Powered air cleaning system and air cleaning method
First Claim
1. A powered air cleaning system comprising:
- a flow path extending through the system from an inlet to an outlet;
a motor-driven fan located along the flow path to draw particulate debris laden air into the inlet and rotate it about an axis to form a rotating flow that stratifies the debris laden air with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow;
an ejector port for ejecting particulate debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system to the environment; and
an air filter located within the rotating flow and across the flow path upstream of the ejector port and the outlet for filtering air from the innermost orbits of the stratified rotating flow, the air filter being elongated in the direction of said axis so that the rotating flow about the filter causes a self cleaning action on the filter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A powered air cleaning system (1) and air cleaning method are disclosed. The system has a flow path (22) extending through the system from an air inlet (4) to a clean air outlet (5). A motor-driven fan (24) located along the flow path draws particulate debris laden air into the inlet and rotates it about an axis (A—A) to form a rotating flow that stratifies the debris laden air with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow. An ejector port (25) is provided for ejecting particulate debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system to the environment. An air filter (9) located within the rotating flow and across the flow path upstream of the outlet filters air from the innermost orbits of the stratified rotating flow. The motor-driven fan is operated to maintain a positive air pressure in the system on the filter even with cyclic air flow demands so that the rotating air flow continually sweeps the outside surface of the air filter to minimize buildup of debris on the filter.
53 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A powered air cleaning system comprising:
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a flow path extending through the system from an inlet to an outlet; a motor-driven fan located along the flow path to draw particulate debris laden air into the inlet and rotate it about an axis to form a rotating flow that stratifies the debris laden air with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow; an ejector port for ejecting particulate debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system to the environment; and an air filter located within the rotating flow and across the flow path upstream of the ejector port and the outlet for filtering air from the innermost orbits of the stratified rotating flow, the air filter being elongated in the direction of said axis so that the rotating flow about the filter causes a self cleaning action on the filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A powered air cleaning system for use with a device having a variable air flow demand, the system comprising:
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a flow path extending through the system from an inlet to an outlet for supplying air to the device; a motor-driven fan located along the flow path to draw particulate debris laden air into the inlet and rotate it about an axis to form a rotating flow that stratifies the debris laden air with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow; an ejector port for ejecting particulate debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system to the environment; an air filter located within the rotating flow and across the flow path upstream of the ejector port and the outlet for filtering air from the innermost orbits of the stratified rotating flow, the air filter being elongated in the direction of said axis so that the rotating flow about the filter causes a self cleaning action on the filter; wherein the motor-driven fan is operable to maintain positive air flow pressure to eject debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system to the environment at all rates of air flow demanded by the device.
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13. A powered air cleaning system for use with a device having a variable air flow demand, the system comprising:
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a flow path extending through the system from an inlet to an outlet for supplying air to the device; a motor-driven fan located along the flow path to draw particulate debris laden air into the inlet and rotate it about an axis to form a rotating flow that stratifies the debris laden air with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow; an ejector port for ejecting particulate debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system to the environment; an air filter located within the rotating flow and across the flow path upstream of the ejector port and the outlet for filtering air from the innermost orbits of the stratified rotating flow, the air filter being elongated in the direction of said axis so that the rotating flow about the filter causes a self cleaning action on the filter; wherein the motor-driven fan is operable to maintain positive air flow pressure at all rates of air flow demand by the device to minimize debris buildup on the filter. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An air cleaning method comprising:
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drawing particulate debris laden air into an air cleaning system with a motor-driven fan located in the system; forming a rotating flow of the debris laden air about an axis in a separator-ejector chamber of the system to stratify the flow with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow; flowing air from the innermost orbits of the rotating flow through a filter in the separator-ejector chamber which is located within the rotating flow and extends along said axis such that the flowing air provides a self cleaning action on the filter by the air enroute to an outlet of the system; and returning particulate debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system to the environment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An air cleaning method comprising:
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drawing particulate debris laden air into an air cleaning system with a motor-driven fan located in the system; forming a rotating flow of the debris laden air about an axis in the system to stratify the flow by centrifugal force with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow; returning particulate debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system to the environment by flowing stratified rotating flow unrestricted through an ejector port at an axial end of the stratified rotating flow in the system; and withdrawing air from the innermost orbits of the stratified rotating flow radially inward through a filter within the stratified rotating flow upstream of the ejector port and an outlet of the system by applying a vacuum to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification