Electrode cleaning mechanism for electrostatic dust precipitator

Claim 1

An electrostatic dust precipitator having at least one dust collecting electrode provided with a rapping mechanism for cleaning the electrode which comprises: a. a first support means for eccentrically mounting said electrode: b. an elongated rapping bar associated with said electrode, said rapping bar having an anvil portion at one end thereof; c. a second support means for mounting said rapping bar in a manner which permits reciprocal axial movement between a rest position and a second position spaced axially from the rest position; d. means for connecting each electrode to the rapping bar for movement therewith; e. a rotatable shaft with means for supporting the shaft perpendicular to said rapping bar; and f. at least one tumbling hammer adjustably mounted on the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith and in a manner which provides free pendular pivotal movement relative to said shaft during rotation thereof through an arcuate segment of each revolution thereof, said hammer having a substantially flat impact surface spaced from the center of rotation and the distance from the center of rotation to its point of impact with the anvil portion of the rapping bar is substantially equal to the radius of gyration of the hammer such that when the tumbling hammer strikes the anvil portion of the rapping bar the rapping bar is moved in a generally axial direction from the rest position to the second position to thereby impart a jarring motion to each electrode in a manner which facilitates repeated dislodgement of dust particles collected thereon.