CA2197168A1 - In chamber system protectors - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for preventing a cartridge filter which is located inside the bin or hopper of a system from accidentally falling into the hopper because of failure of the operator to properly handle the cartridge filter during replacement of the cartridge filter with the system including a safety cage that is secured to the bin with the safety cage surrounding the cartridge filter and being spaced sufficiently far from the safety filter to permit free nonbinding removal and replacement of a filter cartridge while still permitting substantially unimpeded flow of air through the safety cage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates gen~lly to air filter systems and, mare particularly, to improvements to in chamber ~idge filter systems that require p~ic reF~ nt of thecar~idge filters.

BACKGROI~D OF T~E ~NTION
One of the -lifficllltly ~nr~ r.~d with c~ ~g systerns is thaton~ ;",~ the airwithin the system needs to be vented from tne system. As the air within the system is full of part~ t~ it is n~F ~ to filter the air before venting tne air to the ~1 " Il~s~)hrl c;.
Typically, a ~Llidge filter is pociti~ed within the mixing or storage ~ ",~, of the system so that the d~ty air must flow l~ugh the cartrid,ge filter before e~iting from the system. The filter system in~hldff a cartIidge adapter that has m~ml~s thereon that engage with ma~ng ~, ~e ~h~ ~ on the intenarofthe cartridge filter. The adapterholds the ~Lidge filter thereto as a sillgle UDit to permit the car~idge filter to hle ~o~ed and replac~d as a single unit when the ~ ge fil~eri~s spent. The loc~ing mf~h~nicmc for hol~ing the car~idge adapter to the filter ~ llidge is ~I,e~el~ effe~ive and actuaUy mal~ it ~hm~.lt to remove a filter G~rtridge ~m the cartridge adapter which ~..;n; ~ . ~;~ 5 the ch~n~S of the c~ l-i~ge filter fa1ting ir~to the bi~ Ihus it is ve~ lt and Iare for the car~idge filter to ~dPnt~lly faIl off the car~idge filter . 1~t~Pr, however, in spite of the s~;~;l~ of the n . . .~t sysh~ n~ny o~ ~ c~r causes the cartridge filtfr to drop into the system Ihat is, the person who i~5 ~ .lg the car~idge filter removes the filter cartridge filter from the car~idge adaptcr and du~i~g the h~n~tin~ proc~ss might a~i~pntly dT~p the old ornew car~idge filterinto thebin. Wh~e the locl~ing f .~ t between the car~idge a~ter and the car~idge filter v~a~y assures tbat a(-ridprl~t release should not occur it hasbeendisooveredtha~theo~ tn~mightthroughin~ ;rf~ess~ P.~lydropthe car~idge filter into the bin after he a~ she has ~ UVC d the c~llidge filter ~m the filter a ~ Jt~ s the bins are usually quite deep it is ~1; r~ t to fish the ~i~lgp- filter out of the bin. In addition the bin system mi~ht contain m~rhin~ that would be dam~ved if the car~idge f;lter fell in. While it is highly unlikey that the ada~ter wouId ever fall offthe cartridge filter the present invention address an ~ ~l~ h~n~llinv problem that can result in a cartridge filter falling into the bin. That is, the op~lol through ;~ nre or in~ /eneSS might ~rri~Pn~ly drop the filter cartridge into the o~g in the bin. To ove~ollle the problem with in;,ll.~..l;ve ~ o~ l the ~resent inver~tion provides a safety cage that prevents the o~.d~r f~m ~ (lently dropping the ~ I,idge filter into the bin and causiIIg damage to tne system yet permits the op~aLol to readily remove and replace the filter cartrid,,e.

BRIEF DESCRIPlION OF T~E PRIOR ART
U.S. Patent 4,336,043 hows filtration ~Sc~mhly with a closed hn..~;ng molmt~ around a f~ter.

U.S. Patent 4,848,9g0 shows a ~ln~t coll~ with the dust coll~tnr la ated outside of the hopper dryer.

U.S. Patent 5,344,559 shows a filter car~idge.

U.S. Patent 5,409,512 shows an air filt~1inn system for c~l~g dust during Swc~;pil~g 0~ - ,-1 ;()n~

U.S. Patent 4,482,367 shows a self~l~niTt~ air fitter.system wl~ ,~ air Iter is ~brated to to ~ 1~J~ tPti m~tPn~l U.S. Patent 4,767,427 shows a c~l.;dge filter ll~o~ .lg ~ L~n a~:leasable ~1~"~1~;"~ ~I)y~.al~JS holds the fitterwithin the systesn.

2 1 97 1 68 ' U.S. Patent 4,514,875 shows a filter for a çl~o~ning m~rhin.~ with the filter mounted di~ly in the m~rhinP

U.S. Patent 4,198,726 shows a cl~ninp, f;lters mo~lnt~d on a trac~

U.S. Patent 2,370,034 shows a removable bin for holding ~zen foods in a refi~ge~tnr or the like.

U.S. Patent 1,284,579 shows a jar and bottle holder.

U.S. Design Patent 138,327 shows an ~ l basket.

U.S. Patent 1,885,104 shows a basket for use in a rPfn~P~t r Su~ MAl~y OF l~E INVE~TION
The present imrention co.. 'l" ~ s a system for p~ g a car~idge filter which is located inside the bin or hopp~ of a sysb~m f~m ~ri~lpnt~lly faning intD the hopper b~ of f~ilure of the ~, ~n. to p~ y handle the car~idge filter ~nnn~ f ~ I of the idge filter with the system inr~ ling a safety cage that is secured to the bin with the safety cage a~o....~ the cartcidge filter and being spaced ~ l ly far from the c~rtridge filter to permit free nonhin~ling removal and ~ nl of a ~ter car~idge w~ile still p~iUing ~b~ lly lmilTl~d~P~d flow of air ~rou~ the safety cage.

BR~EF DESCRIPIION OF TEIE DRAW~GS
Flgure 1 shows a partial alt away view of a co~ y~g systems ha~ing a bin with a f;lter located inte~al to the bin for ~Enting air tO the outside of the bin;

2l97l68 Figure 2 shows a cartridge filter for use in the filter system of Flg,ure l;

Flgurc 3 shows a cartridge f~ter of Flgure 2 in sec~ed ~~ng~oc- "Pnt to a car~dge filter ada~ter, Figure 4 shows the safety cage located inside the bin of the conveying system of Figu}e l;
and Flgure S shows the safety cage po~ oned a~und the car~idge filter to prevent a cartridge filter ~om ever fàlling into the bin.

DESCR~IION OF 1~: PREFE~R~ E~IBODIM~T
Flgure 1 shows a par~al cut away view of a collvc~mg system 10 having a bin 12 with a filter 20 located int~n~l to the bin 12 forventing air to the outside of the bin 12. Bin 12 sits on the floor ~Uy~uL Lcd by le~s 13 and in~ des sidewalls and a t~ . . .~ 15. A disol~ge tube 16 cQnnf~l~ to top .. ~h~ 15 to convey m~t~l to or f~om bin 12. Bin 12 inC~ es a mi~ing ....~ m 18 for mi~ng the m~t~l 16 in bin 12.
.

~~ o~,- ~ of bin system 10, air from inside rçgion 17 flows ll~uu~h filter 20 and is to the ~ as ..,~ by the a~Tows. Ihe filter remo~es particulate ma~er fi~m the air to avoid p nnting the air outside bin 12.

hgure 2 show-s a p~. .~-l; ,~ view of a typical filter cartridge for use in the ~esent system the ~ t i~ in~ s a f~st rigid end cap 21 having a cent~ . . .h ~ 23 with a set of ~ a apaced ~ ...fi ~ ly an~und ce~lt~l ~ 23. A second end cap 22 is loca~ed on the OppOal~ end of filter 20 and is secured to one end of filter media 2 ! 9 7 1 68 25. Simil~rly end cap 21 is secured to the opposite end of filter media 25 to provide a filter car~idge. End cap 21 &ffers ~om end cap ~ in that end cap ~ is closed so that air can only enter the interior of filter 20 thn~ugh the filter media 25.

Flgure 3 shows a caltridge filter adapter 30 havis~g a set of c~idge engagement ~ b~
34 located on the cylin~ sechon 33 of f~ter adapter. A tube 30a ~ rl~-~c to filter adapter 30 to permit a user to p~io~fi~lly pulse air bac~wa~d l~ filtes cart~idge 20 to ~ loclge particulate m:~Pri~l that lodges on the filter me&a 25.

Cylin~nr~l section 33 fits ~vithin the central "~ "h~ 21 in rigid end cap 21 so that the Bdi e~tPn~li~ e ~y~ lt ~ l "~ 34 engage the radial eng,~.... n~ ..-~...l). S 24 on Bdial filter 2Q To secure the adapter 30 to filter c~dge 20 one rotates or t~rists filter cartcidge 20 slightly unhl the ~ .l ."_~ "~ ~ loc3~ lugell~ .r ill the form of ~Dikc ,e- 1 1~ Once in P.l~ . . .~. .f with each ot~er the ~n~m~nt lL~e.~ securely hold ~e a~ and the filter as a single unit.

F~gure 4 -shows a t~ CJUub~l c~dge case 40 having a lip 41 far ~,u~ ially ~r~g~; ~ ~ a flange 43 to ~:vent "~ case 40 fiom fi~lling into bin 12.
Flange 43 can be sealred to top ~ ..h~ r 15 thl'ough a wel~m~t or ~ o-lgh bolts orrivets.
The c~idge case in~ es bottom section 45 and a side section 46. Car~idge case 40 has an inside ~ Dl and an inside leng~h Ll with the car~idge case 40 ~tPn~i~ inside of bin 12. Car~idge case 40 in~7ll~1Pc a plulality of ~,;il.~UUl~;lGU~ riDgs ar bands 47 and a plu~aliy of 1~ -..al wire ... ..1. - ~46 thatare ~d to each other to fo~m awire safety G~ge 40 to su~ound a c~idge filter. The o~...-pc in the w~re safety cage 40 are ge so as not to impede ~ ~ict t~e flow of air l~. . u! ~E l - the fil~:r. If thesafety G~ge is to be uced in a co~ c~l.ul~ll..,n~ the wire safety Glge c~n be made ~m s~inlP~c steel, hc,~ ~, other cage mqt~riqlc couId be used d~nrl;ng on the e lV~ llllGUt, in the bin. In the embodiment shown the wire safety cage is vertically mounted in bin 12, that is with the lon~it~ in~l mem~er.s e~t~on~ling along orparallel to a vertical line.

hgure 3 i~ t~tPS cylin~ l ~idge filter 20 having an outside ~met~ D2 and an outside length L2 with the outside ~ti~mPt~ s~r~ ly srnaller than the inside ~ m~t~ D
of cylin~lTi~l car~idge c~ 40 ~nd the outside length L2 of cartridge filter 20 being sllffi~i~ntly smaller than the inside length Ll of cylin~ic~ idge 20 so as to permit free non binding ins~L~ or removal of car~idge filter 20 f~m cylin~ri~l car~idge case 40 while allowing the cylin~n~t cartridge case to prevent the car~idge filter 20 from ~c~ ntly falling into bin 12 in the event the car~idge filter adapter 30 is ~ ng~ged from ~idge filter 20 d~ing the ch~ncing of the cartndge filter 20 in the bin system 10.

hgure 5 shows the filter 20 and filter adapter 30 located in safety cage 40 with the safety cage spaced f~m the sides and end wall of filter cartridge 20. In this cnn~titinn the filter 20 cannot fall into bin 12; hu.._~_., more ih ~lly ~hen an op ~ ,. le~?laces the filter car~idge the safety cage 40 remains within bin 12 so that if the op~v~ should ~l~rir~ontly dr~p the filter ~idge itcouldnot fall into thebin and .1~ r the c~lu,p~l in thebin.

i, .

Claims (14)

1. A bin system for storing or transporting material wherein filtering of the air is accomplished prior to venting the air from the bin system comprising:
a bin for holding material therein, said bin having sidewalls and a member for enclosing said side walls to define an inside and outside to said bin, said member having an opening therein for venting air to the outside of the bin region;
a cartridge case mounted on said bin to prevent said cartridge case from falling into said bin, said cartridge case having a bottom section, said cartridge case having an inside diameter and an inside length with said cartridge case located inside said bin;
a cartridge filter adapter, said cartridge filter adapter having a cartridge engagement member therein;
a cartridge filter, said cartridge filter having a first closed end and a second end with filter material located therebetween, said cartridge filter engagement member on said second end forming engagement said cartridge engagement member on said cartridge filteradapter and said filter engagement to hold said cartridge filter and said cartridge filter adapter as a single unit, said cartridge filter having an outside diameter and an outside length with said outside diameter sufficiently smaller than said inside diameter of said cylindrical cartridge case and said outside length of said cartridge filter being sufficiently smaller than said inside length of said cylindrical cartridge so as to permit free non binding insertion or removal of said cartridge filter from said cylindrical cartridge case with said cylindrical cartridge case having sufficiently small openings therein to prevent the cartridge filter from accidently falling into said bin in the event the cartridge filter adapter becomes disengaged from said cartridge filter during the changing of the cartridge filter in the bin system and sufficiently large openings therein so as not to impede the flow of air through said cartridge case.

2. The bin system of claim 1 wherein said cartridge cage and said cartridge filter is cylindrical.

3. The bin system of claim 2 wherein said cartridge cage is a wire cage.

4. The bin system of claim 3 wherein said cartridge filter adapter includes a passage for pulsing cleaning air through said cartridge filter to remove particles accumulated on said cartridge filter.

5. The bin system of claim 4 wherein the sufficiently large openings therein are spaced circumferentially around said cartridge case.

6. The bin system of claim 5 wherein said member having an opening therein is a top member with said top member located above material processing equipment.

7. The bin system of claim 6 wherein said cartridge engagement member comprises radial extending members for forming twisting engagement with said cartridge filter.

8. The bin system of claim 7 wherein said adaptor includes a passage therein for directing air into the cartridge to remove particles adhering to said filter by pulsing air into said cartridge filter to force accumulated particles from the cartridge filter and through the cartridge case.

9. The bin system of claim 8 wherein said cartridge case comprises a plurality of cylindrical rings.

10. The bin system of claim 9 wherein said cartridge case includes a plurality of longitudinal members connected to said plurality of cylindrical rings to form an open structure for passage of unfiltered air there through.

11. The bin system of claim 10 wherein said cartridge case is stainless steel.

12. The bin system of claim 10 wherein a flange is secured to said top member for supporting said cartridge case therein.

13. The bin system of claim 12 wherein said cartridge case is vertically mounted in said bin.

14. The bin system of claim 13 wherein said top member includes a lip for engaging said cartridge case.