Gas separation: apparatus – Electric field separation apparatus – And serially arranged nonelectrical separator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-03-06
Chiesa, Richard L. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation: apparatus
Electric field separation apparatus
And serially arranged nonelectrical separator
C015S353000, C055S337000, C055S357000, C055S471000, C055S486000, C055S521000, C055S524000, C055SDIG003, C096S058000, C096S061000, C096S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197096
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to the art of air filter systems and more particularly to an improved vacuum cleaner employing a novel filter element. The invention is particularly applicable for a canister type vacuum cleaner and it will be described with particular reference thereto; however, the invention has much broader applications and may be used to filter air by employing the novel filter element and filtering method as contemplated by the present invention.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Frey U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,479 and Stevenson U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,323 are incorporated herein as background information regarding the type of vacuum cleaner to which the present invention is particularly applicable. These two patents illustrate a canister type vacuum cleaner with a low velocity receptacle or chamber into which is placed a conical filter sheet formed from non-woven cellulose fiber and over a downwardly extending support structure for the purpose of removing particulate material from the air being processed through the vacuum cleaner. The rigid perforated conical support structure or member holds the filter sheet in its conical configuration. The support member and filter sheet are mounted together with the layer covering the rigid support member. Within the conical support member there is provided a generally flat disc shaped cellulose filter sheet for further removal of particulate solids as the solids pass with the air from the canister through the conical filter sheet and through the disc to the outlet or exhaust of the vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
A canister type vacuum cleaner is illustrated in the patents incorporated by reference herein and includes a reduced velocity chamber with a high velocity air inlet. Air is drawn into the chamber by an electric motor which drives a rotary means, or fan, for creating vacuum in the chamber to draw air laden with particulate material through the chamber and to force it from the outlet as exhausted clean air. Canister type vacuum cleaners normally include a conical filter extending downwardly into the canister or low velocity chamber and is formed of a porous mat to remove the dirt and debris carried by the air coming into the canister. The high velocity air drawn into the chamber has a tendency to entrain large solid particles which are brought into the low velocity chamber where the air is then swirled or vortexed in a centrifuge configuration with convolutions so that large particles carried into the chamber with the inlet air are extracted by the vortexed or cyclonic action of the air in the canister. Thereafter, the air is pulled upwardly through the conical filter toward an upper motor that drives a fan for creating a vacuum in the canister, or reduced velocity chamber, so that the air flowing upwardly through the conical filter passes through a filter disc and outwardly through an exhaust passage, or passages, above the canister. Stevenson U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,323 discloses an improvement to filters for vacuum cleaners by developing an activated charcoal containing filter which efficiently remove gaseous impurities, such as paint fumes and other odor creating gases which are in the air.
The canister type vacuum cleaner, as so far described, only removes the relatively large particles entrained in the air. Air particles of a size less than 10 microns pass freely through the filter medium and are recirculated in the room. Many of these small particles can act as irritants to an individual and the recirculation of such particles can increase the irritation to an individual. High density filters must be employed to filter out very small particles in the air; however, high density filters cause large pressure drops through the filter and thus cannot be used in standard vacuum cleaners or other air filtering systems. Frey U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,479 addressed this problem by disclosing a multi layer filter which included at least one layer of electrically charged fiber material incapuslated between at least two layers of support material. The multi-layer filter effectively removed very small particles from the air which penetrated the cellulose fiber layer. The patent also disclosed that a spongy non-woven polyester mat impregnated with activated charcoal could be used with the cellulose filter and multi-layer filter to remove odors from the air.
Although the filter arrangement disclosed in Frey U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,479 effectively removed fine particles from the air and could be adapted to also remove odors from the air, the use of three separate filters proved confusing to many consumers. The three filter system required the filters to be arranged in a certain order so as to maximize particle and odor removal efficiencies and to maximize the life of the three filter system. The proper arrangement for the three filter system was confusing to many consumers and resulted in the improper arrangement of these filters. In addition to problems in arranging the order of the filters, the three filters had to be correctly positioned with respect to one another so as to obtain the desired pressure drop through the three filter system to obtain the desired particle remove efficiencies. The proper arrangement of the three filters proved to be, at times, tedious, complicated and/or confusing, thus resulting, at times, in reduced filter efficiencies and operating efficiencies. Finally, the three filter system required the user to timely change each filter to maintain the air filtering efficiencies and proper operation of the cleaning system. However, due to the use of three separate filters, confusion sometimes resulted as to when and/or which filter needed to be replaced. As a result, one or more filters would not be timely replaced thereby resulting in subpar operation and filter efficiencies.
As a result, vacuum cleaners, in general, canister type vacuum cleaners, in specific, have not been designed to incorporate a simple filter system which can remove both odors and very small particles entrained in the air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved air filtering system, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner with a novel filtering arrangement which allows a vacuum cleaner, and even more particularly to a canister type vacuum cleaner, to be modified for the purpose of handling a wide variety of particles entrained in the air being drawn through the vacuum cleaner by an electric motor. In addition, the improved filtering system is designed to remove odors from the air as the air passes through the filter system. Thus, the filtering system can be an environmental air cleaning device as well as a standard vacuum cleaner.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improvement in a vacuum cleaner of the type comprising a reduced velocity chamber with a high velocity air inlet, an electric motor, a rotary means driven by the motor to create a vacuum in the chamber, an outlet for exhausting air from the chamber, which air flows in a selected path from the air inlet to the low velocity chamber and out the air exhaust outlet or outlets, and a disposable filter system in the chamber for removing solid particles from the air, which filter layer intersects the air path. The improvement in this type of vacuum cleaner is the provision of a changeable filter system which includes a filter which removes all sizes of particles including particles of less than ten microns in size. In this manner, the filter removes all sizes of particles entrained in the air to provide a significantly cleaner environment. Standard filter mediums filter out approximately 300,000 particles out of 20 million particles which flow into the filter medium. Particles which are ten microns or less in size pass freely through standard filter medium. Such particles include pollen, dust mites, bacteria, viruses, etc. The recirculation of these small particles can spread diseases and/or cause allergic reactions. The improved filter system of the present invention includes a filter which removes all sizes of particles which result in
Chiesa Richard L.
HMI Industries Inc.
Vickers Daniels & Young
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