Self-cleaning smoke filter

A structure for removing contaminants from gases, comprising a channel structure provided with an inlet port for the entrance of such gases, and an outlet port for the exit of such gases, and having

• a first pair of adjacent longitudinal sides forming a V-shaped bottom portion in said channel, and a second pair of adjacent longitudinal sides connected to said bottom portion and forming an inverted V-shaped top portion in said channel;
• liquid dispensing means disposed within said channel between said inlet port and said outlet port for subjecting said gases to a liquid stream and thereby wet said contaminants;
• baffle means having an inlet side and an outlet side, disposed within and supported by said channel with said baffle means disposed between said liquid dispensing means and said outlet port for simultaneously passing said gases to said outlet port and trapping said wet contaminants;
• said baffle means comprising a plurality of cooperable baffle members disposed in generally side-by-side relation and extending across the channel, to define a plurality of inlets, each common to both gas and liquid, a plurality of gas outlets, a plurality of downwardly extending gutter means, and a plurality of interconnecting passageways, said inlets being disposed in a common plane and the gas outlets being disposed in a common plane, which planes extend, in spaced parallel relation, normal to the flow direction through the channel from inlet to outlet thereof, each common inlet being disposed to direct gas and liquid into a cooperable common gas-liquid passageway, a passageway connecting said common passageway with a cooperable gutter means to provide, with the cooperable common passageway, a liquid flow in a direct line from the cooperable common inlet to said cooperable gutter means, and a gas passageway connecting the cooperable common passageway with a cooperable gas outlet, said gas passageway intersecting said common passageway at one side thereof, whereby gas will leave said common passageway in a flow direction transverse to the liquid flow direction to the associated gutter means, the latter being operative to carry wet contaminants, trapped by said baffle means, toward said bottom portion of said channel;
• trough means, secured to one of said first pair of adjacent channel sides, cooperating with said gutter means for receiving said contaminants;
• and
• drain means, disposed in said bottom portion and communicating with said trough means for carrying off said contaminants, thereby preventing buildup of said contaminants inside said channel.