Method of filtering

Claim 2

In the separation of particulate matter from a gaseous carrier thereof, the steps of moving said gaseous carrier and particulate matter entrained therewith into the top of and downwardly through an elongate continuous vertically oriented conduit of substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration formed at least in part of permeable filter medium which constitutes the gas entry apertures of a plurality of conduit interconnected discrete filter chambers disposed in adjacent vertically superposed relation, each of said chambers being perimetrically defined by gas impervious wall means and vertically spaced transversely disposed tube sheet means, and selectively inducing separated flows of said gaseous carrier through each of said vertically superposed filter chambers and the portions of said permeable filter medium constituting the entry apertures thereof to separate the carrier entrained particulate matter therefrom.

Claim 3

The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of individually subjecting the filter medium associated with each of said discRete filter chambers to a selective cleaning operation to renew the permeability thereof.

Claim 4

The method as set forth in claim 2 including the step of subjecting the filter medium associated with each of said discrete filter chambers to said selective cleaning operation in preselected sequence that is, at least in part, directionally concurrent to the direction of flow of said gaseous carrier through said elongate vertically oriented conduit to effect an over-all composite displacement of said particulate matter to the lower end thereof.

Claim 5

The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of preferentially subjecting the portions of said filter medium associated with the lower most filter chambers to a greater quanta of effective cleaning than the portions of filter media associated with the uppermost filter chambers.

Claim 6

In the separation of particulate matter from a gaseous carrier thereof, the steps of moving said gaseous carrier and particulate matter entrained therewith into the upper end of and downwardly through an elongate continuous vertically oriented conduit of substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration formed at least in part of permeable filter medium which constitutes the gas entry apertures of a plurality of conduit interconnected discrete filter chambers disposed in abutting vertically superposed relation, each said chamber being perimetrically defined by gas impervious wall means and vertically spaced transversely disposed tube sheet means, inducing separate and discrete normal filtering flows of said gaseous carrier through each of said filter chambers through ever-open outlet apertures therefor and through the portions of said permeable filter medium constituting the entry apertures thereof to separate the carrier entrained particulate matter therefrom. momentarily and simultaneously stopping the normal filtering flow of gaseous carrier through each of said ever-open outlet apertures and reversing the direction of normal flow of gaseous carrier through the filter medium constituting the entry apertures of each of said discrete filter chambers by selectively and individually releasing bursts of high energy fluid over the cross-sectional areas of the outlet apertures thereof and through said apertures to cause on the downstream side of the filter medium associated with each said chamber an abrupt momentary pressure rise and a short sudden reverse flow of fluid therethrough to dislodge particulate matter accumulated thereon and displace the same toward the longitudinal axis of said conduit.

Claim 7

In the separation of particulate matter from a gaseous carrier thereof, the steps of moving said gaseous carrier and particulate matter entrained therewith into the upper end of and downwardly through an elongate continuous vertically oriented conduit of substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration formed at least in part of permeable filter medium which constitutes the gas entry apertures of a plurality of conduit interconnected discrete filter chambers disposed in abutting vertically superposed relation, each said chamber being perimetrically defined by gas impervious wall means and vertically spaced transversely disposed tube sheet means, inducing separate and discrete normal filtering flows of said gaseous carrier through each of said filter chambers through ever-open outlet apertures therefor and through the portions of said permeable filter medium constituting the entry apertures thereof to separate the carrier entrained particulate matter therefrom. momentarily and simultaneously stopping the normal filtering flow of gaseous carrier through each of said ever-open outlet apertures and reversing the direction of normal flow of gaseous carrier through the filter medium constituting the entry apertures of each of said discrete filter chambers by selectively and individually releasing bursts of high energy fluid over the cross-sectional areas of the outlet apertures thereof and through said apertures to cause on the downstream side of the filter medium associated with each said chamber an abrupt momentary pressure rise and a short sudden reverse flow of fluid therethrough to dislodge particulate matter accumulated thereon and displace the same toward the longitudinal axis of said conduit.

Claim 8

The method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of releasing said bursts of high energy gas in predetermined sequence that, at least in part, effects successive dislodgement of particulate matter directionally concurrent to the direction of flow of said gaseous carrier through said conduit to effect an over-all composite displacement of said particulate matter to the lower end thereof.

Claim 9

The method as set forth in claim 6 including the step of preferentially subjecting the lowermost portions of said filter medium to a greater quanta of effective cleaning than the uppermost portions thereof.

Claim 10

In the separation of particulate matter from a gaseous carrier thereof, the steps of moving said gaseous carrier and particulate matter entrained therewith into the upper end of and downwardly through an elongate vertically oriented conduit of substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration formed at least in part of permeable filter medium which constitutes the gas entry apertures of a plurality of discrete filter chambers disposed in vertically superposed relation and inducing separate and discrete normal filtering flows of said gaseous carrier through each of said filter chambers through ever-open outlet apertures therefor and through the portions of said permeable filter medium constituting the entry apertures thereof to remove the particulate matter entrained therewith, momentariLy and simultaneously stopping the normal filtering flow of gaseous carrier through each of said ever-open outlet apertures and reversing the direction of normal flow of gaseous carrier through the filter medium constituting the entry apertures of each of said discrete filter chambers by selectively and individually releasing bursts of high energy fluid over the cross-sectional areas of the outlet apertures thereof and through said apertures to cause on the downstream side of the filter medium associated with each said chamber an abrupt momentary pressure rise and a short sudden reverse flow of fluid therethrough to dislodge particulate matter accumulated thereon and displace the same toward the longitudinal axis of said conduit, and releasing said bursts of high energy gas in predetermined sequence that; at least in part, effects successive dislodgement of particulate matter directionally concurrent to the direction of flow of said gaseous carrier through said conduit to effect an over-all composite displacement of said particulate matter to the lower end thereof.

Claim 11

In the separation of particulate matter from a gaseous carrier thereof, the steps of moving said gaseous carrier and particulate matter entrained therewith into the upper end of and downwardly through an elongate vertically oriented conduit of substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration formed at least in part of permeable filter medium which constitutes the gas entry apertures of a plurality of discrete filter chambers disposed in vertically superposed relation and inducing separate and discrete normal filtering flows of said gaseous carrier through each of said filter chambers through ever-open outlet apertures therefor and through the portions of said permeable filter medium constituting the entry apertures thereof to remove the particulate matter entrained therewith, momentariLy and simultaneously stopping the normal filtering flow of gaseous carrier through each of said ever-open outlet apertures and reversing the direction of normal flow of gaseous carrier through the filter medium constituting the entry apertures of each of said discrete filter chambers by selectively and individually releasing bursts of high energy fluid over the cross-sectional areas of the outlet apertures thereof and through said apertures to cause on the downstream side of the filter medium associated with each said chamber an abrupt momentary pressure rise and a short sudden reverse flow of fluid therethrough to dislodge particulate matter accumulated thereon and displace the same toward the longitudinal axis of said conduit, and releasing said bursts of high energy gas in predetermined sequence that; at least in part, effects successive dislodgement of particulate matter directionally concurrent to the direction of flow of said gaseous carrier through said conduit to effect an over-all composite displacement of said particulate matter to the lower end thereof.