Particle build up suppressor

Claim 3

The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said two surface means is formed from a plurality of separated generally flat surface members.

Claim 4

The device as defined in claim 2 further comprising: a depending leading Y-shaped plow means positioned at the apex of the V-shaped wedge formed by said two surface means.

Claim 5

In combination with a conduit bend having an inner wall comprising at the bend thereof an outer radius segment and opposite thereto an inner radius segment for use in an air-handling system carrying a pressurized stream of particles that forms a high velocity-energy region at the outer radius and a low velocity-energy region at the inner radius as the stream changes direction within the conduit bend; a plurality of fin-like separators operatively arranged at the outer rAdius including: at one end a snub surface means for providing a movement to the particles towards the center of the stream, thereby increasing the incidence of particle collision and forcing some of the particles towards the low velocity-energy region, and an aerodynamic means at opposite end thereof for increasing the incidence of collision as well as providing for agglomeration of sticky particles, both said snub surface and aerodynamic means being selectively positionable to face and contact the stream of particles; and a collection means attached to the inner radius that defines an opening through which the particles that fall-out from the high velocity-energy region, settle into the collection means, thereby preventing build-up of particles at the inner radius.

Claim 6

In combination with a conduit bend having an inner wall comprising at the bend thereof an outer radius segment and opposite thereto an inner radius segment for use in an air-handling system carrying a pressurized stream of particles that forms a high velocity-energy region at the outer radius and a low velocity-energy region at the inner radius as the stream changes direction within the conduit bend; a plurality of fin-like separators operatively arranged at the outer rAdius including: at one end a snub surface means for providing a movement to the particles towards the center of the stream, thereby increasing the incidence of particle collision and forcing some of the particles towards the low velocity-energy region, and an aerodynamic means at opposite end thereof for increasing the incidence of collision as well as providing for agglomeration of sticky particles, both said snub surface and aerodynamic means being selectively positionable to face and contact the stream of particles; and a collection means attached to the inner radius that defines an opening through which the particles that fall-out from the high velocity-energy region, settle into the collection means, thereby preventing build-up of particles at the inner radius.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the plurality of fin-like particle separators are operatively connected to the inner wall so as to form a V-shaped wedge with a forward portion of the wedge facing the stream and forward of the wedge at least one row of fin-like separators that are along a line that is at the intersection of a first plane passing through the inner wall of the bend.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the first plane intersects the inner wall adjacent the outer radius at a point that corresponds to approximately one-third of the periphery thereof.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the row formed by the snub end means has generally flat surfaces that are rearwardly inclined relative to the inner wall.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein each leg of the wedge has a generally flat surface that is inclined relative to the inner wall and oriented in a direction that is at a transverse angle to the longitudinal axis of the device for providing deflection to the particles that strike thereagainst.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein each leg of the wedge beings at the intersection of a second plane passing through the outer radius of the inner wall of the bend.

Claim 12

The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein the second plane intersects the inner wall adjacent the outer radius at a point that corresponds to approximately two-thirds of the periphery thereof.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 5 wherein the row is formed by said aerodynamic means facing the stream.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 5 wherein the plurality of fin-like separators forming each leg of the wedge is formed by said aerodynamic means facing the stream wherein each aerodynamic means along one leg is canted at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the aerodynamic means and which is equal and opposite in direction to the cant angle of each of aerodynamic means of the opposite leg so as to increase the lateral deflection of the particles towards the low velocity-energy region of the stream.

Claim 15

The combination as defined in claim 4 further comprising: a vibrating means operatively attached to said collection means for preventing build-up of particles therein, a spring-hanger device connected to the conduit bend and flexible joints attached at least at upstream and downstream ends of the bend for isolating vibration from the remainder of the air-handling system.

Claim 16

The combination defined in claim 4 further comprising: a means for discharging particles that have settled into the collection means while maintaining substantially the same pressure throughout the conduit bend.

Claim 17

The combination defined in claim 14 further comprising: a conveyor means operatively connected to said discharging means and said collection means for conveying discharged particles for subsequent handling.

Claim 18

In combination with a conduit bend having an internal wall comprising at the bend thereof an outer radius segment and opposite thereto an inner radius segment for use in an air-handling system carrying a pressurized stream of particles that forms a high velocity-energy region at the outer radius and a low velocity-energy region at the innEr radius; a collection means secured adjacent to the low velocity-energy region of the conduit for trapping particles that descend from the high velocity-energy to the low velocity-energy region; and a device operatively connected to outer radius segment at a position above said collection means comprising two diverging surface means that forwardly depend into the high velocity-energy region of the stream and faces the flow path of the particle stream, said two diverging surface means form a substantially V-shaped wedge for deflecting particles, around the periphery of the conduit and into the low velocity-energy region and thence into said collection means.

Claim 19

In combination with a conduit bend having an internal wall comprising at the bend thereof an outer radius segment and opposite thereto an inner radius segment for use in an air-handling system carrying a pressurized stream of particles that forms a high velocity-energy region at the outer radius and a low velocity-energy region at the innEr radius; a collection means secured adjacent to the low velocity-energy region of the conduit for trapping particles that descend from the high velocity-energy to the low velocity-energy region; and a device operatively connected to outer radius segment at a position above said collection means comprising two diverging surface means that forwardly depend into the high velocity-energy region of the stream and faces the flow path of the particle stream, said two diverging surface means form a substantially V-shaped wedge for deflecting particles, around the periphery of the conduit and into the low velocity-energy region and thence into said collection means.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 16 wherein said two diverging surface means join together at the apex of the V-shaped wedge and form a leading edge.

Claim 21

The combination defined in claim 17 further comprising a splitter vane means attached to the leading edge for dividing the flow of the particles.

Claim 22

The combination as defined in claim 17 wherein a point on the splitter vane coincides with a point in a plane that intersects the outer radius at approximately one-third of the periphery thereof.

Claim 23

The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein the leading edge has a leading corner that is positioned at a point that coincides with the intersection of a plane that corresponds to approximately two-thirds of the periphery of the outer radius.

Claim 24

The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein each one of said two diverging surface means is formed from a plurality of separated generally flat resilient surface members that are self-cleaning.

Claim 25

The combination as defined in claim 18 further comprising: a leading Y-shaped plow means positioned forwardly of said two depending surface means at the apex of the V-shaped wedge.

Claim 26

The combination as defined in claim 22 wherein the leading plow shaped means has a first forwardmost point and a second colinear rearwardmost point thereon, the first point is contained in a first plane and the second point is contained in a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane intersect the outer radius of the bend.

Claim 27

The combination as defined in claim 23 wherein the intersection of the first plane and the outer radius is at a point that corresponds to approximately one-third of the periphery of the outer radius of the bend.

Claim 28

The combination as defined in claim 23 wherein the intersection of the second plane and the outer radius is at a point that corresponds to approximately two-thirds of the periphery of the outer radius of the bend.

Claim 29

The combination as defined in claim 16 further comprising: a means for discharging particle fall-out that has settled into said collection means while maintaining substantially the same pressure throughout the air-handling system.

Claim 30

The combination as defined in claim 26 further comprising: a conveyor means operatively connected with said discharging means for conveying discharged particles for subsequent handling.

Claim 31

The combination as defined in claim 16 further comprising: a vibrating means operatively attached to said collection means for preventing build-up of particles therein; a spring-hanger device connected to the conduit bend; and flexible joints attached at least at upstream and downstream ends of the bend for isolating vibration from the remainder of the air-handling system.

Claim 34

The device as claimed in claim 29 wherein said collection means forms an opening with the conduit bend.

Claim 35

The device as claimed in claim 29 wherein said collection means is formed of an upper portion and a hopper shaped lower portion having a discharge outlet.

Claim 36

The device as claimed in claim 29 further comprising: a discharge means operatively connected to said collection means for discharging from said collection means particles that have settled therein while maintaining substantially the same pressure within the conduit system.

Claim 37

The device as claimed in claim 32 further comprising: a conveyor means operatively connected to said discharge means and said collection means or effectuating conveyance of discharged particles for subsequent handling.

Claim 38

A fin-like separator device operatively connected with the internal wall of a conduit, which conduit system has conveyed therethrough a pressurized stream of fluid medium containing suspended particles, the fin like separator device comprising: a snub means having a generally flat surface which is inclined at a compound angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the conduit from the inner wall of the conduit where said device is mounted, simultaneously in these two senses: a. proceeding along the generally flat surface from nearer the conduit internal wall towards the longitudinal axis of the conduit, the generally flat surface inclines downstream, to increase the incidence of collision of the suspended particles in the stream by deflecting suspended particles which are near the internal wall towards the center of the stream when the generally flat surface faces the stream and the stream impinges thereon; b. proceeding along the generally flat surface transversally of the longitudinal axis of the conduit, the generally flat surface is inclined laterally towards one side for providing lateral deflection of the suspended particles when the generally flat surface faces the stream and the stream impinges thereon; and an aerodynamic surface means, arched transverally and inclined in an opposite sense to the sense (a), said aerodynamic surface means extending from the internal wall to a generally arch-shaped juncture with said generally flat surface of the snub means, for deflecting said suspended particles when said aerodynamic surface means, but not the snub means, faces the stream and the stream impinges on the aerodynamic surface means, said opposite inclination of the generally flat surface and said aerodynamic surface means resulting in alternative use of the generally flat surface and the aerodynamic surface means, depending upon which direction the stream of fluid medium is being conveyed through the conduit, and, correspondingly, whether the stream impinges upon the generally flat surface or upon the aerodynamic surface means.

Claim 39

A fin-like separator device operatively connected with the internal wall of a conduit, which conduit system has conveyed therethrough a pressurized stream of fluid medium containing suspended particles, the fin like separator device comprising: a snub means having a generally flat surface which is inclined at a compound angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the conduit from the inner wall of the conduit where said device is mounted, simultaneously in these two senses: a. proceeding along the generally flat surface from nearer the conduit internal wall towards the longitudinal axis of the conduit, the generally flat surface inclines downstream, to increase the incidence of collision of the suspended particles in the stream by deflecting suspended particles which are near the internal wall towards the center of the stream when the generally flat surface faces the stream and the stream impinges thereon; b. proceeding along the generally flat surface transversally of the longitudinal axis of the conduit, the generally flat surface is inclined laterally towards one side for providing lateral deflection of the suspended particles when the generally flat surface faces the stream and the stream impinges thereon; and an aerodynamic surface means, arched transverally and inclined in an opposite sense to the sense (a), said aerodynamic surface means extending from the internal wall to a generally arch-shaped juncture with said generally flat surface of the snub means, for deflecting said suspended particles when said aerodynamic surface means, but not the snub means, faces the stream and the stream impinges on the aerodynamic surface means, said opposite inclination of the generally flat surface and said aerodynamic surface means resulting in alternative use of the generally flat surface and the aerodynamic surface means, depending upon which direction the stream of fluid medium is being conveyed through the conduit, and, correspondingly, whether the stream impinges upon the generally flat surface or upon the aerodynamic surface means.