WO1997010479A1 - Ecran filtre a air de ventilateur - Google Patents

Ecran filtre a air de ventilateur Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997010479A1
WO1997010479A1 PCT/AU1996/000568 AU9600568W WO9710479A1 WO 1997010479 A1 WO1997010479 A1 WO 1997010479A1 AU 9600568 W AU9600568 W AU 9600568W WO 9710479 A1 WO9710479 A1 WO 9710479A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
filter screen
air filter
air
fan
filter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1996/000568
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David Andrew West
Original Assignee
David Andrew West
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AUPN5401A external-priority patent/AUPN540195A0/en
Priority claimed from AUPO0406A external-priority patent/AUPO040696A0/en
Priority claimed from AUPO0834A external-priority patent/AUPO083496A0/en
Application filed by David Andrew West filed Critical David Andrew West
Priority to AU68660/96A priority Critical patent/AU702533B2/en
Publication of WO1997010479A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997010479A1/fr
Priority to US09/642,824 priority patent/US6526974B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/28—Arrangement or mounting of filters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
    • F04D29/70—Suction grids; Strainers; Dust separation; Cleaning
    • F04D29/701—Suction grids; Strainers; Dust separation; Cleaning especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
    • F04D29/703—Suction grids; Strainers; Dust separation; Cleaning especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps specially for fans, e.g. fan guards
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0071—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units with means for purifying supplied air

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an air filter screen for a fan, such as an oscillating fan or pedestal fan.
  • a fan air filter screen that may be impregnated or coated with aromatherapy or pharmaceutical compounds to improve the quality of air moved by the fan.
  • axial flow fans for cooling is widely practiced. Many varieties of axial flow fan have been designed with the aim of producing a flow of air that is effective. These include ceiling fans, exhaust fans, pedestal fans, oscillating fans and fixed standard fans. The latter four of these are generally produced with guards to isolate the fan blades from external access. In particular, the guards are designed to prevent persons placing their fingers in the moving fan blades.
  • Oscillating fans are particularly aggressive in their operation and can produce a large amount of matter entrained in the moving air.
  • This matter may comprise dust, fungi spores, mites, lint, pollen, etc.
  • the matter can result in discomfort to persons in the vicinity of the fan due to the effects of hay fever, asthma, allergy or other reactions.
  • the invention resides in an air filter screen for a fan of the type having a guard surrounding blades of the fan, said air filter screen comprising : a non-woven, fibrous material sized and shaped to cover a rear ofthe guard and to extend partially over a front of the guard; said air filter screen having an inner circumference defining a hole; and an opening between the inner circumference and an outer circumference to facilitate fitting of the air filter screen to the guard; wherein air drawn through the air filter screen by the action of the fan is caused to follow a tortuous path through the material such that matter carried by the air contacts the material and is filtered from the air.
  • the air filter screen further comprises a resilient band joined to the outer circumference to gather the material around the guard.
  • the hole is in the center of the air filter screen and is of a size and shape to fit around a motor of the fan.
  • the material is suitably a non-woven, expanded synthetic material having an open cellular structure.
  • One suitable material is RayonTM.
  • the air filter screen may be coated or impregnated with a light oil.
  • a suitable light oil is tea tree oil.
  • the air filter screen further comprises a colour additive that indicates the presence of the light oil. As the light oil evaporates the colour gradually disappears thereby indicating a time to replace the filter. Altematively, a chemical indicator may be inco ⁇ orated for indicating the time for replacing the air filter screen.
  • An aromatherapeutic effect can be obtained by incorporating one or more essential oils on or in the filter.
  • a blend of light oil and one or more essential oils are coated on or impregnated in the filter for providing the aromatherapeutic effect.
  • a wad treated with a one or more essential oils is retained in a wad retaining means joined to the air filter screen.
  • the wad retaining means is preferably a loop or pocket joined to a rear part of the air filter screen.
  • the wad is preferably formed from a non-woven, cellulose based fibre material.
  • the air filter screen further comprises one or more therapeutic agents coated on or impregnated in the filter for providing a therapeutic effect.
  • the therapeutic agent may be a pharmaceutical compound having a medicinal therapeutic effect.
  • FIG 1 is a sketch of a conventional oscillating personal fan with a filter in place
  • FIG 2 is a sketch of the filter of FIG 1 ;
  • FIG 3 is a back view of the filter of FIG 2;
  • FIG 4 is a top view of the fan and filter of FIG 1 ;
  • FIG 5 is a sectional view of the filter showing air flow paths.
  • FIG 1 there is shown a filter 1 fitted to a conventional oscillating fan 2.
  • the fan 2 is of the type having a guard 3 fitted over the blades 4 to protect against injury.
  • the filter 1 fits over the guard so as to fully cover the rear of the guard, as seen most clearly in FIG 4.
  • a resilient band is joined to the filter material along inner circumference 5 and outer circumference 6.
  • the resilient bands serve to gather the filter material so as to fit neatly around the guard as seen in FIG'S
  • the resilient band is a strip of light elastic sown into the edge of the filter material.
  • the filter 1 has an opening 7 formed between edges 8 and 9 to facilitate fitting of the filter 1 to the fan 2.
  • the opening 7 allows the outer circumference 6 to pass around the fan motor 10.
  • the outer circumference 6 extends over the front edge 11 of the fan 2, as seen most clearly in FIG 4.
  • the inner circumference 5 fits closely around the fan motor 10.
  • the edges 8 and 9 are overlapped to close the opening 7. In this manner the entire back of the fan guard 3 is covered by the filter 1 such that air drawn by the fan blades 4 must pass through the filter 1.
  • the non-woven, fibrous nature of the filter material is such that the overlapping edges remain in place due to catching of fibres between the respective edge regions 12, 13.
  • the action of the air flow through the filter also assists in maintaining the filter 1 in place on the guard 3 of the fan 2.
  • attachment means such as hook and loop strips
  • the filter 1 is formed from a suitable non-woven, expanded synthetic material having an open cellular structure.
  • the material allows air to flow through by following a tortuous path, as depicted in FIG 5.
  • Arrows 14 represent the flow of air through the fan 1.
  • the structure of the fan material is such that air cannot pass directly through the material but is deflected by contact with fibres of the material. If the air is laden with dust it will lose the dust to the filter during contact with the material. In order to capture the benefit of the filtering effect it is important that the filter material is fluff and lint free. It is also preferable that the material is non-allergenic. Furthermore, the material should have suitable strength to withstand the degree of handling commonly associated with personal fans. The inventor has found that RayonTM and polyester are suitable materials for the filter. Another suitable filter material is natural wool, although the cost of wool presently precludes it from being economically attractive.
  • a clear window can be provided in the filter.
  • the clear window is opaque from dust it is time to replace the filter.
  • the filter 1 is impregnated or coated with a light oil, such as tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia).
  • a light oil such as tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia).
  • Tea tree oil has a double effect on the effectiveness of the filter. Firstly, it has an antimicrobial action to disinfect the air passing through the filter 1. Secondly, the oil aids in trapping dust from the air into the filter. The inventor has found that a light spraying of oil, say less than 1 ml per 100 cm 2 is sufficient.
  • Tea Tree oil is preferred it will be appreciated that other light oils such as eucalyptus oil, wheatgerm, jojoba, grapeseed or almond oil could be used.
  • the filter has an effective life limited by the evaporation rate of the oil and the quantity of oil sprayed into the filter material.
  • this lifetime feature is enhanced by treating the light oil with a colour additive that indicates the presence of the oil. When the colour is gone from the filter it indicates that the oil has evaporated and the disinfectant value is negligible. This indicates to the user that it is time to replace the filter.
  • a separate chemical indicated can be used to indicate the time to change the filter. The chemical indicator could be linked directly to duration of use or to dust captured.
  • the filter material provides a suitable matrix for carrying essential oils used in aromatherapy.
  • Essential oils are volatile oils generally derived from the plants, leaves, stems, flowers or twigs of plants. Chemically, they are principally te ⁇ ines (hydrocarbons), but many other types occur. The majority of essential oils have a low oral and dermal toxicity.
  • the filter is sprayed with a light oil, such as Tea Tree oil and an aromatherapy blend of essential oils.
  • a light oil such as Tea Tree oil
  • an aromatherapy blend of essential oils The actual blend of essential oils is a matter of taste for the user but the inventor has found that the following blends have a pleasing effect.
  • Relaxing blend 8 parts geranium
  • the invention overcomes the common problem of getting the arometherapy compound into the air.
  • a common method is by heating (eg in essential oil burners or vapourisers) however many essential oils degrade at elevated tempertures.
  • This embodiment of the invention gets the essential oils into the air without the need for elevated temperatures.
  • the aromatherapy blend can be absorbed into a wad which may then be positioned in a wad retaining means such as a pocket or loop on the filter.
  • a wad retaining means such as a pocket or loop on the filter.
  • FIG 3. The loop 15 is stitched to the filter 1 in a position that will be at the rear of the filter 1 when it is positioned on the fan 2. This location ensures that air flows past and through the wad during operation of the fan.
  • the wad (not shown) is formed from a non-woven cellulose based fibre. The wad is placed in the loop or altematively the loop is simply sprayed with the aromatherapy mixture.
  • the wad approach is particulariy useful for personal use but treating the entire filter is preferred for industrial applications.
  • a simple example is a filter treated with lavender for use in hospitals. If the entire filter is treated a larger volume of lavender can be supplied with a corresponding increase in life of the filter (assuming it does not get clogged up with dust).
  • the filter is impregnated or coated with a therapeutic agent rather than the aromotherapy compounds discussed above.
  • the therapeutic agent is a pharmaceutical such as ventolin.
  • This embodiment provides a method for the slow release of a therapeutic agent into a room were a person requiring the medication is working or resting. The inventor sees this embodiment as having particular application with young asthma sufferers at night. A filter impregnated or coated with ventolin and a light oil carrier could be operated in the room of a sleeping sufferer to provide a therapeutic effect throughout the night.
  • the invention is not limited to ventolin but could be used with any medication that can be taken by slow release.
  • Copolymers of polyvinylpyrrolidine/vinyl acetate, or vinyl acetate, butyl maleate and isobutyl acrylate are examples of suitable agents for this purpose.
  • the filters described herein can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit particular fans.
  • the effect of the filter is accumulative over time while the fan to which the filter is fitted is operating.
  • a small fan in a large room will take a considerable period of time to have full effect.
  • a large fan in a small room willl display a very rapid effect.
  • the inventor has found that a 40cm oscillating fan fitted with a filter coated with a blend of essential oils has a noticeable effect in a moderate size room within a matter of minutes.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Disinfection, Sterilisation Or Deodorisation Of Air (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un écran filtre à air de ventilateur conçu pour les ventilateurs équipés d'une grille de protection entourant leurs ailettes. Ledit écran filtre à air de ventilateur est fabriqué dans une matière synthétique expansée, non-tissée ayant une structure à cellules ouvertes. L'air aspiré à travers le filtre, du fait du fonctionnement du ventilateur, est contraint de suivre une trajectoire tortueuse en raison de la nature de la structure de ladite matière. Les particules transportées par l'air entrent en contact avec ladite matière et se déposent à l'intérieur du filtre. On peut enduire ce filtre d'une huile légère dans le but de renforcer l'effet filtrant. On peut également traiter ce filtre avec des composés aromatiques ou des composés pharmaceutiques de manière à conférer à l'air soufflé par le ventilateur des vertus thérapeutiques.
PCT/AU1996/000568 1995-09-13 1996-09-11 Ecran filtre a air de ventilateur WO1997010479A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU68660/96A AU702533B2 (en) 1995-09-13 1996-09-11 Fan air filter screen
US09/642,824 US6526974B1 (en) 1995-09-18 2000-08-22 Pressure control in CPAP treatment or assisted respiration

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPN5401A AUPN540195A0 (en) 1995-09-13 1995-09-13 Fan air filter screen
AUPN5401 1995-09-13
AUPO0406A AUPO040696A0 (en) 1996-06-13 1996-06-13 Fan air filter screen
AUPO0406 1996-06-13
AUPO0834 1996-07-05
AUPO0834A AUPO083496A0 (en) 1996-07-05 1996-07-05 Therapeutic fan air filter screen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997010479A1 true WO1997010479A1 (fr) 1997-03-20

Family

ID=27157885

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1996/000568 WO1997010479A1 (fr) 1995-09-13 1996-09-11 Ecran filtre a air de ventilateur

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1997010479A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2821922A1 (fr) * 2001-03-09 2002-09-13 Yann Birot Dispositif de ventilation multifonction mobile
US6527838B2 (en) 2000-07-18 2003-03-04 Giovanni D. Volo Indoor fan filter
US7670401B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2010-03-02 Zipwall, Llc Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
USD777901S1 (en) 2015-10-13 2017-01-31 Zipwall, Llc. Filter mount for a portable fan

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2161027A (en) * 1936-04-14 1939-06-06 Staynew Filter Corp Fan
US3572234A (en) * 1969-04-24 1971-03-23 Edward P Schoenthaler Air screen apparatus with filter removal means
AU8134594A (en) * 1993-11-09 1995-05-29 F F Seeley Nominees Pty Ltd Air cooler filter pad arrangement
AU1654595A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-11-09 Acme Group Pty Ltd Sealed ventilation tubing
JPH07303819A (ja) * 1994-05-13 1995-11-21 Agency Of Ind Science & Technol 空気清浄化扇風機及びその製造方法

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2161027A (en) * 1936-04-14 1939-06-06 Staynew Filter Corp Fan
US3572234A (en) * 1969-04-24 1971-03-23 Edward P Schoenthaler Air screen apparatus with filter removal means
AU8134594A (en) * 1993-11-09 1995-05-29 F F Seeley Nominees Pty Ltd Air cooler filter pad arrangement
AU1654595A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-11-09 Acme Group Pty Ltd Sealed ventilation tubing
JPH07303819A (ja) * 1994-05-13 1995-11-21 Agency Of Ind Science & Technol 空気清浄化扇風機及びその製造方法

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, Vol. 096, No. 003; & JP,A,07 303 819, (AGENCY OF IND SCIENCE & TECHNOL, KATO KIKAI SEISAKUSHO KK AIWA KK), 21 November 1995. *

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6527838B2 (en) 2000-07-18 2003-03-04 Giovanni D. Volo Indoor fan filter
US6874209B2 (en) 2000-07-18 2005-04-05 Giovanni D. Volo Indoor fan filter
FR2821922A1 (fr) * 2001-03-09 2002-09-13 Yann Birot Dispositif de ventilation multifonction mobile
WO2002073096A1 (fr) * 2001-03-09 2002-09-19 Yann Birot Dispositif de ventilation multifonction mobile
US8137426B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2012-03-20 Zipwall, Llc Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
US7905938B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2011-03-15 Zipwall, Llc Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
US7670401B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2010-03-02 Zipwall, Llc Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
US8349047B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2013-01-08 Zipwall Llc Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
US8591619B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2013-11-26 Zipwall Llc Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
US8801824B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2014-08-12 Zipwall Llc Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
US9458862B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2016-10-04 Zipwall, Llc. Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
US9784287B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2017-10-10 Zipwall, Llc. Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
USD777901S1 (en) 2015-10-13 2017-01-31 Zipwall, Llc. Filter mount for a portable fan

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