Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for separating from a mixture of vapor and solid particles at least a portion of said particles therefrom, said apparatus comprising: a chamber defined by a top, a bottom and at least one peripheral wall, an inlet means for said mixture so situated so as to induce a flow of at least a portion of said particles preferentially toward said peripheral wall, a fluid outlet means, a particle outlet means and a means for reducing the attrition of said portion of said particles comprising a plurality of zones each of which is a partially enclosed space having an opening defined by at least two generally vertical vanes and two generally horizontal vanes acting in cooperation with at least a portion of said peripheral wall, wherein said horizontal vanes comprise a lower vane and an upper vane, wherein at least a substantial portion of the top and bottom edges defined by the surfaces of said vertical vanes overlap at least a portion of the surfaces defined by said horizontal vanes, and wherein there is a means for attaching at least one of said vertical and horizontal vanes to said peripheral wall, said opening being oriented with respect to said peripheral wall so that as said portion of said particles move toward said peripheral wall said particles enter said zone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for separating from a mixture of vapor and solid particles at least a portion of said particles therefrom, said apparatus comprising: a chamber defined by a top, a bottom and at least one peripheral wall, an inlet means for said mixture so situated so as to induce a flow of at least a portion of said particles preferentially toward said peripheral wall, a fluid outlet means, a particle outlet means and a means for reducing the attrition of said portion of said particles comprising a plurality of zones each of which is a partially enclosed space having an opening defined by at least two generally vertical vanes and two generally horizontal vanes acting in cooperation with at least a portion of said peripheral wall, wherein said horizontal vanes comprise a lower vane and an upper vane, wherein at least a substantial portion of the top and bottom edges defined by the surfaces of said vertical vanes overlap at least a portion of the surfaces defined by said horizontal vanes, and wherein there is a means for attaching at least one of said vertical and horizontal vanes to said peripheral wall, said opening being oriented with respect to said peripheral wall so that as said portion of said particles move toward said peripheral wall said particles enter said zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an angle between one of said vertical side vanes and a plane tangent to said peripheral wall along a line of apparent intersection between said one of said vertical side vanes and said peripheral wall is in the range of about 10° to about 75°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for attaching is a generally vertical rear vane, wherein said vertical rear vane is at least in part spaced above said lower vane to provide a space therebetween and is attached to said peripheral wall, and wherein a plane defined by said vertical rear vane intersects along its vertical edges at least two generally vertical vanes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottom is in the shape of a conical frustum having disposed therein at least one vane, and further having said particle outlet means passing therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said vertical vanes overlaps at least one adjacent vane of said vertical vanes when viewed from the central axis of said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner ends of both the vertical and horizontal vanes are at substantially equal distances from the central axis of said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each horizontal vane forms an acute angle opened toward the central axis of said chamber between itself and the horizontal direction of said chamber in the range of between about 0° to about 50°.