Air wipe

Claim 2

An air wipe to remove adhering particulate matter from a linearly drawn passing article of indefinite length having article entrance and exit orifices and opposing tandem jet stream orifices, within mating housing halves, directing impinging pressurized jet streams upon said article passing through an annular central housing passage comprising: a plurality of transverse extrusion channels defined by corresponding V-shaped swept baffle means, swept obliquely with respect to the direction of article travel, each extrusion channel having opposing tandem jet stream orifices, to divert particulate laden dispersed jet streams at a lateral acute angle, with respect to said passing article, in a direction opposing the direction of movement of said article; longitudinal exhaust channels coaxial with said central article passage communicating and merging with said extrusion channels and terminating in exhaust ports adjacent to, but displaced from, said article entrance orifice to divert said particulate laden dispersed jet streams away from said entering linearly drawn article; said jet streams impinging upon said article at an angle less than 90° and said opposing tandem jet stream orifices placed 180° apart; said swept baffle means having a machined annular groove, for passage of said wire, at the apex of said baffle means, the convergence of the arms of said baffle means being said apex, with said linear article forming an acute angle with respect to said baffle means swept arms.

Claim 3

An air wipe for the removal of adhering particulate matter from a passing linearly drawn article having symmetrical mating housing halves each half being longitudinally symmetrical, having venturi article entrance and exit orifices and an annular central passage communicating therewith comprising: a plurality of transverse extrusion channels; V-shaped swept baffle means defining said extrusion channels; said swept baffle means forming an acute angle in relation to said linearly drawn article; said sweep being in a lateral direction opposing the directional movement of said passing article; longitudinally disposed opposing jet stream orifices arranged in tandem paired sets, said orifices being positioned coincident with each of said extrusion channels and further coincident with said annular central article passage, thereby directing high velocity jet streams upon said article passing through said extrusion channel; longitudinal exhaust channels, coaxial with said central annular passage, defined by the outer extent of said baffle means and the outer housing wall, said transverse extrusion channels merging and communicating therewith; said exhaust channels terminating in exhaust ports, preferably having a venturi opening, adjacent to but displaced from said central article entrance orifice, to direct particulate laden air from said entering article; said baffles diverting particulate laden dispersed jet streams from said passing article via said extrusion channels to said exhaust ports via said exhaust channels in a direction opposing the movement of said passing article; manifold means within each housing half, preferably being an annular bore, communicating with said jet stream orifices to supply said jet stream orifices from a pressurized source; and said central article passage being a machined annular groove through the apex of said baffles, said baffles of each mating half being in communication.

Claim 4

An air wipe for the removal of adhering particulate matter from a passing linearly drawn article having symmetrical mating housing halves each half being longitudinally symmetrical, having venturi article entrance and exit orifices and an annular central passage communicating therewith comprising: a plurality of transverse extrusion channels; V-shaped swept baffle means defining said extrusion channels; said swept baffle means forming an acute angle in relation to said linearly drawn article; said sweep being in a lateral direction opposing the directional movement of said passing article; longitudinally disposed opposing jet stream orifices arranged in tandem paired sets, said orifices being positioned coincident with each of said extrusion channels and further coincident with said annular central article passage, thereby directing high velocity jet streams upon said article passing through said extrusion channel; longitudinal exhaust channels, coaxial with said central annular passage, defined by the outer extent of said baffle means and the outer housing wall, said transverse extrusion channels merging and communicating therewith; said exhaust channels terminating in exhaust ports, preferably having a venturi opening, adjacent to but displaced from said central article entrance orifice, to direct particulate laden air from said entering article; said baffles diverting particulate laden dispersed jet streams from said passing article via said extrusion channels to said exhaust ports via said exhaust channels in a direction opposing the movement of said passing article; manifold means within each housing half, preferably being an annular bore, communicating with said jet stream orifices to supply said jet stream orifices from a pressurized source; and said central article passage being a machined annular groove through the apex of said baffles, said baffles of each mating half being in communication.

Claim 5

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein said opposing jet stream orifices tandem sets are positioned at the rearward apex of each of said extrusion channels and adjacent to said baffle means.

Claim 6

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein each of said orifices of said tandem set direct impinging jet streams at unequal acute angles upon said passing article.

Claim 7

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein said jet stream orifices have equal diameters.

Claim 8

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein said jet stream orifices have various diameters.

Claim 9

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein each of said extrusion channels has more than two opposing jet stream orifices, each opposed pair forming a tandem set, said orifices being displaced to direct impinging jet streams tangentially upon said passing article.

Claim 10

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein said sweep of said baffles ranges from a slight acute angle to 90°.

Claim 11

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein said jet streams consist of pressurized fluid solvents.

Claim 12

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein said jet streams consist of compressed air.

Claim 13

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein each housing half is fixably secured to a heavy hinge for simple opening and closing of said air wipe to be operated manually and secured manually by a spring attached to arms extending from each of said mating halves.

Claim 14

The air wipe of claim 2 wherein each housing half is fixably secured to a heavy hinge and further secured to a pneumatic cylinder for remote opening and closing of said air wipe mating halves.

Claim 15

An air wipe, for incremental removal of adhering particulate matter from a passing linearly drawn wire, having symmetrical mating halves, each half being longitudinally symmetrical, and having entrance and exit orifices and a central passage communicating therewith comprising: a plurality of transverse extrusion channels; V-shaped swept baffles defining said extrusion channels, said baffles being swept obliquely at an angle opposing the direction of movement of said passing wire; a plurality of pairs of opposing jet stream orifices, each pair corresponding to one of said extrusion channels and coincident with said central passage at the rearward apex of said extrusion channels; said baffles diverting particulate laden dispersed jet streams from the line of travel of said passing wire at a lateral acute angle via said extrusion channels; longitudinal exhaust channels coaxial with said central passage communicating and merging with said extrusion channels, said exhaust channels terminating in exhaust ports, adjacent to but displaced from said central wire entrance orifice to direct particulate laden air from said extrusion channels via said exhaust channels away from said entering wire; and manifold means, within each housing half connected to a pressurized jet stream supply means, communicating with and directing jet stream supply to said jet stream orifices, said manifold means being longitudinally coaxial with said central passage.

Claim 16

An air wipe, for incremental removal of adhering particulate matter from a passing linearly drawn wire, having symmetrical mating halves, each half being longitudinally symmetrical, and having entrance and exit orifices and a central passage communicating therewith comprising: a plurality of transverse extrusion channels; V-shaped swept baffles defining said extrusion channels, said baffles being swept obliquely at an angle opposing the direction of movement of said passing wire; a plurality of pairs of opposing jet stream orifices, each pair corresponding to one of said extrusion channels and coincident with said central passage at the rearward apex of said extrusion channels; said baffles diverting particulate laden dispersed jet streams from the line of travel of said passing wire at a lateral acute angle via said extrusion channels; longitudinal exhaust channels coaxial with said central passage communicating and merging with said extrusion channels, said exhaust channels terminating in exhaust ports, adjacent to but displaced from said central wire entrance orifice to direct particulate laden air from said extrusion channels via said exhaust channels away from said entering wire; and manifold means, within each housing half connected to a pressurized jet stream supply means, communicating with and directing jet stream supply to said jet stream orifices, said manifold means being longitudinally coaxial with said central passage.