Dust collector, filtration arrangment, and methods

A dust collector comprising:

• (a) a collector housing including a hopper and having walls defining an unfiltered air plenum, a filter region, a filtered air plenum, an air inlet, and an air outlet;
• (i) the air inlet having a first dimension across a widest portion of the air inlet;
• (b) a filter arrangement operably positioned in the filter region;
• and wherein:
• (i) the hopper is located under the filter region in a position to catch particulate matter that falls by gravity from the filter arrangement and the unfiltered air plenum;
• (ii) the unfiltered air plenum includes a pre-separation region that is spaced both laterally and axially relative to the filter region;
• (iii) the pre-separation region is spaced laterally relative to the filter region at least 0.5 times the first dimension of the air inlet;
• and
• (iv) the air inlet is spaced axially relative to a lowest portion of the filter region in a range of not greater than 1 time the first dimension of the air inlet.

A dust collector housing comprising:

• (a) a hopper and having walls defining an unfiltered air plenum, a filter region, a filtered air plenum, an air inlet, and an air outlet;
• and
• wherein:
• (i) the air inlet has a first dimension across a widest portion of the air inlet;
• (ii) the hopper is located under the filter region;
• (iii) the unfiltered air plenum includes a pre-separation region that is spaced both laterally and axially relative to the filter region;
• (iv) the pre-separation region is spaced laterally relative to the filter region at least 0.5 times the first dimension of the air inlet;
• and
• (v) the air inlet is spaced axially relative to a lowest portion of the filter region in a range of not greater than 1 time the first dimension of the air inlet.

A method of filtration using a dust collector;

• the method comprising:
• (a) directing air to be filtered through an air inlet of a dust collector housing and into an unfiltered air plenum;
• then
• (b) directing at least some of the air into a pre-separation region of the housing;
• (c) turning the at least some of the air 180 degrees within the pre-separation region;
• then
• (d) directing the air through a filter arrangement and into a filtered air plenum;
• and
• (e) directing filtered air out of the housing through an air outlet.