MODULAR CYCLONIC SEPARATOR FOR SEPARATING SOLID IMPURITIES FROM AN AIRFLOW

• US 20150273484A1
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yu-Pei Ho
• Original Assignee: Yu-Pei Ho
• Inventors: Ho, Yu-Pei
• Granted Patent: US 9,409,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/08 by impingement against baffle separators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/12 by centrifugal forces centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/16 generated by the winding course of the gas stream , the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/20 Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 11/00 Accessories, e.g. safety or control devices, not otherwise provided for , e.g. regulators, valves in inlet or overflow ductingwith electrostatic precipitating arrangements B03C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2003/006 Construction of elements by which the vortex flow is generated or degenerated
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/004 with internal filters, in the cyclone chamber or in the vortex finder
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 3/04 Multiple arrangement thereof combined with types according to other groups, B04C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 3/06 Construction of inlets or outlets to the vortex chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 7/00 Apparatus not provided for in group B04C1/00, B04C3/00, or B04C5/00; Multiple arrangements not provided for in one of the groups B04C1/00, B04C3/00, or B04C5/00; Combinations of apparatus covered by two or more of the groups B04C1/00, B04C3/00, or B04C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 9/00 Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water lockswith filters B01D50/00

Abstract

A modular cyclonic separator comprises separating tubes each including an air-guiding impeller that is fixed coaxially in an outer tube body and that is formed with spiral channels for causing an airflow, which flows radially into the separating tube, to follow a cyclonic flow pattern through a separating chamber in the separating tube, thereby separating some of solid impurities from the airflow within the separating chamber. Each separating tube is capable of connecting selectively with one or two three-port valves to form a first or second filtration module, in which the airflow passes through a fluid passage in the one three-port valve or one of the two three-port valves prior to entering the separating tube.

Claims

1. A modular cyclonic separator comprising:

a plurality of separating tubes, each of which includes an outer tube body having opposite inlet and outlet ends and defining a separating chamber therein that is in spatial communication with said inlet and outlet ends, and an air-guiding impeller coaxially fixed in said inlet end of said outer tube body, and formed with an axial hole and a plurality of spiral channels that are disposed around said axial hole for causing an airflow, which flows radially into said separating chamber through said spiral channels, to follow a cyclonic flow pattern through said separating chamber and around a central axis of said outer tube body, such that some of solid impurities are separated from the airflow within said separating chamber; and

a plurality of three-port valves, each of which has first and second ports with the same size and a third port, and is configured with a first fluid passage in fluid communication with said first and third ports, and a second fluid passage in fluid communication with said second and third ports;

wherein each of said separating tubes is capable of connecting selectively with one of said three-port valves to form a first filtration module, in which said inlet end is connected detachably to said third port of said one of said three-port valves, or with two of said three-port valves to form a second filtration module, in which said inlet and outlet ends are connected detachably and respectively to said third ports of said two of said three-port valves;

wherein, for said first filtration module, the airflow passes through said first fluid passage in said one of said three-port valves prior to entering said separating tube, the airflow in said separating tube flowing out of said first filtration module through said second fluid passage in said one of said three-port valves, the separated solid impurities being able to be discharged out of said first filtration module through said outlet end of said outer tube body; and

wherein, for said second filtration module, the airflow passes through said first fluid passage in one of said two of said three-port valves that connects said inlet end prior to entering said separating tube, the airflow in said separating chamber flowing out of said second filtration module through said second fluid passages in said two of said three-port valves, the separated solid impurities being able to be discharged out of said second filtration module through said first fluid passage and said first port of the other one of said two of said three-port valves.

2. The modular cyclonic separator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one extension tube that includes a tubular tube-mounting seat body formed with a central hole and a plurality of radial holes, an elongate tube body mounted coaxially on said tube-mounting seat body, and a filtering sleeve made of a foam material and sleeved fittingly on said tube body;

wherein each of said separating tubes is capable of connecting selectively with said extension tube to form a third filtration module, in which said tube-mounting seat body is connected detachably to said outlet end of said outer tube body in a manner that said tube body extends into said outer tube body through said outlet end and adjacent to said axial hole in said air-guiding impeller, such that said separating chamber is defined between said outer tube body and said tube body, and is in fluid communication with said radial holes, such that the airflow in said separating chamber flows out of said third filtration module through said tube body and said central hole, and such that the separated solid impurities are able to be discharged out of said third filtration module through said radial holes.

3. The modular cyclonic separator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mixing tube that includes

a tube body having opposite open ends and defining a mixing chamber therein in fluid communication with said open ends, and

two air-guiding impellers, each of which is coaxially fixed in a respective one of said open ends of said tube body and is formed with an axial hole, and a plurality of spiral channels disposed around said axial hole for causing an airflow, which flows radially into said mixing chamber through said spiral channels, to follow a cyclonic flow pattern through said mixing chamber and around a central axis of said tube body, such that the two airflows entering said mixing tube respectively through said open ends are mixed together in said mixing chamber;

wherein said mixing tube is capable of connecting selectively with two of said three-port valves to form a mix module, in which said open ends of said tube body are connected detachably and respectively to said third ports of said two of said three-port valves, such that, for said mix module, the two airflows pass respectively through said first fluid passages of said two of said three-port valves prior to entering said mixing tube, and such that the mixed airflow in said mixing chamber flow out of said mix module in two streams respectively through said second fluid passages of said two of said three-port valves.

4. The modular cyclonic separator as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

each of said three-port valves includes a T-shaped valve body that has said first, second and third ports and that is formed integrally with an internal partitioning tube body for partitioning an interior of said T-shaped valve body into said first and second fluid passages, said internal partitioning tube body of each of said three-port valves extending coaxially toward said third port in a manner that said third port is partitioned by said internal partitioning tube body into a central portion, which is in fluid communication with said second fluid passage, and a peripheral portion, which surrounds said central portion and is in fluid communication with said first fluid passage, said T-shaped valve body of each of said three-port valves being formed with two holes, which are in spatial communication respectively with said first and second fluid passages, and each of which is used to be selectively plugged by a plug or a fluid injection valve for injecting a fluid into said T-shaped valve body; and

for each of said first and second filtration modules and said mix module, said central portion and said peripheral portion of said third port of said three-port valve, which is connected to said inlet end of said outer tube body of said separating tube or one of said open ends of said tube body of said mixing tube, correspond respectively in position to said axial hole and said spiral channels in said air-guiding impeller of said separating tube or in a corresponding one of said air-guiding impellers of said mixing tube.

5. The modular cyclonic separator as claimed in claim 4, wherein, for said second filtration module, said separating tube further includes:

an inner tube body that is disposed coaxially in said outer tube body and that has a connecting end extending outwardly of said outlet end of said outer tube body and connected to said internal partitioning tube body of the other one of said two of said three-port valves, and a free end opposite to said connecting end and adjacent to said axial hole in said air-guiding impeller, such that said separating chamber is defined between said outer tube body and said inner tube body and such that said inner tube body is in fluid communication with said second fluid passage in the other one of said two of said three-port valves; and

a filtering sleeve that is made of a foam material and that is sleeved fittingly on said inner tube body.

6. The modular cyclonic separator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a connecting unit that includes:

at least one connection tube having a first end that corresponds to said first or second port of each of said three-port valves in size, and a second end that is opposite to said first end and that is capable of connecting detachably with said inlet or outlet end of said outer tube body of each of said separating tubes;

at least one connection member for selectively connecting with said first or second port of one of said three-port valves, or interconnecting two adjacent ones of said three-port valves or one of said three-port valves and said connection tube.

7. The modular cyclonic separator as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said T-shaped valve body of each of said three-port valves is formed with two annular rim flanges that define respectively said first and second ports;

said connection tube is formed with an annular rim flange that defines said first end; and

said connection member includes

a C-shaped retaining ring that is formed with an inner annular groove for engaging one of said annular rim flanges of said one of said three-port valves, engaging corresponding two annular rim flanges of said two adjacent ones of said three-port valves that face each other, or engaging one of said annular rim flanges of said one of said three-port valves and said annular rim flange of said connection tube, and

an anchoring piece for anchoring opposite ends of said C-shaped retaining ring to maintain connection with said one of said three-port valves or connection between said two adjacent ones of said three-port valves or between said one of said three-port valves and said connection tube.

8. The modular cyclonic separator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said connection member further includes a spacer unit configured as a cover body and a washer that selectively engage said inner annular groove in said C-shaped retaining ring together with said one of said annular rim flanges of said one of three-port valves, or configured as one of said cover body and said washer that selectively engages said inner annular groove in said C-shaped retaining ring together with the corresponding two annular rim flanges or together with said one of said annular rim flanges of said one of said three-port valves and said annular rim flange of said connection tube, and that is clamped between the corresponding two annular rim flanges or between said one of said annular rim flanges of said one of said three-port valves and said annular rim flange of said connection tube.