Two stage air filtration system

Claim 2

A filter system for removing textile waste materials and the like entrained in a fluid flow, such system comprising: (a) first stage air separator means for initially separating large particles of said waste material from said air flow, comprising (i) first filter means having a predetermined permeability for preventing the passage therethrough of said large particles; (ii) air inlet means for receiving said fluid flow and directing it through said first filter means; (iii) collection means located at the upstream side of said first filter means for collecting said large particles; and (iv) air outlet means located downstream of said first filter means for exhausting said air flow after it has passed through said first filter means; (b) second stage air filtering means additionally separating said large particles of waste materials, comprising: (i) a housing means having a generally flat second filter means extending thereacross to divide said housing means into an inlet portion below said second filter means and an outlet portion above said second filter means; (ii) first conduit means interconnecting said collection means and said inlet portion of said housing; (iii) second conduit means interconnecting said outlet portion of said housing and said air outlet means of said first stage separator means; and (iv) blower means for causing a predetermined small portion of said air flow and said collected particles of waste to flow from said collection means, through said first conduit means and said second filter means for separating said waste materials from said small portion of said air flow, and for causing said small portion of said air flow to flow from said outlet portion of said housing and back into the air outlet means of said first stage air separator means to be combined with said flow that has passed through said first filter means; and (c) waste removal means associated with said second stage air filtering means for permitting said large waste particles to be periodically removed from said inlet portion of said housing means.

Claim 3

A filter system as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said housing of said second stage filtering means comprises a generally rectangular enclosure, and in that said generally flat filter extends generally diagonally across said enclosure.

Claim 4

A filter system as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said enclosure includes a movable wall portion located beneath said generally flat filter, and in that selectively operable operating means are provided for moving said movable wall portion between a first position completing the enclosure of said housing and collecting said large waste particles thereon and a second position providing an opening in said housing to permit removal of said waste particles from said housing.

Claim 5

A filter system as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that filter cleaning means is provided within said housing for removing waste materials from said flat filter.

Claim 6

A filter system as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said filter cleaning means includes a conduit located within said housing and positioned to extend above said flat filter, said conduit having a plurality of openings facing said flat filter and being connectable to a source of pressurized air whereby bursts of air through said openings will be directed toward said flat filter to assist in removing waste materials collected on the upstream face of said flat filter.

Claim 7

A filter system as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that an electrically operated first valve means is located in said first conduit means, and in that an electrically operated second valve means is located in said second conduit means, said first and second valve means being normally open and being simultaneously closed selectively to isolate said second filter means from said blower means during said removal of said large waste particles from said second stage filtering means.

Claim 8

A filter system as defined in claim 6 and further characterized in that said housing includes filter cleaning means located in said outlet portion thereof, said filter cleaning means including a conduit connected to a source of compressed air and extending along and above said second filter means and having a plurality of openings therein directed toward said second filter means whereby compressed air in said conduit can be directed toward said second filter to assist in removing waste collected on the upstream surface of said second filter means.

Claim 9

A filter system as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by a control system which selectively generates a cleaning cycle for said second filter means by operating, in sequence, to stop said blower means and close said first and second valve means, then cause said source of compressed air to flow into said conduit to clean said second filter, then operate said waste removal means, and then open said first and second valve means and start said blower means.

Claim 10

A filter system for removing textile waste materials and the like entrained in a fluid flow, such system comprising: (a) first stage air separator means for initially separating large particles of said waste material from said air flow, comprising (i) first filter means having a predetermined permeability for preventing the passage therethrough of said large particles; (ii) air inlet means for receiving said fluid flow and directing it through said first filter means; (iii) collection means located at the upstream side of said first filter means for collecting said large particles; and (iv) air outlet means located downstream of said first filter means for exhausting said air flow after it has passed through said first filter means; (b) second stage air filtering means additionally separating said large particles of waste materials, comprising: (i) a generally rectangular housing means having a generally flat second filter means extending generally diagonally thereacross to divide said housing means into an inlet portion below said second filter means and an outlet portion above said second filter means; (ii) first conduit means interconnecting said collection means and said inlet portion of said housing; (iii) second conduit means interconnecting said outlet portion of said housing and said air outlet means of said first stage separator means; and (iv) blower means for causing a predetermined small portion of said air flow and said collected particles of waste to flow from said collection means, through said first conduit means and said second filter means for separating said waste materials from said small portion of said air flow, and for causing said small portion of said air flow to flow from said outlet portion of said housing and back into the air outlet means of said first stage air separator means to be combined with said flow that has passed through said first filter means; (v) a movable wall portion located beneath said generally flat filter, and in that selectively operable operating means are provided for moving said movable wall portion between a first position completing the enclosure of said housing and collecting said large waste particles thereon and a second position providing an opening in said housing to permit removal of said waste particles from said housing; (vi) a conduit located within said housing and positioned to extend above said flat filter, said conduit having a plurality of openings facing said flat filter and being connectable to a source of pressurized air whereby bursts of air through said openings will be directed toward said flat filter to assist in removing waste materials collected on the upstream face of said flat filter; and (vii) a control system which selectively generates a cleaning cycle for said second filter means by operating, in sequence, to stop said blower means and close said first and second valve means, then cause said source of compressed air to flow into said conduit to clean said second filter, then operate said waste removal means, and then open said first and second valve means and start said blower means.

Claim 11

A filter system for removing textile waste materials and the like entrained in a fluid flow, such system comprising: (a) first stage air separator means for initially separating large particles of said waste material from said air flow, comprising (i) first filter means having a predetermined permeability for preventing the passage therethrough of said large particles; (ii) air inlet means for receiving said fluid flow and directing it through said first filter means; (iii) collection means located at the upstream side of said first filter means for collecting said large particles; and (iv) air outlet means located downstream of said first filter means for exhausting said air flow after it has passed through said first filter means; (b) second stage air filtering means additionally separating said large particles of waste materials, comprising: (i) a generally rectangular housing means having a generally flat second filter means extending generally diagonally thereacross to divide said housing means into an inlet portion below said second filter means and an outlet portion above said second filter means; (ii) first conduit means interconnecting said collection means and said inlet portion of said housing; (iii) second conduit means interconnecting said outlet portion of said housing and said air outlet means of said first stage separator means; and (iv) blower means for causing a predetermined small portion of said air flow and said collected particles of waste to flow from said collection means, through said first conduit means and said second filter means for separating said waste materials from said small portion of said air flow, and for causing said small portion of said air flow to flow from said outlet portion of said housing and back into the air outlet means of said first stage air separator means to be combined with said flow that has passed through said first filter means; (v) a movable wall portion located beneath said generally flat filter, and in that selectively operable operating means are provided for moving said movable wall portion between a first position completing the enclosure of said housing and collecting said large waste particles thereon and a second position providing an opening in said housing to permit removal of said waste particles from said housing; (vi) a conduit located within said housing and positioned to extend above said flat filter, said conduit having a plurality of openings facing said flat filter and being connectable to a source of pressurized air whereby bursts of air through said openings will be directed toward said flat filter to assist in removing waste materials collected on the upstream face of said flat filter; and (vii) a control system which selectively generates a cleaning cycle for said second filter means by operating, in sequence, to stop said blower means and close said first and second valve means, then cause said source of compressed air to flow into said conduit to clean said second filter, then operate said waste removal means, and then open said first and second valve means and start said blower means.