Air cleaner
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an air cleaner for moving particles from an air stream. The air cleaner includes a housing defining a separation chamber at which at least some of the particles are removed from the air stream. The air cleaner includes an inlet passage for allowing the air stream to the separation chamber, an outlet passage for allowing the air stream to exit the separation chamber, and 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. The housing includes a side wall structure defining at least one discharge opening through which particles are discharged as the air stream swirls within the separation chamber.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An air cleaner for removing particles from an air stream comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An air cleaner for removing particles from an air stream comprising:
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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 passage positioned adjacent the inlet/outlet end of the separation chamber for allowing the air stream to exit the separation chamber, the outlet passage including 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, and the outlet passage having a cross-sectional passage area A1 at the air entrance end of the outlet passage;
C. an inlet passage at least partially surrounding the outlet passage for allowing the air stream to enter the separation chamber, the inlet passage including an air entrance end positioned opposite from an air exit end, the air exit end of the inlet passage having a cross-sectional passage area A2, the areas 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 housing including a side wall 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; and
G. wherein the separation chamber has a height H2 measured from the air entrance end of the outlet passage 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 passage, and wherein H2/D1 is in the range of 0.3-0.75. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An air cleaner for removing particles from an air stream comprising:
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A. a housing defining a separation chamber at which at least some of the particles are removed from the air stream;
B. an outlet tube defining an outlet passage for allowing the air stream to exit the separation chamber, 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; and
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, the tapered portion being aligned along an angle θ
in the range of 20-30 degrees relative to a central axis of the outlet tube;
C. an inlet passage for allowing the air stream to enter the separation chamber, the inlet passage being at least partially defined by 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;
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 housing including a side wall defining at least one discharge opening through which the particles are discharged; and
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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An air cleaner for removing particles from an air stream comprising:
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A. a housing defining a separation chamber at which at least some of the particles are removed from the air stream, the housing including a side wall structure surrounding a central axis of the housing;
B. an outlet passage for allowing the air stream to exit the separation chamber;
C. an annular inlet passage for allowing the air stream to enter the separation chamber, the inlet passage being positioned to at least partially surround the outlet passage, the inlet passage including 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, the inlet passage being defined between inner and outer walls, the inner wall including a transition region 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;
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 transition region of the inner wall being located at the air exit end of the inlet passage and being configured such that no portion of the transition region is aligned at an angle outside the range of 20-30 degrees relative to the central axis of the housing;
F. the side wall structure of the housing defining at least one discharge opening through which the particles are discharged; and
G. 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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An air cleaner for removing particles from an air stream comprising:
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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 inlet/outlet and closed ends;
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 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;
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 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;
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. a spinner assembly positioned within the separation chamber; and
F. the separation chamber having a height H2 measured from the air entrance end of the outlet tube to the closed end of the separation chamber, the separation chamber having a diameter D1 measured at the air entrance end of the outlet tube, and H2/D1 being in the range of 0.3-0.75.
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28. An air cleaner for removing particles from an air stream comprising:
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A. a housing defining a separation chamber at which at least some of the particles are removed from the air stream, the housing including a first end positioned opposite from a second end, the housing also including a side wall structure that surrounds a longitudinal axis of the housing and extends between the first and second ends;
B. an outlet passage for allowing the air stream to exit the separation chamber, the outlet passage being positioned adjacent one of the first and second ends of the housing;
C. an inlet passage for allowing the air stream to enter the separation chamber, the inlet passage being positioned adjacent the first end of the housing;
D. a plurality of vanes for causing the air stream to swirl within the separation chamber;
E. a discharge opening defined by the side wall structure of the housing for allowing at least some of the particles to be discharged from the housing; and
F. a spinner assembly positioned within the separation chamber, the spinner assembly including;
a) a central hub;
b) a plurality of turbine blades that project radially outward from the hub;
c) an outer blade positioned adjacent to the side wall of the housing;
d) first and second connecting members connecting the outer blade to the hub, the connecting members each having a circumferential width that is greater than an axial width. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification