Patent US4946480A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4946480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filter apparatus with improved filtration and saturation level detector
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-09-27
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Granted: 1990-08-07
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Expires: 2009-09-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for removing contaminants generated in a volume of air contained within a work structure includes a housing, an inlet aperture disposed in the housing for receiving the contaminated air generated in the structure, an outlet aperture for passing of filtered air disposed in another portion of the housing removed from the inlet aperture and a plurality of removable interchangeable filter units disposed in the housing in spaced relationship between the inlet and outlet apertures thereby forming a plurality of chambers each defined by adjacent filter units and the housing. A detector device is engaged with at least the first chamber adjacent the inlet aperture for detecting the level of concentration of contaminants in the air passing through the chamber. The apparatus also includes a fan device to direct the contaminated air from within the work structure through the inlet aperture of the housing whereby the contaminated air passes through each filter unit and intermediate detection chambers for removal of at least a portion of the contaminants, and then to direct the filtered air through the outlet aperture. In a preferred embodiment the fan device is positioned adjacent the inlet aperture for the purpose of increasing the pressure of air passing through the filter units to thereby optimize the filter capacity of the filter units.
Inventors
- 👤 Francois P. Hauville
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:54
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/0407; B01D53/0423; B01D46/00; B01D46/10; B01D53/0446; B01D53/0454; B01D53/30; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/102; B01D2253/104; B01D2253/106; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/90; B01D2257/93; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40083; B01D2259/40084; B01D2259/414; B01D2259/4141; B01D2259/4145; B01D2259/4148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for removing contaminants generated in a volume of air contained within a structure, said apparatus comprising: a housing; an inlet aperture disposed in said housing for receiving the contaminated air generated in the structure; an outlet aperture for passing of filtered air disposed in another portion of said housing removed from said inlet aperture; a plurality of removable interchangeable filter means disposed in said housing in spaced relationship between the inlet and outlet apertures thereby forming a plurality of chambers each defined by adjacent filter means and the housing; detector means engaged with at least the first chamber adjacent the inlet aperture for detecting the level of concentration of contaminants in the air passing through said chamber; and means to direct the contaminated air from within said structure through the inlet aperture of said housing whereby the contaminated air passes through each filter means and intermediate chambers for removal of at least a portion of the contaminants, and then to direct the filtered air through said outlet aperture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for removing contaminants generated in a volume of air contained within a structure, said apparatus comprising: a housing; an inlet aperture disposed in said housing for receiving the contaminated air generated in the structure; an outlet aperture for passing of filtered air disposed in another portion of said housing removed from said inlet aperture; a plurality of removable interchangeable filter means disposed in said housing in spaced relationship between the inlet and outlet apertures thereby forming a plurality of chambers each defined by adjacent filter means and the housing; detector means engaged with at least the first chamber adjacent the inlet aperture for detecting the level of concentration of contaminants in the air passing through said chamber; and means to direct the contaminated air from within said structure through the inlet aperture of said housing whereby the contaminated air passes through each filter means and intermediate chambers for removal of at least a portion of the contaminants, and then to direct the filtered air through said outlet aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to direct the contaminated air is positioned adjacent the inlet aperture for the purpose of increasing the pressure of air to provide a positive pressure of air passing through the filter means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the position of the air directing means increases the time of contact of the contaminant molecules with the filter means through the decrease of air velocity resulting from the reduction of the volume of the air provided by the compression of the air by the positive pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the position of the air directing means increases chemisorption resulting from increased concentration of the contaminated air provided by the compression of said air by the positive pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the increase in positive pressure resulting from the position of the air directing means raises the boiling temperature of certain low boiling temperature contaminant molecules thereby resulting in increased adsorption by the filter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the filter means is selected from the group comprising a particulate filter, a catalytic filter, an adsorption filter and combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to direct the contaminated air is positioned adjacent the outlet aperture whereby the contaminated air generated in the structure is drawn through the filter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detector means is used for the purpose of determining when a filter means positioned upstream and adjacent thereto is saturated with the contaminants.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for removing contaminants generated in a volume of air contained within a structure, said apparatus comprising: a housing; an inlet aperture disposed in said housing for receiving the contaminated air generated in the structure; a first filter means for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough disposed in the housing adjacent said inlet aperture; a second filter means for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough positioned in spaced relationship from said first filter means and defining an intermediate chamber between said first and second filter means; detector means engaged with said intermediate chamber for detecting the level of concentration of contaminants in the air passing through said chamber; an outlet aperture disposed said housing for passing filtered air; and means to direct the contaminated air from within said structure through the inlet aperture of said housing whereby the contaminated air passes through said first and second filter means and intermediate chamber for removal of at least a portion of the contaminants, and then to direct the filtered air through said outlet aperture.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for removing contaminants generated in a volume of air contained within a structure, said apparatus comprising: a housing; an inlet aperture disposed in said housing for receiving the contaminated air generated in the structure; a first filter means for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough disposed in the housing adjacent said inlet aperture; a second filter means for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough positioned in spaced relationship from said first filter means and defining an intermediate chamber between said first and second filter means; detector means engaged with said intermediate chamber for detecting the level of concentration of contaminants in the air passing through said chamber; an outlet aperture disposed said housing for passing filtered air; and means to direct the contaminated air from within said structure through the inlet aperture of said housing whereby the contaminated air passes through said first and second filter means and intermediate chamber for removal of at least a portion of the contaminants, and then to direct the filtered air through said outlet aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the means to direct the contaminated air is positioned adjacent the inlet aperture for the purpose of increasing the pressure of air passing through the filter means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the means to direct the contaminated air is positioned adjacent the outlet aperture whereby the contaminated air generated in the structure is drawn through the filter means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the detector means is used for the purpose of determining when a filter means positioned upstream and adjacent thereto is saturated with the contaminants.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
201 words
A ductless apparatus for removing contaminants generated in a volume of air contained within a work structure, said apparatus comprising: a housing; an inlet aperture disposed in said housing for passage into the housing of contaminated air generated in the structure; an extractor chamber positioned adjacent said inlet aperture for receiving the contaminated air extracted from said structure; a first filter means for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough disposed in the housing adjacent said extractor chamber; a second filter means for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough positioned in spaced relationship from said first filter means and defining an intermediate chamber between said first and second filter means; detector means engaged with said intermediate chamber for detecting the level of concentration of contaminants in the air passing through said chamber; an outlet aperture disposed in said housing for passing filtered air; and means to direct the contaminated air from within said structure through the inlet aperture and into the extractor chamber of said housing whereby the contaminated air passes through said first and second filter means and intermediate chamber for removal of at least a portion of the contaminants, and then to direct the filtered air through said outlet aperture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
201 words
A ductless apparatus for removing contaminants generated in a volume of air contained within a work structure, said apparatus comprising: a housing; an inlet aperture disposed in said housing for passage into the housing of contaminated air generated in the structure; an extractor chamber positioned adjacent said inlet aperture for receiving the contaminated air extracted from said structure; a first filter means for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough disposed in the housing adjacent said extractor chamber; a second filter means for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough positioned in spaced relationship from said first filter means and defining an intermediate chamber between said first and second filter means; detector means engaged with said intermediate chamber for detecting the level of concentration of contaminants in the air passing through said chamber; an outlet aperture disposed in said housing for passing filtered air; and means to direct the contaminated air from within said structure through the inlet aperture and into the extractor chamber of said housing whereby the contaminated air passes through said first and second filter means and intermediate chamber for removal of at least a portion of the contaminants, and then to direct the filtered air through said outlet aperture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the housing is positioned above a work structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the apparatus is positioned below said work structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein at least one filter means is provided with contaminant detector means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the detector means is used for the purpose of determining when a filter means positioned upstream and adjacent thereto is saturated with the contaminants.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the filter means are removable and interchangeable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the means to direct the contaminated air is positioned adjacent the inlet aperture for the purpose of increasing the pressure of air passing through the filter means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the means to direct the contaminated air is positioned adjacent the outlet aperture whereby the contaminated air generated in the structure is drawn through the filter means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-06 | 1994-02-05 | 1994-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-02-05 | 1998-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-06 | 2002-02-05 | 2002-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |