US1694116A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1928.

F. O. CATRON AIR CLEANER Filed Oct. 10, 1927 [WE/V707? fizauvm a (Err/r0 Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,694,116 PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK O. CATRON, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOB 0F ONE-HALF TO NETTIE P. GATRON, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

AIR CLEANER.

Application filed October 10, 1927, Serial Nov 225,177.

This invention relates to improvements in air cleaners and more especially to improvements in cleaners which are designed to remove dust and other foreign matter from the air prior to its use in an internal combustion engine, such for instance, as used in automobiles, trucks, or tractors.

It is well known that a great deal of carburetor and engine trouble is caused by dust carried by the air into engine parts. To overcome the injurious results occasioned by foreign particles, such as dust, in the carburetor and the engine, various devices have been made for extracting these particles from the air prior to the time it enters the carburetor. Among the objects of the present invention are:

(a) To remove the dust from the air;

(6) To accelerate and improve the washing medium, preferably water, which is used, by heating this medium (c) To provide means for adding moisture in the form of Vapor to the air prior to its delivery to the carburetor;

(d) To provide means for removing excessive or unvaporized moisture before the air leaves the cleaner;

(e) To make a cleaner which may be readily put together and taken apart for inspec- 0 tion or cleaning; and

To generally improve the design and construction of such a device.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation taken as on the line II of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional elevation taken as on the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are designated by numerals, 10, is an outer casing having one end closed, preferably by an integral head 11, and having through such head, an air inlet 12. The opposite end of this casing is preferably provided with an outwardly extending flange 13 to which additionalparts may be secured.

14: is a flange secured to the easing, into which flange a street elbow 15, or other suitable filling tube, may be secured to provide means for supplying the water or other washing medium to the casing. The level of the upper portion of this filling tube is so placed that it will establish the desired level 16 for this washing medium within the casing 10. 17 is a drain plug which may be removed in order to drain and wash out the cleaner casing.

Disposed within the casing 10, is a drum 18, having one end closed, preferably by an integral head 19 and having the other end provided with an outwardly extending flange 20 preferably of the same diameter as the flange 13, but eccentrically located with reference to the drum, so that when the flange 20 is concentrically located with reference to the flange 13, the drum 18 will be eccentrically located with reference to the casing 10. In assembling the drum into the casing, they, are so brought together as to leave the smallest amount of space between the top of the drum and the top of the casing and the largest amount of space between the bottoms thereof.

The lower portion of the drum 18 is provided with a series of holes or perforations 21 all of which perforations when the drum is assembled within the casing lie entirely below the liquid level. For purposes of illustration these holes are shown of considerable size and correspondingly largely re duced in number, preferably, however, the diameter of the holes is smaller than that shown. It will be especially noted that these holes or perforations are formed'by punching the metal of the drum from the inside thereof outward, so that outwardly extending, perforated projections are formed with openings which are larger on the interior than on the exterior, rather than merely punched holes. By so punching or forming the holes, foreign matter is trapped before entering the holes and may be easily dislodged and removed when the cleaner itself is washed out.

Disposed within the drum 18, is an air flue 22, which flue hasione end closed, preferably by an integral head 23, and is provided intermediate its length with an eccentric flange 24 of the same oiameter as the flanges 13 and 20. lVhen the air flue 22 is assembled within the drum 18 the least amount of space is left between the upper part of the flue and the upper part of the drum, and the greatest amount of space between the lower parts thereof, and the flue is entirely above the water level. The flue projects beyond the flange 24:, and may be extended to such a enable it to deliver its air supply to the point of use, such point ordinarily being the well known carburetor of an automobile or other vehicle.

The upper portion of the flue 22 is provided with a plurality of holes 25 similarly formed to the holes 21 of the drum l8 and is additionally provided with two or three holes 26 at the extreme lower portion of the flue.

27, 28 are gaskets, which are placed respectively between the lower portion of the drum 18 and the casing 10. A coil 30, the ends 31, of which are extended through the casing 10, and are connected by suitablepipes 32 to a source of hot water supply such as that which exists in the engine water-jacket of the ordinary automobile.

To use the device, the cleaner assembly is secured in place with the air tube connected to the engine carburetor, and the pipes 32 connected to the hot water jacket of the engine; care bein taken in securing the device in place to see t iat it is leveled up as shown in the drawings. A cleaning liquid, preferably water, isthen poured into the filling tube 15 until the same overflows and the device is ready for use.

In operation, air is sucked into and through the cleaner by the suction of the engine. This air must enter through the tube 12 and pass downward through the water, thence upward through the holes 21, and thence through the holes 25 into the air flue 22 and to the engine. A small amount of water may be carried up with the air into the flue 22 but such Water will be released by the sudden diminution of velocity consequent on the excess of area of the flue over the area of the openings thereinto, and such entrained water will drain off through the lower openings 26.

After the engine has been started, a hot water circulation will be set up through the coil 30, and eventually the water in the lower portion of the cleaner will be heated to such an extent that the air passing, therethrough will pick up a portion of the water in the form of vapor, and such water will be carried in this. form to the carburetor of the engine, with the resulting improvement in economy, which slightly moistened air gives in such cases.

It will of course be understood that the drawings are illustrative only and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention and that this is especially true so far as the shape of the cleaner is concerned.

Having described my invention, what I within said casing entirely beneath said water level.

2. In an air cleaner, a closed casing having an air inlet into the upper portion thereof, and means for establishing a maximum water level therein; a closed drum having perforations in the lower portion thereof, disposed within said casing with all the perforations below the established water level; an air flue having one end closed, disposed within said drum entirely above said water level, said flue having its upper portion perforated and a heating coil-disposed within said casing entirely beneath said water level.

3. In an air cleaner, a closed casing havin an air inlet into the upper portion thereo and means for establishing a maximum water level therein; a closed drum having perforations in the lower portion thereof, disposed within said casing with all the perforations below the established water level; and an air flue having one end closed, disposed within said drum entirely above said water level, said flue having its upper portion perforated.

4. In an air cleaner, a casing with one closed end and an outwardly flanged end, said casing having an air inlet into the upper portion thereof, and means for establishing a maximum water level therein, a drum, with one closed end and an outwardly flanged end, said drum having perforations in the lower portion thereof, disposed within said casing with all the perforations below the established water level, an air flue having one end closed, and an outwardly extending flange, said flue being disposed within said drum entirely above said water level and having its upper portion perforated, and means for securing said flanges together, to close the open ends of said casing and drum, and secure said air tube therein.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

FREDERICK O. CATRON.

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