Structures for electrostatic V-bank air filters

Details Structures for electrostatic V-bank air filters Structures for electrostatic V-bank air filters

1999-12-21

2001-09-25

Chiesa, Richard L. (Department: 1724)

Gas separation: apparatus

Electric field separation apparatus

Including gas flow distribution means

C055S493000, C055SDIG001, C055SDIG003, C096S094000, C096S097000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06294004

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to air filters, and more particularly, to a structure useful for constructing electrostatic V-bank air filters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Public awareness of environmental issues has steadily increased over the past few decades. As a result, the general public now demands a quality environment with clean air in which to live, work and entertain. Various types of air filtering systems are used in residential and commercial buildings to improve the quality of the air. One commonly used type of air filter system is the “bag” or “pocket” filter designed to significantly increase filtering surface areas in an air flow passage. Another type designed for the same purpose is the V-bank filter which doubles the filtering surface area, compared to a planar filter in the same air flow passage.
A known pocket filter uses multiple filter bags arranged in housing of a suitable shape. The manufacture of such bag filters is expensive because the disposable filter bags have to be interconnected using a sewing or gluing process.
Pocket air filters are assembled in several ways. For example, they may be constructed of folded wire grids which are secured between end walls to receive filter material consisting of a glass wool, cotton wool or textile cloth supported by resilient removable frames. An example of a pocket filter structures is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,736, entitled POCKET FILTER FOR AIR AND GAS PURIFICATION which issued to Neumann on Sep. 19, 1972.
Passive bag, pocket and V-bank filters are, however, not particularly efficient for removing small particulates suspended in air. This is especially true in environments contaminated with heavy smoke, such as casinos and bars, or industrial facilities used for welding, etc. In such environments, it has been demonstrated that high performance electrostatic air filters are superior to passive bag or V-bank filters for removing impurities from the air.
Electrostatic air filters generally include a disposable filter cartridge of a charged media type and a filter cartridge holder which is provided with a high voltage power supply for charging the filter. Electrostatic air filters of the charged media type are well known and taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,526 entitled ELECTRONIC AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM, which issued to Joannou on Dec. 12, 1989. Joannou teaches a disposable filter cartridge which is supported by a support frame constructed to facilitate servicing the filter without having to handle individual filter pads. The disposable filter cartridge consists of an inner screen of conductive material which is sandwiched between a pair of dielectric, fibrous pads. This inner screen is connected via an electrode to one side of a high voltage power supply to electrostatically charge the filter cartridge. An outer surface of the fibrous filter pads are in turn covered by a pair of conductive screens which are connected to the other side of the power supply. These outer screens may be a part of the disposable filter cartridge or a part of the support frame, but both embodiments function in the same way.
Electrostatic V-bank air filters are constructed from a pair of electrostatic air filters supported by V-shaped side panels which are installed in an air bonding system. The pair of filters share the air cleaning load of air drawn through an air intake end at a wide end of the V-shaped side panels. Because of their air cleaning efficiency and ease of maintenance, there is a rapidly increasing demand for electrostatic V-bank air filters. They have become particularly popular in public places with significant air quality problems, such as casinos and bars where cigarette smoke is a particular concern. They are also gaining acceptance in animal husbandry where they are used for odour and disease control in cattle and hog barns, and poultry houses. They are also expected to rapidly gain acceptance in office and commercial buildings where they contribute to air quality.
The Applicant manufactures and sells electrostatic V-bank air filters in which each V-bank unit includes two substantially triangular side panels with rectangular top and bottom electrostatic filter units transversely secured to side edges of the respective side panels. The filter units are constructed of extruded metal and plastic frame elements, such as disclosed in the Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,218, entitled CONSTRUCTION FOR SUPPORTING A FLEXIBLE SHEET which issued to William E. Pick on Oct. 22, 1991. While these V-bank filters perform well, sub-assembly of each filter unit is required before assembly of the V-bank unit. This is a time consuming and labour intensive process.
Consequently, there is a need for a structure for electrostatic V-bank air filters which facilitates manufacture and assembly of V-bank air filters to reduce manufacturing costs and decrease assembly time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a simple structure for electrostatic V-bank air filters.
Another object of the invention is to provide a structure for an electrostatic air filter, which may be manufactured using simple mechanical processes and rapidly assembled from a few simple parts.
A further object of the invention is to provide a structure for electrostatic air filter which is assembled from components manufactured substantially entirely from sheet metal blanks using automated sheet metal cutting, bending and stamping processes.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a structure for an electrostatic V-bank air filter, comprising a pair of substantially triangular side panels, a perforated electrically conductive top plate and a perforated electrically conductive bottom plate; either ones of side panels and the top and bottom plates having respective angled side edges adapted to mount the top and bottom plates transversely to the side panels to form a substantially V-shaped housing; a pair of electrically conductive enclosure plates for respectively forming a rectangular enclosure in combination with a one of the top plate and the bottom plate, the enclosure plates respectively supporting an electrostatic filter pad when the enclosure plates are in a closed position, each enclosure plate being movable to an open position in which the electrostatic filter pad can be removed for replacement; locking mechanisms respectively adapted to detachably secure the pair of enclosure plates in the closed position and electrodes adapted to deliver an electric charge to the respective electrostatic filter pads when the enclosure plates are in the closed position.
Preferably, each side panel has a truncated triangular shape and is constructed from a sheet metal blank with side edges and rear edges bent at a right angle with respect to one of the inner side and outer side walls. A front edge is bent outwardly to form a mounting flange for the filter unit. Each of the top and bottom plates is rectangular and constructed from a sheet metal blank with a front edge bent outwardly to form the flange and a rear edge bent inwardly to support a rear wall. The top and bottom plates are respectively mounted transversely to the side edges of the side panels. The rear wall, which is also constructed from a sheet metal blank, is mounted to the rear edges of the side panels. The top and bottom plates and the rear wall form the V-shaped housing. The respective front edges of the side panels and top and bottom plates form a mounting flange surrounding the open end of the housing.
Each enclosure plate is also preferably rectangular and constructed from a sheet metal blank or a welded wire structure. If constructed from a sheet metal blank, side edges and a rear edge are bent at a right angle with respect to either surface thereof and a front edge bent at a right angle with respect to an opposite surface thereof. If constructed from a welded wire structure, the rear end includes an integral welded wire hinge pin which extends beyond the opposite side edges and the front end is bent downwardly at a right angle with respect to

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