# US 8,784,540 B2 · Systems and methods of dust mitigation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,540 B2 - Document ID: US8784540B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/263,807 - Filed: 2009-06-11 - Published: 2012-02-09 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-11 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Arnold L. Rubit; David A. Moore - Inventors: Arnold L. Rubit; David A. Moore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784540B2 ## CPC - B01D 45/06: by reversal of direction of flow - H05K 7/20172: {Fan mounting or fan specifications} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract There is provided an exemplary dust trap and a system and method for filtering air. An exemplary dust trap comprises a housing with an air intake. The exemplary dust trap also comprises a plurality of screens disposed within the housing downstream of the air intake and configured to pass air and capture airborne contaminants, wherein the screens are configured to provide an unscreened air passage between the screens. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dust trap, comprising: a housing comprising an air intake; and a plurality of screens disposed within the housing downstream of the air intake and configured to pass air and capture airborne contaminants, wherein the screens are configured to provide an unscreened air passage between the screens, and wherein the unscreened air passage comprises a series of slanted gaps located between an internal surface of the housing and alternating edges of each of the screens. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dust trap of claim 1, wherein a mesh size of the screens is configured to trap contaminants larger than a space between fins of a heatsink while allowing dust particles smaller the space between the fins to pass through. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dust trap of claim 1, wherein the unscreened air passage provides separation of the contaminants from the air, based at least in part on a velocity of the air. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dust trap of claim 1, wherein the air travels in a substantially straight path through the screens when the screens are not blocked; and wherein the air travels a convoluted air passage through the unscreened air passage when the screens are blocked. ### Claim 5 A system for filtering air, comprising: a fan configured to provide a flow of cooling air through an air channel; a heatsink disposed in the air channel and configured to receive the flow of cooling air; and a dust trap comprising a plurality of mesh baffles disposed inside the air channel, wherein each of the plurality of mesh baffles spans less than the full cross-sectional area of the air channel and are configured to provide an unscreened air passage, and wherein the plurality of mesh baffles are slanted to form the unscreened air passage toward an air intake of the air channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of mesh baffles comprises a first mesh baffle forming a first gap between an edge of the first mesh baffle and a first internal wall of the air channel; and at least a second mesh baffle forming a second gap between an edge of the second mesh baffle and second internal wall of the air channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of mesh baffles form a convoluted air passage configured to trap dust, based at least in part on a velocity of the air. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the heatsink comprises a finned heatsink, and the dust trap is configured to trap dust particles larger than the space between the fins while allowing dust particles smaller the space between the fins to pass through. ### Claim 9 A method for filtering air, comprising: receiving a flow of air; passing the air through a plurality of baffles if the plurality' of baffles is substantially unblocked by contaminants; and passing the air through a winding path between the plurality of baffles if the plurality of baffles is substantially blocked by the contaminants, and wherein the winding path comprises a series of slanted gaps located between an internal surface of a housing and alternating edges of each of the baffles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising passing the air through fins of a heatsink after passing the air by the plurality of baffles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein capturing contaminants carried in the flow of air comprises capturing particles large enough to be trapped on the fins of the heatsink. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising passing the air through a filter after passing the air bythe plurality of baffles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising guiding the air about a corner formed by one or more of the plurality of baffles and collecting heavier contaminants in the corner.