Air flow rates in cyclonic particle separation chambers
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsIgnacio ALEJANDRE, Esteve COMAS, Sergi CULUBRET
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an example, an air filtration apparatus includes a cyclonic particle separation chamber having a first inlet to draw air from a first region, second inlet to draw air from a second region, and an exhaust port. The air filtration apparatus may further include a pressure sensor to sense a pressure of the first region, and a cyclonic air flow controller. The cyclonic air flow controller may control an air inflow received via the second inlet in response to an output from the pressure sensor to maintain a total air flow rate via the exhaust port.
Claims15
Air filtration apparatus comprising:
- a cyclonic particle separation chamber having a first inlet to draw air from a first region, second inlet to draw air from a second region, and an exhaust port;
- a pressure sensor to sense a pressure of the first region;
- and
- a cyclonic air flow controller to control an air inflow received via the second inlet in response to an output from the pressure sensor to maintain a total air flow rate via the exhaust port.
An object generation apparatus comprising:
- a fabrication chamber;
- a cyclonic separation apparatus;
- and
- a cyclonic air flow controller;
- wherein:
- the cyclonic separation apparatus comprises a cyclonic separation chamber to filter air extracted from the fabrication chamber, a first air inlet to receive a first air inflow from the fabrication chamber and a second air inlet to receive a second air inflow from outside the fabrication chamber, the first and second air inflows providing a cyclone air flow and the second air inlet comprising an air inflow regulator;
- and
- the cyclonic air flow controller is to control the second air inflow to compensate for changes in the first air inflow such that the cyclone air flow conforms to predetermined parameters.
A method comprising:
- receiving, into a cyclonic separation chamber, a first air flow from a fabrication chamber of an object generation apparatus and a second air flow from outside the fabrication chamber;
- determining a pressure in the fabrication chamber;
- and
- adjusting the second air flow in response to the determined pressure to maintain a total air flow through the cyclonic separation chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.