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US 6,217,637 B1Granted
Multiple stage high efficiency rotary filter system
OwnerJerry L. Toney, Nathan E. E. Toney +1inventors
InventorsJerry L. Toney, Nathan E. E. Toney, Gregory F. Ward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for filtration of particulate matter in fluid streams. A unique high efficiency, two element filter embodying an enclosure containing a tandem rotary disk and drum filter mounted on a common shaft is described. A method of operation including manual and computer control modes are described.
Claims15
A filter for separating a particulate from conveying fluid, the filter comprising:
- a tubular enclosure with a first duct entrance means at the first end and a second duct exit means at the second end;
- at least one rotary disk extending radially from an axially centered drive shaft to a sealing means circumferentially attached to the inner wall of said tubular enclosure, and a drum filter attached to said shaft and contained within the enclosure wherein the diameter of said drum filter is less than the inside diameter of said tubular enclosure and the first end, which is solid, of said drum is located a distance from the said rotary disk and the second end of said drum filter, which has an open area for passage of air from the interior of said drum to said second duct means, and which is located at a distance from said first drum end, and wherein the circumferential exterior surface of said drum is perforated and said second end of said filter drum is open to its circumference and said circumference is rotatably sealed against the open second end of the enclosure wherein the opening is detachably connected to said second end duct;
- filter media means attached to the first radial surface of said rotary disk;
- filter media means attached on the outer circumferential surface of said rotary drum;
- first and second duct means for said enclosure wherein the first duct means brings in a particulate and air mixture which passes through the filtration media on the first surface of the rotating disk and deposits particulate on said filtration media, wherein the air and any particulate not removed by said first filtration media flows through the said drum filter and out of the enclosure through said second duct means;
- a first variable speed suction means for drawing the air from the source of particulate contamination and blowing it through said filtration media on said rotary disk and the rotary drum and out of the enclosure, the suction means capable of exhibiting a substantially constant and controllable static negative pressure;
- one or more first vacuum sweep arms having a length and a width which extends horizontally from the wall of said enclosure to the support shaft of
- the rotary disk wherein there are as many said vacuum sweep arms as the number of said rotary disks, and said sweep arm is held at a fixed close distance from said rotary disk whereby said particulate coating said filter media is continually removed out of said sweep arm and through the outer enclosure wall via a duct by a negative pressure created by a second variable speed suction means;
- one or more second vacuum sweep arms having a length and a width which extends perpendicularly from the wall of said enclosure to the axial surface of the rotary drum and is held at a fixed close radial distance to said rotary drum media whereby particulate coating said filter media is continually removed out of said sweep arm and through the outer enclosure wall via a duct by a negative pressure created by said second variable speed suction means;
- a second variable speed suction means for drawing the air from said first and second vacuum sweep arms;
- a third variable speed suction means located downstream of said filter wherein said suction means creates a variable negative pressure at the exhaust of said filter enclosure;
- and
- a variable speed rotational means that drives the rotary shaft.
10 more elements
A method for separating and recovering particulate matter from a process conveying air stream comprising the steps of:
- filtering the particulate laden air by conveying said air out of said process into a tubular enclosure, having a first duct entrance means at the first end and a second duct exit means at the second end, using a first variable speed suction means to;
- firstly, drawing said particulate laden air through at least one rotary disk filter comprised of filtration media appropriately selected for maximum particulate retention and minimal pressure drop, said filter extending radially from an axially centered shaft wherein the coarser particulate matter is removed, and continuously removing said particulate from a first surface of said disk filter media using a vacuum means and returning said particulate through a third variable speed suction means to said process;
- measuring the pressure drop over said rotary disk;
- and
- increasing the rotational speed of said rotary disk in response to any increase in pressure drop thereby increasing the particulate removal rate;
- secondly, drawing the partially filtered air into a rotary drum filter axially mounted on said shaft, said filter having a closed first end, an open second end and wherein said filter is contained within said tubular enclosure and wherein the circumferential exterior surface of said drum filter is perforated and covered with a filter media, said filtration media having been appropriately selected for maximum particulate retention and minimal pressure drop whereby any residual particulate matter is removed from said partially filtered air, and continuously removing said particulate from said filtration media surface of said drum filter using a vacuum means and returning said particulate through said third variable speed suction means to said process;
- and
- measuring the pressure drop over said rotary drum;
- and
- increasing the rotational speed of said rotary drum in response to a predetermined increase in pressure drop thereby increasing the particulate removal rate;
- and
- thirdly, drawing clean air from said drum filter through the opening at said second duct exit means and returning it to the process or atmosphere, wherein the drawing of said clean air is assisted by a second variable speed suction means external to said filter and connected to the second duct exit means and whereby said suction means creates a variable negative pressure.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.