Air cleaning device

Claim 2

In an air cleaning apparatus for removing solid and particulate matter from a contaminated air stream introduced to the apparatus at a relatively high input velocity by comparison to the relatively low input velocity of wash liquid injected into said air stream in said apparatus, the combination comprising a wash section comprising a housing having conjoined front, rear, bottom and lateral walls, an input opening at the upPer end of said housing for said contaminated air stream and an opening adjacent the lower end of said housing through a wall thereof for discharge of said air stream and wash liquid introduced into said wash section, a wash liquid opening through and extending substantially the entire width of a wall of said housing adjacent said air stream input opening, liquid discharge means secured to said housing wall, communicating with and about said wash liquid opening, and extending substantially the entire width of said wall to provide a broad forceful stream of wash liquid in a wide torrent at a relatively low velocity to create considerable turbulence with the air stream entering said wash section through said input opening, whereby said forceful stream and turbulence will form a substantially large volume of liquid particles in said wash section to trap particulate matter in said air stream, adjustable baffle members secured to at least one of said walls below said wash liquid opening, to effect a controlled air stream dampering action thereon, and means for individually adjusting said baffle members with respect to said air stream, said baffle members extending substantially from one side wall to the other side wall of said housing and partially transversely the horizontal cross-sectional area thereof to provide surfaces for impingement thereon of said turbulent stream of air and wash liquid entrapped particulate matter, pump means communicating with a source of wash liquid and with said liquid discharge means to provide said wash liquid to said wash section, a settling tank section defined by a housing conjoined to and communicating with said wash section housing through said wash section discharge opening, said settling tank housing having a tank portion for collection of said wash liquid and solid and particulate matter discharged thereinto, said wash section discharge opening extending upwardly from the level of the wash liquid in said settling tank to the lower edge of said wash section wall at said discharge opening therethrough, a moisture eliminator section communicating with said wash section and said settling tank section, conjoined to and disposed vertically and relatively closely above the liquid level in said settling tank portion, and extending substantially entirely across the area of said settling tank section for discharge of wash liquid entrapped particulate matter into said settling tank section therebelow, comprising a housing having at least two substantially horizontal banks of moisture eliminator vanes supported therein, said banks of vanes being spaced vertically and substantially apart from each other and extending throughout the horizontal crosssectional area of said moisture eliminator section housing, said wash section discharge opening providing a passage for said wash liquid laden air stream between said wash section and said moisture eliminator section above the level of said wash liquid in said settling tank and wash sections, and a suction fan section communicating with said moisture eliminator section at the air stream discharge port thereof, said suction fan section being free of air stream dampering at its inlet and outlet ports, and having a power driven fan unit operable at full rated capacity when said apparatus is in use.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein selected of said wash section housing walls are provided with vertically spaced apart bracket members mounted thereon adjacent the lateral edges of said walls to support said baffle members.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined in claim 2, and wherein each said baffle member is provided with supporting means secured thereto and pivotable in horizontally aligned said bracket members for vertical swinging movement of its distal edge.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined in claim 3, and including lift members secured to said baffle members for adjustably pivoting the same into air stream dampering posture, and wall affixEd pin or hook members engageable by said lift members for fixing the pivoted posture of said baffle members.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said lift members comprise link chains.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said baffle members comprise a bank of vertically disposed, substantially parallel, spaced apart, longitudinally corrugated solid sheets of material, secured together into a unit extending substantially from one lateral wall to the opposite lateral wall of said wash section housing, fastening means securing said baffle members in said spaced apart, substantially parallel attitude, and means to support said bank of baffle members upon said bracket members intermediate said wash solution and lower discharge openings, said bank of baffle members extending substantially across the transverse horizontal cross-sectional area of said wash section housing.

Claim 8

The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein each said baffle member comprises an air comb comprising a horizontally disposed supporting bar member pivotally supported in horizontally aligned said bracket members, a plurality of comb rods secured at their proximal ends to said bar member and extending therefrom at an angle substantially normal thereto, a pivoting lever affixed to said bar member adjacent one end thereof, and lift means secured to said pivoting lever for pivoting said air comb into said air stream dampering posture.

Claim 9

The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein said comb rods are arranged in staggered relationship on each side of said bar member.

Claim 10

The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein said arm comb comprises a plurality of supporting bar members arranged in parallel spaced apart relationship and secured together by connecting members affixed thereto, each of said supporting bar members having a plurality of comb rods secured thereto, said pivoting lever being affixed to one of said supporting bar members.

Claim 11

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein one or more lateral walls of said wash section housing are provided with a glazed window therein for visual inspection of the operational functioning of said wash section.

Claim 12

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said wash section housing comprises a unitary structure.

Claim 13

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said wash section housing is complementary with said settling tank and moisture eliminator housings.

Claim 14

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each said baffle member comprises a flat planar solid sheet of material having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 15

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each said baffle member comprises a flat planar perforated sheet of material having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 16

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each said baffle member comprises a transversely arcuately formed sheet of material having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 17

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each said baffle member comprises a flat planar screen having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 18

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each said baffle member comprises a longitudinally corrugated solid sheet of material having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 19

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said pump means comprises a power driven pump, a conduit connected to said pump and communicating with said source of wash liquid and terminating in a discharge nozzle communicating with said wash liquid opening in said wash section housing.

Claim 20

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said settling tank housing communicates with and receives liquid and particulate mAtter from said moisture eliminator section thereabove.

Claim 21

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said settling tank housing is common with said moisture eliminator section housing.

Claim 22

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said moisture eliminator vanes are spaced relatively closely together and point in the same direction toward the side of said moisture eliminator section housing from which the wash liquid laden air stream enters the same, to form a convoluted air flow pattern from the open region therebelow and therethrough.

Claim 23

The apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein the lowermost bank of vanes is inclined somewhat downwardly from the side of said moisture eliminator section housing at which the wash liquid laden air stream enters to the opposite side of said latter housing, to more uniformly distribute said air stream in the region below said lowermost bank of vanes for passage thereinto and therethrough.

Claim 24

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said banks of vanes comprise two said banks secured in said moisture eliminator section housing and defining lower, intermediate and upper open regions in said moisture eliminator section.

Claim 25

The apparatus defined in claim 23, wherein the upper of said two banks of vanes is spaced apart from and below said air stream discharge port in said moisture eliminator section housing to provide said upper open region.

Claim 26

The apparatus defined in claim 1, and including a conduit connecting said moisture eliminator section at its air stream discharge port to said suction fan section.

Claim 27

The apparatus defined in claim 1, and including a glazed window in at least one lateral wall of said moisture eliminator section housing for visual inspection of the operational functioning of said moisture eliminator section.

Claim 28

The apparatus defined in claim 1, and wherein frame members are provided for each said bank of angulated vanes and secured to opposite walls of said moisture eliminator section housing, supporting said vanes at their longitudinal ends.

Claim 29

The apparatus defined in claim 1, and including an air comb pivotally mounted in said moisture eliminator section adjacent its wash liquid laden air stream inlet and disposed in the path of said air stream, air comb supporting brackets affixed to said moisture eliminator section housing, said air comb comprising a supporting bar member pivotally supported in said supporting brackets, a plurality of comb rods secured at their proximal ends to said bar member and extending therefrom at an angle substantially normal thereto, a pivoting lever affixed to said bar member adjacent one end thereof, and lift means secured to said pivoting lever for pivoting said air comb into the path of said incoming air stream to agglomerate solid and particulate matter upon said comb rods and at a posture such that said agglomerated matter is swept from said comb rods by said air stream.

Claim 30

The apparatus defined in claim 28, wherein said comb rods are arranged in staggered relationship on each side of said bar member.

Claim 31

The apparatus defined in claim 28, wherein said air comb comprises a plurality of supporting bar members arranged in parallel spaced apart relationship and secured together by connecting members affixed thereto, each of said supporting bar members having a plurality of comb rods secured thereto, said pivoting lever being affixed to one of said supporting bar members.

Claim 32

The apparatus defined in claim 1, and including a sludge conveyor section conjoined to and communicating with said settling tank section in the lower region thereof for removal of collected solid and particulate matter therefrom.

Claim 33

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said baffle members are removably secured to said at least one of said wash section walls.

Claim 34

An air cleaning apparatus for removing solid and particulate matter from a contaminated air stream intRoduced to the apparatus at a relatively high input velocity by comparison to the relatively low input velocity of wash liquid injected into said air stream in said apparatus, the combination comprising a plurality of wash sections each comprising a housing having conjoined front, rear, bottom and lateral walls, an input opening at the upper end of said housing for said contaminated air stream and an opening adjacent the lower end of said housing through a wall thereof for discharge of said air stream and wash liquid introduced into said wash section, a wash liquid opening through and extending substantially the entire width of a wall of said housing adjacent said air stream input opening, liquid discharge means secured to said housing wall, communicating with and about said wash liquid opening, and extending substantially the entire width of said wall to provide a broad forceful stream of wash liquid in a wide torrent at a relatively low velocity to create considerable turbulence with the air stream entering said wash section through said input opening, whereby said forceful stream and turbulence will form a substantially large volume of liquid particles in said wash section to trap particulate matter in said air stream, adjustable baffle members secured to at least one of said walls below said wash liquid opening, to effect a controlled air stream dampering action thereon, and means for individually adjusting said baffle members with respect to said air stream, said baffle members extending substantially from one side wall to the other side wall of said housing and partially transversely the horizontal cross-sectional area thereof to provide surfaces for impingement thereon of said turbulent stream of air and wash liquid entrapped particulate matter, pump means communicating with a source of wash liquid and with said liquid discharge means to provide said wash liquid to said wash section, a settling tank section defined by a housing conjoined to and communicating with said wash section housing through said wash section discharge opening, said settling tank housing having a tank portion for collection of said wash liquid and solid and particulate matter discharged thereinto, said wash section discharge opening extending upwardly from the level of the wash liquid in said settling tank to the lower edge of said wash section wall at said discharge opening therethrough, a moisture eliminator section communicating with said wash sections and said settling tank section, conjoined to and disposed vertically and relatively closely above the liquid level in said settling tank section, and extending substantially entirely across the area of said settling tank section for discharge of wash liquid entrapped particulate matter into said settling tank section therebelow, comprising a housing having at least two substantially horizontal banks of moisture eliminator vanes supported therein, said banks of vanes being spaced vertically and substantially apart from each other and extending throughout the horizontal cross-sectional area of said moisture eliminator section housing, a conduit connected to each said wash section and communicating with each said wash section discharge opening, and connected to and communicating with said settling tank and moisture eliminator sections through an entry port thereinto providing a passage for said wash liquid laden air stream into the moisture eliminator section above the level of wash liquid in said settling tank section, and a suction fan section communicating with said moisture eliminator section at the air stream discharge port thereof, said suction fan section being free of air stream dampering at its inlet and outlet ports, and having a power driven fan unit operable at full rated capacity when said apparatus is in use, said wash sections and suction fan section being disposed at positions relatively removed from said settling tank and moisture eliminator sectioNs.

Claim 35

An air cleaning apparatus for removing solid and particulate matter from a contaminated air stream intRoduced to the apparatus at a relatively high input velocity by comparison to the relatively low input velocity of wash liquid injected into said air stream in said apparatus, the combination comprising a plurality of wash sections each comprising a housing having conjoined front, rear, bottom and lateral walls, an input opening at the upper end of said housing for said contaminated air stream and an opening adjacent the lower end of said housing through a wall thereof for discharge of said air stream and wash liquid introduced into said wash section, a wash liquid opening through and extending substantially the entire width of a wall of said housing adjacent said air stream input opening, liquid discharge means secured to said housing wall, communicating with and about said wash liquid opening, and extending substantially the entire width of said wall to provide a broad forceful stream of wash liquid in a wide torrent at a relatively low velocity to create considerable turbulence with the air stream entering said wash section through said input opening, whereby said forceful stream and turbulence will form a substantially large volume of liquid particles in said wash section to trap particulate matter in said air stream, adjustable baffle members secured to at least one of said walls below said wash liquid opening, to effect a controlled air stream dampering action thereon, and means for individually adjusting said baffle members with respect to said air stream, said baffle members extending substantially from one side wall to the other side wall of said housing and partially transversely the horizontal cross-sectional area thereof to provide surfaces for impingement thereon of said turbulent stream of air and wash liquid entrapped particulate matter, pump means communicating with a source of wash liquid and with said liquid discharge means to provide said wash liquid to said wash section, a settling tank section defined by a housing conjoined to and communicating with said wash section housing through said wash section discharge opening, said settling tank housing having a tank portion for collection of said wash liquid and solid and particulate matter discharged thereinto, said wash section discharge opening extending upwardly from the level of the wash liquid in said settling tank to the lower edge of said wash section wall at said discharge opening therethrough, a moisture eliminator section communicating with said wash sections and said settling tank section, conjoined to and disposed vertically and relatively closely above the liquid level in said settling tank section, and extending substantially entirely across the area of said settling tank section for discharge of wash liquid entrapped particulate matter into said settling tank section therebelow, comprising a housing having at least two substantially horizontal banks of moisture eliminator vanes supported therein, said banks of vanes being spaced vertically and substantially apart from each other and extending throughout the horizontal cross-sectional area of said moisture eliminator section housing, a conduit connected to each said wash section and communicating with each said wash section discharge opening, and connected to and communicating with said settling tank and moisture eliminator sections through an entry port thereinto providing a passage for said wash liquid laden air stream into the moisture eliminator section above the level of wash liquid in said settling tank section, and a suction fan section communicating with said moisture eliminator section at the air stream discharge port thereof, said suction fan section being free of air stream dampering at its inlet and outlet ports, and having a power driven fan unit operable at full rated capacity when said apparatus is in use, said wash sections and suction fan section being disposed at positions relatively removed from said settling tank and moisture eliminator sectioNs.

Claim 36

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein said conduit connected to each said wash section and communicating with said air stream discharge opening in the lower region of each said wash section housing is connected to and communicates with said settling tank and moisture eliminator sections above and below the liquid level in said settling tank.

Claim 37

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein selected of said wash section housing walls are provided with vertically spaced apart bracket members mounted thereon adjacent the lateral edges of said walls to support said baffle members.

Claim 38

The apparatus defined in claim 35, wherein each said baffle member is provided with supporting means secured thereto and pivotable in horizontally aligned said bracket members for vertical swinging movement of its distal edge.

Claim 39

The apparatus defined in claim 36, and including lift members secured to said baffle members for adjustably pivoting the same into air stream dampering posture, and wall affixed pin or hook members engageable by said lift members for fixing the pivoted posture of said baffle members.

Claim 40

The apparatus defined in claim 37, wherein said lift members comprise link chains.

Claim 41

The apparatus defined in claim 35, wherein said baffle members comprise a bank of vertically disposed, substantially parallel, spaced apart, longitudinally corrugated solid sheets of material, secured together into a unit extending substantially from one lateral wall to the opposite lateral wall of each said wash section housing, fastening means securing said baffle members in said spaced apart, substantially parallel attitude, and means to support said bank of baffle members upon said bracket members intermediate said wash solution and lower discharge openings, said bank of baffle members extending substantially across the transverse horizontal cross-sectional area of each said wash section housing.

Claim 42

The apparatus defined in claim 35, wherein each said baffle member comprises an air comb comprising a horizontally disposed supporting bar member pivotally supported in horizontally aligned said bracket members, a plurality of comb rods secured at their proximal ends to said bar member and extending therefrom at an angle substantially normal thereto, a pivoting lever affixed to said bar member adjacent one end thereof, and lift means secured to said pivoting lever for pivoting said air comb into said air stream dampering posture.

Claim 43

The apparatus defined in claim 40, wherein said comb rods are arranged in staggered relationship on each side of said bar member.

Claim 44

The apparatus defined in claim 40, wherein said air comb comprises a plurality of supporting bar members arranged in parallel spaced apart relationship and secured together by connecting members affixed thereto, each of said supporting bar members having a plurality of comb rods secured thereto, said pivoting lever being affixed to one of said supporting bar members.

Claim 45

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein one or more lateral walls of each said wash section housing are provided with a glazed window therein for visual inspection of the operational functioning of each said wash section.

Claim 46

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein each said wash section housing comprises a unitary structure.

Claim 47

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein each said baffle member comprises a flat planar solid sheet of material having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 48

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein each said baffle member comprises a flat planar perforated sheet of material having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 49

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein each said baffle member comprises a transversely arcuately formed sheet of material having supporting means thereFor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 50

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein each said baffle member comprises a flat planar screen having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 51

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein each said baffle member comprises a longitudinally corrugated solid sheet of material having supporting means therefor affixed adjacent one of its longitudinal edges.

Claim 52

The apparatus defined in claim 70, wherein said pump means comprises a power driven pump, a conduit connected to said pump and communicating with said source of wash liquid and terminating in a discharge nozzle communicating with said wash liquid opening in each said wash section housing.

Claim 53

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein said settling tank housing communicates with and receives liquid and particulate matter from said moisture eliminator section thereabove.

Claim 54

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein said settling tank housing is common with said moisture eliminator section housing.

Claim 55

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein said moisture eliminator vanes are spaced relatively closely together and point in the same direction toward the side of said moisture eliminator section housing from which the wash liquid laden air stream enters the same, to form a convoluted air flow pattern from the open region therebelow and therethrough.

Claim 56

The apparatus defined in claim 53, wherein the lowermost bank of vanes is inclined somewhat downwardly from the side of said moisture eliminator section housing at which the wash liquid laden air stream enters to the opposite side of said latter housing, to more uniformly distribute said air stream in the region below said lowermost bank of vanes for passage thereinto and therethrough.

Claim 57

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein said banks of vanes comprise two said banks secured in said moisture eliminator section housing and defining lower, intermediate and upper open regions in said moisture eliminator section.

Claim 58

The apparatus defined in claim 55, wherein the upper of said two banks of vanes is spaced apart from and below said air stream discharge port in said moisture eliminator section housing to provide said upper open region.

Claim 59

The apparatus defined in claim 33, and including a conduit connecting said moisture eliminator section at its air stream discharge port to said suction fan section.

Claim 60

The apparatus defined in claim 33, and including a glazed window in at least one lateral wall of said moisture eliminator section housing for visual inspection of the operational functioning of said moisture eliminator section.

Claim 61

The apparatus defined in claim 33, and including an air comb pivotally mounted in said moisture eliminator section adjacent its wash liquid laden air stream inlet and disposed in the path of said air stream, air comb supporting brackets affixed to said moisture eliminator section housing, said air comb comprising a supporting bar member pivotally supported in said supporting brackets, a plurality of comb rods secured at their proximal ends to said bar member and extending therefrom at an angle substantially normal thereto, a pivoting lever affixed to said bar member adjacent one end thereof, and lift means secured to said pivoting lever for pivoting said air comb into the path of said incoming air stream to agglomerate solid and particulate matter upon said comb rods and at a posture such that said agglomerated matter is swept from said comb rods by said air stream.

Claim 62

The apparatus defined in claim 59, wherein said comb rods are arranged in staggered relationship on each side of said bar member.

Claim 63

The apparatus defined in claim 59, wherein said air comb comprises a plurality of supporting bar members arranged in parallel spaced apart relationship and secured together by connecting members affixed thereto, each of said supporting bar members having a plurality of comb rods secured thereto, said pivoting lever being affixed to one of said supporting bar members.

Claim 64

The apparatus defined in claim 33, and including a sludge conveyor section conjoined to and communicating with said settling tank section in the lower region thereof for removal of collected solid and particulate matter therefrom.

Claim 65

The apparatus defined in claim 33, wherein said baffle members are removably secured to said at least one of said wash section walls.