Electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner

Abstract

An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a self-contained ion generator that provides electro-kinetically moved air with ions and safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises one or more wire electrodes spaced staggeringly apart from a second array comprising hollow “U”-shaped electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. A bias electrode, electrically coupled to the second array electrodes, affects net polarity of ions generated. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is thus conditioned.

1. An air conditioner system, comprising:
 an upstanding, elongated housing having a top surface, an inlet and an outlet; and  
 an ion generating unit positioned in said housing, including: 
 a first electrode;  
 a second electrode; and  
 a high voltage generator that provides a potential difference between said first electrode and said second electrode;  
 
 wherein said second electrode is removable, through said top surface of said housing, from a resting position within said housing to a location external to the housing, to thereby allow said second electrode to be cleaned; and  
 wherein said second electrode is returnable through said top surface of the housing such that gravity will assist with return of the second electrode to the resting position within said housing.  
 
     
     
       2. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said top surface of said housing further includes a user control. 
     
     
       3. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first electrode is located proximate to the inlet, and the second removable electrode is located closer to the outlet than said first electrode. 
     
     
       4. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a user-liftable handle is attached to said second removable electrode, said use-liftable handle accessible through an opening in said top surface of said housing. 
     
     
       5. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said second removable electrode is elongated along a direction of said elongated housing. 
     
     
       6. An air conditioner system, comprising:
 an upstanding, elongated housing having a top surface, an air inlet vent, and an air outlet vent;  
 an ion generating unit positioned in said housing, for creating an airflow from said inlet vent to said outlet vent, including: 
 a first emitter electrode;  
 
 a second removable collector electrode, elongated along the direction of elongation of said housing, and removable through an opening in the top surface of said housing; and  
 a user-liftable handle secured to said second removable collector electrode, said handle accessible through said opening in said top surface of said housing, to assist a user with lifting said second removable collector electrode out of said housing from a resting position within said housing; and  
 wherein said second removable electrode is returnable through said opening in said top surface of said housing such that gravity will assist with return of said second removable collector electrode to the resting position within said housing.  
 
     
     
       7. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said second removable collector electrode is hollow. 
     
     
       8. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said second removable collector electrode is “U”-shaped. 
     
     
       9. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said second removable collector electrode is located proximate to said air outlet vent. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 6 , further comprising: a user operable control located on said top surface of said housing. 
     
     
       11. An ion producing system, comprising:
 a housing that is vertically elongated, said housing including at least one vent;  
 an emitter electrode within said housing;  
 a collector electrode that is vertically elongated when in a resting position within said housing;  
 a high voltage generator to provide a potential difference between said emitter electrode and said collector electrode when said collector electrode is in the resting position within said housing; and  
 a handle secured to said collector electrode, said handle to assist a user with vertically lifting said collector electrode out of said housing;  
 wherein said collector electrode is vertically returnable with the assistance of gravity, through an opening in an upper portion of said housing, to the resting position within said housing.  
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an opening in a top of said housing; and  
 wherein said handle assists a user with vertically lifting said collector electrode out through said opening in said top of said housing.  
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the high voltage generator comprises a first terminal at a first potential and a second terminal at a second potential that enable the high voltage generator to provide the potential difference between said emitter electrode and said collector electrode; and wherein a lower end of said collector electrode mates with said second terminal when in the resting position within said housing; and wherein said collector electrode disengages from said second terminal when vertically lifted out of said housing. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein gravity causes said lower end of said collector electrode to mate with said second terminal when said collector electrode is in the resting position within said housing. 
     
     
       15. An ion producing system, comprising:
 an upstanding, elongated housing having a top surface, an inlet and an outlet; and  
 an ion generating unit positioned in said housing, including: 
 a first electrode;  
 a second electrode; and  
 a high voltage generator that provides a potential difference between said first electrode and said second electrode;  
 
 wherein said second electrode is removable, through said top surface of said housing, from a resting position within said housing to a location external to the housing, to thereby allow said second electrode to be cleaned; and  
 wherein said second electrode is returnable through said top surface of the housing such that gravity will assist with return of the second electrode to the resting position within said housing.  
 
     
     
       16. An ion producing system, comprising:
 an upstanding, elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet; and  
 an ion generating unit positioned in said housing, including: 
 a first electrode;  
 a second electrode; and  
 a high voltage generator that provides a potential difference between said first electrode and said second electrode;  
 
 wherein said second electrode is vertically removable, through an opening in an upper portion of said housing, from a resting position within said housing to a location external to the housing, to thereby allow said second electrode to be cleaned; and  
 wherein said second electrode is vertically returnable through said opening such that gravity will assist with return of the second electrode to the resting position within said housing.  
 
     
     
       17. An ion producing system, comprising:
 an upstanding, vertically elongated housing having at least one air vent;  
 an ion generating unit positioned in said housing, including: 
 a first emitter electrode;  
 a second removable collector electrode, elongated along a direction of elongation of said vertically elongated housing, and vertically removable through an opening through a top portion of said housing; and  
 
 a handle secured to said second removable collector electrode, said handle accessible through said opening to assist a user with vertically lifting said second removable collector electrode out of said housing from a resting position within said housing; and  
 wherein said second removable electrode is vertically returnable through said opening such that gravity will assist with return of said second removable collector electrode to the resting position within said housing.  
 
     
     
       18. An ion producing air conditioning system, comprising:
 an upstanding, vertically elongated housing having at least one air vent;  
 an ion generating unit positioned in said housing, including: 
 an emitter electrode;  
 a removable collector electrode, elongated along a direction of elongation of said vertically elongated housing, and vertically removable through an opening through a top portion of said housing such that a user can vertically lift said removable collector electrode out of said housing from a resting position within said housing; and  
 
 wherein said removable electrode is vertically returnable through said opening such that gravity will assist with return of said removable collector electrode to the resting position within said housing.  
 
     
     
       19. An ion producing system, comprising:
   an upstanding, vertically elongated housing containing an ion generating unit;        at least one air vent in said housing;        the ion generating unit including:      an emitter electrode;        a removable collector electrode elongated along a direction of elongation of said vertically elongated housing when in a resting position within said housing; and        a handle attached to said removable collector electrode such that said handle extends in an upward direction from said collector electrode and isolates said ion generating unit from a user when said removable collector electrode is in the resting position within said housing;          wherein said handle is adapted to assist a user with vertically lifting said removable collector electrode out of said housing from the resting position within said housing; and        wherein said removable collector electrode is vertically returnable into said housing such that gravity will assist with return of said removable collector electrode to the resting position within said housing.      
     
     
       20. An ion producing system, comprising:
   an upstanding, vertically elongated housing containing an ion generating unit;        at least one air vent in said housing;        the ion generating unit including a removable electrode elongated along a direction of elongation of said vertically elongated housing when in a resting position within said housing; and        a handle attached to said removable electrode such that said handle extends in an upward direction from said electrode and isolates said ion generating unit from a user when said removable electrode is in the resting position within said housing;        wherein said handle is adapted to assist a user with vertically lifting said removable electrode out of said housing from the resting position within said housing; and        wherein said removable electrode is vertically returnable into said housing such that gravity will assist with return of said removable electrode to the resting position within said housing.      
     
     
       21. An ion producing system, comprising:
   an upstanding, vertically elongated housing containing an ion generating unit;        at least one air vent in said housing;        the ion generating unit including:      an emitter electrode;        a removable collector electrode elongated along a direction of elongation of said vertically elongated housing when in a resting position within said housing; and        a handle attached to said collector electrode such that said handle extends in an upward direction from said collector electrode and isolates said ion generating unit from a user, when said collector electrode is in the resting position within said housing;          wherein said handle is adapted to assist a user with vertically lifting said removable collector electrode out of said housing from the resting position within said housing; and        wherein said removable collector electrode is vertically returnable into said housing such that gravity will assist with return of the second electrode to the resting position within the housing.      
     
     
       22. An ion producing system, comprising:
   an upstanding, vertically elongated housing containing an ion generating unit;        the ion generating unit including a removable electrode elongated along a direction of elongation of said vertically elongated housing when in a resting position within said housing; and        a handle attached to said removable electrode such that said handle extends in an upward direction from said electrode and isolates said ion generating unit from a user, when said removable electrode is in the resting position within said housing;        wherein said handle is adapted to assist a user with vertically lifting said removable electrode out of said housing from the resting position within said housing; and        wherein said removable electrode is vertically returnable into said housing such that gravity will assist with return of the second electrode to the resting position within the housing.      
     
     
       23. An ion producing system, comprising:
   an upstanding, vertically elongated housing containing an ion generating unit;        a high voltage generator that provides a potential difference in the ion generating unit;        the ion generating unit including a removable electrode elongated along a direction of elongation of said vertically elongated housing when in a resting position within said housing; and        a handle fixedly attached to said removable electrode such that said handle extends in an upward direction from said electrode and isolates said ion generating unit from a user, when said removable electrode is in the resting position within said housing;        wherein said handle is adapted to assist a user with vertically lifting said removable electrode out of said housing from the resting position within said housing; and        wherein said removable electrode is vertically returnable into said housing such that gravity will assist with return of the second electrode to the resting position within the housing.