US3237383A - Electronic gas cleaner having an improved electrical connection - Google Patents

Description

March 1, 1966 A. GILBERTSON 3,237,383 ELECTRONIC GAS CLEANER HAVING AN IMPROVED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed Sept. 20, 1963 INVENTOR. L /v/v/Z 67435230 ATTOPA/EV WLLUHHWHULLMWMMM I l 33 Y/TI United States Patent 3,237,383 ELECTRONIC GAS CLEANER HAVING AN IM- PROVED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Lynn A. Gilbertson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Honeywell Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 310,245 4 Claims. (Cl. 55139) The present invention is concerned with an improved gas cleaning apparatus and more particularly with an electronic gas cleaner of the type having one or more cleaning cells slidable into and out of a frame which is mounted in an air flow duct. Specifically this application is concerned with an electronic gas cleaner of the type described above and having a high voltage power supply mounted in the frame and a unique flexible electrical connection arrangement for connecting the output of the high voltage power supply to the individual cells.

It is well known in the electronic gas cleaner art to provide a frame structure which is mounted in a gas flow duct generally transverse to the direction of gas flow. It is also known to have this frame provided with an opening through Which an electronic gas cleaner cell can be slid into and out of the frame. In many installations this is necessary because the cell must occasion-ally be removed for cleaning. Also, in many installations removal of the cell is the only manner in which repairs can be made to the unit. In such installations the high voltage power supply for the electronic cell is generally located in the frame and hence is not removable with the cell.

In all such installations, one of the problems which has been faced is the manner of electrically connecting the high voltage power supply to the electronic gas cleaner cell. The connection must be one which allows removal of the cell easily and quickly and, on the other hand, the electrical connection must be such that when the cell is in place good electrical contact is maintained. In the past, numerous arrangements have been proposed for accomplishing such an electrical connection. For example, button type connectors have been provided which are a-butted by the cell when it is slid into place or when a door is closed. This type of connector generally operates satisfactorily except that the manufacturing tolerances in building the unit must be such that the cell always engages the buttons or no electrical connection, or at least not a satisfactory connection, is obtained. Another approach is in the use of leaf type connectors of spring steel or other conductive material which are engaged by a contact as the cell is moved into the frame. One of the major problems in this type of connector is that, while the cell can he slid into the frame easily and a good contact is obtained, difliculty is often encountered in removing the cell from the frame. Various other types of connectors which have been used in the past have presented similar problems.

The present invention provides, in combination with an electronic gas cleaner of the type described above, an improved electrical connection between the high voltage power supply and an electronic gas cleaner cell. This electrical connector structure facilitates easy insertion and withdrawal of the gas cleaner cell into the frame and also insures good electrical connection even over relatively wide manufacturing tolerances in the relative sizes of the gas cleaner cell and the frame.

The present invention provides a plurality of contact surface on one edge of the gas cleaner cell which extends in a direction along which the cell is moved in sliding it into or out of the frame. The frame has mounted therein an insulative member which is positioned generally parallel to the edge of the cell having the contact surfaces thereon. This insulative member is mounted for move- 3,237,383 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 ment toward and away from the cell and is normally biased toward the cell. Mounted on this insulative member is a plurality of connector members, one adapted to engage each of the contact surfaces. These connector members are of an oblong shape and are pivotally mounted on the insulative member. Each of the contact members is yieldably biased so that one end of it extends toward the cell. In adidtion each of these connector members is connected to one of the output terminals of the high voltage power supply. The insulative member is positioned in the frame so that, as the gas cleaner cell is slid thereinto, the contact surfaces engage the connector members and pivot them in opposition to the means which normally bias them in a direction toward the cell. Thus good electrical contact is established between the con nector members and the corresponding contact surfaces. Also by making the connector members relatively long, the relative sizes of the frame and the gas cleaner cell can vary rather significantly and electrical contact is still established. Each of the contact surfaces is electrically connected to one of the sets of electrodes in the gas cleaner cell.

This unique electrical connection may find application in units wherein a single cell is slid into the frame and it may also find application in larger installations wherein two or more cells are slid into an elongated frame, one after another. Due to the fact that the insulated member is mounted for movement toward and away from the cell, the cell can be easily removed. As the cell is slid from the frame, the connector members are pivoted and as this occurs the insulative member on which they are mounted is moved away from the cell in opposition to the means which normally biases it toward the cell. Thus the cell can be removed without any binding between the con tact surfaces and the connector members.

Thus it is seen that the unique connector arrangement which is the subject of the present invention overcomes the objections which have been found with regard to the previously used connectors in electronic gas cleaners of the type described.

Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide, in combination with an electronic gas cleaner of the type having a fixed frame structure and a gas cleaner cell slidable into and out of the frame, an improved electrical connection between the high voltage power supply and the gas cleaner cell.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in combination with an electronic gas cleaner of the type having a fixed frame structure and a high voltage power supply mounted therein and an electronic gas cleaner cell slidable into and out of the frame, an improved electrical connector structure for connecting the output of the high voltage power supply to the gas cleaner cell, this connector structure providing good electrical contact While rendering the cell easily slidable into and out of the frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in combination with an electronic gas cleaner of the type described above, an electrical connection between the high voltage power supply and the gas cleaner cell which provides good electrical connection even when relatively large manufacturing tolerances exist in the size of the frame and of the gas cleaner cell.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view with portions broken away of an electronic gas cleaner having incorporated therein the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end view, partially in cross section, taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in detail the electrical connector structure of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in cross section, of the electrical connector structure of the present invention.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, numeral 1th gener-ally designates an electronic gas cleaning apparatus of the type which is adapted to be used in connection with forced air heating and cooling systems. The apparatus includes a frame structure 11 which is adapted to be mounted in an air flow duct (not shown) in a direction generally transverse to the direction of air flow. The frame may be constructed of any metal or any other material and may be of a welded or otherwise assembled construction. Frame 11 includes an air inlet opening 12 and an air outlet opening 13 as best seen in FIGURE 2. Frame 11 also includes, adjacent the bottom thereof, a horizontally extending shelf-like member 14 and toward the top thereof a further horizontally extending shelf-like member 15. Members 14 and 15 may be mounted in the frame by welding or any other appropriate means (not shown). At the right hand end of the frame, as seen in FIGURE 1, is provided an access door 16 which is preferably hinged near the bottom of the unit and which, when closed, covers an access opening in the frame.

Mounted on the upper side of shelf member 14 is a pair of guide members '17 and 17 which are arranged in spaced parallel relationship and extending substantially the entire width of the frame. In between these two guide members is a raised rounded portion 20 which also extends substantially the entire width of the frame.

Mounted on the under side of shelf 15 is a corresponding pair of guide members 21 and 21. Members 17 and 17 and 211 and 21' act as guides for an electrostatic gas cleaner cell 22 which is slid into and out of frame 11 through the access opening which is normally covered by door 16. When the cell is slid into the frame, the raised rounded portion 20 provides a bottom sliding surface to prevent galling of the underside of the cell.

Cell 22 may be of any conventional construction but preferably is of the two stage type having an ionizing and a collecting section and may, for example, be of the type shown in the Keith M. Nodolf Patent Number 3,028,715 which issued April 10, 1962. As is well known in the art, this type of cell includes a set of high voltage electrodes and a set of grounded electrodes in the ionizing section and also a connector section which includes a set of high voltage electrodes and a set of grounded electrodes which are alternately interleaved. It is customary, particularly in smaller units of the type used for residential applications, to use a single power supply for the ionizing and collecting sections. However in order to prevent arcing between the relatively closely spaced alternately charged plates of the collector section, a relatively high ohmic value resistor is provided between the power supply and the high voltage plates of the collector section.

The power supply in the present unit has been shown rather schematically as element 23 mounted on the upper side of the shelf member 15. The details of this power supply have not been shown since any of a number of power supplies may be used and normally would include a high voltage transformer and a voltage doubling circuit for transforming relatively low voltage A.C. current to relatively high voltage DC. current. This alternating current voltage may be supplied to power supply 23 from any conventional source (not shown) from which an electrical cable may extend to a terminal box 24 mounted on the upper exterior of the frame 11. From terminal box 24 the current may be supplied to the power suppiy through a pair of conductors 25 and 26 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Also mounted on shelf members 14 and 15 respectively Cit are a pair of U-shaped guide members 27 and 30. Slidably mounted in these U-shaped guide members is a mechanical prefilter 31 which may be of any conventional type and, for example, may be simply a screen for removing large particles from the air before it reaches the electronic cell.

Numeral 32 generally designates an improved electrical connector structure for connecting the output of the high voltage power supply 23 to the electrodes of the electronic air cleaner cell 22. This connector structure can best be seen in FIGURES 3 and 4. FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in detail the connector structure 32 in a position occupied by certain components thereof as the cell 22 is being slid into the frame 11. FIGURE 4 is also a fragmentary view and discloses the connector structure when the cell is in its normal operating position within the frame 11.

As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the connector structure 32 includes an insulative member 33 which is made up of an insulative board 34 which is mounted directly above and parallel to shelf member 15 and a second insulative board 35 extending substantially perpendicular to board 34. Board 35 may be mounted on board 34 by appro priate means such as L-shapcd members 36 and rivets 37. Insulative member 33 is movably mounted on shelf 15 by a pair of upstanding pin members 40 and 41 which are rigidly mounted on shelf 15 and which extend loosely through apertures 42 and 43 in board 34. Pins 40 and 41 have, at their upper ends, enlarged head ortions 40 and 41 respectively. Mounted on the pins 40 and 41, intermediate the board 34 and their head portions 40 and 41', are spiral springs 44 and 45 respectively. These springs normally urge board 34 into engagement with shelf 15 and hence toward the air cleaner cell but allow movement of the insulative member away from the cell in opposition to the force of the springs.

Mounted on the upper edge of the cell 22 are three flat electrically conductive surfaces 46, 47, and 50. These surfaces are electrically connected to the electrodes of the gas cleaner cell. For example, surface 46 may be connected to the high voltage electrodes of the air cleaner ionizing section. Surface 47 may be connected to the high voltage electrodes of the collector section. Surface 50 may be connected to the grounded electrodes of both the ionizing and collecting section. As pointed out previously herein, it is customary to provide a relatively large resistance between the power supply and the high voltage electrodes of the collector section to prevent arcing and hence it is necessary to have separate connections for the high voltage electrodes of the ionizer and collector sections. The manner in which conductive surfaces 46, 47, and 50 are connected to the electrodes of the air cleaner cell is not shown in the drawing but it is to be understood that this connection may be made in any conventional manner.

Mounted on the vertically extending board 35 of the insulated member 33 are three elongated electrically conductive collector members 51, 52, and 53 which co-act with contact surfaces 46, 47, and 50 to provide an electrical connection therewith. Each of the connector members 51, 52, and 53 is pivotally mounted on the board 35 by appropriate means such as pins 54. As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, these connector members are elongated and have rounded ends and are pivoted at or near their centers. The lower end of connectors 51 and 52 extend through a rectangular opening 55 in board 35 and a similar but somewhat larger opening 56 in shelf member 15. Similarly the lower end of connector 54 extends through a rectangular opening 57 in board 34 and through the opening 56 in shelf member 15. Connector members, 51, 52, and 53 are spring biased to a position whereintheir lower ends extend toward the air cleaner cell by electrically conductive spring members 58, 60, and 611 respectively. These spring members are connected to. electrically conductive fastener members 6Z, nd.

These fastener members are in turn mounted on board 35 by appropriate means such as pins or rivets 65 which mechanically connect them to the board 35 and electrically connect them to electrical conductors 66, 67, and 70 respectively. These electrical conductors may in turn be conducted to the output terminals of the high voltage power supply 23. As pointed out previously herein, a high ohmic value resistor is preferably inserted between the high voltage power supply and the conductor 67.

Due to the action of the springs 58, 60, and 61, the electrical connectors 51, 52, and 53 generally extend in a direction so that their lower ends extend into the opening in the frame which is to be occupied by the air cleaner cell. As the cell is slid into the frame, the contact surfaces 46, 47, and 50 engage the lower ends of these connectors, and as the cell is slid into the frame, these connectors are pivoted in opposition to the force of their springs. Obviously the amount that the connectors are pivoted depends upon the distance which they extend into the space which is to be occupied by the cell and also the spacing between the top edge of the cell and the shelf 15. When the cell is slid into place the connector members are held firmly in contact with the contact surfaces by their spring members.

If the connector members are made relatively long, it can be seen that a relatively large variation in dimensions of the frame and the air cleaner cell may exist without effecting the electrical connection between the connector members and the contact surfaces. This is a great aid in manufacturing the units since it is common knowledge that manufacturing costs depend a great deal upon the strictness of the manufacturing tolerances which must be met.

When the cell is to be removed from the frame the connector members pivot in the opposite direction as the cell is removed. This is possible since the insulated member 33 is moved upward in opposition to the springs 44 and 45 which urge the insulated member toward the cell.

As pointed out previously herein, this unique connector structure finds application not only in structures as disclosed herein wherein a single cell is removably mounted in the stationary frame, but is particularly advantageous in applications where a plurality of cells are slid into a frame.

From the foregoing it can be seen that I have provided, in combination with an electronic gas cleaner of the type having a cell which is slidable into and out of a stationary frame and wherein the high voltage power supply is mounted in the frame, a unique electrical connector structure which assures good electrical connection and yet renders the cell easily slidable into and out of the frame. In addition the structure insures good electrical contact even when there are relatively large variations in the dimensions of the cell and the frame.

Various modifications to the structure described herein can obviously be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention. Therefore the invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred embodiment described herein but it is intended that it shall be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electronic gas cleaner including a frame adapted to be mounted in a gas flow duct, a gas cleaner cell slidable into and out of said frame through an access opening at one side of said frame, and a high voltage power supply for said cell, said power supply being mounted in said frame and spaced from said cell, means for electrically connecting said cell to said power supply comprising: a generally flat electrical contact surface on one edge of the cell; a cooperating elongated electrically conductive connector member adapted to be electrically connected to an output terminal of the power supply; an insulative member; means movably mounting said insulative member in said frame in a generally spaced parallel relationship with the edge of the cell having said contact surface thereon, said means rendering said insulative member movable toward and away from said one edge; means yieldably urging said insulative member toward said cell; means pivotally mounting said connector member on said insulative member; and means yieldably biasing said connector member to an angular position wherein one end thereof extends toward the cell, said insulative member being positioned in said frame so that said contact surface on the cell slidably engages and causes pivotal movement of said connector member when the cell is slid in the frame and thereby insures good electrical contact between said connector member and said contact surface.

2. In an electronic gas cleaner including a frame adapted to be mounted in a gas flow duct generally transversely to the direction of gas flow and having an access opening at one side thereof, a gas cleaner cell slidable into and out of said frame through the access opening, said cell having a generally flat electrical contact surface on an edge thereof which extends in the direction in which the cell is slid into and out of the frame, and a high voltage power supply for said cell and mounted in the frame in spaced relationship with the cell, means for electrically connecting said high voltage power supply to said cell through said electrical contact surface thereon comprising: an insulative board; means resiliently mounting said board in said frame in a generally spaced parallel relationship with the edge of said cell having the flat contact surface thereon, said means including means mounting said board for movement toward and away from said cell and means normally urging said board toward said cell; an elongated electrically conductive connector member; means pivotally mounting said connector member on said insulative board for angular movement with respect thereto in a plane generally in alignment with said flat contact surface, the position of said insulative board in said frame being such that said elongated connector member engages said contact surface in certain angular positions and such that said connector member clears said contact surfaces when said member is pivoted to certain other angular positions; yieldable means normally biasing said connector member to an angular position wherein it engages said contact surface to provide an electrical connection therewith; and means electrically connecting said connector member to an output terminal of the power supply.

3. In an electronic gas cleaner: a frame adapted to be mounted in a gas flow duct generally transversely to the direction of gas flow; an access opening at one side of said frame; a gas cleaner cell slidable into and out of said frame through said access opening; a power supply for said gas cleaner cell, said power supply being mounted in said frame and being adapted to be connected to a source of current, said power supply including output terminals; an electrical contact surface on one edge of said cell which extends in the direction in which said cell is slidable into and out of said cell; an insulative member; means mounting said insulative member in said frame in generally spaced parallel relationship with said one edge of said cell for movement toward and away from said cell; means yieldably biasing said member toward said cell; an elongated electrically conductive connector member cooperable with said contact surface; means pivotally mounting said connector member on said insulative member for angular movement with respect thereto in a plane generally in alignment with said contact surface; a conductive spring member physically and electrically connected to said connector member and biasing said connector member to a position wherein one end thereof extends toward said cell, said insulative member being positioned in said frame so that said contact surface on said cell slidably engages and causes pivotal movement of said connector member in opposition to said spring member when said cell is slid into said frame and thereby insures good electrical contact between said connector member and said contact surface; and means electrically terminal of said power supply.

4. In anelectronic gas cleaner of thettype having a.

frame, a gas cleaning cell slidable into and. out 'of the frame, and a power supply mounted in the frame to supply power to the cell, a flexible electrical connection between the power supply and the cell comprising: an electrical contact surface on one edge of the.cell, which edge extends in the direction in which the cell is slid into and out of the frame; an insulative member mounted in said frame for movement toward and away from said one edge of the cell; means resiliently urging said insulative member toward said one edge, of the cell; an electrical connector member; mounting means pivotally mounting said connector member on said insulative member for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction in which the cell is slid into and out of the frame so that a portion of said connector member is angularly movable into and out of engagement with said'contact surface when the ,cell is disposed in the frame; yieldable means urging said connector member to anangular position wherein said portion thereof engages said contact A surface;- and means electrically connecting saidconnector member to an output terminal of the'power' supply.

References Cited by the Examinerv UNITED .STATES PATENTS ROBERT F; BURNETT, Primary Examiner.

Berly et a1; 55-145

Claims (1)

1. 4. IN AN ELECTRONIC GAS CLEANER OF THE TYPE HAVING A FRAME, A GAS CLEANING CELL SLIDABLE INTO AND OUT OF THE FRAME, AND A POWER SUPPLY MOUNTED IN THE FRAME TO SUPPLY POWER TO THE CELL, A FLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE POWER SUPPLY AND THE CELL COMPRISING: AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT SURFACE ON ONE EDGE OF THE CELL, WHICH EDGE EXTENDS IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE CELL IS SLID INTO AND OUT OF THE FRAME; AN INSULATIVE MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ONE EDGE OF THE CELL; MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING SAID INSULATIVE MEMBER TOWARD SAID ONE EDGE OF THE CELL; AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEMBER; MOUNTING MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID CONNECTOR MEMBER ON SAID INSULATIVE MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE CELL IS SLID INTO AND OUT OF THE FRAME SO THAT A PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR MEMBER IS ANGULARLY MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTACT SURFACE WHEN THE CELL IS DISPOSED IN THE FRAME; YIELDABLE MEANS URGING SAID CONNECTOR MEMBER TO AN ANGULAR POSITION WHEREIN SAID PORTION THEREOF ENGAGES SAID CONTACT SURFACE; AND MEANS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING SAID CONNECTOR MEMBER TO AN OUTPUT TERMINAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY.

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