Pneumatic apparatus for emptying particulate filters

Claim 1

A PARTICULATE FILTER FOR ADSORPTION OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN A GAS STREAM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A CLOSED HOUSING INCLUDING AN INLET THEREIN FOR INTRODUCING THE CONTAMINATED GAS STREAM, AT LEAST ONE FILTER BED INTERPOSED IN SAID HOUSING TRANSVERSE TO THE PATH OF THE CONTAMINATED GAS STREAM, AND AN OUTLET THROUGH WHICH DECONTAMINATED GAS IS DISCHARGED, EACH FILTER BED COMPRISING (I) SPACED PERFORATE WALLS ARRANGED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND DEFINING A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING PARTICULATE ABSORPTIVE MATERIAL, (II) A HOPPER AT THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER INTO WHICH THE PARTICULATE MATERIAL IS LOADED, AND (III) EVACUATION MEANS AT THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER FOR DRAINING THE PARTICULATE MATERIAL THEREFROM WHEN THE ADSORPTIVE EFFICACY OF SAID MATERIAL IS EXPENDED, SAID EVACUATION MEANS INCLUDING (A) A FUNNEL DOWNWARDLY PROTECTING FROM SAID CHAMBER AND TERMINATING IN A VERTICALLY DISPOSED SPOUT, (B) A WELL ENCLOSING AT LEAST THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SPOUT AND HAVING A FLOOR SPACED FROM THE LOWER END THEREOF, (C) FIRST AND SECOND CONDUITS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID WELL, (E) A CLOSED TANK COUPLED WITH SAID FIRST CONDUIT, (F) BLOWER MEANS COUPLING SAID SECOND CONDUIT WITH SAID TANK IN A CLOSED PATH, AND (G) A POROUS RECEPTACLE IN SAID TANK INTERPOSED IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL THROUGH SAID CONDUITS FOR COLLECTING THE SPENT PARTICULATE MATERIAL, WHEREBY THE PARTICULATE MATERIAL WILL FALL TO THE FLOOR OF SAID WELL IN A PILE UNTIL THE ANGLE OF REPOSE THEREOF EFFECTS CLOSURE OF THE LOWER END OF THE SPOUT, SAID EVACUATION MEANS UPON ACTUATION OF SAID BLOWER MEANS PNEUMATICALLY SWEEPING THE PARTICULATE MATERIAL UP FROM THE PILE IN AN ENTIRELY COLSED CIRCUIT SUCH THAT RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS ARE ALWAYS RETAINED IN ENCAPSULATED DISPOSITION AND NEVER RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.