CN112696767A

CN112696767A - Air purifier

Info

Publication number: CN112696767A
Application number: CN202011133895.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·冈内弗
Original assignee: Blueair AB
Current assignee: Blueair AB
Priority date: 2019-10-21
Filing date: 2020-10-21
Publication date: 2021-04-23
Also published as: CN213931323U

Abstract

An air cleaner comprising at least one removable HEPA particulate filter, a fan or impeller and a motor for driving the fan or impeller, a top portion having an air inlet and a base opposite thereto and a further pre-filter, the pre-filter being other than a HEPA filter and being substantially horizontal and removable from the cleaner when the cleaner is in an operating condition, wherein the pre-filter comprises a frame and a mesh network for entraining large particles in an airflow, wherein the pre-filter comprises a component which is capable of being part of an electrical circuit when in the operating condition, and wherein the cleaner comprises a slot for receiving the pre-filter and wherein the slot is substantially parallel to the ground in the operating condition.

Description

Air purifier

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an improved air purifier.

Background

WO 2005/039659 a1 (silent heating means gerhaardus [ NL ]) discloses an air treatment device comprising a fan for stimulating an air flow through the air treatment device and a UV treatment chamber. The UV radiation source emits UV radiation within the UV treatment chamber to kill microorganisms in the gas stream. The air treatment device is designed such that a high airflow can be generated while all microorganisms present in the air flowing through the air treatment device are killed. With high air flow and air purification capacity, the air treatment device can clean a limited space in a short time.

EP 1433515 a2(SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD [ KR ]) discloses an air purifier that provides various air purification functions related to various environmental conditions by enhancing the purification function for specific pollutants by replacing a filter based on the environment to be purified. The air purifier includes a main body having a structure allowing air to pass therethrough. A replaceable filter is received in the main body and is replaceable according to environmental characteristics of the space to be cleaned to remove contaminants from the air passing through the main body. Further, the air cleaner includes a dust collecting unit to charge dust particles and collect the dust particles by electrostatic attraction. In addition, the metal filter functions to collect charged dust particles in the dust collecting unit, and the HEPA filter is used to collect micro-pollutants (micro-pollutants). The metal filter is located in front of the HEPA filter.

CN 107504589 a (environmental protection technologies ltd, icecream, eastern love) discloses an air purifier with an ambient air quality monitoring function. The air purifier comprises a first shell and a central processing unit, wherein the first shell is provided with a first airflow circulation channel, and a pre-filter, an activated carbon filter screen, an HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) high efficiency filter screen and an exhaust fan are sequentially arranged in the first airflow circulation channel; the second airflow circulation channel is arranged in the air monitoring shell; a blower and a PM2.5 sensor are sequentially arranged in the second airflow circulation channel; the top part of the prefilter is connected to a vertical hydraulic cylinder through a lever mechanism, and the vertical hydraulic cylinder is arranged at the upper part of the first shell; the PM2.5 sensor and the exhaust fan are correspondingly connected with the central processing unit. Air purifier with ambient air quality monitor function's beneficial effect is: the central processing unit is used for controlling the work of the air purifier according to the detection result; the filter screen is conveniently cleaned or replaced through a lever mechanism; meanwhile, the space is saved; and reduces the overall size of the purifier.

Despite the above prior art, there is still a need for improved air purifiers, in particular air purifiers that improve the circulation of ambient air, not only increasing the fan speed and thus the energy consumption.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, there is provided an air cleaner comprising at least one removable HEPA particulate filter, a fan or impeller and a motor for driving the fan or impeller, a top portion having an air inlet and a base portion opposite thereto and a further pre-filter, the pre-filter being not a HEPA filter and being substantially horizontal and removable from the cleaner when in an operating condition, wherein the pre-filter comprises a frame and a mesh network (particulate mesh) for entraining large particles in an (entrain) airflow, wherein the pre-filter comprises a component which is capable of being part of an electrical circuit in the operating condition, and wherein the cleaner comprises a slot (slot) for receiving the pre-filter, and wherein the slot is substantially parallel to the ground in the operating condition.

The pre-filter is a filter with low air resistance. They do not have the density, air resistance or particle entrainment capability of the specialized particulate filters. However, in certain configurations, such as those described herein, they may be particularly useful in the context of home dust filtration.

The pre-filter of the purifier according to the present invention should not be confused with a poke guard (poke guard) operating inside designed to prevent the user from touching the purifier. Anti-poke devices are typically meshes that simply fit over the apertures to prevent consumers from intentionally or accidentally "poking" their fingers into the device while, for example, moving the device. Thus, although the mesh size of the anti-poke devices is variable, they generally result in less dust filtration because the holes therein are generally much larger.

When mounted, the anti-poke device is adapted to the air inlet and/or the air outlet. In case of adaptation to the air inlet, preferably a removable pre-filter is arranged after the anti-poking means in the air flow direction.

Preferably, the pre-filter is separate from the HEPA filter. This allows the pre-filter to be removed and cleaned without disturbing the adapted HEPA filter. Thus, a pre-filter comprising only a frame and a mesh is easier to clean than many pre-filters of the prior art that are part of a larger filtration system in which many filters are layered with different filters. Furthermore, being able to access the pre-filter with the device open is a great consumer advantage (consumer plus) as it prevents dirt collected and stored inside from spreading throughout the room during cleaning.

In a preferred embodiment, the pre-filter is located upstream of the fan and the HEPA filter is located downstream of the fan. In other words, the air enters the purifier through the pre-filter, through the fan and then through the HEPA filter before exiting the device.

It is also desirable that the prefilter be substantially horizontal during use. This allows the user to remove the pre-filter and clean it without having to tilt the pre-filter in a way that may spill the collected dust into the home. Removable horizontal pre-filters are often the reason for dust balls to fall home during cleaning.

Another benefit of maintaining level during use is that air is more evenly drawn onto the horizontal filter. This is especially important when large particles are targeted. By applying an electrical charge to the pre-filter, larger dust particles are captured by the pre-filter. However, if the pre-filter is only vertical, as with many of the pre-filters described in the literature, there is a bias towards the bottom of the pre-filter. This necessarily reduces the effectiveness of the prefilter during use. The horizontally arranged pre-filter makes more full use of the entire web during the filtration process. This is particularly the case when the pre-filter is used in a device that produces a particular air circulation pattern, such as a device that draws air from above and exhausts it through the side. The resulting air vortex makes it easier to collect dust particles around the air inlet, making it easier for the pre-filter to remove dust particles.

The removable particulate filter is a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. It should be understood that while the filter component of the air purifier is a critical part of its function, the air purifier is typically not manufactured in-situ (in place) with the filter. They are in fact always manufactured separately and most importantly are usually manufactured by a commercial enterprise other than the manufacturer of the air purifier itself. Filter manufacturers typically make filters for different air purifier models produced by different manufacturers. Particulate filters differ from pre-filters in that they are also manufactured separately but are present in normal use. Pre-filters and dust filters are not considered HEPA filters because they do not have the particle capture capability exhibited by HEPA filters.

We have surprisingly found that the combination of such components improves the filtration of household dust from ambient air. The removable pre-filter can be conveniently removed, cleaned and replaced in an efficient manner that is not messy and not unnecessarily unpleasant to the consumer. Thus, the replacement pre-filter has a long service life compared to the more dense HEPA filter, which is designed for higher filtration performance of the very small particles entrained in the airflow.

Furthermore, the use of such removable pre-filters means that the performance of particulate HEPA filters remains high for a longer period of time, as they are not contaminated by much larger household dust particles.

Preferably, the pre-filter comprises a frame and a mesh network supported by the frame for entraining large particles in the gas stream. The frame partially surrounds the mesh, and more preferably completely surrounds the mesh in the general mesh plane. The frame is substantially rigid, thus providing a structure for efficient removal, cleaning and replacement of the pre-filter during use.

Preferably, the mesh comprises a component capable of being part of an electrical circuit. Preferably, during use, the strip is charged by providing a suitable current. Such a circuit may be defined entirely by the pre-filter, provided with a power supply, but preferably power is drawn from the purifier in use. In this form, the pre-filter comprises means for completing the circuit when in the operating position. Such means may include an electrical connector for connection with a suitable receptacle in the purifier. When the connector and the receiver are electrically connected to each other, an electric current may flow through the pre-filter, thereby charging it.

When the pre-filter is provided with an electrical charge in use, the filter becomes more able to capture household dust entrained in the airflow. This means that the air purifier is more efficient in its primary function to purify air. Thus, the airflow velocity can be reduced to reduce power consumption. The power required to charge the pre-filter is significantly lower than the power required to power the fan.

Preferably, the air purifier comprises a slot for receiving the pre-filter, and wherein the slot is substantially parallel to the ground in the operating state. Preferably, the slot is located on a side or front surface of the air purifier when in the operating configuration. More preferably, the slots are located so that the air passes through the pre-filter as quickly as possible as it enters the purifier through the air inlet.

The term porosity, measured in PPI (pores per inch), refers to the number of pores within one linear inch. Counting pores is a visual indicator of porosity that directly corresponds to the air flow test measurement defining a range of air flow for a particular porosity.

Preferably, the pre-filter has an average porosity of 10 to 40ppi, more preferably 20 to 30 ppi.

Preferably, the air purifier includes at least one leg or stand to raise the base above the ground in the working position. This arrangement improves the airflow characteristics of the device in use as air is drawn in and experiences turbulence before entering the device, and as this household dust is collected it is more easily removed by the pre-filter before the airflow reaches the HEPA particulate filter.

Air enters the air purifier through the air inlet. The air inlet may be provided at the top and/or bottom of the purifier when in the operating configuration.

We have surprisingly found that locating the air inlet on the base of the air purifier helps to circulate air in a manner that is beneficial to the overall air purification performance of the purifier.

It is believed that positioning the air inlet at the base results in a build up of pressure as air is drawn into the device by the fan or impeller. This creates a gentle venturi effect and air is drawn in and this means that the speed of the fan or impeller can be reduced to use less energy for the same cleaning performance.

Air to be cleaned enters the purifier from the environment through at least one air inlet.

Preferably, the at least one air inlet is partially occupied by a pre-filter.

Where the air purifier includes a pair of air inlets, it is preferred that the purifier further includes an airflow chamber for each inlet. Each airflow inlet also preferably includes its own removable HEPA particulate filter. In such a design, the purifier may also include a fan or impeller for each chamber, but it is also possible that the purifier contains only one fan, and this is after a HEPA filter that is removable in the direction of air flow.

The purifier of the invention also comprises a fan or an impeller. The fan may be an axial fan, but preferably the fan is a radial fan.

Where the purifier includes a pair of airflow chambers, preferably the "fans" comprise a pair of oppositely directed fans, more preferably radial fans, such that they are powered as a unit but function to draw air in and expel air from opposite directions. This is a more efficient fan architecture when more than one airflow chamber is required.

Furthermore, it is preferred to have a removable pre-filter adapted to some or all of the air inlets in case more than one air inlet is provided.

Preferably the means for lifting the base comprises legs or brackets and there may be as many as required for supporting the base off the ground in the operative condition. Preferably the means for lifting the base supports the base off the ground for at least 20% of the average width of the entrance when viewed from the front. More preferably, the legs are spaced from the air inlet along the periphery of the base and around the air inlet. If the purifier remains too high off the ground during use, there is no corresponding venturi effect. Furthermore, if the device is kept too close to the ground, the pressure required to draw air into the device is too great and the friction between the airflow and the ground eliminates any advantage gained by this design.

In a preferred embodiment, the top and bottom also include air inlets. This further improves the air circulation throughout the room where the purifier is present. In such embodiments, ambient air is drawn in from the top and bottom of the air purifier, cleaned, and then exhausted from the sides. This creates a special air circulation pattern that greatly increases the circulation of air in a manner that uses less energy and produces less fan/impeller noise. In effect, a synergy is created between the top and base air streams, as each air stream draws air in from opposite sides of the device, but expels it in the same direction. This swirl greatly assists in the circulation of air within the room in which the device is located. However, a real advantage is that this means that the air purifier also functions as a ventilation aid without any increase in fan speed and energy.

Preferably, the air outlet is located on the side surface. Preferably, the outlet is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the inlet on the base and, when present, also perpendicular to the plane of the air inlet on the top surface. This greatly facilitates more efficient circulation of air throughout the room in which the purifier is present.

Preferably, the top and base are of rectangular or square form and comprise four side surfaces connecting the top and base, and wherein the air outlet is provided on at least one side surface. When the outlet is provided on more than one side surface, it is preferred that the outlet is provided on the opposite surface.

Preferably, the air purifier includes an ionizer. Preferably, the ionizer includes a corona discharge tip and a receiving electrode. When the corona discharge tip is subjected to an appropriate voltage, it creates an ion field between the tip and the receiving or ground electrode.

The ionizer may be provided inside or outside the purifier. In the case where the ionizer is provided outside the apparatus, it is preferably provided on the top of the apparatus. Placing the external ionizer on top of the device means that the household dust particles ionize when falling through the air towards the ground and are therefore more likely to collect as they become charged. As they become more concentrated, they are more easily trapped in the air circulation patterns created by the device and are therefore more easily filtered.

In case the ionizer is arranged inside the device, it is preferred that it is located before the removable particle filter in the air flow direction.

Preferably, the device comprises an internal ionizer and an external ionizer. The external ionizer aids in the collection of household dust particles, while the internal ionizer aids in the capture of the collected dust particles by the removable particle filter. In both cases, ionization allows for less dense filter media and low air (fan) speeds.

Preferably, the air purifier comprises a plate elevated above said top and wherein the external ionizer is disposed below the plate.

In a second embodiment, a prefilter as described herein and suitable for use in such an air purifier is provided.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a middle section of an air purifier having a side wall (1), a top surface (2) and a bottom surface (3). The top surface (2) and the bottom surface (3) have holes (4a and 4b) which serve as air inlets when the fan (labeled) draws air from the environment into the device. The port air inlets (4a and 4b) are protected by poke filters (5a and 5 b).

The apparatus also includes a pair of replaceable particulate HEPA filters (7a and 7b) through which the air must pass as it is moved by the fan towards the outlet aperture (8). These outlets (8) are filled with further anti-poke means (9) to prevent the user from easily entering the interior of the device and causing damage to the device or itself.

The interior of the purifier forms two distinct airflow chambers (a and B) where it is drawn into the device through an air inlet (4a) and HEPA filter 7a into chamber a and through an air inlet (4B) and HEPA filter (7B) into chamber B. The dividing wall (11) divides the compartments a and B and also keeps the fan in a central arrangement.

The purifier also has a removable pre-filter (12a and 12b) behind each air inlet (4a and 4 b).

These pre-filters are held in place by fixing means not shown.

The device is held off the ground in use by the legs (10).

Fig. 2 is a schematic and shows how an embodiment of the invention circulates air. The device is held off the ground by legs (10). Air is drawn through holes in the base and into the device by a fan (not shown). It is discharged through an outlet (8) on the side. In this embodiment, air is also drawn through the holes in the top of the device, creating a coordinated air flow between the air drawn through the base and the air drawn through the top.

Claims

1. An air cleaner comprising at least one removable HEPA particulate filter, a fan or impeller and a motor for driving the fan or impeller, a top having an air inlet and a base opposite thereto and a further pre-filter, the pre-filter being other than a HEPA filter and being substantially horizontal and removable from the cleaner when the cleaner is in an operating condition, wherein the pre-filter comprises a frame and a mesh network for entraining large particles in an airflow, wherein the pre-filter comprises a component which in the operating condition is capable of being part of an electrical circuit, and wherein the cleaner comprises a slot for receiving the pre-filter and wherein the slot is substantially parallel to the ground in the operating condition.

2. Air purifier according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pre-filter has an average porosity of 10 to 40 ppi.

3. The air cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one leg or bracket to raise the base above the ground in a working position.

4. The air cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes an air inlet.

5. The air purifier of any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one side surface between the top and base.

6. The air cleaner of claim 5, comprising an air outlet, wherein the air outlet is located on the side surface.

7. The air cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top and base are rectangular or square in form and include four side surfaces connecting the top and base, and wherein the air outlet is provided on one side surface.

8. The air cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, comprising an ionizer.

9. The air cleaner of claim 8, wherein the ionizer is disposed outside the cleaner.

10. The air purifier of claim 8 or 9, comprising a plate elevated above the top, and wherein the plate comprises the ionizer.

11. An air cleaner according to any preceding claim, wherein the pre-filter is located upstream of the fan and the removable HEPA filter is located downstream of the fan.