Combined Serial And Parallel Arrangement Patents (Class 55/343)
  • Patent number: 7361200
    Abstract: A cyclone dust separating apparatus and a vacuum cleaner with the same is disclosed. The cyclone dust separating apparatus includes a first cyclone for separating large dust particles from air, a plurality of second cyclones for separating minute dust particles from air via a centrifugal force after dust separation at the first cyclone, and a cover disposed on an upper portion of the first cyclone and the second cyclones. The cover includes a conical guide formed at a lower center to guide air discharged from the first cyclone into the second cyclones. Because drawn-in air is repeatedly cleaned by a plurality of cyclones, the cyclone dust separating apparatus can be provided with a compact structure, can provide an effective cleaning operation, and can prevent deterioration of a suction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Jung-gyun Han
  • Patent number: 7335241
    Abstract: Disclosed are a cyclone vessel dust collection and a vacuum cleaner including the same. The cyclone vessel dust collector comprises a cyclone vessel main-body including a primary cyclone vessel unit for separating dusts from dust containing air, and one or more secondary cyclone vessel units for separating dusts from the air passing through the primary cyclone vessel unit, the secondary cyclone vessel units being arranged to surround at least a part of the primary cyclone vessel unit; and a dirt collection bin for receiving dusts or the like separated by the cyclone vessel main-body, wherein the cyclone vessel main-body has an outer circumference with a non-constant radius. Therefore, the cyclone vessel dust collector can have a dust collection capability of large capacity with a small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Yun-sup Hwang
  • Patent number: 7335242
    Abstract: A multi cyclone dust collecting apparatus comprises a multi cyclone unit having a first cyclone and a plurality of secondary cyclones. The first cyclone separates relatively large particles whereas the secondary cyclones separate out smaller particles. The cyclones are under a top cover mounted on a top portion of the multi cyclone unit and having a plurality of connecting covers forming a connecting path for guiding air flowing out of the first cyclone to the secondary cyclone, and a discharge cover forming a discharge path for guiding air flowing out of the secondary cyclone to the outside. The connecting covers and the discharge cover are integrally formed. A contaminant collecting unit is mounted to a bottom portion of the multi cyclone unit and collects contaminants separated from the first cyclone and the secondary cyclones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-keun Oh
  • Patent number: 7326268
    Abstract: A multi cyclone vessel dust collecting apparatus comprises a first cyclone vessel for centrifugally separating contaminants from drawn in air; a plurality of a second cyclone vessels configured on the first cyclone vessel; and a contaminant collecting unit attached to a bottom portion of the first cyclone vessel. Each of a plurality of the second cyclone vessels are parallel to each other. The center axis line of air rotation movement of the second cyclone vessel is substantially perpendicular to that of the first cyclone vessel. The contaminants collecting unit comprises a body which can be used as a handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Jung-gyun Han
  • Patent number: 7311742
    Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner includes an inlet port through which a suctioned air stream including dirt particles pass and a centrifugal separation member having a substantially circular space therein. The centrifugal separation member has a swirl portion to swirl the dust-laden suction air stream along an inner surface of the centrifugal separation member. By forming swirl passageway between the swirl portion and the inner surface of the centrifugal separation member, the high velocity swirling air stream can be made and consequently an efficiency of separating the dirt particles from the suction air and collecting the dirt particles can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mori, Toru Odachi, Kenichiro Sunaba, Tetsuo Imai
  • Patent number: 7309368
    Abstract: An improved cyclone dust-collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner for efficient collection of fine dusts. The vacuum cleaner which comprises a cyclone body integrally including a first cyclone part and a second cyclone part formed around the first cyclone part, a first cover mounted on the cyclone body and including air paths through which dust-laden air flows, a second cover concentrating and transferring air exhausted from the second cyclone part to the cyclone body, and a dust receptacle mounted under the cyclone body and collecting separated dusts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Il-du Jung
  • Patent number: 7294159
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cyclone separating apparatus and a vacuum cleaner having the same. The cyclone separating apparatus includes a first cyclone for separating dust-ladened air, a plurality of second cyclones for separating fine dust particles via a second separation of dust using centrifugal force from air which was previously separated at the first cyclone, and an inlet-outlet cover installed on the upper part of the first cyclone and the second cyclones. The inlet-outlet cover allows fluid-communication between the first cyclone and the second cyclones, and discharge of dust-removed air from the second cyclone. Because the plurality of cyclones separates dust utilizing a compact structure, suction force deterioration is prevented and dust-collecting efficiency is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Hyun-ju Lee
  • Patent number: 7273506
    Abstract: A cyclone dust-collecting apparatus comprises a cyclone body having a first cyclone part and a second cyclone part comprising a plurality of cones, a cover unit connected with the upper portion of the cyclone body for guiding air movement between the first cyclone part and the second cyclone part, and a contaminant receptacle connected with the lower portion of the cyclone body for collecting contaminants separated from the first and second cyclone parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Jung-gyun Han
  • Patent number: 7261754
    Abstract: A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclone body having a first cyclone and a second cyclone, an air inlet and an air outlet connected to the cyclone body, and a dust receptacle connected to the cyclone body. The dust receptacle includes a receptacle body and a partition member. The partition member is mounted on an inner circumference of the dust receptacle, and divides the inside of the dust receptacle into an upper and a lower dust collecting chambers. The lower dust collecting chamber is formed larger than the upper dust collecting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Jung-gyun Han
  • Patent number: 7186283
    Abstract: A cyclonic vacuum cleaner includes a separating unit for separating dirt and dust from a dirt-laden airflow which is drawn in by the cleaner. The separating unit has a chamber with a collection area for collecting dirt and dust which is separated from the airflow. A base of the separating unit is movable between a closed position in which the closure member seals the chamber and an open position by operation of a releasing means. The releasing means is inhibited from releasing the base when the unit is stowed on the chassis of the cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: Remco Douwinus Vuijk
  • Patent number: 7179314
    Abstract: A method for filtering a dirty air stream in a vacuum cleaner to obtain a clean air stream comprises subjecting the dirty air stream to a first cyclonic separation stage to obtain a partially cleaned air stream and subjecting the partially cleaned air stream to an electronic filtration stage and optionally a second cyclonic separation stage to obtain the clean air stream. The electronic filtration stage is optionally removable with a cyclonic cleaning stage from the vacuum cleaner. The electronic filtration stage is optionally an electrostatic precipitator which utilizes air flow through the vacuum cleaner to generate the voltage used by the electrostatic precipitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Polar Light Limited
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad
  • Patent number: 7169201
    Abstract: A cyclone separating apparatus and a vacuum cleaner having the same are disclosed. More specifically, the cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner comprises a first cyclone for separating drawn-in air, and a plurality of second cyclones installed on an outer periphery of the first cyclone to enclose the first cyclone. Accordingly, because a plurality of the cyclones separates dust, and a bulky structure is improved to a compact structure, suction force deterioration does not occur, and, dust-collecting efficiency is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Jung-gyun Han
  • Patent number: 7144437
    Abstract: A vertically oriented separator for separating liquid from a gas stream, where the incoming fluid enters the separator through an inlet nozzle arranged mainly perpendicular to the center axis of the separator and communicates with a circular swirl-inducing inlet device which is outwardly limited by the separator wall, inwardly limited by a mainly centrally arranged pipe and upwardly limited by a sealed top cover. The separator includes a first separation compartment arranged below the pipe and a second separator compartment arranged above the pipe, so the incoming fluid successively and under continuous swirl is forced to pass from the circular swirl-inducing inlet device to the first separator compartment and further through the pipe to the second separator compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventors: Bjorn Christiansen, Knur Sveberg, Inge Hjelkrem, Dag Kvamsdal
  • Patent number: 7128770
    Abstract: A cyclone dust-collector which filters out dust and dirt from drawn-in air at least two times, comprising a multiple cyclone unit having a first cyclone and a plurality of second cyclones arranged at the outside of the first cyclone, for centrifugally separating the dust and dirt from the drawn-in air; a cover unit connected to the upper portion of the multiple cyclone unit, for allowing the first and the second cyclones to separating communicate with each other; and a dirt-collecting unit connected to the lower portion of the multiple cyclone unit, for collecting therein the dust and dirt centrifugally separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-Keun Oh, Jung-Gyun Han
  • Patent number: 7105036
    Abstract: A drift eliminator is provided in which water laden air which enters the drift eliminator exits the drift eliminator having less than about 0.01% of water by volume therein. The drift eliminator is formed of sheets which are manufactured such that they can be nested in each other to create substantially no gap between sheets of adjacent air channel modules. As a result, a plurality of air channel modules can be combined, by nesting, to create a larger drift eliminator, without sacrificing the precision to which entrained water may be removed from air passing through the drift eliminator. In an alternate embodiment, a light trap is also provided which enables air, but substantially no light, to pass through air channels formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: C. E. Shepherd Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Maury Shepherd
  • Patent number: 7097680
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cyclone separating apparatus, and a vacuum cleaner having the same. The cyclone separating apparatus includes a first cyclone separating dust from dust-ladened air. A plurality of second cyclones centrifugally separate fine dust particles from air which is first separated at the first cyclone. A dust collecting unit detachably connects to the first and the second cyclones. The dust collecting unit separately collects large dust particles separated at the first cyclone, and fine dust particles separated at the second cyclone. Accordingly, a more compact cyclone separating apparatus can be realized with improved suction efficiency and dust collecting efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-keun Oh
  • Patent number: 7077887
    Abstract: Impact type gas-particle separation is applied to ultra-fine particles by judiciously altering the aerodynamic drag on the particles with respect to their inertia by operation at sub-atmospheric pressures. An impact separator has a housing having a channel in which particles flow in a fluid such as air, a purified gas or mixtures thereof. A plurality of blades are placed in the channel for affecting the motion of the particles and the fluid with respect to each other. A second channel branches from the first channel to receive particles diverted and separated from the flow of the fluid in the first channel. A flow mechanism creates a sub-atmospheric pressure in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Thomas R. Blake, Karl Jakus
  • Patent number: 7070645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating two phases from each other. According to the invention, a stream made up of at least two phases is directed to a separation apparatus, which comprises a separation container (25) and cyclones (26) arranged in the flow direction in parallel and in succession, the cyclones having each an elongate separation chamber wherein the phases are separated from each other. According to the invention, the cyclones used are multi-inlet cyclones (26), the total number of which is at least 10. The stream to be treated is directed to each multi-inlet cyclone (26) in a substantially radial direction. Through the placement of a large number of multi-inlet cyclones in parallel, a purification element resembling a filter is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Fortum Oy J
    Inventors: Jyrki Hiltunen, Kauko Suppola
  • Patent number: 7065826
    Abstract: A dirt separation and collection container suitable for use in a bagless vacuum cleaner including two dirt separation and collection zones is provided. Dirty air enters the mid-section of the device and enters a first stage dirt separation zone including a cylindrical baffle spaced inwardly from the outer wall of the device with an inclined slot to allow coarse dirt particles and fibers to pass through and collect at the base of the outer wall of the device. The spinning air is then fed into a second stage conical separator for separating fine dirt particles and collecting them in an inner substantially cylindrical collection chamber. Air exits the conical separator and device opposite the cone opening before being drawn to the suction source. Elements may be oriented upwardly or downwardly depending upon the configuration of the housing for receiving the dirt separation and collection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignees: Euro Pro Operating, LLC
    Inventor: Adrian Christopher Arnold
  • Patent number: 6994740
    Abstract: The invention provides cyclonic separating apparatus comprising an upstream cyclone unit and a downstream cyclone unit, the upstream cyclone unit including at least one cyclone having a first end and a second end, and the downstream cyclone unit including at least one cyclone having a first end and a second end. The upstream and downstream cyclone units of the cyclonic separation apparatus are arranged relative to one another so that the orientation of at least one cyclone of the downstream cyclone unit is substantially inverted with respect to the orientation of at least one cyclone of the upstream cyclone unit. The arrangement provides an apparatus in which good separation efficiency is achieved as well as low pressure drop across the apparatus as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Dyson Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Gammack, Remco Douwinus Vuijk, Ricardo Gomiciaga Pereda
  • Patent number: 6989039
    Abstract: The invention provides a cyclonic separating apparatus that includes a plurality of cyclones, each having an inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, and a passageway arranged upstream of the cyclones for carrying an airflow to the inlets of the cyclones, wherein dividers are provided in the passageway for dividing the airflow within the passageway into a number of separate flowpaths, the number of flowpaths being equal to the number of cyclones, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath (142a), decreases along the direction of air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Dyson Limited
    Inventor: Remco Douwinus Vuijk
  • Patent number: 6932858
    Abstract: A method and system for processing of natural gas in which a gaseous natural gas stream which is made up of a mixture of hydrocarbons is introduced into a vortex tube, forming a hot fluid stream and a cold fluid stream. The cold fluid stream is introduced into the upper section of a distillation column and the hot fluid stream is introduced into the lower section of the distillation column, resulting in improved separation of the heavier hydrocarbon components in the natural gas stream from the lighter hydrocarbon components disposed in the natural gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Donald V. Nicol, Mark J. Lane
  • Patent number: 6926762
    Abstract: An air cleaning apparatus includes an air cleaning unit at its upper and lower portions thereof which are independently operated to effectively and uniformly clean room air in a short period of time. The air cleaning apparatus includes a cabinet provided with first and second air cleaning units. The first and second air cleaning units are connected to each other, and are provided with a blowing unit and a filtering unit. First and second sensors are provided on the cabinet in such a way as to be spaced apart from each other, and to sense air pollution levels at opposite sides of a room. The air cleaning apparatus also includes a control unit. The control unit controls the first and second air cleaning units so that both the first and second air cleaning units are operated or either of the first and second air cleaning units is operated, according to data obtained from first and second sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Chul Kim, Jai-Kwon Lee
  • Patent number: 6858130
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gaseous stream. According to the method, the gaseous stream containing the suspended particulates is passed into a separator apparatus which includes at least two multiple-inlet-multicyclones (16-16C), wherein the particulates are separated from the gas by centrifugal force. According to the invention, a separator apparatus is employed wherein at least two (16-16C) of the multiple-inlet cyclones are adapted to operate in parallel so as to form a multiple-inlet-multicyclone apparatus. The cyclone assembly according to the invention may be used as, e.g., the primary separator of an FCC unit, but more advantageously it serves as the secondary or tertiary separator of an FCC unit to remove “fines” from the flue gases of the preceding separation stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fortum Oil Oy
    Inventor: Jyrki Hiltunen
  • Patent number: 6782585
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a first cyclonic cleaning stage and a second cyclonic stage positioned in series with the first cyclonic cleaning stage. The second cyclonic stage comprises a plurality of second stage cyclones. A passage connects the first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet and the second stage cyclones inlets. The passage does not increase in cross-sectional area in a downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad
  • Publication number: 20040144070
    Abstract: The invention provides cyclonic separating apparatus comprising an upstream cyclone unit and a downstream cyclone unit, the upstream cyclone unit including at least one cyclone having a first end and a second end, and the downstream cyclone unit including at least one cyclone having a first end and a second end. The upstream and downstream cyclone units of the cyclonic separation apparatus are arranged relative to one another so that the orientation of at least one cyclone of the downstream cyclone unit is substantially inverted with respect to the orientation of at least one cyclone of the upstream cyclone unit. The arrangement provides an apparatus in which good separation efficiency is achieved as well as low pressure drop across the apparatus as a whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Peter David Gammack, Remco Douwinus Vuuk, Ricardo Gomiciaga Pereda
  • Patent number: 6767378
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas purifying system 1, a pair of carriers 34 is arranged in series along the flow direction of exhaust gas. Approximately a half of the exhaust gas passing through a first distribution flow path 4 flows in the upstream-side carrier 34, and the remaining half of the exhaust gas passing through a second distribution flow path 5 flows in the downstream-side carrier 34. Therefore, the capacity of the whole of the paired carriers 34 can be substantially doubled as in the case where the carriers 34 are arranged in parallel, so that the function as the exhaust gas purifying system 1 can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Nishiyama, Koutarou Wakamoto, Nobuhiko Emori
  • Patent number: 6746500
    Abstract: Multi-cyclone dust collector including a primary cyclone body and dust collecting box for causing circulation of air and collecting various foreign matters, the primary cyclone body and dust collecting box having a first air inlet for drawing air together with various foreign matters and a first air outlet for discharging air from which the various foreign matters are removed primarily, a secondary cyclone body over the primary cyclone body and dust collecting box for causing circulation of the air to flow in a direction at a right angle to the direction of air flow in the primary cyclone body and dust collecting box, the secondary cyclone body having a second air inlet in communication with the first air outlet for drawing the air from the primary cyclone body and dust collecting box to the secondary cyclone body in a direction tangential to an inside circumference of the secondary cyclone body, and a second air outlet in a center of one side of the second air cyclone body in the vicinity of the first air ou
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Deog Bae Park, Byung Sun Yang
  • Patent number: 6740144
    Abstract: A device for filtering a dirty air stream in a vacuum cleaner to obtain a clean air stream includes subjecting the dirty air stream to a first cyclonic separation stage to obtain a partially cleaned air stream and subjecting the partially cleaned air stream to an electronic filtration stage and optionally a second cyclonic separation stage to obtain the clean air stream. The electronic filtration stage is optionally removable with a cyclonic cleaning stage from the vacuum cleaner. The electronic filtration stage is optionally an electrostatic precipitator which utilizes air flow through the vacuum cleaner to generate the voltage used by the electrostatic precipitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad
  • Patent number: 6716269
    Abstract: A gas centrifuge operating to separate gases of differing chemical composition and molecular weight by a centrifugal force field. Such a centrifuge is operable to separate methane and carbon dioxide, and to produce torque, and a cascade of such centrifuges is operable to concentrate produced streams of carbon dioxide and methane, and to produce torque. A compact centrifugal gas processing system incorporating the gas centrifuge with other centrifugal components, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Energent Corporation
    Inventors: Emilio Castano Graff, Lance G. Hays
  • Patent number: 6607572
    Abstract: The invention provides cyclonic separating apparatus comprising an upstream cyclone unit and a downstream cyclone unit, the upstream cyclone unit including at least one cyclone having a first end and a second end, and the downstream cyclone unit including at least one cyclone having a first end and a second end. The upstream and downstream cyclone units of the cyclonic separation apparatus are arranged relative to one another so that the orientation of at least one cyclone of the downstream cyclone unit is substantially inverted with respect to the orientation of at least one cyclone of the upstream cyclone unit. The arrangement provides an apparatus in which good separation efficiency is achieved as well as low pressure drop across the apparatus as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Dyson Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Gammack, Remco Douwinus Vuuk, Ricardo Gomiciaga Pereda
  • Patent number: 6582489
    Abstract: An improved two-stage separator uses reusable containers for collecting particles separated by each separation stage. The reusable containers are constructed such that a user empties both reusable containers by the actions required to empty just one of the reusable containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Light Limited
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 6551818
    Abstract: A cartridge for holding compost in a biofilter is substantially uniform in cross section perpendicular to the axis of the cartridge and has a sidewall formed with openings that are small enough to substantially retain the compost in the cartridge yet large enough to allow filaments of bacteria present in the compost to project through the openings. The cartridge is of cross-sectional form such that multiple cartridges can be placed side-by-side in an array with passages between each cartridge and adjacent cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Bio-Reaction Industries, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Stewart, Randall R. Thom, Paul C. John
  • Patent number: 6521008
    Abstract: In an air filter for filtering the intake air for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, with a filter housing, which has an air inlet, an air outlet, and at least one water outlet disposed in the housing bottom, and with a replaceable filter matte disposed in the filter housing between the air intake and air outlet, in order to separate water particles from the intake air and in order to optimally discharge the separated water from the filter housing, a water separator is disposed upstream of the filter matte in the filter housing and means are provided in the at least one water outlet, which produce a water level in the water outlet of such a height that the vacuum in the filter housing acting on the water outlet is compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lenzing, Uwe Konzelmann, Waldemar Guenther
  • Patent number: 6481360
    Abstract: A system for collecting ultra fine fly ash from a dry fly ash removal system includes providing a bagfilter transport conduit for each bagfilter of the system. A vacuum shutoff valve is positioned in each bagfilter transport conduit The bagfilter transport conduit is selectively connected to an educator that is, in turn, selectively connected to a blower. The blower creates a vacuum flow in the transport conduit that draws the ultra fine fly ash from the bagfilter and deposits the ultra fine fly ash in a collection bin. This system allows a dry fly ash removal system to segregate fly ash by size and separately collect the ultra fine fly ash from the larger fly ash particles. The ultra fine fly ash has been found to be commercially valuable as a concrete admixture filler in various applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: American Electric Power Service Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Hume, R. F. Ridgeway, J. F. Mainieri
  • Patent number: 6468330
    Abstract: The particle separation and collection assembly uses cyclonic forces to separate and remove large particles from an airstream and concentrate small particles for sensor/detector technology. This assembly utilizes multiple mini cyclones operating in parallel to reduce the size and velocity of air through the cyclone inlets while maintaining the same fluid or flow rate as compared to one large cyclone. The multiple cyclone system can be arranged in a radial geometry or in a bipolar or uni-polar longitudinal design. The particle separator and collection assembly uses a blower or vacuum pump to draw outside gas into the cyclone particle separator assembly through radial inlets. Vacuum transfer channels, extending the entire length of the assembly, pull gas into the top of the cyclone chambers and out through the bottom apex of cyclone chamber and through the top vortex finder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Innovatek, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia M. Irving, W. Lloyd Allen, Nathan D. Hindman, Trevor M. Moeller
  • Patent number: 6419719
    Abstract: A cyclone separator having an improved efficiency to remove a broader spectrum of contained particles is disclosed. The cyclone separator is provided with a member positioned to interact with at least the inner portion of a fluid circulating within the cyclone cavity to impart changes in the acceleration of the fluid as it rotates within the cyclone cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad, Ted Szylowiec
  • Patent number: 6372025
    Abstract: A particulate control system which includes a collector such as an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is improved by incorporation of a collector, such as an electrostatically enhanced separator (EES) connected parallel with the collector and wherein the output flow from the collector is split and a portion of the output flow from the collector is directed through the separator. The input flow to the collector may also be split so that a portion is directed to the separator as well as the collector. A bleed line may also be employed to connect the separator to the collector resulting in a bleed flow from the separator to the collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: LSR Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei F. Burlatsky, Bruce H. Easom
  • Patent number: 6344064
    Abstract: An improved two-stage separator uses reusable containers for collecting particles separated by each separation stage. The reusable containers are constructed such that a user empties both reusable containers by the actions required to empty just one of the reusable containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 6344074
    Abstract: A ventless air scrubber assembly for use with a conventional cooking appliance situated within an interior location. A ventilation hood is arrayed in an overhanging manner above the cooking appliance and includes a recessed interior defined by a planar base surface and a plurality of interconnecting sides. The hood further includes an intake and an exhaust and a plurality of individual grease extraction units located within the hood in proximity to the exhaust. A filtration housing having an inlet and an outlet is located a specified distance from the hood and is interconnected to the hood exhaust by a first length of ductwork extending filtration housing inlet. A plurality of individual filters are arrayed between the inlet and an outlet in successive fashion. The filters include particulate entrapment filters and an odor removal filter. A second length of ductwork extends between the filtration housing outlet and an inlet of an exhaust fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: EVS, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Ward, Gregory Kolecki
  • Patent number: 6299667
    Abstract: A method and device for removing dust from spaces having a high dust loading utilizing a blast jet chamber having a cartridge filter (2) for the exhaust volume flow and a cyclone dust separator (4) as well and an associated exhaust stack (3) for the recirculating volume flow, wherein the blast jet chamber (1) further includes intake labyrinths (6), fresh air shutters (5), recirculating air channels for the recirculating volume flow, and blowers (9, 10) with a control device (8) for producing the volume flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: KF Strahltechnik Dresden
    Inventor: Klaus Frohne
  • Patent number: 6238451
    Abstract: A method for filtering a dirty air stream in a vacuum cleaner to obtain a clean air stream has subjecting the dirty air stream to a first cyclonic separation stage to obtain a partially cleaned air stream and subjecting the partially cleaned air stream to a second cyclonic separation stage and an electronic filtration stage to obtain the clean air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad
  • Patent number: 5925322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined cycle system of enhanced efficiency. The system comprises a top stage, such as a fuel cell, a partial oxidation reactor or a heat engine, and an oxygen-enriching device, such as a temperature swing adsorption device or a chemical reactor bed device, as its bottom stage. The bottom stage uses waste heat produced by the top stage to enrich the oxygen content of air that is inputted to the bottom stage, thereby producing an oxygen-enriched gas mixture as the bottom stage output. This output mixture constitutes a superior oxidant which is fed back as an input for the top stage, thus enhancing the energy conversion efficiency, cheapness, and compactness of the combined cycle system as compared to that of ordinary fuel cells, partial oxidation reactors and heat engines that use unenriched air as their oxidant input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: H Power Corporation
    Inventor: John Werth
  • Patent number: 5853445
    Abstract: An interlocking dual filter includes a first filter element having a filter media enclosed by a frame and a sealing gasket disposed around the frame. The frame of the first filter element has a depending flange which defines a space for receiving a second filter element having a different filter media. The flange includes a plurality of recesses which form a first latching arrangement. The first recesses are aligned with latching tabs which extend laterally from the frame of the second filter element so that when the second filter element is placed within the frame, the second filter element latches with the first filter element. In accordance with one embodiment, the filter media of the first and second filter elements are different so that the filter assembly may be customized to accommodate various air stream conditions and utilizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Johnny H. Wong, Gregory Keith Rhyne, Demetrios Tsengouras
  • Patent number: 5772710
    Abstract: An air treating system filters and dehumidifies contaminated air within an industrial plant. The air treating system includes a prefilter, a filter, a blower and an evaporator. A self-contained filtering unit directly communicates with a flume which receives fluid carrying contaminated particles from a machining center. Multiple self-contained filter and dehumidifier units are coupled with a single air conditioning compressor and condenser unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventors: Larry A. Bauer, Bruce B. Atkinson, Bruce A. Mazor, Anthony J. Coronati, Steven C. Hokky
  • Patent number: 5702506
    Abstract: An aerosol size-selective sampling device is composed of pre-filter, a base housing, and a collector. The device is intended to take an aerosol sample from a given atmospheric air. The pre-filter is composed of two or more porous filtration materials arranged in one end of the base housing in a parallel manner for allowing the atmospheric air to pass therethrough in a parallel and diverting pattern before the atmospheric air is allowed to pass in a converging manner through the collector which is located in another end of the base housing. The pre-filter is able to attain a desired penetration rate profile as a function of an aerodynamic diameter of aerosol contained in the atmospheric air within a predetermined range of aerodynamic diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan
    Inventors: Tung-Sheng Shih, Wen-Yu Yeh, Chih-Chieh Chen, Chane-Yu Lai
  • Patent number: 5690898
    Abstract: A method for treating a gaseous effluent from a supercritical water oxidation reactor containing entrained solids is provided comprising the steps of expanding the gas/solids effluent from a first to a second lower pressure at a temperature at which no liquid condenses; separating the solids from the gas effluent; neutralizing the effluent to remove any acid gases; condensing the effluent; and retaining the purified effluent to the supercritical water oxidation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Charles M. Barnes, Carolyn Shapiro
  • Patent number: 5690709
    Abstract: A separator (13) to remove particles from a gas stream, the separator (13) includes a casing (11) divided into three zones (A,B,C) by two divider plates (9,10). A plurality of uniflow cyclone separators (12) are supported by the divider plates (9,10) and provide communication between the first zone (A) and the other two zones (B,C). Particle carrying gas enters the first zone (A) through an inlet (18) and as major cleaned streams discharge from the cyclone separators (12) into the third zone (C) and as minor particle carrying streams discharge into the second zone (B) to be discharged from the casing 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Peter Haddon Barnes
  • Patent number: 5643537
    Abstract: Vertical, small diameter cyclones are disclosed. Gas and fines are added tangentially or axially around a clean vapor outlet tube in a cylindrical cyclone. A vortex of solids and some gas passes into a contiguous and axially aligned cylindrical vortex containment means from which solids are withdrawn via a vertical slot in a sidewall of the containment means. 0-5 micron particle removal is enhanced. An FCC process uses the cyclones as a third stage separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Raterman, Christopher G. Smalley
  • Patent number: 5641331
    Abstract: A modular air-cleaning apparatus for the treatment of contaminated air. The apparatus includes a plurality of modular units cooperatively interconnected, wherein the plurality of units includes at least one separator unit functioning on non-collisional principles and at least one filtration unit functioning on collisional principles. Each modular unit is constructed of a durable and machinable material that is capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions of use and is formed in a rectangular shape around four corner posts. Each post possesses at least one exposed, outwardly-facing surface with a side margin parallel to a long dimension of the post. The posts aid both in establishing and maintaining a mechanical connection between the unit and another of the modular units with which it is in operable connection, and in enhancing structural and mechanical characteristics of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Helical Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wolodymyr Diachuk