Vortex particle separator

Claim 1

In a vortex particle separator comprising, in combination, a housing having an inlet and an outlet arranged for flow therethrough of air carrying particles of different weights and, disposed in the housing across the line of air flow from the inlet to the outlet, an array of elements each having a cylindrical central passage therethrough and an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends, and deflectors adjacent the inlet for creating a vortex stream in the inlet air to concentrate heavier particles in the air at the periphery of the passage and provide a main core of air at the center of the passage containing lighter particles, and an outlet member having a central core air passage communicating with the cylindrical central passage of the tubular body and disposed within the passage at the outlet, the exterior wall of the outlet member defining a generally annular containment scavenge passage for heavy particle outlet within the cylindrical central passage of the tubular body through which pass the heavier particles, while main core air at the center of the passage passes through the central core of air passage of the outlet members; an array of turning vanes disposed upstream of the leading edge of the outlet member to cause that portion of the main core air which normally turns radially inward to the outlet member to negotiate a sharp turn radially inward into said vanes consequently depositing more of the heavier particles to the heavy particle outlet defined by said annular containment scavenge passage.