Patent Application
20220412585
The present disclosure relates generally to air purification systems and, more specifically, to multi-filtration air purification systems including a photocatalytic oxidizer (PCO) and/or ionizers combined with cold catalyst oxidizer (CCO) and/or a thermal catalytic oxidizer (TCO). The present disclosure also relates to air purification systems and multi-filtration air purifiers which may or may not have a built-in safety mechanism used during air filter replacement.
Some air filtration systems used for air purification may produce potential harmful byproducts and/or lack appropriate built-in safety measures. For example, photocatalytic oxidizers (PCO) may potentially produce byproducts such as formaldehyde which can be harmful to people or pets. Also, some PCOs include ultra violet (UV) light emitters, where the direct exposure to the UV light from the UV light emitter can be harmful to a person servicing the air filtration system.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and are not admitted to be “prior art.” Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.
In various examples, the subject matter of this disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for air purification systems. According to one embodiment, an air purification system can include a PCO filter including an UV emitter, the PCO filter disposed within an air filter receiving region of the air purification system. In some implementations, the air purification system can include a removable air filter disposed over the PCO filter and located within the air filter receiving region, where the removable air filter can include a switch trigger. The air filter receiving region, in some instances, can include a switch configured to receive the switch trigger, wherein the switch and switch trigger together can be configured to disable operation of the air purification system when the removable air filter is removed from the air filter receiving region.
Various embodiments of the system can include one or more of the following features. In some implementations, the switch and switch trigger together can be configured to enable operation of the air purification system when the removable air filter is placed within the air filter receiving region of the air purification system. In some examples, the switch can include at least one of a magnetic switch, or a Reed type switch. In some implementations, the switch trigger can include at least one of a magnet, or a magnetic material. The removable air filter, in some instances, can be configured to fit over, and cover, the PCO filter within the air filter receiving region. In some implementations, the removable air filter can include at least one of a CCO filter, a TCO filter, or a HEPA filter. In some instances, the an UV emitter can include an ultraviolet (UV) band C emitter. In some examples, the UV emitter can be configured to emit light having a wavelength in a range of approximately 200-400 nm. In some instances, the air purification system can further include a HEPA filter disposed over the removable air filter. In some implementations, the HEPA filter can be configured to fit over, and cover, the removable air filter. In some instances, the HEPA filter can be removable. In some examples, the air purification system can further include a pre-filter disposed over the HEPA filter. In some implementations, the pre-filter can be configured to fit over, and cover, the removable air filter. In some instances, the pre-filter can be removable. In some examples, the PCO filter can include one or more PCO filters. In some instances, the PCO filter can include a top PCO filter and a bottom PCO filter. The air purification system can, in some implementations, further include an exhaust region. In some examples, the air purification system can include a CCO filter or a TCO filter disposed within the air exhaust region of the air purification system.
According to one embodiment, a method for safely replacing a removable air filter of an air purification system can include providing a PCO filter including an UV emitter, the PCO filter disposed within an air filter receiving region of the air purification system, where the air filter region can include a switch. In some instances, the method can include placing, or removing, a removable air filter from within the air filter region, where the removable air filter can include a switch trigger. In some implementations, the method can include determining whether the removable air filter is placed within the air filter region, where the determination can be based on whether the switch trigger is in proximity to the switch. Based on the determination of whether the removable air filter is placed within the air filter region, in some instances, the method can include enabling or disabling operation of the air purification system.
Various embodiments of the method can include one or more of the following features.
In some instances, the switch trigger can include at least one of a magnet or a magnetic material. In some implementations, the switch can include at least one of a magnetic switch or a Reed switch.
The above and other preferred features, including various novel details of implementation and combination of events, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying figures and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular systems and methods described herein are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the principles and features described herein may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of any of the present inventions. As can be appreciated from the foregoing and the following description, each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more such features, is included within the scope of the present disclosure provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent. In addition, any feature or combination of features may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of any of the present inventions.
The foregoing Summary, including the description of some embodiments, motivations therefor, and/or advantages thereof, is intended to assist the reader in understanding the present disclosure, and does not in any way limit the scope of any of the claims.
The accompanying figures, which are included as part of the present specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments and together with the generally description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below serve to explain and teach the principles described herein.
While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The present disclosure should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
In various examples, the subject matter of this disclosure relates to for multi-filtration air purification systems. It will be appreciated that, for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Also, like reference numbers used for pointing to features in one figure, are used to represent the same or similar features described in another figure. For example, 202 in
In various instances, air purification, sterilization, and/or sanitization systems and/or methods can include one or more types of air filters. Exemplary air filter types can include: high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, ionization filters, ultra violet (UV) band C light emitter, wide spectrum UV filters, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) filters, cold catalytic oxidation (CCO) filters, thermal catalytic oxidation (TCO) filters, among other types of air filters. A main benefit of using air purification systems is that these systems can remove harmful particulates from the air, which can be useful for filtering air for occupants while indoors. Good quality HEPA filters, in some instances, can even trap some bacteria and/or viruses keeping occupants safe from potential exposure to harmful pathogens. Furthermore, PCO filters, can be very effective at removing toxic pathogens using, e.g., using UV light exposure.
Alternatively, in some instances, PCO filters can be harmful and/or dangerous to people or animals when used improperly. For example, some PCO filters may potentially produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and/or total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), e.g., formaldehyde, which can be harmful to people or pets. UV light filters, in some implementations, can be harmful if a user is exposed UV light from the UV emitter, e.g., to a service engineer during maintenance of the UV light filter.
Thus, one or more multi-filtration air purification systems, or one or more air purifications systems which can include built-in safety measures are presented.
In various instances, one or more a multi-filtration air purification systems are described herein. As shown below, like reference numbers used for features described are used to represent the same or similar features shown. For example,
In some embodiments, one or more a multi-filtration air purification systems can include a layered filtration system by combining one or more PCOs or ionizers with one or more CCOs and/or one or more TCOs together. By adding a CCO/TCO in conjunction with PCO (and/or ionizers), if the PCO or ionizer produces any byproduct VOC/TVOC, e.g., formaldehyde, the CCO/TCO filter included can absorb this byproduct VOC/TVOC, increasing the effectivity of the air purification system. As used herein, a PCO filter can refer to an UV activated PCO filter, or a PCO filter that is may not require UV activation and/or exposure. In some embodiments, one or more of the air purification systems described herein can include an UV activated PCO filter. In an example, an UV activated PCO filter can include a PCO filter that can be activated by UV light within a range of approximately 200-400 nm, e.g., encompassing UV-A, UV-B, UV-C. Some examples of filters that may not use an UV source can include CCO filters and/or TCO filters. Some drawbacks to using air purification systems that make use an UV activated PCO filter can include additional maintenance associated with the UV activated PCO filter, such as for example cleaning the UV emitter and getting any certification for use of the UV emitter with the PCO filter. Some air purification systems, in some examples, can use an UV activated PCO filter, or alternatively may use the CCO filter or TCO filter in place of the UV activated PCO filter. Thus, exemplary embodiments described herein include multi-filtration air purification systems. Such multi-filtration air purification systems can, in some embodiments, include combining both an UV activated with a PCO filter with a CCO filter, and/or TCO filter, with or among one or more other filters. This can be in contrast to other implementations which may only use a single PCO filter, where a single PCO filter alone can have a higher pathogen and/or chemical reduction rate, but can also produce some harmful byproducts alone. In some examples, a multi-filtration air purification system can be used having a PCO filter combined with, in one example, a lesser strength CCO filter or TCO filter, which can have the benefit of removing the minor harmful byproducts produced by the PCO filter.
As shown in
In various instances, placing an UV activated PCO filter in an air purification system, e.g., including an UV emitter such as a lamp or LED module, behind a CCO filter, HEPA filter, and or any other filter can prevent any UV light from escaping and endangering from potential exposure of harmful UV light since the filter can block the UV light from escaping. One potential safety concern is the exposure to UV light when a filter (e.g. covering the UV emitter and/or PCO filter) is removed, e.g., when upon replacement of a HEPA filter or CCO filter for example. Some advantages to the presented air purification system can include (i) using a magnetic and/or Reed type switch which can be much safer and potentially have a longer lifespan of up to 100,000 cycles or more in comparison to standard type electronic switches which can be rated at 1,000 to 10,000 cycles, (ii) the air purification system can, in some examples, ensure that a user places an air filter or air filter cartridges in the correct orientation to fit into the air purification system, and thus provide an effective air purification process, and (iii) ensuring, in some examples, that the user cannot use lower quality replacement filters which would decrease the efficiency and/or effectiveness of the air purification system.
A method 500 for implementing a multi-filtration air purification system is provided. In a first step 502, the method can include using a first air filter including photocatalytic oxidizer (PCO) having a ultraviolet (UV) emitter configured to filter incoming air for harmful pathogens, where the first air filter is disposed within an air filter receiving region of the multi-filtration air purification system. In a second step 504, the method can include using a second air filter disposed within the multi-filtration air purification system to filter volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by the first air filter. In some examples, the second air filter is disposed within an air exhaust region or disposed within the air filter receiving region of the multi-filtration air purification system . In some instances, the second air filter can include at least one of a cold catalytic oxidation (CCO) filter, or a thermal catalytic oxidation (TCO) filter.
A method 600 for safely replacing a removable air filter of an air purification system is provided. In a first step 602, the method can include providing a photocatalytic oxidizer (PCO) filter including an ultraviolet (UV) emitter, the PCO filter disposed within an air filter receiving region of an air purification system, where the air filter region can include a switch. In a second step 604, placing, or removing, a removable air filter from within the air filter region, where the removable air filter can include a switch trigger. In a third step 606, the method can include determining whether the removable air filter is placed within the air filter region, where the determination is based on whether the switch trigger is in proximity to the switch. In a fourth step 608, based on the determination of whether the removable air filter is placed within the air filter region, enabling or disabling operation of the air purification system. In some examples, enabling or disabling operation of the air purification system can include initiating an on or off state of the air purification system. In some examples, the switch trigger can include at least one of a magnet or a magnetic material. In some implementations, the switch can include at least one of a magnetic switch or a Reed switch.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments.
Particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps or stages may be provided, or steps or stages may be eliminated, from the described processes. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The term “approximately”, the phrase “approximately equal to”, and other similar phrases, as used in the specification and the claims (e.g., “X has a value of approximately Y” or “X is approximately equal to Y”), should be understood to mean that one value (X) is within a predetermined range of another value (Y). The predetermined range may be plus or minus 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 1%, 0.1%, or less than 0.1%, unless otherwise indicated.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of” “only one of” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and additional items.
Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term), to distinguish the claim elements.
Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/215,339 titled “UVC Air Purifier/Sanitizer-Filter Safety Switch,” filed Jun. 25, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/215,333 titled “Multi-Filtration for Effective use of Air Sanitizers/Purifiers,” filed Jun. 25, 2021, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63215339 | Jun 2021 | US | |
| 63215333 | Jun 2021 | US |
