Rotary filter apparatus

Claim 1

IN A SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING CLEAN AIR TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, A CONTINUOUS ROTARY AIR FILTER FOR SEPARATING CONTAMINANT PARTICLES FROM THE AIR STREAM INTRODUCED INTO SAID INTAKE MANIFOLD COMPRISING: (A) A FILTER DRUM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ENGINE AND INCLUDING SPACED END PLATES HAVING AN AIR STREAM PERMEABLE FILTER MEDIUM SHEET CONNECTED THERETO AND EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN IN PLEATED ENDLESS FASHION TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF DIRTY AIR UPSTREAM POCKETS BETWEEN ADJACENT PLEATES AND A DOWNSTREAM CLEAN AIR PLENUM; (B) A CLEAN AIR OUTLET CONDUIT COMMUNICABLY CONNECTING SAID CLEAN AIR PLENUM OF SAID FILTER DRUM WITH THE AIR INTAKE OF SAID ENGINE; (C) MEANS CONNECTING A DRIVEN SHAFT OF SAID ENGINE WITH SAID FILTER DRUM TO ROTATE SAID DRUM; (D) DIRTY AIR STREAM SEAL PLATE MEANS EXTENDING ADJACENT THE CRESTS OF SAID PLEATED FILTER MEDIUM, SAID SEAL PLATE MEANS BEING OF SUFFICIENT AREA TO SUCCESSIVELY SEAL OFF SAID UPSTREAM POCKETS FOR PRESELECTED PERIODS OF TIME AS SAID FILTER DRUM IS ROTATED; AND (E) REVERSE AIR CLEANING MEANS INCLUDING CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICABLY CONNECTING SAID UPSTREAM POCKETS DIRECTLY TO SAID EXHAUST MANIFOLD OF SAID ENGINE TO PLACE SAID POCKETS UNDER A REVERSE AIR STREAM WHEN THEY ARE SEALED OFF REMOVING CONTAMINANT PARTICLES COLLECTED ON THE WALLS OF SAID POCKETS; (F) SAID CONDUIT MEANS INCLUDING PULSING MEANS TO PULSATE SAID REVERSE AIR STREAM AND INCREASE CONTAMINANT REMOVAL EFFICIENCY, SAID PULSING MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM TO BE ACTUATED IN A PULSING MANNER AS SAID DRUM IS ROTATED.