Patent Application
20220062664
The present invention relates to positive air pressure respiratory filtration nose mask with electronic air filtration system and UV germicidal function for human breath, and more particularly, a filtration device for both inhalation and exhalation breaths. The new system is generic to function with and without a fan; and generic to be incorporated to a face mask, a helmet and a hood covering the user's head.
Nose mask has been widely used in all kinds of industries from medical to industrial; from field works to home cleaning; and in many different occasions whenever filtration of inhaling air is necessary. Usually the filter materials are of paper or fiber properties. The basic mechanism is using the human inhalation action as basic air suction driving force to suck the air through the filter media and stop all particles which is larger than the pores of the filtration media. It becomes very uncomfortable when someone wears the nose mask for a long time continuously and it is even worse if the user is kind of weak or having asthma or breathing difficulties. It is more obvious when during with PM2.5 filtration in highly polluted environment.
Secondly, the filtration function is usually less efficient during the exhalation because the exhaust air tends to leak through the edges along the users' face rather than through the filter media.
Thirdly, the air passage resistance of the better filtration media is always higher and tougher to inhale through it.
Fourthly, the power consumption of good air purification system is usually very high. It is good to have low power consumption system that can utilize USB 5 VDC power source to operate the system since USB 5 VDC power source is commonly available in most public transportation system like airplanes, buses, trains and ferries; as well as mobile phone backup power banks.
Ionization air filtration technique does help to solve all these issues. However, there is lot of room for improvement. Especially when ions are generated, they scatter and shoot off randomly. Experiments show that if the ions generated are concentrated at area along the airflow passage with control over the ions travelling direction, the overall air filtration efficiency magnifies.
In order to control the concentration of ions in the airflow passage, an electro-mechanical feedback system can be used to shape out the area where the concentration of ions to be located and the amount of concentration of ions can be determined to provide optimal ionization air purification results.
Thus, there is a need for a high efficiency inhalation and exhalation filtration with feedback system that does not exert breathing resistance to users during the normal breathing process. This filtration system shall be able to remove most of the contaminant in the air including airborne particles and substances. Since the
airborne substances collected by the filtration system may include bacteria and viruses, it is appropriate to incorporate a germicidal system to sterilize these organisms collected. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation system with wavelength between 200 Å to 400 Å is to be incorporated into the system to perform the germicidal sterilization of the collected organism. Light Emitting Diode with wavelength shorter than 440 Å is to be used for both UV radiation generation and as a heat source to minimize moisture condensation. A brushless DC motor driven impeller device is also incorporated into the system as a mean to balance the air resistance during the inhalation process of the user such that user will feel breathing through the filtration system is even easier when there is positive air pressure supplied by the mask. This brushless DC motor driven impeller device improves air circulation inside the mask chamber and helps to reduce moisture condensation as well. Regular electrical fan is made of brush motor and will generate carbon dust during operation. Brushless DC motor driven impeller device is without contacting brushes inside the motor and does not generate carbon dust.
Unlike the mechanical media filtration, ionic air filtration cannot be easily detected by users to know if ionization is really occurring and the mask is functioning as expected. An ionization flux detection device is needed to be provided to users such that they can easily verify the functionality of the ionization in the mask.
The whole system shall be light enough for users to feel comfortable if wearing for extended time. It shall be very efficient in power consumption such that small consumer electronic type battery pack can support operation of the system for over an extended period. It can also operate with power input from an USB 5 VDC power source such that user can be safe to sit close to each other since it is an individual air purification system directly providing purified air to the nose of the user. Easiness to clean and cost effective are also critical.
This is a generic system that can be adapted to respirator mask, face mask, hood and helmet to provide air purification to said devices.
Furthermore, the filtration process shall be as efficient during both inhalation and exhalation such that if a patient is the user; the bacteria or viruses from the user's breath will not get to outside ambient environment without passing through a purification process.
The present invention provides such an inhalation and exhalation filtration system nose mask. This nose mask is generic to be adapted to face mask, hood mask and helmet with mask. Users can also easily verify the presence of the ionization in the system.
A Potential Feedback Human Breath Filtration Device is a human wearable light weight nose mask equipped with an absolute miniature electronic filtration with electro-mechanical potential feedback system with positive pressure air flow to the user. The potential feedback system will increase the rate of ionization occur without raising the electrical negatively charged voltage significantly. This will reduce the amount of Ozone generation with respect to original ionization system without the potential feedback system while producing the equivalent quantity of ions. This device filters dust, smoke, airborne substances, odor and PM2.5 from entering the user's body through inhalation.
This is a generic system that can be adapted to respirator mask, face mask, hood mask and helmet to provide air purification to said devices.
The unique feature of this invention is to provide a control directional and concentration ions of electronic air filtration device with sterilization function to any organism captured by the device. The user can breathe through this filtration device without requiring extra effort as compare to sucking/breathing heavily through convention paper filter mask since a positive pressure is provided by the system. Users can also easily verify the presence of the ionization in the system with the ionic flux sensing device. For users' convenience, this invention can also use USB 5 VDC power source as power input to operate since USB 5 VDC power source is commonly available in most public transportation system like airplanes, buses, trains and ferries. Furthermore, common backup power banks for mobile phone user also equipped with USB 5 VDC power outlet and will be very convenient as power source to the said mask.
It is an object of this present invention to provide a very compact multiple stages element filtration system mounted on a nose mask and utilizing small consumer electronic size battery as power source to operate this high voltage ionic filtration system as well as electrostatic filtration system. It relies on the human breath as the air flow source to move the air stream through the multiple stages filtration system during the inhalation and exhalation processes with help of a small electric fan to add positive pressure against the small airflow resistance that generated along the air passage.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Ultraviolet radiation is stated as UV ray in the following portion of the document and similarly for the following terms:
Ultraviolet is stated as UV.
Millimeter is stated as mm.
Light emitting diode is stated as LED.
Universal Serial Bus is stated as USB.
PM2.5 refers to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) that have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers.
This is a generic system that can be operated as respirator mask, adapted to goggles to form face-mask, adapted to a head covering hood to form a hood-mask and adapted to a helmet to form a helmet with mask to provide air purification with said devices.
The filtration system 11 includes the mask housing 26, an ionization with potential feedback filter element module 3, a front static pre-filter cover system 4 and a rear anti-UV ray leakage cover system 55. This filtration system 11 is shown in cross section view and is further detailed in
The mask housing 26 provides a rigid contoured shape covering the nose 10 and mouth 20 of the user 1; and a mounting support to accommodate the front static pre-filter cover system 4, the multi-stages filter element module 3 and the rear anti-UV ray leakage cover system 55. The mask housing 26, front static pre-filter cover system 4 and the rear anti-UV ray leakage cover system 55 can be made of metal, plastic, paper product, fiberglass or carbon fiber material. The best choice and most cost-effective method of producing this mask housing 26 is by plastic molding to achieve the shape and rigidity supporting the function of the mask housing 26.
The contoured mask mounting system 6 is consisted of an elastic face-contoured seal 5, a moisture collection system 8, a mounting strap 7, a under ear strap 21 on each ear of the user 1. The elastic face-contoured seal 5 is assembled to the mask housing 26 by snap on, press-fitting, or by fastener which can facilitate the assembly means. It is made of elastic material such as rubber, silicon rubber, foam pad, nylon or any other material which can facilitate a soft, flexible sealing function of the contoured seal 5. It can be made of one single piece part or an assembled piece part to facilitate the functions of the contoured seal 5. The moisture collection system 8 attached to the edges of the contoured seal 5 to provide soft and gentle contact surfaces to the user's face and is further descripted in
The mounting strap 7 is with both ends assembled to the contoured seal 5 or the mask housing 26. The mounting strap 7 is to be worn the way that it rests on the ears 9 of the user 1 and wraps around the back of the head of user 1. The under-ear strap 21 is with one end assembled to the contoured seal 5 or the mask housing 26, and the other end assembled to the mounting strap 7 surrounding the ear of the user 1. In result, the filtration system 11 is firmly mounted to cover the mouth and nose of the user 1 with the contoured seal 5 resting on the nose and cheek of the user 1. The elastic contoured seal 5 separates the mask chamber 23 from the ambient 22 by forming a seal along the contour of the face and chin of the user 1. The ionization with potential feedback filter element module 3 becomes the only air passage between the air in the mask chamber 23 and the ambient 22. The driving mechanism for the air exchange is the breathing process of user 1 with additional help of increased air pressure of a brushless DC motor driven impeller device 48 with air movement from ambient 22 to mask chamber 23 caused by inhalation and air movement from mask chamber 23 to ambient 22 caused by exhalation of user 1.
The control system 12 consists of a control unit 31 which is equipped with the main PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 35 with connection to the battery 33 and a power selector on/off switch 34. The main PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 35 is equipped with electronic components and with the power selector on/off switch 34 set at “ON” position; the main PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 35 will generate high negative voltage functions to activate the ionization with potential feedback filter element module 3 via the connector cable 28. The connector cable 28 connects the mask housing 26 and the control unit 31. The control unit 31 is also equipped with a status indicator 36 showing the ON/OFF status of the system. The control unit 31 can receive power source input from an USB power outlet via the USB power conversion cable 43.
The ionic flux sensing device 70 is provide to the user such that the user can easily verify the overall system 2 is functioning. The functionality and usage of the ionic flux sensing device 70 is further descripted in
The moisture collection system 8 is comprised of mask edge liner 69, which is made of soft material with moisture absorption feature. Mask edge liner 69 wraps along the edges especially the inside portion of the elastic face-contoured seal 5 providing soft and gentle contact surfaces to the user's face. Moisture from user's exhalation breath will condense inside the mask by the ionization process. After extended time moisture collected become water drops. The mask edge liner 69 will absorb these water drops keeping the water drops from contacting the user's face.
The ionization with potential feedback filter element module 3 is in the middle of the mask housing 26. It is assembled to the mask housing 26. The assembly can be by snap on, press-fitting, or by fastener which can facilitate the assembly means. The ionization with potential feedback filter element module 3 is comprised of two filtration system namely the ionic filtration system 93 and the electrostatic filtration system 94 enclosed in the filter housing 44. The ionic filtration system 93 consists of a highly charged negative (−) electrode 42 with sharp metallic needle points 50 connected to it and are locating in the center portion of the ionic filtration system 93. The negatively (−) charged electrode 42 is assembled to the filter housing 44.
The electrostatic filtration system 94 consists of collector module housing 25, parallel sets of negatively charged electrode fins 53 sandwiching with positively charged electrode fins 67. An electrostatic field is formed between a negatively charged electrode fin 53 and positively charged electrode fin 67. The strength of the electrostatic field is determined by the gap width A 54 between the two oppositely charged electrodes and the potential difference between them. Further detail explanation of the filtration processes is illustrated in
The front static pre-filter cover system 4 is placed at the outside entrance of the ionization with potential feedback filter element module 3. It is comprised of front shield 24, dust collector 19 and Light Emitting Diode with wavelength shorter than 440 Å 30. The Light Emitting Diode with wavelength shorter than 440 Å 30 and the dust collector 19 are electrically connected through the mask housing 26 via the connector cable 28 to the control unit 31. The light ray emitting direction of the Light Emitting Diode with wavelength shorter than 440 Å 30 is towards the electrostatic filtration system 94. The surfaces of the dust collector 19 reflect UV light rays from the ionic filtration system 93 back towards the electrostatic filtration system 94.
This front static pre-filter cover system 4 is assembled to the mask housing 26. The assembly can be done by snap on, press-fitting, or by fastener which can facilitate the assembly means.
The pre-filter air gap 17 is the distance between the needle point 50 and the closest spot on the surface of the positively charged dust collector 19. When this pre-filter air gap 17 getting smaller, the rate of ionization increases and so as the power consumption of the main control unit 31 increases accordingly. The increase in the rate of ionization is materializing in the output of ions 63 generated inside the ionic filtration system 93. This addition of ions 63 increases cleaning power of the ionic filtration system 93. This is the potential feedback ionization process and it represents at least 5% increases on the power consumption of the main control unit 31 due to the pre-filter air gap 17 getting smaller as compare to when the pre-filter air gap 17 is over 30 mm apart. The pre-filter air gap 17 should be limited to before lightning effect occurs when the needle point 50 and the positively charged dust collector 19 getting too close to each other, the ions generated concentrate together and form a lightning strike towards the positively charged dust collector 19. The control of pre-filter air gap 17 is further descripted in
In the electrostatic filtration system 94, a high negative voltage is induced to the negatively charged electrode fin 53 and the positively charged electrode fin 67 is connected to the electrically positive. It results that the surface of the negatively charged electrode fin 53 will be highly negatively charged 66 and the causing an electrostatic field to form between the negatively charged electrode fin 53 and the positively charged electrode fin 67, which becomes equally highly positively charged 65. This electrostatic field is an uniform electric field of force and causes an uniform distribution of electrons (negative charge 66) on the surface of negatively charged electrode fin 53, and an equal and uniformly distributed deficiency of electrons (positive charge 65) on the positive fin 67. The voltage graduation is uniform throughout this field, except at its edges and near sharp corners of the plates/fins.
The collector module air gap 18 is the distance between the needle point 50 and the closest spot on the surface of the positively charged electrode fins 67. When this pre-filter air gap getting smaller, the rate of ionization increases and so as the power consumption of the main control unit 31 increases accordingly. The increase in the rate of ionization is materializing in the output of ions 63 generated inside the ionic filtration system 93. This addition of ions 63 increases cleaning power of the ionic filtration system 93. This is the potential feedback ionization process and it represents at least 5% increases on the power consumption of the main control unit 31 due to the pre-filter air gap 17 getting smaller as compare to when the pre-filter air gap 17 is over 30 mm apart. The pre-filter air gap 17 should be limited to before lightning effect occurs when the needle point 50 and the positively charged electrode fins 67 getting too close to each other, the ions generated concentrate together and form a lightning strike towards the positively charged electrode fins 67.
A single airborne particle charged by the potential feedback ionization process becomes highly negatively charged particle before entering electrostatic filtration system 94 and is acted upon by a force equaling the sum of all attracting and repelling forces. The negatively charged particles will be attracted and stick to the positively charged surfaces of the positively charged electrode fins 67.
The particles that are collected and are in physical contact with the positively charged collector fins 67 lose their “opposite charge” and take on the charge of the respective collector fins. They remain attached to the collector fins because of molecular adhesion and due to cohesion to other particles already collected. As a result, contaminants are removed from the air stream of breath induced by the user 1's inhalation and exhalation efforts. In practice, the filtration system 11 will charge floating particles as small as 0.01 micron and drive them to adhere to the collector plates where they will stay attached.
When filtration system 11 is in operation, Electrical power from constant voltage power source 15 is supplied to the control unit 31 and the electronic control circuit 39 inside the control unit 31 will generate a high negative voltage and send to the negative electrode 42 of the filtration system 11. Then ionization occurs at the sharp metallic needle point 50 and streams of ion air stream 76 are released in all directions. These ion air streams 76 will eventually bombard onto the surfaces of the positively charged metallic dust collector 19 and the positively charged electrode fins 67. The prefilter air gap 17 is the distance between the sharp metallic needle point 50 and the positively charged metallic dust collector 19. The collect module air gap 18 is the distance between the sharp metallic needle point 50 and the positively charged electrode fin 67.
The prefilter air gap 17 and the collect module air gap 18 play a very important role in the filtration system 11. When the prefilter air gap 17 becomes very small like 1 mm distance, lightning occurs due to streams of ion air streams 76 just leaving the sharp metallic needle point 50 bombard directly through the prefilter air gap 17 on to the positively charged metallic dust collector 19. In this phenomenon there will not be ionization air filtration occur because all the electrical energy strike onto the positively charged metallic dust collector 19 due to the high positive and negative electrical potential difference. As the prefilter air gap 17 becomes wider lightning phenomenon will not happen and ionization air filtration occurs. The electrical current drawing through the control unit 31 is shown on the electricity current meter 40 with X value 37. The X value 37 will keep dropping as the air gap 17 becomes larger and larger. When the prefilter air gap 17 becomes over 30 mm the rate of change of X value 37 will become very small and not noticeable. The best X value 37 is to keep the prefilter air gap 17 at between 3 mm to 8 mm. This will increase the X value 37 to its optimal level. It will optimize the amount of ionization producing more ions in the air to perform the ionization air purification operation while at a lower voltage level. This will in turn minimize the amount of Ozone produced during ionization process. It is because rate of Ozone produced is directly proportional to the increase of negatively charging voltage at the negative electrode 42 and the ions releasing from the sharp metallic needle point 50.
Without the present of the positively charged metallic dust collector 19 close by the sharp metallic needle point 50, ions generated from the sharp metallic needle point 50 are scatter and shoot off randomly. Now with the present of the positively charged metallic dust collector 19 close to the sharp metallic needle point 50 with an effective prefilter air gap 17 at between 3 mm to 8 mm distance; the ions generated are concentrated with the ion air streams 76 flowing from the sharp metallic needle point 50 towards the positively charged metallic dust collector 19. It results that the prefilter air gap 17 has much higher ion concentration than the rest of the space around and increases the rate of ionic air cleaning process when air borne particles are passing through.
Similarly, when the collector module air gap 18 becomes very small like 1 mm distance, lightning occurs due to streams of ion air streams 76 just leaving the sharp metallic needle point 50 bombard directly through the collector module air gap 18 on to the positively charged electrode fin 67. In this phenomenon there will not be ionization air filtration occur because all the electrical energy strike onto the positively charged electrode fin 67 due to the high positive and negative electrical potential difference. As the collector module air gap 18 becomes wider lightning phenomenon will not happen and ionization occurs. The electrical current drawing through the control unit 31 is shown on the electricity current meter 40 with X value 37. The X value 37 will keep dropping as the collector module air gap 18 becomes larger and larger. When the collector module air gap 18 becomes over 30 mm the rate of change of X value 37 will become very small and not noticeable. The best X value 37 is to keep the collector module air gap 18 at between 4 mm to 8 mm. This will increase the X value 37 to its optimal level. It will optimize the amount of ionization producing more ions in the air to perform the ionization air purification operation while at a lower voltage level. This will in turn minimize the amount of Ozone produced during ionization process. It is because rate of Ozone produced is directly proportional to the increase of negatively charging voltage at the negative electrode 42 and the ions releasing from the sharp metallic needle point 50.
Without the present of the positively charged electrode fin 67 close by the sharp metallic needle point 50, ions generated from the sharp metallic needle point 50 are scatter and shoot off randomly. Now with the present of the positively charged electrode fin 67 close to the sharp metallic needle point 50 with an effective collector module air gap 18 at between 3 mm to 8 mm distance; the ions generated are concentrated with the ion air streams 76 flowing from the sharp metallic needle point 50 towards the positively charged electrode fin 67. It results that the collector module air gap 18 has much higher ion concentration than the rest of the space around and increases the rate of ionic air cleaning process when air borne particles are passing through.
The electro-mechanical potential feedback technology is defined as the control of the prefilter air gap 17 and the collector module air gap 18 such that it can maximize the rate of air purification results with lower voltage at the negative electrode 42 such that minimum amount of Ozone will be generated during the operation. The optimal increase of electrical current shown on X value at the electricity current meter 40 will be at least +5% from its lowest at Y value 61 which is the minimum current reading when ionization just begins to occur at the sharp metallic needle point 50.
With the ionization flux sensing device 70 in operation, the sensor power switch 72 is at power on position and the sensor power LED 73 lights up. High negative voltage is sent to the ion generating pin 75 by the wire 81 and ionization occurs. Ionic air stream 76 carry the negative ions leaving the tip of the ion generating pin 75 in all directions. Some of these ionic air streams 76 bombard onto the surface of the sensing antenna 71. These collected ionic air streams 76 will transform into a small electrical current and is sent to the sensor electronic unit 74 of the ionization flux sensing device 70, The small current will be magnified to over 50,000 time by the sensor electronic unit 74 to be able to light up the sensor flux strength LED 79. Depending on initial amount of ionic air stream 76 received, the sensor flux strength LED 79 will light up from not lighting up at all to dim or to very bright. The intensity of the sensor flux strength LED 79 from none to very bright provides user an obvious visual observation to identify the present of ionization.
With the ionization flux sensing device 70 in operation, the sensor power switch 72 is at power on position and the sensor power LED 73 lights up. High negative voltage is sent to the ion generating pin 75 by the wire 81 and ionization occurs. Ionic air streams 76 carry the negative ions leaving the tip of the ion generating pin 75. A positively charged metal plate 77 is connected to electrically positive charge via the wire 80 and is placed close to the ion generating pin 75. Due to the electrical potential difference the ionic air streams 76 leaving the tip of the ion generating pin 75 are attracted to flow towards the positively charged metal plate 77. These ionic air streams 76 bombard onto the surface of the positively charged metal plate 77. As results an electrical flux field 78 is formed on the opposite surface of the positively charged metal plate 77. This electrical flux field 78 will act on the surface of the sensing antenna 71. These collected electrical flux field 78 will transform into a small electrical current and is sent to the sensor electronic unit 74 of the ionic flux sensing device 70, The small current will be magnified to over 50,000 time by the sensor electronic unit 74 to be able to light up the sensor flux strength LED 79. Depending on initial amount of electrical flux field 78 received, the sensor flux strength LED 79 will light up from not lighting up at all to dim or to very bright. The intensity of the sensor flux strength LED 79 from none to very bright provides user an obvious visual observation to identify the present of ionization.
With the ionic flux sensing device 70 in operation, the sensor power switch 72 is at power on position and the sensor power LED 73 lights up. High negative voltage is sent to the ion generating pin 50 of the Potential Feedback Ionization Human Breath Filtration Device system 2 and ionization occurs. Ionic air streams 76 carry the negative ions leaving the tip of the ion generating pin 50. The metallic dust collector 19 of front static pre-filter cover system 4 is electrically positively charged. Due to the electrical potential difference between the ion generating pin 50 and the metallic dust collector 19, the ionic air streams 76 leaving the tip of the ion generating pin 50 are attracted to flow towards the positively charged metallic dust collector 19. These ionic air streams 76 bombard onto the surface of the positively charged metallic dust collector 19. As results an electrical flux field 78 is formed on the opposite surface of the positively charged metallic dust collector 19. This electrical flux field 78 will act on the surface of the sensing antenna 71. These collected electrical flux field 78 will transform into a small electrical current and is sent to the sensor electronic unit 74 of the ionization flux sensing device 70, The small current will be magnified to over 40,000 time by the sensor electronic unit 74 to be able to light up the sensor flux strength LED 79. Depending on initial amount of electrical flux field 78 received, the sensor flux strength LED 79 will light up from not lighting up at all to dim or to very bright. The intensity of the sensor flux strength LED 79 from none to very bright provides user an obvious visual observation to identify the present of ionization of the Potential Feedback Ionization Human Breath Filtration Device system 2.
It will be appreciated that the sizes, quantities, shapes and dispositions of various components like needlepoint ionization pins, electrode fins, electro-collectors, louver covers, conductor leads, wires, cable length, material use, filter size, filter gap clearance, size of the mask and size of the seal can be varied, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Similarly, the sizes and contour of the nose mask, face mask and hood with reference to adult, children, male and female, and the like may be varied. While the methods of connecting the service loop of the cable are illustrated, other methods may instead be used to facilitate the concept of service loop. While the methods of mounting the mask-filter system with straps concept is illustrated, other methods may instead be used to facilitate the concept of mounting to the user's face. While this Potential Feedback Human Breath Filtration Device system has been described with respect to application to nose mask, face mask, helmet and hood, the described system may also apply to other human wearing electronic filtration systems and may have more than one air inlet or air outlet.
Modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the subject and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.
