Air scrubber

Claim 2

A rotor unit for an air scrubber, comprising: a. a rotatable plate means having an open periphery spaced radially from its rotative axis, and providing a substantially radial flow passage to the open rotor periphery, b. fan blades carried by the plate means and extending substantially radially of the rotor, the fan blades being circumferentially spaced, and being substantially non-reentrant to provide substantially unobstructed flow therebetween, the fan blades being provided with radially spaced slots c. baffle means on the plate means, the baffle means being disposed in radially spaced relation in the fan blade slots and extending transversely into the flow passage to impinge all of the air with the baffle means and to divert all of the air into directions transverse to the radial flow passage upon impingement as the air moves substantially radially through the flow passage, d. means directing pollutant ladened air into the flow passage at the center of the rotor, e. spray means directing liquid into the flow passage at the center of the rotor, the substantially non-reentrant fan blades providing the motive force to throw both the pollutant ladened air and the liquid radially outwardly through the flow passage from the center of the rotor to the periphery under centrifugal force, the liquid wetting the baffle means and the pollutants impinging the wet baffle means under the centrifugal force provided by the fan blades to mix in the liquid, f. the plate means include a pair of spaced plates that provide the flow passage, g. an entrance opening is provided into the flow passage for the introduction of polluted air, h. the baffle means includes a plurality of baffles, each baffle extending from one or the other of the plates and is spaced from the opposite plate to provide a flow space therebetween, and i. the baffles extend circumferentially of the rotor in the flow passage with the radially spaced baffles in overlapping relation both in a direction transverse to and circumferentially of the flow passage to eliminate any straight-through flow.

Claim 3

A rotor unit for an air scrubber as defined in claim 1, in which: j. the spray means directs the liquid into the flow passage between the plates, and k. the plate means includes:

Claim 4

means communicating with the chamber adjacent the radially outward end of the structure through which the liquid is discharged from the rotor, and

Claim 5

means communicating with the chamber adjacent the radially outward end of the structure through which the liquid is discharged from the rotor, and

Claim 6

a second plate spaced from the first plate to provide the substantially radial flow passage therebetween,

Claim 7

a second plate spaced from the first plate to provide the substantially radial flow passage therebetween,

Claim 8

a second plate spaced from the first plate to provide the substantially radial flow passage therebetween,

Claim 9

a second plate spaced from the first plate to provide the substantially radial flow passage therebetween,

Claim 10

the baffle means having a plurality of radially spaced baffles extending into the rotor passage against which all of the polluted air impinges, the baffles being overlapping in the direction of flow both in a direction transverse to and circumferentially of the flow passage, the rotor flow passage being open peripherally of the rotor for the discharge of substantially clean air into the clean air passage, and

Claim 11

the baffle means having a plurality of radially spaced baffles extending into the rotor passage against which all of the polluted air impinges, the baffles being overlapping in the direction of flow both in a direction transverse to and circumferentially of the flow passage, the rotor flow passage being open peripherally of the rotor for the discharge of substantially clean air into the clean air passage, and

Claim 12

the baffle means having a plurality of radially spaced baffles extending into the rotor passage against which all of the polluted air impinges, the baffles being overlapping in the direction of flow both in a direction transverse to and circumferentially of the flow passage, the rotor flow passage being open peripherally of the rotor for the discharge of substantially clean air into the clean air passage, and

Claim 13

the baffle means having a plurality of radially spaced baffles extending into the rotor passage against which all of the polluted air impinges, the baffles being overlapping in the direction of flow both in a direction transverse to and circumferentially of the flow passage, the rotor flow passage being open peripherally of the rotor for the discharge of substantially clean air into the clean air passage, and

Claim 14

the structure being spaced radially from the said outermost baffle to provide a clean air passage communicating with the entrance to the chamber adjacent the radially inward end of the structure to receive the clean air as it reverses its flow path and moves back around the structure and out of the chamber and to deliver the clean air through the open rotor periphery.

Claim 15

the structure being spaced radially from the said outermost baffle to provide a clean air passage communicating with the entrance to the chamber adjacent the radially inward end of the structure to receive the clean air as it reverses its flow path and moves back around the structure and out of the chamber and to deliver the clean air through the open rotor periphery.

Claim 16

An air scrubber, comprising: a. a housing, b. a revolvIng rotor having an open periphery spaced radially from its rotative axis, and mounted in the housing, the rotor including a substantially radial flow passage to the open periphery, the rotor including fan blades extending substantially radially in the flow passage, the fan blades being circumferentially spaced, and being substantially non-reentrant to provide substantially unobstructed flow therebetween, the fan blades being provided with radially spaced slots c. duct means communicating with the housing for delivering particulate polluted air into the flow passage at the center of the rotor, d. a liquid spray means in the housing spraying liquid into the rotor flow passage at the center of the rotor, the substantially non-reentrant fan blades providing the sole motive force to throw both the particulate polluted air and the liquid radially outward through the flow passage from the center of the rotor to the periphery under centrifugal force, e. baffle means disposed in radially spaced relation in the fan blade slots and extending transversely into the flow passage to impinge all of the air with the baffle means and to divert all of the air into directions transverse to the radial flow passage upon impingement as it moves substantially radially through the flow passage, the liquid wetting the baffle means, and the pollutants impinging on the wet baffle means under the centrifugal force to mix with the liquid, f. a pollutant-discharge passage communicating with the housing and receiving pollutant-laden liquid as it passes from the rotor, g. a clean air passage communicating with the housing and receiving the substantially clean air as it passes from the rotor, h. the rotor includes:

Claim 17

An air scrubber, comprising: a. a housing, b. a revolvIng rotor having an open periphery spaced radially from its rotative axis, and mounted in the housing, the rotor including a substantially radial flow passage to the open periphery, the rotor including fan blades extending substantially radially in the flow passage, the fan blades being circumferentially spaced, and being substantially non-reentrant to provide substantially unobstructed flow therebetween, the fan blades being provided with radially spaced slots c. duct means communicating with the housing for delivering particulate polluted air into the flow passage at the center of the rotor, d. a liquid spray means in the housing spraying liquid into the rotor flow passage at the center of the rotor, the substantially non-reentrant fan blades providing the sole motive force to throw both the particulate polluted air and the liquid radially outward through the flow passage from the center of the rotor to the periphery under centrifugal force, e. baffle means disposed in radially spaced relation in the fan blade slots and extending transversely into the flow passage to impinge all of the air with the baffle means and to divert all of the air into directions transverse to the radial flow passage upon impingement as it moves substantially radially through the flow passage, the liquid wetting the baffle means, and the pollutants impinging on the wet baffle means under the centrifugal force to mix with the liquid, f. a pollutant-discharge passage communicating with the housing and receiving pollutant-laden liquid as it passes from the rotor, g. a clean air passage communicating with the housing and receiving the substantially clean air as it passes from the rotor, h. the rotor includes:

Claim 18

An air scrubber as defined in claim 3, in which: i. one of the rotor plates includes an upturned peripheral flange closing a portion of the rotor periphery, j. the remaining open portion of the rotor periphery provides the radial clean air discharge from the rotor flow passage into the clean air passage, and k. the said one rotor plate is provided with holes adjacent the peripheral flange through which the pollutant-laden liquid is discharged from the rotor into the pollutant-discharge passage, the holes having their opening dimension substantially in a radial plane to preclude discharge radially therethrough.

Claim 19

liquid-removing means carried by the rotor for permitting discharge of the pollutant-laden liquid from the rotor into the pollutant-discharge passage.

Claim 20

liquid-removing means carried by the rotor for permitting discharge of the pollutant-laden liquid from the rotor into the pollutant-discharge passage.

Claim 21

liquid-removing means for permitting discharge of the pollutant-laden liquid from the rotor into the pollutant-discharge passage, i. one of the rotor plates includes an upturned peripheral flange closing a portion of the rotor periphery, j. the remaining open portion of the rotor periphery provides the radial clean air discharge from the rotor flow passage into the clean air passage, k. the said one rotor plate is provided with holes adjacent the peripheral flange through which the pollutant-laden liquid is discharged from the rotor into the pollutant-discharge passage, l. the said one rotor plate includes an inturned peripheral flange extending radially inwardly of the rotor flow passage from the upturned peripheRal flange to provide an internal chamber into which the pollutant-laden liquid and air is thrown under centrifugal force, the inturned peripheral flange and the other rotor plate defining the open portion of the rotor periphery for radial clean air discharge, m. the discharge holes for the pollutant-laden liquid are located below the inturned flange, n. the radially outermost baffle extends from the said other rotor plate and has a free end spaced from said one rotor plate, o. the inturned peripheral flange is spaced from and located above the free end of the adjacent radially outermost baffle so that the pollutant-laden liquid and air are directed under the free end of such baffle into the annular internal chamber, p. another baffle means is located in the internal chamber and wetted by the liquid, the last said wetted baffle means being impinged by any remaining particulate pollutant for mixture into the liquid, q. the last said baffle means includes a first baffle plate inclined radially outward from the inturned peripheral flange substantially to the junction of the upturned peripheral flange and the said one rotor plate to direct the pollutant-laden liquid to the pollutant-discharge holes, and r. the last said baffle means including a second baffle plate inclined radially inwardly from the first baffle plate, yet spaced above the said one rotor plate and above the free end of said radially outermost baffle, to preclude liquid from moving back out of the internal chamber and into the clean air discharge passage.

Claim 22

liquid-removing means for permitting discharge of the pollutant-laden liquid from the rotor into the pollutant-discharge passage, i. one of the rotor plates includes an upturned peripheral flange closing a portion of the rotor periphery, j. the remaining open portion of the rotor periphery provides the radial clean air discharge from the rotor flow passage into the clean air passage, k. the said one rotor plate is provided with holes adjacent the peripheral flange through which the pollutant-laden liquid is discharged from the rotor into the pollutant-discharge passage, l. the said one rotor plate includes an inturned peripheral flange extending radially inwardly of the rotor flow passage from the upturned peripheRal flange to provide an internal chamber into which the pollutant-laden liquid and air is thrown under centrifugal force, the inturned peripheral flange and the other rotor plate defining the open portion of the rotor periphery for radial clean air discharge, m. the discharge holes for the pollutant-laden liquid are located below the inturned flange, n. the radially outermost baffle extends from the said other rotor plate and has a free end spaced from said one rotor plate, o. the inturned peripheral flange is spaced from and located above the free end of the adjacent radially outermost baffle so that the pollutant-laden liquid and air are directed under the free end of such baffle into the annular internal chamber, p. another baffle means is located in the internal chamber and wetted by the liquid, the last said wetted baffle means being impinged by any remaining particulate pollutant for mixture into the liquid, q. the last said baffle means includes a first baffle plate inclined radially outward from the inturned peripheral flange substantially to the junction of the upturned peripheral flange and the said one rotor plate to direct the pollutant-laden liquid to the pollutant-discharge holes, and r. the last said baffle means including a second baffle plate inclined radially inwardly from the first baffle plate, yet spaced above the said one rotor plate and above the free end of said radially outermost baffle, to preclude liquid from moving back out of the internal chamber and into the clean air discharge passage.

Claim 23

An air scrubber as defined in claim 4, in which: l. an inturned peripheral flange extends radially inwardly of the rotor flow passage from the upturned peripheral flange to provide an internal chamber into which both the pollutant-laden liquid and air is thrown under centrifugal force, the space between the inturned peripheral flange and the other rotor plate defining the open portion of the rotor periphery for radial clean air discharge, and m. the discharge holes for the pollutant-laden liquid are located below the inturned flange and communicate with the chamber.

Claim 24

An air scrubber as defined in claim 5, in which: n. the radially outermost baffle extends from the said other rotor plate and has a free end spaced from said one rotor plate, and o. the inturned peripheral flange is spaced from and located above the free end of the adjacent radially outermost baffle so that the internal chamber overlaps the free end of the said radially outermost baffle so that the pollutant-laden liquid and air are both directed under the free end of such baffle into the annular internal chamber.

Claim 25

An air scrubber as defined in claim 6, in which: p. another baffle means is located in the internal chamber and wetted by the liquid, the last said wetted baffle means being impinged by any remaining particulate pollutant for mixture into the liquid.

Claim 26

An air scrubber as defined in claim 7, in which: q. the last said baffle means includes a first baffle plate inclined radially outward from the inturned peripheral flange substantially to the junction of the upturned peripheral flange and the said one rotor plate, and substantially to the pollutant-discharge holes to direct the pollutant-laden liquid to the pollutant-discharge holes.

Claim 27

An air scrubber as defined in claim 6, in which: p. the clean air passage provided by the space between the said one rotor plate and the inturned peripheral flange communicates with the entrance to the internal chamber adjacent the radially inward end of the inturned peripheral flange to receive the clean air as it reverses its flow path and moves back around the inturned peripheral flange and out of the chamber.

Claim 28

An air scrubber, comprising: a. a housing, b. a revolving rotor having an open periphery spaced radially from its rotative axis, and mounted in the housing, the rotor including a substantially radial flow passage to the open periphery, the rotor including fan blades extending substantially radially in the flow passage, the fan blades being circumferentially spaced, and being substantially non-reentrant to provide substantially unobstructed flow therebetween, c. duct means communicating with the housing for delivering polluted air into the flow passage of the rotor, d. a liquid spray means in the housing spraying liquid into the rotor flow passage, e. baffle means disposed in radially spaced relation and extending transversely into the flow passage to impinge all of the air with the baffle means and to divert all of the air into directions transverse to the radial flow passage upon impingement as it moves substantially radially through the flow passage, the liquid wetting the baffle means, and the pollutants impinging on the wet baffle means under centrifugal force to mix with the liquid, f. a pollutant-discharge passage communicating with the housing and receiving pollutant-laden liquid as it passes from the rotor, g. a clean air passage communicating with the housing and receiving the substantially clean air as it passes from the rotor, h. the rotor includes:

Claim 29

An air scrubber, comprising: a. a housing, b. a revolving rotor having an open periphery spaced radially from its rotative axis, and mounted in the housing, the rotor including a substantially radial flow passage to the open periphery, the rotor including fan blades extending substantially radially in the flow passage, the fan blades being circumferentially spaced, and being substantially non-reentrant to provide substantially unobstructed flow therebetween, c. duct means communicating with the housing for delivering polluted air into the flow passage of the rotor, d. a liquid spray means in the housing spraying liquid into the rotor flow passage, e. baffle means disposed in radially spaced relation and extending transversely into the flow passage to impinge all of the air with the baffle means and to divert all of the air into directions transverse to the radial flow passage upon impingement as it moves substantially radially through the flow passage, the liquid wetting the baffle means, and the pollutants impinging on the wet baffle means under centrifugal force to mix with the liquid, f. a pollutant-discharge passage communicating with the housing and receiving pollutant-laden liquid as it passes from the rotor, g. a clean air passage communicating with the housing and receiving the substantially clean air as it passes from the rotor, h. the rotor includes:

Claim 30

An air scrubber as defined in claim 10, in which: s. the second baffle plate is provided with small holes for the passage of air back out of the internal chamber and into the space between the said one rotor plate and inturned peripheral flange for radial discharge.

Claim 31

An air scrubber as defined in claim 10, in which: s. the second baffle plate is provided with a reversed downturned lip to assist in the prevention of reverse liquid flow inwardly along the first and second baffle plates and out of the chamber.

Claim 32

An air scrubber as defined in claim 10, in which: s. the last said baffle means includes a third baffle plate radially inward of and substantially parallel to and spaced from the first baffle plate, and spaced endwise from the second baffle plate and from the said one rotor plate, the third baffle plate assisting in the prevention of reverse liquid flow radially inward from the first baffle plate and out of the chamber and in directing liquid toward the pollutant-discharge holes.

Claim 33

An air scrubber as defined in claim 13, in which: t. the second baffle plate is provided with small holes located substantially between the first and third baffle plates for the passage of air out of the internal chamber and into the space between the said one rotor plate and inturned peripheral flange for radial discharge.