Cyclonic air filter with exit baffle

• US 6,890,375 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHI Corporation (Tokyo Koki Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Keith L. Huber
• Inventors: Huber, Keith L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US10/369,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 553/45, 554/47, 554/591, 554/60, 554/82, 55D/IG.3, 952/71, 210/787, 210/788, 210/512.1, 210/512.2, 209/725
• US Class Current: 95/271
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• 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: B04C 5/103 Bodies or members, e.g. bulkheads, guides, in the vortex chamber cores B04C5/107
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/13 formed as a vortex finder and extending into the vortex chamber exits with bulkheads preventing reverse flow vortex B04C3/00; Discharge from vortex finder otherwise than at the top of the cyclone; Devices for controlling the overflow

Abstract

The described embodiments of the present invention include a cyclonic filter having an inlet and outlet. The cyclonic filter includes a chamber in communication with the inlet, flow from the inlet being directed in a rotational flow about an axis within the chamber. The cyclonic filter also includes a first baffle element positioned in the chamber, the first baffle element having at least one inlet. The cyclonic filter further includes a second baffle element positioned within the first baffle element, the second baffle element having at least one outlet, the at least one outlet of the second baffle element being positioned relative to the at least one inlet of the first baffle element in a direction opposite to the rotational flow, the interior of the second baffle element being in communication with the outlet.

Claims

1. A cyclonic filter having an inlet and outlet comprising:

a chamber in communication with the inlet, flow from the inlet being directed in a rotational flow about an axis within the chamber;

a first baffle element positioned in the chamber, the first baffle element having at least one inlet; and

a second baffle element positioned within the first baffle element, the second baffle element having at least one outlet, the at least one outlet of the second baffle element being positioned relative to the at least one inlet of the first baffle element in a direction opposite to the rotational flow, the interior of the second baffle element being in communication with the filter outlet.

2. A cyclonic filter as in claim 1 wherein the first baffle element is conical.

3. A cyclonic filter as in claim 1 wherein the second baffle element is conical.

4. A cyclonic filter as in claim 1 wherein the first and second baffle elements are conical.

5. A cyclonic filter as in claim 2 wherein the at least one inlet of the first baffle element extends from the apex to the base of the first baffle element.

6. A cyclonic filter as in claim 3 wherein the at least one outlet of the second baffle element extends from the apex to the base of the second baffle element.

7. A cyclonic filter as in claim 1 further comprising a barrier positioned between the first and second baffle elements, the barrier substantially preventing flow between the first and second baffle elements in the direction of the rotational flow.

8. A cyclonic filter as in claim 4 wherein the apexes of the first and second baffle elements are directed downward.

9. A cyclonic filter as in claim 4 wherein the apex of the second baffle element is closed and the apex of the first baffle element is open.

10. A cyclonic filter as in claim 1 wherein the first baffle element has four inlets.

11. A cyclonic filter as in claim 1 wherein the second baffle element has four outlets.

12. A cyclonic filter as in claim 1 further comprising a flare at the at least one inlet of the first baffle element.

13. A cyclonic filter comprising:

a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet positioned eccentrically to a center axis of the chamber, flow from the inlet being directed in a rotational flow about the center axis within the chamber, the center axis being positioned vertically;

a first baffle element positioned in the chamber, the first baffle element having at least one inlet, the first baffle element having a base substantially positioned at the top of the chamber and having an apex extending into the chamber; and

a second baffle element positioned within the first baffle element, the second baffle element having at least one outlet, the at least one outlet of the second baffle element being positioned relative to the at least one inlet of the first baffle element in a direction opposite to the rotational flow, the interior of the second baffle element being in communication with the outlet of the chamber.

14. A cyclonic filter as in claim 13 wherein the first baffle element is conical.

15. A cyclonic filter as in claim 13 wherein the second baffle element is conical.

16. A cyclonic filter as in claim 13 wherein the first and second baffle elements are conical.

17. A cyclonic filter as in claim 14 wherein the at least one inlet of the first baffle element extends from the apex to the base of the first baffle element.

18. A cyclonic filter as in claim 15 wherein the at least one outlet of the second baffle element extends from the apex to the base of the second baffle element.

19. A cyclonic filter as in claim 13 further comprising a barrier positioned between the first and second baffle elements, the barrier substantially preventing flow between the first and second baffle elements in the direction of the rotational flow.

20. A cyclonic filter as in claim 16 wherein the apexes of the first and second baffle elements are directed downward.

21. A cyclonic filter as in claim 16 wherein the apex of the second baffle element is closed and the apex of the first baffle element is open.

22. A cyclonic filter as in claim 13 wherein the first baffle element has four inlets.

23. A cyclonic filter as in claim 13 wherein the second baffle element has four inlets.

24. A cyclonic filter as in claim 13 further comprising a flare at the at least one inlet of the first baffle element.

25. A method for providing cyclonic filtration comprising:

providing a chamber in communication with an inlet and an outlet, flow from the inlet being directed in a rotational flow about an axis within the chamber;

redirecting the rotational flow by providing a first baffle element positioned in the chamber, the first baffle element having at least one inlet; and

further redirecting the rotational flow by providing a second baffle element positioned within the first baffle element, the second baffle element having at least one outlet, the at least one outlet of the second baffle element being positioned relative to the at least one inlet of the first baffle element in a direction opposite to the rotational flow, the interior of the second baffle element being in communication with the outlet of the chamber.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein the first baffle element is conical.

27. A method as in claim 25 wherein the second baffle element is conical.

28. A method as in claim 25 wherein the first and second baffle elements are conical.

29. A method as in claim 26 wherein the at least one inlet of the first baffle element extends from the apex to the base of the first baffle element.

30. A method as in claim 27 wherein the at least one outlet of the second baffle element extends from the apex to the base of the second baffle element.

31. A method as in claim 25 further comprising a barrier positioned between the first and second baffle elements, the barrier substantially preventing flow between the first and second baffle elements in the direction of the rotational flow.

32. A method as in claim 28 wherein the apexes of the first and second baffle elements are directed downward.

33. A method as in claim 28 wherein the apex of the second baffle element is closed and the apex of the first baffle element is open.

34. A method as in claim 25 wherein the first baffle element has four inlets.

35. A method as in claim 25 wherein the second baffle element has four outlets.

36. A method as in claim 25 further comprising a flare at the at least one inlet of the first baffle element.