The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 16, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 15, 1996
William F Oehler, Coventry, CT (US);
Timothy N Obee, S. Windsor, CT (US);
Philip J Birbara, Windsor Locks, CT (US);
Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, NY (US);
Abstract
An open-pore polyurethane foam support body (20) is impregnated in a single step with a solution of a thermoplastic adhesive dissolved in a solvent that is also a foam expander, or in two sequential steps first with a foam expanding solution and then, after the foam has expanded, with a solution of a thermoplastic adhesive, to form an adhesive layer (40) on the surfaces (25) within the pores (22) and passages (24) of the foam body (20). Sorbent particles (30) of activated carbon are introduced into the expanded pores until the expanded foam is packed to the desired density of carbon particle loading. The impregnated and loaded foam is then air dried at room temperature to evaporate the foam expanding solution until the foam body contracts to substantially its original volume. Following air drying, the foam body may be heated in an inert atmosphere at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to remove any solvent that still may be coating the exposed surfaces of the activated carbon particles and also to soften the adhesive layer to further strengthen the resultant bonding of the activated carbon particles to the foam support body. The foam filter material 10 is unique in that at least a portion of the activated carbon particles 30 are mechanically bonded to the foam support body 20 by a mechanical locking resulting from the shrinkage of the expanded foam body about the particles 30, while at least portion of the activated carbon particles 30 are adhesively bonded to the foam support body 20 by the adhesive layer 40. A significant portion of the activated carbon particles 30 are both mechanically and adhesively bonded to the foam support body.