US1035341A - Pneumatic cleaner. - Google Patents

Description

C. B. GILMORE.

PNEUMATIC CLEANER, APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1010.

Patented Aug. 13,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

QOLUI'IM PLANOOIAP" CO" WMNINGTDN, D. C.

G. B. GILMORE. PNEUMATIC CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.18. 1910.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 2.

ldiz/eeeea COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM 50.,WAININ11TON. b. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BURDETTE GILMORE, OF BLOOMING'ION, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO LEWIS C. WALTER, 'OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed November 12, 1910. Serial No. 591,953.

' To all whom it may concern:

anism for cleaning the filter screen of the cleaner.

This invention has in mind certain objects to be obtained in a device ot this character and in order to accomplish these objects and produce a device having numerous advantages, certain novel features of construction have been embodied which result in a durable and eflicicnt cleaner.

One of these features is a pneumatic cleaner entirely independent of the air current inducing mechanism used in the normal operation of a machine, which pneumatic means is adapted to draw a current of air through the filter screen for the purpose 'of cleaning the same.

Another feature resides in a scraper which may be moved along the surface of the screen to remove the coarse dust par- ..ticles clinging thereto prior to the pneu- "matlc cleaning action.

Still another feature consists in a beater or agltator adapted to agitate or vlbrate the screen to assist in loosening the particles ..of accumulated dirt therefrom.

A further feature is found in the novel dust pan employed which is provided with a centrally disposed dust pocket and has a series of rows of pins arranged in the pan between the air inlet and outlets thereto so "that the air which is drawn into the pan must pass around the dust pocket through these series of pins which will collect and retain large particles of matter carried by the air current.

Other novel features of construction are shown on the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and the objects and advantages of these features will become apparent as the invention is understood. It will be obvious, however, that the invention is capable of considerable variation in its general arrangement and structural details and that it is not limited to the exact construction shown and described, the true scope of the invention being set forth in the claims.

Referring to the (l1I\\'lI1g'S l igure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the center of a cleaner embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line -t4l of Fig. 1.

On the drawings 10 designates generally, a circular chamber which is preferably disposed in a vertical plane and which is supported upon a dust pan 11. The pan is removahly secured to the circular chamber by means of pivoted bolts 12 provided with thumb-nuts 13 which are threaded down against laterally projecting cars 14 secured to a flange 15 extending outwardly from the chamber 10. A gasket 16 is preferably interposed between the upper edge of the pan and the chamber to form an air tight connection therebetween.

Air is admitted to the dust pan through a pipe 17 disposed at an angle to a radius of the pan so that the air drawn into the pan will tend to take a circular course around the pan outside a dust pocket 18 disposed centrally of the pan. This pocket is preferably circular in form and flares upwardly and outwardly at 19 and terminates at its upper end in a vertical portion 20. A partition 21 divides the dustpan adjacent the inlet pipe 17. A plurality of series of pins 22, 23 and 24 are arranged within the dust'pan around the dust pocket. as shown in Fig. 3, and batlie-plates 25 and 26 extend radially of the pan to the inner ends of the series of pins 23 and 24. The air is withdrawn from the dust pan through an opening, 27 provided in the vertical portion 20 of the dust pocket and a vertical partition 28 which extends only partially the height of the dust pan is disposed adjacent the opening 27. It will be evident that as the air laden with dust, dirt and lint enters the dust pan from the pipe 17 it must pass between the pins of the series 22 into the compartment between the series 22 and 23. The baffle-plate 25 deflects the air from beneath the inclined wall of the dust pocket so that it must pass between the pins of the series 23 and likewise the battle-plate 26 insures the passage of air between the pins of the series 24. These series of pins 22, 23 and 24 and the low partition 28 relieve the air of the large particles of dust and lint which are taken up by the cleaner nozzle: and as the dust accumulates on the pins it forms a screen through which the air must pass during the continued operation of the machine. In this manner the coarse particles of dirt, etc, are removed from the air in the dust pan.

The lower end of the chamber 10 is equipped with a flange 29 which provides an annular seat 30 upon which is supported the filter screen 31. This screen is cylindrical in form and open at either end as perhaps best shown in Fig. 2. As will be evident from this figure, the diameter of the screen is considerably less than the diameter of the large part 32 of the chamber 10, so that a passageway or compartment is formed around the periphery of the screen. A air outlet pipe 33 communicates with said passageway or compartment through the side wall 32 of the chamber. This pipe 33 may be connected with any suitable auto matic or hand-operated suction pump by means of which a current of air will be drawn through the cleaner from the inlet pipe 17 around the dust pan through the aperture 27 to the interior of the screen, thence through the screen where the dust particles are removed, to the chamber surrounding the same and subsequently to the suction device through the outlet pipe 33.

A dome or bell 34 is removably secured to v the top of the enlarged portion 32 of the chamber by means of bolts 35 which are threaded into brackets 36 secured to the interior of the chamber. A gasket 37 is preferably provided in order that an air tight fitting may be effected at this joint.

Around the periphery of the dome 34 and near the upper end thereof there is secured, by screws 38 or other preferred fastening means, a collapsible bellows 39, said bellows being adapted to be opened or extended downwardly inside the screen 31. The lower end of the bellows is glued or otherwise suitably attached to a cylindrical member 40 which extends at its lower edge into a radially disposed flange 41 and is provided immediately above said flange with a plurality of perforations 42, for a purpose to be later described. An annular gasket 43 is V secured upon the exterior of said cylindrical member just above the openings 42.

This cylindrical member is opened at either end but a conical-shaped plate 44 is arranged to normally close the bottom end of said member, as shown in Fig. 2. This plate is movably secured to the circular member by a plurality of pins or bolts 44 which are adapted to slide vertically through perforations in the flange 41. Said bolts or pins are rigidly connected with the plate 44 at their lower ends and carry at their upper ends an annular scraper member 45. This scraper member as shown, has its upper face .46 positioned thereacross for the purpose of screening the air which enters the bellows. In order to manipulate the bellows and scraper, a rod 47 is provided which is connected by means of a spider 48 with the cylindrical member and extends through a packing gland 49 in the top of the dome, and is provided with a handle 50 by means of which it may be reciprocated.

It will be noted that the cylindrical screen 31 and the upper portion 20 of the dust pocket are of the same diameter and the walls thereof are disposed in substantial alinement. Furthermore, the scraper and the fiange 41 are adapted to fit snugly within the upper portion of the dust pocket and also within the screen 31 when the rod 47 is manipulated. During the normal operation of the cleaner, when air is being admitted to the dust pan through the pipe 17 and after being filtered by the screen 31, is withdrawn through the pipe 33, the parts assume the position shown in F ig. 2. In this position the plate 44 is supported by a pin 51 extending upward from the center of the dust pocket, and said plate in conjunction with the flange 41, forms a closed cover for the dust pocket, which prevents the dust and dirt therein from being drawn up into the screen 31 by the action of the vacuum device attached to the outlet pipe 33. The scraper 45 which is rigidly attached to the plate 44, is, in this position of the various parts, maintained above the openings 42, thereby preventing the dust-laden air in the machine from circulating into the interior of the bellows.

When the screen 31 becomes stopped and clogged up by the dust and dirt which accumulates on the inner face thereof, it is desirable to clean the same, and, after the vacuum pump has been shut down the cleaning of the apparatus is effected as follows: The handle 50 is grasped and drawn upwardly thereby raising the cylindrical member 40 so that the flange 41 is engaged beneath the scraper 45, as shown in Fig. 1. As the upward movement of the cylindrical member is continued the upper edges of the scraper engage with the inner surface of the screen and scrape off the dust and particles of dirt which may be adhering thereto, said dirt being delivered upon the plate 44 through the openings 42 in the side wall of the cylindrical member beneath the gasket 43. It will be evident that as the bellows are collapsing, during the upward movement of the handle 50, the air therein is forced out through the lower end thereof and this current of air expelled from the bellows will blow the dirt which is delivered upon the plate 44 by the scraper off the edges of the plate, said dirt falling into the dust pan where it will be collected. To assist the scraper in removing the dirt from the screen on the closing movement of the bellows, I have provided a plurality of beaters or agitators which are adapted to repeatedly strike the screen and shake or vibrate the same so that the dirt clinging thereto will fall upon the scraper and be delivered to the dust pocket. These beaters or agitators comprise a friction roller 52 carried by a bracket 53 supported on the scraper. The friction roller is adapted to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction upon upward movement of the scraper, as shown in Fig. 2, by the frictional engagement between the roller and the inner face of the screen. A ratchetwheel 55 is rotatably mounted co-axially with the friction roller, and a pawl 54 pivotally mounted on the side of the roller is adapted to rotate the ratchet-wheel with the roller when the scraper is moved upwardly. A yielding member 56 is secured to the scraper and so that its upper end normally rests against the screen. An inwardly projecting arm 57, however, is adapted to be engaged, upon rotation of the friction roller, by a plurality of pins 58 extending laterally from the ratchet-wheel 55. It will be evident that as the roller is revolved these pins will successively engage the arm and retract the member 56 a short distance from the screen. As each pin passes out from under the arm 57 the resiliency of the arm 56 will cause its upper end to strike against the screen and vibrate or agitate the same to shake the dust therefrom. After the rod 47 has been raised until the scraper has traveled to the top of the screen 31, the direction of movement of the cylindrical member- 40 is reversed. hen the handle 50 is depressed the frictional engagement between the sides of the scraper 45 and the screen will cause the scraper to be elevated relatively to the flange 41 into the position shown in Fig. 2. As the parts move downwardly the scraper 45 will form a tight engagement with the gasket 48 and the plate 44 will close the bottom of the member 40. A passageway is now established between the flange 41 and the scraper 45 through which air will be drawn into the bellows 39 as the bellows is extended. This current of air which is sucked through the screen 31 into the bellows will remove from the screen all fine dust and dirt which may be lodged in its meshes, and this dirt carried into the cylindrical member 40 by the inrushing current of air will be deposited against the lower face of the screen 46. "Wh en the parts are depressed until they are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and are supported by the pin 51 the device is again ready for normal operation. When the handle is raised a second time the fine dust which was removed from the screen 31 and deposited against the lower face of the screen 46 will be blown off from said screen and deposited in the dust pocket by the current of air which is forced out of the bellows as it collapses.

It will be evident from the above description that by simply reciprocating the rod 47 the filter screen is first beaten and agitated mechanically and subsequently it is subjected to the action of a current of air which is drawn therethrough in the opposite direction to the current of air which is set up during the normal operation of the machine and that all of the dirt and dust removed from the screen is deposited in the dust pocket. This dust pocket, during the normal operation of the machine, is covered to prevent the escape of the dust and dirt collected therein. When a quantity of dust has been collected in the dust pan by the pins and in the dust pocket from the screen, the pan may be removed by simply loosening the thumb-nuts 13 and taken to any desirable dumping place without the necessity of carrying the whole machine out doors.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that many minor mechanical details may be changed and that various alterations in the size and proportion of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the essence of this invention or sacrificing any of the material advantages thereof.

\Vhat I desire to claim is:

1. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a stationary filter screen, a device adapted to traverse the surface of said screen to remove the dirt therefrom, and means for causing said device to remove the dirt from said screen by pneumatic action during its travel in one direction only.

2. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a cylindrical filter screen removably mounted therein, a pneumatic device arranged radially of the screen to communicate with a portion only of said screen at any given time, and means for actuating said pneumatic device to clean said screen.

3. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a screen disposed within said chamber, and reciprocatory pneumatic means, independent of the air current inducing mechanism employed during the operation of the cleaner, adapted to be traversed across the surface of said screen for removing the dirt therefrom by pneumatic action during its travel in one direction only.

4. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a vertically disposed chamber, a cylindrical screen located therein, a passage for the admission of air to the interior of said screen, and pneumatic means located within the screen for removing the accumulation of dirt from the inner surface of the screen.

5. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combina tion of a chamber, a screen disposed therein, a bellows arranged within said chamber, and means attached to the bellows and forming a passageway communicating at one end with the interior of the bellows and having its other end disposed adjacent the screen whereby upon manipulation of the bellows successive areas of said screen will be communicated with said bellows through which air will be drawn to remove the particles of dust adhering thereto.

6. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a cylindrical chamber, a cylindrical screen mounted therein, a pipe communicating with the interior of said chamber outside the screen for withdrawing air through the screen, means for mechanically disloc ging particles of dust adhering to the interior of the screen, and pneumatic means for drawing air through the screen from the exterior thereof to remove fine particles of matter from the mesh of the screen.

7. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a bellows, a scraper carried thereby and means for simultaneously closing said bellows and moving said scraper along the inner surface of said screen to remove particles of dust adhering to the screen, and, to subsequently open said bellows to further clean the screen by pneumatic action.

8. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a collapsible member normally disposed within said screen, a scraper carried by the lower end of said collapsible member and movable relatively thereto, leans for collapsing said member and simultaneously moving the scraper along the face of the screen to remove the dust therefrom and for subsequently opening said member to draw air through the screen for the purpose of removing fine particles of dust therefrom which were not removed by the scraper.

9. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a screen disposed therein, a passageway for admitting air to the interior of the screen, a member disposed inte riorly of said screen, and means whereby said member may be moved longitudinally of said screen to mechanically remove the dirt from the surface of the screen when actuated in one direction and to pneumatically clean the screen when actuated in the opposite direction.

10. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a circular screen disposed therein, a collapsible bellows arranged within said chamber, a cylindrical member secured to one end of said bellows and provided with a radially disposed flange, and a plate movably secured to said cylindrical member.

11. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a cylindrical screen disposed above a dust pocket, a collapsible bellows normally located within said screen, a cylindrical member attached to the lower end of said bellows, provided with a radial flange adapted to fit within the top of said dust pocket, and a scraper movably secured to said cylindrical member above the flange whereby when said member is moved in one direction the scraper will remove the accumulated dirt from the interior of the screen and when moved in the other direction will form a passageway between the scraper and flange through which air may be drawn through the screen for further cleaning the same.

12. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a cylindrical screen disposed within said chamber, a collapsible bellows secured at one end to the upper part of said chamber, a cylindrical member attached to the lower end of said bellows and provided with a radially disposed flange, and a plurality of openings above the flange, a scraper movably connected to saidcylindrical member above the flange, a plate fixedly secured to said scraper below the flange, and means for reciprocating said cylindrical. member within the screen to close and open the bellows and successively es tablish communication between the interior of the bellows and the screen above and below said scraper.

13. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, an open-ended cylindrical screen disposed within said chamber, a bellows, a cylindrical member provided with a radial flange and a plurality of openings through the walls of the member above the flange, a plate normally forming a bottom to said member, a scraper surrounding said member above the flange and fixedly secured to said plate, and means for moving the cylindrical member relatively to the scraper and plate to form a passageway through which material from above the scraper may be delivered below the radial flange, and subsequently to form a passageway between the scraper and the flange whereby material above the flange may be discharged into the cylindrical member.

14:. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a vertically disposed chamber, a cylindrical screen located therein, a collapsible bellows secured at one end to the upper part of said chamber, a cylindrical member attached to the other end of said bellows and provided with a plurality of openings through its sides, a scraper slidably connected to the cylindrical member, a screen disposed across the mouth of said bellows, a plate normally serving as a bottom to said cylindrical member rigidly attached to said slidable scraper, and means for reciprocating said cylindrical member within the screen whereby dirt will be drawn from the screen into said cylindrical member by the bellows and subsequently discharged from said cylindrical member beneath the lower end thereof.

15. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a scraper, means for moving said scraper along the screen to remove the dirt therefrom, and means carried by the scraper for beating the screen upon movement of the scraper in one direction.

16. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a scraper adapted to be moved in one direction to se ape the dust particles from the screen, a beater carried by said scraper constructed to beat the screen when the scraper travels in one direction and to move idly with the scraper in the opposite direction, means for operating said scraper and beater, and a pneumatic device adapted to be actuated by said operating means to pneumatically clean the screen as the scraper and beater are returned to normal position.

17. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a cylindrical screen disposed therein, a dust pan removably secured to said chamber, provided with a dust pocket located beneath said screen, an air inlet pipe opening into said dust pan, and a plurality of rows of pins dividing said dust pan into a plurality of compartments, said pins being adapted to retain the coarse particles introduced into said pan through said air inlet pipe.

18. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a dust pan, provided with a dust pocket, an air inlet pipe communicating with the interior of the pan outside the dust pocket, a plurality of rows of pins ar tinged in sinuous formation and dividing the dust pan into a plurality of compartments, and a battle-plate disposed adjacent each row of pins to insure that the air induced by said inlet pipe shall pass successively through each row of pins.

19. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a vertically disposed chamber, a screen located therein, a dust pan removably secured to the bottom of said chamber, and having a dust pocket located beneath said screen, a partition located at one side of said dust pan, an air inlet pipe located near said partition, a cover for said dust pocket, the walls of said dust pocket being provided above said cover with an opening adjacent said partition in the dust pan but on the opposite side thereof from the air inlet pipe, and a series of pins arranged in said dust pan around said dust pocket between which the air must pass around the pocket from the air inlet pipe to the opening on the opposite side of said partition.

20. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a vertically disposed chamber, :1 cylindrical screen located therein, a dust pan removably secured to said chamber, and having a dust pocket located therein, a bellows attached at one end to the top of said chamber adapted to be manipulated inside said screen, a cylindrical member provided with a radial flange secured to the lower end of said bellows, a plate movably secured to said member, said plate and flange normally forming a cover for said dust pocket, and means located in said dust pocket for normally supporting said cover.

21. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a screen disposed therein, an open-ended bellows suspended from the top of said chamber, a screen positioned across the mouth of said bellows, a dust pan, provided with a dust pocket disposed beneath said bellows, a plate normally forming a bottom for the bellows and a top for said dust pocket, and means for moving said bellows relatively to the plate to establish communication between the interior of the bellows and the dust pocket.

22. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a cylindrical open-ended screen disposed therein, a dust pan, equipped with a dust pocket, a passageway from the dust pan through the upper end of said dust pocket communicating with the interior of said screen, a cover for said dust pocket normally disposed beneath said passageway, said cover comprising a member provided with a radial flange and a centrally disposed plate movably secured to said flange whereby a passageway may be established between said flange and plate, a bellows attached to said member, means for closing said bellows to blow the material on said plate over the edges thereof into the dust pan and for opening said bellows to suck the dirt from said screen onto said plate.

23. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a screen cleaning device, means for moving said device along the surface of the screen to remove the dirt therefrom, and means carried by said device for agitating the screen upon movement of the device in one direction whereby to shake from the screen particles of dirt adhering thereto.

CHARLES BURDETTE GILMORE.

Witnesses:

I. J. WILSON, H. M. Human.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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