; flow through the actively filtering spacers; and parallel flow along the surfaces of the filtering fabric and the actively filtering spacers, with varying combinations of these patterns repeatedly occurring throughout the gas filtering chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: Keith Landy
  • Patent number: 5112373
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling and eliminating vapor emissions at a manicure work station including a housing disposed about an isolation chamber for accommodating one or more containers of vapor emitting materials. A plenum chamber is in communication with the isolation chamber and a fan delivers a flow of air from the isolation chamber into the plenum chamber and through a filter disposed between the plenum chamber and the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Inventor: Hung Pham
  • Patent number: 5110560
    Abstract: A conduit for carrying fluid in a downstream direction includes a diffusing section. Downstream extending convolutions in the wall of a diffusing section energize the boundary layer and delay boundary layer separation from the wall surface of the diffusing section or permit an increase in the diffusion angle without the occurrence of separation. Such convolutions are particularly useful when rapid diffusion is required in a short distance, such as in the diffusing section of automotive catalytic converter systems. Such a system carries engine exhaust products from a small, cylindrical pipe into a typically larger elliptical cross-section catalyst filled portion. The convolutions help to more uniformly disperse the exhaust gas throughout the catalyst bed using a relatively short diffusion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Walter M. Presz, Jr., Robert W. Paterson, Michael J. Werle, Robert H. Ealba