Fluid handling system and method

Claim 2

In a fluid distribution system including conduit means for containing a fluid flow and a hollow manifold casing of predetermined cross-sectional area interposed between said conduit means and an enclosure for flow of fluid through said casing between said conduit means and said enclosure, said casing having a wall with an elongate slot therein for fluid flow distribution and said slot having an aspeCt ratio relatively greater than the aspect ratio of said conduit means at the location of communication thereof with said casing, an improvement comprising baffle means having a cross-sectional area less than that of said casing and mounted within said casing between said slot and said conduit means for distributing the volume of fluid flowing through the slot in a predetermined profile therealong by mechanically blocking fluid flow through the interior of said casing and diverting the fluid flow to follow predetermined flow paths longitudinally within said casing.

Claim 3

A fluid distribution system according to claim 1 wherein the direction of fluid flow is from said conduit means into said casing and outwardly through said slot.

Claim 4

A fluid distribution system according to claim 1 wherein the direction of fluid flow is inwardly through said slot and through said casing into said conduit means.

Claim 5

A fluid distribution system according to claim 1 wherein said baffle means defines with said casing a tuned port having an open area distributed relative to said slot in approximation to a squared function affecting fluid flow longitudinally within said casing, said baffle means and said slot cooperating for distributing the volume of fluid flowing through said slot uniformly therealong.

Claim 6

In an air handling system including conduit means for containing an air flow and a hollow manifold casing of predetermined cross-sectional area interposed between said conduit means and an enclosure for flow of air through said casing between said conduit means and said enclosure, said casing having a wall with an elongate slot therein for fluid flow distribution and said slot having an aspect ratio relatively greater than the aspect ratio of said conduit means at the location of communication thereof with said casing, an improvement comprising baffle means having a cross-sectional area less than that of said casing and mounted within said casing between said slot and said conduit means for defining with said casing a tuned port distributed relative to said slot in a predetermined nonuniform manner approximating a predetermined mathematical function and for distributing the volume of air flowing through the slot in a predetermined profile therealong by mechanically blocking air flow through the interior of said casing and diverting the air flow to follow predetermined flow paths longitudinally within said casing while bleeding portions of the air flow through said tuned port to said slot.

Claim 7

In an air handling system including conduit means for containing an air flow and a hollow manifold casing of predetermined cross-sectional area interposed between said conduit means and an enclosure for flow of air through said casing between said conduit means and said enclosure, said casing having a wall with an elongate slot therein for fluid flow distribution and said slot having an aspect ratio relatively greater than the aspect ratio of said conduit means at the location of communication thereof with said casing, an improvement comprising baffle means having a cross-sectional area less than that of said casing and mounted within said casing between said slot and said conduit means for defining with said casing a tuned port distributed relative to said slot in a predetermined nonuniform manner approximating a predetermined mathematical function and for distributing the volume of air flowing through the slot in a predetermined profile therealong by mechanically blocking air flow through the interior of said casing and diverting the air flow to follow predetermined flow paths longitudinally within said casing while bleeding portions of the air flow through said tuned port to said slot.

Claim 8

An air handling system according to claim 5 wherein said conduit means includes a plurality of coupling conduits directly connected to said hollow casing and wherein said baffle means has a cross-sectional area distributed relative to said slot in approximation to said mathematical function and further in ratio to the position of said plurality of coupling conduits to one another and to said slot.

Claim 9

An air handling system according to claim 5 wherein said conduit means includes a single coupling conduit directly connected to said hollow casing and wherein said baffle means has a cross-sectional area so distributed as to define with said casing a pair of generally triangular open areas diverging one from the other longitudinally of said slot.

Claim 10

In a flowing gas material conveying system including conduit means for containing a flow of gas and material conveyed by the gas and a hollow manifold casing of predetermined cross-sectional area interposed between said conduit means and an enclosure for gas and material flow through said casing between said conduit means and said enclosure, said casing having a wall with an elongate slot therein for flow distribution and said slot having an aspect ratio relatively greater than the aspect ratio of said conduit means at the location of communication thereof with said casing, an improvement comprising baffle means having a cross-sectional area less than that of said casing and mounted within said casing between said slot and said conduit means For defining with said casing a tuned port distributed relative to said slot in a predetermined nonuniform manner approximating a predetermined mathematical function and for distributing the volume of flow through the slot in a predetermined profile therealong by mechanically blocking flow through the interior of said casing and diverting the flow to follow predetermined flow paths longitudinally within said casing while bleeding portions of the air flow through said tuned port to said slot, the open areas of said slot and said tuned port cooperating for maintaining the velocity of gas flow through said conduit means and casing at least equal to a predetermined velocity for continuing flow of conveyed material.

Claim 11

In a flowing gas material conveying system including conduit means for containing a flow of gas and material conveyed by the gas and a hollow manifold casing of predetermined cross-sectional area interposed between said conduit means and an enclosure for gas and material flow through said casing between said conduit means and said enclosure, said casing having a wall with an elongate slot therein for flow distribution and said slot having an aspect ratio relatively greater than the aspect ratio of said conduit means at the location of communication thereof with said casing, an improvement comprising baffle means having a cross-sectional area less than that of said casing and mounted within said casing between said slot and said conduit means For defining with said casing a tuned port distributed relative to said slot in a predetermined nonuniform manner approximating a predetermined mathematical function and for distributing the volume of flow through the slot in a predetermined profile therealong by mechanically blocking flow through the interior of said casing and diverting the flow to follow predetermined flow paths longitudinally within said casing while bleeding portions of the air flow through said tuned port to said slot, the open areas of said slot and said tuned port cooperating for maintaining the velocity of gas flow through said conduit means and casing at least equal to a predetermined velocity for continuing flow of conveyed material.