Room air purifier

Abstract

A room air purifier is provided is provided that has a housing that defines a floor supply duct inlet, a room air inlet, and an outlet. An air mixing chamber within the housing is in direct communication with said room air inlet and said floor supply duct inlet. A filter is disposed in the housing. A fan is disposed in said housing between the outlet of the filter and the outlet side of the filter. An air channel panel is disposed in a filter inlet area between the air mixing chamber and the filter. Various sensors may be deployed to control temperature, and to prevent unpurified air from exiting the room air purifier. Optionally, an additional wall supply inlet may be placed in fluid communication with the air mixing chamber to provide a second extra-room source of air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A room air purifier comprising:
 a housing having a floor supply duct inlet, a room air inlet, and an outlet;   an air mixing chamber disposed in the housing and in direct communication with the room air inlet and the floor supply duct inlet;   a filter disposed in the housing, having an inlet side and an outlet side;   a fan disposed in the housing on the outlet side of the filter;   a filter inlet area disposed between the air mixing chamber and the inlet side of the filter; and   an air distribution panel disposed in the filter inlet area, spaced between the wall of the housing and the filter, wherein the air distribution panel is disposed such that it is substantially parallel to the filter.   
     
     
         28 . The room air purifier according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a damper pivotally connected to the air distribution panel, and extending towards the air mixing chamber, the damper having an extended end movable between a first position near the wall of the housing and a second position near the filter.   
     
     
         29 . The room air purifier according to  claim 28 , wherein the air distribution panel is disposed adjacent to the filter such that air arriving at the face of the filter passes through one side of the air distribution panel. 
     
     
         30 . The room air purifier according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a plurality of flow sensors disposed within the housing near the outlet side of the filter for providing air flow rate information at various locations near the outlet side of the filter.   
     
     
         31 . The room air purifier according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a damper pivotally disposed between the filter and the air distribution panel, the damper being biased to a closed position.   
     
     
         32 . The room air purifier according to  claim 31 , wherein the damper is pivotally attached on an end proximate the filter, and is adapted to be longer than the width between the air distribution panel and the filter, thereby enabling gravity to bias the damper to a closed position. 
     
     
         33 . The room air purifier according to  claim 27 , wherein the air distribution panel further defines apertures therethrough for allowing air to pass. 
     
     
         34 . The room air purifier according to  claim 33 , wherein the apertures of the air distribution panel are adapted to alter the distribution of mass flow rate of air across the face of the filter. 
     
     
         35 . The room air purifier according to  claim 27 , wherein the air distribution panel is disposed such that an airflow pathway is created between the air mixing chamber and the inlet side of the filter, and air passes through the mixing chamber prior to passing through the air distribution panel. 
     
     
         36 . A room air purifier comprising:
 a housing having a floor supply duct inlet, a room air inlet, and an outlet;   an air mixing chamber disposed in the housing and in direct communication with the room air inlet and the floor supply duct inlet;   a filter disposed in the housing, having an inlet side and an outlet side;   a fan disposed in the housing on the outlet side of the filter;   an air distribution panel disposed inside the air mixing chamber, spaced between the wall of the housing and the filter, the air distribution panel forming:
 a first channel disposed between the air distribution panel and the inlet side of the filter; and 
 a second channel disposed between the air distribution panel and the wall of the housing, 
 the first and second channels in direct communication with the room air inlet and the floor supply duct inlet; and 
   a first damper for changing a mass flow rate of air entering into the first channel.   
     
     
         37 . The room air purifier of  claim 36 , wherein the first damper is in a closed position when the fan is powered off, thereby preventing air from flowing from the room air inlet and/or the floor supply duct inlet toward the inlet side of the filter. 
     
     
         38 . The room air purifier of  claim 37 , wherein the first damper is in the closed position pursuant to gravitational forces. 
     
     
         39 . The room air purifier of  claim 36 , wherein the first damper forms a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the air distribution panel when the first damper is in a closed position. 
     
     
         40 . The room air purifier of  claim 36 , wherein the first damper is pivotally connected at a bottom end of the filter adjacent to the air mixing chamber. 
     
     
         41 . The room air purifier of  claim 36 , further comprising a second damper for changing a mass flow rate of air entering into the second channel. 
     
     
         42 . The room air purifier of  claim 41 , wherein the second damper is adapted to open before the first damper opens. 
     
     
         43 . The room air purifier of  claim 42 , wherein a respective material from which the second damper is constructed is lighter in weight than a respective material from which the first damper is constructed. 
     
     
         44 . The room air purifier of  claim 42 , wherein a respective surface area of the second damper is greater than a respective surface area of the first damper. 
     
     
         45 . The room air purifier of  claim 42 , wherein the second damper comprises an air foil for enhancing lift in response to air flow.