POLLUTION AND AIR CLEANING DEVICE
20250216101 ยท 2025-07-03
Inventors
Cpc classification
F24F11/56
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F8/142
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F24F8/133
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F8/142
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A mobile air cleaning device for reducing air pollution emissions from a source by cleaning contaminated air is provided. The air cleaning device includes a tank to hold liquid, an extendable pipe to extend relative to the tank, an air filter to transmit air to the tank, a screen to filter pollution from the source, a pump to circulate liquid in the tank, and a liquid filter to filter pollution from the tank. The extendable pipe includes a fan to draw contaminated air through the extendable pipe to the tank where pollution emissions are captured in the liquid and clean air escapes though an air hole in the tank. A drone may deploy the air cleaning device to an elevation of the air pollution emissions. Advantageously, the air cleaning device militates against air pollution by cleaning contaminated air in a mobile and compact manner capable of reaching various elevations.
Claims
1. An air cleaning device to capture air pollution emission from a source using liquid, comprising: a tank defining a reservoir configured to hold the liquid; an extendable pipe including a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end coupled to the tank, the extendable pipe configured to extend relative to the tank; an air filter coupled to the extendable pipe, the air filter including a screen coupled thereto and configured to filter the air pollution emission from the source, the air filter configured to transmit air to the tank; a pump coupled to the tank, the pump configured to circulate the liquid in the tank; and a liquid filter coupled to the tank, the liquid filter configured to filter pollution from the tank.
2. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the extendable pipe is configured to move laterally relative to the tank.
3. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the extendable pipe is fireproof.
4. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the extendable pipe is fluidly coupled to the tank, the extendable pipe including an input line and an output line.
5. The air cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the extendable pipe includes a side opening, the side opening configured to receive the liquid.
6. The air cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the air cleaning device includes a liquid pipe.
7. The air cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the liquid pipe is fluidly coupled to the pump and fluidly coupled to the extendable pipe.
8. The air cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the pump is configured to circulate the liquid from the tank to the side opening of the extendable pipe through the liquid pipe.
9. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the tank includes a plurality of chambers, the liquid filter is configured to treat the air pollution emission with the liquid from the tank and separate clean air from contaminated liquid.
10. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the tank includes an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port configured to fill the tank with the liquid, the outlet port configured to drain the liquid from the tank.
11. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the tank includes an air hole configured to release clean air separated from the liquid.
12. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the air filter includes a fan coupled to the extendable pipe, the fan configured to draw the air pollution emission to the tank.
13. The air cleaning device according to claim 12, wherein the fan is configured to cover an entirety of the distal end of the extendable pipe.
14. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, further including a wind catcher having an elongated support body coupled to the tank, the wind catcher disposed substantially parallel to the air filter.
15. The air cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the wind catcher extends upward at a 90-degree angle relative to the tank.
16. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the air cleaning device includes one or more wheels.
17. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, further including an aerial drone, the aerial drone configured to deploy the air cleaning device to one of an elevation of the air pollution emission from the source and a location of the air pollution emission from the source.
18. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, further including a remote control configured to electronically control a movement of the air cleaning device.
19. The air cleaning device according to claim 1, further including a remote control configured to electronically control the pump.
20. A method of using an air cleaning device to capture air pollution emission from a source, the method comprising steps of: providing the air cleaning device of claim 1; disposing the air cleaning device to a desired location; and activating the air cleaning device.
Description
DRAWINGS
[0025] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
[0029]
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[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments, including where certain steps can be simultaneously performed, unless expressly stated otherwise. A and an as used herein indicate at least one of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word about and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word substantially in describing the broadest scope of the technology. About when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by about and/or substantially is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then about and/or substantially as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.
[0036] Although the open-ended term comprising, as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as consisting of or consisting essentially of Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of a composition or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.
[0037] Disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of from A to B or from about A to about B is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.
[0038] When an element or layer is referred to as being on, engaged to, connected to, or coupled to another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly on, directly engaged to, directly connected to or directly coupled to another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., between versus directly between, adjacent versus directly adjacent, etc.). As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0039] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
[0040] Spatially relative terms, such as inner, outer, beneath, below, lower, above, upper, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be oriented above the other elements or features. Thus, the example term below can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
[0041] The present technology relates to an air cleaning device 100, as shown in
[0042] As shown in
[0043] The extendable pipe 114 may include the following aspects. The extendable pipe 114 may be disposed at an angle relative to the tank 110. The extendable pipe 114 may also extend upwards at a 90-degree angle relative to the tank 110. Alternatively, the extendable pipe 114 may be configured to move laterally relative to the tank 110. The extendable pipe 114 may also include a support beam 136. The support beam 136 may be coupled to the distal end 116 of the extendable pipe 114. The support beam 136 may also be coupled to the extendable pipe 114 between the distal end 116 and the proximal end 118. The support beam 136 may be configured to provide stability to the extendable pipe 114. The support beam 136 may also be configured to change the position of the extendable pipe 114 relative to the tank 110. Advantageously, the support beam 136 may allow a user 138 to raise the extendable pipe 114 to a desired height 140. The extendable pipe 114 may also include a portion thereof that is fireproof 142. The extendable pipe 114 may include a telescopic pipe 144. Alternatively, the extendable pipe 114 may include a flexible pipe 146 that may bend at an angle relative to the tank 110. Advantageously, the extendable pipe 114 may be disposed proximate to sources 124 of air pollution emissions 102 such as buildings 150, for example, to draw smoke 126 from fires 148, residential and commercial chimneys 152, or factory smokestacks 154. For example, the air cleaning device 100 may be used by firefighters 156 and other users 138 to fight fires 148 in multi-story buildings 150 where the extendable pipe 114 may be inserted into the building 150. In another example, the extendable pipe 114 may rest against a burning building 150 and the air cleaning device 100 may draw the smoke 126 through the extendable pipe 114 and down to the tank 110 to help militate against emissions and minimize potential for the fire 148 to spread. One of ordinary skill in the art may select a suitable configuration and length for the extendable pipe 114 within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the extendable pipe 114 may extend several feet in the air to collect air pollution emissions 102. It should also be appreciated that one of ordinary skill in the art may select suitable material, capable of withstanding high temperatures, to manufacture the extendable pipe 114 within the scope of the present technology, with similar results.
[0044] As shown in
[0045] As shown in
[0046] The reservoir 112 of the tank 110 may be a container 172, a bag 174, or a divider 176. The reservoir 112 may include a plurality of reservoirs 112 designed to hold liquid 106 to be used consecutively until each reservoir 112 needs cleaning or refilling. For example, air pollution emissions 102 may be captured in a reservoir 112 until the reservoir 112 must be cleaned or refilled, wherein the next reservoir 112 will be used without refilling the tank 110 or retrieving the air cleaning device 100 from a source 124. It should be appreciated that the use of multiple reservoirs 112 allows for extended mobility and uninterrupted operations.
[0047] The liquid filter 134 may include the following aspects. The liquid filter 134 may be configured to treat air pollution emissions 102 within the liquid 106 from the tank 110. The liquid filter 134 may also be configured to separate clean air from contaminated liquid 106. The tank 110 may also include an inlet port 178 178 and an outlet port 180 180. The inlet port 178 may be configured to fill the tank 110 with the liquid 106. The outlet port 180 may be configured to drain the liquid 106 from the tank 110. The tank 110 may include an air hole 182. The air hole 182 may be configured to release clean air 104 separated from the liquid 106. Effectively, the liquid 106 in the tank 110 may be used to capture and remove air pollution emissions 102 from the air 104, where clean air 104 may then be released through the air hole 182 into the atmosphere, with the pollution emissions 102 remaining in the tank 110. When the liquid 106 becomes too contaminated, the outlet port 180 may drain the liquid 106, and the tank 110 may be re-filled through the inlet port 178.
[0048] The air filter 120 may include the following aspects. The air filter 120 may include a fan 184. The fan 184 may be coupled to the extendable pipe 114. The fan 184 may be configured to draw air pollution emissions 102 to the tank 110. For example, the screen 122 on the air filter 120 may filter particulates 130 from the air as the fan 184 draws the air 104 through the extendable pipe 114 of the air cleaning device 100. Advantageously, the screen 122 militates against large particulates 130 from entering the extendable pipe 114, acting as a sieve prior to the pollution emissions 102 entering the liquid filter 134. Desirably, the fan 184 draws in air pollution emissions 102 as the extendable pipe 114 extends into the air 104, as shown in
[0049] The fan 184 may also be configured to cover an entirety of the distal end 116 of the extendable pipe 114. The screen 122 may include a cage 186. The cage 186 may also be disposed surround the entirety of the distal end 116 of the extendable pipe 114. Alternatively, the cage 186 may be disposed above the tank 110. The cage 186 may also be disposed above a reservoir 112 separate from the tank 110, capturing air pollution emissions 102 in the reservoir 112.
[0050] As shown in
[0051] As shown in
[0052] As shown in
[0053] As shown in
[0054] As shown in
[0055] As shown in
[0056] As shown in
[0057] Advantageously, the air cleaning device 100 is mobile and compact. Desirably, the extendable pipe 114 may extend several feet in the air to collect contaminated air 104. Advantageously, the screen 122 militates against large particulates 130 from entering the extendable pipe 114 and acts as a filter to help circulate contaminated air 104 through the fan 184. Further, the pump 132 may spray the contaminated air 104 as it is drawn from the fan 184 through the extendable pipe 114. Overall, the air cleaning device 100 may help militate against air pollution emissions by cleaning contaminated air 104 at various elevations.
EXAMPLES
[0058] Example embodiments of the present technology are provided with reference to the several figures enclosed herewith. These examples highlight how the air cleaning device offers significant practical advantages over other air cleaning devices in various environments.
Example 1: Wildfire Smoke Mitigation in Remote Mountainous Areas
[0059] In the aftermath of a wildfire, dense smoke can settle in valleys and mountainous regions, creating hazardous air conditions. Traditional air cleaning systems are difficult to transport and deploy in such remote locations.
[0060] An air pollution cleaner equipped with lightweight, drone-compatible technology may be flown into these areas. Once deployed, the device uses liquid filtration with easily refillable liquids such as water to clean the air while operating autonomously. The mobility of the drone allows it to follow pollution as it migrates due to changing winds and elevation, providing the advantage of cleaner air for firefighters when using temporary camp sites. Additionally, the system may adjust its altitude dynamically to address concentrated smoke layers in forested areas, deep ditches, and steep terrain, providing localized air cleaning in areas otherwise inaccessible to ground-based systems.
Example 2: Hazardous Chemical Leak Cleanup at an Industrial Site
[0061] During a chemical spill or fire at an industrial facility, toxic fumes can accumulate in confined spaces such as basements, tunnels, or elevated storage tanks. Direct access to these areas may be dangerous for personnel.
[0062] An air cleaning device with an extendable pipe may be deployed to mitigate pollution without endangering workers. For example, a telescopic pipe or flexible pipe may be extended into a confined space to extract polluted air and filter it through the system, neutralizing chemicals before they disperse. Similarly, an extendable aerial drone-based unit may be positioned near elevated structures throughout the facility to capture escaping fugitive particulates and fumes while keeping operators and personnel at a safe distance, and also mitigating against toxic chemicals dispersing into surrounding residential communities and wildlife habitats.
Example 3: Disaster Response in Urban High-Rise Environments
[0063] In a large-scale urban fire or explosion, smoke and airborne particulates may accumulate at varying elevations, including inside or around high-rise buildings. Standard portable devices are limited to ground-level deployment, leaving upper floors vulnerable.
[0064] A mobile air cleaning device equipped with an extendable pipe capable of extending several feet may be used to address air pollution at different heights. Additionally, the device may include one or more aerial drones that may transport the air cleaning device to the upper floors of high-rises to provide localized air cleaning. This solution allows responders to reduce airborne pollutants at multiple elevations simultaneously and from a safe distance from burning or unstable structures within or attached to the high-rise, ensuring cleaner air for building occupants and emergency personnel.
[0065] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions and methods can be made within the scope of the present technology, with substantially similar results.