High Voltage Connection For Sparse Material

Abstract

A filter assembly for an active field polarized media air cleaner includes a conductive screen that conducts a high voltage therethrough, a probe that delivers voltage to the conductive screen, and a conductive patch adhered to the conductive screen. The probe delivers the high voltage to the conductive screen through the conductive patch.

Claims

1. A filter assembly for an active field polarized media air cleaner comprising: a conductive screen that conducts a high voltage therethrough; a probe that delivers voltage to the conductive screen; and a conductive, planar patch adhesively attached to the conductive screen, wherein the probe delivers the high voltage to the conductive screen through the conductive patch, wherein the patch is separate and distinct from the conductive screen.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising filter media located on either side of the conductive screen.

3. The filter assembly of claim 2, further comprising ground screens on either side of the conductive screen.

4. The filter assembly of claim 3, further comprising an insulating element attached to at least one of the ground screens in an area of the ground screen near the probe, wherein the insulating element prevents a short of the high voltage to ground.

5. The filter assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one of the filter media pads includes a hole therethrough, wherein the probe extends through the hole to contact the conductive patch.

6. The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a ground screen 130 that grounds the assembly.

7. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive patch comprises an aluminum foil.

8. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive patch comprises a metal sheet.

9. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive patch comprises a conductive plastic.

10. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive patch comprises a conductive portion attached to a backing.

11. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the patch has rounded edges.

12. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the patch comprises splines reaching outwards from a central portion of the patch.

13. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the probe and conductive patch engage one another through an adhesive.

14. The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second conductive patch applied to an opposite side of the conductive screen.

15. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the second conductive patch is in electrical contact with the conductive patch.

16. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the second conductive patch is adhesively connected to the conductive patch through gaps in the conductive screen.

17. The filter assembly of claim 14, wherein the second patch applied to an opposite side of the conductive screen is an insulator.

18. The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising an insulating spacer on an opposite side of the conductive screen.

19. (canceled)

20. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the high voltage is delivered radially out from the conductive patch.

21. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive patch is oblong.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the conductive disc applied to a screen, with certain elements shown transparently for clarity.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIGS. 4a-c show different views of the disc applied to both sides of a conductive screen.

[0013] FIGS. 5a-c show different views of the disc applied to a single side of a conductive screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0014] An active field polarized media air cleaner uses an electrostatic field created by a voltage differential. The electrostatic field polarizes both the media fibers and the particles that enter, thereby increasing the removal efficiency of the media as well as the loading capacity of the air cleaner. A dielectric material is an electrical insulator or a substance that is highly resistant to electric current that can also store electrical energy. A dielectric material tends to concentrate an applied electric field within itself and is thus an efficient supporter of electrostatic fields.

[0015] Conductive adhesive patches 100 will improve and ensure the connection point between a conductive center screen 110 sparse material and a probe 140, as shown in FIG. 1. The conductive patches 100 can be metal foil or sheet, and may be include a plastic backing to ensure they keep a uniform shape. If the patch 100 is backed with a plastic material, the plastic material would include a passthrough to allow the patch to receive a charge from a conductive probe 140.

[0016] The conductive patches 100 could be any conductive material. Aluminum foil adhesive tapes and die-cut parts are a readily available and inexpensive option that is presently preferred. The figures show a circular-shaped piece of aluminum foil applied to and extruded conductive plastic netting, but could obviously be applied to other material types and shapes.

[0017] In use, the adhesive-backed conductive patch 100 attaches to a conductive center screen 110 that separates two filter media 120. Ground screens 130 on either side of the filter media 120 act to ground the entire filter assembly 90. A probe 140 delivers voltage from a voltage source through the filter assembly 90 to the conductive patch 100.

[0018] The voltage contact between the probe 140 and the conductive patch 100 is made through a contact point 150 on the probe 140. The contact point 150 could have a sharp point and pierce the media 120 and the patch 100. Alternatively, the contact point 150 could be blunt or rounded and simply make contact with the patch 100. The contact point 150 may itself have some adhesive applied thereto that contacts the patch 100 to minimize the chance of a lost connection. This adhesive would itself either be conductive or only surround the contact point, not insulated the contact point more than necessary. Alternatively, the contact point 150 and patch 100 may be connected through a magnetic connection.

[0019] In some instances, the media 120 would have to be sparse enough to allow for contact therethrough. Alternatively, the media may be cut away to allow a clear path for the probe. In one embodiment, there may be an insulating element 160 on the opposite ground screen 130 in an area proximate to the contact to prevent short of the high voltage to ground. This insulating element 160 could also be attached to the media center screen or elsewhere. Another embodiment of an insulating element could act as a spacer located on an opposite side of the center screen 110 from the patch, where the spacer ensures the center screen does not short.

[0020] As shown, the conductive patch 100 is oblong to allow for some variability in placement with different sizes and types of media pads and filter frames. The conductive patch 100 could be smaller if the relationship between the filter assembly 90 and the high voltage probe 140 was uniform. The conductive patch 100's rounded edges minimize the potential of voltage spraying and arcing. The patch 100 may also be a splined shape with arms that extend outwards from a center.

[0021] The conductive patch 100 could be applied to both sides of the center screen 110 (first and second patches applied separately) as shown in FIGS. 4a-c or to one side as shown in FIGS. 5a-c. The advantage of the former would be in the event of a sparser center screen 110 material, the two patches 100 would hold each other in place through the connection of their adhesives to one another through the gaps in the center screen 110. Alternatively, the patch 100 opposite the probe 140 could be made of an insulating material and could serve to preplace the insulating element 160. The center screen 110 itself could be any of a variety of conductive materials.

[0022] While the embodiments shown relate to air cleaners, there will be other applications for such a contact where a positive electrical connection to a sparse or woven material or substrate or extruded plastic net is required.

[0023] While the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments above, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that various changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.