Scroll Patents (Class 55/459.3)
  • Patent number: 11938491
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclone assembly positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber, the cyclone chamber having a front end, a rear end, a cyclone axis of rotation extending between the front and rear ends, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet provided at the rear end of the cyclone chamber, wherein the rear end is rotationally moveable by a rotational mount between a closed position in which the cyclone is closed and an open position wherein a rear portion of the cyclone is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11577181
    Abstract: A forward secant swirl tube may be used to separate heavier particles such as oil and moisture from an air flow. The swirl tube includes a central hub having a centerline and a circular perimeter. An outer circular housing extends from an inlet edge to an outlet edge. A plurality of vanes extends from the central hub to the outer housing. The vanes are equally spaced around the central hub. Each vane has an inlet transition portion connected to a discharge portion. The top edge of the inlet transition portion of each vane is offset from the centerline of the central hub forming a forward secant line with respect to the centerline of the central hub and a direction of spin induced by the plurality of vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: REYCO SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Laws
  • Patent number: 11497366
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner may include a suction motor and a cyclonic separator fluidly coupled to the suction motor. The cyclonic separator may include a chamber and a first and a second vortex finder extending within the chamber. The first and second vortex finders may extend from opposing sides of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Kai Xu, Andre D. Brown
  • Patent number: 11439936
    Abstract: A separator separating liquid or solid pollutants in a gaseous fluid flow contains a protective casing having an inlet and outlet ports, an upper outlet disk and a lower discharge disk inside the protective casing, and a separator device between the outlet disk and the discharge disk. The inlet port is hollowed in a vertical wall of the protective casing; the outlet disk includes a central through opening at the outlet port; and there are multiple discharge ports hollowed inside the discharge disk and on the annular edge of the discharge disk, respectively. An upper space separates the outlet disk from the separator device. The inlet port allows the gaseous fluid flow to pass into the upper space. The separator device has vertical walls wound around a vertical longitudinal axis leaving a central space therein to form at least one spiral that has a particular structure and forms a conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Marzio Spinelli
  • Patent number: 11432693
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a suction source operable to generate an airflow, a first stage cyclonic separator configured to separate debris from the airflow, the airflow rotatable about a first stage separator axis in the first stage separator to separate the debris from the airflow, a second stage cyclonic separator downstream from the first stage cyclonic separator, the second stage cyclonic separator configured to separate debris from the airflow, a first stage collector configured to receive debris from the first stage cyclonic separator, and a second stage collector configured to receive debris from the second stage cyclonic separator, the second stage collector being within the first stage collector, the second stage collector having a cross section taken normal to the first stage separator axis that is polygonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kirti Kant Paulla
  • Patent number: 11358156
    Abstract: A vacuum cyclonic separator that includes: a main body having a top surface with an air outlet, a bottom perimeter defining a bottom aperture of the main body, at least two downwardly facing air inlets and at least one side wall extending between the top surface and the bottom portion and shaped such that air received within an interior cavity of main body moves in a cyclone and wherein the at least two downwardly facing air inlets are in at least substantially the same plane as the bottom perimeter of the main body; and a dump valve assembly capable of being opened and closed with one hand where the dump valve is engaged with the bottom portion to seal the bottom aperture of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John F. Tucker, Eldered F. Tucker, Jr., Steve W. Lieneman, Jesse G. Ford, Jeremy S. Van Buskirk, Dennis A. Gresham, Clay D. Price
  • Patent number: 10518205
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided that may include a case including a first suction inlet, the case having a cylindrical or cone shape; a fan housing provided inside of the case, the fan housing accommodating a fan therein; a filter provided at a suction side of the fan, the filter filtering foreign materials in air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet; and a housing suction flow path formed between an outer surface of the fan housing and an inner surface of the case, the housing suction flow path allowing air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet to flow toward and through the filter. The housing suction flow path may include a first flow path inlet having a predetermined first width, and a second flow path inlet through which air having passed through the first flow path inlet flows, the second flow path inlet having a second width greater than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yeongcheol Mun, Hyunpil Ha, Soonki Jung, Jaekyun Park, Soohyun Bae
  • Patent number: 9486727
    Abstract: A cyclone separator that collects entrained solid particles from a gas stream, comprising a cylindrical body, an inlet duct connected to the body, and a gas outlet tube connected to the body at its upper end. The ratio of the distance between the parallel to a face dropped from the tip of the cyclone separator and the closest point of the gas outlet tube to the internal diameter of the body is at least 0.1, as measured at the lower extremity of the gas outlet tube. The ratio of the inlet duct area, measured at the tip of the cyclone separator and perpendicularly to the face, to the cross-sectional area of the body, is between 0.24 and 0.32. The ratio of the height of the inlet duct to the width of the inlet duct at the tip of the cyclone separator does not exceed 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: George D. Mylchreest, Jean-Claude Semedard, Pierre Gauville
  • Patent number: 9347351
    Abstract: A diesel engine exhaust treatment device includes an exhaust flow divider in an exhaust path. The flow divider causes exhaust to flow EGR gas with PM unevenly distributed and remaining discharged gas in a divided manner. EGR gas is recirculated to a combustion chamber, and the discharged gas is atmospherically discharged. First and second corona discharge passages are provided at the exhaust flow divider. Corona discharge in the first discharge passage causes the PM, water vapor, and oxygen in the exhaust to generate electron attachment. Electrostatic force causes the exhaust to flow the EGR gas with the electron-attached PM, water vapor, and oxygen unevenly distributed and the remaining discharged gas in a divided manner. The discharged gas is guided to the second discharge passage. Corona discharge in the second discharge passage causes gas molecules in the discharged gas to dissociate, and NOx in the discharged gas is reduced to nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KUBOTA Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Aketa, Yosuke Matsukawa, Satoshi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8945265
    Abstract: A compressor compressing a fluid including lubricating oil includes, on the discharge side thereof, a first separation chamber for separating the lubricating oil by generating a swirling flow in the fluid. The first separation chamber includes: a circumferential wall; an inflow port that is formed in the circumferential wall and causes the fluid to flow into the first separation chamber; and a guiding plate extending from the circumferential wall. The guiding plate extends so as to face the inflow port in a direction where the fluid flows from the inflow port into the first separation chamber, and so as to deflect the fluid flow from the inflow port to guide it along an inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakashima, Shinichi Sato, Akio Saiki, Kazuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8806707
    Abstract: A cyclonic separation device for dust and debris in vacuum cleaners, comprising a roughly cylindrical interior cyclonic chamber connected to an air intake, as well as a separator filter located in the central part of the interior chamber, comprising a tube segment to direct airflow to the air intake with this tube segment located around the roughly cylindrical interior cyclonic chamber, from a starting point to an end point near the air intake, with the cross-section of this tube segment near the end point being smaller than that near the starting point in order to form an acceleration ramp for the airflow between these two points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Soen, Sylvain Reynard
  • Patent number: 8657934
    Abstract: A cyclone for separating sticky particles from gas streams includes an inlet duct having an end in a direction of a particle outlet. The end has a flow cross-section including a triangular expansion that is formed laterally by a vertical of a cylindrical outer wall of the cyclone and by art outer boundary of the cyclone. An outer angle of inclination between the vertical and the outer boundary, proceeding from the end of the inlet duct, is reduced from 30° to 0° in a flow direction of gas streams. An immersion tube is disposed eccentrically in a direction of the inlet duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Michael Missalla, Mithat Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8657898
    Abstract: An air filtration unit for conveying bulk granular material from a tank trailer, and uses air pressure to achieve granular flow, the air filtration unit incorporates an intake that induces a spiral flow, the unit incorporates a lid at the back end of the filter housing, and a baffle structure at the intake inlet of the unit, to dampen sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bulk Tank, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Sisk
  • Patent number: 8617405
    Abstract: A method of separating a multiphase fluid, the fluid including a relatively high density component and a relatively low density component, that includes introducing the fluid into a separation region; imparting a rotational movement into the multiphase fluid; forming an outer annular region of rotating fluid of predetermined thickness within the separation region; and forming and maintaining a core of fluid in an inner region. Fluid entering the separation vessel is directed into the outer annular region and the thickness of the outer annular region is such that the high density component is concentrated and substantially contained within this region, the low density component being concentrated in the rotating core. A separation system employing the method is also provided. The method and system are particularly suitable for the separation of solid debris from the fluids produced by a subterranean oil or gas well at wellhead flow pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Hans Paul Hopper
  • Patent number: 8580008
    Abstract: The invention hereby disclosed is a vertical filtering and separating suction machine of chips, steam and smoke for machining center, lathe machine or other machines, which operates by sudden changes of sucked air, thus generating hits which separate heavy particles, whose suction pipe extends almost up to the bottom of the rotor, which only uses filters at the end of the process of air purification, whose rotor has outer paddles modified in order to improve suction power and to cause more hits of air flow, and which includes an air pressure alarm showing the filter is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Tomio Ota
  • Patent number: 8382882
    Abstract: An air pollution control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a stack that discharges flue gas discharged from a boiler outside; a blower that is provided downstream of the stack and draws in the flue gas; and a CO2 recovering apparatus that recovers CO2 in the flue gas drawn in by the blower. The stack includes a controlling unit that suppresses release of the flue gas outside from the stack and suppresses inflow of atmosphere to the stack, and the controlling unit is a channel forming unit that forms a serpentine channel through which the flue gas and the atmosphere in the stack flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 8361202
    Abstract: A gas/solid separation system that can be applied to any type of FCC unit regenerators, consists of a device for separating solid particles contained in a gas stream coming from the regeneration zone of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit bounded by an inner envelope (3) of cylindrical shape centered about the vertical axis of the regeneration zone, and an outer envelope (1) that has one approximately horizontal wall (15), followed by one curvilinear wall (16), and one approximately vertical wall (17), the set of said walls (15, 16, 17) covering the inner envelope (3) and forming a set of separation chambers (2) radially distributed around the inner envelope (3) in which the gas/solid suspension to be separated circulates. This system makes it possible to obtain, at the same time, very good separation efficiency while minimizing the pressure drop and only requiring a single downstream cyclone stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: IFP Energies Nouvelles, Total France
    Inventors: Regis Andreux, Thierry Gauthier, Jean-Francois Le Coz, Patrick Leroy, Olivier Delsart
  • Patent number: 8343360
    Abstract: A device for separating a flowing medium mixture into at least two different fractions with differing average mass density, comprising an elongate separating space which is circle-symmetrical in axial direction and enclosed by a stationary casing (2), wherein the casing is provided with feeds for a mixture for separating and at least two discharges (9, 10) for discharging at least two fractions with differing mass density, and rotation means located in the separating space for causing the mixture to rotate as a vortex in the separating space. Also disclosed is a method for separating a flowing medium mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Tail-End Oil Company N.V.
    Inventor: Robert Schook
  • Patent number: 8323383
    Abstract: In a cyclone and a method for operating a cyclone, in a duct leading to an inlet of the cyclone, at least partial separation of particles according to size takes place. A bypass arrangement diverts selected particles to the discharge duct of the cyclone. The cyclone is suitable for separating particles from blast furnace waste gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Evans, William Barry Featherstone
  • Patent number: 8313548
    Abstract: A method of designing a gas-solid separator that has an inner cylinder having a closed lower end and an opened upper end, and extending in a vertical direction; an outer cylinder that coaxially covers the inner cylinder from the outside and has a gas vent port formed on the upper end side of the inner cylinder and communicating with an exterior; and a plurality of axially extending long holes formed a side surface on the lower end side of the inner cylinder in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes being provided with a guide blade that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum, Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Fujiyama, Toshiaki Okuhara, Shigeko Okuhara, legal representative, Akira Uchiura
  • Patent number: 8202354
    Abstract: An air pollution control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a stack that discharges flue gas discharged from a boiler outside; a blower that is provided downstream of the stack and draws in the flue gas; and a CO2 recovering apparatus that recovers CO2 in the flue gas drawn in by the blower. The stack includes a controlling unit that suppresses release of the flue gas outside from the stack and suppresses inflow of atmosphere to the stack, and the controlling unit is a channel forming unit that forms a serpentine channel through which the flue gas and the atmosphere in the stack flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 8083824
    Abstract: A gas-solid separator has: an inner cylinder 10 having a closed lower end 11 and an opened upper end 1, and extending in a vertical direction; and an outer cylinder 2 that coaxially covers the inner cylinder 10 from the outside and has a gas vent port 6 formed on the upper end side and communicating with an exterior, wherein a plurality of axially extending long holes 4 are formed on a side surface on the lower end 11 side of the inner cylinder 10 in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes 4 is provided with a guide blade 5 that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole 4, and in a section of the outer cylinder 2 that surrounds the plurality of long holes 4 of the inner cylinder 10, an inner diameter D1 of a lower part is larger than an inner diameter D2 of an upper part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum, Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Fujiyama, Toshiaki Okuhara, Shigeko Okuhara, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8070846
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas-solid separator that has: an inner cylinder 10 having a closed lower end 11 and an opened upper end 1, and extending in a vertical direction; an outer cylinder 2 that coaxially covers the inner cylinder 10 from the outside and has a gas vent port 6 formed on the upper end side of the inner cylinder and communicating with an exterior; and a plurality of axially extending long holes 4 having a length L[m] and formed on a side surface on the lower end 11 side of the inner cylinder 10 in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes being provided with a guide blade 5 that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole 4, wherein the length L of each long hole 4 is defined such as to satisfy an expression of non-dimensional Stokes number St=(?pdp2/(18?))·U/L?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum, Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Fujiyama, Toshiaki Okuhara, Shigeko Okuhara, legal representative, Akira Uchiura
  • Patent number: 8025713
    Abstract: An adjustable type guide vortex gas-liquid separating apparatus is provided, it comprises a case, a vortex flow guide spiral pipe, a mist eliminator, an adjusting valve and a ? ray phase volume fraction meter. Its separating method is to make the oil-gas-water multiphase flow move in vortex, and thus to realize the gas-liquid separation, then to measure the gas content of the separated liquid phase by using the ? ray phase volume fraction meter and to send out control information as judged by the magnitude of the gas content in the liquid phase, so as to control the opening of the adjusting valve of the gas circuit, thus to achieve adjustment of the gas-liquid separation effects, and to control the gas content of the liquid phase to a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Haimo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Dou, Jinsong Wan, Ligang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7988756
    Abstract: A gas-solid separator has: an inner cylinder 10 having a closed lower end 11 and an opened upper end 1, and extending in a vertical direction; and an outer cylinder 2 that coaxially covers the inner cylinder 10 from the outside and has a gas vent port 6 formed on the upper end side of the inner cylinder and communicating with an exterior, wherein a plurality of axially extending long holes 4 are formed on a side surface on the lower end 11 side of the inner cylinder 10 in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes 4 is provided with a guide blade 5 that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole 4, and a part between the long holes 4 of the inner cylinder 10 is concaved in a center direction of the inner cylinder 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Japan Cooperation Ctr., Petroleum, Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Fujiyama, Toshiaki Okuhara, Shigeko Okuhara, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7934606
    Abstract: The induced vortex particle separator is a device for separating solid particulate matter from a liquid containing such particulate matter. The liquid enters a housing through an inlet port and is driven about a helical vane to form a helical flow path. Upon exiting the helical vane, the liquid is received within a central portion of the housing where a centralized structure including an annular stator and an inverted diffuser cone drive the liquid to form a free vortex. Under centrifugal force, the solid particulate matter is separated from the liquid and flows, under the force of gravity, into a lower region of the housing. Due to a negative pressure differential, the liquid is driven upwards within an inner cylindrical shell mounted within the housing to flow into a siphon for output through an outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Petroleum Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Boyd B. Greene, Helen C. Greene
  • Patent number: 7931740
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating contaminants in a contaminated airstream are described. In one embodiment, a contaminated airstream is received and a vortex is created that separates the contaminated airstream into a clean airstream used in the system and contaminants (e.g., debris and particles).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thamir R. Al-Alusi, Anthony D. Drury, Eric R. Blume, Wayne F. Ledzian
  • Patent number: 7918909
    Abstract: A cyclone separator assembly comprises a cyclone separator that removes large particles of dirt from a working airstream as it flows through the cyclone separator, and the separated large particles of dirt are deposited into a dirt cup. The cyclone separator assembly further includes a fine particle separation member comprising a plurality of apertures for separating fine particles of dirt from air in the cyclone separator or the dirt cup. The fine particle separation member can be formed in a wall of the cyclone separator, a sidewall of the dirt cup, or in the outlet of the cyclone separator assembly. The cyclone separator assembly can further include a guide plate for creating a direction change in the path of the working airstream to aid in the separation of fine particles of dirt from air passing through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. McDowell
  • Patent number: 7837751
    Abstract: An apparatus for collection and reduction of yard debris combining a frontally facing vacuum pick up with a chipper-shredder-blower unit to induce airflow for entraining debris collected at the vacuum pick up; reduce the entrained debris to a more manageable volume; impel the reduced debris to a two-stage free-flow-separator device for removing the debris from the air in which it is entrained; and deposit the debris in a detachable accumulator for subsequent dumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: BestRake, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Everett Dunning, Richard Bernard Saathoff
  • Patent number: 7722693
    Abstract: A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclone, a second cyclone disposed inside the first cyclone, and an air guiding member to form an entrance of the second cyclone through which semi-clean air discharged from the first cyclone enters. The air guiding member includes a grill member to have a plurality of holes, and a plurality of guiding blades disposed inside the grill member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dong-hun Yoo, Jang-keun Oh, Jung-gyun Han
  • Patent number: 7678166
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner having a high fine dust collecting efficiency. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus includes a first cyclone having an air suction hole through which dust-laden air is drawn-in, the first cyclone forcing the dust-laden air to downwardly whirl in a space under the air suction hole so as to centrifugally separate dust from the dust-laden air; a second cyclone disposed inside the first cyclone, the second cyclone forcing semi-clean air entering from the first cyclone to downwardly whirl so as to centrifugally separate fine dust from the semi-clean air; and an air guiding member forcing the semi-clean air discharged from the first cyclone to directly enter the second cyclone and, the air guiding member having a plurality of guiding blades radially disposed in at least one circular shape based on a vertical axis of the second cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwanju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-hun Yoo, Jang-keun Oh, Jung-gyun Han
  • Patent number: 7662199
    Abstract: A filter system for a surface maintenance machine having a hopper assembly for receiving brush-thrown debris including a cyclonic separator for separating dust and debris from air drawn through the hopper via vacuum action. The cyclonic separator may include multiple cyclone and may be in fluid communication with the hopper assembly so as to periodically receive dust and debris exiting the filter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Richard William Wellens, Michael Thomas Basham, Karl Hansen
  • Patent number: 7615089
    Abstract: A filter assembly and a cyclone dust collecting apparatus using the same are provided. The filter assembly is employed by a cyclone dust collecting apparatus which centrifugally separates contaminant from drawn-in air to remove the contaminant and filters and discharges the air and has a filter part, and an air path. The air path is formed in the filter part to guide the air into the filter part and enables the air to flow in a three-dimensional direction, in other words, in a perpendicular direction to a central axis of the filter part, simultaneously flow in a parallel direction with the central axis of the filter part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-keun Oh
  • Patent number: 7476317
    Abstract: Hydrocyclone (1) for separating an input stream (8) of two immiscible liquids having a stream inlet (18) an inner shell (3) and an outer shell (4) concentric with the longitudinal axis (5) of the hydrocyclone (1), a cyclone chamber is defined by the shells (3,4), encircles the axis (5) and has an entrance (7), an expansion chamber (9) which reduces the velocity of the input stream (8) by the time it reaches the entrance (7) is between the stream inlet (18) and the entrance (7). The dimensions of the hydrocyclone are selected so that the hydrocyclone (1) has a radius not more than 30% greater than the radius of the outer shell (4) and lies within a circle in a plane perpendicular to and centered on the axis (5), therefore the hydrocyclone (1) can be readily lowered into a well casing (2) in the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Gnesys, Inc.
    Inventor: Naji Nassif
  • Publication number: 20080256911
    Abstract: A cyclone dust-separating apparatus of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The cyclone dust-separating apparatus includes at least one cyclone having a cyclone body, which rotates air to separate dust or dirt therefrom, which has an air inflow part and an air discharging part, and which is installed in such a manner that a longitudinal axis thereof is substantially horizontally arranged, and a dust collecting unit to store the dust or dirt separated by the cyclone unit. The cyclone body is formed in a convex cylinder shape, so that a diameter thereof in the vicinity of an entrance of the air discharging part through which the air is discharged comes maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Min-ha Kim
  • 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: 7169305
    Abstract: A liquid vortex separator including a vortex tube (16) with an impeller (13) in the feed end to impart a rotational motion to liquid within the tube, a feed cylinder (12) connected to the vortex tube by a reducing cone (14). The separator has a separating cone (17) at the outlet end, an annular collecting ring (18) for heavy solids and a liquid discharge pipe extending axially from the separating cone. A feed tank (31) and circulating stream arrangement ensures operation of the system at varying feed rates. The liquid vortex separator may also be fitted with microwave generators (40), electrodes (51)powered from a DC source or magnets (60) to produce desired effects or chemical reactions in the material being processed through the liquid vortex separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Rodolfo Antonio M Gomez
  • Patent number: 6911060
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a floor standing treatment device that has a front panel and a mainframe assembly adapted to be removably attachable to the front panel. The mainframe assembly has an integrally molded latching mechanism having a latch and one or more L shaped guides configured to cooperate with one or more pairs stops for limiting lateral movement of the latch. The latch is adapted to engage a portion of the front panel for securely attaching the front panel to the mainframe assembly. The air purifier may also have a cavity positioned along a bottom edge of a back housing to house an electrical cord provided with the air purifier. Additionally, the air purifier may also have an elongated slot positioned at the apex of the mainframe assembly for allowing one or two handed carrying of the air purifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Kaylan, Guolian Wu, Armando Luisi, Andrew D. Litch, Paul B. Allard
  • Patent number: 6902597
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a floor standing treatment device that has a mainframe assembly and a back housing removably attachable to the mainframe assembly. The mainframe assembly comprises a fan and a fan scroll through which air is directed. The back housing comprises a one or more side walls wherein a portion of at least one of the sides wall is operable as an extension of the fan scroll. The device may also have a front panel having louvers being adapted to allow optimized air flow into the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Guolian Wu, Ali Kaylan, Andrew D. Litch
  • Patent number: 6829804
    Abstract: A filtration arrangement of a vacuum cleaner includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body portion pivotally mounted on the base unit and a suction motor/fan assembly located in either the base unit or body portion. A dustcup is mounted on the body portion and is in fluid communication with a first air path so as to receive dirt laden air therefrom. A cyclonic member is disposed over the dustcup and is effective for imparting rotational motion to the dirt laden air entering the dustcup. An air tube is mounted centrally within the dustcup and extends from the bottom of the dustcup to an area near the top of the dustcup. A removable filter member is disposed over the top portion of the air tube. The removable filter has a central opening that cooperatively engages the top portion of the air tube to establish a second air path that extends from inside the dustcup to outside atmosphere through the suction motor/fan assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: White Consolidated, Ltd.
    Inventor: Arnold L. Sepke
  • Patent number: 6810558
    Abstract: In a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner, mounted in a dust collecting chamber intercommunicating with a motor driving chamber of a cleaner body, for separating contaminants from an air that is drawn in through a suction brush by a centrifugal force, the cyclone dust collecting apparatus includes: a contaminant receptacle having a contaminant chamber and an air discharge chamber, the contaminant chamber and the air discharge chamber respectively having open upper sides and partitioned from each other; a cyclone unit connected to an upper portion of the contaminant receptacle in a manner of covering the contaminant chamber and the air discharge chamber, the cyclone unit having a hole corresponding to, respectively, an incoming air port through which foreign substance laden air flows in, a centrifuging chamber for separating the foreign substances from the air by a centrifugal effect, a contaminant discharge port through which the separated foreign substances are discharged, an outgoin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangji Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 6752861
    Abstract: A device for the separation of liquid and/or solid pollutants entrained by gaseous streams, comprising a separating element (11), contained inside a protective casing (12) which comprises a gas inlet and outlet (13, 14), wherein the separating element (11) includes a coil (17). The coil (17) is situated between an outlet disk (18), having an outlet hole (20), and an unloading disk (19), wherein the unloading disk (19) has a series of discharge channels (21), relating to the external loops of the coil (17), and discharge channels (21′), relating to the internal loops of the coil (17), so that the geometrical parameters of the coil (17) and the distribution of the discharge channels (21, 21′) allow liquid and/or solid micro-particles to be eliminated from a stream of gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Micronsep S.r.l.
    Inventor: Umberto Spinelli
  • Publication number: 20030217536
    Abstract: A device for the separation of liquid and/or solid pollutants entrained by gaseous streams, comprising a separating element (11), contained inside a protective casing (12) which comprises a gas inlet and outlet (13, 14), wherein the separating element (11) includes a coil (17). The coil (17) is situated between an outlet disk (18), having an outlet hole (20), and an unloading disk (19), wherein the unloading disk (19) has a series of discharge channels (21), relating to the external loops of the coil (17), and discharge channels (21′), relating to the internal loops of the coil (17), so that the geometrical parameters of the coil (17) and the distribution of the discharge channels (21, 21′) allow liquid and/or solid micro-particles to be eliminated from a stream of gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: Umberto Spinelli
  • Patent number: 6632370
    Abstract: A method for entraining and mixing gas with liquids within a conduit or drop structure, comprising the channeling of one or more liquid flows into spiral flows of predetermined radius (radii), reducing the predetermined radius (radii) to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon the spiral flow(s) as the spiral flow(s) enter the conduit, and allowing gas access to the conduit to mix with and entrain within the spiral flow within the conduit or drop structure. The method can facilitate the mixing of gas with one or more fluid flows and/or reduce the release of gas emissions from the fluid(s) into the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Vortex Flow, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene M. Natarius
  • Patent number: 6616722
    Abstract: A portable air cleaner designed to remove particles and unwanted gases from a room to provide for a healthier and cleaner environment. The portable air cleaner includes a high air volume circulating design and operates quietly and efficiently. The air exhaust of the air cleaner includes a plurality of arcuate vanes radiating outwardly from the interior of the air cleaner. The vanes are disposed in a non-symmetrical arrangement the air exhaust to reduce pressure drop and to minimize operation noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Cartellone
  • Patent number: 6478962
    Abstract: The bubble trap is used in extracorporeal blood flow circuits of the type used for open heart surgery. The trap is placed in the external blood flow and it removes small micro bubbles from the blood prior to delivery to the body. The device accelerates the blood flow radially and the small bubbles migrate toward the center of the accelerated flow. These bubbles are concentrated at this location and the blood that contains the micro bubbles is extracted and recirculated before the degassed blood flow is returned to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Brockhoff, Hans Plechinger, Hans-Jurgen Tiedke
  • Patent number: 6419843
    Abstract: An improved sewer apparatus comprising a maintenance hole and an influent line for carrying sewage to the maintenance hole, a vortex form disposed substantially within the maintenance hole which accepts the sewage from the influent line, the vortex form having a spiral channel of decreasing diameter, and a conduit also disposed within the maintenance hole and fluidly connected to the vortex form and extending substantially downwardly from the vortex form to a flow exit near the maintenance hole base. The improved sewer apparatus reduces the release of odorous and corrosive gas emissions from sewage into the sewer and surrounding environment and improves aeration of the sewage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Eugene M. Natarius
  • Patent number: 6398973
    Abstract: A cyclone separator has an inlet chamber 52 and an outlet chamber 53, means 51 for introducing a fluid mixture into the inlet chamber so that it swirls around the chamber and passes to the outlet chamber in which it swirls about an outlet chamber axis, the outlet chamber being provided with means 62 for conducting heavier phase fluids from the outlet chamber at a relatively large distance from the outlet chamber axis and an outlet 63 for lighter phase fluids at a relatively small distance from the outlet chamber axis 55. The flow through the separator and the efficiency of separation are improved by forming at least one of the chambers 52, 53 as involute shaped, the corresponding one 51, 62 of said means being defined by the curved wall of the involute of maximum radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: B.H.R. Group Limited
    Inventors: David Henry Saunders, Emil Gyorgy Arato, Owen Matthew Davies
  • Patent number: 6312594
    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: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad, Ted Szylowiec
  • Patent number: RE40407
    Abstract: A method for entraining and mixing gas with liquids within a conduit or drop structure, comprising the channeling of one or more liquid flows into spiral flows of predetermined radius (radii), reducing the predetermined radius (radii) to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon the spiral flow(s) as the spiral flow(s) enter the conduit, and allowing gas access to the conduit to mix with and entrain within the spiral flow within the conduit or drop structure. The method can facilitate the mixing of gas with one or more fluid flows and/or reduce the release of gas emissions from the fluid(s) into the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Vortex Flow, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene M. Natarius