Gas separation: apparatus – Electric field separation apparatus – Electrode cleaner – apparatus part flusher – discharger – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-25
2001-01-09
Chiesa, Richard L. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation: apparatus
Electric field separation apparatus
Electrode cleaner, apparatus part flusher, discharger, or...
C055S282300, C055S360000, C055SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171376
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioner with electronic dust collector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hitherto, there has been known an air conditioner which incorporates a deodorant device using an adsorptive catalyst or the like, in addition to the original air conditioning function, in the interior unit to enhance the function (ref. Japanese Patent Publication Unexamined HEI 6-180127). Likewise, there have been attempts to incorporate an electronic dust collector in the interior unit. The electronic dust collector generates a corona discharge by applying a high voltage between a discharge electrode and a dust collection electrode. The corona discharge ionizes fine particles and dust in the surrounding air. The dust collection electrode then adsorbs them. Among such electronic dust collectors, there has been developed a maintenance-free type one in which the dust collection electrode is provided with a heater for self-cleaning so that the dust deposited on the dust collection electrode is burned, and thereby is removed.
However, when such an electronic dust collector is incorporated in the interior unit of the air conditioner, because of the corona discharge, the body or the casing itself is charged with static electricity. This presents the problem that dust is attracted and held in the vicinity of the inside walls, especially near the air intake and outlet ports, and on outside walls of the casing, rather having it collected by the dust collection electrode. This soils these areas.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner with electronic dust collector which solves the problems of the prior art.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an air conditioner with electronic dust collector having a constitution of the electronic dust collector incorporated in the casing of the interior unit of the air conditioner in which electrification of the casing is prevented and dust is less apt to be adsorbed to the casing, thereby preventing generation of dust.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides an air conditioner which has an electronic dust collector incorporated in its casing. A mounting plate is grounded which, in turn, grounds the casing of the air conditioner. This reduces adsorption of dust to the casing, thereby preventing soiling of the casing with dust or fine particles.
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an air conditioner with electronic dust collector for conditioning air in a room and purifying air by collecting dust in air by the use of electric discharge effect, comprising: a casing having an air suction port and an air outlet port, a heat exchanger in said casing facing said air suction port, a fan for circulating air into said suction port, through air passages in said casing and said heat exchanger, and out said air outlet port, an electronic dust collector in said air passages for collecting dust in air which passes through said air passages by using said electric discharge effect; and means for grounding said casing.
According to a feature of the invention, there is provided an air conditioner with electronic dust collector for conditioning air in a room and purifying air by collecting dust in air by the use of electric discharge effect, comprising; a casing having an air suction port and an air outlet port, a heat exchanger in said casing facing said suction port, a fan for circulating air into said air suction port ,through air passages in said heat exchanger and said casing and out said air outlet port, an electronic dust collector in said air passages for collecting dust in air which passes through said air passages by using said discharge effect; and means for permitting grounding of said casing.
In order to attain the above object, the present invention in an air conditioner with electronic dust collector for conditioning air in a room and purifying air by collecting dust in air by the use of electric discharge effect, comprising: a casing having an air suction port and an air outlet port; a heat exchanger provided in said casing facing the suction port; a fan for circulating air into the suction port through the air passages and out through the outlet port in the heat exchanger and the casing; and an electronic dust collector arrayed in said air passages for collecting dust in air which passes through the air passages by using the discharge effect, so that the casing can be grounded.
In the above constitution, the air taken in from the suction port during the air conditioning operation undergoes heat exchange through the heat exchanger to be cooled or heated, and further is discharged through the air outlet port in the casing. Simultaneously, by the operation of the electronic dust collector, dust or fine particles floating in the air passing through the air passage are electrified by adhesion of ions or electrons from by the corona discharge of the dust collector, ion blow is generated, which is attracted to the dust collection electrode side of the dust collector to cause electric dust collection. Further, the casing per se tends to be electrified by the static electricity by the corona discharge of the dust collector, but when the casing is grounded, static electricity of the casing is eliminated, and accordingly, the casing is prevented from soiling with dust or fine particles. Though it is desirable for the ground resistance of the casing to be small, the ground resistance may be approximately 2 Ma or less.
The dust collector may be one comprising a discharge electrode and a dust collection electrode spaced apart a predetermined distance and between which a high voltage is applied. The dust collection electrode can include a heater for self cleaning. By this constitution, the dust collection electrode is self-cleaned to become maintenance-free. Alternatively, a catalyst layer may be provided on the surface of the dust collection electrode. With this constitution, when air contains fine particles of odorous component, the odorous component is adsorbed by the catalyst layer and deodorized.
The air conditioner body containing the above casing may be designed to permit to be fixed to a wall through a fixing plate, with the fixing plate grounded. By this constitution, just by fixing the air conditioner body to the fixing plate the grounding of the casing is easily realized, and the wall to which the air conditioner is fixed and the surroundings are made less apt to collect dust.
The above dust collector may be to be fixed to a casing through a dust collector fixing plate, so that the dust collector fixing plate can be grounded. By this constitution, static electricity on the dust collector fixing plate can be eliminated, and deposition of dust on the dust collector fixing plate per se is suppressed. At the same time, the dust collector fixing plate has a function of the shield plate for heat for the heater for self-cleaning.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4133652 (1979-01-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 4726814 (1988-02-01), Weitman
patent: 5290343 (1994-03-01), Morita et al.
patent: 5380355 (1995-01-01), Brothers
patent: 5529613 (1996-06-01), Yavnieli
patent: 2242152 (1975-03-01), None
patent: 2265557 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 6180127 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 06 180128 (1994-06-01), None
Hironaka Yasumasa
Tajika Ayumi
Chiesa Richard L.
Funai Electric Co. Ltd.
Morrison Law Firm
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