Electrode self-cleaning mechanism for electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner devices

Abstract

An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a mechanism to clean the wire-like electrodes in the first electrode array. A length of material projects from the base of the second electrode array towards and beyond the first electrode array. The distal end of the material includes a slit that engages a corresponding wire-like electrode. As a user moves the second electrode array up or down within the conditioner housing, friction between slit edges and the wire-like electrode cleans the electrode surface. The material maybe biasedly pivotably attached to the base of the second electrode array, and may be urged away from and parallel to the wire-like electrodes when the conditioner is in use. Another embodiment includes a member having a through opening or channel, through which the wire-like electrode passes. As the conditioner is turned upside down and rightside up, friction between the opening in the member and wire-like electrode cleans the electrode surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner, comprising: 
 a housing;    a first electrode array including at least one wire-shaped electrode, disposed in said housing;    a second electrode array, removably disposed in said housing, having a base member and including at least one electrode disposed substantially parallel to said wire-shaped electrode in said first electrode array;    a source of high voltage outputting a signal whose duty cycle is between about 10% to about 100%, disposed in said housing, coupled between said first electrode array and said second electrode array; and    means, attached to said base member, for frictionally cleaning said wire-shaped electrode whenever said base member of said second electrode array is moved within said housing.    
     
     
         2 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein said means for frictionally cleaning includes a strip of flexible electrically insulating material having a first end attached to said base member, and having a second end that defines a slit; 
 said strip extending from said base toward and beyond said first electrode array such that said wire-shaped electrode fits frictionally within said slit when said second electrode array is disposed in said housing.    
     
     
         3 . The electro-kinetic transport-conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein said strip has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of(a) said strip includes a polyester film, (b) said strip includes a polyimide film, (c) said strip has a strip thickness of about 0.1 mm, (d) slit has a slit length of at least 0.25″, and (e) said slit has a slit width less than a thickness of said wire-shaped electrode.  
     
     
         4 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said first electrode array includes a plurality of wire-shaped electrodes; and    said strip defines a plurality of slits, one of said slits being disposed to frictionally engage one of said wire-shaped electrodes in said first electrode array.    
     
     
         5 . The electro-kinetic transport-conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein an inside bottom surface of said housing includes an upwardly projecting vane disposed to deflect said second end of said strip upwardly and away from said wire-shaped electrode when said second electrode array is fully disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         6 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 5 , further including a barrier wall mounted on said inside bottom surface, said barrier wall disposed between a bottommost portion of said first array and a bottommost portion of said second array.  
     
     
         7 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 1 , further including a bead having a through opening, disposed such that said wire-shaped electrode passes through said through opening; 
 wherein friction between an inner surface of said through opening and an exterior surface of said wire-shaped electrode can clean said exterior surface of said wire-shaped electrode.    
     
     
         8 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein said means for frictionally cleaning includes: 
 an arm, made of electrically insulating material, having a first distal end and a second end that is biasedly pivotably attached to said base; and    a strip of flexible electrically insulating material having a first end attached to first distal end of said arm, and having a second end that defines a slit;    said arm and said strip extending from said base toward and beyond said first electrode array such that said wire-shaped electrode fits frictionally within said slit when said second electrode array is disposed in said housing.    
     
     
         9 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 8 , wherein said arm is pivotably biased towards an angle of about 90 degrees relative to longitudinal axis of said second electrode array.  
     
     
         10 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 8 , wherein an inside bottom portion of said housing includes an upwardly projecting vane disposed to deflect said first distal end of said arm upwardly and away from said wire-shaped electrode when said second electrode array is fully disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         11 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said base of said second electrode array includes a downwardly projecting member;    said inside bottom portion of said housing defines an opening sized to receive said projecting member of said base when said second electrode array is fully inserted into said housing; and    wherein said arm and said strip attached thereto are pivoted upward and parallel to a longitudinal axis of said second electrode array.    
     
     
         12 . An electrode cleaner for use with an electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner that includes a first electrode array including at least one wire-shaped electrode, and a removable second electrode array having a base member and including at one electrode disposed substantially parallel to said wire-shaped electrode in said first electrode array, the electrode cleaner comprising: 
 a strip of flexible electrically insulating material having a first end attached to said base member, and having a second end that defines a slit;    said strip extending from said base toward and beyond said first electrode array such that said wire-shaped electrode fits frictionally within said slit when said second electrode array is disposed for operation of said electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner;    wherein movement of said base member causes said slit in said strip to frictionally clean an outer surface of said wire-shaped electrode.    
     
     
         13 . The electrode cleaner of  claim 12 , further including: 
 means for deflecting at least the slit-containing end of said strip into a positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of said wire-shaped electrode when said electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner is in operation.    
     
     
         14 . The electrode cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said means for deflecting includes a vane disposed within said transporter-conditioner such that during operation of said transporter-conditioner a distal portion of said vane contacts and so deflects said slit-containing end of said strip.  
     
     
         15 . The electrode cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said means for deflecting includes a biased pivot mechanism that attaches said strip to a base of said second electrode array.  
     
     
         16 . An electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner, comprising: 
 a housing;    a first electrode array including at least one wire-shaped electrode, disposed in said housing;    a second electrode array, removably disposed in said housing, having abase member and including at least one electrode disposed substantially parallel to said wire-shaped electrode in said first electrode array;    a source of high voltage, disposed in said housing, coupled between said first electrode array and said second electrode array, and    at least one bead-shaped member defining a through opening;    wherein said wire-shaped electrode passes through said through opening and an outer surface of said wire-shaped electrode maybe at least partially frictionally cleaned by movement of said bead-shaped member along a length of said wire-shaped electrode.    
     
     
         17 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein said through opening has a characteristic selected from a group consisting of: (a) said through opening is formed through a geometric center of said bead-shaped member, (b) said through opening is formed parallel to but offset from a longitudinal axis of said bead-shaped member, (c) said through opening is formed offset from at inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of said bead-shaped member, (d) a cross-section of said through opening is circular, and (e) a cross-section of said through opening is non-circular.  
     
     
         18 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein a diameter of said through opening exceeds a diameter of said wire-shaped electrode by at least 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 a bottom end of said wire-shaped electrode is retained in a pylon; and    said bead-shaped member is bell-shaped such that when in a bottomost position along said wire-shaped electrode, an air gap exists between an outer surface of said wire-shaped electrode and an inner surface of said bead-shaped member.    
     
     
         20 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said bead-shaped member is bell-shaped such that when in a bottomost position along said wire-shaped electrode, an air gap exists between an outer surface of said wire-shaped electrode and an inner surface of said bead-shaped member.    
     
     
         21 . An electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner, comprising: 
 a housing;    a first electrode array including at least one wire-shaped electrode, disposed in said housing;    a second electrode array, removably disposed in said housing, having a base member and including at least one electrode disposed relative to said wire-shaped electrode in said first electrode array;    a source of high voltage disposed in said housing, providing a potential difference between said first electrode array and said second electrode array; and    means, attached to said base member, for frictionally cleaning said wire-shaped electrode whenever said base member of said second electrode array is moved within said housing.    
     
     
         22 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 21 , wherein said means for frictionally cleaning includes a strip of flexible electrically insulating material having a first end attached to said base member, and having a second end that defines a slit; 
 said strip extending from said base toward and beyond said first electrode array such that said wire-shaped electrode fits frictionally within said slit when said second electrode array is disposed in said housing.    
     
     
         23 . The electro-kinetic transport-conditioner of  claim 22 , wherein said strip has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said strip includes a polyester film, (b) said strip includes a polyimide film, (c) said strip has a strip thickness of about 0.1 mm, (d) slit has a slit length of at least 0.25″, and (e) said slit has a slit width less than a thickness of said wire-shaped electrode.  
     
     
         24 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 said first electrode array includes a plurality of wire-shaped electrodes; and    said strip defines a plurality of slits, one of said slits being disposed to frictionally engage one of said wire-shaped electrodes in said first electrode array.    
     
     
         25 . The electro-kinetic transport-conditioner of  claim 22 , wherein an inside bottom surface of said housing includes an upwardly projecting vane disposed to deflect said second end of said strip upwardly and away from said wire-shaped electrode when said second electrode array is fully disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         26 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 25 , further including a barrier wall mounted on said inside bottom surface, said barrier wall disposed between a bottommost portion of said first array and a bottommost portion of said second array.  
     
     
         27 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 21 , further including a bead having a through opening, disposed such that said wire-shaped electrode passes through said through opening; 
 wherein friction between an inner surface of said through opening and an exterior surface of said wire-shaped electrode can clean said exterior surface of said wire-shaped electrode.    
     
     
         28 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 21 , wherein said means for frictionally cleaning includes: 
 an arm, made of electrically insulating material, having a first distal end and a second end that is biasedly pivotably attached to said base; and    a strip of flexible electrically insulating material having a first end attached to first distal end of said arm, and having a second end that defines a slit;    said arm and said strip extending from said base toward and beyond said first electrode array such that said wire-shaped electrode fits frictionally within said slit when said second electrode array is disposed in said housing.    
     
     
         29 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 28 , wherein said arm is pivotably biased towards an angle of about 90 degree relative to longitudinal axis of said second electrode array.  
     
     
         30 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 28 , wherein an inside bottom portion of said housing includes an upwardly projecting vane disposed to deflect said first distal end of said arm upwardly and away from said wire-shaped electrode when said second electrode array is fully disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         31 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said base of said second electrode array includes a downwardly projecting member;    said inside bottom portion of said housing defines an opening sized to receive said projecting member of said base when said second electrode array is fully inserted into said housing;    wherein said arm and said strip attached thereto are pivoted upward and parallel to a longitudinal axis of said second electrode array.    
     
     
         32 . An electrode cleaner for use with an electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner that includes a first electrode array including at least one wire-shaped electrode, and a removable second electrode array having a base member and including at one electrode disposed relative to said wire-shaped electrode in said first electrode array, the electrode cleaner comprising: 
 a strip of flexible electrically insulating material having a first end attached to said base member, and having a second end that defines a slit;    said strip extending from said base toward and beyond said first electrode array such that said wire-shaped electrode fits frictionally within said slit when said second electrode array is disposed for operation of said electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner;    wherein movement of said base member causes said slit in said strip to frictionally scrape an outer surface of said wire-shaped electrode.    
     
     
         33 . The electrode cleaner of  claim 32 , further including: 
 means for deflecting at least the slit-containing end of said strip into a positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of said wire-shaped electrode when said electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner is in operation.    
     
     
         34 . The electrode cleaner of  claim 33 , wherein said means for deflecting includes a vane disposed within said transporter-conditioner such that during operation of said transporter-conditioner a distal portion of said vane contacts and so deflects said slit-containing end of said strip.  
     
     
         35 . The electrode cleaner of  claim 33 , wherein said means for deflecting includes a biased pivot mechanism that attaches said strip to a base of said second electrode array.  
     
     
         36 . An electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner, comprising: 
 a housing;    a first electrode array including at least one wire-shaped electrode, disposed in said housing;    a second electrode array, removably disposed in said housing, having abase member and including at least one electrode disposed relative to said wire-shaped electrode in said first electrode array;    a source of high voltage providing a potential difference between said first electrode array and said second electrode array, and    at least one bead-shaped member defining a through opening;    wherein said wire-shaped electrode passes through said through opening and an outer surface of said wire-shaped electrode may be at least partially frictionally cleaned by movement of said bead-shaped member along a length of said wire-shaped electrode.    
     
     
         37 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 36 , wherein said through opening has a characteristic selected from a group consisting of(a) said through opening is formed through a geometric center of said bead-shaped member, (b) said through opening is formed parallel to but offset from a longitudinal axis of said bead-shaped member, (c) said through opening is formed offset from at inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of said bead-shaped member, (d) a cross-section of said through opening is circular, and (e) a cross-section of said through opening is non-circular.  
     
     
         38 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 36 , wherein a diameter of said through opening exceeds a diameter of said wire-shaped electrode by at least 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         39 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 36 , wherein: 
 a bottom end of said wire-shaped electrode is retained in a pylon; and    said bead-shaped member is bell-shaped such that when in a bottomost position along said wire-shaped electrode, an air gap exists between an outer surface of said wire-shaped electrode and an inner surface of said bead-shaped member.    
     
     
         40 . The electro-kinetic transporter-conditioner of  claim 36 , wherein: 
 said bead-shaped member is bell-shaped such that when in a bottomost position along said wire-shaped electrode, an air gap exists between an outer surface of said wire-shaped electrode and an inner surface of said bead-shaped member.