DUST EXTRACTION DEVICE

Abstract

A dust extraction device for filtering air, the dust extraction device including one or more filter housing, each having at least one air filter, an inlet housing fluidly connected to the filter housing, a fan assembly including a fan, a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan assembly fluidly connecting the filter housing to the fan outlet, and a support frame for supporting the filter housing, inlet housing and the fan assembly.

Claims

1. A dust extraction device for filtering air, the dust extraction device including: one or more filter housing, each having at least one air filter; an inlet housing fluidly connected to the filter housing; a fan assembly including a fan, a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan assembly fluidly connecting the filter housing to the fan outlet; and a support frame for supporting the filter housing, inlet housing and the fan assembly.

2. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 1, further including a manifold portion located adjacent the fan inlet and adjacent one or more of the one or more filter housing adjacent the fan inlet, wherein the manifold portion fluidly connects outlet portions of the one or more filter housing adjacent the fan inlet to the fan inlet.

3. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the manifold portion fluidly connects the outlet portions of the one or more filter housing adjacent the fan inlet to the fan inlet in addition to the outlet portions being fluidly connected to the fan inlet.

4. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the manifold portion increases in size towards the fan inlet end of the one or more filter housing.

5. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the one or more filter housing is four or more filter housings, and the manifold portion is located adjacent and fluidly connected to four of the four or more filter housings.

6. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan produces a vacuum to move air through the dust extraction device.

7. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fan has a capacity of between 20 m.sup.3/s and 100 m.sup.3/s.

8. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fan has a capacity of between 50 m.sup.3/s and 70 m.sup.3/s.

9. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support frame has substantially a same base dimensions as a 40′ intermodal container, and wherein the support frame is adapted to be transported on 40′ intermodal container bolsters.

10. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 1, further including a hopper located beneath the inlet housing and the filter housing, wherein the hopper is fluidly connected to the filter housing, and fluidly connected to the inlet portion of each of the one or more filter housing, and wherein the hopper has a separator that inhibits flow of air between the inlet housing and the filter housing via the hopper.

11. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 10 further including a conveyor located below the hopper and fluidly connected to the hopper, wherein the conveyor is adapted to convey dust collected by the hopper towards a discharge outlet.

12. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a valve is located between the conveyor and the discharge outlet and wherein the valve inhibits air from being introduced into the dust extraction device via the discharge port.

13. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the conveyor is an auger conveyor.

14. A dust extraction device for filtering air, the dust extraction device including: a plurality of filter housings, each having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and at least one air filter fluidly connecting the inlet portion to the outlet portion; an inlet housing fluidly connected to the inlet portions of the plurality of filter housings; a fan assembly including a fan, a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan inlet fluidly connected to the outlet portions of the plurality of filter housings; a manifold located adjacent the fan inlet and adjacent the plurality of filter housings towards the fan inlet, the manifold further fluidly connecting the fan inlet to the outlet portions of the plurality of filter housings; and a support frame for supporting the filter housing, inlet housing and the fan assembly.

15. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the manifold increases in size from the plurality of filter housings towards the fan inlet.

16. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the manifold increases in size towards the fan inlet end of the one or more filter housing.

17. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a portion of the manifold adjacent to the one or more filter housing has a substantially triangular cross section.

18. A dust extraction device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a portion of the manifold adjacent to the fan inlet has a substantially rectangular cross section.

19. A method of filtering air using a dust extraction device, comprising the steps of: providing a dust extraction device comprising: one or more filter housing, each having at least one air filter; an inlet housing fluidly connected to the filter housing; a fan assembly including a fan, a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan assembly fluidly connecting the filter housing to the fan outlet and a support frame for supporting the filter housing, inlet housing and the fan assembly; positioning a the dust extraction device in a desired location; introducing air into the dust extraction device; and moving the air through a filter housing having at least one air filter to filter the air.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further including the step of diverting the introduced air using a baffle plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

[0058] FIG. 1 is an isometric front view of a dust extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 2 is an isometric rear view of the dust extraction device of FIG. 1;

[0060] FIG. 3 is a side view of the dust extraction device of FIG. 1;

[0061] FIG. 4 is an end view of the dust extraction device of FIG. 1;

[0062] FIG. 5 is an isometric exploded view of the dust extraction device of FIG. 1; and

[0063] FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the dust extraction device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0064] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 there is shown a dust extraction device 10. The dust extraction device 10 has an inlet housing 12, having an inlet 14. The inlet housing 12 has baffles 13. The inlet housing 12 is fluidly connected to inlet portions 16 of a plurality of filter housings 18. Air filters 20 fluidly connect the inlet portions 16 of the plurality of filter housings 18 to outlet portions 22 of the plurality of filter housings 18. The outlet portions 22 of the plurality of filter housings 18 are fluidly connected to a fan inlet 24 of a fan in the form of a centrifugal fan 26, which is fluidly connected to a fan outlet in the form of an exhaust 28.

[0065] The inlet portions 16 of the plurality of filter housings 18 are fluidly connected. The outlet portions 22 of the plurality of filter housings 18 are fluidly connected.

[0066] Hoppers 30 are located beneath the inlet housing 12 and the plurality of filter housings 18 and fluidly connected to both the inlet housing 12 and the inlet portions 16 of the plurality of filter housings 18. Conveyor in the form of an auger conveyors 32 are located beneath the hoppers 30. The auger conveyors 32 are connected to discharge ports 34 via a rotary valve 36.

[0067] A motor in the form of an electric motor 38 drives the centrifugal fan 26.

[0068] A manifold portion 40 is located adjacent the fan inlet 24 and four of the plurality of filter housings 18 that are adjacent to the fan inlet 24. The manifold portion 40 provides additional space for air to flow from the outlet portions 22 of the plurality of filter housings 18 to the fan inlet 24. As air flows through the filter housings 18 from the inlet housing 12 to the fan inlet 24, the volume of air flowing through the outlet portions 22 increases. The manifold portion 40 accommodates this increase in airflow. The fluid connection between the outlet portions 22 of the plurality of filter housings 18 to the fan inlet 24 via the manifold portion 40 is in addition to the direct fluid connection between the outlet portions 22 of the plurality of filter housings 18 and the fan inlet 24. The manifold portion 40 has a substantially triangular cross section adjacent the plurality of filter housings 18 and a substantially rectangular cross section adjacent the fan inlet 24.

[0069] The dust extraction device 10 has an air compressor (not shown). The air compressor is fluidly connected to the plurality of filter housings 18. The air compressor is used to blow air across the air filters 20 to dislodge dust from the air filters 20. The dislodged dust then falls down towards the hoppers 30.

[0070] The dust extraction device 10 has a frame 42. The frame 42 supports the inlet housing 12, the filter housings 18, the centrifugal fan 26, the hoppers 30, the auger conveyors 32, the electrical motor 38 and the air compressor.

[0071] The dust extraction device has a CPU in the form of a control unit (not shown). The control unit controls the electric motor 38, which drives the centrifugal fan 26. The control unit controls the auger conveyors 32 and the rotary valves 36. The control unit monitors the centrifugal fan 26 using a sensor (not shown) to determine if the centrifugal fan 26 is rotating. The control unit monitors the air leaving the exhaust 28 using an emission sensor (not shown). The control unit monitors the air filters 20 using sensors (not shown) which measures the amount of dust on the air filters 20.

[0072] In use with reference to FIGS. 1-6, the centrifugal fan 26 is driven by the electrical motor 38 to move air to be filtered through the inlet 14, through the inlet housing 12, through the inlet portions 16 of a plurality of filter housings 18, through the air filters 20, through the outlet portions outlet portions 22 of the plurality of filter housings 18, through the fan inlet 24, through the centrifugal fan 26 and out through the exhaust 28.

[0073] As the air moves through the inlet housing 12, heavier particles of dust that drop down are collected by the hopper 24, as well as particles of dust that hit the baffles 13 and drop down. As the air moves through the air filters 20 in the plurality of filter housings 18, the dust that is filtered by the air filters 20 and drops down is collected by the hoppers 30. The dust collected by the hoppers 30 is funneled down to the auger conveyors 32, which convey the dust to the discharge ports 34. The rotary valves 36 enable the dust to discharge from the discharge port 34 while inhibiting air from being sucked into the dust extraction device 10 via the discharge port 34.

[0074] As dust collects on the air filters 20, compressed air from the air compressor (not shown) is blown across the air filters 20 to dislodge the dust. The dislodged dust then falls down towards the hoppers 30.

[0075] As the air moves through the plurality of filter housings 18 the air flow increases in the outlet portions 22 of the plurality of filter housings 18. The manifold portion 40 increases in size towards the fan inlet 24 to accommodate the increase in airflow.

[0076] Advantages

[0077] An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust extraction system includes that the dust extraction system can be easily transported and can be operational in a very short period of time. An advantage of a preferred embodiment of the dust extraction system of having a centrifugal fan is that the dust extraction system occupies a smaller footprint than a dust extraction system having a separate fan assembly. A further advantage of a preferred embodiment of the dust extraction system is that the manifold accommodates the increase in air flow rate through the outlet portions from the inlet housing end of the one or more filter housing to the fan inlet. Another advantage of a preferred embodiment of the dust extraction system is that the manifold portion accommodating an increase in air flow enables a larger number of filter housings and air filters to be utilized compared to a dust extraction system without a manifold portion.

[0078] Variations

[0079] It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

[0080] Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.