Vibrating, Jarring, Or Rapping Means Patents (Class 55/300)
  • Patent number: 7837750
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a diesel particulate filter includes a step of coupling an acoustic generator directly to the diesel particulate filter via a support fixture. Ash deposited within the diesel particulate filter is dislodged with acoustic energy deposited by the acoustic generator. The ash may fall clear of the diesel particulate filter under the action of gravity and/or via pressurized air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Jade Katinas, Dong Fei, Jamie Frisch, Jeremy Trethewey, Douglas Rebinsky, Nan Yang
  • Patent number: 7837749
    Abstract: A system (10) for monitoring an operating condition of an electrostatic precipitator rapper system (12) includes a rapper (24) configured to mechanically actuate to disengage pollutants from a plate of the electrostatic precipitator (12). The system also includes a sensor (38, 40) configured to obtain and transmit signals representative of vibration, motion, or current behavior of the rapper; and a processor (52) configured to receive the signals from the sensor and to detect whether the rapper is mechanically actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Erklin Seeley, Eladio Clemente Delgado, John Erik Hershey, Harold Woodruff Tomlinson, Jr., David Fulton Johnston, Terry Lewis Farmer
  • Patent number: 7833320
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing fine particulate matter from a fluid stream without interrupting the overall process or flow. The flowing fluid inflates and expands the flexible filter, and particulate is deposited on the filter media while clean fluid is permitted to pass through the filter. This filter is cleaned when the fluid flow is stopped, the filter collapses, and a force is applied to distort the flexible filter media to dislodge the built-up filter cake. The dislodged filter cake falls to a location that allows undisrupted flow of the fluid after flow is restored. The shed particulate is removed to a bin for periodic collection. A plurality of filter cells can operate independently or in concert, in parallel, or in series to permit cleaning the filters without shutting off the overall fluid flow. The self-cleaning filter is low cost, has low power consumption, and exhibits low differential pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Community Power Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Diebold, Arthur Lilley, Kingsbury Browne, III, Robb Ray Walt, Dustin Duncan, Michael Walker, John Steele, Michael Fields
  • Patent number: 7785381
    Abstract: A dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The dust collecting apparatus includes a dust collecting unit detachably mounted in a main body of the vacuum cleaner, to separate and collect dust from drawn-in air flowing therein; a filter unit disposed above the dust collecting unit, the filter unit comprising a filter to filter fine dust particles contained in air from which the dust has been separated by the dust collecting unit; a top cover to cover the filter unit and to discharge the air filtered through the filter; a rotating unit, which is disposed inside the filter unit, to strike a portion of the filter and to remove the fine dust particles attached to the filter; and a dust compression plate to compress the collected dust while being moved up and down inside the dust collecting unit by power transferred from the rotating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-Keun Oh, Jung-Gyun Han, Hyoun-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7736406
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a main body accommodating therein an electric blower and a dust-removal driving body; and a filter unit including a frame body where a filter for collecting dust particles is installed and a dust removing plate provided at a downstream side of the filter, one end of the dust removing plate being fixed at the frame body. The other end of the dust removing plate is struck in an air flow direction by means related with driving the dust-removal driving body, thereby transmitting an impact on the frame body with a repulsive force thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kuroki, Hideaki Sakatani, Seiji Ishikawa, Atsushi Kitai
  • Patent number: 7628830
    Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner includes a first dust separation device configured to separate sucked dust, a first dust collection section for collecting the separated dust, a second dust separation device configured to separate the dust, a dust removing device configured to remove the dust adhering to the second dust separation device, a second dust collection section for accumulating the removed dust, a partition wall for zoning the first dust collection section and the second dust collection section and an introduction opening for introducing the removed dust into the second dust collection section; the partition wall includes a communication opening for communicating the first dust collection section to the second dust collection section and an opening and closing member for closing either of the introduction opening or the communication opening and switching the closing to the other by rotating, and the opening and closing member closes the introduction opening with a negative pressure by an electric fan and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ohtsu, Masatoshi Tanaka, Yuji Otsuka, Yukio Machida, Mitsuru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090282641
    Abstract: Filtering means for filtering out impurities contained in an air stream, and comprising an inner filter plate or sieve, an outer frame that houses said filter plate thereinside, a structure for retaining said filter plate and conveying the shaking motion, a support socle applied on to said structure, a rotary electric motor, whose rotor is provided with one or more unbalanced masses, and which is fixedly mounted on said socle. The invention is based on the fact that said electric motor is operated in an intermittent manner, preferably with a direct-current, substantially square-wave supply voltage according to an ON-OFF cycling pattern, so as to generate a very broad spectrum of shaking frequencies that proves more effective in enabling the filter plate to be freed from the impurities being retained thereupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: John BLACK, Primo Granata
  • Patent number: 7615086
    Abstract: A particulate separator includes a plurality of perforated screens which remove ash particulate from flue gas. A rapper assembly dislodges ash deposits on the perforated screens by exerting a vibrating force thereon. Shafts, which are operatively connected to a rapping device, are received in the openings of perforated screens and welded thereto. The rapper exerts a force on the shaft, which, in turn, vibrates the perforated screen. The vibration of the perforated screens causes the ash deposits to fall off into the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Snyder, Eric J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7594941
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for removing particulate matter from an air stream, and more particularly the present invention relates to a rotary gas cyclone separator with a dual-ducted filtering vortex finder for separating fine particles as small as 1 ?m from an air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: University of New Brunswick
    Inventors: Ying Zheng, Jinyu Jiao, Qikai Zhang, Guogang Sun
  • Patent number: 7544223
    Abstract: An inner portion of a filter cleaning portion 300 arranged at an inner portion of an interior unit is respectively arranged with cleaning units 300A, 300B constituted by arranging upper brushes 344a, 344b brought into contact with one face of an air filter and lower brushes 322a, 322b brought into contact with other face of the air filter 5 opposedly to each other at filter inlet/outlet 350a, 350b of the filter cleaning portion 300. Further, a longitudinal frame 54 and a transverse frame 55 of an air filter 5 having a filter sheet 51 in a shape of a meshed sheet for catching dust and a frame 52 for supporting the filter sheet 51 are formed on a rear face side (side of heat exchanger 3) of the filter sheet 51.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Masato Oda, Jun Kakudate, Hiroyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 7485167
    Abstract: A manually moveable filter shaker for a drum-style vacuum cleaner with a drum lid and a filter bag mounted below the drum lid. The filter shaker includes a shaker handle operable from outside of the drum lid and extending through an elastically deformable pressure-tight through-hole in the drum lid and into the filter bag having a contoured bottom. The shaker handle extends to the bottom of the filter bag. Guide template control the manual movement of the shaker handles such that the shaker handle shakes the filter bag loosening accumulated debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Vac-U-Max
    Inventor: David Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20090019710
    Abstract: A power cutter comprising: a housing 2; an engine 24 mounted within the housing 2; a support arm 7 mounted on the housing and which projects forward of the housing; a blade mounting mechanism 70,90, 86, 92 rotatably mounted on the end of the support arm and which is capable of being rotationally driven by the engine 24 when the engine is running; a liquid fuel aeration mechanism 126 to generate aerated fuel for the engine; an air intake 314 for the provision of air for the liquid fuel aeration device 126; an air filtration mechanism 316 to filter the air drawn in from the air intake for the liquid fuel aeration mechanism; a fuel tank 124 for providing fuel to the liquid fuel aeration mechanism; and an exhaust 146 through which the exhaust gases generated by the operation of the engine are expelled; wherein the air filtration mechanism comprises an air filter 320 comprising a plurality of pleats and wherein the air filtration mechanism further comprises an air filter cleaning mechanism comprising a moveable pl
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: BLACK AND DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Horst GROSSMAN, Stefan SELL, Martin SOIKA
  • Patent number: 7468082
    Abstract: A self cleaning gas filtration system for filtering contaminants from a flow of gas. A filter element is disposed within a housing and configured to receive a first flow of gas from an inlet in the housing. A pressurized gas source is fluidly coupled to at least one tube having a plurality of perforations. The perforations are configured to backflush the filter with a second flow of gas from the gas source. An outlet is configured to receive at least a portion of the second flow of gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventor: Robert R. Gordon
  • Publication number: 20080264006
    Abstract: An inertial separator includes a main duct having a first half (H1) with high aspect ratio and positive curvature and a latter half (H2) with larger average curvature and an outside wall section removed; a boundary layer suction part (H3) formed on the side of the outside wall of the latter half (H2) with the section removed; a curved duct (H4c) of a final collection part succeeding the boundary layer suction part (H3), having a larger mean curvature and a smaller radial channel width than the latter half (H2) of the main duct, with an outside wall section removed; and a collection chamber part formed on a side of the outside wall of the curved duct (H4c) with the section removed. A hybrid air cleaner combines the inertial separator with an air filter, removably having an allergen suction device sucking allergen from hair, bedding and so on, and a separated blowing mouth whereby the suspended allergen may be transported away during a patient's sleep.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Nakamura Medicine and Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanobu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080202077
    Abstract: A particulate separator includes a plurality of perforated screens which remove ash particulate from flue gas. A rapper assembly dislodges ash deposits on the perforated screens by exerting a vibrating force thereon. Shafts, which are operatively connected to a rapping device, are received in the openings of perforated screens and welded thereto. The rapper exerts a force on the shaft, which, in turn, vibrates the perforated screen. The vibration of the perforated screens causes the ash deposits to fall off into the hopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Robert E. Snyder, Eric J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7386916
    Abstract: A self-cleaning vacuum cleaner 1 is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a housing 2 having an inlet 5 and an outlet 6, and a fan arranged within the housing 2 for causing air to flow through a coarse filter and a fine filter. A vibrator mechanism causes vibration of the fine filter, and the vacuum cleaner 1 has a working condition in which the fan causes air to flow from the inlet 5 to the outlet 6, and a self-cleaning condition in which the vibrator mechanism causes vibrations of the fine filter to cause particles to be released from the fine filter, and in which the housing 2 is opened to enable at least some of the particles released from the fine filter to pass through the coarse filter and out of the housing 2 and into a receptacle 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Bone
  • Patent number: 7329293
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a bagless vacuum cleaner includes a dust chamber, a primary filter and a second filter. The dust chamber includes an entrance and an exit. The primary filter is disposed in the dust chamber between the entrance and the exit and the second filter is disposed between the entrance and the primary filter. The second filter removes at least some contaminants from the air passing through the entrance. A user can selectively replace the second filter with a new second filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Inventor: Bonnie-Lou Griffiths
  • Patent number: 7318249
    Abstract: A vacuum collector includes a filter housing, a filter member disposed in the filter housing, and a sweeping device disposed in the filter member for sweeping the filter member, to sweep of dirt from the filter member, and to allow the dirt to be removed from the filter member and to be collected. The sweeping device includes one or more flaps rotatably disposed in the filter member with such as a shaft for engaging with the filter member to sweep of dirt from the filter member when the flap is rotated relative to the filter member. One or more resiliently blades may be attached to the flap for engaging with the filter member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Kun Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 7309365
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including an electric blower for generating suction air, a collecting unit for collecting dust contained in the suction air, a dust removing unit for removing dust adhered to the collecting unit, and a dust removing stop unit for stopping an operation of the dust removing unit. The dust removing stop unit stops the operation of the dust removing unit in response to a user's selection or an operation mode of the vacuum cleaner, thereby saving a power consumption of the dust removing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yuasa, Akihito Ito, Takafumi Ishibashi, Kazuhisa Morishita
  • Patent number: 7282074
    Abstract: An auxiliary dust collection system can be interposed between a sander or other dust producing tool and a vacuum source, e.g., shop vacuum. This auxiliary system has a cyclonic separator connected by a flexible hose to the tool and by another hose to the vacuum source. The cone of the separator is mounted onto the lid of a drum into which the dust precipitates. For a tool that has its own blower, the vacuum source can be omitted, and the air leaving the outlet duct of the separator can be filtered and returned to the ambient. A drop in silencer formed of a sleeve or tube of acoustic foam can be positioned into the inlet side of a filter cartridge following a cyclonic separator. The silencer absorbs a significant fraction of the process noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Inventor: Robert M. Witter
  • Patent number: 7222392
    Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A suction fan (34) and suction fan drive motor (35) carried on either the nozzle assembly (16) or the canister assembly (18) generates the vacuum airstream for drawing dirt and debris through the suction nozzle, the airstream conduit and the dust container (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Michael J. McCormick, Henry Marcussen, J. Erik Hitzelberger, Tamaki Nishikori, Hiroshi Nishimura, Eric J. Streciwilk
  • Patent number: 7208025
    Abstract: A filter to clean the air entering an alternator in a vehicle used in a dirty environment such as a crop harvesting machine includes a mesh filter which is coupled to an air intake of the alternator. The filter is constructed of a mesh material which is flexible and includes relatively small apertures. The apertures prevent chaff and other extraneous material from entering the alternator, while allowing air to flow freely into the alternator, preventing overheating. The flexible mesh sleeve can be vibrated during operation, as, for example, by the flow of air from the engine fan, to provide a self cleaning function in which the vibration causes extraneous material to be shook from the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Derryn William Pikesh
  • Patent number: 7186281
    Abstract: A dust-removing device for the dust-collecting tank of a dust-collecting machine includes a guide frame installed inside the dust collecting tank and having a central guide rod for a brush base to move up and down thereon. The brush base has its outer circumferential edge provided with numerous brushing bristles able to reach the folded grooves in the inner wall of the dust-collecting tank. A pull unit is provided with plural pulley bases for a pull rope to pass therethrough. Two handles are respectively fixed with two lines of the pull rope exposed to the outer side of the dust-collecting tank, and the pull rope has two ends fastened with the brush base. When the two handles are moved downward alternately and repeatedly, the brush base can be moved up and down to carry out cleaning of the dust-collecting tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: San Ford Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chieh yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7008465
    Abstract: An improved cartridge, typically in cylindrical or panel form that can be used in a dry or wet/dry vacuum cleaner. The cartridge is cleanable using a stream of service water, or by rapping on a solid object, or by using a compressed gas stream, but can provide exceptional filtering properties even for submicron particulate in the household or industrial environment. The cartridge has a combination of nanofiber filtration layer on a substrate. The nanofiber and substrate are engineered to obtain a maximum efficiency at reasonable pressure drop and permeability. The improved cartridge constitutes at least a substrate material and at least a layer including a non-woven, fine fiber separation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristine M. Graham, Timothy H. Grafe, Mark A. Gogins
  • Patent number: 6974487
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a perforated radiator cage with at least one end face and peripheral side on an agricultural harvesting machine, wherein the device consists of an external brush which is associated with the radiator cage and which is in turn surrounded by a unitary air extractor proximate to the radiator cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Twiefel
  • Patent number: 6755016
    Abstract: A diesel particle filter for lowering the emission of particles contained in the exhaust gas of a Diesel engine, is disclosed with the impaction surface of the diesel particle filter is developed such that binding forces of the ash to filter is lowered. Therefore, the adhesion of noncombustible ash particles occurs, if at all, on the impaction surface of the diesel particle filter at only with such binding forces that more the ash particles can be removed from this surface of the diesel particle filter with a fluid and/or by vibrational effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: PURem Abgassysteme GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Achim Dittler, Gunther Wenninger, Georg Huthwohl, Peter Neumann, Eberhard Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20040118283
    Abstract: A filter system and a method for cleaning a gas laden with powder particles, in particular for a powder coating apparatus. At least one filter element is arranged between a crude gas chamber and a clean gas chamber. A first gas discharge device directs a gas stream from the crude gas chamber through the filter element into the clean gas chamber. A shut-off device interrupts the first gas stream through the filter element, and a second or cleaning gas discharge device directs a cleaning gas stream through the filter element into the crude gas chamber. A vibration device vibrates and/or shakes the filter element to dislodge powder from the filter element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Uwe Hering
  • Patent number: 6638329
    Abstract: A filter for filtering dust-containing air including a filter insert (2) and a cleaning device (3) having a contact element (6) mechanically contacting the filter insert along an end edge (4a/4b) of a folded dust filter element (5) forming part of the filter insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Gerold
  • Patent number: 6616734
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating nanometer-sized particles of a powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean H. Liu
  • Patent number: 6598263
    Abstract: A dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup formed with a coarse particle separation chamber and a fine particle separation chamber separated by an apertured wall. Coarse dirt particles directed into the coarse particle separation chamber are prevented from entering the fine particle separation chamber by the apertured wall. The apertured wall is removable from the dirt cup and is cleaned upon removal by a cleaning element. A fine particle filter is located in the fine particle separation chamber for filtering fine particles. The fine particle filter is cleaned by rotating a knob located in the dirt cup lid so that the pleats of the fine particle filter is brushed past a wiper element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: David J. Boles, Nick M. Bosyj, David A. Bradshaw, Charles R. Morrow, Rodney J. Svik, Kevin S. Waltz
  • Publication number: 20030047076
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating nanometer-sized particles of a powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Jean H. Liu
  • Publication number: 20020166199
    Abstract: A dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup formed with a course particle separation chamber and a fine particle separation chamber separated by an apertured wall. An inlet opening is formed in the dirt cup and communicates with the course particle separation chamber for inputting a stream of dirt laden air into the course particle separation chamber. A clean air outlet opening is formed in the fine particle separation chamber for allowing the filtered air stream to exit the dirt cup. The apertured wall includes a pre-filter for filtering coarse particles from a stream of dirt laden and depositing the coarse particles in the course particle separation chamber. A fine particle separation filter is positioned within the fine particle separation chamber and communicates with the clean air outlet opening. The fine particle separation filter separates fine particles from the air stream and deposits the fine particles within the fine particle separation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: David J. Boles, Nick M. Bosyj, David A. Bradshaw, Charles R. Morrow, Rodney J. Svik, Kevin S. Waltz
  • Patent number: 6471751
    Abstract: A vacuum collector is provided comprising a suction hose, a first drum with a cover having a cylindrical head capable of generating powerful, small-diameter cyclones, a second drum capable of generating large-diameter cyclones, and a stack of three modules containing vacuum-producing motors atop a HEPA filter atop primary filters. The suction hose is connected to the inlet of the small-diameter cyclone-generating head on the cover of the first drum. The stack of modules containing motors, HEPA filter, and primary filters is mounted on the second drum. The two cyclonic drums communicate through a flexible vacuum hose. When the vacuum-producing motors pull air from the interior of the vacuum collector, the suction hose sucks atmospheric air mixed with contaminants from a surface into the head, which spins the contaminant-laden air-stream into a powerful, small-diameter cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Houston Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Stavros Semanderes, John M. Lunardini
  • Patent number: 6280491
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating and filtering pollutants from a fluid flow by using inertia to separate a proportion of the pollutants from the fluid flow passing through a constricted passage between a pair of filter elements to an outlet between the filter elements. The constricted passage causes the major portion of the fluid flow to be diverted to pass through the filter elements to the outlet in a direction whereby the filtered fluid flow exits into the outlet of the constricted passage. The apparatus also includes a device to periodically clean the filter elements whilst in position in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Ozone Manufacturing Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Simon Forbes Oke
  • Patent number: 6270732
    Abstract: A particle collection apparatus has a chamber, one or more filters and a back pressure system. The filters are located in the flow path through the system to collect the particles from an input gas stream. The back pressure system applies a pulse of gas against the flow through the system to dislodge particles collected on the filters. The dislodged particles fall to a particle drain where they are removed from the system. The particle collection apparatus can be connected to a particle synthesis apparatus. The particle collection apparatus and the particle synthesis apparatus can operated at reduced pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: NanoGram Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Gardner, Samuel R. Phillips, Xiangxin Bi
  • Patent number: 6202765
    Abstract: A device for sucking off drillings during the drilling of boreholes, comprising a suction fan (9) and a filter (10) as well as an opening closeable by a lid for emptying the drillings reception space (8) preceding the filter (10), in which, for the simple cleaning of the filter (10), the lid (12) is connected with a vibrating mechanism for the filter (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Tamrock Voest-Alpine Bergtechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Kurt Schaffer, Erich Brandl, Karl Schnedl
  • Patent number: 6117200
    Abstract: A mobile surface maintenance machine has a cleaning brush and a dust collection system mounted on the machine. The dust collection system includes a vacuum fan, a filter housing having an air inlet and a pleated filter element positioned within the housing with its upstream side being in communication with the housing air inlet. The filter housing has separate, side-by-side, chambers on the downstream side of the filter. There are electrically operated valves located in the filter housing on the downstream side of the filter element, with the valves being in communication with the vacuum fan. There is one valve controlling air flow from each chamber. The filter element is functionally divided into separate, but joined, pleated sections, with each section being aligned with one of the chambers. There is an electric actuator mounted on the downstream side of each pleated filter section and there is a pleat moving element associated with and movable by each electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: David W. Berg, Bruce F. Field, Joseph L. Pouliot
  • Patent number: 5999769
    Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a charge retentive surface is developed with toner particles to form a visible image thereof, including; a housing having a supply of toner and developer therein; a donor member for transporting toner from the housing to the development zone; a means for conveying toner to the donor member; blower for generating a negative air stream for carrying toner therein; and a filter for removing the toner from the negative air stream, the filter including filter material and spring blower, connected thereto, for oscillating the filter material to dislodge toner material collected in the filter when the generating means is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Anderson, Joseph Fantuzzo
  • Patent number: 5865879
    Abstract: A gas scrubber used in fabricating semiconductor devices and a filtering method using the same are provided. The gas scrubber contains a flange having an inlet on the upper surface thereof, a hollow housing combined at one end with the outer circumferential surface of the flange, a cup-shaped filter housed inside the hollow housing, for filtering impurities flowing through the inlet, and pillar type filter supporters mounted on the lower surface of the flange, for maintaining the shape of the filter. Here, powders to be filtered are filtered by passing from the exterior of the filter to the interior thereof and the shape of the filter is maintained by the pillar type filter supporters. Thus, the life of the filter can be prolonged so that the costs of manufacturing a semiconductor device are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ye-seung Lee
  • Patent number: 5829094
    Abstract: A sweeping machine has a housing, wheels for moving the housing, a sweeping brush mounted on the housing, a hopper positioned adjacent the brush to receive dust and debris therefrom, a dust collection chamber on the housing, and a vacuum fan mounted on the housing and creating an air flow path from the brush through the hopper and to the dust collection chamber. There is a filter element in the air flow path, with the filter element including a plurality of generally parallel pleats having folds extending in a direction transverse to the air flow path. There is a pleat moving element extending generally transverse to the pleats and engaged with the pleats. An electric actuator is mounted on top of the pleats and a bar is associated with the actuator and movable upon actuation thereof. There is a spring connected between the pleat moving element and the filter frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Laurence A. Jensen, Charles W. Bricher
  • Patent number: 5711775
    Abstract: A sweeping machine includes a housing, wheels for moving the housing and a sweeping brush mounted on the housing. There is a hopper positioned adjacent the brush to receive dust and debris from the rotating brush. A dust collection chamber is located on the housing and a vacuum fan mounted on the housing creates an air flow path from the brush through the hopper into the dust collection chamber. A filter element is positioned in the air flow path with the filter element including a plurality of generally parallel pleats extending in a direction transverse to the air flow path. There is a plurality of electric coils positioned adjacent the pleats. A plurality of metal elements are associated with the pleats. Pulsed electric power is applied to the coils with the electromagnetic fields caused thereby moving the metal elements reciprocally back and forth and the pleats associated therewith to impart a shaking, cleaning movement to the pleats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Nilabh Narayan
  • Patent number: 5681363
    Abstract: A filter shaking arrangement includes a resilient frame disposed around an expandable filter, both of which are expanded by a fan induced air flow. The resilient frame returns resiliently to its original form upon the cessation of this air flow. This contraction of the resilient frame tends to dislodge dirt adhering to the filter as it also is forced back to its original shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Inventors: Deborah R. Tucker, Lynn A. Frederick, Jeffrey S. Louis
  • Patent number: 5647093
    Abstract: A sweeping machine includes a sweeping brush, a hopper having an inlet for receiving debris from said sweeping brush, an opening in said hopper and a vacuum system for creating an air flow path from the hopper inlet through the opening. There is a filter positioned in the hopper opening and a peripheral flexible seal between the inlet side of the filter and the hopper opening. A vibratory filter cleaner is positioned adjacent the outlet side of the filter to impart vibration thereto. There is a closure which encloses the filter and the filter cleaner and there is a second peripheral flexible seal between the filter outlet side and the closure. The filter is movable between the spaced peripheral seals at its inlet and outlet sides whereby vibratory cleaning force applied by the filter cleaner causes vibration of the filter to provide cleaning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Gregory J. Engel, Robert D. Hennessey, Timothy G. LaRocque, Terence A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5638786
    Abstract: A self-cleaning air filter for a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system includes a filter cleaning member disposed within the filter housing to clean the filter element. The filter cleaning member collides with the filter element in response to acceleration imparted to the housing by the vehicle to cause matter occluding the filter element to dislodge therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: David Robert Gimby
  • Patent number: 5603740
    Abstract: A suction source is connected to the upper end of a vertical suction tube; a plug member slides upwardly within the tube under the action of the suction source and moves down by gravity when the suction source is cut off The suction tube has a bypass port above the plug member and a valve is operated by the movement of the plug member to close and open the bypass port when the plug reaches its lower and upper limit positions respectively. Therefore, the plug continuously reciprocates up by suction and down by gravity upon sequential closing and opening of the valve. The system is incorporated in a central vacuum cleaning apparatus which provides the suction source and has a filter. The reciprocating movement of the plug drives a hammer or brush to continuously remove the dirt accumulating on the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Michel Roy
  • Patent number: 5584900
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a generally cylindrical air filter. The apparatus includes a carriage for receiving the air filter in a generally axially vertical orientation. The carriage is selectively turned to orient the filter generally horizontally. Dirt and debris are dislodged selectively from an inside cylindrical surface and an outside cylindrical surface of the filter by a air pressure nozzle and a pneumatic hammer, respectively. A vacuum apparatus collects the dirt and debris that is dislodged from the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventors: Gregory H. Zaiser, Harold W. Zaiser
  • Patent number: 5562758
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating and collecting fine dust particles from a gas including the fine particle dust from a source which generates the fine particle dust by introducing the gas to a filter. The method further sets forth the step of flowing the gas from the inside of the filter of a dust collector of cylindrical form to the outside thereof so as to filter the gas after removing an oil and water from the gas by use of a rotary brush prior to introduction of the gas to the dust collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: Toshio Awaji
  • Patent number: 5223005
    Abstract: A fume and dust collector system is comprised of a semi-rigid tubular filter compressively held against a sub-base by a beam. To dislodge accumulated particulate, a combination of gravity hammer rapping of the beam compressively loads the filter wall and pulses of air discharged into the filter interior tension the wall. The filter is removed through the top of the enclosure and particulate is removed through a drawer at the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Aercology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo Avondoglio
  • Patent number: 5194077
    Abstract: A sweeper hopper and associated filter assembly as illustrated and described. The filter assembly effectively divides the hopper into a particulate contaminant receiving chamber and a clean air exhaust chamber. The filter assembly includes at least a pair of particulate blocking filter means and means for selectively directing the transient air stream through one or the other or both of the filter means. The filter assembly further includes cleaning means for selectively imparting the filter means, typically during periods of quiescence, to physically loosen and remove particulate contaminants therefrom and direct such contaminants into the contaminant receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Clarke Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Bargiel, Jack L. Burgoon, Anthony P. DiGiovanni, Norbert H. Himburg
  • Patent number: 5156658
    Abstract: A gas flow distribution system for directing the flow of gas across the inlet portion of and into an electrostatic precipitator. The gas distribution system including a corrugated perforated plate for shifting and spreading gas across the inlet portion of an electrostatic precipitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Research-Cottrell, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard T. Riehl