Vacuum unloading valve for dust collectors

Claim 2

A vacuum unloading valve for a dust collector having a rectangular depending outlet end and operating under negative pressure, wherein the improvement comprises: a hollow elongated valve body and an elongated elastomeric sleeve surrounding and supported internally by said valve body throughout the greater portion of its length; said valve body including two pairs of opposite sides forming a rectangular upper inlet end mating with and adapted to be secured directly to said outlet end, one pair of sides being horizontally elongated, and the other pair of sides being vertically elongated below said one pair by opposite longitudinal edges converging downwardly along lines symmetrical about the central longitudinal axes of said other pair and merging at their lower ends in an axial plane; and said valve sleeve including two normally flat sheets extending over said one pair of sides onto said other pair of sides and fitting tightly around said upper inlet end and loosely around said lower ends of said edges to provide two pairs of side flaps joined at their outer margins generally along said plane but diverging downwardly from said other pair of sides and connected by central flaps between said edges and lower flaps below said edges, said central flaps and side flaps normally bulging outwardly around said lower ends of said edges to open said lower flaps, but being adapted to be drawn inwardly along said edges by said negative pressure to close said lower flaps generally along said plane, as well as to be spread apart from said edges by the weight of the collected material in said valve to open said lower flaps and unload said valve.

Claim 3

The unloading valve of claim 1 wherein each of said edges on each side of said other pair includes a concave curve lying between and including exponential and hyperbolic curves tangent to one of two straight lines tapering downwardly from the upper ends of said edges and merging in said axial plane above the lower ends of said edges at a common predetermined point intermediate the upper and lower ends of said one straight line and lying in a transverse plane generally perpendicular to said axial plane, and including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body; means tying each pair of said side flaps together; means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides; and means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve.

Claim 4

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body, said mounting means including clamping bar means engaging the upper margins of said central and side flaps around said upper inlet end, and outstanding means spaced around said upper inlet end and securing said clamping bar means against said upper margins, to seal said upper margins against said valve body.

Claim 5

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means tying each pair of said side flaps together, said tying means including elongated tie bars engaging said outer margins of said side flaps substantially throughout their length, and means securing said tie bars and outer margins together, to stiffen and seal said outer margins.

Claim 6

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides, said reinforcing means including a series of vertically spaced and horizontally elongated reinforcing bars extending across each of said central flaps and overlying said opposite longitudinal edges between said one pair of sides and said lower ends of said edges, and means securing said reinforcing bars and central flaps together, whereby said central flaps are prevented from collapsing between said other pairs of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 7

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve, said controlling means including a pair of hinge arms arranged between said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps and said opposite longitudinal edges of each side of said other pair adjacent each lower end of said edges, with said arms being pivotally connected at their outer and inner ends to said outer margins and central flaps respectively, whereby said outer ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate together toward and away from those of the other pair in directions generally parallel to said plane while said inner ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate away from and toward each other in directions generally perpendicular to said plane, to stabilize the opening and closing movements respectively of said lower flaps and to prevent distortion and collapse of said central flaps between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 8

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body; and means tying each pair of said side flaps together; said mounting means including one pair of elongated clamping bars extending across said one pair of sides and another pair of elongated clamping bars extending across said other pair of sides, with said clamping bars engaging the upper margins of said central and side flaps around said upper inlet end, and outstanding means spaced around said upper inlet end, extending through and securing said clamping bars against said upper margins, to seal said upper margins against said valve body; and said tying means including a pair of elongated tie bars engaging the outer sides of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps substantially throughout their length below each clamping bar of said other pair, and means extending through and securing each pair of said tie bars and outer margins together, to stiffen and seal said outer margins.

Claim 9

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body; and means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides; said mounting meanS including one pair of elongated clamping bars extending across said one pair of sides and another pair of elongated clamping bars extending across said other pair of sides, with said clamping bars engaging the upper margins of said central and side flaps around said upper inlet end, and outstanding means spaced around said upper inlet end, extending through and securing said clamping bars against said upper margins, to seal said upper margins against said valve body; and said reinforcing means including a series of vertically spaced and horizontally elongated reinforcing bars extending across the outer sides of each of said central flaps and overlying said opposite longitudinal edges between said one pair of sides and said lower ends of said edges, and means extending through and securing said reinforcing bars and central flaps together, whereby said central flaps are prevented from collapsing between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 10

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body; and means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve; said mounting means including one pair of elongated clamping bars extending across said one pair of sides and another pair of elongated clamping bars extending across said other pair of sides, with said clamping bars engaging the upper margins of said central and side flaps around said upper inlet end, and outstanding means spaced around said upper inlet end, extending through and securing said clamping bars against said upper margins, to seal said upper margins against said valve body; and said controlling means including a pair of hinge arms arranged between said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps and said opposite longitudinal edges of each side of said other pair adjacent each lower end of said edges, with said arms of being pivotally connected at their outer and inner ends to said outer margins and central flaps respectively, whereby said outer ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate together toward and away from those of the other pair in directions generally parallel to said plane while said inner ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate away from and toward each other in directions generally perpendicular to said plane, to stabilize the opening and closing movements respectively of said lower flaps and to prevent distortion and collapse of said central flaps between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 11

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means tying each pair of said side flaps together; and means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides; said tying means including a pair of elongated tie bars engaging the outer sides of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps substantially throughout their length, and means extending through and securing each pair of said tie bars and outer margins together, to stiffen and seal said outer margins; and said reinforcing means including a series of vertically spaced and horizontally elongated reinforcing bars extending across the outer sides of each of said central flaps and overlying said opposite longitudinal edges between said one pair of sides and said lower ends of said edges, and means extending through and securing said reinforcing bars and central flaps together, whereby said central flaps are prevented from collapsing between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 12

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means tying each pair of said side flaps together; and means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve; said tying means including a pair of elongated tie bars engaging the outer sides of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps substantially throughout their length, and means extending through and securing each pair of said tie bars and outer margins together, to stiffen and seal said outer margins; and said controlling means including a pair of hinge arms arranged between said outer marginS of each pair of said side flaps and said opposite longitudinal edges of each side of said other pair adjacent each lower end of said edges, with said arms being pivotally connected at their outer and inner ends to said tie bars and central flaps respectively, whereby said outer ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate together toward and away from those of the other pair in directions generally parallel to said plane while said inner ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate away from and toward each other in directions generally perpendicular to said plane, to stabilize the opening and closing movements respectively of said lower flaps and to prevent distortion and collapse of said central flaps between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 13

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides; and means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve; said reinforcing means including a series of vertically spaced and horizontally elongated reinforcing bars extending across the outer sides of each of said central flaps and overlying said opposite longitudinal edges between said one pair of sides and said lower ends of said edges, and means extending through and securing said reinforcing bars and central flaps together, whereby said central flaps are prevented from collapsing between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure; and said controlling means including a pair of hinge arms arranged between said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps and said opposite longitudinal edges of each side of said other pair adjacent each lower end of said edges, with said arms being pivotally connected at their outer and inner ends to said outer margins and the adjacent ends of the lowermost ones of said reinforcing bars respectively, whereby said outer ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate together toward and away from those of the other pair in directions generally parallel to said plane while said inner ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate away from and toward each other in directions generally perpendicular to said plane, to stabilize the opening and closing movements respectively of said lower flaps and to prevent distortion and collapse of said central flaps between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 14

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body; means tying each pair of said side flaps together; and means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides; said mounting means including one pair of elongated and channel-shaped clamping bars extending across said one pair of sides and another pair of elongated and channel-shaped clamping bars extending across said other pair of sides, with said clamping bars having their lower flange portions engaging the upper margins of said central and side flaps around said upper inlet end and their upper flange portions engaging said pair of sides above said upper margins, each clamping bar of said other pair being provided with a central notch in its lower flange portion and base portion permitting passage of the upper ends of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps, and outstanding means spaced around said upper inlet end and including a plurality of threaded fasteners extending through the base portion of each of said clamping bars and securing said clamping bars against said upper margins, to seal said upper margins against said valve body; said tying means including a pair of elongated tie bars engaging the outer sides of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps substantially throughout their length below each clamping bar of said other pair, and means including a series of longitudinally spaced threaded fasteners extending through and securing each pair of said tie bars and outer margins together, to stiffen and seal said outer margins; and said reinforcing means including a series of vertically spaced and horizoNtally elongated reinforcing bars extending across the outer side of each of said central flaps and overlying said opposite longitudinal edges between said one pair of sides and said lower ends of said edges, and means including a plurality of threaded fasteners extending through each of said reinforcing bars and central flaps and securing said reinforcing bars and central flaps together, whereby said central flaps are prevented from collapsing between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 15

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body; means tying each pair of said side marginal flaps together; and means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve; said mounting means including one pair of elongated and channel-shaped clamping bars extending across said one pair of sides and another pair of elongated and channel-shaped clamping bars extending across said other pair of sides, with said clamping bars having their lower flange portions engaging the upper margins of said central and side flaps around said upper inlet end and their upper flange portions engaging said pairs of sides above said upper margins, each clamping bar of said other pair being provided with a central notch in its lower flange portion and base portion permitting passage of the upper ends of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps; said tying means including a pair of elongated tie bars engaging the outer sides of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps substantially throughout their length below each clamping bar of said other pair, and means including a series of longitudinally spaced threaded fasteners extending through and securing each pair of said tie bars and outer margins together, to stiffen and seal said outer margins; and said controlling means including a pair of hinge arms arranged between said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps and said opposite longitudinal edges of each side of said other pair adjacent each lower end of said edges, with said arms diverging intermediate their ends from each pair of said side flaps to provide clearance for said side flaps when spread apart and being pivotally connected at their outer and inner ends to said tie bars and central flaps respectively, whereby said outer ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate together toward and away from those of the other pair in directions generally parallel to said plane and said inner ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate away from and toward each other in directions generally perpendicular to said plane, to stabilize the opening and closing movements respectively of said lower flaps and to prevent distortion and collapse of said central flaps between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 16

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body; means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides; and means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve; said mounting means including one pair of elongated and channel-shaped clamping bars extending across said one pair of sides and another pair of elongated and channel-shaped clamping bars extending across said other pair of sides, with said clamping bars having their lower flange portions engaging the upper margins of said central and side flaps around said upper inlet end and their upper flange portions engaging said pairs of sides above said upper margins, each clamping bar of said other pair being provided with a central notch in its lower flange portion and base portion permitting passage of the upper ends of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps and outstanding means spaced around said upper inlet end and including a plurality of threaded fasteners extending through the base portion of each of said clamping bars and securing said clamping bars against said upper margins, to seal said upper margins against said valve body; said reinforcing means including a serIes of vertically spaced and horizontally elongated reinforcing bars extending across the outer side of each of said central flaps and overlying said opposite longitudinal edges between said one pair of sides and said lower ends of said edges, and means including a plurality of threaded fasteners extending through each of said reinforcing bars and central flaps and securing said reinforcing bars and central flaps together, whereby said central flaps are prevented from collapsing between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure; and said controlling means including a pair of hinge arms arranged between said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps and said opposite longitudinal edges of each side of said other pair adjacent each lower end of said edges, with said arms diverging intermediate their ends from each pair of said side flaps to provide clearance for said side flaps when spread apart and being pivotally connected at their outer and inner ends to said outer margins and the adjacent ends of the lowermost ones of said reinforcing bars respectively, whereby said outer ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate together toward and away from those of the other pair in directions generally parallel to said plane while said inner ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate away from and toward each other in directions generally perpendicular to said plane, to stabilize the opening and closing movements respectively of said lower flaps and to prevent distortion and collapse of said central flaps between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 17

The unloading valve of claim 1 including means tying each pair of said side flaps together; means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides; and means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve; said tying means including a pair of elongated tie bars engaging the outer sides of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps substantially throughout their length, and means including a series of longitudinally spaced threaded fasteners extending through and securing each pair of said tie bars and outer margins together, to stiffen and seal said outer margins; said reinforcing means including a series of vertically spaced and horizontally elongated reinforcing bars extending across the outer side of each of said central flaps and overlying said opposite longitudinal edges between said one pair of sides and said lower ends of said edges, and means including a plurality of threaded fasteners extending through each of said reinforcing bars and central flaps and securing said reinforcing bars and central flaps together, whereby said central flaps are prevented from collapsing between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure; and said controlling means including a pair of hinge arms arranged between said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps and said opposite longitudinal edges of each side of said other pair adjacent each lower end of said edges, with said arms diverging intermediate their ends away from each pair of said side flaps to provide clearance for said side flaps when spread apart and being pivotally connected at their outer and inner ends to said tie bars and the adjacent ends of the lowermost ones of said reinforcing bars respectively, whereby said outer ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate together toward and away from those of the other pair in directions generally parallel to said plane while said inner ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate away from and toward each other in directions generally perpendicular to said plane, to stabilize the opening and closing movements respectively of said lower flaps and to prevent distortion and collapse of said central flaps between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.

Claim 18

The unloading valve of claim 1 wherein each of said edges on each side of said other pair includes upper and lower convex exponential curves connected by an intermediate concave exponential curve tangeNt to one of two straight lines tapering downwardly from the upper ends of said edges and merging in said axial plane above the lower ends of said edges at a predetermined point intermediate the upper and lower ends of said one straight line and lying in a transverse plane generally perpendicular to said axial plane, and including means mounting said valve sleeve on said valve body; means tying each pair of said side flaps together; means reinforcing said valve sleeve between said other pair of sides; and means controlling the opening and closing of said valve sleeve; said mounting means including one pair of elongated and channel-shaped clamping bars extending across said one pair of sides and another pair of elongated and channel-shaped clamping bars extending across said other pair of sides, with said clamping bars having their lower flange portions engaging the upper margins of said central and side flaps around said upper inlet end and their upper flange portions engaging said pairs of sides above said upper margins, each bar of said other pair being provided with a central notch in its lower flange portion and base portion to permit passage of the upper ends of said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps, and outstanding means spaced around said upper inlet end and including a plurality of hanger pins extending through and supporting said upper margins above said lower flange portions, a plurality of bolts extending through each of said base portions above said upper margins and nuts threaded thereon and securing said clamping bars against said upper margins to seal said upper margins against said valve body; said tying means including a pair of elongated tie bars engaging the outer sides of said margins of each pair of said side flaps substantially throughout their length below each clamping bar of said other pair, and means including a series of longitudinally spaced bolts extending through each pair of said tie bars and outer margins and nuts threaded thereon and securing each pair of said tie bars and outer margins together, to stiffen and seal said outer margins; said reinforcing means including a series of vertically spaced and horizontally elongated reinforcing bars extending across the outer sides of each of said central flaps and overlying said opposite longitudinal edges between said one pair of sides and said lower ends of said edges, and means including a plurality of bolts extending through each of said reinforcing bars and central flaps and nuts threaded thereon and securing said reinforcing bars and central flaps together, whereby said central flaps are prevented from collapsing between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure; and said controlling means including a pair of fixed dihedral hinge arms arranged between said outer margins of each pair of said side flaps and said opposite longitudinal edges of each side of said other pair adjacent each lower end of said edges, with said arms diverging intermediate their ends away from each pair of said side flaps to provide clearance for said side flaps when spread apart and being pivotally connected at their outer and inner ends to said tie bars and the adjacent ends of the lowermost ones of said reinforcing bars respectively, whereby said outer ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate together toward and away from those of the other pair in directions generally parallel to said plane while said inner ends of said arms of each pair reciprocate away from and toward each other in directions generally perpendicular to said plane, to stabilize the opening and closing movements respectively of said lower flaps between said other pair of sides under said negative pressure.