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Air cleaner

  • US 6,451,080 B1
  • Filed: 07/10/2000
  • Issued: 09/17/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An air cleaner for removing particles from an air stream comprising:

  • A. a housing defining a separation chamber at which at least some of the particles are removed from the air stream, the separation chamber including;

    a. a closed end positioned opposite from an inlet/outlet end, the closed end being exposed to air swirled within the separation chamber; and

    b. a side wall that extends between the closed end and the inlet/outlet end;

    B. an outlet tube defining an outlet passage for allowing the air stream to exit the separation chamber, the outlet tube being positioned adjacent the inlet/outlet end of the housing, the outlet tube including;

    a. an air entrance end positioned opposite from an air exit end, the air entrance end being positioned to receive the air stream from the separation chamber;

    b. a tapered portion positioned adjacent to the air entrance end of the outlet tube, the tapered portion tapering radially outward such that a cross-sectional passage area increases as the outlet tube extends in a direction toward the air entrance end of the outlet tube; and

    c. the cross-sectional passage area of the outlet tube having a value A1 at the air entrance end of the outlet tube;

    C. an inlet passage for allowing the air stream to enter the separation chamber, the inlet passage being defined between the side wall of the housing and an outer surface of the outlet tube, the inlet passage including;

    a. an air entrance end positioned opposite from an air exit end, the air exit end of the inlet passage being positioned to direct the air stream into the separation chamber;

    b. a transition region provided by the tapered portion of the outlet tube that reduces a cross-sectional passage area of the inlet passage as the inlet passage extends toward the air exit end of the inlet passage;

    c. the cross-sectional passage area of the inlet passage having a value A2 at the air exit end of the inlet passage, the values A1 and A2 being relatively sized such that A1/A2 is in the range of 0.7-1.9;

    D. a plurality of vanes for causing the air stream to swirl as the air stream flows through the inlet passage and enters the separation chamber;

    E. the side wall of the housing defining at least one discharge opening through which the particles are discharged;

    F. a spinner assembly positioned within the separation chamber for transferring rotational energy from a mid-region of the separation chamber to an outer region of the separation chamber, the spinner assembly including a central hub and at least one turbine blade attached to the central hub; and

    G. wherein the separation chamber has a height H2 measured at a location directly above the turbine blade, from the air entrance end of the outlet tube to the closed end of the separation chamber, wherein the separation chamber has a diameter D1 measured at the air entrance end of the outlet tube, and wherein H2/D1 is in the range of 0.3-0.75.

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