Rapidly Deployable System to Suppress Airborne Epidemics

Abstract

This patent presents a method, and some devices based on the method, to achieve near zero air based transmission of disease within a business, while still allowing people to approach each other closer than arms length touching distance. This can be achieved with rapidly deployable portable units. It also presents a simple method to test whether the airflow structure requirements of the system have been met, and to adjust it if not.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method whereby a business can significantly reduce airborne spread, where:
 a pool of clean air is created above its patrons, and   air is drawn from this pool in a near laminar manner thru space occupied by patrons, and   air is removed from the patron space via exhaust ports located below where heads are expected to be, and   the flow around each patron is sufficient to prevent exhalations from one patron reaching another patron's mouth or nose.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where:
 people facing others are separated from them by a barrier dropping at least to neck level.   
     
     
         3 . A simple method to test whether an installation meets airflow requirements of  claim 1 , where:
 A wall is covered with black sheets, and   Smoke generators are hung where patron's heads are expected to be located, and   The system is run for sufficient time, then the smoke generators are started, and   The room is observed with black background and side illumination, and   No smoke is visible, except directly below a smoke generator, plus leading from there to a nearby exhaust port.   
     
     
         4 . A one pass system implementing the method of  claim 1  where:
 the pool is created by fans and ductwork bringing in clean outside air, and 
 has a diffuser that blocks turbulence within the pool from reaching into the patron space and starts the laminar flow in the patron space, and 
 has one or more appropriately placed exhaust ports sufficiently below patron heads that collect air from the patron space and vent it to the outside. 
 
     
     
         5 . A recirculating system implementing the method of  claim 1  where:
 the pool is created from air that has been cleaned, and 
 Has a diffuser that blocks turbulence within the pool from reaching into the patron space and starts the near laminar flow into the patron space, and 
 Has one or more exhaust ports sufficiently below patron heads that collect air from the patron space and deliver it to one or more cleaning systems, and 
 The cleaning systems are good enough to remove smoke and live pathogen, and 
 The clean air output of the cleaning system is delivered to the clean pool. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method to convert an existing air conditioning system with overhead recirculation intakes into the system of  claim 5  where:
 The diffusers are replaced with ones designed not to cause turbulence near patrons, and 
 The filters are replaced with ones effective enough to remove smoke and pathogen, and 
 Ducts are fitted to the air intakes to bring floor level air to the intakes. 
 
     
     
         7 . the system of  claim 5  where:
 The exhaust port, filters, sterilizing system, fans, and a duct rising up to deliver clean air to the pool are combined into a floor standing unit. 
 
     
     
         8 . the system of  claim 5  where:
 The exhaust port, cleaning system, fans, and a duct bringing up air from exhaust port level to the clean pool are combined into a ceiling hung device. 
 
     
     
         9 . the system of  claim 5  where:
 The exhaust ports, filter, sterilizing system, and fans are combined into a unit, and 
 One or more such units are placed along a line along a wall, and 
 The duct returning air to the pool is created by a false wall attached to those devices and the real wall adjacent to the line. 
 
     
     
         10 . the system of  claim 5  where:
 The exhaust ports, cleaning systems, and fans are combined into a unit, and 
 One or more such units are placed along a line within the space, and 
 The duct returning air to the pool is constructed using two false walls on either side of the line. 
 
     
     
         11 . An improvement to a commuter train carriage or plane, where:
 The device of  claim 9  is installed against the side wall(s) of the carriage or plane.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled)