US2251789A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 5, 1941. T. w. HALLERBERG 2,251,789

AIR CLEANER Filed April 1, 1939 '.ZZY E1 Z [:1 755000425 14 bfinusesaea.

Patented Aug. 5, 1941 AIR CLEANER Theodore W. Hallerberg, Chicago, Ill., assignor to United Specialties Company, Detroit, Mich, a

corporation of Delaware Application April 1, 1939, Serial No. 265,395

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in an air cleaner, and more particularly to an air cleaner of the type used in connection with internal combustion engines, air compressors, and other apparatus needing a fairly constant supply of clean air, and especially to a cleaner of the liquid bath type, wherein incoming air is washed by a cleansing liquid which is in turn removed from the air before it leaves the cleaner, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

I am aware that in the past many and various types of liquid bath air cleaners for automotive engines'and other uses have been developed, and many of these formerly known types have included both a liquid sump and a baflle disposed in or closely adjacent the sump to effect some desired action of either the cleansing liquid or the air. In many cases, such cleaners of necessity had to be made with a relatively large diameter in order to render the cleaner of the desired capacity, maintain requisite efficiency and prevent pull-over of the cleansing liquid through the outlet of the cleaner. In other instances, difliculty was experienced in that the air would manage to pass to the wrong side of the baflle and agitate the di already accumulated in the liquid sump, so tha there was in effect a partial redistribution of this removed dirt back through the cleaner.

Before these formerly known cleaners could be reduced in diameter, which is desirable both from a standpoint of fitting the cleaner into a limited space and from the standpoint of economy in manufacture, without the sacrifice of capacity and efliciency and without resultant pull-over, a diiierent construction and arrangement must be provided to insure a positive and accurate circulation of the cleansing liquid, with the air moving only in the intended direction and not seeking any wayward path within the cleaner.

sion of an air cleaner embodying a special construction with increased capacity of the cleaner beyond that of corresponding cleaners heretofore known.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a liquid bath air cleaner embodying a baille disposed in or adjacent the liquid in the sump of the cleaner, with the parts of the cleaner so arranged that incoming air must pass over only one side of the baflle and cannot, under regular operation, find its way to the wrong side of the battle.

It is also a feature of this invention to. provide a liquid bath air cleaner having a liquid sump in which dirt removed from the air may collect, with the construction so arranged as to define a zone of quietude within the sump and effectively prevent any agitation of accumulated dirt sufliciently to cause a partial recirculation or redistribution of this dirt through the cleaner after it once arrives in the sump.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an air cleaner of the liquid bath type having a liquid sump disposed in the bottom of the cleaner with a substantially horizontally disposed baflie overlyinga portion of the sump, the bafile being so arranged as to provide an A opening through which sump liquid may be aspi- That, of course, is one of the primary objects I of the present invention.

Anotherobject of the invention is sion of an air cleaner-embodying a novel construction insuring adequate circulation of cleansing liquid through the provision of a low-pressure region inside the cleaner, which region of low pressure results from the action of the air traveling through the cleaner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a liquid bath air cleaner which will have the same or greater capacity and efficiency without pull-over of corresponding air cleaners heretofore known made for operation in the same locale, but which may be made of a definitely smaller size than the corresponding formerly known cleaners.

A further object of this invention is the provithe provirated by traveling air, and guiding means associated with the baffle so that traveling air can only pass over the upper surface of the baflle, and this traveling air is prevented from seeking a position beneath the baiile.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary part-elevational, part-vertical sectional view, illustrating an air cleaner embodying principles of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view taken substantially as indicatedby the line IIII of Figure 1; looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

As shown on the drawing:

In the illustrated embodiment of this inven tion, there is shown a liquid bath air cleaner comprising an upper casing section 5 having a closed top 8, through which an outlet conduit 1 for cleaned air extends, the conduit 1 preferably leading from a central position. Also attached to the top 6 is a suitable form of bracket 8 for mounting the entire cleaner in proper position. Also associated with the top 6 is an outwardlyand downwardly extending hood 9.

This top section of the casing carries a filter mass I0 therein, which may be curled cattle-tail at 29, to lessen restriction to incoming air.

. will be seen that the aforesaid hood 9 extends outwardly over the inlet passage to prevent debris Y hair, wavy wire, or some equivalent filtering substance of substantially uniform density throughout. This filter mass may be held in position by a strip of reiativelyheavy screen or hardware cloth Ila. at the bottom of the casing section, and some equivalent structure may be employed at the top end if deemed desirable.

A series of bame supporting clamps II are spot welded or otherwise secured to the lower part of the upper casing section 5. In this instance, three are illustrated spaced equidistantly around the casing section. Each of these clamps is outwardly bent or bowed, as indicated at l2, for a purpose that will later appear. Beneath the bow l2, each clamp turns inwardly and downwardly in position for engagement with a bafile l3, to which attachment is made by way of bolts.

M or equivalent means. The bafile I3 is of greater diameter than the casing section 5, and the outer portion of the baliie is in general of dome shap with. the convex .side uppermost. The central portion of the bafile, however, is shaped similarly but to a lesser extent in the opposite direction, as indicated at l5, to provide arecess',

f with the concave side of this portion I5 uppermost. Preferably in the central part of the recessportion IS, an aperture ii is provided which serves as a means for dirt removed from air tion 23 at the'lower end of the shell I] extends during the operation of the cleaner findifig' its 7 way to the liquid sump. x V

Disposed around the upper casing section 5 is an annular shell l'l held. in position vby-a plurality of Z-brackets I3 or the equivalent. This shell is spaced equidistant therearound in concentric relationship with the casing section 5, so as to provide a downwardly extending annular air inlet passage l9. The upper end of the shell 42,251,712!) UN outer edge of the bane l3 but that it is well inside and overhangs it definitely. Similarly, the expression means also that the edge 23 is not merely slightly out of contact with the adjacent upper surface of the member 13 but that itis' tially submerged by the sump liquid; audit will be noted that the'baflie extends outwardly beneath the annular inlet, terminating short 'of the wall of the cup 24 so ,as to leave an annular passage29 through which sump liquidmay be aspirated during the operation of' the cleaner, 'and dirt-laden cleansing liquid may return to thesump when operation is stopped. I It will be especially noted-"that the curved p'orinwardly above the outer margingof the baffle to .an extent suflicient to prevent enteringair from finding a way through the an'nular opening- 29 into the liquid" sump beneath the baflie. It. should also be carefully noted that a reasonably.

' wide space, as indicated-at 30, isleft between the I1 is outwardlybelled somewhat, as indicated or the like from falling into the passage.

' The lower portion of the shell I! is stepped inwardly, as indicated at 2!, to provide'a shoulder.

and the portion 22fbelow the shoulder 2| is of somewhat less diameter than theportionthereabove. The lower end thereof is definitely curved inwardly, as indicatedat 23, to guide incoming f by'any suitable meanstoa's s e' fi e e o to "to an lnternal combustio I v I the :engine, .dueto-fthe"suction, established edge of'the curved portion 23 and the upper surface of the baliie. This space is-sufliciently wide so that when operation is.stopped,=sump-'liquiddraining from the filter mass III will effectively wash the upper surface-of. the baffle, and there is no place on the bafiie where dirt may accumulate and thus buildupafwall lessening the capacity and adding to the restriction. of thecleaner.

In operation, the outlet conduit I-l'is. connectedoln'ce of suction, such gine, .Upon starta therein, air will be drawndownwardly through the inlet passage i9, and in the first'instant after air over the upper surface of the baflie and upwardly through the filter mass 19 towards thef outlet conduit 1. While the Z-brackets l8 effecner face of the shell [1 in a manner to rigidity the construction.

ll'he lower casing section 24 which is in the shape of a cup to define a sump for cleansing liquid therein is telescopically associated with the part 22 of the shell H. The upper edge. of the cup 24 is outwardly turned, as indicated at 25, to abut the underside of the aforesaid t'ivelifsupport the shell in position, the bowed portions l2 of the bafile holders I I abut the inshoulder 2| when the cup is in proper-position on the cleaner. This cup is held removably in place upon the shell II by means of one or more brackets 29 aifixed to the cup, each of which is engaged over .the shank of bolt carried by the shell I! and held in position by a suitable thumb nut 21, as more fully set forth in Milton W. Zander Patent No. 2,004,150, entitled Air cleaner," issued June 11, 1935.

Where in the claims the expressions substantially inside of the edge of the bailie and substantially above said baflie are used, they mean that the edge of the member23, which is referred to, is not merely lightly inside of the starting-substantially all of thesurnp liquid disposed on the outer upwardly; convex portion of the baflle will be carried immediately up into the filter' mass III. The air merely-followsa course I v downwardly through the inlet I9, over the curved portion 23 of the shell, upwardly through the filter-mass l0 and out of the outlet 1. 'During the course of travel of the air, after the removal oi. the sump liquid on top of the upwardly convex part of the bailie, more sump liquid will be aspirated through the opening 29, over the upper surface of the bailie. Some of this aspirated liquid will become heavy with and cling to the bafile, being urged into the concavity l5 by the traveling air, where it will descend through. the aperture l6 into the sump, carryingthe dirt I V removed from the air with it; The rest of the aspirated liquid will be" commingled in the air stream and carried into the filter" mass l0.

While the inwardly turned part 23 of the shell is quite effective in preventing entering air from passing beneath the baffle, this will not prevent aspiration of sump liquid through the opening 29 by the rapidly traveling air. Due to the aspiration or eduction of sump liquid through the opening 29, and the traveling air following a defined path, a zone of low pressure is established both above and below the concave portion [5 of rbureterconnected. 1 T

the baflle. The low pressure region above the bailie will be of a substantially conical shape with the concave part l as the base of the cone, and the low pressure area beneath the concave part J5. will,not be of as great a'size as the region thereabove.

The sump liquid above the baiile will naturally tend to move towards this region of low pressure, and consequently there will be a definite circulation of sump liquid established through the filter mass l0. Sump liquid will be carried up into the filter mass adjacent the outer portion thereof, and after entering the mass will tend to move towards the region of low pressure, where the liquid-may descend through the hole l6, reach the sump, and again be aspirated through the opening 29.

There will also be a circulation of sump liquid through the'opening 29, immediately over the outer dome portion of the baffle, into the concavity l5, through the opening l6, and back through the opening 29.- This latter circulation ls due to the fact that this will be the most heavily dirt-laden part of the liquid and will therefore tend to stay close to the upper surface of the baflle. It will also be noted that the sump liquid in the central bottom portion of the cup 24 will be disturbed very little by the traveling air or by the aspiration of the other sump liquid, so that there will be a region of quietude in the bottom of the sump, and any disturbance that may occur in this region will not be sufilcient to recirculate accumulated dirt.

When operation stops, all of the sump .liquid in the filter mass l0 will drain downwardly over the bafile. Because of the relatively wide space between the curved part 23 of the shell I! and the adjacent upper surface of the baffle, any dirt remaining on the baiile will be'washed into the sump by this drain flow of liquid from the filter mass. It will be seen, therefore, that there cannot be an accumulation 'of dirt remaining upon the baffle.

All of the above described features concerning the path of the air, the low pressure regions, definite circulation of the sump liquid, and the washing of the baiile by draining liquid tend to increase the capacity of the cleaner without sacrifice of efilciency and without danger of pullover into the carbureter. Thus, the cleaner may be made of the same size as cleaners heretofore used for the same purpose and give greater air capacity, or may be built of reduced size and give the same capacity.

From theforegoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novel air cleaner construction which is considerably space-saving by virtue of its greater capacity in comparison with its size, which is highly eflicient in operation, establishing a definite path for the air and a definite circulation for the sump liquid, and it will be appreciated that the device may be economically manufactured. v

It will, of course, be understood that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is therefore not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than is necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an air cleaner, a casing structure arranged to define a downwardly leading annular inlet, said casing having a liquid sump beneath said inlet, a baille disposed generally transversely of said sump and extending beneath said inlet,

guide air over the surface of said baiiie and to prevent air reaching the opposite side of the baflie through the eduction opening.

2. In an air cleaner, a casing having an inlet and an outlet with a liquid sump in the lower part adjacent the path of air traveling from the inlet to the outlet, a filter in the. upper part of the casing; and a baflie below the filter and extending-substantially across the sump, the casing structure being arranged so the inlet leads downwardly towards the sump and the air is forced to turn upwardly over the upper face of the baliie to reach the outlet, said baiiie being shaped to present an upwardly bulged part over which the air must pass to reach said filter, and said bailie having a central depression confronting the filter with an aperture therein through which liquid may return from the filter to the sump.

3. In an air cleaner, a casing structure having a liquid sump in the lower part thereof, means defining an air path through the casing substantially towards and then away from said sump, a filter in the upper part of the casing, a baflle disposed substantially transversely of the filter and sump and arranged to provide an opening adjacent a part of the air path through which sump liquid may be educed by traveling air, said baflle having a bulged formation towards the iiiter with a central apertured depression fronting the filter, and a guide element extending into the incoming air path over said eduction opening in a manner to prevent incoming air reaching the eduction opening and to guide air over the bulged part of the baffle.

4. In an' air cleaner, a casing section having an outlet leading therefrom, a filter mass in said section, a shell around said section and spaced therefrom to define an air inlet passage, a cuplike casing section engaged with the lower part of said shell and defining a liquid sump below said filter mass, a bafiie extending across said casing,

terminating in close proximity to the wall thereof and disposed transversely of said sump below said filter mass and below and extending across said inlet passage, and the lower part of said shell being inwardly bent and terminating at a point substantially inside of the edge of said bafiie and being positioned substantially above said baflie to turn the current of incoming air away from the edge of said baiiie.

5. In an air cleaner, a casing having a liquid sump therein, an inner section spaced from the outer wall to provide an annular inlet passage therearound, a filter mass in said inner section above the sump, a bailie extending across said casing and arranged transversely of said sump and terminating short of the outer casing wall leaving an opening below said inlet passage through which sump liquid may be educed by traveling air, and an air guiding member curving inwardly above said battle and away from the edge or said baflie and having its inner edge positioned substantially within the outer edge of said bailie and substantially above said bailie to guide the current of incoming air away from the edge of said bafile and to prevent incoming air from passing under said baiiie.

' THEODORE W. HALLERBERG.

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