Air conditioner device 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 emissitivity.

1 . An air conditioner having an ion generator disposed within a housing having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the ion generator at least produces ions in an airflow from the inlet to the outlet upon activation, the ion generator comprising: 
 a. a first electrode assembly having a plurality of wire-like electrodes located proximal to the inlet;    b. a second electrode assembly having a plurality of plates parallel to one another, the second electrode assembly downstream of the first electrode assembly;    c. a trailing electrode downstream of the second electrode assembly and proximal to the outlet, the trailing electrode including a plurality of pointed ends and having at least a portion triangular in shape; and    d. a voltage generator electrically coupled to the second electrode assembly and the trailing electrode, wherein the second electrode assembly and the trailing electrode are charged at the same potential.    
     
     
         2 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode collects particles in the air charged by first electrode.  
     
     
         3 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the voltage generator causes the first electrode to emit ions, wherein the trailing electrode neutralizes the ions emitted by the first electrode.  
     
     
         4 . The generator of  claim 1  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.  
     
     
         5 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein at least one pointed end of the trailing electrode is in-line with one second electrode in the second electrode assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is removable from the housing.  
     
     
         7 . The generator of  claim 1  further comprises a plurality of trailing electrode wires downstream of the second electrode array.  
     
     
         8 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the first electrode is positively charged and the second electrode is negatively charged.  
     
     
         9 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the first electrode is pin-shaped.  
     
     
         10 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the trailing electrode is formed with the second electrode.  
     
     
         11 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein the trailing electrode protrudes from the second electrode.  
     
     
         12 . 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.  
     
     
         13 . 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.  
     
     
         14 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of pointed ends of the trailing electrode faces a downstream direction.  
     
     
         15 . The generator of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of pointed ends of the trailing electrode faces the outlet.  
     
     
         16 . A method of conditioning air through an electro-kinetic air conditioner-transporter comprising: 
 a. providing a housing having a top end and a bottom end and an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are configured between the top and bottom end;    b. configuring a first electrode in the housing proximal to the air inlet;    c. configuring a second electrode in the housing downstream of the first electrode;    d. configuring a trailing electrode in the housing to be directly in-line and downstream from the second electrode, wherein the trailing electrode is proximal to the air outlet; and    e. coupling a voltage generator to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the voltage generator is adapted to positively energize the first electrode and negatively energize the second electrode to create a flow of air downstream from the air inlet to the air outlet.    
     
     
         17 . A device for conditioning air comprising: 
 a. a upstanding housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;    b. a first wire electrode configured proximate to the air inlet;    c. a second plate-like 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.    
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the trailing electrode is charged to a polarity opposite of a polarity of the first electrode.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the first electrode emits positive ions and the trailing electrode emits negative ions.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the second electrode is removable from the housing.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the trailing electrode is substantially the same length as the second electrode.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 17  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.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 17  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.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the trailing electrode and the second electrode are charged to the same polarity.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 17  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.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the first electrode is positively charged and the second electrode is negatively charged.  
     
     
         27 . A device for conditioning air comprising: 
 a. a upstanding housing having a top and a bottom, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet positioned between the top and the bottom;    b. a first electrode proximate to the air inlet;    c. a second electrode 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 inlet to the outlet; and    e. a trailing electrode located downstream of and a portion in-line with the second electrode, the trailing electrode having a pointed end facing a direction towards the top of the housing.    
     
     
         28 . An air conditioner having a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and an ion generator disposed within the housing, wherein the ion generator includes a first electrode and a second electrode downstream of the first electrode, the improvement comprising: 
 a trailing electrode downstream of and directly in-line with the second electrode.    
     
     
         29 . An air conditioner having a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and an ion generator disposed within the housing, wherein the ion generator includes a first electrode and a second electrode downstream of the first electrode, the improvement comprising: 
 a trailing electrode downstream of the second electrode, the trailing electrode having at least one pointed end.    
     
     
         30 . An air conditioner having a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and an ion generator disposed within the housing, wherein the ion generator includes a first electrode proximate to the inlet and a second electrode downstream of the first electrode, the improvement comprising: 
 a trailing electrode downstream and directly in-line with the second electrode, wherein the trailing electrode is proximate to the outlet.    
     
     
         31 . An air conditioner having a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and an ion generator disposed within the housing, wherein the ion generator includes a first electrode proximate to the inlet and a second electrode downstream of the first electrode, the improvement comprising: 
 a trailing electrode downstream of the second electrode, wherein at least a portion of the trailing electrode having a pointed end positioned in-line with the second electrode.    
     
     
         32 . An air conditioner having a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and an ion generator disposed within the housing, wherein the ion generator includes a first electrode proximate to the inlet and a second electrode downstream of the first electrode, the improvement comprising: 
 a trailing electrode downstream of the second electrode, wherein at least a portion of the trailing electrode having a pointed end facing the outlet.    
     
     
         33 . An air conditioner having a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and an ion generator disposed within the housing, wherein the ion generator includes a first electrode proximate to the inlet and a second electrode downstream of the first electrode, the improvement comprising: 
 a trailing electrode downstream of the second electrode, wherein the trailing electrode having a first pointed end in-line with the second electrode and a second pointed end facing the outlet.