Electrostatic dust collector

Claim 2

APPARATUS OR SEPARATING PARTICULATE MATTER FROM A GAS STREAM COMPRISING: A. A HOUSING HAVING AN INLET FOR RECEIVING DIRTY GAS AN OUTLET, B. ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING HAVING AN INLET COMMUNICATION WITH SAID DIRTY GAS INLET, SAID PRECIPITATOR MEANS INCLUDING COLLECTOR MEANS FOR SEPARATING MAJOR PORTON OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER FROM THE GAS STREAM, C. FILTER MEANS COMPRISING A HOLLOW PERIMETRIC SHEET OF FORAMINUOUS DIELECTRIC MATERIAL WITHIN SAID HOUSING SPACED BETWEEN SAID ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR AND SAID HOUSING OUTLET FOR SEPARATING THE REMINDER OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER FROM THE GAS STREAM, D. MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ELECTRIC FIELD TO SAID FORMANINUOUS FILTER MEANS COMPRISING A HOLLOW PERIMETER SCREEN OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING MATERIAL POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID FILTER MEANS AND SAID HOUSING OUTLET AND MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAID SCREEN AND SAID ELECTROSTATOIC PRECIPITATOR, SAID SCREEN BEING LOCATED CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID FILTER MEANS AND THE DISTANCE FROM SAID PERCIPITATOR TO SAID FILTER MEANS BEING GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FILTER MEANS AND SAID SCREEN, AND E. MEANS FOR MOVING GAS FROM SAID DIRTY GAS INLET THROUGH SAID LECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR MEANS AND SAID FILTER MEANS AND TO SAID HOUSING OUTLET.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrostatic precipitator is generally cylindrical in shape and of the type wherein gas flows in said precipitator generally axially thereof and flows from said precipitator generally radially outwardly thereof and wherein said filter means is generally tubular in shape and surrounds said precipitator.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said filter means is of fabric material.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, further including vibrator means connected to said precipitator means and said filter means for agitating the same to remove collected particulate matter during cleaning of said apparatus.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrostatic precipitator comprises a cylindrical collecting structure having an opening at one end defining said inlet and outlet means spaced axially from said inlet, an elongated corona electrode mounted centrally of said collecting structure, and means for applying an electrical potential difference between said corona electrode and said collecting structure.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said foraminous filter means comprises a tubular member of fabric material surrounding and positioned in spaced, generally coaxial relation to said collecting structure.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said corona electrode is connected to electrical ground and said collecting structure is connected to a relatively positive electrical potential.

Claim 9

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream comprising: a. a housing having an inlet for receiving dirty gas and an outlet; b. electrostatic precipitator means within said housing having an inlet communicating with said dirty gas inlet, said precipitator comprising a cylindrical collecting structure having an opening at one end defining said inlet and outlet means spaced axially from said inlet, an elongated corona electrode mounted centrally of said collecting structure, and means for applying an electrical potential difference between said corona electrode and said collecting structure, said collecting structure comprising a cylindrical screen of electrically conducting material having an operative axial length substantially equal to the operative axial length of said corona electrode and an impervious tube surrounding said screen in closely-spaced relation, said tube extending along a major portion of the axial length of said screen whereby gas is caused to flow along a major portion of the length of said collecting structure prior to flowing through the outlet of said structure; c. filter means of foraminous material within said housing between said electrostatic precipitator and said housing outlet; d. means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means; and e. means for moving gas from said dirty gas inlet through said electrostatic precipitator means and said filter means and to said housing outlet.

Claim 10

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream comprising: a. a housing having an inlet for receiving dirty gas and an outlet; b. electrostatic precipitator means within said housing having an inlet communicating with said dirty gas inlet, said precipitator comprising a cylindrical collecting structure having an opening at one end defining said inlet and outlet means spaced axially from said inlet, an elongated corona electrode mounted centrally of said collecting structure, and means for applying an electrical potential difference between said corona electrode and said collecting structure, said collecting structure comprising a cylindrical screen of electrically conducting material having an operative axial length substantially equal to the operative axial length of said corona electrode and an impervious tube surrounding said screen in closely-spaced relation, said tube extending along a major portion of the axial length of said screen whereby gas is caused to flow along a major portion of the length of said collecting structure prior to flowing through the outlet of said structure; c. filter means of foraminous material within said housing between said electrostatic precipitator and said housing outlet; d. means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means; and e. means for moving gas from said dirty gas inlet through said electrostatic precipitator means and said filter means and to said housing outlet.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means comprises: a. a cylindrical screen of electrically conducting material surrounding said filter means; and b. means for applying an electrical potential difference between said screen and said electrostatic precipitator.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said screen is located closely adjacent said fabric filter means, the distance from said precipitator to said fabric filter means being greater than the distance between said fabric filter means and said screen.

Claim 13

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream comprising: a. a housing having an inlet for receiving dirty gas and an outlet; b. electrostatic precipitator means within said housing having an inlet communicating with said dirty gas inlet; c. filter means of foraminous material within said housing between said electrostatic precipitator and said housing outlet; d. means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means comprising a screen of electrically conducting material positioned between said filter means and said housing outlet and means for applying an electrical potential difference between said screen and said electrostatic precipitator; e. said screen being disposed generally vertically in said housing and supported by said housing and said precipitator means and said filter means being positioned within said screen; f. means engaging said screen at a position above said precipitator means and said filter means for supporting said precipitator means and said filter means from said screen; and g. means for moving gas from said dirty gas inlet through said electrostatic precipitator means and said filter means and to said housing outlet.

Claim 14

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream comprising: a. a housing having an inlet for receiving dirty gas and an outlet; b. electrostatic precipitator means within said housing having an inlet communicating with said dirty gas inlet; c. filter means of foraminous material within said housing between said electrostatic precipitator and said housing outlet; d. means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means comprising a screen of electrically conducting material positioned between said filter means and said housing outlet and means for applying an electrical potential difference between said screen and said electrostatic precipitator; e. said screen being disposed generally vertically in said housing and supported by said housing and said precipitator means and said filter means being positioned within said screen; f. means engaging said screen at a position above said precipitator means and said filter means for supporting said precipitator means and said filter means from said screen; and g. means for moving gas from said dirty gas inlet through said electrostatic precipitator means and said filter means and to said housing outlet.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said filter means is of flexible material and wherein said apparatus further comprises: a. tension applying means connected to said supporting means and to said filter means; b. means on said filter means engaging said precipitator means in a manner such that tension forces applied to said filter means also are applied to said precipitator means in a direction toward said supporting means; and c. spacing means positioned between said precipitator means and said supporting means for limiting movement of said precipitator means toward said supporting means.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a plurality of units, each unit comprising an assembly of precipitator means, filter means and field applying means, and wherein said housing includes means for arranging said units in groups thereof.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13, further including means for selectively and individually controlling the flow of gas from said groups of units to said housing outlet.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13, further including vibrator means for each group of units, each unit of a group being connected to the corresponding vibrator means, whereby all units of a group are agitated simultaneously to remove collected particulate matter during cleaning of said apparatus.

Claim 19

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream comprising: a. a housing having an inlet for receiving dirty gas and an outlet; b. electrostatic precipitator means within said housing having an inlet communicating with said dirty gas inlet, said precipitator being generally cylindrical in shape and of the type wherein gas flows in said precipitator generally axially thereof and flows from said precipitator generally radially outwardly thereof; c. filter means of foraminous material within said housing between said electrostatic precipitator and said housing outlet, said filter means being generally tubular in shape and surrounding said precipitator; d. said precipitator and said filter means being disposed generally vertically in saiD housing with said precipitator inlet at the bottom thereof, said housing including a generally horizontal supporting member having an opening therein aligned with said precipitator inlet and in communication with said apparatus inlet, said precipitator further including means defining a channel surrounding said precipitator inlet and deformable solid material in said channel, said horizontal supporting member being provided with a first upstanding connecting member around said opening and extending into said deformable solid material and a second upstanding connecting member spaced horizontally from said first member and engaging said filter means; e. means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means; and f. means for moving gas from said dirty gas inlet through said electrostatic precipitator means and said filter means and to said housing outlet.

Claim 20

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream comprising: a. a housing having an inlet for receiving dirty gas and an outlet; b. electrostatic precipitator means within said housing having an inlet communicating with said dirty gas inlet, said precipitator being generally cylindrical in shape and of the type wherein gas flows in said precipitator generally axially thereof and flows from said precipitator generally radially outwardly thereof; c. filter means of foraminous material within said housing between said electrostatic precipitator and said housing outlet, said filter means being generally tubular in shape and surrounding said precipitator; d. said precipitator and said filter means being disposed generally vertically in saiD housing with said precipitator inlet at the bottom thereof, said housing including a generally horizontal supporting member having an opening therein aligned with said precipitator inlet and in communication with said apparatus inlet, said precipitator further including means defining a channel surrounding said precipitator inlet and deformable solid material in said channel, said horizontal supporting member being provided with a first upstanding connecting member around said opening and extending into said deformable solid material and a second upstanding connecting member spaced horizontally from said first member and engaging said filter means; e. means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means; and f. means for moving gas from said dirty gas inlet through said electrostatic precipitator means and said filter means and to said housing outlet.

Claim 21

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream comprising: a. a housing having an inlet for receiving dirty gas and an outlet; b. electrostatic precipitator means within said housing having an inlet communicating with said dirty gas inlet, said precipitator comprising an elongated hollow collecting structure having an opening at one end defining said inlet and outlet means spaced longitudinally from said inlet, an elongated corona electrode mounted generally centrally of said collecting structure, and means for applying an electrical potential difference between said corona electrode and said collecting structure, said collecting structure comprising a hollow screen of electrically conducting material having an operative longitudinal dimension substantially equal to the operative longitudinal dimension of said corona electrode and a gas directing element of hollow, elongated shape and impervious material surrounding said screen in closely-spaced relation, said gas directing element extending along a major portion of the longitudinal dimension of said screen whereby gas is caused to flow along a major portion of the length of said collecting structure prior to flowing through the outlet of said structure; c. filter means of foraminous material within said housing between said electrostatic precipitator and said housing outlet; d. means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means; and e. means for moving gas from said dirty gas inlet through said electrostatic precipitator means and said filter means and to said housing outlet.

Claim 22

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream comprising: a. a housing having an inlet for receiving dirty gas and an outlet; b. electrostatic precipitator means within said housing having an inlet communicating with said dirty gas inlet, said precipitator comprising an elongated hollow collecting structure having an opening at one end defining said inlet and outlet means spaced longitudinally from said inlet, an elongated corona electrode mounted generally centrally of said collecting structure, and means for applying an electrical potential difference between said corona electrode and said collecting structure, said collecting structure comprising a hollow screen of electrically conducting material having an operative longitudinal dimension substantially equal to the operative longitudinal dimension of said corona electrode and a gas directing element of hollow, elongated shape and impervious material surrounding said screen in closely-spaced relation, said gas directing element extending along a major portion of the longitudinal dimension of said screen whereby gas is caused to flow along a major portion of the length of said collecting structure prior to flowing through the outlet of said structure; c. filter means of foraminous material within said housing between said electrostatic precipitator and said housing outlet; d. means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means; and e. means for moving gas from said dirty gas inlet through said electrostatic precipitator means and said filter means and to said housing outlet.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for applying an electric field to said foraminous filter means comprises: a. a screen of electrically conducting material positioned between said filter means and said housing outlet; and b. means for applying an electrical potential difference between said screen and said electrostatic precipitator.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said screen is located closely adjacent said filter means, the distance from said precipitator to said filter means being greater than the distance between said filter means and said screen.