Rufus Stokes
An American inventor ~ the man behind the original “clean air machine”
The Man
Born September 3rd, 1924, in Phenix City, Alabama, Rufus Stokes was a US Army Veteran and inventor. Stokes received patent #3,520,113 on July 14th, 1970, for his air purification device that reduced the gas and ash emissions of furnace and powerplant smokestack emissions after seeing the adverse health effects of pollution while working at a veterans hospital in Chicago.
Rufus was raised in rural Alabama and enlisted in the US Army before receiving his high school diploma in 1940. While in the Army, Stokes attended a technical school where he received auto mechanic training and would eventually be deployed in western Europe to serve in the Rhineland campaign. After an honorable discharge, Stokes received the American Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
Between 1947 and 1949, Stokes worked as an orderly at the Chicago Veterans Administration Hospital, specifically in the Tuberculosis Sanitarium. It was during this time that he saw the adverse health effects of pollution. In 1949, he left the Veterans Hospital to work at an incinerator company in Chicago called Brule Inc., where he quickly learned the combustion process and contributed to the designs of new incinerators.
Stokes eventually created a larger mobile version and a smaller domestic version of the air purification device that showcased its versatility. This device further reduced the ash emissions of the furnace and power plant smokestack emissions. It was not limited by design and configuration, meaning its efficiency remained excellent regardless of industrial or residential use.
In 1970, he was granted a patent on an air-purification device that reduced emissions from furnaces and powerplant smokestacks. The system benefited the respiratory health of people but also eased the health risks to plants and animals. A side-effect of reduced industrial stack emissions was the improved appearance and durability of buildings, cars, and objects exposed to outdoor pollution for lengthy periods. In 1982, Rufus Stokes was granted a doctor of science degree from Heed University in Hollywood, Florida, for his scientific achievements.
Quick Facts
Stokes received the American Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
Stokes received patent #3,520,113 on July 14th, 1970, for his air purification device to reduce the gas and ash emissions of furnace and powerplant smokestack emissions.
In 1982, Rufus Stokes was granted a doctor of science degree from Heed University in Hollywood, Florida, for his scientific achievements.
Sources
Rufus Stokes at Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45195964/rufus-stokes
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