Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
  • A61L9/015—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone
  • A61L9/04—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone using substances evaporated in the air without heating
  • A61L9/12—Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
  • A61L9/122—Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor comprising a fan
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
  • A61L9/14—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
  • F24F13/02—Ducting arrangements
  • F24F13/06—Outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air diffuser
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
  • F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
  • F24F3/14—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F8/00—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
  • F24F8/50—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by odorisation

Definitions

• This invention relates to an air conditioning system.
• the invention has particular but not exclusive application to systems for conditioning the air in a building by releasing a conditioning agent into an air flow entering the building.
• the present invention aims to provide an alternative to known systems for conditioning the air in a building.
• This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a system for conditioning the air in a discrete space, the system including:- air supply means; distribution means for distributing air from the air supply means to the discrete space, and air outlet means associated with the discrete space for the supply of air from the distribution means to the discrete space; wherein the air outlet means includes conditioning means for conditioning the air being supplied from the distribution means to the discrete space.
• this invention resides broadly in an outlet for an air conditioning system for supplying air from air distribution means to a discrete space, the outlet including:- conditioning means for conditioning the air being supplied from the distribution means to the discrete space.
• this invention resides broadly in a method of conditioning the air in a discrete space, the method including:- supplying air from air distribution means to the discrete space through outlet means, and locating conditioning means at the outlet for conditioning the air being supplied from the distribution means to the discrete space.
• the conditioning means may be any suitable means for conditioning the air.
• the conditioning means includes a carrier medium adapted to release the vapour of an air conditioning agent as the air is being supplied from the distribution means to the discrete space.
• the conditioning means includes atomising means adapted to release an atomised air conditioning agent into the air being supplied from the distribution means to the discrete space.
• the carrier medium may be located in the outlet by any suitable means.
• the carrier medium may be a cone shaped wafer with a central aperture adapted to receive the mounting screw therethrough for locating the wafer on the vane surface.
• the air outlet means includes receiving means for releasably receiving the carrier medium.
• the air conditioning agent is, or includes as an active ingredient, oil distilled from trees of the melaleuca species eg melaleuca alternifolia, . linarlifolia and m. dissitiflora. Most preferably the tree from which the oil is distilled is melaleuca alternifolia.
• the carrier medium is a wafer of material containing the oil, the material being adapted to control the release of the oil as air being supplied from the air distribution means to the discrete space passes over the material.
• the system may operate passively by locating the conditioning means in the system and leaving it until replacement is required.
• the system may be adaptive to cater for variations in the condition of the air and accordingly the system may include monitoring means for monitoring selected parameters indicative of the condition of the air in the discrete space, and conditioner adjusting means for adjusting the supply of conditioning agent to the conditioning means in accordance with the output of the monitoring means.
• the system and method includes de-humidifying means for de-humidifying the air in the discrete space.
• the de-humidifying means can be a heating means.
• this invention resides broadly in an air treatment assembly for treating the air in a discrete space, the assembly including:- air de-humidifying and circulating means for de- humidifying and circulating the air in the discrete space, and conditioning means for conditioning the air being circulated.
• the air de-humidifying and circulating means can for example be a low temperature convection coil or strip heater. However it is preferred that the air de- humidifying and circulating means includes air blower means for blowing air in the discrete space.
• the conditioning means includes a carrier medium adapted to release the vapour of an air conditioning agent as the air is being circulated.
• the air treatment assembly may include receiving means for releasably receiving the carrier medium.
• the air conditioning agent is oil distilled from trees of the melaleuca species.
• the carrier medium is preferably a wafer of material containing the oil, the material being adapted to control the release of the oil as the air is being circulated.
• this invention resides broadly in an air treatment assembly for treating the air in a discrete space for reducing the incidence of asthma and other bronchial conditions, the assembly including:- air de-humidifying and circulating means for de- humidifying and circulating the air in the discrete space, and air conditioning means adapted to release the vapour of oil distilled from trees of the melaleuca species as the air is circulated.
• this invention resides broadly in a method of reducing the incidence of asthma and other bronchial conditions, the method including:- supplying air from air distribution means to a baby's nursery or the like through outlet means, and introducing an air conditioning agent to the air supply at the outlet means; wherein the air conditioning agent is oil distilled from trees of the melaleuca species.
• FIG 1 is a schematic diagram of the system for conditioning air in accordance with the invention
• FIG 2 is a schematic diagram of an adaptive system for conditioning air in accordance with the invention.
• FIGS 3 and 4 illustrate a first embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention
• FIG 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention
• FIG 6 illustrates a third embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention
• FIG 7 illustrates an air treatment assembly for treating air to reduce the incidence of asthma and other bronchial conditions.
• air conditioning system 17 air is supplied from air supply means 10 such as a blower or the like to a discrete space 12 such as a room in a building through the ducting of air distribution means 11.
• An air outlet 13 in the form of a register or the like allows air to pass from ducting 11 into room 12.
• Air conditioning means 14 is associated with outlet 13 for conditioning the air entering room 12.
• the system may also include monitoring means 15 which monitors selected parameters indicative of the condition of the air in the discrete space such as humidity, dust content etc.
• conditioner adjusting means 16 adjusts the supply of conditioning agent to conditioning means 14 in accordance with the output of monitoring means 15.
• air conditioning means 12 may consist of a number of a number of alternative embodiments.
• an anti-condensation unit or the like 21 is mounted in the ceiling loft.
• Blower 22 blows air through ducting 23 into a room through ceiling register 24.
• Ceiling register 24 has a planar deflecting vane 25 and an air- conditioning wafer 26 is located on vane 25.
• Wafer 26 contains oil distilled from the tree melaleuca alternifolia and is composed of a mixture of polystyrene material encased in a number of layers of polyethylene matrix resins and polymers.
• the exact composition and thickness of the encasing material will vary with each layer to control the rate of release of the oil as air being supplied from blower 22 to the room passes over wafer 26.
• the exact composition and thickness of the encasing layers is varied for specific conditions in accordance with a number of parameters such as the size of the space being treated, the duration of treatment required and the nature and severity of the problem being treated. By determining the composition of the air in the space being treated, a mixture of oils and other compounds can be tailored to deal with a specific problem as diagnosed by the monitor.
• the wafer may be a cone shaped wafer (not shown) with a central aperture adapted to receive the mounting screw therethrough for locating the wafer on the vane surface.
• the air outlet means can include receiving means in the form of a slot for releasably receiving the wafer.
• a conventional air conditioning system register 31 allows air to pass into a room 32 from ducting 30.
• An outlet deflector 33 distributes air about the room and a register deflector
• a number of atomisers 35 are located in the space between deflectors 33 and 34. Atomisers 35 are connected to respective supplies
• a wafer 36 containing oil can be positioned on the downstream side of deflector 34.
• an air treatment unit 40 has a housing 41 with a front grill 44 through which treated air passes under the action of a blower 42.
• the air is drawn in through vent 48 and heated by low temperature heating coil 43.
• An electric lead 47 is provided for connecting the unit to a power point.
• a comb-like wafer 46 containing air conditioning oil is located in the housing via slot 40 and positioned such as to be in the air flow.
• the de-humidified air is treated with the oil conditioning agent as it passes between the teeth of comb-like wafer 46.
• Air containing the oil is circulated through the discrete space and will adhere to walls, furniture and carpets. Over a period of time the oil evaporates back into the air and eventually disperses out of the discrete space.
• the oil distilled from the leaves of the tree melaleuca alternifolia is quite complex containing mainly terpinenes, terpineols, pinenes, cymones, cineol, sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpinene alcohols.
• the oil contains two main compounds. Terpinen-4-ol is usually present in the ratio of between 30 and 45 percent of the oil, and cineole is usually present in a ratio of between 2 and 15 percent.
• the tree is confined to coastal areas of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales and trees from different areas have been found to produce oil having differing proportions of terpinen-4-ol and cineole with the more northerly stands having a lower cineole content.
• Cineole although having useful medical qualities has been claimed to be an irritant of skin and mucous membranes and an oil having a lower cineole fraction is preferable for use in the present invention.
• Dust mites have been shown to extract moisture from the surrounding air. The more humid the air the greater will be the dust mite population that can survive in a given area.
• the introduction of the mixture containing the oil combined with an anti-condensation unit reduces both humidity and dust content of the air. Reducing moisture first immobilises dust mites thereby reducing their activities such as feeding which in turn reduces allergen output activity. Tests have revealed that for a given discrete space, after a given number of days continued exposure the mixture proves to be lethal and the majority of the dust mites are eliminated. Furthermore, the treatment reduces mould, fungi mildew and bacteria (which in their own right can be allergenic) , and which are believed to be a source of food for dust mites.
• blower pressurises the discrete space thereby substantially preventing moisture and dust entering the space so that the effectiveness of the treatment is not diminished by the mixture being diluted from outside sources.
• the mites and bacteria are thus far more susceptible to the disinfectant properties of the oil and can be more effectively eliminated.
• oil is an insect repellent and can makes the environment unpleasant for fleas, spiders flies and other pests.
• the composition of the oil mixture can be varied to be specific for a particular insect or bacterial problem.
• blower illustrated in FIGS 3 and 4 may be utilised, or alternatively in a manner not illustrated, a low volume stand alone fan may be adapted to receive a wafer containing the oil.
• the system for conditioning air in accordance with the invention has advantages over known systems.
• Application of the air conditioning agent at the outlet enables the conditions in individual spaces or rooms to be controlled and also provides a direct and effective control of air conditions in a space.
• the system has a number of advantages over known methods of cleansing and conditioning air and has the ability to target a specific discrete space with the appropriate air treatment.
• the method of treating dust mites in accordance with this invention is less labour intensive and much more convenient than intensively washing carpets, bedding and clothing.
• the method of the present invention is cost effective and economical and avoids the use of harsh chemicals.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Central Air Conditioning (AREA)
• Disinfection, Sterilisation Or Deodorisation Of Air (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=3789781

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (10)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 1995
  • 1995-09-14 AU AUPN5454A patent/AUPN545495A0/en not_active Abandoned
• 1996
  • 1996-09-10 WO PCT/AU1996/000567 patent/WO1997010475A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-09-10 EP EP96929132A patent/EP0850389A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-09-10 JP JP9511501A patent/JPH11512511A/ja not_active Ceased

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