Abstract: Structures for V-bank electrostatic air filters are described. The V-bank air filters are assembled from two side panels, perforated top and bottom plates, a narrow end wall and an open wide end for the intake of air to be filtered. A pair of enclosure plates are pivotally mounted to the side panels in a parallel relationship to the respective top and bottom plates to form a pair of rectangular enclosures for respectively supporting electrostatic filter pads. The enclosure plates pivot open for removal and replacement of the filter pads. The side panels, top and bottom plates and rear wall are made from sheet metal blanks using cutting, bending and stamping processes. The enclosure plates are made from sheet metal blanks or welded wire structures. The advantage is that the structures are manufactured using simple automated processes and are quickly assembled without sub-assembly, thus time and labour are saved and costs are reduced.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator has a high voltage electrode including multiple wire segments that are positioned within a surrounding electrically conductive porous media having a central axis and wherein the electrode assembly extends along the central axis. The electrode assembly has a plurality of wire lengths positioned to extend in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the porous media, and the wire segments being arranged to have a substantially longer total length than the length of extension along the longitudinal axis. An aerosol containing droplets is passed into the interior of the porous media, and across the electrode, which is charged with a high voltage. The porous media is at a substantially lower or different voltage from the high voltage electrodes. Flow of the aerosol containing particles charged by the electrode passes through the porous media to the outlet and the charged particles are precipitated by the porous media.

Abstract: A broom type particle collector has a particle pick-up assembly joined to an elongated handle. The pick-up assembly has a non-electrical conductive foam plastic member accommodating a cathode for imparting negative charges or particles and an anode for collecting the charged particles. An electrical power supply located within the handle provides electric power to the cathode and anode.

Abstract: A membrane is used as a collection substrate in an electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Possible material choices include fibers in the form of woven mats, screens made from stainless steel wires or fiber reinforced polymer composite membranes. The membranes have a tensile bias applied during operation, and have impulse tensile force applied during a dust removal step. By combining a dry ESP membrane field with wet-film cleaning field, it may be possible to improve collection efficiencies both by reducing turbulence and eliminating re-entrainment losses due to rapping. Through implementation of new materials that resist hostile ESP environments, the invention enhances the possibility of using novel technologies, such as pulsed corona and others, suitable for removal of molecules such as NOx and SOx, which is very important for meeting proposed PM2.5 EPA emissions regulations.

Abstract: A fan assembly includes a tubular housing and electrodes which ionize air and cause the air to be filtered and to move through the tubular housing without use of moving parts, such as an impeller, thereby providing air filtration and ventilation without generation of vibrations and acoustic disturbances. An electric potential is applied between a longitudinally-oriented needle electrode and a planar or curved transversely-oriented net electrode disposed within the housing downstream of the needle electrode, thereby forming a longitudinally asymmetric electric field that ionizes and accelerates air molecules toward the net electrode, carrying the air molecules past the net electrode and through the air outlet. The assembly further includes a tubular duct electrode disposed within the housing on the outlet side ofthe net electrode, which collects ionized particles precipitated from the air.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator has a high voltage electrode including multiple wire segments that are positioned within a surrounding electrically conductive porous media having a central axis and wherein the electrode assembly extends along the central axis. The electrode assembly has a plurality of wire lengths positioned to extend in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the porous media, and the wire segments being arranged to have a substantially longer total length than the length of extension along the longitudinal axis. An aerosol containing droplets is passed into the interior of the porous media, and across the electrode, which is charged with a high voltage. The porous media is at a substantially lower or different voltage from the high voltage electrodes. Flow of the aerosol containing particles charged by the electrode passes through the porous media to the outlet and the charged particles are precipitated by the porous media.

Abstract: An electric dust collector that is capable of enhancing collection efficiency. An exhaust pipe (4) consists of a steel pipe (14) whose exterior surface is lined with refractory material (15). A supporting member (5) is supported outside the exhaust pipe (4) and is inserted into the exhaust pipe (4). A discharge electrode (7) is fixed to the supporting member (5) so that it is electrically insulated from the exhaust pipe (4). A surface electrode (6) is fixed to the discharge electrode (7) and has a pyramid-shaped mesh (6c). The mesh (6) is arranged coaxially with the exhaust pipe (4) so that it spreads within the exhaust pipe (4) toward the exit of the exhaust pipe (4). The discharge electrode (7) penetrates the center line of the surface electrode (6) and protrudes downward from the vertex of the mesh (6c).

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the ozone concentration in the output of an ozone-generating system is disclosed. The invention reduces the concentration of O.sup.+ ions, which would otherwise react with ozone to form diatomic oxygen, by means of an ionic filter. In one embodiment, a gas-permeable electrode within a gas conduit attached to the output of an ozonator is negatively charged to several kilovolts with respect to the distribution line. This electrode attracts the positively charged oxygen ions, removing them before they can react with the ozone. This provides a higher ozone concentration that does not vary as much with distance from the ozone generator.

Abstract: A method of separating liquid drops from a gas stream includes the step of introducing the gas stream having a temperature greater than 600.degree. C. into shaped elements having very narrow channels through which the gas stream flows, wherein the shaped elements are of a material that becomes conductive at high temperatures and further includes the step of selecting the width of the narrow channels based on the gas stream velocity such that turbulence is generated along the flow path causing the liquid drops to strike the channel walls and deposit thereon. The apparatus for separating liquid drops from a gas stream includes a plurality of shaped elements having very narrow channels through which the gas stream having a temperature greater than 600.degree. C.

Abstract: An air filter assembly includes an ion source positioned adjacent to the front face of an air filter to inject ions into the arriving air flow. The ions penetrate upstream sufficiently far to have ionized the air and charge particles before their arrival at the filter trapping medium. The ion source is preferably sufficiently thin as to allow the filter with the ion source mounted thereon to be inserted into a filter slot in a duct of an air handling unit.

Abstract: A frameless electrostatic air filter used in heating and air conditioning systems includes a plurality of filter media layers and an internal support grill and has no external support grill or frame. The frameless electrostatic air filter has an internal support grill to support the filter media layers and a fabric edging that is secured in place all the way around the edge of the frameless electrostatic air filter. The center of the frameless electrostatic air filter is secured with a plastic rivet. The frameless electrostatic air filter seats and seals tight to the inside lip of filter receptacles.

Abstract: An improved disinfecting air filter that can be used to disinfect air or other gases. The invention can be advantageously used as a standalone to control microorganisms or used with a traditional HEPA filter to effectively control all microorganisms as well as dust particles. The device contains an iodine-donating filter disposed to dispense an effective quantity of iodine vapor into the gas or air stream to be filtered. The iodine laden air then passes through a porous filter of polyvinyl acetal polymer which material has an unusual affinity for iodine and effectively removes it leaving disinfected and iodine-free air or gas.

Abstract: An electronic dust collecting type air purifier which includes a dust collecting device, which includes a plurality of electrically insulative trays arranged in a stack, a plurality of filter beds made from metal wire coils and respectively mounted in the trays, and an anion generating apparatus having an input terminal connected to one filter bed to receive electrons from it and an output terminal for discharge of electricity into the air to produce anions for gathering dust, the filter beds, except the one which is connected to the anion generating apparatus, being connected to the grounding terminal.

Abstract: A frameless electrostatic air filter used in heating and air conditioning systems includes a plurality of filter media layers and an internal support grill and has no external support grill or frame. The frameless electrostatic air filter has an internal support grill to support the filter media layers and a fabric edging that is secured in place all the way around the edge of the frameless electrostatic air filter. The center of the frameless electrostatic air filter is secured with a plastic rivet. The frameless electrostatic air filter seats and seals tight to the inside lip of filter receptacles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved filter formed from a non-dielectric material which has been coated with a dielectric material and electret treated by, for example, DC corona discharge treatment. Also disclosed is a method for the formation of the filter.

Abstract: A two-stage electrostatic separator for separating particles from a particle laden gas stream includes a pre-charging section and spaced-apart gas-permeable grounded and discharge electrodes charged at opposite polarities and defining a separating section between them, the grounded electrode being positioned upstream from the discharge electrode. The particles in the particle laden gas stream are pre-charged to a certain charge in the pre-charging section and penetrate through the grounded electrode into the separating section, where the particles are separated from the particle laden gas stream. As a result, a clean gas stream exits from the separating section through the discharge electrode, and the particles separated from the particle laden gas stream are partially collected on the grounded electrode, and partially are removed with a bleed flow which is recirculated. The electrodes may be of linear or cylindrical shape, and linear electrodes may be arranged in a "zig-zag" order.

Abstract: An ionization field is produced across the intake air flow to an internal combustion engine to increase the content of oxygen in the stream, and the stream reactivity. This ionization field may be produced between a sharp electrode and a grid or sheet, positioned in a shielded structure like the filter housing on the engine intake. Alternatively, an ultraviolet light source may be used to ionize the oxygen in the air stream. In either form the ionization field may be also used across the ventilation air stream fed to the passenger compartment as an air conditioning function, and the ionization power may be modulated along with the demand. Thus the throttle position may be sensed to modulate the voltage multiplier levels across the filter housing air stream, and the ionization power to the heater plenum chamber may be modified in accordance with the fan speed.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling particulate air pollutants of the present invention combines filtration and electrostatic collection devices. The invention includes a chamber housing a plurality of rows of filter elements. Between each row of filter elements is a grounded plate. Between the grounded plates and the filter elements are electrode grids for creating electrostatic precipitation zones between each row of filter elements. In this way, when the filter elements are cleaned by pulsing air in a reverse direction, the dust removed from the bags will collect in the electrostatic precipitation zones rather than on adjacent filter elements.

Abstract: A dust collector efficiently collects dust, especially fine dust (submicron particles). The dust collector, which removes dust and/or mist contained in a gas, includes a charger for charging the dust and/or mist contained in a gas, a sprayer for spraying the charged dust or charged mist or spraying a dielectric material to the charged dust or mist, an electric field former for forming an electric field for subjecting the dielectric material to dielectric polarization, and a collector for collecting the dielectric material which has arrested the charged dust and/or the charged mist.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying flowing gas includes a generally cylindrical vessel having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, two perforated plates of different metals in contact with each other transverse the interior of the vessel, and a third perforated plate downstream from the two mutually contacting plates.

Abstract: Filter apparatus for trapping particles suspended in gaseous fluid stream generally includes a first and a second electrode with a porous filter therebetween along with electrical contacts for applying a DC voltage across the first and second electrodes. A third electrode is provided and a frame is included for removeably supporting a porous filter, along with the first, second, and third electrodes in order to electrify, by induction, the third electrode with a voltage in the third electrode in order to increase trapping of the particles by the filter apparatus.

Abstract: A self-contained electrostatic air filter assembly having two hinged rectangular frames into which is disposed rectangular polyester/wool filter dielectrics with a conducting charging screen in between. The polyester/wool dielectrics are charged through the conducting screen by a high voltage power supply having a low source resistance. The high voltage supply having a small source resistance is integrated into the air filter assembly and connected electrically to the conducting screen. High voltage is quickly dissipated from the screen and dielectrics when the unit is turned off by a specially designed bleeder resistor. As an air mass is forced through the filter, particulates in the air are removed electrostatically quickly and efficiently by the charged polyester/wool filter material. The air filter assembly has been shown to have a high particulate capacity.

Abstract: A miniature air purifier produces a corona discharge surrounding a needle-like emitter point connected to a negative DC power supply. The power supply operates from a nine volt battery and contains a step-up voltage inverter having a single transformer outputting high voltage spikes with a voltage multiplier operating on the output of the inverter. The production of high voltage spikes of about 200 Hz rather than a sinusoidally varying voltage significantly reduces current consumption. The needle-like emitter point is located about 1/4-inch from an 80% open mesh metallic grid held at ground potential. Corona discharge at the emitter point ionizes the air and creates ozone, and nitric oxide both of which combine with direct electron impact decomposition to detoxify and destroy a wide variety of airborne pollutants including pathogens, chemicals and allergens.

Abstract: A filter apparatus of the present invention includes a filter housing having an inlet and an outlet and a filter device locatable therebetween. The filter device includes a filter medium, an electrically conductive screen or mesh, and a conductor for supplying high voltage power. The conductor abuts the filter medium such that when the conductor is subject to a high voltage, the filter medium is polarized and nothing, apart from air or a support or retention material of dielectric material, is on a side of the filter medium immediately opposite to the conductor and no other charge applying device is located upstream of the conductor.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying flowing gas includes a generally cylindrical vessel having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, two perforated plates of different metals in contact with each other transverse the interior of the vessel, and a third perforated plate downstream from the two mutually contacting plates.

Abstract: A miniature air purifier produces a corona discharge surrounding a needle-like emitter point connected to a novel negative 8,000-volt DC power supply. The power supply operates from a nine volt battery and contains a step-up voltage inverter having a single transformer outputting high voltage spikes with a voltage multiplier operating on the output of the inverter. The production of high voltage spikes of about 200 Hz rather than a sinusoidally varying voltage significantly reduces current consumption. The needle-like emitter point is located about 1/4-inch from an 80% open mesh metallic grid held at ground potential. Corona discharge at the emitter point ionizes the air and creates ozone, and nitric oxide both of which combine with direct electron impact decomposition to detoxify and destroy a wide variety of airborne pollutants including pathogens, chemicals and allergens.

Abstract: A corona-assisted electrostatic filtration apparatus which includes a cathode, an anode filter element, and a means of establishing a nonalternating potential difference between the cathode and the anode which is sufficient to maintain a corona field of ionized gas between the cathode and the anode filter element. The anode filter element includes a porous fibrous sheet material having pores in a range of from about 0.1 to about 100 micrometers, with at least a portion of the fibers thereof being uniformly coated with a metal. Also provided is a method of utilizing such apparatus to remove particulate matter from a gaseous medium.

Abstract: A high efficiency electronic air filter is disclosed in which pads of dielectric fibres are sandwiched between electrically charged, ionizing elements and grounded screens. The ionizing elements charge the dust particles passing through the filter and at the same time polarize the fibrous pads. In this way, the charged particles are attracted and collected on the fibrous pads with improved efficiency.

Abstract: An ionizing type air cleaner having ionizing needle(s) and a collector element. The collector element is made of either many conducting elements with isolating resistors or a single high resistivity element in order to prevent electric shock when touched.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of removing aerosols using a radiation effect.

Abstract: An electrostatic air cleaner is disclosed for use in removing particulate matter from moving streams of air. A high voltage ionizer is used as a corona source to ionize the particulate matter as it approaches the air filter portion of the electrostatic air cleaner. The air filter uses reticulated polyether foam filter media for collecting the particulate matter, and the filter media is non-deliquescent, thus preventing the high-voltage electric field from being dissipated by imbedded water vapor, which is the cause of filter inefficiency in the prior art. In one embodiment, the air filter uses strips of conductive material raised to a very high DC voltage interleaved between strips of conductive material held to ground potential, and these strips are oriented so as to be parallel to the direction of the air flow through the air filter's foam filter media, thereby creating an electric field that is perpendicular to the direction of air flow.

Abstract: An oily mist resistant electret filter media is provided. The filter media includes polypropylene electret fibers and a melt processable fluorochemical additive, the additive having a melting point of at least 25.degree. C. and a molecular weight of about 500 to 2500.

Abstract: A microbe propagation preventing apparatus and a microbe propagation preventing method are provided to prevent an ion from decreasing at a time of decomposing ozone generated by gaseous discharge or ionization so as to sufficiently generate air ion, and to sufficiently prevent propagation of microbes adhering to an object by using the air ion without secondary pollution. Further, in the apparatus and the method, a gas containing the ion is supplied into water so as to prevent the microbe propagation in the water. In the apparatus, an ozone decomposing chamber is mounted to be electrically insulated from an air duct. An electrode to remove a positive ion is mounted to obtain only a negative ion, and extend a lifetime of the obtained ion. An ion supplying portion is mounted to supply an ionized gas into a space housing the object in which microbes can be propagated, and return the ionized gas to an ionization chamber.

Abstract: An oily mist resistant electret filter media is provided. The filter media includes polypropylene electret fibers and a melt processable fluorochemical additive. The additive has a melt temperature of at least 25.degree. C. and a molecular weight of about 500 to 2500. Also provided is a method for filtering particulate material from air containing oily aerosol particles.

Abstract: An on board electrostatic filter for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The filter includes a pair of conductive filaments insulated from one another and disposed close together in a substantially parallel, side-by-side relationship. Circuitry is provided for applying an electrical potential difference between the two conductors. This dual filament conductor is preferably packed into a relatively small volume in a tortuous configuration, to form a random mesh, or can be oriented in a more regular serpentine configuration. Other embodiments describe the mesh electrostatic filter to purify air in an HVAC system.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner system includes a vacuum cleaner having a hollow air inlet, an air outlet, a removable dirt bag communicating with the inlet and the outlet, and means for moving initially dirt-laden air from the inlet to the outlet via the bag. The system also includes a charge generator for generating an electrostatic charge of a given polarity on the bag. The system optionally includes a charge generator for generating an electrostatic charge of the given polarity on the initially dirt-laden air.

Abstract: An on board electrostatic filter for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The filter includes a pair of conductive filaments insulated from one another and located close together in a substantially parallel, side-by-side relationship. Circuitry is provided for applying an electrical potential difference between the two conductors. This dual filament conductor is preferably packed into a relatively small volume in a tortuous configuration, to form a random mesh, or can be oriented in a more regular serpentine configuration. Other embodiments describe the mesh electrostatic filter to purify air in an HVAC system.

Abstract: An electrostatic air cleaner is disclosed along with a method for removing particulate matter from moving streams of air. A high voltage ionizer is used as a corona source to ionize the particulate matter as it approaches the air filter portion of the electrostatic air cleaner. The air filter uses a pair of reticulated polyether foam filters for collecting the particulate matter. The foam filters are separated by a thin, grid-like layer of semiconductive material (carbon-impregnated polycarbonate) which is raised to a very high DC voltage. The foam filters are also surrounded by thin, grid-like layers of electrically conductive material which are held at ground potential, thus creating a high-voltage electric field through each of the foam filters. The polyether foam filter media is non-deliquescent, thus preventing the high-voltage electric field from being dissipated by such imbedded water vapor, which is the cause of filter inefficiency in the prior art.

Abstract: An electrical dust collector includes a discharge plate of one polarity and a dust collect plate of an opposite polarity arranged one in front of the other with respect to an air flow. The discharge plate includes a base portion formed with partial cut-outs that are bent outwardly to form discharge electrodes. The dust collect plate includes a base portion formed with partial cut-outs that are bent outwardly to form dust collect electrodes. The discharge electrodes project in opposite directions relative to the dust collect electrodes and are arranged to face respective dust collect electrodes.

Abstract: An electronic air cleaner includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for creating a fluid stream through the housing. Inside the housing is provided a set of first parallel conductive plates and a set of second parallel conductive plates, herein the first and second plates ar interspersed in an alternating fashion. An ionizer is provided on each of the second plates, and a source of negative high voltage is connected to each of the first plates. Particulate matter can be removed from the air stream in a method using the above-described electrostatic air cleaner.

Abstract: Magenta image dye-providing compound having formulas as follows: ##SPC1##Wherein:Car represents a carrier moiety which, as a function of oxidation under alkaline conditions, releases a diffusible dye from said compound;m and q each represent an integer having a value of 0 or 1;X represents a bivalent linking group;R represents hydrogen or alkyl;J represents a bivalent radical selected from sulfonyl or carbonyl;Q represents hydrogen, hydroxy or an acylamino radical;G represents hydroxy, a salt thereof, or a hydrolyzable acyloxy group;r represents an integer having a value of 1 or 2;Z represents cyano, trifluoromethyl, a carboxy, a carboxylic acid ester, nitro in the 2- or 3- position relative to the azo radical, fluorosulfonyl, sulfo, halogen, an alkylsulfonyl radical; a phenylsulfonyl radical, alkylcarbonyl, a sulfamoyl radical; a carbamoyl radical, and, in formulas I or II when r is 1, Z may represent a radical having the formula Car-[X--(NR--J).sub.q ].sub.

Abstract: A magenta image dye-providing compound having a formula as follows: ##SPC1##Wherein:Car represents a carrier moiety which, as a function of oxidation under alkaline conditions, releases a diffusible dye from said compound;m and q each represent an integer having a value of 0 or 1;X represents a bivalent linking group;Z.sup.1 represents hydrogen or Z;R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, an alkyl radical an alkoxy radical having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, or halogen;D represents cyano, sulfo, fluorosulfonyl, halogen, a --SO.sub.

Abstract: A nondiffusible sulfonamide compound which is alkali-cleavable upon oxidation to release a diffusible magenta color-providing moiety from a benzene nucleus thereof, said compound having a formula as follows: ##SPC1##WhereinBall represents an organic ballasting group.Y represents the carbon atoms necessary to complete a benzene or naphthalene nucleus;X represents a bivalent linking group;R represents hydrogen or alkyl;J represents sulfonyl or carbonyl;M and q each represent an integer having a value of 0 or 1;R.sup.

Abstract: An air conditioning system has a negative ion-filtering device in union for purifying function which comprises a PC board to produce negative ions, a high voltage lead, high voltage electric sheets, and a dust mesh, being positioned in the air blow direction path of the air conditioner for use after the temperature adjustment is made. Electric sheets which produce negative ions make the passing dust particles of the air carry negative charges and be sucked attached to the dust mesh producing positive ions, this way achieving purification of the air passing there-through.