Modular industrial vacuum loading apparatus for ingesting and collecting debris and filtering discharged air

Claim 2

Vacuum loader apparatus for ingesting a mixture of particulate material and air, for depositing a major portion of said material in a container, and for filtering air separated from said mixture to remove suspended residual material therefrom and trap it as disposable filtrate prior to discharging the separated air to atmosphere, said apparatus comprising: a power module comprising a motor-driven vacuum blower; a filtration module comprising a plurality of filter tanks; a debris-loading module comprising a tank having a debris-collection container therein; each of said modules being independently movable; each filtration tank having filter means therein; valve means selectively operable to connect said plurality of tanks for filtering operation and, alternately, to connect at least one of said tanks for filtering operation and others of said tanks for purging; a first detechable fluid conduit connectable between said vacuum blower of said power module and said filtration module; a second detachable fluid conduit connectable between said filtration module and said debris-loading module; a third conduit having one end connected to said debris-loading module and having an opposite end for ingesting a mixture of debris and air and means for connecting a tank selected for purging to said opposite end of said third conduit.

Claim 3

Vacuum loader apparatus according to claim 1 whererin said power module comprises a motor-driven vacuum blower, wherein said filtration module comprises at least one filter tank having filter means therein, and wherein said debris-loading module comprises a tank having a removable debris-collection container therein.

Claim 4

vacuum loader apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said modules comprise a supporting framework having wheels thereon.

Claim 5

Vacuum loader apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said fluid conduits comprise flexible hoses.

Claim 6

Vacuum loader apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said filtration module comprises a plurality of filtration tanks, each filtration tank having filter means thereon; valve means selectivel operable to connect said plurality of tanks for filtering operation and, alternately, to connect at least one of said tanks for filtering operation and others of said tanks for purging; and means for connecting the tanks selected for purging to said third conduit on said debris-loading module.

Claim 7

Vacuum loader apparatus for ingesting a mixture of partculate material and air, for depositing a major portion of said material in a disposable container, and for filterirg air separated from said mixture to remove suspended residual material therefrom and trap it as disposable filtrate prior to discharging the separated air to atmosphere, said apparatus comprising: a vacuum blower; at least two filtration units connectable to be operated by said vacuum blower, each unit comprising a tank and filter means in said tank; and means for directing a mixture of debris and air being propelled by said blower through both tanks in a direction to effert filtering thereof and collection of filtrate in each tank; and for directing air being propelled by said vacuum blower in a reverse direction through one of said tanks to expel a mixture of air and collected filtrate from said one tank and for directing said mixture of air and colllected filtrate being propelled by said vacuum through the other of said tanks to effect filtering thereof.

Claim 8

Vacuum loader apparatus for ingesting a mixture of partculate material and air, for depositing a major portion of said material in a disposable container, and for filterirg air separated from said mixture to remove suspended residual material therefrom and trap it as disposable filtrate prior to discharging the separated air to atmosphere, said apparatus comprising: a vacuum blower; at least two filtration units connectable to be operated by said vacuum blower, each unit comprising a tank and filter means in said tank; and means for directing a mixture of debris and air being propelled by said blower through both tanks in a direction to effert filtering thereof and collection of filtrate in each tank; and for directing air being propelled by said vacuum blower in a reverse direction through one of said tanks to expel a mixture of air and collected filtrate from said one tank and for directing said mixture of air and colllected filtrate being propelled by said vacuum through the other of said tanks to effect filtering thereof.

Claim 9

Vacuum loader apparatus for ingesting a mixture of particulate material and air, for deposting a major portion of said material in a disposable imperforate bag, and for filtering air separated from said mixture to remove suspended residual material therefrom air trap it as disposable filtrate prior to discharging the separated air to atmosphere, said apparatus comprising: first means comprising a motor-drive vacuum blower having a suction port and an air discharge port communicating with atmosphere; second means comprising a plurality of filtrate tanks, each filtrate tank having a filter tank chamber therein and containing filter means for trapping filtrate and dividing said filter tank chamber into a clean side connectable to said suction port of said first means and a dirty side; third means comprising a debris-collection tank having a debris-collectlon chamber therein defined by the tank wall and having upper and lower ends which are in direct communication with each other, said chamber containing said bag for receiving said major portion of ingested particulate material, said bag having an inside and an outside which is spaced away from said tank wall and an open upper end said debris-collection tank having an air port connectable to said dirty side of said filter tank chamber of said second means, said debris-collection tank having a mixture inlet port communicating with said debris-collection chamber and disposed with respect to said open upper end of said bag so as to enable said major portion of said material from said mixture ingested through said mixture inlet to be deposited in said bag and to enable unfiltered ingestd air to be directed through said air port to said dirty side of said filter tank chamber; and selectively operable valve means for connecting any combination of said filter tanks between said suction port of said first means and said air port of said third means to effect filtration.

Claim 10

Vacuum loader apparatus for ingesting a mixture of particulate material and air, for deposting a major portion of said material in a disposable imperforate bag, and for filtering air separated from said mixture to remove suspended residual material therefrom air trap it as disposable filtrate prior to discharging the separated air to atmosphere, said apparatus comprising: first means comprising a motor-drive vacuum blower having a suction port and an air discharge port communicating with atmosphere; second means comprising a plurality of filtrate tanks, each filtrate tank having a filter tank chamber therein and containing filter means for trapping filtrate and dividing said filter tank chamber into a clean side connectable to said suction port of said first means and a dirty side; third means comprising a debris-collection tank having a debris-collectlon chamber therein defined by the tank wall and having upper and lower ends which are in direct communication with each other, said chamber containing said bag for receiving said major portion of ingested particulate material, said bag having an inside and an outside which is spaced away from said tank wall and an open upper end said debris-collection tank having an air port connectable to said dirty side of said filter tank chamber of said second means, said debris-collection tank having a mixture inlet port communicating with said debris-collection chamber and disposed with respect to said open upper end of said bag so as to enable said major portion of said material from said mixture ingested through said mixture inlet to be deposited in said bag and to enable unfiltered ingestd air to be directed through said air port to said dirty side of said filter tank chamber; and selectively operable valve means for connecting any combination of said filter tanks between said suction port of said first means and said air port of said third means to effect filtration.

Claim 11

Vacuum loader apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said second means comprises a plurality of filter tanks, each filter tank containing filter means, and selectively operable valve means for connecting any combination of said filter tanks between said suction port of said first means and said air port of said third means to effect filtration.

Claim 12

Vacuum loader apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said selectively operable valve means are further operable to connect the dirty side of at least one of said filter tanks to said mixture inlet port of said filter tank chamber and to connect the clean side of said one filter tank to atmosphere to effect purging of said one filter tank, and to connect said air port of said debris-collection tank to said dirty side of another of said filter tank chambers.

Claim 13

Vacuum loader apparatus according to claim 7 or 9 wherein said debris-collection tank is provided with an air passage communicating between said upper and lower ends of said debris-collection chamber to equalize air pressure therebetween.

Claim 14

An air filtration module for vacuum loader apparatus which comprises a vacuum blower, said air filtration module comprising: a pair of filter tanks each having a filter tank chamber therein; filter menas in each filter tank and dividing said filter tank chamber into a clean side and a dirty side; first and second ports in each tank communicating with said clean and dirty sides, respectively, said first port on each tank being connectable to said vacuum blower; an air inlet port in each tank communicating between said clean side and atmosphere; valve means on each tank operable to open and close said air inlet port therein; first valve means for selectively directing unfiltered air into either or both or neither of said second ports of said tank; second valve means for selectively directing filtered air from either or both or neither of said first ports of said tanks; a filtrate outlet port in each tank communicating with said dirty side of the tank chamber to remove filtrate therefrom; and means to selectively open and close said filtrate outlet port.

Claim 15

An air filtration module for vacuum loader apparatus which comprises a vacuum blower, said air filtration module comprising: a pair of filter tanks each having a filter tank chamber therein; filter menas in each filter tank and dividing said filter tank chamber into a clean side and a dirty side; first and second ports in each tank communicating with said clean and dirty sides, respectively, said first port on each tank being connectable to said vacuum blower; an air inlet port in each tank communicating between said clean side and atmosphere; valve means on each tank operable to open and close said air inlet port therein; first valve means for selectively directing unfiltered air into either or both or neither of said second ports of said tank; second valve means for selectively directing filtered air from either or both or neither of said first ports of said tanks; a filtrate outlet port in each tank communicating with said dirty side of the tank chamber to remove filtrate therefrom; and means to selectively open and close said filtrate outlet port.

Claim 16

An air filtration module according to claim 11 wherein each of said first and second valve means comprises: a plate having a pair of ports therethrough; a housing secured to said plate in sealed relationship and cooperating therewith to define a housing chamber which communicates with said pair of ports; said housing having a housing port therethrough which communicates with said housing chamber; and means operable from the exterior of each of said valve means to selectively open or close alternately each port of said pair of ports.

Claim 17

An air filtration module according to claim 12 wherein said means operable to selectively open or close each port comprises a valve disc movably mounted on said plate, and means to move said valve disc between positions wherein it closes either one or neither of said pair of ports.

Claim 18

A debris-loading module for vacuum loader apparatus comprising: a debris-collecting tank having a debris-collection chamber therein defined by the wall of said tank, said chamber having an upper end and a lower end which are in direct communication with each other within said tank, said tank comprising an upper tank section, an axially aligned lower tank section; means for supporting said tank sections so that at least one of said sections is axially movable relative to the other of said sections between closed and open position; means to releasably secure said tank sections in closed position in sealed relationship to one another; means for supporting said lower tank section so that it can be tiltably moved out of axial alignment with said upper tank section to facilitate access to the interior of said lower tank section the said one tank section is moved to open position; inlet port means at the upper end of said chamber for admitting a mixture of particulate matter and air; means for supporting an imperforate debris-collection removable receptacle in the lower end of said chamber below said inlet port and spaced from air wall of said tank; and outlet port means at the upper end of chabmer for expelling air separated from said mixture, said inlet port means including a first tube projecting axially downwardly toward said means for supporting said debris-collection receptacle, and said output port means including a perforated tube disposed around said first tube.

Claim 19

A debris-loading module for vacuum loader apparatus comprising: a debris-collecting tank having a debris-collection chamber therein defined by the wall of said tank, said chamber having an upper end and a lower end which are in direct communication with each other within said tank, said tank comprising an upper tank section, an axially aligned lower tank section; means for supporting said tank sections so that at least one of said sections is axially movable relative to the other of said sections between closed and open position; means to releasably secure said tank sections in closed position in sealed relationship to one another; means for supporting said lower tank section so that it can be tiltably moved out of axial alignment with said upper tank section to facilitate access to the interior of said lower tank section the said one tank section is moved to open position; inlet port means at the upper end of said chamber for admitting a mixture of particulate matter and air; means for supporting an imperforate debris-collection removable receptacle in the lower end of said chamber below said inlet port and spaced from air wall of said tank; and outlet port means at the upper end of chabmer for expelling air separated from said mixture, said inlet port means including a first tube projecting axially downwardly toward said means for supporting said debris-collection receptacle, and said output port means including a perforated tube disposed around said first tube.

Claim 20

A debris-loading module according to claim 14 further comprising means defining an air passage connected between the upper end of said chamber and near said outlet port and the lower and of said chamber adjacent the lower end of said receptacle comprising flexible means which allow said tank sections to move relative to one another and operable when said tank sections are open to trap and convey errant debris in said lower tank section and transmit it to said outlet port means.

Claim 21

Debris-collection and filtering means for use in a debris-collection tank (100) having a debris-collection chamber (102) in which are disposed a container support in the form of a rigid basket (142) having an upper edge (152) and a debris-iulet tube (162) located above said support, said means comprising: a removable, flexible inperforate, disposable, replaceable bag (104, 150) open at the top and having an upper bag edge (151) which folds over said upper edge (152) of said rigid basket (142) edge; a flexible cone-shaped filter (182) having an open upper end (186) and an open lower end (184), said lowe end (184) having an outer circumferential edge and said upper end (186) having an opening therethrough for accommodating said debris-inlet tube (162) so that said filter (182) can be releasably secured to the exterior of said tube in sealed relationship; and attachment means for permanently securing said outer circumferential edge of said filter (182) to said upper bag edge (151) of said bag (104, 150).

Claim 22

Debris-collection and filtering means for use in a debris-collection tank (100) having a debris-collection chamber (102) in which are disposed a container support in the form of a rigid basket (142) having an upper edge (152) and a debris-iulet tube (162) located above said support, said means comprising: a removable, flexible inperforate, disposable, replaceable bag (104, 150) open at the top and having an upper bag edge (151) which folds over said upper edge (152) of said rigid basket (142) edge; a flexible cone-shaped filter (182) having an open upper end (186) and an open lower end (184), said lowe end (184) having an outer circumferential edge and said upper end (186) having an opening therethrough for accommodating said debris-inlet tube (162) so that said filter (182) can be releasably secured to the exterior of said tube in sealed relationship; and attachment means for permanently securing said outer circumferential edge of said filter (182) to said upper bag edge (151) of said bag (104, 150).

Claim 23

Debris-collection and filtering means according to claim 16 wherein said attachment means comprises adhesive.

Claim 24

Debris-collection and filtering means according to claim 16 wherein said attachment means comprises stitching

Claim 25

Debris-collection and filtering means according to claim 16 or 17 or 18 further comprising an endless flexible elastic member (188) for releasably securing said upper end (186) of said flexible filter (182) to said tube (162) in sealed relationship.

Claim 26

An air filtration module for vacuum loader apparatus comprising: a pair of filter tanks each having tank chamber therein; filter means in each filter tank and dividing said filter tank chamber into a clean side and a dirty side; first and second ports in each tank communicating with said clean and dirty sides, respectively: an air inlet port in each tank communicating between said clean side and atmosphere; valve means on each tank operable to open and close said air inlet port thereof; first valve means for selectively directing unfiltered air into either or both or neither of said second ports of said tank; second valve means for selectively directing filtered air from either or both or neither of said first ports of said tanks; a filtrate outlet port in each tank communicating with said dirty side of the tank chamber to remove filtrate therefrom; and means to selectively open and close said filtrate outlet port, each of aid first and second valve means for selectively directing unfiltered and filtered air, respectively, comprising: a plate having a pair of ports therethrough; a housing secured to said plate in sealed relationship and cooperating therewith to define a housing chamber which communicates with said pair of ports; said housing having a housing port therethrough which communicates with said housing chamber; and means operable from the exterior of each of said first and second valve means to selectively open or close alternately each port of said pair of ports.

Claim 27

An air filtration module for vacuum loader apparatus comprising: a pair of filter tanks each having tank chamber therein; filter means in each filter tank and dividing said filter tank chamber into a clean side and a dirty side; first and second ports in each tank communicating with said clean and dirty sides, respectively: an air inlet port in each tank communicating between said clean side and atmosphere; valve means on each tank operable to open and close said air inlet port thereof; first valve means for selectively directing unfiltered air into either or both or neither of said second ports of said tank; second valve means for selectively directing filtered air from either or both or neither of said first ports of said tanks; a filtrate outlet port in each tank communicating with said dirty side of the tank chamber to remove filtrate therefrom; and means to selectively open and close said filtrate outlet port, each of aid first and second valve means for selectively directing unfiltered and filtered air, respectively, comprising: a plate having a pair of ports therethrough; a housing secured to said plate in sealed relationship and cooperating therewith to define a housing chamber which communicates with said pair of ports; said housing having a housing port therethrough which communicates with said housing chamber; and means operable from the exterior of each of said first and second valve means to selectively open or close alternately each port of said pair of ports.

Claim 28

An air filtration module according to claim 20 wherein said means operable to selectively open or close each port comprises a valve disc movably mounted on said plate, and means to move said valve disc between positioned wherein it closes either one or neither of said pair of ports.