Air/particle separator

Abstract

A method of separating particles from particle laden air is described. The apparatus employed is a multiple stage separator in which the first stage comprises a generally cylindrical chamber (18) having a hollow central member (50) extending axially from one end thereof with openings (53) in its wall remote from the said one end. The first separation step is achieved by introducing air tangentially into the chamber (18) near its said one end, the tangential entry in combination with an unapertured region of the wall of the central member (50) establishing a rotating mass of air in the chamber, thereby causing heavier than air particles to migrate to the outer regions of the chamber (18) under centrifugal force. Suction is applied to the interior of the central member (50) to cause an axial movement of air through the chamber before it can exit through the openings (53) in the wall of the central member (50). The suction force is selected such that particles near the walls of the chamber tend to continue in a generally rotational and axially progressive path into a particle collecting regions of the chamber (26), while relatively particle-free air is drawn radially inwardly, as it progresses axially, so as to exit to a second separation stage, through the openings in the central member wall.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.