Filter assembly with multiple inlets and multiple filter members
View Patent ↗The present invention discloses a filter assembly which includes a compartmented housing structure having a plurality of inlets and an outlet. A first inlet is positioned in flow communication with a first chamber portion and a first filter member. A second inlet is positioned in flow communication with a second chamber portion and a second filter member. A third chamber portion is located between the first and second filter members and is in flow communication with the outlet such that ambient air entering the housing through the first and second inlets will flow through the first and second filter members into the third chamber portion and through the outlet.
1. A filter assembly for use with an air flow inducing medical device comprising:
a housing having a plurality of inlet openings and at least one outlet opening;
a first chamber portion located within said housing and being in flow communication with a first inlet opening for receiving ambient air therethrough;
a second chamber portion located within said housing and being in flow communication with a second inlet opening for receiving ambient air therethrough;
a third chamber portion located within said housing and being in flow communication with said outlet opening;
a first filter member disposed inside said housing and separating said first chamber portion from said third chamber portion;
a second filter member disposed inside said housing and separating said second chamber portion from said third chamber portion;
an outlet chamber portion located within said housing in flow communication with said third chamber portion such that ambient air passing through said third chamber portion will enter said outlet chamber portion, said outlet chamber portion being in flow communication with said at least one outlet opening;
a partition positioned between said third chamber and said outlet chamber, the partition forming an opening through which air exiting said third chamber portion enters said outlet chamber portion; and
an extension member for being coupled to an air flow inducing medical device, the extension member extending from an outer surface of said housing, the extension member being in flow communication with said at least one outlet opening,
wherein said first and second chamber portions are disposed at the opposite sides of said third chamber portion in the housing, said third chamber portion being disposed between the first filter member and the second filter member, and ambient air passing through said first and second filter members can exit through said third chamber portion into said outlet opening such that said at least one outlet opening is the only outlet opening of the filtered air and the only air path into said at least one outlet opening is through one of said first and second filter members.
2. The filter assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said first chamber portion being positioned in flow communication with a plurality of inlet openings for receiving ambient air therethrough.
3. The filter assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said second chamber portion being positioned in flow communication with a plurality of inlet openings for receiving ambient air therethrough.
4. The filter assembly defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one noise attenuating member positioned within said first chamber portion adjacent to at least a portion of one side of said first filter member, said noise attenuating member functioning as sound dampening means to dampen sound generated within the housing due to air flow passing therethrough.
5. The filter assembly defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one noise attenuating member positioned within said second chamber portion adjacent at least a portion of one side of said second filter member, said noise attenuating member functioning as sound dampening means to dampen sound generated within the housing due to air flow passing therethrough.
6. The filter assembly defined in claim 1 further comprising a noise attenuating member positioned across said outlet opening, said noise attenuating member functioning as sound dampening means to dampen sound generated within the housing due to air flow passing therethrough.
7. The filter assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion.
8. The filter assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said first housing portion including the first inlet opening and said second housing portion including the second inlet opening.
9. The filter assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said housing having a generally rectangular configuration.
10. The filter assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said filter members including HEPA filters.
11. A filter assembly for use with an air flow inducing medical device comprising:
a housing having a plurality of inlet openings and at least one outlet opening;
a first chamber portion located within said housing and being in flow communication with a first inlet opening for receiving ambient air therethrough;
a second chamber portion located within said housing and being in flow communication with a second inlet opening for receiving ambient air therethrough;
a third chamber portion located within said housing and being in flow communication with said outlet opening;
a first filter member disposed inside said housing and being in flow communication with said first chamber portion;
a second filter member disposed inside said housing and being in flow communication with said second chamber portion;
an outlet chamber portion located within said housing in flow communication with said third chamber portion such that ambient air passing through said third chamber portion will enter said outlet chamber portion, said outlet chamber portion being in flow communication with said outlet opening;
a partition positioned between said third chamber and said outlet chamber, the partition forming an opening through which air exiting said third chamber portion enters said outlet chamber portion; and
an extension member for being coupled to an air flow inducing medical device, the extension member extending from an outer surface of said housing, the extension member being in flow communication with said at least one outlet opening,
said first and second chamber portions, said first and second filter members and said third chamber portion being disposed within said housing such that ambient air entering said first inlet opening will flow from said first chamber portion through said first filter member into said third chamber, and through said third chamber portion into said outlet opening, and ambient air entering said second inlet opening will flow from said second chamber portion through said second filter member into said third chamber, and through said third chamber portion into said outlet opening such that said at least one outlet opening is the only outlet opening of the filtered air and the only air path into said at least one outlet opening is through one of said first and second filter members,
wherein said first and second chamber portions are disposed at the opposite sides of said third chamber portion in the housing, said third chamber portion being disposed between the first filter member and the second filter member.
12. The filter assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said first chamber portion being positioned in flow communication with a plurality of inlet openings for receiving ambient air therethrough.
13. The filter assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said second chamber portion being positioned in flow communication with a plurality of inlet openings for receiving ambient air therethrough.
14. The filter assembly defined in claim 11 further comprising at least one noise attenuating member positioned within said first chamber portion adjacent at least a portion of one side of said first filter member, said noise attenuating member functioning as sound dampening means to dampen sound generated within the housing due to air flow passing therethrough.
15. The filter assembly defined in claim 11 further comprising at least one noise attenuating member positioned within said second chamber portion adjacent at least a portion of one side of said second filter member, said noise attenuating member functioning as sound dampening means to dampen sound generated within the housing due to air flow passing therethrough.
16. The filter assembly defined in claim 11 further comprising a noise attenuating member positioned across said outlet opening, said noise attenuating member functioning as sound dampening means to dampen sound generated within the housing due to air flow passing therethrough.
17. The filter assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion.
18. The filter assembly defined in claim 17 wherein said first housing portion includes the first inlet opening and said second housing portion includes the second inlet opening.
19. The filter assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said housing having a generally rectangular configuration.
20. The filter assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said filter members including HEPA filters.