Electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner devices with trailing electrode

Abstract

An electro-kinetic air conditioner for removing particulates from the air creates an airflow using no moving parts. 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. Preferably, a third or leading or focus electrode is located upstream of the first array of emitter electrodes, and/or a trailing electrode is located downstream of the second array of collector electrodes. The device can also include an interstitial electrode located between collector electrodes, an enhanced collector electrode with an integrally formed trailing end, and an enhanced emitter electrode with an enhanced length in order to increase emissivity.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An ion generator comprising: 
 a. a first electrode;    b. a second electrode located downstream of the first electrode;    c. a voltage generator electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the voltage generator configured to create a flow of air in a downstream direction from the first electrode to the second electrode; and    d. a trailing electrode located downstream of and in-line with the second electrode.    
     
     
         2 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the trailing electrode is electrically connected to the voltage generator.  
     
     
         3 . The generator of  claim 2  wherein the trailing electrode and the second electrode have the same sign potential when the voltage generator is energized.  
     
     
         4 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode collects particles in the air charged by first electrode.  
     
     
         5 . The generator of  claim 2  wherein the voltage generator causes the first electrode to emit ions, wherein the trailing electrode neutralizes the ions emitted by the first electrode.  
     
     
         6 . The generator of  claim 2  wherein the voltage generator causes the first electrode to emit positive ions, wherein the trailing electrode emits negative ions to neutralize the positive ions emitted by the first electrode.  
     
     
         7 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the trailing electrode includes at least one pointed end.  
     
     
         8 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the trailing electrode is triangle shaped.  
     
     
         9 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is removable therefrom.  
     
     
         10 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is elongated and the trailing electrode is substantially the same length as the elongated second electrode.  
     
     
         11 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is an elongated fin.  
     
     
         12 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode includes two elongated fins and the trailing electrode includes an elongated cylindrical column located downstream of one of the two elongated fins.  
     
     
         13 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode has a width along a direction across the downstream direction and the trailing electrode includes a width a selective one of either substantially the same as or less than the width of the second electrode.  
     
     
         14 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode has a width dimension, wherein the trailing electrode is located downstream of the second electrode a distance of at least three times the width of the second electrode.  
     
     
         15 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the trailing electrode further comprises a plurality of trailing wires.  
     
     
         16 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the first electrode is positively charged and the second electrode is negatively charged.  
     
     
         17 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the first electrode is pin-shaped.  
     
     
         18 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the trailing electrode is formed with the second electrode.  
     
     
         19 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the trailing electrode is hollow and is formed with the second electrode.  
     
     
         20 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the trailing electrode protrudes from the second electrode.  
     
     
         21 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is elongated and has a base, the trailing electrode located at the base of the elongated second electrode.  
     
     
         22 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is elongated and the trailing electrode has a pointed shape.  
     
     
         23 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is elongated and fin-shaped and has a base, the trailing electrode having a pointed shape and located at the base of the second electrode.  
     
     
         24 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the first and second electrodes are elongated and the trailing electrode is substantially shorter than the first and the second electrodes.  
     
     
         25 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is elongated and the trailing electrode is substantially triangle-shaped.  
     
     
         26 . A device for conditioning air comprising: 
 a. a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;    b. a first electrode configured proximate to the air inlet;    c. a second electrode configured downstream of the first electrode;    d. a potential generator electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the potential generator creates airflow in a downstream direction from the first electrode to the second electrode; and    e. a trailing electrode located downstream of and in-line with the second electrode and proximal to the air outlet.    
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the trailing electrode is charged to a polarity opposite of a polarity of the first electrode.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the first electrode emits positive ions and the trailing electrode emits negative ions.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the trailing electrode includes a plurality of pointed ends.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 26  wherein at least a portion of the trailing electrode is substantially triangle in shape.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode is removable from the housing.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode has an elongated shape and the trailing electrode is substantially the same length as the second electrode.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the housing has a top end, wherein the second electrode is removable from the housing through the top end.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode is elongated and is at least partially removable from a top end of the housing.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode further comprises at least one elongated fin.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the trailing electrode includes an elongated cylindrical column.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode has a first width dimension and the trailing electrode has a second width dimension, wherein the second width dimension is substantially the same as the first width dimension.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode has a first width dimension and the trailing electrode has a second width dimension, wherein the second width dimension is less than the first width dimension.  
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the trailing electrode and the second electrode are charged to the same polarity.  
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode has a width dimension and the trailing electrode is located downstream from the second electrode at least three times the width dimension.  
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode collects particulate matter.  
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the first electrode is positively charged and the second electrode is negatively charged.  
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the first electrode is pin-shaped.  
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode is elongated and the trailing electrode has a pointed shape.  
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode is fin-shaped and has a base, wherein the trailing electrode has a pointed shape and is proximal to the base.  
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the second electrode is elongated and at least a portion of the trailing electrode is triangle shaped.  
     
     
         47 . A device for conditioning air comprising: 
 a. a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;    b. a first electrode configured proximate to the air inlet;    c. a second electrode configured downstream of the first electrode;    d. a potential generator electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the potential generator adapted to apply a positive charge to the first electrode and a negative charge to the second electrode to create airflow in a downstream direction from the first electrode to the second electrode; and    e. means for emitting negative ions positioned downstream of and in-line with the second electrode.    
     
     
         48 . A method for conditioning air comprising the steps of: 
 a. causing an electrical potential to be generated between a first electrode and a second electrode to create an airflow in a downstream direction from the first electrode to the second electrode; and    b. causing a trailing electrode downstream of and directly in-line with the second electrode to emit ions of a different potential sign as the first electrode.    
     
     
         49 . An electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner having an ion generator disposed with the housing having an inlet and an outlet, that creates an airflow in a downstream direction from the inlet to the outlet, the ion generator comprising: 
 a. a first electrode configured proximal to the inlet;    b. a second electrode downstream of the first electrode;    c. a trailing electrode downstream of the second electrode and proximal to the outlet, wherein the trailing electrode is directly in-line with the second electrode; and    d. a voltage generator electrically coupled with the first and second electrode.    
     
     
         50 . The generator as recited in  claim 49  wherein the first electrode further comprises a rod-shaped wire.  
     
     
         51 . The generator as recited in  claim 49  wherein the first electrode further comprises a spiral coil wire.  
     
     
         52 . The generator as recited in  claim 49  wherein the first electrode further comprises a wire.  
     
     
         53 . The generator as recited in  claim 49  wherein the first electrode further comprises a tapered pin-shaped electrode.  
     
     
         54 . The generator as recited in  claim 49  wherein the second electrode has at least two electrodes having an L shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         55 . The generator as recited in  claim 49  wherein the second electrode has at least two electrodes having a ring-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         56 . The generator as recited in  claim 49  wherein the second electrode has a U-shaped cross-section and a protective end facing the outlet.  
     
     
         57 . The ion generator as recited in  claim 49  wherein the voltage generator is electrically connected to the trailing electrode, wherein the trailing electrode produces negative ions.  
     
     
         58 . A device for conditioning air comprising: 
 a. a housing having an inlet and an outlet; and    b. an ion generator disposed with the housing configured to create an airflow in a downstream direction from the inlet to the outlet, including: 
 i. a first electrode;  
 ii. a second electrode having a nose and two sides arranged parallel to one another and a width distance apart, the second electrode positioned downstream from the first electrode;  
 iii. a trailing electrode located downstream and in-line with the second electrode, the trailing electrode having a dimension less than the width distance of the second electrode; and  
 iv. a high voltage generator electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode.  
   
     
     
         59 . A device as recited in  claim 58  wherein the high voltage generator is further electrically connected to the trailing electrode.  
     
     
         60 . A device as recited in  claim 58  wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have an opposite polarity when the high voltage generator is energized.  
     
     
         61 . A device as recited in  claim 59  wherein the trailing electrode and the second electrode have the same polarity when the high voltage generator is energized.  
     
     
         62 . A device as recited in  claim 58  wherein the trailing electrode is cylindrically shaped.  
     
     
         63 . A device as recited in  claim 58  wherein the trailing electrode is located downstream from the second electrode a downstream distance substantially equal to substantially three times the width distance.