Vortex separator

Claim 1

A vortex particle separator with provision to prevent abrasion by separated particles retained therein, comprising a tubular body having an inlet at one end, an outlet at the opposite end and a central passage therebetween; a deflector coaxially mounted in the passage adjacent the inlet, having a plurality of helical vanes abutting the wall of the passage, and positioned at an angle to the line of flow from the inlet to the outlet so as to create a vortex stream in the influent air, which concentrates the contaminant particles in the whirling air stream at the periphery of the passage, thereby leaving the air at the center of the passage relatively clean; a generally tubular outlet member disposed within the central passage at the outlet end of the tubular body, for delivery of clean air from the central passage of the tubular body; said tubular outlet member defining an annular contaminant chamber between the exterior of the outlet member and the interior wall of the central passage of the tubular body receiving and storing separated contaminant particles; a wall extending between the tubular outlet member and the tubular body at the outlet end of the annular chamber at the outlet end of the tubular body, closing off the annular chamber at that end; and baffle means comprising a plurality of radical fins which extend at least partially across the annular chamber, to deflect the whirling air and particle flow and permit only axial flow, and define an inlet opening into the annular chamber and through which all flow of air and separated particles that enter the annular chamber must pass, the baffle means due to the absence of an outlet from the annular chamber being effective to deflect the whirling air stream in a manner to inhibit the whirling movement of the particles retained in the chamber, and thus prevent abrasion of the wall of the tubular body there, substantially without interfering with the entry of particles into the chamber, the inlet opening having an available open area such that at least some particles that enter the annular chamber via the inlet opening cannot escape from the annular chamber.