DonaldsoDonaldson v. Action Filtration - Complaintn Company Inc v Acti

8/8/2019 DonaldsoDonaldson v. Action Filtration - Complaintn Company Inc v Acti

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA

INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION

DONALDSON COMPANY, INC.,

Plaintiff,

v.

ACTION FILTRATION, INC.

Defendant.

Case No. 1:15-cv-887

COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff Donaldson Company, Inc. (“Donaldson”), for its Complaint against defendant

Action Filtration, Inc. (“Action Filtration”), states and alleges as follows:

PARTIES

1. Plaintiff Donaldson is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of

business at 1400 West 94th Street, Bloomington, Minnesota 55431.

2. Defendant Action Filtration is an Indiana corporation with its principal

place of business at 221 Raymond Street, Hope, Indiana 47246.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

3. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this Complaint

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a) because the claims alleged herein arise under the

Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 1, et seq.

4. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Action Filtration because its

principal place of business is in the Southern District of Indiana, and because Action Filtration

transacts business and has continuous and systematic contacts in this district, maintains an

Case 1:15-cv-00887-WTL-DML Document 1 Filed 06/05/15 Page 1 of 6 PageID #: 1


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ongoing presence within this district, has purposefully availed itself of the privileges and

benefits of the laws of the state of Indiana, and has engaged in acts causing injury to Donaldson

in this district.

5. Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) and

(c) and § 1400(b).

PATENTS-IN-SUIT

6. On December 3, 2002, the United States Patent and Trademark Office

duly and legally issued United States Patent No. 6,488,746 (“the ’746 patent”), entitled “Air

Filter Assembly Having Non-Cylindrical Filter Elements, For Filtering Air With Particulate

Matter,” naming as inventors Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson and Thomas D. Raether.

A copy of the ’746 patent is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

7. Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, and Thomas D. Raether

assigned the entire right, title, and interest in and to the ’746 patent to Donaldson. The entire

right, title, and interest in the ’746 patent is owned by Donaldson.

8. On November 30, 2004, the United States Patent and Trademark Office

duly and legally issued United States Design Patent No. D499,177 (“the ’177 patent”), entitled

“Filter Element Having Oval Shape,” naming as inventors Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A.

Johnson and Thomas D. Raether. A copy of the ’177 patent is attached hereto as Exhibit B.




10. On September 4, 2007, the United States Patent and Trademark Office

duly and legally issued United States Patent No. 7,264,656 (“the ’656 patent”), entitled “Air

Filter Assembly Having Non-Cylindrical Filter Elements, For Filtering Air With Particulate



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Matter,” naming as inventors Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson and Thomas D. Raether.

A copy of the ’656 patent is attached hereto as Exhibit C.




COUNT I: INFRINGEMENT OF THE ’746 PATENT

12. Donaldson incorporates the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through

11 above as though fully set forth herein.

13. Action Filtration has infringed and is continuing to infringe one or more

claims of the ’746 patent by making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling replacement non-

cylindrical filter elements (e.g., Action Filtration’s oval filter DF007000-BH) for dust collection

systems, including Donaldson Torit Downflo® Oval Dust Collectors, in this district and

elsewhere in the United States in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271.

14. On information and belief, Action Filtration will continue to infringe the

’746 patent unless and until Action Filtration is enjoined by this Court.

15. Donaldson has suffered irreparable harm by Action Filtration’s

infringement of the ’746 patent and will continue to suffer irreparable harm in the future unless

and until Action Filtration is enjoined from infringing the ’746 patent.

16. Action Filtration’s acts of infringement have caused and continue to cause

monetary damage to Donaldson, and Donaldson is entitled to recover from Action Filtration the

monetary damages sustained by Donaldson and any additional remedy in an amount to be

determined at trial.



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COUNT II: INFRINGEMENT OF THE ’177 PATENT






systems, including Donaldson Torit Downflo® Oval Dust Collectors, that embody the design of

the ’177 patent, in this district and elsewhere in the United States in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271.

19. Action Filtration’s replacement non-cylindrical filter elements embody the

design of the ’177 patent such that an ordinary observer would be deceived into believing that

Action Filtration’s replacement non-cylindrical filter elements are the same as the design of the

’177 patent.





COUNT III: INFRINGEMENT OF THE ’656 PATENT






systems, including Donaldson Torit Downflo® Oval Dust Collectors, in this district and

elsewhere in the United States in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271.



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23. Donaldson has suffered irreparable harm by Action Filtration’s

infringement of the ’656 patent and will continue to suffer irreparable harm in the future unless

and until Action Filtration is enjoined from infringing the ’656 patent.





DEMAND FOR A JURY TRIAL

25. Pursuant to Rule 38(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Donaldson

respectfully requests a trial by jury on any and all issues on which a trial by jury is available

under applicable law.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Donaldson respectfully requests this Court enter judgment in its

favor and against Action Filtration, as follows:

A. To enter judgment that Action Filtration has infringed the ’746, ’177, and

’656 patents in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271;

B. To enter orders preliminarily and permanently enjoining Action Filtration,

and its respective officers, agents, servants, and employees, and all persons in active concert or

participation with any of the foregoing, who receive actual notice by personal service or

otherwise of the orders, from infringing the ’746, ’177, and ’656 patents in violation of 35

U.S.C. § 271;

C. To award Donaldson an accounting for damages and its damages in

amounts sufficient to compensate it for Action Filtration’s infringement of the ’746, ’177, and



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’656 patents, together with pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and costs, pursuant to 35

U.S.C. § 284;

D. To award Donaldson an additional remedy to the extent of Action

Filtration’s total profit derived from the sale of replacement non-cylindrical filter elements for

dust collection systems, including Donaldson Torit Downflo® Oval Dust Collectors, that

embody the design of the ’177 patent, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 289;

E. To declare this case to be “exceptional” under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and to

award Donaldson its attorneys’ fees, expenses, and costs incurred in this action; and

F.

To award Donaldson such other and further relief as this Court deems just

and proper.

Date: June 5, 2015 Respectfully submitted,

By: /s/ R. Trevor Carter

R. Trevor Carter, #18562-49

Trenton B. Morton, #30777-49

FAEGRE BAKER DANIELS LLP 300 N. Meridian St., Suite 2700

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Ph: 317-237-0300

Fax: 317-237-1000

[email protected]

[email protected]

Attorneys for Plaintiff, Donaldson Company, Inc.



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Exhibit A

Case 1:15-cv-00887-WTL-DML Document 1-1 Filed 06/05/15 Page 1 of 19 PageID #: 7


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US006488746B1

( 1 2 ) United

States

Patent ( 1 0 ) P a t e n t N o . : U S 6 , 4 8 8 , 7 4 6 B1

Kosmider

e t

a l .

( 4 5 ) Date o f P a t e n t : D e c .

3 ,

2002

( 5 4 ) AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY HAVING NON-

4 , 3 4 3 , 6 3 2

A 8 / 1 9 8 2 M a r g r a f

CYLINDRICAL

FILTER ELEMENTS, FOR 4345924 A 8 / 1 9 8 2

M a f g f a f

F I L T E R I N G

A I R WITH

P A R T I C U L A T E 2

i d c h u l e r f

, ,

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MATTER 4 , 4 9 6 , 3 7 7

A

1 / 1 9 8 5 M a r g r a f

( 7 5 ) I n v e n t o r s :

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B l o o m i n g t o n ,

g

g i l i l l l l l e n r g i l ?

: 1

e t

a 1 ‘

MN

U S ) ; S t e v e n A .

J o h n s o n , S t .

P a u l ,

4 7 6 6 1 : 1 3 1 A 4 / 1 9 8 7

H o w e t h

MN_(US);

Thomas

D - Raethen 5 1 -

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1 1 / 1 9 9 0 P l a i s i e r

5 , 0 6 2 , 8 6 7 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 1 K l i m c Z a k

( 7 3 )

A s s i g n e e :

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M i n n e a p o l i s ,

MN

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e t

a l .

( U S ) 5 , 1 7 3 , 0 9 8 A 1 2 / 1 9 9 2 P i p k o r n

5 , 2 3 8 , 4 7 4

A 8 / 1 9 9 3

K a h l b a u g h

e t

a l .

(

*

)

N o t i c e : S u b j e c t t o

a n y d i sc l a i m e r , t h e t e r m

o f

t h i s 5 , 5 6 2 , 7 4 6

A 1 0 / 1 9 9 6

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p a t e n t

i s e x t e n d e d

o r a d j u s t e d u n d e r 3 5 g 1 ? ; Sin“?

7

1 mg am

U ' S ' C '

1 5 4 ( k ) )

byo

d a y s ‘

6 , 3 8 7 , 1 6 2

B1

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K o s m i d e r

e t

a l .

( 2 1 )

A p p l .

N o . :

1 0 / 1 4 5 , 2 8 8 FOREIGN

PATENT

DOCUMENTS

( 2 2 )

F i l e d ; May 3 , 2002

D E

2 6 2 5

5 7 8 A1 1 2 / 1 9 7 7

DE 27 44 037 A1

4/1979

Related

US.

Application Data GB 2 1 9 5 5 5 8

A

4 / 1 9 8 8

* c i t e d by examiner

( 6 3 ) C o n t i n u a t i o n

o f

a p p l i c a t i o n

N o .

0 9 / 6 0 8 , 7 7 4 ,

? l e d

o n J u n .

3 0 , 2 0 0 0 , HOW

a t - N 9 ~

6 , 3 8 7 , 1 6 2

Primary Examiner—Duane S . Smith

( 5 1 )

I n t .

c 1 . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .

B 0 1 D

4 6 / 0 0

( 7 4 ) A t t o r n e y , Agent

O r Firm—M9r9hant & o u l d ,

PC

( 5 2 )

US. C l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5 / 2 7 3 ; 5 5 / 4 8 4 ; 5 5 / 4 9 8 ;

( 5 7 )

ABSTRACT

5 5 / 5 0 2 ; 5 5 / 5 2 9

( 5 8 ) F i e l d

o f

Search

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . 5 5 / 4 9 8 ,

5 0 2 , 3 7 8 ,

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f o r removing

p a r t i c u l a t e m a t t e r

from

5 5 / 3 7 9 , 3 8 1 , 3 4 1 1 , 4 8 4 , 5 2 9 , 3 6 1 ; 9 5 / 2 7 3

a n

i n c o m i n g d i r t y a i r

s t r e a m .

T h e

a s s e m b l y

i n c l u d e s

a

h o u s i n g h a v i n g

a n

i n l e t ,

a n

o u t l e t ,

a d i r t y

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chamber and

a

( 5 6 )

R e f e r e n c e s

C i t e d

c l e a n

a i r c h a m b e r a n d a n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l s h a p e d e l o n g a t e d

? l t e r e l e m e n t

a r r a n g e d W i t h i n t h e

d i r t y

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U ' S ' PATENT DOCUMENTS

s t r u c t e d

t o remove p a r t i c u l a t e m a t t e r from

a n incoming

a i r

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a

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16/52

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B1

1

AIR FILTER

ASSEMBLY

HAVING NON

CYLINDRICAL FILTER ELEMENTS, FOR

FILTERING

AIR

WITH

PARTICULATE

MATTER

T h i s


i s

a

c o n t i n u a t i o n o f


S e r .

N o .

0 9 / 6 0 8 , 7 7 4 , ? l e d

J u n . 3 0 ,

2 0 0 0 ,

US.

P a t . N o . 6 , 3 8 7 , 1 6 2 .

A p p l i c a t i o n

S e r .

N o . 0 9 / 6 0 8 , 7 7 4 i s i n c o r p o r a t e d b y r e f e r

ence h e r e i n .

FIELD OF THE

DISCLOSURE

The p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e i s

r e l a t e d t o a i r ? l t e r i n g

s y s t e m s

h a v i n g n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l

? l t e r

e l e m e n t s , a n d m e t h o d s

o f u s i n g

s y st e m s e q u i p p e d W i t h n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s .

BACKGROUND

OF

THE DISCLOSURE

M any i n d u s t r i e s o f t e n e n c o u n t e r p a r t i c u l a t e

m a t t e r

s u s

p e n d e d i n t h e a t m o s p h e r e .

I n

some

i n d u s t r i e s , t h i s p a r t i c u

l a t e

m a t t e r

i s a

v a l u a b l e

p r o d u c t , f o r e x a m p l e , s t a r c h ;

i t

Would b e b e n e ? c i a l i f

t h e s e

s u s p e n d e d p a r t i c u l a t e c o u l d b e

r e c o v e r e d and

r e i n t r o d u c e d

i n t o t h e p r o c e s s .

F o r

o t h e r

i n d u s t r i e s ,

s u c h

a s

m e t a l

o r Wood W o r k i n g ,

t h e p a r t i c u l a t e

m a t t e r may b e s i m p l y d u s t ; i t

i s

d e s i r a b l e

t o remove d u s t

p a r t i c l e s f r o m t h e

a i r

i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e a c l e a r W o r k i n g

e n v i r o n m e n t .

Systems f o r c l e a n i n g

a n

a i r o r o t h e r

g a s s t r e a m

l a d e n

W i t h

p a r t i c u l a t e m a t t e r

i n c l u d e

a i r ? l t e r a s s e m b l i e s t h a t h a v e ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s d i s p o s e d i n

a

h o u s i n g . The ? l t e r e l e m e n t may b e

a

bag o r sock o f

a

s u i t a b l e f a b r i c o r p l e a t e d

p a p e r . The

g a s

s t r e a m , c o n t a m i n a t e d

W i t h

p a r t i c u l a t e , t y p i c a l l y i s p a s s e d

t h r o u g h

t h e

h o u s i n g

s o t h a t t h e p a r t i cu l a t e a r e c a p t u r e d

a n d

r e t a i n e d b y t h e ? l t e r e l e m e n t . C l e a n i n g

i s

a c c o m p l i s h e d b y

p e r i o d i c a l l y

p u l s i n g

a b r i e f

j e t

o f p r e s s u r i Z e d

a i r

i n t o t h e

i n t e r i o r o f

t h e


t o r e v e r s e t h e a i r ? o W

t h r o u g h

t h e

? l t e r

e l e m e n t , c a u s i n g t h e

c o l l e c t e d

c o n t a m i n a n t s t o b e

c o l l e c t e d . Such a i r

? l t e r assemblies a r e

d i s c l o s e d i n ,

f o r

e x a m p l e ,

US.

P a t . N o . 4 , 2 1 8 , 2 2 7 ( F r e y ) a n d

US.

P a t . N o .

4 , 3 9 5 , 2 6 9 ( S c h u l e r ) , W h i c h p a t e n t s a r e h e r e b y i n c o r p o r a t e d

b y

r e f e r e n c e .

C y l i n d r i c a l


a r e

u s u a l l y

u s e d i n

a n

a i r

? l t e r

assembly t o p r o c e s s

d u s t

p a r t i c l e s from

a n

a i r s t r e a m . I n a

s t a n d a r d d e s i g n o f a i r ? l t e r a s s e m b l y , a n a i r ? l t e r a s s e m b l y

h a s

a

c l e a n a i r chamber

and a

d i r t y a i r c h a m b e r . The tWo

c h a m b e r s

a r e

s e p a r a t e d

by

s h e e t m e t a l , commonly r e f e r r e d

t o a s a

t u b e s h e e t .

The

t u b e

s h e e t

h a s

a number

o f openings

f r o m

W h i c h


? l t e r s a r e

a l i g n e d .

The l t e r s s u s p e n d

doWnWardly

W i t h

o r

W i t h o u t

a n a n g l e

from

t h e

t u b e s h e e t

o p e n i n g s i n t o

t h e

d i r t y

a i r c h a m b e r . P a r t i c u l a t e - l a d e n a i r i s

i n t r o d u c e d

i n t o

t h e d i r t y a i r c h a m b e r , a n d t h e p a r t i c u l a t e s

c o l l e c t

o n t o

t h e ? l t e r . The ? l t e r e d a i r p a s s e s t h r o u g h t h e

? l t e r s t o t h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e ? l t e r s ,

a n d

u p W a r d l y o u t

t h r o u g h

t h e

o p e n i n g s i n

t h e t u b e s h e e t i n t o t h e c l e a n a i r c h a m b e r .

From

t h e

c l e a n

a i r

c h a m b e r ,

t h e

c l e a n e d

a i r i s e x h a u s t e d

i n t o

t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t ,

o r

r e c i r c u l a t e d f o r

o t h e r

u s e s . For e x a m p l e ,

US.

P a t . N o s . 4 , 4 2 4 , 0 7 0 ( R o bi n s o n ) ,

US

a t . N o .

4 , 4 3 6 ,

5 3 6 ( R o b i n s o n ) ,

US

a t .

N o .

4 , 4 4 3 , 2 3 7 ( U l v e s t a d ) ,

US

a t .

N o .

4 , 4 4 5 , 9 1 5

( R o b i n s o n ) , US a t . N o .

5 , 2 0 7 , 8 1 2

( T r o n t o

e t

a l . ) ,

US

a t .

N o . 4 , 9 5 4 , 2 5 5

( M u l l e r

e t

a l . ) ,

US

a t .

N o .

5 , 2 2 2 , 4 8 8

( F o r s g r e n ) ,

a n d US a t . N o . 5 , 2 1 1 , 8 4 6 ( K o t t

e t

a l . )

a r e p r i o r

a r t

e x a m p l e s o f p r i o r

a r t


? l t e r

e l e m e n t s o f

t h e

p l e a t e d

c a r t r i d g e t y p e .

N o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s

a r e sometimes used

t o

p r o c e s s

d u s t , p a r t i c l e s f r o m

a n a i r s t r e a m a n d p r o v i d e

10

1 5

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

2

h a v i n g a

u n i t a r y s t r u c t u r e

W i t h

p l e a t e d

? l t e r

m e d i a

f o r m e d

s e c u r e l y a b o u t a p e r f o r a t e d i n t e r i o r

c o r e

i n a d u s t c o l l e c t o r .

US. P a t .

N o .

4 , 6 6 1 , 1 3 1

( H o W e t h )

d i s c l o s e s n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l

? l t e r s

h a v i n g

a

g r e a t e r c l e a n a i r ? o W a r e a t h a n

a p l u r a l i t y o f


e l e m e n t s

? t t e d

W i t h i n

t h e same

d i m e n s i o n a l

e n v e l o p e .

I n

o n e

c o n v e n t i o n a l d e s i g n o f

a i r ? l t e r a s s e m b l y W i t h

n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t s , n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e

m e n t s s i m p l y r e p l a c e s


? l t e r

e l e m e n t s . W i t h

l e s s

s p a c e

b e t W e e n

a d j a c e n t

? l t e r

e l e m e n t s , more

n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l

? l t e r e l e m e n t s a r e p l a c e d

W i t h i n

a

h o u s i n g

t h a n c y l i n d r i c a l

? l t e r e l e m e n t s .

US.

a t .

N o . 5 , 7 3 0 , 7 6 6 ( C l e m e n t s ) d i s c l o s e s

t h i s t y p e o f u s e o f n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t s .

I n a n o t h e r

c o n v e n t i o n a l d e s i g n o f

a i r ? l t e r a s s e m b l y W i t h


? l t e r

e l e m e n t s , a p l u r a l i t y o f


e l e m e n t s

a r e

r e p l a c e d b y

a

s i n g l e


? l t e r

e l e m e n t . US. P a t . N o . 4 , 6 6 1 , 1 3 1 ( H o W e t h ) d i s c l o s e s t h i s

t y p e

o f

u s e

o f

n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t s .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , e a c h o f t h e s e c o n v e n t i o n a l de s i g n s W h i c h

u t i l i Z e n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t s

h a s

i t s d i s a d v a n t a g e s

a n d

d r a w b a c k s .

SUMMARY

OF THE

DISCLOSURE

The c o n s t r u c t i o n

a n d

a r r a n g e m e n t o f

t h e

d i s c l o s e d

a i r

? l t e r a s s e m b l y h e l p s t o o v e r c o m e t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e p r i o r

a r t .

I n

p a r t i c u l a r , i n o n e embodiment, t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d

a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h e a s s e m b l y o f t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e

e n a b l e s

t h e

p r o c e s s i n g o f 2 5

more

d u s t l a d e n air?oW

c o m p a r e d

t o c o n v e n t i o n a l

s y s t e m s .

I n p r e f e r r e d s y s t e m s ,

t h e

a s s e m b l y

o f t h e

p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e r e s u l t s i n a d u s t l a d e n

air?oW i n c r e a s e

g r e a t e r t h a n

2 5 W i t h o u t

a n

i n c r e a s e i n

t h e

g e o m e t r i c s i Z e o f

t h e

? l t e r

h o u s i n g

a p p a r a t u s

o r t h e number

o f

? l t e r

c a r t r i d g e s r e q u i r e d .

T h e

p r e s e n t

d e s i g n p r o v i d e s

t h i s

2 5 v o l u m e i n c r e a s e , p r e f e r a b l y

g r e a t e r

t h a n 2 5 n c r e a s e ,

by m a i n t a i n i n g t h e

amount

o f ? l t r a t i o n m e d i a

a v a i l a b l e

f o r

? l t e r i n g t h e

d i r t y

a i r

r a t h e r t h a n i n c r e a s i n g t h e a m o u n t o f

? l t r a t i o n

m e d i a . I n a n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t ,

t h e

a s s e m b l y o f t h e

p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e

r e s u l t s

i n

a n air?oW

i n c r e a s e g r e a t e r

t h a n

2 5

by d e c r e a s i n g

t h e amount o f

? l t r a t i o n

m e d i a

a v a i l a b l e .

A l s o , t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h e

a i r

? l t e r

a s s e m b l y

p r o v i d e s m o r e e f f i c i e n t ? l t e r

r e t e n t i o n / s e a l i n g ,

? l t e r h o u s i n g

a p p a r a t u s m a n u f a c t u r i n g , a n d ? l t e r

h a n d l i n g .

I n

one a s p e c t , t h e

d i s c l o s u r e

d e s c r i b e s an a i r

? l t e r

assem

b l y

a d a p t e d

f o r r e m o v i n g

p a r t i c u l a t e

m a t t e r f r o m a h i g h

volume

a i r

s t r e a m .

The a i r ? l t e r a s s e m b l y o f t h e p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e , u t i l i Z i n g n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t s , i s

c a p a b l e o f h a n d l i n g

2 5

more

a i r

t h a n

a

c o n v e n t i o n a l

a i r

? l t e r a s s e m b l y u t i l i Z i n g c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t s h a v i n g t h e

same

amount, o r

l e s s ,

s u r f a c e a r e a a v a i l a b l e f o r

? l t r a t i o n .

I n

p a r t i c u l a r ,

a n

a i r

? l t e r a s s e m b l y

o f t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e

c o m p r i s e s a h o u s i n g

i n c l u d i n g

a n

a i r i n l e t , a n a i r o u t l e t ,

a n d

a s p a c e r W a l l s e p a r a t i n g t h e h o u s i n g i n t o a ? l t e r i n g chamber

a n d

a c l e a n

a i r

c h a m b e r ,

t h e

s p a c e r W a l l i n c l u d i n g a

? r s t a i r

? o W

a p e r t u r e

t h e r e i n . The a i r

i n l e t

p r o v i d e s a

d i r t y

a i r

volume t o t h e a i r

? l t e r

a s s e m b l y , W h e r e t h e

d i r t y

a i r volume

h a s

a n a i r

? o W d i r e c t i o n . The

a i r ? l t e r

a s s e m b l y

f u r t h e r

i n c l u d e s

a

? r s t

? l t e r

c o n s t r u c t i o n p o s i t i o n e d i n a i r ? o W

communication W i t h t h e ? r s t a i r

? o W

a p e r t u r e i n t h e s p a c e r

W a l l ; t h e ? r st ? l t e r

c o n s t r u c t i o n

i n c l u d i n g a n

e x t e n s i o n o f

? l t e r

m e d i a

d i s p o s e d b e t W e e n p r o x im a l e n d c a p a n d d i s t a l

e n d

c a p .

The

? l t e r

m e d i a , p r o x i m a l a n d

d i s t a l

e n d

c a p s

de?nes a ? l t e r

c o n s t r u c t i o n

i n n e r

c l e a n

a i r

c h a m b e r .

The

? r s t

? l t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n : i s o r i e n t e d

W i t h i n

t h e ? l t e r i n n e r c l e a n a i r



17/52

US

6 , 4 8 8 , 7 4 6

B1

3

h a v i n g

a l o n g

a x i s p e r p e n d i c u l a r

t o a s h o r t

a x i s ;

a n d

h a s

a

W i d t h

a l o n g

t h e

l o n g a x i s a n d

a

W i d t h

a l o n g

t h e

s h o r t a x i s ,

t h e l o n g a x i s

W i d t h

b e i n g g r e a t e r t h a n t h e s h o r t a x i s W i d t h

a n d t h e l o n g a x i s p o s i t i o n e d p a r a l l e l t o t h e a i r ? o W i r e c t i o n .

I n a n o t h e r a s p e c t

o r embodiment,

a n a i r ? l t e r a s s e m b l y

i s

p r o v i d e d

t h a t

c o m p r i s e s

a

h o u s i n g

i n c l u d i n g

a n

a i r i n l e t ,

a n

a i r

o u t l e t , a s p a c e r W a l l s e p a r a t i n g

s a i d

h o u s i n g i n t o a

? l t e r i n g chamber and a c l e a n a i r chamber and

i n c l u d i n g

a

? r s t a i r ? o W

a p e r t u r e

t h e r e i n . The a i r i n l e t p r o v i d e s a d i r t y

a i r volume t o t h e a i r

? l t e r

a s s e m b l y , t h e

d i r t y

a i r volume

h a v i n g a n

a i r ? o W d i r e c t i o n a n d

a n

a i r s p e e d . The a i r

? l t e r

a s s e m b l y f u r t h e r i n c l u d e s a ? r s t

? l t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n : p o s i

t i o n e d i n a i r ? o W communication W i t h t h e ? r s t a i r ? o W

a p e r t u r e

i n t h e

s p a c e r W a l l ; i n c l u d i n g

a n

e x t e n s i o n

o f ? l t e r

media d e ? n i n g a ? l t e r

c o n s t r u c t i o n i n n e r

c l e a n a i r c h a m b e r ;

h a v i n g a c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l

a r e a , When

t a k e n p a r a l l e l t o t h e ? r s t

a i r

? o W a p e r t u r e ,

t h e

c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l a r e a h a v i n g a l o n g a x i s

p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o a s h o r t

a x i s ;

h a v i n g a W i d t h a l o n g

t h e

l o n g

a x i s

a n d a W i d t h a l o n g t h e

s h o r t a x i s ,

t h e

l o n g a x i s

W i d t h

b e i n g

g r e a t e r

t h a n

t h e s h o r t a x i s W i d t h a n d t h e l o n g a x i s

p o s i t i o n e d

p a r a l l e l

t o

t h e

a i r

? o W

d i r e c t i o n ;

a n d

f u r t h e r

h a v i n g

a ? r s t s u r f a c e a r e a de?ned by t h e

e x t e n s i o n o f ? l t e r

m e d i a . T h e v o l u m e o f d i r t y a i r p r o c e s s a b l e

b y

t h i s a i r ? l t e r

a s s e m b l y

i s

a t l e a s t 1 0 p e r c e n t g r e a t e r , p r e f e r a b l y 2 0 p e r c e n t

g r e a t e r ,

a n d

m o s t p r e f e r a b l y

a t

l e a s t

2 5

p e r c e n t g r e a t e r t h a n

a volume o f d i r t y

a i r

p r o c e s s a b l e b y a n

a i r

? l t e r

a s s e m b l y

d i f f e r i n g f r o m t h e c l a i m e d a s s e m b l y

o n l y

b y t h e s h a p e

o f

t h e

? l t e r

e l e m e n t s .

I n

a n o t h e r

e m b o d i m e n t , t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d

a r r a n g e m e n t o f

t h e a s s e m b l y

o f

t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e r e s u l t s

i n a n

a i r

s p e e d

t h a t i s a t

l e a s t

1 0 p e r c e n t ,

p r e f e r a b l y

20 p e r c e n t , a n d

most

p r e f e r a b l y

a t

l e a s t

2 5 p e r c e n t l e s s t h a n t h e a i r s p e e d

o f

a

s i m i l a r

volume o f

a i r

b e i n g ? l t e r e d by a n

a i r

? l t e r

a s s e m b l y

d i f f e r i n g f r o m t h e c l a i m s

a s s e m b l y o n l y

b y t h e s h a p e o f t h e

? l t e r

e l e m e n t s .

S u c h a n a i r ? l t e r

a s s e m b l y

p r o v i d e s f o r l o n g e r ? l t e r l i f e

a n d

i n c r e a s e s t h e

c a p a c i t y f o r p a r t i c u l a t e

r e m o v a l f r o m t h e

i n c o m i n g d i r t y a i r

s t r e a m ,

t h u s d e c r e a s i n g t h e n e e d

t o

c h a n g e u s e d ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s .

I n

a n o t h e r a s p e c t , s u c h a n

a i r

? l t e r a s s e m b l y p r o v i d e s

g r e a t e r

c a p a c i t y ,

b o t h f o r

t h e a i r ? o W c a p a c i t y a n d t h e

a m o u n t

o f

p a r t i c u l a t e removed f r o m t h e d i r t y a i r

s t r e a m ,

W i t h o u t d e c r e a s i n g ? l t e r l i f e . T h i s d e c r e a s e s t h e

t o t a l

amount

o f ? l t e r s n e e d e d a t e a c h r e p l a c e m e n t

c y c l e

a n d

o v e r

t h e

l i f e

o f

t h e o p e r a t i o n .

Amethod

o f

? l t e r i n g

o r

c l e a n i n g

d i r t y

a i r t o

p r o v i d e

c l e a n

a i r i s a l s o

d i s c l o s e d .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

OF THE DRAWINGS

F I G .

1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e

vieW

o f

o n e t y p e o f o p e r a t i o n a l

i n s t a l l a t i o n

o f

a n

a i r ? l t r a t i o n

s y s t e m h a v i n g


? l t e r e l e m e n t s a c c o r d i n g

t o

t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e ;

F I G .

2 i s

a s i de e l e v a t i o n a l

v i e W ,

p a r t i a l l y b r o k e n a W a y ,

o f

one embodiment

o f

t h e

a i r ? l t r a t i o n system o f

F I G . 1

u t i l i Z i n g


e l e m e n t s a c c o r d i n g t o

t h e p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e ;

F I G . 3 i s a

f r o n t e l e v a t i o n vieW

o f

t h e a i r ? l t r a t i o n

system

d e p i c t e d i n

F I G . 2 ;

F I G . 4 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e vieW

o f

a p o r t i o n

o f

a mounting

a r r a n g e m e n t u t i l i Z e d

i n t h e a i r

? l t r a t i o n

s y s t e m o f

F I G S .

1 — 3 ;

FIG.

5A

s

a

t o p

vieW

o f

a

p o r t i o n o f

an

a i r

? l t r a t i o n

system shoWing one embodiment

o f

a

s i d e

p a n e l f o r u s e i n

t h e

a i r

? l t r a t i o n s y s t e m o f

t h e

p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e ;

1 5

25

35

45

55

4

FIG. 6 i s a s i d e p e r s p e c t i v e vieW

o f a n

embodiment

o f

a

n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l e l e m e n t u t i l i Z e d i n t h e a i r ? l t r a t i o n s y s t e m o f

t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e ;

F I G .

7 i s

a n e n l a r g e d e n d

vieW

o f

t h e

n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r

e l e m e n t shoWn i n F I G . 6 ;

FIG. 8

i s

an end

vieW

o f

a

roW

o f


? l t e r

e l e m e n t s mounted i n

a n

a i r ? l t r a t i o n s y s t e m a c c o r d i n g t o t h e

p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e ; a n d

FIG. 9 i s

a n

end

vieW o f

a

roW o f c o n v e n t i o n a l c y l i n d r i c a l


mounted

i n

a c o n v e n t i o n a l

a i r

? l t r a t i o n

s y s t e m .

DETAILED

DESCRIPTION

OF

THE

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

R e f e r r i n g

t o F I G . 1 , a n

a i r

? l t r a t i o n s y s t e m o r

a s s e m b l y

i s

d e p i c t e d g e n e r a l l y a t 1 0 . T h e s y s t e m 1 0 d e p i c t e d i s

shoWn

W i t h

t h r e e u n i t s

o r m o d u l e s c o n ? g u r e d t o g e t h e r

i n

s i d e - b y

s i d e a r r a n g e m e n t .

T h is a r r a n g e m e n t c a n

b e ,

f o r e x a m p l e ,

o f

a s i Z e t h a t ? t s i n t o a 2 meter

by 3

meter

by 3

meter

s p a c e

( a p p r o x i m a t e l y

6

f e e t

b y 1 0

f e e t b y 1 0

f e e t ) .

Each module

i n F I G . 1 i s g e n e r a l l y i n

t h e

s h a p e o f a box

a n d i n c l u d e s a n u p p e r W a l l p a n e l 1 6 , a n d

t W o

p a i r s o f

o p p o s i t e s i d e W a l l p a n e l s

1 7 . A r o n t

a c c e s s d o o r

1 3 a n d a

s e c o n d a r y a c c e s s d o o r 14

p e r m i t

a c c e s s

t o t h e

i n t e r i o r o f

e a c h

m o d u l e

f o r

p u r p o s e s o f ,

f o r e x a m p l e ,

m a i n t e n a n c e .

Each

module

f u r t h e r i n c l u d e s

a

c o n d u i t 1 1

f o r

r e c e i v i n g

d i r t y

o r

c o n t a m i n a t e d a i r ( i . e . , a i r W i t h

p a r t i c u l a t e

m a t t e r

t h e r e i n )

i n t o

t h e

? l t e r a s s e m b l y . A i k e c o n d u i t 1 2

i s p r o

v i d e d f o r

v e n t i n g

c l e a n

o r ? l t e r e d

a i r f r o m

t h e ? l t e r

a s s e m b l y

1 0 .

Also shoWn i n

F I G .

1

i s a motor and c h a i n d r i v e assembly

1 1 8 o f s t a n d a r d c o n s t r u c t i o n f o r o p e r a t i o n o f a n a u g e r screW

i n

t h e

b a s e

p o r t i o n

o f

t h e

a s s e m b l y .

The

a u g e r

i s

u s e d

t o

remove c o l l e c t e d

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i s

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A y p i c a l volume o f i n c o m i n g

d i r t y

a i r i s a b o u t 500

c u b i c f e e t p e r

m i n u t e ( c f m ) f o r

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a c c o r d a n c e W i t h

t h e

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d i s c l o s u r e ,

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550

c f m , p r e f e r a b l y

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c f m , and more p r e f e r a b l y a t l e a s t a b o u t 625 c f m .

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t y p i c a l l y

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t h r o u g h

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i s

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b y

t h e d o o r

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d o W n W a r d l y f r o m

t h e

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i n

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i n

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a n d a p a i r o f s l o p i n g W a l l s u r f a c e s 2 3 , 2 4 . S l o p i n g W a l l

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24

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S i d e

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a n d

e n c a s i n g d i r t y a i r c h a m b e r 2 2 . S i d e p a n e l s 1 7 a r e

t y p i c a l l y

p l a n a r

s h e e t s , made o f , f o r e x a m p l e , m e t a l o r

p l a s t i c . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , shoWn

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F I G . 5 A ,

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s u c h a s r a i l s , b a r s , a n d

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W h i c h s t r e n g t h e n t h e

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a r e

p l a c e d

i n t e r n a l l y

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u p p e r W a l l p a n e l 1 6 t o

b o t t o m p a n e l 2 6

( n o t

s h o W n

i n F I G . 5 A ) , a l t h o u g h h o r i Zo n

t a l

s t i f f e n e r s may be

used

i n

some

embodiments. V e r t i c a l

s t i f f e n e r s 2 9 a r e t y p i c a l l y

p r e f e r r e d

b e c a u s e

t h e y

p r o d u c e

m i n i m a l i n t e r f e r e n c e ,

a l t h o u g h some

i n t e r f e r e n c e ,

W i t h

t h e

doWnWard a i r ? o W p a t t e r n . A

i n g l e

s t i f f e n e r 2 9

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may

e

p r e s e n t

on

any one

o r

a p l u r a l i t y

of

s i d e

p a n e l s 1 7 . S t i l l r e f e r r i n g t o F I G . 5 A , i n a p r e f e r r e d embodi

ment t h e

d i s t a n c e

“ a ” betWeen ? l t e r e l e m e n t

32

and

s i d e

p a n e l 17 i s a t l e a s t a b o u t

5

cm, l e s s t h a n a b o u t 30 cm,

t y p i c a l l y a b o u t

5

t o 20

cm,

a n d i n o n e

example

a b o u t

1 0 . 4

c m ( 4 . 1 i n c h e s ) . The d i s t a n c e “ b ” b e t W e e n s t i f f e n e r 2 9

a n d

? l t e r e l e m e n t 3 2 s a t

l e a s t a b o u t

2 cm, l e s s t h a n

a b o u t

25 cm,

t y p i c a l l y a b o u t 2 cm o 1 5 cm, and i n one example i s a b o u t

5 . 3

cm

2 . 1

i n c h e s ) .

I n a n o t h e r

e m b o d i m e n t , shoWn i n F I G . 5 B , s t i f f e n e r s 29

h a v e

b e e n

removed a n d r e p l a c e d W i t h

e x p a n d e d

o r d i s t e n d e d

s i d e

p a n e l 1 7 ‘ . S i d e p a n e l

1 7 ‘

i s

d i s t e n d e d

f r o m ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s

3 2

a n d i n c l u d e s

s l o p e d p a n e l

1 8

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d i s t e n d e d

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i s

d i s p l a c e d a d i s t a n c e “ e ” o u t

f r o m W h e r e

a

p l a n a r

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shoWn

i n

F I G .

5 A )

Would b e ,

t h u s p r o v i d i n g

a

maximum

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e l e m e n t

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“ c ” .

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p l a n a r s i d e p a n e l

1 7

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b e . As s e e n i n F I G . S E , a p o r t i o n o f

s i d e

p a n e l 1 7 ‘

may r e m a i n

p a r a l l e l t o ? l t e r e l e m e n t

32

a n d n o n - d i s t e n d e d .

O v e r a l l , d i s t e n d e d s i d e p a n e l

1 7 ‘

i n c r e a s e s t h e a r e a

t h r o u g h

Which t h e d i r t y a i r c a n ? o W doWn, comp ared o

a

p l a n a r s i d e

p a n e l , t h e r e b y l o W e r i n g t h e v e l o c i t y o f t h e a i r t r a v e l i n g p a s t

t h e ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s

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i n c r e a s e d

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a i r .

S t i f f e n e r s 2 9

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a r e

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p a n e l 1 7 ‘

b e c a u s e t h e s h a p e

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ment

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betWeen

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e l e m e n t 3 2 a n d

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W a l l p a n e l 1 9 , i s a t l e a s t

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1 0 t o

25

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i n

one example a b o u t 17 cm. The d i s t a n c e “ e ” , t h a t

i s , t h e

d i s t a n c e o f

d i s t e n t i o n

f r o m

W h e r e

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p a n e l

Would

b e , i s a t l e a s t

a b o u t 2

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t y p i c a l l y a b o u t 2

t o

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i n

one

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“ d ’ )

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some

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o n e

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“ a “ " ’

i s

1 0 . 4

c m

( 4 . 1

i n c h e s ) ,

“ c ” i s 1 6 . 7

cm

6 . 6

i n c h e s ) ,

b o t h “ d ‘ ” a n d “ d ‘ ”

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cm ( 3 . 4 i n c h e s ) , “ e ”

i s

6 . 4

c m ( 2 . 5 i n c h e s ) , “ f ” , t h e

10

1 5

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

6

p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o i t s l e n g t h ) o f

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e m b o d i m e n t , “ a ‘ ”

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cm

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( 3 . 4

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a n d

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i n t h e

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embodiment. These

dimensions

a r e

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2 9 cm ( a b o u t

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a n d a

l e n g t h o f

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i n c h e s ) .

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3 2

may

c o m p r i s e

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6 6 cm ( 2 6 i n c h e s ) .

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a s t r u c t u r a l

f r a m e member 2 7

a l o n g e a c h o f

t h e

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W a l l

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1 7 ‘

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W a l l

o r t u b e

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28 t o

Which

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e l e m e n t s

32

o f t h e a s s e m b l y . The

t u b e

s h e e t s t r u c t u r e 2 8 i s

s e a l e d

on a l l f o u r o f i t s s i d e s t o

h e r m e t i c a l l y

s e a l t h e

d i r t y

a i r chamber 22 from a c l e a n a i r chamber 6 0 . The vo lume o f

c l e a n a i r chamber

6 0

i s g e n e r a l l y l e s s t h a n a b o u t

3 5

c u b i c

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a b o u t 1 9 t o 35

c u b i c

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common

volume

a b o u t

3 4 . 9 c u b i c

f e e t .

T o g e t h e r W i t h

t h e

d i r t y

a i r

chamber

3 2 , t h i s

Would

p r o v i d e a t o t a l

chamber volume

o f

a b o u t 92 c u b i c f e e t t o 211 c u b i c f e e t .

I n

t h e embodiment shoWn, s p a c e r W a l l

o r

t u b e s h e e t

s t r u c t u r e 2 8 h a s a s t e p - l i k e

d e s i g n ,

a l t h o u g h i t i s u n d e r s t o o d

t h a t p l a n a r t u b e

s h e e t s t r u c t u r e s , o r

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embodiment h a s t h r e e s t e p s o r i n d e n t e d p o r t i o n s . Each s t e p

p o r t i o n i n c l u d e s

a n

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member 3 0

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l e g member 1

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a t

r i g h t

a n g l e s f r o m t h e b a c k

member 3 0 . The t u b e s h e e t s t r u c t u r e 28

i s

p r e f e r a b l y con

s t r u c t e d

f r o m a

s i n g l e p i e c e o f s h e e t s t e e l a n d

t h u s ,

t h e

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s t e p

p o r t i o n s a r e c o n t i n u o u s e x t e n s i o n s o f t h e

s t e p

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i m me d i a t e l y a b o v e

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As

shoWn

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3 , t h e ? l t e r e l e m e n t s 32 m ounted

t o s t r u c t u r e

28

a r e

p o s i t i o n e d i n

t h e

d i r t y

a i r chamber

22 i n

s t e p p e d ,

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ments 32 may

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i n a

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a t

a n a c u t e a n g l e o f

i n c l i n a t i o n W i t h

r e s p e c t t o t h e

h o r i Z o n t a l p l a n e o f

t h e

u p p e r s u r f a c e p a n e l 1 6 .

I n

t h i s

manner, a

d i s t r i b u t i o n s p a c e 33

i s

de?ned i n t h e

uppermost

p o r t i o n o f

t h e

? l t e r a s s e m b l y

1 0 by a n i n c l i n e d b a f f l e 5 0 , t h e

s i d e

W a l l

p a n e l s 1 7 , 1 7 ‘ , t h e u p p e r

W a l l p a n e l

i n n e r s u r f a c e

1 6 ‘ , a n d f r o n t a c c e s s d o o r 1 3 . The

i n c l i n e d

b a f f l e 50 i s

p o s i t i o n e d t o

d i s s i p a t e t h e i n c o m i n g

a i r ? o W

t h r o u g h o u t

t h e

d i r t y a i r c h a m b e r 2 2 . As t h e d i r t y a i r e n t e r s t h e

a s s e m b l y

1 0

from t h e

i n l e t 2 0 ,

i t i s r e c e i v e d i n t o t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n

s p a c e

3 3

p r i o r t o

i t s

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The i n d i v i d u a l

? l t e r e l e m e n t s 32

p r e f e r a b l y a r e formed o f

p l e a t e d

m e d i a , s u c h a s p a p e r , f o r m e d i n t o


t u b e e l e m e n t s

e a c h

h a v i n g o p p o s i t e e n d s . E a c h

o f

t h e s e

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t y p i c a l l y

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t h e r e o n .

D e t a i l s

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t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n

o f t h e ? l t e r e l e m e n t

32

a n d h o W h e ? l t e r media s

f a s h i o n e d

i n t o

a s t a b l e

n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l s h a p e

a n d con?ned

W i t h e n d

c a p s i s d i s c l o s e d i n US. a t .

N o .

4 , 1 7 1 , 9 6 3

( S c h u l e r ) ,

W h i c h

i s i n c o r p o r a t e d

h e r e i n

b y r e f e r e n c e .

An example o f

hoW

a ? l t e r e l e m e n t 3 2

may b e

s u p p o r t e d

t o

t h e s t r u c t u r e

28

i s d i s c l o s e d i n US. P a t . N o s . 4 , 3 9 5 , 2 6 9

a n d

5 , 5 6 2 , 7 4 6 .

I n

p a r t i c u l a r , t h e s u p p o r t

a s s e m b l y f o r

s u p

p o r t i n g

t h e


i s shoWn i n

F I G . 4 . Back

member

p o r t i o n

3 0

o f t h e s t r u c t u r e 2 8

h a s a n

o p e n i n g ( n o t s h o W n )

t h r o u g h

W h i c h

i s

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a

V e n t u r i

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( s h o W n

i n

phantom n F I G .

2 ) .

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7 0 i s

p o s i t i o n e d

o n t h e

t u b e s h e e t s t r u c t u r e 2 8 i n r e l a t i o n

t o t h e

? l t e r e l e m e n t 32



19/52

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6 , 4 8 8 , 7 4 6

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7

i s

u s e d f o r

s u p p o r t i n g t h e ? l t e r

e l e m e n t

3 2 . The y o k e

a s s e m b l y 3 6 i n c l u d e s s t e e l

r o d s

a t t a c h e d

t o

( f o r e x a m p l e ,

b y

W e l d i n g ) a n d e x t e n d i n g f r o m t h e s t r u c t u r e 2 8 .

Yoke

assem

b l y

3 6 i s

p o s i t i o n e d

t o

e x t e n d f r o m

s t r u c t u r e 2 8

i n t o

t h e

d i r t y

a i r c h a m b e r 2 2 . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , a l t h o u g h

n o t

shoWn

i n

t h e

? g u r e s ,

s t e e l

r o d s

o f

t h e

y o k e

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t h r e a d e d

a t

t h e

p r o x i m a l

e n d a n d e x t e n d t h r o u g h n o t c h e s i n

t h e

V e n t u r i

b e l l - m o u t h e d - p o r t i o n

a n d a p e r t u r e s i n t h e ? a n g e

o f

t h e

V e n t u r i element 7 0 . I n such

a

c a s e ,

a

rod can be s t r u c t u r e d

s o

t h a t

i t

can be secured t o

t h e t u b e

s h e e t s t r u c t u r e 2 8

t o g e t h e r W i t h t h e ? a n g e o f t h e V e n t u r i e l e m e n t 70 by a

n u t

p l a c e d on t h e c l e a n a i r

chamber

s i d e o f t h e t u b e s h e e t

s t r u c t u r e .

T h i s

can be

a c h i e v e d i n

a v a r i e t y

o f

Ways. For

e x a m p l e , t h e r o d

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a n i n t e g r a l r i d g e

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p r o x i m a l end t o a c t a

s t o p

a s t h e p r o x i m a l end

o f

t h e

r o d

i s

e x t e n d e d t h r o u g h a n

a p e r t u r e o f t h e

t u b e

s h e e t s t r u c t u r e 28

t o

be f a s t e n e d W i t h a n u t . T h i s arrangement h a s t h e advan

t a g e

t h a t n o

r o d e x t e n d s

t h r o u g h t h e t h r o a t

o f

t h e

V e n t u r i

e l e m e n t

7 0 . A n o t h e r p r a c t i c a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e

f o r s e c u r i n g

t h e

? l t e r element t o t h e

t u b e

s h e e t s t r u c t u r e 2 8 i s one

s i m i l a r t o

t h e

a r r a n g e m e n t

d i s c l o s e d i n

US.

a t . N o . 4 , 2 1 8 , 2 2 7 F r e y ) .

R e f e r r i n g

noW o

F I G .

6 , n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t 32

t y p i c a l l y c o m p r i s e s

a p l e a t e d

? l t r a t i o n

m e d i a 3 5 e x t e n d i n g

e s s e n t i a l l y t h e l e n g t h o f


3 2 .

An

o u t e r

l i n e r 36

p r o t e c t s t h e

? l t r a t i o n

m e d i a

3 5

f r o m p h y s i c a l

d a m a g e s .

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a n

i n n e r l i n e r

34 s p o s i t i o n e d i n s id e t h e ? l t r a t i o n

media 35

t o

p r o t e c t

a n d

s u p p o r t

? l t r a t i o n media

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p o t t e d o r con?ned i n a n e n d

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r s t

end c a p

8 2 ,

r e f e r r e d t o h e r e i n

a s

t h e “ p r o x i m a l e n d ” ,

i s

a n

a n n u l a r end

c a p and

a l l o W s

a c c e s s

t o t h e

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o f

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o p p o s i t e “ d i s t a l e n d c a p ” 4 4

i s a c o n t i n u o u s

c a p t h a t s e a l s

a c c e s s

t o t h e i n t e r i o r o f ? l t r a t i o n media 3 5 .

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? l t r a t i o n

media 35

a n d end

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8 2 ,

44 de?ne

a

? l t e r e d

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c l e a n a i r chamber ( n o t s h o W n ) .

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some

e m b o d i m e n t s ,

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When tWo ? l t e r e l e m e n t s 3 2

a r e

s t a c k e d a x i a l l y ,

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c a p , i n

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t o H o w

f r e e l y

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t h e

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chambers

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s t a c k e d

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t h e

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t h e

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3 5

c o v e r e d b y

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a s

i t i s

s h i e l d e d

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mounted on t h e s t r u c t u r e 28 v i a yoke

3 6 ,

p r o x i m a l

e n d c a p

8 2

i s p o s i t i o n e d a g a i n s t t h e s t r u c t u r e

2 8 .

I n some e m b o d i m e n t s , a

g a s k e t

may b e d i s p o s e d betWeen

t h e

p r o x im a l e n d

c a p 8 2

a n d

t h e s t r u c t u r e

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r e s s i n g

t h e


32 t o W a r d t h e s t r u c t u r e 28 a n d c o m p r e s s i n g

t h e g a s k e t ,

a n a x i a l l y

d i r e c t e d

s e a l

i s

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b e t W e e n

p r o x i m a l

e n d

c a p

8 2

a n d

s t r u c t u r e

28

t o

p r e v e n t

a i r

l e a k a g e .

I n t h e e m b o d i m e n t shoWn n F I G .

4 ,

e a c h

y o k e

a s s e m b l y

36

i s s e c u r e d e s s e n t i a l l y p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e s t r u c t u r e 28 s o

a s t o suspend

t h e

? l t e r e l e m e n t s 32

a t a n a c u t e

a n g l e W i t h

r e s p e c t t o h o r i Z o n t a l . ( B a c k member 3 0 , o n W h i c h y o k e

a s s e m b l y

3 6

i s

p o s i t i o n e d ,

i s

a t

a n a n g l e t o

h o r i Z o n t a l ) . I n

some e m b o d i m e n t s , h o W e v e r , back

member 30 may

b e

v e r t i c a l ,

i . e . ,

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t o

h o r i Z o n t a l ,

a n d

y o k e

a s s e m b l y

3 6

i s s t r u c t u r e d

s o

t h a t ? l t e r elements

3 2 a r e

n e v e r t h e l e s s

p o s i t i o n e d

a t

a n a c u t e a n g l e W i t h r e s p e c t t o h o r i Z o n t a l .

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p r e f e r r e d r a n g e f o r

t h e

a n g l e o f

i n c l i n a t i o n

o f

t h e

? l t e r

e l e m e n t s

3 2

i s

a b o u t 1 5 ° — 3 0 °

f r o m

t h e h o r i Zo n t a l ,

a l t h o u g h

t h e

s y s t e m c a n Work i t h a n y a n g l e

o f

i n c l i n a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g

no a n g l e . I n t h e embodiment

shoWn

i n F I G S .

2 a n d 3 , e a c h

back

member

30

o f

t h e

s t e p p e d

s t r u c t u r e

28

h a s

tWo

h o r i

Z o n t a l l y

s p a c e d a p a r t y o k e a s s e m b l i e s 3 6 m o u n t e d

t h e r e o n .

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o f

t h e ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s

32 o n t h e v a r i o u s s t e p s

10

1 5

25

35

45

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F I G .

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i l l u s t r a t e s

t h e p l a c e m e n t

o f

a

p a i r o f ? l t e r e l e m e n t s

32 o n t o e a c h y o k e a s s e m b l y

3 6 ;

tWo ? l t e r e l e m e n t s 3 2 a r e

p o s i t i o n e d

a x i a l l y i n r e l a t i o n

t o

o n e a n o t h e r . An a n n u l a r

d i s t a l

e n d c a p

4 4 h a v i n g a c e n t r a l l y l o c a t e d

o p e n i n g

i s

a l i g n e d W i t h t h e end p l a t e 39 s o

a s

t o

s e a l i n g l y

c o v e r t h e

o u t b o a r d

e n d

o f

t h e

s e c o n d

? l t e r

e l e m e n t

o f

e a c h

p a i r .

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a l l o W s

t h e r e m o v a b l e

a t t a c h m e n t o f a

c l a m p i n g

a r r a n g e m e n t

f o r a x i a l l y c o m p r e s s i n g t h e

g a s k e t s

8 4 ( n o t s h o W n i n

F I G S .

2 — 3 )

o f

t h e ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s

32

t o s e a l them t o

t h e

t u b e s h e e t

s t r u c t u r e 2 8 a s

W e l l

a s t o each

o t h e r .

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4 6

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i t s s p e c i a l h a n d l e 4 7 i s i n s e r t e d

t h r o u g h

t h e a l i g n e d

a p e r t u r e s

o f t h e end p l a t e 39 and end c a p 44 t o s e c u r e t h e

t W o

t o g e t h e r .

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t h e

t u b e s h e e t

s t r u c t u r e 28

s

t h e

c l e a n

a i r

c h a m b e r 6 0

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i s d e ? n e d by

t h e

b a c k s u r f a c e

p a n e l 6 2

o f

t h e a s s e m b l y a n d a

p o r t i o n

o f t h e u p p e r

s u r f a c e

p a n e l 1 6 , a

p o r t i o n

o f t h e

t W o

o p p o s i n g s i d e

p a n e l s

1 7 ,

1 7 ‘ ,

a n d t h e b a c k

s i d e

o f

t h e t u b e s h e e t s t r u c t u r e 2 8 . Mounted

i n

t h e

back

s u r f a c e

p a n e l

6 2

i s a c l e a n a i r o u t l e t

6 4

f o r v e n t i n g t h e c l e a n ,

? l t e r e d

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i n t o t h e

c o n d u i t

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r e t u r n

t o

t h e

p l a n t

e n v i r o n m e n t .

U n t i l t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e , c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t s

h a v e t y p i c a l l y been u s e d

i n

a i r ? l t e r

a s s e m b l i e s

s u c h

a s

d e s c r i b e d

h e r e i n . HoWever, i t h a s been found t h a t

i n

con

v e n t i o n a l

s y s t e m s, o p e r a t i o n

o f

t h e s e t y p e s

o f d u s t c o l l e c t o r s

a t a n i n c r e a s e d

a i r

?oW volume

r e s u l t s

i n i n c r e a s e d

a i r

s p e e d s , Which i n t u r n r e s u l t s i n a r e d u c t i o n

o f

? l t e r l i f e

b e c a u s e o f

t h e a b r a s i v e n e s s

o f

t h e p a r t i c u l a t e s i n t h e

a i r . An

i n c r e a s e d a i r ? o W , f o r e x a m p l e , 8 3 1 5 c u b i c f e e t p e r

m i n u t e

( c ? n ) o r

g r e a t e r ,

l e a d s t o h i g h c a b i n e t

a i r / d u s t

v e l o c i t y W h i c h

c a n a b r a d e

h o l e s

i n t h e ? l t e r c a r t r i d g e s . The

h i g h

a i r

v e l o c i t y

may a l s o i n h i b i t t h e d r o p - o u t o f t h e d u s t p a r t i c l e s i n t o

t h e

c o l l e c t i o n h o p p e r . T h i s r e s u l t s i n t h e ? l t e r s b e i n g p l u g g e d

and

a l o s s i n

t o t a l

d u s t

c o l l e c t i o n

a i r ? o W .

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p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e

p r o v i de s a n

a i r ? l t e r a s s e m b l y t h a t

p r o v i d e s h i g h

v o l u m e t r i c

a i r ? o W

W i t h s u f ? c i e n t l y loW

a i r

s p e e d s

t o m i n i

m i Z e ? l t e r d a m a g e .

The


? l t e r e l e m e n t s , When

u t i l i Z e d i n

t h e

a i r

? l t e r

a s s e m b l y

o f t h e

p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e ,

h a v e a n

e x t e n d e d

l i f e

When c o m p a r e d t o c o n v e n t i o n a l c y l i n d r i c a l

? l t e r e l e m e n t s .

T h e n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l

? l t e r e l e m e n t s p r o v i de

d e c r e a s e d a i r

v e l o c i t i e s ,

t h u s r e d u c i n g t h e a m o u n t o f damage

caused t o t h e ? l t e r e l e m e n t s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e

non

c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s

W i l l e v e n t u a l l y

n e e d r e p l a c e m e n t

W i t h n e W , c l e a n ? l t e r e l e m e n t s

When

t h e ? l t e r e l e m e n t s

become

o c c l u d e d a n d p l u g g e d . T h e n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r s

a r e

removed When t h e p r e s s u r e

d r o p

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media

i s

a b o u t

4—6

i n c h e s o f

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R e f e r r i n g

noW t o FIGS. 6 — 7 ,

a

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a c c o r d a n c e W i t h

t h e p r e s e n t d is c l o s u r e W i l l

b e

e x p l a i n e d i n

d e t a i l . F i l t e r e l e m e n t 32 h a s a n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l sl e e v e o f

? l t r a t i o n

m e d i a 3 5 , p r e f e r a b l y p l e a t e d , e x t e n d i n g

f r o m

p r o x i m a l end c a p

82

t o a

d i s t a l

end c a p 4 4 .

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f o r

a c c e s s t o t h e

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d i s t a l

end c a p 44

may

b e

a n n u l a r

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be

c o n t i n u o u s ; i n

t h e

c o n t e x t o f t h i s d i s c l o s u r e ,

a n

“ a n n u l a r end

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i s

one

Where t h e end

c a p i s r i n g - l i k e

and

a l l o W s

a c c e s s t o t h e

i n t e r i o r

o f ? l t r a t i o n m e d i a 35

( i t i s “ o p e n ” ) ,

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ous

end

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one

t h a t e x t e n d s

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span o f ? l t r a t i o n

media

35

and

does n o t a l l o W a c c e s s

t o

t h e i n t e r i o r o f

? l t r a t i o n

m e d i a

3 5 ;

i n

o t h e r

W o r d s ,

i t

i s

“ c l o s e d ” .

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f o r tWo s t a c k e d

? l t e r

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end

c a p

44 W i l l

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f o r t h e ? r s t o f t h e

s t a c k e d

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32 a n d



20/52

US

6 , 4 8 8 , 7 4 6

B1

9

continuous end

cap

t o allow passage of a b o l t o r o t h e r

f a s t e n e r t h e r e t h r o u g h s o a s

t o

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t h e

? l t e r

e l e m e n t 3 2 t o s t e p p e d t u b e s h e e t 2 8 ; h o W e v e r , a n y

a p e r t u r e

i s t i g h t l y

s e a l e d b y

t h e f a s t e n e r .

The l e n g t h o f ? l t e r

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3 2 , shoWn

a s

“ x ” i n

F I G .

6 ,

g e n e r a l l y

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82

t o

t h e o u t e r m o s t end o f d i s t a l

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s a t l e a s t a b o u t

4 5 . 7 c m

( 1 8

i n c h e s ) , l e s s t h a n a b o u t 1 2 2

cm ( 4 8

i n c h e s ) ,

t y p i c a l l y

a b o u t 5 5 . 9 — 7 6 . 2 cm

( 2 2 — 3 0 i n c h e s ) ,

o f t e n a b o u t

6 1 . 0 — 7 1 . 1

cm ( 2 4 — 2 8 i n c h e s ) ,

a n d

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6 6 . 0 cm

( 2 6 i n c h e s ) , a l t h o u g h l o n g e r

a n d

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c o u l d b e u s e d . A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

m u l t i p l e

? l t e r e l e m e n t s 3 2 , f o r

e x a m p l e , t W o , t h r e e , o r more ? l t e r e l e m e n t s 3 2 ,

may

b e

a x i a l l y

s t a c k e d t o

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more

? l t r a t i o n a r e a .

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? l t e r

e l e m e n t 32 i s

n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ,

? l t r a t i o n

media 3 5 a n d

e a c h

end

c a p 8 2 ,

44

a r e a l s o

n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ;

e a c h

end c a p h a s

a l o n g

a x i s 7 5 and

a s h o r t

a x i s 7 6 ,

When

t a k e n p e r p e n d i c u l a r

t o

t h e ? l t r a t i o n media 3 5 . F I G .

7

i l l u s

t r a t e s

p r o x i m a l e n d c a p 8 2 W i t h l o n g a x i s 7 5 a n d

s h o r t

a x i s

7 6 .

The

a s p e c t r a t i o , t h a t i s ,

t h e

r a t i o b e t W e e n

t h e

s h o r t

a x i s

7 6

o f

t h e e n d c a p

a n d

t h e

l o n g

a x i s 7 5

o f

t h e e n d c a p ,

i s

t y p i c a l l y

a t

l e a s t a b o u t 0 . 5 ,

l e s s t h a n

1 . 0 , a n d i s p r e f e r a b l y

a b o u t 0 . 7 t o 0 . 9 . I n some s y s t e m s , an a s p e c t r a t i o o f a b o u t

0 . 8 0 i s p r e f e r r e d . I t h a s

b e e n

f o u n d t h a t t h e

l o W e r

t h e

a s p e c t

r a t i o , t h e l o W e r t h e

a i r v e l o c i t y a s

t h e

a i r

?oWs t h r o u g h t h e

d i r t y a i r c h a m b e r 2 2

a n d a r o u n d

a n d t h r o u g h t h e ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s 3 2 .

T h i s

r e s u l t s i n

l e s s damage o

t h e ? l t e r e l e m e n t s

32 a n d

l o n g e r

e l e m e n t l i f e .

An a s p e c t r a t i o

o f a b o u t

0 . 8

f o r

a n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r e l e m e n t t y p i c a l l y

p r o v i d e s

a n

i n c r e a s e

o f a i r ? o W b y a b o u t 1 0 % , g e n e r a l l y

a t

l e a s t a b o u t

20 ,

and

i n some i n s t a n c e s , by

a b o u t

2 5

o v e r

t h a t o f a

c o n v e n t i o n a l


? l t e r

e l e m e n t , W h i l e k e e p i n g

t h e

c a b i n e t

a i r v e l o c i t i e s t h e

s a m e .

HoWever,

a s

t h e a s p e c t r a t i o

f o r n o n - c y l i n d r i c a l ? l t e r

e l e m e n t s

d e c r e a s e s ( i . e . , t h e

s h o r t

a x i s 7 6 d e c r e a s e s i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e l o n g a x i s 7 5 ) , i t becomes

d i f ? c u l t t o

p u l s e

c l e a n a i r

b a c k W a r d s t h r o u g h

t h e

e l e m e n t s

32 t o l o o s e n compacted p a r t i c u l a t e s , d u e t o t h e n a r r o W n e s s

o f t h e e l e m e n t t h r o u g h W h i c h t h e a i r p u l s e m u s t

t r a v e l .

T h e

e x t e r i o r

d i m e n s i o n o f e n d c a p 8 2 ( a n d

e n d

c a p

4 4 ) ,

When

t a k e n

a l o n g t h e l o n g a x i s 7 5 ,

i s

a t

l e a s t a b o u t 1 5 c m ,

l e s s t h a n a b o u t 60

cm, t y p i c a l l y

i s a b o u t 27.9—45 7 c m

( 1 1 — 1 8 i n c h e s ) , a n d

p r e f e r a b l y

a b o u t 3 3 . 0 — 3 8 . 1 cm ( 1 3 — 1 5

i n c h e s ) . T h e i n t e r i o r d i m e n s i o n

o f

e n d c a p 8 2

( a n d

o p t i o n

a l l y o f

e n d

c a p

4 4 ) , When

t a k e n a l o n g

t h e

l o n g

a x i s 7 5 , i s a t

l e a s t

a b o u t 5 cm,

l e s s t h a n

5 5 c m , t y p i c a l l y a b o u t 2 0 . 3 — 3 8 . 1

c m

( 8 — 1 5

i n c h e s ) ,

a n d

p r e f e r a b l y

a b o u t

2 5

. 4 — 3 0 . 5

c m

( 1 0 — 1 2 i n c h e s ) . T h e e x t e r i o r d i m e n s i o n o f e n d c a p 8 2 ( a n d

e n d c a p

4 4 ) ,

When

t a k e n a l o n g t h e s h o r t a x i s

7 6 ,

i s a t l e a s t

a b o u t

1 0 cm, l e s s

t h a n

a b o u t 55 cm, t y p i c a l l y a b o u t

2 0 . 3 — 3 8 . 1 cm

( 8 — 1 5

i n c h e s ) ,

p r e f e r a b l y a b o u t ,

2 5

. 4 — 3 0 . 5 c m

( 1 0 — 1 2 i n c h e s ) . G e n e r a l l y , t h e i n t e r i o r d i m e n s i o n o f t h e e n d

c a p

8 2

( a n d o p t i o n a l l y o f e n d c a p 4 4 ) ,

When

t a k e n a l o n g t h e

s h o r t a x i s 7 6 , i s

a t

l e a s t a b o u t

5 cm, l e s s t h a n a b o u t

50

cm,

t y p i c a l l y a b o u t 1 2 . 7 — 3 0 . 5 cm ( 5 — 1 2 i n c h e s ) , a n d

p r e f e r a b l y

a b o u t 1 7 . 8 — 2 2 . 9 cm ( 7 — 9 i n c h e s ) .

The

d i m e n s i o n s o f

t h e

p r o x i m a l e n d c a p 8 2 a n d

t h e

d i s t a l e n d c a p

4 4 W i l l u s u a l l y

b e

t h e s a m e ; t h a t i s , t y p i c a l l y t h e

? l t e r

e l e m e n t

32

W i l l

n o t

be

t a p e r e d ,

b u t

f o r some embodiments a t a p e r may

i n

f a c t

be

d e s i r e d .

I n

a

p r e f e r r e d

e m b o d i m e n t ,

t h e e x t e r i o r

d i m e n s i o n s

o f

e i t h e r e n d c a p

8 2 ,

4 4 a r e 3 7 . 7 0

c m ( 1 4 . 8 4 4 i n c h e s ) a l o n g t h e

l o n g a x i s 7 5 ,

a n d

3 0 . 0 8 cm ( 1 1 . 8 4 4 i n c h e s ) a l o n g t h e s h o r t

10

1 5

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

1 0

a x i s 7 6 . The l e n g t h o f t h e ? l t e r e l e m e n t 3 2

i s

p r e f e r a b l y

a b o u t

6 6 . 0 c m ( 2 6 i n c h e s ) . T h u s ,

i f

tWo

e l e m e n t s

32 Were

s t a c k e d , t h e o ve r a l l l e n g t h o f t h e


3 2 Would

b e

1 3 2 . 1 cm ( 5 2

i n c h e s ) .

I n a n o t h e r p r e f e r r e d e m b o d i m e n t ,

t h e

e x t e r i o r

dimensions

o f

e i t h e r

end c a p 8 2 , 44

a r e

36.47 cm

( 1 4 . 3 6 0

i n c h e s )

a l o n g

t h e

l o n g

a x i s 7 5 ,

a n d

2 8 . 8 5

cm

1 1 . 3 6

i n c h e s )

a l o n g t h e s h o r t a x i s

7 6 .

Each

? l t e r e l e m e n t 3 2 i s mounted o n t o t u b e s h e e t s t r u c

t u r e

2 8 ,

i n

p a r t i c u l a r

o n t o

back

member 30

o f

t u b e

s h e e t

s t r u c t u r e 2 8 , b y

y o k e a s s e m b l y

3 6 . R e f e r r i n g

t o

F I G .

8 ,

Which

shoWs

tWo ? l t e r e l e m e n t s 3 2

mounted

o n t o back

member 3 0 ,

i t

can be s e e n t h a t ? l t e r element 32

i s mounted

s o

t h a t

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