Electro-kinetic air transporter and conditioner device with enhanced maintenance features and enhanced anti-microorganism capability

Abstract

An electro-kinetic air conditioner for removing particulates from the air creates an airflow using no moving parts. The airflow is subjected to UV radiation from a germicidal lamp within the device. The conditioner includes an ion generator that has an electrode assembly including a first array of emitter electrodes, a second array of collector electrodes, and a high voltage generator. The device can also include a third or leading or focus electrode located upstream of the first array of emitter electrodes, and/or a trailing electrode located downstream of the second array of collector electrodes, and/or an interstitial electrode located between collector electrodes, and/or an enhanced emitter electrode with an enhanced length in order to increase emissivity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An air transporter-conditioner comprising: 
 a housing having a top and a removable inlet and an outlet;    an ion generator, when energized, that can create an airflow between the inlet and the outlet, and including a first electrode and a second electrode, and a voltage generator coupled between the first electrode and the second electrode;    said second electrode being removably mounted in said housing so that the second electrode can be removed for cleaning, and wherein said second electrode is removable through said top of said housing;    a germicidal lamp that can expose the airflow to germicidal radiation, disposed in said house, said germicidal lamp removably mounted in said housing such that after said inlet is removed, said germicidal lamp can be removed.    
     
     
         2 . The air transporter-conditioner of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said housing has a side extending downwardly from said top and said inlet is located through said side.  
 
     
     
         3 . The air transporter-conditioner of  claim 1  wherein said housing is elongated and said inlet and said outlet are covered with elongated fins which extend along a direction of the elongated housing.  
     
     
         4 . The air transporter-conditioner of  claim 1  wherein said housing is vertically upstanding and said inlet and said outlet are covered with vertical elongated fins.  
     
     
         5 . An air transporter-conditioner comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet and an outlet;    an ion generator which, when energized, that can create an airflow between the inlet and the outlet, and including a first electrode and a second electrode, and a voltage generator coupled between the first electrode and the second electrode;    said second electrode being removably mounted in said housing so that the second electrode can be removed for cleaning; and    a germicidal lamp exposing the airflow to germicidal radiation, disposed in said house, said germicidal lamp removably mounted in said housing such that said germicidal lamp can be changed.    
     
     
         6 . The air transporter-conditioner of  claim 5  wherein said housing has a top and said second electrode and said germicidal lamp are removable through said top.  
     
     
         7 . The air transporter-conditioner of  claim 5  wherein said housing has a top and a side and the second electrode is removable through said top and said germicidal lamp is removable through said sides.  
     
     
         8 . The air transporter-conditioner of  claim 5  wherein: 
 said housing has a top and said second electrode has a first handle located on said top, which first handle can be used to lift said second electrode out of said housing through said top; and  
 said germicidal lamp has a second handle, which second handle located on said top, which second handle can be used to lift said germicidal lamp out of said housing through said top.  
 
     
     
         9 . An air transporter-conditioner comprising: 
 an upstanding, elongated housing having a top and a side wall extending downwardly from said top, said housing further including an inlet defined through said side wall and an outlet;    said inlet removably mounted to said side wall;    an ion generator which, when energized, that can create an airflow between the inlet and the outlet, and including a first electrode and a second electrode, and a voltage generator coupled between the first electrode and the second electrode;    said second electrode being removably mounted in said housing so that the second electrode can be removed for cleaning;    said top of said housing including a port through which said second electrode can be removed;    a germicidal lamp exposing the airflow to germicidal radiation, disposed in said house, said germicidal lamp removably mounted in said housing such that said germicidal lamp can be changed; and    said germicidal lamp removably mounted in said housing adjacent to said removable inlet so that after said removable inlet is removed, said germicidal lamp can be removed.    
     
     
         10 . The air transporter-conditioner of  claim 9  wherein said second electrode is elongated along a direction of elongation of said housing.  
     
     
         11 . A method for maintaining an air transporter-conditioner having a housing with a top and a side, and an ion generator in said housing which ion generator includes a first ion emitter electrode and a second collector electrode, and a germicidal device in said housing, comprising the steps of in any order and with the steps occurring within a relatively short period of time or over a substantial period of operation of the air transporter-conditioner: 
 removing the second collector electrode through the top of said housing for cleaning;    removing the germicidal device through said side for replacing a germicidal lamp;    replacing the second collector electrode through the top of said housing into said housing; and    placing a new germicidal lamp into said housing.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  including preparatory to removing the germicidal device, the step of removing a side wall of the housing.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  including preparatory to removing the germicidal device, the step of removing a side outlet vent located in said side of said housing.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  including preparatory to removing the germicidal device, the step of removing a side vertically louvered vent located in said side of said housing.