US4231765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cleaning apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-04-17
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Granted: 1980-11-04
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Expires: 1999-04-17
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an air cleaning apparatus having a rectangular enclosure with air inlet and outlet passages and internal lower and upper baffles which sequentially direct inlet air through lower and upper water curtains which are provided by a recirculating water system. The apparatus also has a separate scrubbing water system to wash the internal surfaces of the apparatus. In operation, the scrubbing system is periodically activated and the reservoir of the recirculating water system is periodically drained and refilled with fresh water. Also disclosed is the method of using the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Morton J. Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:31
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D47/00; B01D47/06; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; F; F24; F24C; F24C15/00; F24C15/20; F24C15/2057; B01D2221/00; B01D2221/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/09; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
An apparatus for ventilating and cleaning air having smoke, grease and the like as contaminants therein, comprising: a housing having side walls, an air inlet opening and an air exhaust opening; an air inlet duct communicating with said air inlet opening and having an end portion extending a substantial distance into said housing; means for moving air through said housing: first and second lower grids positioned in the interior of said housing; a lower baffle for directing air through said lower grids having a generally inverted V-shaped cross-section with downwardly extending side flanges, said lower baffle being located in opposition to said end portion of said inlet duct and each of said side flanges being spaced from said inlet duct and supporting one of said first and second lower grids; first and second upper grids supported in the interior of said housing at a location generally higher than said first and second lower grids; first and second upper baffles for respectively directing air through said first and second upper grids, each of said first and second upper baffles having a V-shaped cross-section and being attached to opposite side walls of said housing, the apex of each said first and second upper baffles being inwardly directed and supporting one of said first and second upper grids respectively; means for providing a homogeneous sheet of water on each of said first and second upper grids and said first and second lower grids; and each of said first and second upper grids and said first and second lower grids comprising a foraminous sheet member located generally transverse to the flow of air directed therethrough and having means associated with each perimeter edge portion thereof for preventing flow of air around said sheet member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
290 words
An apparatus for ventilating and cleaning air having smoke, grease and the like as contaminants therein, comprising: a housing having side walls, an air inlet opening and an air exhaust opening; an air inlet duct communicating with said air inlet opening and having an end portion extending a substantial distance into said housing; means for moving air through said housing: first and second lower grids positioned in the interior of said housing; a lower baffle for directing air through said lower grids having a generally inverted V-shaped cross-section with downwardly extending side flanges, said lower baffle being located in opposition to said end portion of said inlet duct and each of said side flanges being spaced from said inlet duct and supporting one of said first and second lower grids; first and second upper grids supported in the interior of said housing at a location generally higher than said first and second lower grids; first and second upper baffles for respectively directing air through said first and second upper grids, each of said first and second upper baffles having a V-shaped cross-section and being attached to opposite side walls of said housing, the apex of each said first and second upper baffles being inwardly directed and supporting one of said first and second upper grids respectively; means for providing a homogeneous sheet of water on each of said first and second upper grids and said first and second lower grids; and each of said first and second upper grids and said first and second lower grids comprising a foraminous sheet member located generally transverse to the flow of air directed therethrough and having means associated with each perimeter edge portion thereof for preventing flow of air around said sheet member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said lower baffle has a pair of transverse end walls, each of said pair being attached to said inlet duct.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said inlet duct is sealably engaged around the perimeter of said air inlet opening, said air inlet opening being in a bottom wall of said housing, and wherein said housing side walls extend upwardly from said bottom wall to define a water reservoir between said side walls, said bottom wall, and said inlet duct, and further wherein said means for providing a homogeneous sheet of water includes pump means operatively connected to said reservoir and to a pair of horizontally disposed conduits each one overlying and associated with one of said upper baffles, each horizontally disposed conduit having a plurality of apertures therein for substantially evenly distributing water over the associated upper baffle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 including a water scrub system comprising a plurality of spray nozzles located in the upper portion of the interior of said housing each of said nozzles being communicated with a source of hot water, means for selectively flowing water through each of said nozzles, and drain means for selectively removing said water from said reservoir.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of removing contaminates and other foreign matter from air by passing said air through a housing and cleaning said housing, said method comprising the steps of cyclically: (A) providing a sheet of water interior of said housing, said sheet of water being drawn from a reservoir located in the bottom portion of said housing, and said sheet of water flowing downwardly to sequentially form a first water curtain and a second water curtain spaced therefrom, said second water curtain flowing into said reservoir; and passing air sequentially through said second water curtain and said first water curtain; (B) discontinuing step (A), draining water from said reservoir and cleaning the interior surfaces within said housing by spraying hot water thereagainst, said hot water flowing downwardly into said reservoir and being continuously drained therefrom; and (C) discontinuing step (B) and filling said reservoir with water.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of removing contaminates and other foreign matter from air by passing said air through a housing and cleaning said housing, said method comprising the steps of cyclically: (A) providing a sheet of water interior of said housing, said sheet of water being drawn from a reservoir located in the bottom portion of said housing, and said sheet of water flowing downwardly to sequentially form a first water curtain and a second water curtain spaced therefrom, said second water curtain flowing into said reservoir; and passing air sequentially through said second water curtain and said first water curtain; (B) discontinuing step (A), draining water from said reservoir and cleaning the interior surfaces within said housing by spraying hot water thereagainst, said hot water flowing downwardly into said reservoir and being continuously drained therefrom; and (C) discontinuing step (B) and filling said reservoir with water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said first and second homogeneous water curtains comprise water having a wetting agent therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 wherein step (B) is carried out by sequentially spraying hot water with and without detergent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said water in said reservoir contains an odor and bacteria control agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said steps (A), (B) and (C) are automatically carried out on a periodic, timed basis by automatic control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 wherein each of said first and second water curtains are provided by flowing water over a grid positioned within said housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-04 | 1984-05-05 | 1984-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-04 | 1988-05-05 | 1988-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-04 | 1992-05-05 | 1992-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |