MXPA99001019A - Apparatus with auto-clepi air filter - Google Patents

Abstract

An air filter gear and dust collector includes one or more filter elements with a penetrable air filter means for collecting particulate or all filter material on the filter surface. An elongated, flexible hose having a free distal end is suspended within the clean air space of the filter element and is adjusted to couple the fastener to a source of pressurized air. The filter cleaning hose member preferably has slot-type openings in elongated circumference to discharge compressed air so that the reaction force of air discharging through the slot-like openings causes the hose to whip and shock the filter element. The combined action of the inverted injection air flow and the impact forces exerted on the filter element by the random whip of the hose member provides effective removal of dust and particles from the filter media. A manually or manually controlled valve operates periodically to discharge pressurized air through the flexib hose

Description

APPARATUS WITH SELF-CLEAN AIR FILTER This invention relates generally to infringement air filters, and in particular to a dust collection assembly with an air filter that includes a self-cleaning component to remove accumulated dust from the filter element surfaces. Several types of air filter equipment have been developed, sometimes referred to as dust collectors for commercial and industrial applications. A conventional infraction dust / air filter collector includes a filter element formed by a cloth bag supported on a frame made of semi-rigid nonwoven fabric material formed as a folded cylindrical tube or in various other configurations, thus forming a surface with fute through which air can pass but where particles accumulate and filter out! air that passes through the filter element. Since the filter element over time is substantially clogged with accumulated particles or "filter cake", this accumulated material can be removed from the filter element. Accordingly, it is desired to be able to remove the accumulated particles or filter cake from the surface of the filter element periodically to maintain adequate air flow through! filter and the effectiveness of the filter required, but without removing the filter element from its working position.

A self-cleaning filter has several advantages. Usually, you do not need to remove the filter element from! filter housing to clean to replace Ft element rie filter s can return 3 use thus avoiding the expense and inconvenience of replacing it. The particles or other contaminated material accumulated in the filter element can be easily contained and controlled if the element can be cleaned periodically within its own environment or cabinet and e. material collected in a hopper or disposable container that can then be periodically removed from the cabinet. Accordingly, devices have been developed to periodically clean infringing filter elements to remove accumulated particles or filter cake from the surface of the filter. element without removing the filter element from its environment to cabinet. Although a wide variety of devices have been developed for use with self-cleaning air filter units, a mechanically simple and effective device is still needed to clean air filter elements or dust collector but does not damage the filter element per se. Air filter cleaning devices have been developed which are used to clean filter elements of the bag type as well as tubular, flat or round filter elements which are made of synthetic fiber and chemically and non-woven cellulose, for example . A conventional proposal for self-cleaning filter systems is to provide air injection nozzles arranged in relation to the filter element to perform an inverted flow of air at high velocity in the element to remove the accumulated particle material by which the material then it may fall to the bottom of the enclosure of the filter for disposal. Injection flushing air cleaning devices are relatively simple, but not always effective to remove accumulated material from all surfaces of the filter element. Devices have been developed with relatively complex and expensive air injection nozzles that traverse the iongitud of the filter element to cover all exposed surfaces. Another common technique for removing accumulated particles from filter elements of the semi-rigid type is to provide a support arrangement for the filter element where the support structure is moved or mechanically moved to perform mechanical ibration from the element. However, those devices are also mechanically complex and can reduce the life of the filter element due to the mechanical stress of the filter medium. further, cleaning devices have been developed which vibrate or move the filter element while releasing pulses of air against the filter element to remove the accumulated filter cake. Therefore, somehow the mechanical displacement filter cleaning devices are complicated and can reduce the service life of! filter or inadvertently damage the filter element. Cleaning systems of the inverted air flow type are either relatively inefficient or become mechanically complicated in order to be effective in cleaning all surfaces of the filter element. Combination systems that use mechanical displacement and inverted injection or pulse air flow are also relatively complex and tend to damage e! filter element due to mechanical displacement of the element means. In this way, as mentioned before, it has been necessary to provide a mechanically simple and effective filter cleaning system for air filters of! type of infringement and dust collectors that also minimizes the risk of damaging the filter element itself. The present invention provides an improved air filter and / or dust collector apparatus that includes a self-cleaning component that effectively removes the accumulated particle material from the filter element at the same time by reducing! At least the risk of damaging the filter element and without causing the filter apparatus to be unduly complicated and costly. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning device with filter element for a generally cylindrical air filter element formed of folded porous fabric wherein a combination of periodic inverted air flow is achieved through of the filter element and mechanical vibration of! filter element by a flexible tube or air discharge hose that provides both inverted air flow at high velocity and mechanical reaction impact forces against the filter element to generate vibrations of sufficient magnitude to discharge the particle material from the element of filter. The filter cleaning apparatus may operate during the operation of the filter or after the interruption of air flow through the filter, as desired. The self-cleaning filter apparatus includes a suitable enclosure or housing wherein one or more filter elements are disposed to filter particulate matter and smoke from a stream of air flow passing through the filter element. A member of! type of flexible hose elongated in proximity to the filter element and is provided with airflow openings through which air under pressure is discharged on the internal surfaces of! filter element in a direction opposite to that flowing filtered air through dwl element. The reaction forces in the flexible member of pressurized air discharged through the openings cause the member to whip and strike or break the filter element with sufficient force to assist in discharging the particulate material accumulated in the filter element. The combination of inverted flow of air and moderate to light reaction forces applied against the filter element by e. Whipping member provides effective cleaning of the filter element. The present invention provides a self-cleaning filter apparatus and a filter cleaning device that is effective and mechanically simple and can operate at will during the operation of the filter or when the filter apparatus does not operate.

Those skilled in the art will further understand the aspects and operating advantages of the invention upon reading the detailed description below along with the drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a self-cleaning filter apparatus in accordance with the present invention operating in conjunction with a smoke and dust collection lever; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the filter apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation! longitudinal, in section, of the filter apparatus; Figure 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view of a filter cleaning member; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a longitudinal central sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the filter cleaning member; and Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view showing an arrangement of the filter cleaning members arranged to clean a relatively large diameter or oblong filter element. In the description below, similar parts are marked in the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and some aspects may be exaggerated in scale or illustrated in some generalized way in the interest of clarity and brevity. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a self-cleaning fi lm apparatus according to the invention is generally illustrated and designated by the numeral 1. The exemplary filter apparatus 10 comprises a cabinet or closure 12. usually! Straight line having a top wall 14, opposite side walls 16 and 1 8, end walls 20 and 22 and a bottom wall 23. The filter apparatus 10 is adapted to be used together with an exhaust collection assembly. umo and articulated powder 24, figure 1, having a dust and dust collection cover 26 disposed at a distal end thereof. The duct assembly 24 is adapted to be supported by a bracket 28 that can be mounted on a wall, not shown, or in the filter apparatus 1 0. The duct assembly 24 includes a portion of duct 30 in flow communication with the cover 26 and the closure 1 2 on the side wall 1 6 for removing smoke and particles from a working area ta! as a welding operation, usually! designated by the reference number 32 in Figure 1. Referring now mainly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the closure 12 is generally divided into internal chambers 33 and 36 by a horizontally extending partition 34. The example apparatus 1 0 includes two separate, air-impermeable, generally tubular filter elements 38 disposed in the chamber 3 and in dividing coupling with the division 34. The apparatus 10, or a similar apparatus, can operate with only one or two or more elements 38. Filter elements 38 are mounted on a base 40 for engagement with division 34 in a conventional manner. A motor-driven vacuum pump or blower 42 is mounted in the closure 12 in the chamber 33, usually above the division 34. The blower 42 is preferably of a centrifugal type and has an air intake housing 46 interposed between the filter elements 38 and an air discharge box 48 The blower 4? It is exemplary and other types of blowers including positive displacement types can be used in conjunction with the apparatus 10. The side wall 18 is preferably formed of two movable panels 18a and 18b, FIG. 1, to provide access to the chambers 33 and 36. Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, air is drawn through! duct assembly 24 of the work area 32 in the chamber 36 via the duct 30 and flows through the filter elements 38 by which particle material is acmmuf »on the external surfaces of the elements 38 in a good way known A baffle which generally hanks to see licalrperiLe 35 s »and interposes between the filter elements 38 and an opening 31, figure 2, for the duct 30 so that a change in direction of air flow entering the chamber 36 It can effectively separate some particle material from the airflow stream and provide more uniform airflow to and through the elements.; filh u C! dance 35 is delimited by a lower transverse edge! 37 which leaves an air flow space between the opening 31 and the unfiltered air flow chamber 36 suitable. In addition, the apparatus 10 includes a suitable dust collection tray or drawer 50 disposed in the chamber 36 under the filter elements 38 The drawer 50 is mounted desirably in the closure 12 for removal thereof, such as through an opening 52 in the side wall! 18, so periodically, the extraction can be removed from the closure to dispose of the accumulated particle material. As shown in FIG. 3, the fume elements 38 are mounted in the chamber 36 on the support 40, generally in a fado-to-parallel and parallel working relationship. Each filter element 38 is preferably characterized by a folded body 56, generally tubular, formed of an air-impermeable medium, such as a garment or a non-woven fabric of treated and / or synthetic cellulose fiber, for example. The body 56 is interposed between an outer cylindrical wire mallet shell 58 and a perforated metal shell or inner wire malt 60 to provide support for the element body 56 and to cause the filter elements 38 to be semi-rigid. The filter elements 38 also include a substantially rigid transverse bottom pair 62 that is impervious to air flow. The filter elements 38 are mounted on the holder 40 in seaming engagement with the partition 34 by appropriate annular seal means 64. The partition 34 has suitable openings 39 formed therein to allow air to flow from the chamber 36 through the bodies. of element 56 and in clean air spaces or airs 86, then through openings 39 in an internal space 68 of! housing 46 and then through an opening 47 in the housing to the pump or blower 42. The housing 46 includes a transverse upper wall 70 defining the opening 47 and a circumferential side wall 72 continuing with the division 34. A cleaning device The single filter element in the form of an elongate flexible tubular member 74 is suspended within the clean air space 66 of each filter element 38 and has an unrestricted distal end 76. The tubular member 74 may be formed of flexible medical hose tai as a hose of air or gas at low pressure, for example. Each of the tubular members 74 is provided with suitable opening 78 which will be described in more detail herein to allow the pressurized air to discharge in a generally lateral direction! with respect to the longitudinal central axis of each filter element 38. Each tubular member 74 is coupled to a distribution conduit substance? Rigid body 80 by conventional head adjustments 82. The leads 80 are connected to each cqtuuittcacióit with respective supply conduits 84 and 85 which are connected to a control valve 86 mounted on the end wall 22. The control valve 86 includes a manual actuator 88 that can operate from outside of! 12. Alternatively, the control valve 86 can be connected to a suitable engine and includes a stopwatch device, not shown, which can be controlled to periodically open the valve to drive pressurized air through the conduits 84 and 85 to the respective tubular members 74. A pressurized air supply duct 90 is connected to the valve 86 and to an adjustment »ri«? a fitting through the wall 22. A suitable quick disconnect coupling 94 is connected to the head fitting 92 and to a suitable source 95 of air at substantially clean pressure, i.e., free of particles and the like. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, one of the loose flexible filter cleaning member 74 is illustrated in more detail. The exemplary filter cleaning member 74 is provided with four elongated, circumferentially spaced grooves forming the openings 78. The slot openings 78 are substantially substantial and extend over a larger portion of the length of the filter cleaning member 74. The free remote end 76 of member 74 is open, co or shown. Each conduit means 80 is provided with a suitable fit 81 for supporting a filter cleaning member 74 at one end of the pipe. same and is coupled to the source of pressurized air by means of the control valve 86. The filter cleaning member 74 can be formed of flexible elastomeric hose used in trans and compressed gas transmission applications to ress bsjs, for example . For fiiti elements and that have folded non-woven air-impermeable elements with an outer diameter of approximately 30.48 cm, by 30.48 cm in length and a thickness of approximately 7.62 cm, including fos folds or folds, the members 74 may be hose compressed air suitable for low pressure service (usually below 14.6 kg / cm ') having an internal diameter of approximately 0.9652 c, a wall thickness of approximately 0.3302 c and an overall length of approximately 25.40 cm, and suspended in space 66 on the longitudinal center axis! filter elements 3ß, as shown in figure 3. By transmitting pressurized air to the filter cleaning members 74 at a pressure supply of approximately 7.03 kg / cm2, for example, this pressurized air leaves the Elements of iimp >Filter member through the slot openings 78 and the reaction forces exerted on the filter cleaning members cause them to strike or whip randomly in the space 66. As shown by the invisible lines in Figure 3, the member tubular 74 hits or whips the internal walls 60 of the elements to perform sufficient vibration of the elements to discharge matter! of accumulated particle from the filter body 56, which material will then fall into the collection tray or drawer 50. The striking action of the filter cleaning members 74 is substantially random, but, over a short period, will tend to make contact with the internal walls 60 of the filter elements 38 in a substantial number! give curttact on the inner surface. The pressurized air supplied to the members 74 will also cause the members to at least slightly accumulate outwardly between the slot openings 78 as these openings are opened and closed due to pressure fluctuations caused by the openings passing through the openings. changes in the flow area. This action accentuates the whipping or striking action of the members 74. In addition, the pressurized air escaping from the openings 78 will flow in an inverted direction of! space 66 in the chamber 36 to substantially assist in removing particulate material or filter cake from the outer surfaces of the filter elements 38. In this way, a unique cleaning action is provided by the filter cleaning members 74. since they operate by transmitting air under pressure to perform whipping action, strike the adhesive on the filter elements 38 and generate air flow which will help to eliminate the particulate material from the surfaces of the filter. the filter elements. The operation of the air filter unit and dust collector It is believed that it can be understood by those skilled in the art from the above description, but will be reviewed shortly. Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, during operation of the apparatus 10, the blower 14 is activated to draw air A and particles through! assembly of the huma and dust collection duct 24 and the connecting duct 30 to the space 36 Fl air A and the particles flowing in the space 36 from the opening 31 is deflected by the baffle 35 and then flows relatively uniformly through the air. of the filter elements 38 in the space of the return air plenum 68 (figure 3) and through the blower 42 and returns atmosphere through a & Hmp 3 air discharge opening (figure 1), or transmitted to a secondary filter apparatus to remove any steam or toxic smoke from current 4 < s air flow, yes it is needed. Matter! of particle within the stream of air flow entering the chamber or space 36 accumulates on the external surfaces of the body 56 of each element 38 to build a layer of filter cake or layer of material! of parfícuta in the filter media. Depending on the composition of the filter media, certain vapors may also be absorbed by the medium. Occasionally during the operation of! apparatus 10, the blower 42 can turn off for a moment before cleaning the filter elements 38. At this time the source of pressurized air 95 can be connected to the quick disconnect assembly 94, if not already done, and the valve 86 activated to perform the operation of filter cleaning members 74, preferably one and then the other. The filter cleaning members 74 can also be activated during the operation of! Blower 42 to extract air through the filter elements 38. However, the effectiveness of the cleaning action of! The inverted injection air flow combined and the impact or impact of the filter elements 38 by the flexible members 74 is somewhat reduced as the particulate material discharged from the filter superimposes can return. to enter and deposit on the filter element surfaces as a result of the opposite air flow From time to time, the dust collection box 50 can be removed from the closure 12 and the accumulated particle material removed and the drawer replaced. Drawer removal 50 is normally performed after the blower 42 has been deactivated and the filter cleaning elements 74 have finished their work Referring once more to Figure 6, an alternate embodiment of a filter cleaning member The filter member 90 is similar in many respects to the filter cleaning member 74 but has two. opposing elongated slot openings 92, one shown, extending to the distal end 91 of the member to effectively divide a! member 90 in two cylindrical half sections over the length of the openings 92. As shown by way of example, opposite slot openings 94 are also provided in each of the sections of the filter cleaning member 90. Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a filter element 96 disposed in a suitable closure 98 similar to closure 12 and in sequestrian coupling with a valve 100 delimiting an unfiltered air chamber 102. The unfiltered air can flow to and through ! element 96 in an internal space of clean air 104 and through an opening 106 in division 100 to a space 108 for evacuation by a blower, not shown. The filter element 96 is similar to the elements 38, but somehow it can be ovate or oblong in cross section! or of a diameter substantially larger than that of elements 38. Accordingly, in the arrangement of Figure 7, several separate filter cleaning members 74 are arranged in space 104 and are coupled to suitable rigid distribution conduits * 1 10 and 1 12, respectively, which extend within the space 108 and are connected to a suitable source of pressurized air (not shown) in the same manner as the apparatus 10. During the operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. Filter 74 can be activated at the same time by discharging pressurized air through ducts 110 and 112. However, in order to minimize e! entanglement of the filter cleaning members 74 with each other during their stroke movements, it is preferred to transmit air under pressure to those members alternately, one at a time. The present invention may be constructed from conventional engineering rfp materials used for air filter apparatus and dust collector, except as noted herein. Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications to the invention can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1 .- In an air filter apparatus for filtering particulate material out of an airflow stream, the apparatus includes a closure defining an unfiltered air chamber, a filter element disposed in the closure and that includes a filter means interposed in the air flow stream and separating the unfiltered air chamber from a clean air space, the apparatus further comprising: filter cleaning means including an impact member disposed in the space of Clean air and adjacent to! filter element and adapted for connection to a source of substantially clean pressure air, the impact member responding to pressurized air flowing to discharge pressurized air into the clean air space, and the impact member that responds to air under pressure to strike the filter element to effect the removal of particle material from the filter media. 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the impact member comprises a flexible, elongated member disposed in the clean air space and responding to discharge pressurized air to pass by movement to couple the filter element. to perform blow forces on the filter element to discharge matter! of particle from the filter media. 3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the impact member comprises a flexible hose suspended in the clean air space, the hose that includes a tubular side wall having an air discharge opening formed therein to discharge air to pressure in the clean air space. 4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the discharge opening comprises elongated slots that cross the tubular side wall and extend substantially longitudinally on the hose. 5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the slots extends the distal end of the hose to form opposite slot portions of the hose extending from the distal end. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the grooves are separated in circumference on the hose 7. The invention according to claim 1, wherein several flexible members are disengaged from the shaft. Clean air and are connected to a supply conduit to receive air pressure from an external source 8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus includes valve means for air to pressurized air valve. respective of the elongate flexible members 9. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the filter element comprises a generally cylindrical tubular element disposed in the closure and the member is disposed ne within a clean air space defined by the filter element and generally on a central axis of the filter element. 10. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus includes dust collecting means disposed adjacent to the filter element and which can operate to receive particle material discharged from the filter element in response to activation of the member. . 1 1 .- An air filter apparatus for filtering air to remove particles from there comprising: a closure defining an unfiltered air space in communication with an air source to filter out particles that are there; a filter element disposed in the closure and forming a clean air space in communication with a clean air discharge chamber of the apparatus, the filter element including filter means that can operate to filter air flowing through the filter; ? H (or same in one direction, and at least one elongated, flexible filter cleaning array disposed adjacent to the filter element and set for air flow communication with a source of pressurized air, the flexible member that can operate in response to air conducted there to discharge the pressurized air towards the filter element to realize air flow under pressure in an opposite direction through the filter media, the pressurized air discharge which performs whipping motion of the flexible member to collide the filter element whereby the air stream under pressure and impact forces exerted on the filter element can operate to remove the particulate material from the filter media. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is disposed in the clean air space. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the flexible member has a free distal end. which depends on the clean air space and which can operate to whip near in the clean air space to collide the filter element at separate points. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member includes a plurality of elongated openings formed therein and operable to discharge pressurized air therefrom to perform whipping movement of the flexible member to strike the element. of filter and to discharge air under pressure to the filter media. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, including conduit means for supporting the flexible member in the clean air space, the conduit means being supported by a wall defining part of the chamber. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, including a pressurized air control valve in communication with the conduit means for conducting pressurized air to the flexible member.

1. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closure includes at least two filter elements arranged in the air space nn filtered, separated one from the otm, each of the filter elements defining a filter. clean air space for communication with the camera, and each of the filter elements includes a flexible filter cleaning member that depends within the clean air space associated with each of the elements of füi eu, respectively, and in communication with a source of pressurized air to flow air under pressure through the elements of futro and hits the filter elements to perform the removal of matter! of the filter elements, respectively. 18. The apparatus according to claim 1 7, which includes a pressure air control valve that can operate to selectively drive pressurized air to the flexible members. . 1 9 - The compliance device pnn Isa claim 1? , which requires a second flexible member disposed in the clean air space and which can operate for this purpose in communication with the source of the pressurized air. 20. An air filter apparatus that can operate to remove material from a particle of air flow stream, the apparatus comprising. a closure that includes a division defining an unfiltered air space within the closure and means for making air filtrate not filtered in the apparatus; a filter element in the generally tubular form disposed in the unfiltered air space and in register with the division and defining a clean air space between the unfiltered air space and the clean air discharge chamber in the closure The filter element includes a penetrable air filter medium that can operate to collect particle material there as the unfiltered air flows from the unfiltered air space to! Clean air space; and a loose, flexible filter cleaning member disposed in the clean air space and adjusted to attach the fastener to a source of clean pressurized air, the filter cleaning member that responds to the pressurized air driven there to discharge air to the air. pressure towards the filter medium and whipping in the clean air space in response to discharging pressurized air to perform the removal of particulate material from the filter media by the combined action of air flow under pressure from the cleaning member of the filter. filter through the filter and shock means of the filter cleaning member co-filter the filter. 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the filter cleaning member comprises an elongated hose, which has a distal free end that depends within the clean air space, and opening means formed in the hose for Discharging pressurized air therefrom so that the reaction force in the hose in response to the pressurized air discharge performs substantially random movement of the distal end of the filter cleaning member to collide the filter element to effect the removal of particle material from the filter media.