Air wipe

An air wipe for the removal of adhering particulate matter from a passing linearly drawn article having symmetrical mating housing halves each half being longitudinally symmetrical, having venturi article entrance and exit orifices and an annular central passage communicating therewith comprising:

• a plurality of transverse extrusion channels;
• V-shaped swept baffle means defining said extrusion channels;
• said swept baffle means forming an acute angle in relation to said linearly drawn article;
• said sweep being in a lateral direction opposing the directional movement of said passing article;
• longitudinally disposed opposing jet stream orifices arranged in tandem paired sets, said orifices being positioned coincident with each of said extrusion channels and further coincident with said annular central article passage, thereby directing high velocity jet streams upon said article passing through said extrusion channel;
• longitudinal exhaust channels, coaxial with said central annular passage, defined by the outer extent of said baffle means and the outer housing wall, said transverse extrusion channels merging and communicating therewith;
• said exhaust channels terminating in exhaust ports, preferably having a venturi opening, adjacent to but displaced from said central article entrance orifice, to direct particulate laden air from said entering article;
• said baffles diverting particulate laden dispersed jet streams from said passing article via said extrusion channels to said exhaust ports via said exhaust channels in a direction opposing the movement of said passing article;
• manifold means within each housing half, preferably being an annular bore, communicating with said jet stream orifices to supply said jet stream orifices from a pressurized source;
• and
• said central article passage being a machined annular groove through the apex of said baffles, said baffles of each mating half being in communication.

An air wipe, for incremental removal of adhering particulate matter from a passing linearly drawn wire, having symmetrical mating halves, each half being longitudinally symmetrical, and having entrance and exit orifices and a central passage communicating therewith comprising:

• a plurality of transverse extrusion channels;
• V-shaped swept baffles defining said extrusion channels, said baffles being swept obliquely at an angle opposing the direction of movement of said passing wire;
• a plurality of pairs of opposing jet stream orifices, each pair corresponding to one of said extrusion channels and coincident with said central passage at the rearward apex of said extrusion channels;
• said baffles diverting particulate laden dispersed jet streams from the line of travel of said passing wire at a lateral acute angle via said extrusion channels;
• longitudinal exhaust channels coaxial with said central passage communicating and merging with said extrusion channels, said exhaust channels terminating in exhaust ports, adjacent to but displaced from said central wire entrance orifice to direct particulate laden air from said extrusion channels via said exhaust channels away from said entering wire;
• and
• manifold means, within each housing half connected to a pressurized jet stream supply means, communicating with and directing jet stream supply to said jet stream orifices,
• said manifold means being longitudinally coaxial with said central passage.

A method for the incremental removal and diversion of adhering particulate matter from a continuously running linearly drawn wire whereby high velocity jet streams impinge upon said passing wire, the method comprising:

• impinging said passing wire with a plurality of high velocity paired opposing concentrated jet streams, said pairs being linearly displaced along the line of wire travel and impinging upon said wire at an acute angle, to the line of wire travel;
• diverting particulate laden dispersed jet streams laterally through angular transverse extrusion channels, said channels being symmetrical on either side of the line of said passing wire;
• and
• exhausting said particulate laden dispersed jet stream away from said wire through longitudinal exhaust channels coaxial with the line of wire travel in a direction opposing the line of wire travel.