Patents Assigned to Air Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9005354
    Abstract: A device for separating foreign material from air without the use of filters includes a chamber to receive the foreign material and air, an exhaust port and a pressure source that draws air from the chamber through the exhaust port, and an air inlet through which an additional quantity of air enters the chamber to move the foreign material away from the exhaust port so that the foreign material is not entrained in the exhaust air. A valve regulates the quantity of additional air introduced into the chamber through the air inlet. The exhaust port is positioned downstream of the air inlet. The foreign material collects in the dead air space of the receiving end of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Air Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Cox
  • Patent number: 8267254
    Abstract: A separator for separating trash into its constituents. An inlet conduit accelerates the trash mixture into an expansion chamber allowing the lighter weight materials to move apart from heavier materials. An air fan applies air pressure to the lighter weight materials drawing off the lighter weight materials while the heavier materials fall towards a collecting conveyor by the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Air Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Cox
  • Patent number: 6325103
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and separating material from a fluid stream. The material is forced in an air stream into a single chamber having a plurality of outlets each with a seperate poppit gate. The interior boundry of the chamber is formed by a plurality of straight sides arranged to direct the incoming fluid stream and material in a swirling fashion resulting in the conveyed material being forced outwardly toward the open outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Air Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Cox
  • Patent number: 6056798
    Abstract: A multi stage separator for separating fluid and material. The conduit has a series of tubes arranged to convey material in a fluid stream with the last tube emptying into a receptacle. Each tube is separated from the prior tube forming exhaust vents whereat at least some of the fluid from the stream is exhausted. The downstream tube at each vent has a smaller cross-sectional area as compared to the adjacent upstream tube with a cone shaped vane extending outwardly to direct the exhausting fluid. The heavier than fluid material is provided with sufficient kinetic energy by the reduced size tubes to allow the fluid to exhaust while the material flows along the longitudinal axis of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Air Equipment & Engineering,Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Cox
  • Patent number: 6036750
    Abstract: A secondary separator stage for separating material conveyed in a fluid stream. A material collecting receptacle includes an inlet conduit and an exhaust vent. The stream of fluid with materials flow via the inlet conduit into the receptacle. An exhauster located upstream on the inlet conduit removes the majority of the fluid within the fluid stream prior to the stream flowing into the receptacle. The remaining portion of the fluid entering the receptacle is removed via an exhaust vent. A rotating plate allows the fluid in the receptacle to pass therethrough but blocks passage of any conveyed materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Air Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Cox
  • Patent number: 5817158
    Abstract: A device for separating foreign material from air. An inlet conduit is mounted to a receptacle for receiving air and foreign material. A perforated tube is mounted within the inlet conduit and extends along the length thereof. An inner wall surrounds the perforated tube and forms a side air outlet through which a portion of the air within the passage formed by the tube may escape via a pump. The pump is operable to force the air and foreign material into the perforated tube so that the kinetic energy of the foreign material is sufficiently great to prevent the foreign material from adhering to the tube immediately adjacent the side air outlet. In a version of the preferred embodiment, a pair of pumps are in fluid communication with the perforated tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Air Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Cox
  • Patent number: 5480465
    Abstract: A device for separating foreign material from air. A main frame includes a chamber having one or more inlet tubes, an air outlet, and a foreign material outlet. An air pump forces the air including the foreign material into the chamber via the inlet tubes. Guides extend between the inlet tubes and the foreign material outlet. The air outlet is positioned between the inlet tubes and the foreign material outlet and causes the air within the guides to change direction exiting the chamber while the foreign material continues to the foreign material outlet. A collector receives the foreign material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Air Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Cox