Apparatus for classifying airborne particulate matter
AssigneeUniversity of Utah
InventorHoward M. Wells
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for classifying and separating larger or more dense particles from fine particulate material entrained in a stream of air. The apparatus has a helically-shaped air chamber with a truncated frusto-conically shaped circumferential periphery. A series of extraction ports are disposed at spaced intervals along the truncated apex of the periphery. An adjustable blade means disposed at each extraction port segregates the outer fraction of particles from the air stream and diverts it into an extraction chamber surrounding the extraction port. The extraction chamber is pressurized to prevent the outflow of air from the helically-shaped air chamber through the extraction port and to remove the extracted particles to a collection point for further processing.
Claims23
An apparatus for separating particulate matter in an air stream, comprising:
- a first chamber having inlet and outlet ports and being adapted to accommodate a particle-bearing air stream, the interior of said chamber configurated such that centrifugal forces cause at least some of said particles to travel adjacent an outer portion of said interior;
- means disposed in the first chamber for extracting therefrom at least a portion of the particles traveling adjacent the outer interior portion of said first chamber;
- a second chamber for receiving the extracted particles, said second chamber being in fluid communication with the extracting means;
- and
- means for counterbalancing air pressure in the second chamber against air pressure within the first chamber so as to minimize air flow between said first chamber and said second chamber.
An apparatus for separating particulate matter in an air stream, comprising:
- a first chamber having inlet and outlet ports and being adapted to accommodate a particle-bearing air stream, the interior of said chamber being configurated such that said air stream traverses at least one generally circular revolution so as to produce centrifugal forces which cause at least a portion of the particulate matter to travel adjacent an outer portion of said interior;
- means connected to the inlet port for propelling the particle-bearing air stream therethrough;
- at least one means disposed in the outer portion of the first chamber for extracting therefrom at least a portion of the particles traveling adjacent the outer portion of the interior of said first chamber;
- and
- a second chamber in fluid communication with at least one of the extracting means for receiving the extracted particles, said second chamber further comprising means for counterbalancing air pressure within the first chamber so as to minimize air flow between said first chamber and said second chamber.
An apparatus for classifying particulate matter in an air stream, comprising:
- a first chamber having inlet and outlet ports and an interior with throughbore configurated so as to define a series of spiral loops and with an outer portion formed a truncated frusto-conical shape in cross-section, said interior being adapted to accommodate a particle-bearing air stream;
- an inlet blower connected to the inlet port for propelling the particle-bearing air stream therethrough;
- at least one extraction port disposed in the truncated outer portion of at least one of the spiral loops;
- a blade means disposed in each of the extraction ports, said blade means being adjustably positionable through said extraction port into the interior of the first channel;
- at least one particle extraction chamber connected to the exterior of the first chamber and surrounding at least one of the extraction ports so as to receive extracted particles, said particle extraction chamber having inlet and outlet ports with an inlet blower connected to said inlet port and an outlet valve means connected to said outlet port, said inlet blower and said outlet valve means controlling, in combination, the air flow through said particle extraction chamber so as to minimize air flow between said first chamber and said particle extraction chamber.
A method for separating particulate matter in an air stream, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a first chamber having inlet and outlet ports and being adapted to accommodate a particle-bearing air stream, said chamber having an interior configurated such that centrifugal forces cause at least a portion of said particles to travel adjacent a peripheral portion of said interior;
- propelling a particle-bearing air stream into the inlet port of the first chamber;
- extracting from the first chamber at least a portion of the particles traveling adjacent the periphery of the first chamber;
- receiving the particles in a second chamber which is in fluid connection with the first chamber;
- and
- controlling air flow and air pressure within the second chamber so as to carry the received particles out of said second chamber and so as to minimize air flow between the first chamber and said second chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.