US2942540A - Gas fractionating apparatus - Google Patents

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June 28, 1960 A. S. LUNDY GAS FRACTIONATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1959 iiil www 'im i ,iv I.

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United States Patent Oliice j 2,942,540 .Y Patented Junfe 28,1966

2,942,540 GAS FRAcrioNATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 784,592V 3 Claims. (C'l. 98-115) Mich., assignor to Mich., a corporation This invention relates to gas fractionating apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for separating a rising column of gas containing particulate matter into a heavily contaminated stream and linto a lesser contaminated stream.

In my Patent No. 2,567,776, which issued September 11, 1951, for Treatment of Gases and the Like, a gas fractionating apparatus is provided adjacent a grate and is eiective in removing a heavily contaminated stream so that the same may be passed through atower or column while separating also a less contaminated stream which may be vented to theV atmosphere. While, for the purpose of simplicity, two streams are referred to in the operation of the apparatus, it will be understoodk that any number of streams of gas varying in contamination or in the particle matter carried, may be separated for different desired purposes.

While the apparatus shown in my Patent 2,567,776 is very effective, when the casting or other product giving 01T the gas column is of a shape so that the gas column is encompassed by the intake of the fractionating apparatus, difficulty is encountered where the casting is of a different shape and projects a column of gas to which the intake of the apparatus is not adap-ted. For example, when a narrow, long casting is substituted for a square casting, the apparatus, which is designed primarily for the gas rising from the square casting, is not eective in treating the gas from the elongated casting. On the other hand, the problem is complicated by the fact that where the intakes on the apparatus are enlarged to encompass a larger column of gas, the increased gas volume nullies the economies obtained by fractionating and requires additional iloor space, which is usually not available.

I have discovered that fractionat-ing apparatus can be employed for efficiently handling columns of gas of varying shapes and ilow characteristics by designing the intakes to a multiple plenum or plenums for a constant velocity to give accurate separation and then providing means for changing the shape of the intake passage while maintaining the area constant. In other words, by maintaining a constant area ratio at the entrance of the plenums while changing the location of the point of separation between the twofractions of gas, I find that the apparatus can be adjusted to meet changing conditions brought about by Ithe treatment of castings of varying shapes and other sources of gas columns.'

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for the fractionating of gas columns of different dimensions and flow characteristics while maintaining a substantially constant velocity of withdrawal. A further object is to provide a method and means for changing the manner in which exhaust gas is divided into two or more fractions. Yet another object is to provide apparatus in which a divided plenumchamber is employed and in which divider sheets may be swung to different positions to accommodate gas columns of different shapes while maintaining a constant area ratio at the entrance to the 2 plenums. Other speciiic objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. Y

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which-l 'Figure l is a broken side view in elevation of fractionating apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2,v a longitudinal sectional view, the sectionbeing taken at line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. l3, a broken front view in elevation of the separating apparatus; and Fig. 4, a broken perspective detail view showing the operation of the dlow control sheets.

In the illustration given, 10 designates a grate upon which rests a casting 11. A support 12. adjacent the grate supports a casing 13 providing a plenum chamber 14. Leading vfrom the upper portion of the plenum is a pipe 15 which is adapted to discharge less contaminated gas to the atmosphere or to other desired destinations. A lower pipe 16 may lead to a tower column in which the gas is washed by liquid or otherwise cleansed. y Both pipes 15 and 16 are preferably maintained under vacuum or suction so as to provide a constant velocity of flow through the plenum chamber 14.

-The entrance Ito the plenum chamber 14 is preferably through a lframe 17 provided with spaced louvers -18.` Within the casing 13 VI provide hinged sheet members which may be moved to different positions to change the shape Vof the plenum intakes. Side sheets 19 are supported by hinges 20fastened to bars 27 attached to casing 13. Divider sheet 21 is supported by hinges 22 fastened to bar 26 attached to casing 13. Side sheets 19 may be swung laterally of the plenum and divider sheet 21 may be swung up or down to vary the shapes of the plenum intakes. -Triangular filler sheets 23 are secured by screws 24 to divider sheet 21. Slots 2S in divider sheet 21 permit adjustment yof filler sheets 23 to close any space between sheets 19 and 21 when the sheets 19 are swung laterally and sheet 21 is moved, as illustrated best in Figs. 2 and 4. For clarification, in Fig. 4, filler sheet 23 is shown separated from sheet 21 to whichit is normally attached. Thus, when sheets 19 are swung outwardly and sheet 21 upwardly, the triangular sheets 23 move upwardly with sheet 21Vand may be moved outwardly to bridge the space between sheets-19 and 21 to provide a closed inner chamber.

By employing the hinged longitudinal sheet 21 extending approximately of the length of the hood, and hinged end sheets 19 swinging at right angles to sheetV 21 and at theends of sheet 21, and by employing two ad.V

of the Vhood would be exhausted to the outside and an increased portion of the gas stream near the middle of the hood would be passed to the collector. In this operation, there is maintained a constant area ratio at the entrance to the plenums at the louver frame 17 while changing the location of the point of separation between the two fractions of gas.

In operation, the column of gas rises, as indicated by the arrows in. Figs. l, and under the suction imparted through the pipes 15 and 16, the rising column is divided into two fractions, the lower column containing more of the contaminants, while the upper fraction containing less contaminants is drawn into the upper pipe 15. When the shape of the casting or other source of contaminant is changed, the divider in the plenum chamber may be swung upwardly or downwardly and theside sheets 19 may be swung outwardly or inwardly. If the side sheets 19 are swung outwardly so as to increase the length of the chamber, the divider sheet 2,1 is preferably swung downwardly so as to maintain a'constant velocity or intake aiea. In each change, the sector plates 23 are swung inwardly or outwardly toprovide 'a closure between plates 19 and 21. Thus, bythe readymanipulation just described,rthe partition between the plenum chambers dividing l.the gas ow -intoAthe two separate outlets can be modified to -provide an elongated narrow intake yor Ya shorter `broad intake, the area of the intake leading to the -pipe V16 being maintained constantalthough the shape thereof is widely var iedgV By` this meansfefective.-separationl of the heavy stream with its particulate lmatter.or other contaminants may beat: complished1 irrespective of the shape 'of the gaseous. column `risingfronl the grate or other source below. d

While, in thefregoing specification, I havefset forth a specific structurein considerable detail ,for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in theart without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

1. In apparatus for treating a column of gas, support means adjacent said column of gas, at least a pair of pipes carried by said support means and having inlets in spaced relation, a casing enclosingthe inlets of said pipes and providing a chamber open at the front thereof, and a divider sheet pivotally Vmounted 'on'said casing between s'aidpipe inlets and swingable upwardly and downwardly within said chamber to divide'the gas flow into said pipe inlets.

2. The structure of claim l in which side sheets mounted within said chamber are pivotally mounted within said casing substantially at right angles to the pivotal supports for said divider and in which sheet means is provided for `closing Ythe space between the divider and said side sheets Awhereby the shape of Athe chamber leading to one inlet may be changed while maintaining th area of the intake constant.

'3. Inapparatus forti-eating a column f gas rising in a general vertical plane, support means, a pair of pipes carried by said support and having intakes in spaced verti- Y cal relationagcasingenclosing the inlets of said pipes and providing a chamber open vat the .front thereof adjacent said column of gas-,ea divider sheet pivotally mounted in said casing between said pipe inlets and swingable upwardly and downwardly within said chamber to divide thegas flow into.,said.pipeinlets, and means associated with said divider sheet for vmaintaining the area of the intake to each pipe constant when the divider is swung to diierent positions, 'said means comprising side sheets mounted on pivots carried by said casing substantially at right angles to the pivots and said divider sheet, and filler sheet means for closing the space between the divider and said side sheets. Y

References Cited in the -tile of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,422,330 Allerdice June 17,1947 2,567,776 Lundy Sept. 11, 1951 2,704,977V Hayes Mar. 29, 1955

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