MULTIPLE STAGE AIR PURIFICATION DEVICE

Abstract

An air purification device (100) comprising a housing (102) defining an air inlet (110), an air outlet (112), and an airflow pathway (114) extending from the air inlet (110) to the air outlet (112); a liquid reservoir (130) disposed across the airflow pathway (114) between the air inlet (110) and the air outlet (112); an ultraviolet (UV) light source (210) disposed in the housing (102), wherein the UV light source (210) is positioned to emit UV light into the airflow pathway (114); and an electrostatic precipitator (310) disposed across the airflow pathway (114).

Claims

1. An air purification device comprising: a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow pathway extending from the air inlet to the air outlet; a liquid reservoir disposed across the airflow pathway between the air inlet and the air outlet; an ultraviolet (UV) light source disposed in the housing, wherein the UV light source is positioned to emit UV light into the airflow pathway and into the liquid reservoir; an electrostatic precipitator disposed across the airflow pathway; and a UV sensor, wherein the liquid reservoir is positioned between the UV light source and the UV sensor, whereby the UV sensor is configured to sense an intensity of the UV light from the UV light source through the liquid reservoir.

2. The air purification device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic precipitator is downstream of the liquid reservoir along the airflow pathway.

3. The air purification device of claim 1, further comprising an air pump having a pump inlet in communication with the air inlet and the air pump having a pump outlet in the liquid reservoir.

4. The air purification device of claim 3, further comprising a diffuser in communication with the pump outlet, where the diffuser is configured to diffuse air from the pump outlet of the air pump.

5. The air purification device of claim 1, wherein the UV light source is positioned in the airflow pathway.

6. The air purification device of claim 1, wherein the UV light source is positioned between the air outlet and the liquid reservoir.

7. The air purification device of claim 1, further comprising a UV-reflecting layer on an inner surface of the housing.

8. The air purification device of claim 1, further comprising a UV-reflecting layer on a surface defining the liquid reservoir.

9. The air purification device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to provide notification to a user when the UV sensor senses UV light intensity that is below a threshold, wherein the threshold is greater than 0.5 relative to the UV light intensity of the UV light source.

10. The air purification device of claim 1, further comprising a particle settling zone towards a bottom region of the liquid reservoir.

11. The air purification device of claim 10, wherein the particle settling zone is positioned between the UV sensor and the UV light source.

12. The air purification device of claim 1, wherein the UV sensor comprises a photoconductive cell.

13. A method of purifying air comprising: pumping air from an inlet through a liquid disposed in a liquid reservoir; releasing air from the liquid in the liquid reservoir and exposing the released air to UV light from a UV light source; exposing the liquid in the liquid reservoir to the UV light; electrostatically charging the air with an electrostatic precipitator; and sensing the intensity of the UV light from the UV light source after the UV light passes through the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

Description

[0089] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0090] FIG. 1 is an example air purification device;

[0091] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example air purification device; and

[0092] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another example air purification device.

[0093] FIG. 1 depicts one example air purification device 100 that is consistent with the current disclosure and FIG. 2 depicts an example cross-sectional view of the example air purification device of FIG. 1. The air purification device 100 is configured to purify ambient air using multiple purification stages. The air purification device 100 has a housing 102. The housing 102 is configured to direct air through one or more stages of air purification. The housing 102 defines an air inlet 110. The air inlet 110 is generally configured to receive ambient air 10 from the surrounding environment. The surrounding environment may be a room. The housing 102 defines an air outlet 112. The air outlet 112 is configured to release purified air 360 into the surrounding environment. In the current example, the air outlet 112 is defined circumferentially about the housing 102. The housing 102 defines an airflow pathway 114 extending from the air inlet 110 to the air outlet 112. The airflow pathway 114 is generally configured to extend through one or more air purification stages.

[0094] The air purification device 100 has a liquid reservoir 130 disposed in the housing 102. The liquid reservoir 130 is disposed across the airflow pathway 114 such that air passing from the air inlet 110 to the air outlet 112 is configured to pass through the liquid reservoir 130. The liquid reservoir 130 is configured to receive a liquid 140 (shown in FIG. 2) that is configured to filter the air passing through the airflow pathway 114. As discussed above, the liquid 140 may be various types of liquid. In the current example, the housing 102 and the material defining the liquid reservoir 130 are transparent such that the contents of the liquid reservoir 130 may be observed by a user. In some embodiments the housing 102 and the liquid reservoir 130 are constructed of glass.

[0095] The liquid reservoir 130 may be configured to be relatively easily emptied and refilled by a user. The liquid reservoir 130 may have a removable cover 120. The removable cover may define the air inlet 110. The removable cover 120 may be coupled to the rest of the housing 102 via a push-in frictional connection, a clamped connection, a screw fitting or a bayonet connection, as examples. The cover 120 may be manually removed by a user to fill and empty the liquid reservoir 130.

[0096] The air purification device 100 has an air pump 500 that is configured to generate airflow into the liquid reservoir 130. The air pump 500 has a pump inlet 502 (visible in FIG. 2) in communication with the air inlet 110 of the housing 102. The air pump 500 has a pump outlet 504 in the liquid reservoir 130. Such a configuration advantageously directs ambient air 10 into the liquid reservoir 130. As discussed above, the liquid reservoir 130 preferably contains a liquid 140 that is configured to filter the air 10 directed into the liquid reservoir 130 by the air pump 500. The pump outlet 504 is positioned vertically below the pump inlet 502. The pump outlet 504 is positioned centrally relative to the width of the liquid reservoir 130, where the width is perpendicular to the vertical extension of the liquid reservoir 130. In the current example, the liquid reservoir 130 has a generally cylindrical configuration about a central axis x. The pump extends along a portion of the central axis x (see FIG. 2) of the liquid reservoir.

[0097] In the current example, the air purification device 100 has a diffuser 121. The diffuser 121 is configured to diffuse air from the pump outlet 504 of the air pump 500, such as by forming bubbles 122. The bubbles 122 may be microbubbles as has been discussed above. The diffuser 121 may further be configured to disperse the diffused air into the liquid reservoir 130. Dispersing the diffused air may advantageously limit contact between the air bubbles, thereby preventing merging of the air bubbles. The diffuser 121 is disposed in the liquid reservoir 130. The diffuser 121 may be coupled to the housing. In the current example, the diffuser 121 is coupled to the pump outlet 504. The diffuser 121 extends from the pump outlet 504 towards the bottom of the liquid reservoir 130.

[0098] In the current example, the removable cover 120 has an air conduit 126. The air conduit 126 defines the air inlet 110 on a first end 124 and the diffuser 121 on a second end 125 opposite the first end 124. The pump 500 is disposed in the air conduit 126 between the first end 124 and the second end 125. The air conduit 126 tapers from the first end 124 to the second end 125, which may advantageously facilitate the pumping of ambient air 10 into the liquid 140 of the liquid reservoir 130. The diffuser 121 on the second end 125 is configured to extend into the liquid 140 in the liquid reservoir 130. The diffuser 121 is configured to release the generated microbubbles into the liquid 140 such that the microbubbles are configured to rise through the liquid as a result of buoyant force acting on the air.

[0099] The liquid reservoir 130 has a particle settling zone 133 towards a bottom region of the liquid reservoir 130. The particle settling zone 133 is generally configured to allow particles to settle under the force of gravity. The particle settling zone 133 may be partially separated from the remainder of the liquid reservoir 130. For example, the particle settling zone may be separated from the remainder of the liquid reservoir 130 by a ceiling 132 of the particle settling zone 133. The ceiling 132 defines a plurality of openings 134 through which particles may trapped in the particle settling zone 133.

[0100] The air purification device 100 has a UV light source 210 disposed in the housing 102. The UV light source 210 is visible in FIG. 2. The UV light source 210 is positioned to emit light into the airflow pathway 114. The UV light may advantageously neutralize or limit the growth of microbes within the airflow pathway 114. The UV light source 210 thus defines another air purification stage of the air purification device 100. The UV light source 210 may be considered a second air purification stage of the air purification device 100. The UV light source 210 is coupled to the housing 102. In particular, the UV light source 210 is coupled to the removable cover 120. The UV light source 210 is positioned in the airflow pathway 114. The UV light source 210 is positioned between the air outlet 112 and the liquid reservoir 130.

[0101] In the current example, the UV light source 210 is positioned to also emit light into the liquid reservoir 130. The UV light source 210 may advantageously neutralize or limit the growth of microbes within the liquid reservoir 130, the advantages of which have been described in detail, above. The UV light source 210 may also be positioned to emit light on internal surfaces of the air purification device, such as an inner surface of the housing 102, an inner surface of the material defining the liquid reservoir 130, or both the inner surface of the housing 102 and an inner surface of the material defining the liquid reservoir 130. In the current example the air purification device 100 has a UV-reflecting layer 136 on one or more inner surfaces of the housing and the liquid reservoir 130. For example, a UV-reflecting layer 136 may be included on one or more of an inner wall of the air conduit 126, an outer wall of the liquid reservoir 130, or an inner wall of the housing 102. The UV-reflecting layer 136 may be configured in a way that has been discussed above.

[0102] The current example air purification device has a UV sensor 330, which is visible in FIG. 2. The UV sensor 330 is generally configured to sense an intensity of the UV light from the UV light source 210. The liquid reservoir 130 is positioned between the UV light source 210 and the UV sensor 330, whereby the UV sensor 330 is configured to sense the intensity of the UV light from the UV light source 210 through the liquid reservoir 130. In some embodiments, including the one depicted, the particle settling zone 133 may be positioned between the UV sensor 330 and the UV light source 210. As discussed above, the intensity of the UV light may be used to approximate the quantity of collected particles in the liquid reservoir 130 and the particle settling zone 133. Furthermore, if the intensity of UV light passing through the liquid 140 lowers below a threshold, the condition of the liquid may be inadequate to filter the air.

[0103] The air purification device 100 generally has a user interface 400 that is configured to provide notification to a user when the UV sensor 330 senses UV light intensity from the UV light source 210 that is below a threshold. The user interface 400 may be configured to provide a user with notification that the liquid in the liquid reservoir 130 should be replaced. The user interface 400 may be configured to provide a user with a notification that components of the air purification device 100 are not correctly assembled. Example thresholds have been discussed in detail above. In the current example the user interface 400 is a wireless speaker that is configured to provide an audio notification to a user. The user interface 400 may have additional components and combinations of components such as wireless communication components, displays, and others that have been described above.

[0104] The current example air purification device 100 has an electrostatic precipitator 310 disposed across the airflow pathway 114, which is visible in FIG. 2. Here the electrostatic precipitator 310 defines yet another air purification stage of the air purification device 100. Particularly, the electrostatic precipitator defines a third air purification stage of the air purification device 100. The electrostatic precipitator 310 is downstream of the liquid reservoir 130 along the airflow pathway 114. As such, air that exits the liquid in the liquid reservoir 130 passes through the electrostatic precipitator 310.

[0105] In the current example, the electrostatic precipitator 310 is positioned vertically below the liquid reservoir 130. An airflow channel 250 extends from an outlet 240 of the liquid reservoir 130 towards the electrostatic precipitator 310. The airflow channel 250 extends axially downward. In this example the airflow channel 250 and the liquid reservoir are coaxial. The airflow channel 250 circumferentially surrounds the liquid reservoir 130 about the central axis x. The airflow channel 250 is defined between an outer surface of the liquid reservoir 130 and an inner surface of the housing 102. Such a configuration advantageously allows the air purification device 100 to have a relatively compact configuration. The airflow channel 250 may have a volume between 0.2 and 0.5 liters. A fan assembly 340 is configured to generate airflow from the liquid reservoir 130 through the electrostatic precipitator 310 and through the air outlet 112. The fan assembly 340 has a fan 343, a drive unit 342, and a motor 341. In various embodiments the fan assembly 340 has a user interface through which the fan assembly 340 may be operated by a user.

[0106] In some embodiments, such as those depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid reservoir 130 and the housing 102 define the airflow channel 250 between them. The liquid reservoir 130 and the housing 102 may be defined by a single, unitary structure. In some embodiments the liquid reservoir 130 and the housing 102 are distinct components that may be manually attached and detached by a user. The removable cover 120 may removably couple to the liquid reservoir 130 and the housing 102 to define a portion of the airflow pathway 114 extending from the liquid reservoir 130 to the airflow channel 250. For example, here the removable cover 110 has an axially extending flange 123 that is configured to couple to the housing 102. In some embodiments, the removable cover 120 may define an inlet 252 to the airflow channel 250. The inlet 252 may be defined by the axially extending flange 123 of the removable cover 120.

[0107] The housing 102 may be mounted on a first circumferential supporting member 131 and a second circumferential supporting member 320 on a base component 300. The housing 102, liquid reservoir 130, and the base component 300 define a portion of the airflow pathway 114 extending from the airflow channel 250 through the electrostatic precipitator 310. The base component 300 defines a portion of the airflow pathway 114 extending from the electrostatic precipitator 310 to the air outlet 112.

[0108] In various embodiments the various separate components of the air purification device 100 may be assembled and disassembled in a relatively simple manner, for example, by push-in frictional connections, clamped connections, screw fittings, bayonet connections, or combinations thereof. Referring to this, the removable cover 120 having the pump 500 and the UV light source 210 may be mounted on top of a double chamber defining the liquid reservoir 130 and the airflow channel 250. At the same time, the double chamber may be manually detached and attached to the base component 300. The user interface 400, which here is a wireless sound system, may be attachable and detachable towards the bottom side of the base component 300.

[0109] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of another example air purification device 600 of the present disclosure. The device of FIG. 3 is similar to the air purification device described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the diffuser 621 is an annular surface separate from the air conduit 622. The annular surface may define a plurality of openings configured to generate air bubbles such as microbubbles, similar to the diffuser described above with reference to FIG. 2. The diffuser 621 may be mounted around the air conduit 622. The diffuser 621 may receive air from the pump outlet 704 of the pump 700.

[0110] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A±5% of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.