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DE-102024133069-A1 - Air purification system

DE102024133069A1DE 102024133069 A1DE102024133069 A1DE 102024133069A1DE-102024133069-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning device (1) for cleaning air, which has a filter element (2) with a filter (8) for filtering particles from the air and an ionizer device (4) for ionizing particles in the air. The filter (8) has successive longitudinal folds (12) and a transverse fold (14) which contacts at least two of the longitudinal folds (12), wherein a contact element (18) is electrically connected to the transverse fold (14) and thus electrically connects the longitudinal folds (12) via the transverse fold (14) to a counter electrode (6) of the ionizer device (4). The invention also relates to a ventilation device (100) with such a cleaning device (1)

Inventors

  • Daniel Eberle

Assignees

  • MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (10)

  1. Air purification device (1), in particular for a vehicle (300), - comprising a filter element (2), in particular a filter insert (3), for filtering particles from the air, through which an air flow path (P) passes, - wherein the filter element (2) comprises a filter (8) which is electrically conductive on a top surface (9), - wherein the filter (8) has successive longitudinal folds (12) in a folding direction (A1) which form elevations (13) on the top surface (9), - comprising an ionizer device (4) through which the flow path (P) passes upstream of the filter element (2), - wherein the ionizer device (4) comprises at least one electrode (5) and at least one counter electrode (6) between which a voltage is applied during operation for corona discharge in the air, - wherein the filter (8) has a transverse fold (14) extending along the folding direction (A1), which extends along at least two longitudinal folds (12) extends and contacts these longitudinal folds (12), - with an electrically conductive connecting element (16) which electrically connects the top surface (9) of the filter (8) to at least one of the counter electrodes (6), - wherein the connecting element (16) has a contact element (18) which is electrically connected to the transverse fold (14), so that the longitudinal folds (12) are electrically connected to the at least one counter electrode (6) via the transverse fold (14) and the contact element (18).
  2. Cleaning facility after Claim 1 , characterized in that the transverse fold (14) forms a raised area (13) on the upper surface (9).
  3. Cleaning facility after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the transverse fold (14) touches the longitudinal folds (12).
  4. Cleaning facility according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the transverse fold (14) extends along an edge (15) of the longitudinal folds (12).
  5. Cleaning facility according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the contact element (18) extends on the top side (9) in the folding direction (A1) over an element length (19) which is smaller than a fold length (20) of the transverse fold (14) in the folding direction (A1).
  6. Cleaning facility after Claim 5 , characterized in that the element length (19) is smaller than a distance between three successive longitudinal folds (12) in the folding direction (A1).
  7. Cleaning facility according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the contact element (18) is part of a spring (21) which mechanically acts on the upper surface (9) by means of the contact element (18).
  8. Cleaning facility according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the filter (8) has a filter medium (10) on which an electrically conductive layer (11) is applied, such that the electrically conductive layer (11) leads to electrical conductivity on the top surface (9).
  9. Cleaning facility after Claim 8 , characterized in that the electrically conductive layer (11) is an activated carbon layer or has activated carbon.
  10. Ventilation device (100), in particular for a vehicle (300), with a channel (101) through which air flows during operation, and with a cleaning device (1) arranged in the channel (101) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 .

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for purifying air, comprising a filter element for filtering particles from the air and an ionizer. The invention also relates to a ventilation device, particularly for a vehicle, incorporating such a cleaning device. A filter element can be used to clean the air, filtering particles from the air. From the EP 3 488 933 A1 It is known to design the filter element to be electrically conductive in order to improve its cleaning effect. In this process, the filter element is electrostatically charged when new. Furthermore, an ionizer is arranged upstream of the filter element in an associated cleaning unit. The ionizer has an electrode and a counter electrode, between which a voltage is applied during operation, so that the air or particles contained in the air are ionized. The present invention addresses the objective of providing improved or at least alternative embodiments of a cleaning device of the aforementioned type and of a ventilation device incorporating such a cleaning device. In particular, the present invention addresses the objective of providing embodiments of the cleaning device and the ventilation device that are characterized by a sustained improvement in cleaning performance. This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The present invention is based on the fundamental concept of electrically connecting longitudinally extending pleats of the filter element to a counter electrode of the ionizer in a cleaning device comprising a filter element and an ionizer device by means of a transverse pleat of the filter element. The electrical connection of the filter element to the counter electrode leads to the establishment and/or maintenance, or at least the restoration, of an electrostatic charge on the filter element, thus achieving improved cleaning performance over a longer period. The electrical connection to the counter electrode via the pleats utilizes the fact that the electrical resistance between the pleats is lower than outside the pleats. This reduced electrical resistance leads to a faster and more homogeneous propagation of the electrical potential applied to the filter element. Thus, the improved cleaning performance is achieved over the entire surface, or at least an increased surface area, of the filter element over a longer period. This latter aspect leads to a further increase in cleaning performance over an extended period. According to the invention, the cleaning device comprises a filter element and an ionizer. The filter element serves to filter particles from the air. An airflow path passes through the filter element. The filter element has a filter that is electrically conductive on one upper surface. The filter has successive folds in one direction, which form raised areas on the upper surface. Hereinafter, this direction is also referred to as the folding direction, and the folds are also referred to as longitudinal folds. The airflow path leads upstream of the filter element through the ionizer. The ionizer has at least one electrode and at least one counter electrode. During operation, an electrical voltage for corona discharge is applied between the at least one electrode and at least one counter electrode. The filter has a fold extending along the folding direction, which is hereinafter also referred to as the transverse fold. The transverse fold extends along at least two longitudinal folds and makes contact with them. An electrically conductive connection, hereinafter also referred to simply as the conductive connection, electrically connects the upper surface of the filter to the counter electrode. The conductive connection has a contact element that is electrically connected to the transverse fold, so that the longitudinal folds are electrically connected to the counter electrode via the transverse fold and the contact element. The longitudinal folds of the filter preferably run parallel to each other. Furthermore, the longitudinal folds of the filter preferably run inclined, in particular transversely, to the folding direction. The filter element is preferably designed as a filter insert. The filter element is advantageously arranged in the cleaning device in a replaceable manner, so that it can be replaced if necessary. The electrically conductive property on the top side of the filter conveniently results in the transverse fold also being electrically conductive. In principle, the transverse fold can only extend across the longitudinal folds in the direction of the fold. Advantageously, the transverse fold extends longitudinally across all longitudinal folds and is preferably in contact with all of them. This leads to a further improvement in the propagation of the electrical potential and consequently to an improved cleaning effect. In advantageous embodiments, the transverse fold forms a