Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Raether

Thomas D. Raether has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090064860
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a filter having Z-media includes providing a filter having Z-media and cleaning the media construction by directing a pulse of compressed gas into the media construction through the downstream flow face. Filter elements useable with such methods include elements made of Z-media. An example system utilizing the method includes a gas turbine air intake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Sporre, Jim C. Rothman, Michael W. Handley, Thomas D. Raether
  • Publication number: 20080127827
    Abstract: A method of pulse cleaning filter media in panel, cylindrical, conical, or V-pack style filter in an opening of a tubesheet is provided. The method includes directing a fluid pulse at the filter media at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the opening of the tubesheet; and (ii) not in line with the general direction of the filtration flow through the filter media. An air cleaner is provided including a housing including a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and an interior. A tubesheet is in the housing interior having a plurality of openings. In the plurality of openings of the tubesheet are mounted filters with filter media. There is a plurality of blow pipes, with each blow pipe being pointed to direct at a fluid pulse a respective one of the filters at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the opening in the tubesheet; and (ii) not in line with the general direction of filtration flow through the respective filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas D. Raether
  • Publication number: 20080127826
    Abstract: An air cleaner includes a housing with a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and an interior. A tubesheet is in the housing interior having a plurality of openings. A panel-style filter arrangement is oriented such that each one of the openings in the tubesheet is covered by the panel-style filter arrangement. A plurality of blowpipes are provided. Each blowpipe is oriented to direct a fluid pulse at a respective one of the openings in the tubesheet covered by the panel-style filter arrangement. An accumulator arrangement is oriented adjacent to the openings in the tubesheet on a downstream side of the tubesheet. The accumulator arrangement includes, for each opening in the tubesheet, a first and second plate adjacent to opposite ends of the tubesheet opening. Adjacent openings in the tubesheet share a same first or second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas D. Raether
  • Publication number: 20080127825
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided including a housing having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and an interior. A tubesheet is in the housing interior and has a plurality of openings. The tubesheet is oriented in one of either a generally horizontal or a generally vertical position. A plurality of panel-style filters is provided, with each filter being mounted in a respective one of the openings in the tubesheet. The air cleaner also has a plurality of blowpipes, with each blowpipe being oriented to direct a fluid pulse at a respective one of the panel-style filters at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the openings in the tubesheets; and (ii) not in line with a general direction of filtration flow through the respective panel-style filter. A method of pulse cleaning panel-style filters oriented in openings of a tubesheet is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas D. Raether
  • Publication number: 20080127828
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a filter element includes directing a jet of pressurized gas from a nozzle onto a filter element, with the jet having a non-round cross-sectional shape that is a same general cross-sectional shape as the opening in a tube sheet holding the filter element. The nozzle has a channel for the pressurized gas that is obstruction-free. A method of designing a nozzle arrangement for directing a jet of pressurized gas onto a filter element includes designing a nozzle arrangement to generate a jet of pressurized gas having a non-round cross-sectional shape that is a same general shape as a non-round shape of an aperture in a tubesheet holding the filter element. The nozzle arrangement includes at least one nozzle, each nozzle has an unobstructed flow channel, and each nozzle is cylindrical in shape and has at least one open slot. A pressurized gas generator includes a compressed air manifold storing pressurized gas, a valve in fluid communication with the manifold, and a nozzle arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas D. Raether
  • Patent number: 7338544
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a filter having Z-media includes providing a filter having Z-media and cleaning the media construction by directing a pulse of compressed gas into the media construction through the downstream flow face. Filter elements useable with such methods include elements made of Z-media. An example system utilizing the method includes a gas turbine air intake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Sporre, Jim C. Rothman, Michael W. Handley, Thomas D. Raether
  • Patent number: 7282075
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a filter having Z-media includes providing a filter having Z-media and cleaning the media construction by directing a pulse of compressed gas into the media construction through the downstream flow face. Filter elements useable with such methods include elements made of Z-media. An example system utilizing the method includes a gas turbine air intake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Sporre, Jim C. Rothman, Michael W. Handley, Thomas D. Raether
  • Patent number: 7264656
    Abstract: An air filter assembly for removing particulate matter from an incoming dirty air stream. The assembly includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a dirty air chamber and a clean air chamber and a non-cylindrical shaped elongated filter element arranged within the dirty air chamber constructed to remove particulate matter from an incoming air stream. A plurality of non-cylindrical filter elements are preferred. The non-cylindrical filter elements provide a decreased incoming air stream velocity when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area. Alternately, the non-cylindrical filter elements allow an increase in the volume of incoming air when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, Thomas D. Raether
  • Publication number: 20040187689
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a filter having Z-media includes providing a filter having Z-media and cleaning the media construction by directing a pulse of compressed gas into the media construction through the downstream flow face. Filter elements useable with such methods include elements made of Z-media. An example system utilizing the method includes a gas turbine air intake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy D. Sporre, Jim C. Rothman, Michael W. Handley, Thomas D. Raether
  • Publication number: 20020178921
    Abstract: An air filter assembly for removing particulate matter from an incoming dirty air stream. The assembly includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a dirty air chamber and a clean air chamber and a non-cylindrical shaped elongated filter element arranged within the dirty air chamber constructed to remove particulate matter from an incoming air stream. A plurality of non-cylindrical filter elements are preferred. The non-cylindrical filter elements provide a decreased incoming air stream velocity when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area. Alternately, the non-cylindrical filter elements allow an increase in the volume of incoming air when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, Thomas D. Raether
  • Patent number: 6488746
    Abstract: An air filter assembly for removing particulate matter from an incoming dirty air stream. The assembly includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a dirty air chamber and a clean air chamber and a non-cylindrical shaped elongated filter element arranged within the dirty air chamber constructed to remove particulate matter from an incoming air stream. A plurality of non-cylindrical filter elements are preferred. The non-cylindrical filter elements provide a decreased incoming air stream velocity when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area. Alternately, the non-cylindrical filter elements allow an increase in the volume of incoming air when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Merchant & Gould
    Inventors: Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, Thomas D. Raether
  • Patent number: 6387162
    Abstract: An air filter assembly for removing particulate matter from an incoming dirty air stream. The assembly includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a dirty air chamber and a clean air chamber and a non-cylindrical shaped elongated filter element arranged within the dirty air chamber constructed to remove particulate matter from an incoming air stream. A plurality of non-cylindrical filter elements are preferred. The non-cylindrical filter elements provide a decreased incoming air stream velocity when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area. Alternately, the non-cylindrical filter elements allow an increase in the volume of incoming air when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Donaldson Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, Thomas D. Raether
  • Patent number: 6368388
    Abstract: A filter construction allowing easy access to the filter is provided. The filter construction includes a yoke having a keeper, a filter supported by the yoke wherein the filter defines an opening, and a cover. The cover includes a plate for covering the opening in the filter, a tightening member connected to the plate and a catch for engaging the keeper on the yoke. An air filter assembly is also provided for removing particulate matter from an incoming dirty air stream. The assembly includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a dirty air chamber and a clean air chamber and a first filter construction positioned in the dirty air chamber. A method of accessing an air filter in an air filter assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Donaldson Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kristofer Kosmider, James A. Severson, Thomas D. Raether, Robert M. Bick, Steven Johnson
  • Patent number: 6364921
    Abstract: An air filter assembly for removing particulate matter from an incoming dirty air stream. The assembly includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a dirty air chamber and a clean air chamber and an elongated filter element arranged within the dirty air chamber constructed to remove particulate matter from an incoming air stream. The dirty air chamber has side walls, at least one of which is non-planar and has a distended portion. The distended side wall increases the volume within the dirty air chamber, thus providing for increased dirty air processing and/or decreased dirty air velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Raether, Steven A. Johnson, Kristofer G. Kosmider
  • Patent number: 6090173
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a filter element includes discharging a quantity of pressurized air from a blow pipe into a Venturi element in air flow communication with a filter element to provide a positive cleaning pressure differential along greater than 95% of a length of the filter element. In one arrangement, an air filter assembly for accomplishing this method comprises a housing, a first filter construction, a first Venturi element, and a pulse jet cleaning system including a blow pipe. The blow pipe and the Venturi element are constructed and arranged to provide a positive cleaning pressure differential along greater than at least 75% of the length of the filter media within the element. In one embodiment, the Venturi element is described as including a specially formed contoured section in the throat portion of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Johnson, Thomas D. Raether, James L. Berkhoel
  • Patent number: 5562746
    Abstract: An air filter assembly for filtering air with particulate matter therein is provided. The air filter assembly includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, and a spacer wall separating the housing into a filtering chamber and a clean air chamber. The spacer wall includes a first air flow aperture therein. The assembly includes a filter element positioned in air flow communication with the first air flow aperture. The assembly also includes a Venturi element mounted in the spacer wall first air flow aperture. The Venturi element includes a bell-mouth-shaped end portion which projects into an inner clean air chamber of the first filter element. The assembly includes a pulse jet cleaning apparatus having a nozzle oriented to direct a pulse of air into the first Venturi element in a direction toward the first filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Raether
  • Patent number: D499177
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, Thomas D. Raether