Cyclonic separator for removing and recovering airborne particles

Claim 2

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; first and second spiral baffles adapted for mating engagement each one within the other for imparting a cyclonic flow to said air stream; said first and second baffles are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; and said first baffle being disposed in an opposite direction of inwardly extending curvature relative to said second baffle to define a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second baffles are each curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 450° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 4

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second baffles are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising approximately 720° of curvature.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said baffles is curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 540° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 6

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising: first and second spiral baffles adapted for mating engagement each one within the other for imparting a cyclonic flow to said air stream; one of said baffles is constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to therein comprise a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the inner terminal end of said first baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon at a location near the point of reversal of the flow of said air stream from the first direction to its flow in the second opposite direction.

Claim 7

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising: first and second spiral baffles adapted for mating engagement each one within the other for imparting a cyclonic flow to said air stream; one of said baffles is constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to therein comprise a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the inner terminal end of said first baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon at a location near the point of reversal of the flow of said air stream from the first direction to its flow in the second opposite direction.

Claim 8

The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said baffle is curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 450° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 9

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; first and second spiral baffles with substantially equivalent size adapted for imparting cyclonic flow to said air stream; said first and second baffles are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to therein comprise a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the inner terminal end of said first baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon at a location near the point of reversal of the flow of said air stream from the first direction to its flow in the second opposite direction.

Claim 10

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; first and second spiral baffles with substantially equivalent size adapted for imparting cyclonic flow to said air stream; said first and second baffles are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to therein comprise a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the inner terminal end of said first baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon at a location near the point of reversal of the flow of said air stream from the first direction to its flow in the second opposite direction.

Claim 11

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second baffles are each curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 450° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 12

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second baffles are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising approximately 720° of curvature.

Claim 13

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said baffles is curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 540° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 14

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; first and second spiral baffles with substantially equivalent size adapted for imparting cyclonic flow to said air stream; one of said baffles is constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to therein comprise a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the inner terminal end of said first baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon at a location near the point of reversal of the flow of said air stream from the first direction to its flow in the second opposite direction.

Claim 15

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; first and second spiral baffles with substantially equivalent size adapted for imparting cyclonic flow to said air stream; one of said baffles is constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to therein comprise a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the inner terminal end of said first baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon at a location near the point of reversal of the flow of said air stream from the first direction to its flow in the second opposite direction.

Claim 16

The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said baffle is curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 450° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 17

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising: first and second spiral baffles with substantially equivalent size adapted for imparting a cyclonic flow to said air stream; said first and second baffles are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to define a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the outer terminal end of said second baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon prior to the discharge of said air stream.

Claim 18

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising: first and second spiral baffles with substantially equivalent size adapted for imparting a cyclonic flow to said air stream; said first and second baffles are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to define a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the outer terminal end of said second baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon prior to the discharge of said air stream.

Claim 19

The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first and second baffles are each curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 450° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 20

The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first and second baffles are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising approximately 720° of curvature.

Claim 21

The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said baffles is curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 540° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 22

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; first and second spiral baffles with substantially equivalent size adapted for imparting a cyclonic flow to said air stream; one of said baffles is constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to define a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the outer terminal end of said second baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon prior to the discharge of said air stream.

Claim 23

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from an air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; first and second spiral baffles with substantially equivalent size adapted for imparting a cyclonic flow to said air stream; one of said baffles is constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; said baffles being disposed one within the other and oriented such that said first baffle is rotated approximately 180° from said second baffle to define a flow path with a concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said cyclonic flow of said air stream therebetween whereby said air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; and the outer terminal end of said second baffle includes an arcuate region of sharply increasing curvature adapted for collecting particles thereon prior to the discharge of said air stream.

Claim 24

The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said baffle is curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 450° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 25

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from at least one air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; a first set of laminae comprising first and second spiral baffles adapted for mating engagement each one within the other for imparting a first cyclonic flow to a first air stream; said first baffle in said first set of laminae being disposed in an opposite direction of inwardly extending curvature relative to said second baffle in said first set of laminae to define a first flow path with a first concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said first cyclonic flow of said first air stream therebetween whereby said first air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; a second set of laminae comprising first and second spiral baffles adapted for mating engagement each one within the other for imparting a second cyclonic flow to a second air stream said first baffle in said second set of laminae being disposed in an opposite direction of inwardly extending curvature relative to said second baffle in said second set of laminae to define a second flow path with a second concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said second cyclonic flow of said second air stream therebetween whereby said second air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; said first and said second baffles from each said first set and each said second set of laminae are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; and said first and second sets of laminae being disposed integrally adjacent one another for receiving said air flow therein.

Claim 26

A cyclonic separator for removing particles from at least one air stream entering said separator, said separator comprising; a first set of laminae comprising first and second spiral baffles adapted for mating engagement each one within the other for imparting a first cyclonic flow to a first air stream; said first baffle in said first set of laminae being disposed in an opposite direction of inwardly extending curvature relative to said second baffle in said first set of laminae to define a first flow path with a first concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said first cyclonic flow of said first air stream therebetween whereby said first air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; a second set of laminae comprising first and second spiral baffles adapted for mating engagement each one within the other for imparting a second cyclonic flow to a second air stream said first baffle in said second set of laminae being disposed in an opposite direction of inwardly extending curvature relative to said second baffle in said second set of laminae to define a second flow path with a second concentric and spiral inlet passageway having a substantially uniform width to provide said second cyclonic flow of said second air stream therebetween whereby said second air stream flowing with cyclonic motion in a first direction is reversed to flow with cyclonic motion in a second, opposite direction; said first and said second baffles from each said first set and each said second set of laminae are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature; and said first and second sets of laminae being disposed integrally adjacent one another for receiving said air flow therein.

Claim 27

The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said first and said second baffles from both each said first set and each second set of laminae are each curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 450° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 28

The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said first and said second baffles from each said first set and each said second set of laminae are each constructed of a spiral shape comprising approximately 720° of curvature.

Claim 29

The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said first and said second baffles from each said first and said second sets of laminae is curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 540° of deflection with decreasing curvature.

Claim 30

The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein one of the baffles is constructed of a spiral shape comprising at least approximately 630° of curvature.

Claim 31

The apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said first and said second baffles from said first and said second sets of laminae are curved first through about 180° of deflection with increasing curvature and then continuing through about 450° of deflection with decreasing curvature.