Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
IONIZED AIRSTREAM BLOWER FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE WELL-BEING OF A PERSON AND THE BACTERIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE AREAS AROUND THE PERSON
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1998/050110
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
An apparatus for improvement of the well-being of a person or an animal and/or of the bacteriological conditions in the areas around the person or the animal and/or for treatment of the person or the animal in question comprises a house with an open part and a closed part. In the house a blower for the provision of a forced air stream through the open part of the house is included, as in the closed part of the house a high voltage generator is included, which is connected to an ion generating electrode similarly contained in the house of the apparatus and for provision of an ionization of the stream provided by the blower. Furthermore, the high voltage generator is connected to a coupling and neutral electrode establishing electric connection with the person or the animal in question. Thus, an apparatus for treatment of a person or an animal by means of an ionized air stream is provided, preferably an air stream containing negatively charged ions.

More Like This:
JP2014076172HAIR CARE DEVICE
Inventors:
WETLING JOHN (DK)
Application Number:
PCT/DK1998/000174
Publication Date:
November 12, 1998
Filing Date:
May 04, 1998
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
WETLING JOHN (DK)
International Classes:
A45D20/12; A61N1/44; (IPC1-7): A61N1/44
Foreign References:
EP0267077A11988-05-11
US4713724A1987-12-15
US4941068A1990-07-10
Other References:
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, Vol. 97, No. 5; & JP,A,09 000 350 (KYORITSU SEIJI KK) 7 January 1997.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Ostenfeld, Patentbureau A/s (P.O. Box 1183, Copenhagen K, DK)
Download PDF:
Claims:
PATENT CLAIMS
1. Apparatus for improvement of the wellbeing of a person or an animal and/or of the bacteriological conditions in the areas around the person or the animal and/or for treatment of the person or the animal in question, characterized in that the apparatus comprises: a house having an open part and a closed part, air stream generating means included in the house and arranged for provision of a forced air stream through the open part of the house and for leading the air stream towards the person or the animal in question, high voltage generating means enclosed in the closed part of the house and arranged for provision of a high voltage and at least two electrodes communicating with the high voltage generating means one of which at least two electrodes being mounted in the open part of the house serving the purpose of ionizing the air stream generated by the air stream generating means enclosed in the open part of the house, and the other of which at least two electrodes constituting a coupling or neutral electrode for establishment of electric connection with the person or the animal in question.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the ionization electrode mentioned is kept at a negative potential in relation to the coupling and neutral electrode for the generation of negative ions in the air stream.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the ionization electrode is kept at a potential of between 5,000 V and 20,000 V in relation to the coupling and neutral electrode, such as between 10,000 V and 15,000 V, preferably 13,000 V, or between 5,000 V and 7,000 V, between 7,000 V and 9,000 V, between 9,000 V and 11,000 V, between 11,000 V and 13,000 V, between 13,000 V and 15,000 V, between 15,000 V and 17,000 V or between 17,000 V and 19,000 V.
4. Apparatus according to any of the claims 13, characterized in that the coupling or neutral electrode is kept at a neutral potential in relation to the frame or earth or at a positive or negative potential in relation to the earth.
5. Apparatus according to any of the claims 14, characterized in that the apparatus furthermore comprises counterelectrode devices arranged for being placed in a distance from the person or animal in question of between 0.1 m and 2 m, such as betewen 0.5 m and 1 m or between 1 m or 2 m, which counter electrode devices are in contact with the high voltage generating means and are kept at a potential opposite to the mentioned ionization electrode in relation to coupling or neutral electrode, preferably a positive potential in relation to frame or earth, and in the counter electrode device preferably being constituted of elongated filamentous conductors.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the counter electrode devices are kept at a potential between +1,000 V and +7,000 V, e.g. between 3,000 V and +5,000 V or between +1,000 V and +3,000 V, or between +3,000 V and 5,000 V or between +5,000 V and +7,000 V, especially at approximately +4,000 V in relation to the coupling and neutral electrode.
7. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the coupling and neutral electrode is kept at a potential between 200 V and 1,700 V, preferably at a potential between 500 V and 1,500 V, especially at approx. 1,000 V or between 200 V and 400 V, between 600 V and 800 V, between 800 V and 1,000 V, between 1.000 V and 1,200 V, between 1,200 V and 1,400 V or between 1,400 V and 1,600 V.
8. Apparatus according to any of the claims 17, characterized in that the coupling and neutral electrode comprises one or more coupling means for establishment of electric contact with the person or the animal in question, especially one or more wrist bands or corresponding bands for being placed around a limb of the person or the animal in question or is alternatively constitued by one or more coupling means integrally forming a catching surface of the apparatus.
9. Apparatus according to any of the claims 18, characterized in that the air stream generating means are arranged for producing a forced air stream with a volume velocity of between 100 M3/hour and 2,000 M3/hour, preferably between 100 and 1000 M3/hour or between 1,000 and 2,000 M3/hour such as between 100 and 300 M3/hour, between 300 and 500 M3/hour, between 500 and 700 M3/hour, between 700 and 900 M3/hour, between 900 and 1,100 M3/hour, between 1,100 and 1.300 M3/hour, between 1,300 and 1,500 M3/hour, between 1,500 and 1,700 M3/hour or between 1,700 and 1,900 M3/hour.
10. Method for improving the wellbeing of a person or an animal and/or the bacteriological conditions in the area around the person or the animal, characterized in that a forced air stream towards the person or animal in question is generated and in that, by means of high voltage generating means coupled to at least two electrodes of which the one electrode is mounted for ionization of the mentioned air stream generated by the mentioned air stream generating means and of which the other electrode constitutes a coupling and neutral electrode for establishment of electric contact with the person or the animal in question, a ionization of the air steam generated by the air stream generating means is produced, exposing the person or animal to a forced ionized air stream.
11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the apparatus according to any of the claims 19 is used when carrying out the method.
Description:
Ionized airstream blower for improvement of the well-being of a person and the bacteriological conditions in the areas around the person.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for improvement of the well-being of a person or an animal and/or of the bacteriological conditions in the areas around the person or the animal and/or for treatment of the person in question. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for improvement of the well-being of a person or an animal and/or of the bacteriological conditions in the areas around the person or the animal, preferably by means of the apparatus according to the invention.

The present invention is based on the principle, which is in fact already known. that by exposing a person or an animal to a stream of ions in the air it is possible to improve the general well-being and state of health of the person or the animal. For instance from WO80/00918 it is known that it is a further effect by, as mentioned, exposing the person or the animal to a stream of ions in the air that the person or the animal will experience an increase of the hemoglobin content in the blood, a stimulation of the activity of the heart and the vascular system and of the nervous system. a general improvement of the metabolism. a remedy for digestive troubles, a quicker wound healing and an either partly or total improvement of the situation for persons suffering from pneumonia, asthma. allergy, air passage troubles, skin diseases. influenza or for instance malaria. Especially, it is advantageous to expose the person or the animal whose general well-being is to be improved to a stream of negative ions in the air as, depending on the intended purpose of the use of the system in connection with the apparatus according to the present invention. it may be appropriate to the person or the animal which is exposed to the stream of negative ions in the air to inhale the mentioned stream of air, thus in order to provide an even improved well-being or general state of health for the person or the animal.

Further examples of systems with belonging apparatuses for production of ions for the purpose of increasing the general state of a person are described in for instance European patent application, publication No. 0 267 077. Russian patent application No. SU-1.762.943.

Danish patent No. 168,903 and French patent No. 2,258,598. It is a characterizing feature of all the above mentioned apparatuses and systems, which are in general designated ion production apparatuses or systems, that they all seek in various ways to provide an improved comfort for the person being exposed to the produced stream of ions provided by means of the ion production apparatuses or systems. However, none of the apparatuses or systems described have been accepted by the potential users, presumably because in practice they have turned out not to be able to fulfil the expectations to effectivity and operational use which may be expected from them or because they have turned out in practice to be too complex to be used for for instance use at home by the person who is to be treated by means of the system or the apparatus. This is especially relevant to the system described in European patent application, publication No. 0 267 077 and to the system described in international patent application No. W080/00918 in connection with which system the person who is to be exposed to the stream of ions in the air has to sit in a special cabin belonging to the system which has of course resulted in the fact that the system has not succeded for use at home.

Furthermore, from W087/07248 a method and a device for treatment of persons or animals are known. According to the technique known from this publication, oxygen is led through a pencil-like part of an apparatus which is in connection with a discharge device which is again connected to the person or animal to be treated. A discharge is provided in the pencil- like apparatus part for provision of ozone which is thus brought into contact with the person or the animal in question. In this way, this prior art technique enables an ozone treatment of a specific area of a the body of a person, especially a wound area or another local area, as this technique is specifically based on a spark discharge technique for production of ozone.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the type mentioned by may of introduction, that is an apparatus for the generation of ions in the air, especially negative ions, with the purpose of improving the general well-being or the general state of health of the person who is exposed to the mentioned stream of ions in the air. The apparatus provided by the invention makes it possible to generate a more effective stream of ions than the prior art apparatuses as it is easier to operate and as the apparatus may more easily be brought about by the user and at the same time a better effect is provided than by the prior art apparatuses.

The apparatus provided in accordance with the present invention is characterized by comprising: a house having an open part and a closed part, air stream generating means included in the house and arranged for provision of a forced air stream through the open part of the house and for leading the air stream towards the person or the animal in question, high voltage generating means enclosed in the closed part of the house and arranged for provision of a high voltage and at least two electrodes communicating with the high voltage generating means one of which at least two electrodes being mounted in the open part of the house serving the purpose of ionizing the air stream generated by the air stream generating means enclosed in the open part of the house, and the other of which at least two electrodes constituting a coupling or neutral electrode for establishment of electric connection with the person or animal in question. Thus, it will to a greater extent be possible to provide a stream of ions directed along a specific path.

The apparatus according to the present invention therefore ensures not only a local treatment with ozone, as it is known from the above mentioned published international patent application, but in general a ion treatment of a person or an animal which is exposed to the air stream provided by the air stream generating means which is ionized by means of the ionizing electrode and by means of the high voltage generating means. The ionization of the air stream produced by the air stream generating means may furthermore be supplemented by a heating of the air stream. as the apparatus according to the present invention may contain heating means for heating of the air stream.

For providing an effect of improving the well-being and improving the bacteriological conditions, which may furthermore be regarded as having an at least partly healing effect to a number of sufferings, including asthmatic sufferings and the like, it is preferred that the apparatus produces a negatively charged ionization as the ionization electrode is kept at a negative potential of the high voltage generating means in relation to the coupling and neutral electrode.

The negative potential at which the ionization electrode is kept in relation to the coupling and neutral electrode, may vary between -5,000 V and -4,000 V, such as -10,000 V and 15,000 V, preferably -13,000 V. The mentioned potential may more specially be between -5,000 V and -7,000 V, between -7,000 V and -9,000 V, between -9,000 and -11,000 V, between -11,000 V and -13,000 V, between -13,000 V and -15,000 V, between -15,000 V and -17,000 V, or between -17,000 V and -19,000 V.

In the apparatus according to the present invention is is prefereed that the coupling and neutral electrode is kept at a neutal potential in relation to frame or earth whereby it is ensured that the person or the animal is not exposed to risks or dangers of being exposed to electric shock. For special applications the coupling or neutral electrode may, however, be connected to a positive or negative potential in relation to earth whereby correspondingly also the person or the animal which is exposed to the ionized air stream produced by means of the apparatus according to the present invention is correspondingly kept at a positive or negative potential in relation to earth.

According to a further embodiment of the apparatus this may furthermore comprise counter- electrode devices being arranged to be located in a distance from the person or the animal in question of between 0.1 m and 2 m, such as between 0.5 m and 1 m or between 1 m and 2 m, which counter-electrode devices are in contact with the high voltage generating means and are kept at a potential opposite to the ionization electrode mentioned in relation to the coupling and neutral electrode, preferably a positive potential in relation to frame or earth, and preferably the counter electrode devices are constituted by elongated filamentous conductors. This embodiment is especially suitable for use in connection with improvement of the bacteriological conditions around a person which makes the apparatus especially applicable in hospitals or similar institutions, including residential homes.

The counter electrode devices in the embodiment described above for the apparatus according to the present invention may preferably be kept at a potential between jar1,000 V and +7,000 V, for instance between +3,000 V and +5,000 V or between +1,000 V and +3,000 V, or between +3,000 V and +5,000 V or between +,5000 V and +7,000 V, specially at approximately +4,000 V in relation to the coupling and neutral electrode.

The apparatus according to the present invention may of course be constituted by an independent apparatus loaded by a battery supply such as a number of batteries, specially rechargeable batteries or an automobile accumulator or a number of automobile accumulators. In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention the aparatus is constituted by a current network apparatus, i.e. an apparatus which is supplied by the current network and therefore contains means for supply of the air stream generating means and high voltage generating means of the apparatus by the current network.

In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention the coupling and neutral electrode is kept at a potential between -200 V and -1,700 V, preferably at a potential between -500 V and -1,500 V, specially at approximately -1,000 V or between -200 V and -400 V, between -400 V and -600 V, between -600 V and -800 V, between -800 V and -1,000 V, between -1,000 V and -1,200 V, between -1,200 V and -1,400 V or between -1,400 V and -1,600 V.

For establishment of connection between the apparatus according to the invention and the person or the animal in question which is treated by means of the apparatus, the coupling and neutral electrode is preferably produced with one or more coupling means for establishment of electric connection with the person or animal in question, specieally one or more wrist bands or corresponding bands for being placed around a limb of the person or the animal in question or alternatively constituted by one or more coupling means integrally constituting a catching surface in the apparatus.

Unlike the pencil-like apparatus known from the above mentioned published international patent application in which apparatus a stream of oxygen is just passing a spark discharge electrode, the treatment technique implemented in the apparatus according to the present invention is based on a heavy generation of air stream, i.e. production of a considerable air stream which is directed towards the person or the animal which is treated by means of the apparatus according to the present invention. Accordingly, the air stream generating means in accordance with the teachings of the present invention are arranged to produce a forced air stream having a volume velocity of between 100 M3/hour and 2,000 M3/hour, preferably between 100 and 1,000 M3/hour or between 1,000 and 2,000 M3/hour such as between 100

and 300 M3/hour, between 300 and 500 M3/hour, between 500 and 700 M3/hour, between 700 and 900 M3/hour, between 900 and 1,100 M3/hour, between 1,100 and 1300 M3/hour, between 1,300 and 1,500 M3/hour, between 1,500 and 1,700 M3/hour or between 1,700 and 1,900 M3/hour.

The present invention furthermore relates to a method of improving the well-being of a person or the animal and/or of the bacteriological conditions in the areas around the person or the animal which method is characterized in that a forced air stream towards the person or the animal in question is generated and in that, by means of high voltage generating means coupled to at least two electrodes of which the one electrode is mounted for ionization of the mentioned air stream generated by the mentioned air stream generating means and of which the other electrode constitutes a coupling and neutral electrode for establishment of electric contact with the person or the animal in question, a ionization of the air steam generated by the air stream generating means is produced, exposing the person or animal to a forced ionized air stream.

The method according to the present invention may preferably be carried out by use of the apparatus according to the present invention and having the features and advantageous details described above.

An embodiment of the present invention in the form of a non-limiting example will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective and partly separated view of the apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 2 illustrates an example of use of the apparatus according to fig. 1 in which application the air stream produced by the apparatus is to be inhaled, Fig. 3 illustrates a further example of use of an embodiment of the system and the method according to the present invention and

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the electronics used in connection with the apparatus.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example of the presently preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention and for application for obtaining a generel improvement of the well-being of a person and/or of the bacteriological conditions around a person and/or for treatment of a person using the apparatus. The illustrated apparatus 1 comprises a house generally designated the reference numeral 2 having an open upper part 2a and a closed lower part 2b. The apparatus 1 moreover comprises an open rack or shield 3 to be mounted on the house 2 for provision of a partly closing of the open upper part 2a. The rack 3 may be placed on the house 1 by clipping, however in the preferred embodiment it is mounted by glueing during manufacturing. The rack itself is built up by a number of rounded lamellae 3a forming a whole.

The closed lower house part 2b of the apparatus 1 is preferably produced as a cylindrical part with such dimensions that during use of the apparatus the closed part 2b may be grapped by one hand. At the front part of the illustration, catching means 8 may be placed in order to enable a provision of a safer maintaining of the apparatus in the user's hand.

Alternatively or supplementary, the apparatus 1 may be arranged to be received in and kept in a framing stand, which is not illustrated in the drawing, for safe mounting of the apparatus, and similarly the apparatus according to the invention may in an alternative embodiment be permanently mounted in a stand or a simlar framing.

The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises two outwardly positioned conduits or wires 14, 20 of which the wire 14 serves the purpose of connecting the apparatus 1 to the general current network, for instance 230 V, 50 Hz or alternatively 110 V, 60 Hz. The wire or the conduit 20 forms an electric couling means for during use of the apparatus 1, and for reasons to be explained below, connecting this electrically to a user who is not further illustrated in the drawing. In the illustrated case, the electric connection between the coupling means from the apparatus 1 and the person is obtained by further connecting the conduit 20 to a conductive wrist part 22 by means of a jack 21. The part 22 to be connected with the person may alternatively be produced to be placed on other parts of the person or may constitute a

handle, and similarly the apparatus may have more than one, for instance two wrist parts 22 or parts coupled thereto.

Except for forming an outward gripping surface for the apparatus 1, the closed house part 2b of the apparatus serves the purpose of hermetically sealed placement of a number of electric system parts necessary for operation of the apparatus which will be described in the following. Thus, the apparatus comprises an electric system 10 illustrated by dotted lines in the drawing and placed in the closed house part 2b and having a high voltage generator which is connected to the net wire 14 and the coupling means 20 and to the electric parts further included in the apparatus by means of more conduits or wires, 25, 28 and 35, respectively.

In the upper house part 2a of the apparatus a blower mechanism 50 is placed with a motor 55 which, when activated, runs a number of propeller blades providing an air stream which is during the intended use of the apparatus 1 directed to the right and out of the plane of the drawing in fig. 1, i.e. towards the user of the apparatus. For current supply to the motor 55, the motor 55 is connected to the electric system 10 by means of a conduit 28. A number of filamentous heating elements 60 for heating of the air stream provided by the blower mechanism 50 are positioned immediately in front of the propeller blades 60 illustrated in the figure, the heating elements 60 being connected to the electric system by means of a conduit 35.

From the electric system 10 in the closed house part 2b an electric conduit 25 extends which is connected to a high voltage electrode 70 positioned in the rack or shield 3 between the rack lamellae 3 a for production of an electric field for the purpose of generation of ions in the air stream produced by means of the motor 65 and the propeller blades 60. By means of the electric system, the electrode 70 is mainly kept at a negative potential of between 10,000 V and 20,000 V, such as 11,000 V and 15,000 V, preferably at approximately 13,000 V, whereby a strong formation of ions appears in the area around the rack 3. During operation of the apparatus 1 as described above, the blower 50 and the electrode 70 in combination cause a stream of ionized air to appear and be directed towards the user who may thus according to desire and requirement use the apparatus on the areas of his or her body which

are to be influenced by the ionized air stream. As mentioned below, the heating of the air by means of the heating element 60 may be varied as desired.

In addition the apparatus 1 comprises a switch 4 by means of which the apparatus 1 may be operated as the switch 4 is mainly available through an aperture in the lower area of the rack 3. Preferably, the switch is used for providing a stepwise adjustment of the blower motor 55 whereby the air stream may be adjusted to a desired power or used for varying the effect of the heating elements 60.

The closed house part 2b may be provided with a foot or support plate part allowing the apparatus to be positioned on a table or the like as the air stream is directed towards the user.

During operation of the apparatus, the person to use the apparatus is electrically connected to the electric system 19 in the closed part 2b of the apparatus by means of coupling means 20, the rack connection 21 and the wrist band 22 so that the person is kept at a predetermined potential, for instance a neutral potential, the person in fact being the frame.

The result is that the ions produced by the apparatus are to a greater extent attracted by the body surface of the person which is naturally further emphasized by the blower device 50 positioned in the open house part of the apparatus. By another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention it is optionally possible to refrain from using the above described coupling means 20 in the form of a conduit as on the part of the surface on which the user grips by his or her hand, the closed lower house part 2b, as marked by a dotted line in fig. 1, may be provided with a conducting part 200 having the same function as the coupling means, i.e. serving the purpose that the person may be kept at a predetermined potential when being in touch with the conducting part 200.

It is to be notized that in the illustrated embodiment of the apparatus 1 it is not possible by means of the electric system 10 to make an adjustment of the potential of the electrode 70, as this potential will due to the inexpensiveness of the apparatus in the illustrated example be determined in connection with the production of the apparatus 1. The apparatus may, as is evident from the detailed description of structure of the electric system 10. be provided with adjustment means for adjustment of the mentioned potential. In this connection it

should be noted that the above mentioned potential of 13,000 V has turned out to be extremely suitable in connection with the application shown. Furthermore, it is possible in a simple manner to construct the electric system 10 so that also the person may be kept at an optional potential which may have sign reversed to the potential at which the ion generation electrode is kept.

In fig. 2, an appropriate application of the apparatus for improving the general well-being of a person suffering from for instance asthma, pneumonia and the like is illustrated as the person by positioning the apparatus 1' tries to a wide extent to inhale the stream of ions made by the apparatus 1. As mentioned the apparatus is connected to the person by means of a wrist band 22' and a conduit as described above.

Fig. 3 illustrates an alternative application of the system according to the invention by which it is possible to the greatest extent to keep the area around a person clear of bacteria. In the drawing, a bed designated the reference numeral 100 is illustrated which bed is positioned on a ground surface 105 which by means of insulating blocks 100 beneath the legs of the bed are insulated electrically in relation to the ground. In the bed 100 a person 115 is lying and on each side of the bed an appartus having ion generation electrodes 130 is positioned of which apparatuses 130 only one is illustrated in the drawing. The apparatus 130 is connected to the current network by means of a conduit or a wire 140. to the person 115 by means of a wire-shaped copuling means 145 with a wrist band 147 of the type described above with reference to fig. 1 and, by means of a wire or a conduit 150, to a counter electrode 120 positioned in a height h above the person 115. The height h may vary as desired, but will preferably be between 0.1 and 2 m.

The apparatus 130 illustrated in fig. 3 may in principle be constituted by an ordinary ion generation apparatus having one or more brush-shaped electrodes 135 as the electrodes are kept at a negative potential of between 5,000 V and 20,000 V, e.g. between 7,000 V and 15.000 V, such as approximately 13,000 V or between 7,000 V and 10,000 V. By means of the wire 145 and the wrist band 147 the person is kept at a negative potential of about 1,000 V by means of the especially constructed electric system of the apparatus 130. Similarly, the counter electrode 120 is kept at a positive potential of between 3,000 V and 4,000 V. During operation of the system illustrated in fig. 3, a stream of ions is provided by means of the

apparatus 130 which is constructed similarly to the apparatus 1 in figs. 1 and 2, which ions will due to the potential relations mentioned above be led towards the person and thereafter upwards towards the counter electrode 120 as the polluted particles present in the area above the person are ionized and attracted to the counter electrode 120.

Fig. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram of the circuit structure of the electric system used in the apparatus described with reference to figs. 1 and 2 which circuit is in its entirety designated the reference numeral 200. The circuit 200 is generally divided into three circuit blocks 202, 204, 206 of which the circuit block 204 constitutes an adjustment and control part whereas the block 206 constitutes a breaker or interrupter based high voltage part. The current supply part 2 generally contains a low voltage transformer 208 for transformation of the current network voltage, in Europe normally 230 V, 50 Hz, into two 12 V voltages to which positive and negative rectification and smoothing parts, respectively, are added. For rectification of the two supply voltages generated by the network transformer 208, the block 202 contains four rectifier diodes 210, 212, 214 and 216 constituting a conventional GRAETZ-bridge. Two electrolytic capacitors 218 and 220 and two high frequency suppression capacitors 222 and 224 belonging to the negative and the positive supply voltage, respectively, are added to the two rectified voltages from the transformer 208. The circuit block 202 furthermore contains, in fact conventionally, two voltage controllers 226 and 228 with associated decoupling capacitors 230 and 234 belonging to the negative and the positive supply part, respectively. The block 202 thus provides two symmetrical supply voltages, typically plus and minus 12 V in relation to the neutral point of the circuit.

The supply voltages generated by the block 202 are supplied to the adjustment and control block 204. This blok contains two controllers 236 and 238 constituted by two adjustable resistors adjusting the high voltage level generated by the high voltage generator 206 and a detector level for information to the user about an error function, if any, respectively, in case the high voltage generated by the high voltage block 206 is below a predetermined threshold value. Furthermore, the block 204 contains four operational amplifiers 244, 246, 248 and 250 among which the operational amplifiers 248 and 250 constitute a comparator circuit which is in connection with the controller 236 and which supplies a positive control voltage to the high voltage block 206 through a current limiting resistor 244 and a blocking diode

242, and among which the operational amplifiers 244 and 246 constitute a threshold value detector circuit for performing the above identified threshold detection.

From a pin on the high voltage block 206 a signal representing the high voltage generated by the high voltage block 206 is supplied through a current limiting resistor. This voltage is likewise added to the comparator 250 and to the two comparators 244 and 246 through a smoothing capacitor 272 and two overvoltage circuit breaker diodes 274 and 276. Via a diode 252 and a resistor 254 the output of the comparator 244 is connected to a basis of a NPN transistor 260 whose emitter is connected to the ground of the circuit and whose collector is connected to the anode of a LED whose catode is connected to the positive supply rail via a resistor. The diode 262 is preferably a green LED serving the purpose of informing the user of the fact that the apparatus operates correctly and thus that the high voltage level desired is obtained. Furthermore, via a diode 256 and a resistor 258 the exit of the comparator 244 is connected to the basis of a PNP transistor 266 whose emitter like the transistor 260 is conencted to the ground whereas the collector of the PNP transistor 266 is connected to the catode of a LED 268 whose anode is connected to the negative supply voltage via a resistor 270. The diode 268 is preferably a red LED serving the purpose of alarming the user in the case that the high voltage level detected is not on the level desired in which case the LED 268 instead of the LED 262 is turned on.

The high voltage block 206 contains centrally a high voltage step-up transformer 326 whose primary side is fed by a breaker or interrupter circuit. The breaker or interrupter circuit is supplied via four diodes 296, 298, 300 and 302 from the current network voltage via two resistors 284 and 286 which are shunted by a main noise filter comprising a capacitor 280 and a resistor 282 and which two resistors 284 and 286 comprise a thyristor 318 controlled partly by the positive control voltage supplied from the block 204 and partly by a transistor circuit containing a transistor 310. The thyristor 318 is inserted between the ground and the junction between a charging capacitor 324 which is charged through a diode 320 and a resistor 322 from the rectified but non-smoothed supply voltage and accordingly is charged with a ripple of 100 Hz. Provided that the gate of the thyristor 318 is not kept at a high level by the adjustment and control circuit in the block 204, the thyristor 318 is turned on by the transistor 310 when the ripple voltage shifts in its top point as the basis of the transistor 310 is coupled to a voltage divider circuit comprising two resistors 304, 306 via a capacitor 308

whereas the collector of the transistor 310, which collector is connected to the gate of the thyristor 318 via a capacitor 316, is likewise connected to a junction between a voltage divider circuit comprising two restistors 312 and 314. Accordingly, the resistor 310 is kept conductive during the positive flank of the ripple voltage whereas the capacitor 324 is charged via the resistor 322 but is blocked via the voltage maintained by the capacitor 308 when the ripple voltage descends from the top value whereafter the transistor 310 closes and causes the gate of the thyristor 318 to shift. Thus, the capacitor 324 is short-circuited over the primary winding of the high voltage step-up transformer 326 which is connected to a diode network with associated charging capacitors comprising the diodes 328, 330, 332, 334, 336 and the capacitors 338, 340, 342, 344 and 346 for provision of a high voltage of the junction between the capacitor 346 which high voltage is discharged on the clamp 70 via two resistors 292 and 294.

The high voltage generated by the high voltage wetwork is divided by two resistors 348 and 350 and is discharged via a current limiting resistor 352 to the above mentioned pin of the block 204 for supervision of the high voltage level.

The adjustmend of the high voltage provided by the high voltage block 206 is implemented in the following way. It has to be noted that the charging of the capacitor 324 takes place on a 100 Hz ripple voltage and that the charging is accordingly dependent on the voltage which is supplied through the resistor 322. The voltage over the capacitor 324 will therefore, dependent of how many 100 Hz periodes the charging has lasted, take a value which for several charging periods approaches the top value for the rectified net voltage. The periodical discharge of the capacitor 324 via the thyristor circuit may as it is evident from the diagram in fig. 4 be inhibited by a control voltage from the block 204 which control voltage is added to the gate of the thyristor 318 so that the thyristor may only be discharged after a number of charging periods and thus the energy from the capacitor 324 is not transferred for each 100 Hz period to the step-up network on the secondary side of the transformer 326, but only transferred after a number of 100 Hz periods, reducing the voltage level of the high voltage network.

As it is evident from fig. 4, the illustrated circuit is provided with two wrist connections each one being connected via each of two resistors 288 and 290 to the ground of the circuit which is common to the high voltage part and the supply block 202.

Example The apparatus illustrated in fig. 1 had the following dimensions in a prototype embodiment.

The length of the closed house part 2b: 110 mm. Cross-section dimensions of the closed part 2b: 40 mmx 40 mm. Diameter of the upper house part 2A with circular lamellae: 130 mm.

Depth of the upper house part 2a with circular lamellae: 60 mm. The circuit illustrated in fig. 4 was constructed of the following components: 230 /2 x V transformer: 210, 212, 214 216: 1 N 4001; 218, 220: 220 pF/30 V; 222, 224: 100 nF; 226: 79L12; 228: 78L12; 230, 234: 100 fF; 236, 238: 100 kQ adjustable resistor; 240: 4.7 kQ; 242: 1N 4001: 244.246,248 and 250: LM 324; 252, 256: 1N 4001; 254, 256: 10 k#, 260: BC 546; 266: BC 557; 262 LED green; 268 LED red; 264, 270: 1 k#; 272: 100 nF; 274, 276: 1N 4001; 278: 47 k#; 280, 282: r 47c100; 284, 286: 2.7 k#; 288, 290: 8.2 MQQ; 296, 298, 300, 302: 1N 4007; 304,312:470 kQ; 306, 314: 100 k# ; 308, 316: 100 nF; 310 BC 546B; 320: 1 n 4001; 322: 47 k# ; 324: 33 nF/400 V; 318 po 1002; 326: coil 400/11,000 V; 328, 330, 332, 334, 336: <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> 1N4001; 338, 340, 342, 344, 346: 200 pf/6.3 kV; 348:1 G#; 350: 1 M# ; 352: 47 or; 292, 294 8.2 MQ.