Abstract: An improved rotary joint construction is produced by eliminating the external drive mechanism used for installing and removing such joints. An internal drive mechanism is provided within the bearing area of the stem which does not alter rated flow volume and which does not add to the length of the stem. The internal drive mechanism comprises a socket in the end of the stem which allows the joint to be installed or removed without using special tools. A more compact shorter joint can be produced without reducing the distance between the seals and without reduced rated flow volume and without reducing the contact area of the between the stem and barrel. Alternately, a joint with substantially increased bearing contact area and a longer barrel can be produced without increasing the stem installation clearance height and without reducing the interseal spacing flow passage geometry and subsequent rated flow volume.

Abstract: A backflushed panel type filtration system is positionable over the flow discharge opening in a dividing wall separating the material collection and clean air flow chamber portion of an air throughflow type particulate collecting device. The filtration system has a filter media section captively retained within an inner peripheral face frame which, in turn, is nested within an outer support frame, this dual frame structure being provided with upstream and downstream peripheral face sealing gaskets. An upstream side flange portion of the outer frame is insertable into the discharge opening and serves to automatically align the filter structure therewith. An internally partitioned clean air flow shroud is removably positionable atop the filter structure and has flange portions which engage the downstream seal gasket and cooperate with side wall portions of the outer filter frame to automatically align the shroud with the underlying filter structure.

Abstract: An electrostatic dry powder coating spraying system has a multi-color powder coating recovery system comprising a plurality of vertically extending cyclonic filter barrels laterally spaced about a central vertical axis and having vertically aligned upper ends. A single filter cleaning apparatus, including a filter backflushing system, is adapted to rest upon and operatively engage any selected one of such upper barrel ends, and is operative to backflush the filter within the barrel upon which it rests. Oversprayed powder from the spraying system is reclaimed by drawing it through the "active" filter barrel to which the filter cleaning apparatus is connected.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air filtration and filter mounting system. The system includes a clean air plenum having a wall with an inlet opening therein. A pair of substantially parallel tension bars are connected to and extend perpendicular to the plenum wall spaced on opposite sides of the plenum inlet. A gimbal plate is slidingly mounted on the tension bars. A filter element is positioned between the tension bars and between the gimbal plate and the plenum wall about the inlet opening. A clamping bar is fixedly connected to the tension bars outward of the gimbal plate and a screw is threadedly engaged with the clamping bar to urge the gimbal plate into clamping engagement with the filter element.

Abstract: The vertical housing and the internal centerplate of a self-cleaning air filtration system are provided with significantly improved structural rigidity by means of a contaminant chamber partition system and an associated jack screw and gimbal plate filter mounting system. The mounting system is operative to place a plurality of cylindrical filter elements disposed within the housing in a state of axial compression between the centerplate and a series of support trusses secured to the internal partition system in a manner utilizing the mounted filters as internal structural bracing members.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air filtration system having a horizontally mounted cylindrical filter element. The sytem includes a clean air plenum having a substantially vertical wall with an inlet opening formed therein. A draw bar is supported at the center of the plenum inlet and extends horizontally away from the plenum. A partition member is mounted on the draw bar and includes a plurality of elongated radially extending partition panels. A cylindrical filter element is supported on the partition panels with the partition panels dividing the bore of the filter into a plurality of segments. An end plate is connected to the draw bar to engage the filter element. A reverse air discharge system is disposed in the plenum for discharging jets of pressure air to backflush the filter segments. An elongated diverter element extends substantially parallel and in close proximity to the upper surface of the filter element.

Abstract: A non-pressure balanced fluid conducting swivel joint for coupling high pressure hydraulic conduit comprised of first and second tubular housing sections which are coaxially interfit with each other and a tubular sleeve member supported intervening between superposed portions of the housing sections. The sleeve is secured thrust resistant and for rotation to the inner of the housing sections via a pair of spaced apart annular races containing bearings extending between the inner housing section and the sleeve member. The outer housing is rotationally interlocked with the sleeve member by virtue of a flexible circumscribing pin engaging an insert contained in an annular groove complementary formed between the outer periphery of the sleeve member and the inner diameter of the outer housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air filter apparatus having a separator chamber formed by a housing in which a barrier type filter element is mounted to an annular backflushing air reservoir or manifold having a bore therethrough on a unitary support member which may be removed from the housing through the manifold bore. Reverse flow filter element flushing air discharge heads are mounted to the manifold and disposed over the filter element clean air discharge chambers and are movable away from the manifold bore so that the filter element may be inserted into and removed from the separator chamber. The filter element support member is secured to the manifold by pins which support a flange for movement relative to the housing to relieve pressure differentials across the filter element to prevent rupture of the element or minimize the hazard of failures elsewhere in the filter system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary broom hopper which includes a container having a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall. A dust and debris inlet is positioned between the bottom wall and the rear wall and a filter element is positioned between the rear wall and the top wall. A first interior wall extends into the container from the rear wall between the inlet and the filter element. A second interior wall is positioned between the first interior wall and the filter element such that the first and second interior walls form a secondary material separation chamber interior of the container. An impingement plate is positioned to extend perpendicular to the top wall into the secondary material separation chamber. The impingement panel causes an abrupt reversal of direction of air flow and deposits a substantial quantity of particulate matter in the secondary material separation chamber and thereby reduces the accumulation of such material on the filter element.

Abstract: Pleated paper barrier type air filter elements are cleaned by a reverse air jet cleaning system which includes one or more specifically shaped cleaning air valves in which a plurality of jet nozzles or orifices are arranged in a predetermined pattern to provide a totally enveloping air jet which is discharged into a flow tube immediately downstream of the clean air flow chamber of a generally tubular filter element. The jet pattern provides a temporary pressure seal within the flow tube and entrains a substantial amount of ambient air into the reverse flow jet to thoroughly flush elements to clean dust cake from the exterior surfaces thereof. The multiple jet arrangement reduces the overall space occupied by the reverse jet cleaning system and provides a larger mass flow of cleaning air. Multiple jet orifice valves may be configured in virtually any geometric shape to provide a desired jet pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are a compressed air reversed flushing system and sequencing valve. The flushing system includes a compressed air reservoir that is supplied with compressed air by an air compressor. The system includes a plurality of flushing valves connected to the reservoir. The flushing valves are adapted to open sequentially at a selected reservoir pressure. The volume rate production of the compressor is adjustable so as to control the lapse time between flushing events. The sequencing valve includes a valve body having a cylindrical bore. A piston is slidingly disposed in the bore to divide the bore into first and second chambers. An inlet supplies fluid pressure to the first chamber to act on the piston and drive it toward the second chamber. A plurality of inlets to the second chamber receive pressure from the flushing valves. Each second chamber inlet is provided with a valve. The piston includes an operator pin that is operable to open one of the second chamber valves.

Abstract: Single and multiple porous media impingement type air filter elements are disposed in filter housings which provide access to the filter elements from top opening doors or plenums in the housing for service or repair of the elements. Housing sections defining the plenums are provided with mechanism to lift and swing the housing sections clear of the filter opening, and the housing sections are movable to relieve excess working pressure differentials across the filter element. In two embodiments the filter elements are each in sealing engagement with a shield which is also sealingly engaged with a top wall or door of the filter housing to minimize contamination of personnel servicing or replacing the filter elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shear blade cutting apparatus. The apparatus includes a frame assembly having a pair of shear blades pivotally mounted thereto. Actuators are connected between the shear blades and the frame assemblies for moving the shear blades between open and closed positions in pincer-like fashion. The cutting apparatus includes compensator assemblies for adjusting the connection between the actuators and the frame assembly, thereby to adjust the position of the shear blades relative to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed are pleated paper barrier type air filter elements having planar filter panels that are cleaned by a reverse air jet cleaning system which includes one or more specifically shaped cleaning air manifolds or heads in which a plurality of jet nozzles or orifices are arranged in a predetermined pattern to provide a totally enveloping air jet which is discharged into a flow tube immediately downstream of the clean air flow chamber of a generally tubular filter element. The jet pattern provides a temporary pressure seal within the flow tube and entrains a substantial amount of ambient air into the reverse flow jet to thoroughly flush elements to clean dust cake from the exterior surfaces thereof. The multiple jet arrangement reduces the overall space occupied by the reverse jet cleaining system and provides a larger mass flow of cleaning air. Multiple jet orifice heads or manifolds may be configured in virtually any geometric shape to provide a desired jet pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air filtration and filter mounting system. The system includes a clean air plenum having a wall with an inlet opening therein. A pair of substantially parallel tension bars are connected to and extend perpendicular to the plenum wall spaced on opposite sides of the plenum inlet. A gimbal plate is slidingly mounted on the tension bars. A filter element is positioned between the tension bars and between the gimbal plate and the plenum wall about the inlet opening. A clamping bar is fixedly connected to the tension bars outward of the gimbal plate and a screw is threadedly engaged with the clamping bar to urge the gimbal plate into clamping engagement with the filter element.

Abstract: A porous media air filter unit for a power sweeper includes an impingement or barrier type filter element mounted on a combination support plate and clean air discharge plenum which redirects the filtered air flow at right angles relative to the central axis of the filter element. Multiple reverse jet backflushing air discharge manifolds are mounted generally alongside the filter element and at the outlet of the clean air discharge plenum for directing plural jets of reverse flow filter cleaning air into the plenum for periodically cleaning the filter element. Reverse jet cleaning air is supplied to a supply manifold by a compressor onboard the power sweeper. The supply manifold forms a wall of a housing forming a clean air chamber and supports an array of reverse jet air discharge manifolds and pilot operated control valves.

Abstract: A reverse air jet cleaning system for impingement or porous media type air filter elements includes one or more specifically shaped cleaning air manifolds or heads in which a plurality of jet nozzles or orifices are arranged in a predetermined pattern to provide a totally enveloping air jet which is discharged into a flow tube immediately downstream of the clean air flow chamber of a generally tubular filter element. The jet pattern provides a temporary pressure seal within the flow tube and entrains a substantial amount of ambient air into the reverse flow jet to thoroughly flush or flood the filter element to clean the dust cake from the exterior surface of the element. The multiple jet arrangement reduces the overall space occupied by the reverse jet cleaning system and provides a larger mass flow of cleaning air to thoroughly flush the surfaces of the filter element.

Abstract: An air filter unit has a housing including a plurality of separate filter element chambers disposed side by side and each including openings to an elongated air inlet chamber. Each of the filter element chambers includes a porous media filter element for receiving a portion of a material laden air flow stream entering the housing in such a way that the lower velocity portions of the flow stream are diverted into the respective filter element chambers and forced to flow in a vortical manner to provide inertial separation of material prior to flow of air through the filter elements. The inlet air flow is directed against a wall of the inlet chamber at the end opposite the inlet end of the inlet chamber so that higher velocity portions of the inlet air flow stream impinge the wall to separate particulate material entrained with the higher velocity portion of the flowstream.

Abstract: A self-cleaning impingement type air filter unit is mounted on a flexible elastomeric support member comprising an end wall of a filter housing exposed to the pressure differential between the interior housing chamber and the ambient pressure of the clean air discharge conduit. A standard pleated paper type porous media filter element is mounted on the flexible wall member and includes a support plate on which a mechanical vibrator is mounted whereby the complete filter element is mechanically oscillated to dislodge accumulated material on the surface of the filter media. The filter support structure includes a mounting flange which is adapted to be supported on a filter housing by yieldable springs which permit movement of the entire filter element and support structure to function as a pressure relief valve to limit the pressure differential across the filter housing.

Abstract: A drill cuttings conveying head for a portable drill rig includes a flexible tubular duct portion which is operable in conjunction with extension and retraction cylinders for the head to bend the duct portion sufficiently to permit retraction of the head to provide suitable ground clearance for transport of the rig. An actuator for bending and straightening the flexible duct portion is interconnected by way of a pressure fluid control circuit with the head extension and retraction cylinders for movement of the duct portion in conjunction with the extension and retraction of the conveying head.