Bucket lid for auxiliary cyclone dust collector

Abstract

A bucket lid for a cyclone dust collector is configured to fit onto a standard pail or bucket, with a circumferential rim forming an outer edge of the lid, a central mounting disk onto which the cyclone is mounted, and a series of baffles extending circumferentially around the lid between the mounting disk and the rim. These baffles extend downward into the bucket to interfere with swirl in the bucket from dust discharged from the cyclone. The baffles may be radial ribs alternating with ramped coffers. The lid may be formed of anti-static polypropylene.

Claims

1. In combination, a dust collection cyclone having a mounting ring flange; a dust collection bucket; and a lid adapted to support the mounting ring flange of said cyclone and which is configured to fit onto the rim of said bucket; said lid comprising a circumferential rim at the outer edge of the lid; a central mounting disk configured to support a mounting ring flange of a cyclone, the central mounting disk having a central opening adapted for passage of dust from the cyclone into the bucket and mounting openings for receiving fasteners that hold the mounting ring flange onto the central mounting disk of said lid; and an annular portion extending between said circumferential rim and said central mounting disk and closed to the passage of air therethrough, the annular portion including a series of baffles extending circumferentially in said circumferential portion of the lid, said baffles extending downward from the disk to interfere with swirl of dust-laden air in said bucket beneath said lid; wherein said series of baffles is in the form of a plurality of radial ribs alternating with ramped coffers.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said circumferential rim includes at least one clamp member configured for removably closing over the rim of said bucket.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each said baffle is formed of a said radial rib followed in the direction of air flow by a respective upward sloping coffer.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein each said rib ramps upward in the radially inward direction.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said central mounting disk is elevated above the circumferential rim.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said lid is formed of a low-conductance anti-static polypropylene.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said mounting openings in said central mounting disk each have a recess at the underside of the lid configured to serve as a nut pocket.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said mounting openings in said central mounting disk are in the form of female-threaded bosses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dust collection arrangement with a cyclone mounted upon a lid according to an embodiment of this invention, and placed upon a dust receptacle.

(2) FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the lid of this invention.

(3) FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof.

(4) FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken at 5-5 of FIG. 4.

(5) FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the lid of this invention.

(6) FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but with threaded screw bosses rather than nut pockets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

(7) FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of a small plastic cyclonic dust collection system employing a V-shaped plastic cyclone 10. An inlet tube 12 enters the cyclone 10 near the top, and a vortex tube 14 or exhaust tube exits the cyclone at the top center. The intake hose from the dust pick-up tool (not shown) connects to the inlet tube 12 and an exhaust hose (not shown) that leads to a vacuum source connects to the vortex tube 14. A flange ring 16 is provided at the base or nose of the cyclone 10. Dust exiting the cyclone is collected in a bucket 18, here shown as a standard 5-gallon plastic bucket as described earlier. The flange ring 16 bolts to the center of a lid 20, as will be described in detail with respect to the remaining drawing views.

(8) The lid is shown in perspective in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lid 20 is formed of a tough plastic resin, favorably polypropylene of sufficient thickness, preferably 100 mils (0.1 inch) with a flat central disk 22 onto which the ring flange 16 of the cyclone is to be mounted, and a rim 24 at the circumference of the lid to fit onto the rim of the pail 18. Between the disk 22 and the rim 24 are a series of radial ribs 26 and coffers 28 with the ribs and coffers alternating as shown. The coffers 28 appear as indentations or recesses on at the upper side of the lid, but on the underside these appear as projections that extend down towards any collected dust in the pail 18. The coffers 28 can each have one generally flat and vertical side facing against the circulation or swirl direction as determined by the cyclone, and a ramped or sloping side in the air flow direction. In other embodiments, other shapes may be used for the ribs and coffers. At least one clamp 30 is formed along the annular channel of the rim 24 of the lid, which can be affirmatively clamped onto the rim of the pail to hold the lid securely in place.

(9) On the flat central disk 22 there is formed a central opening 32 that aligns with the nose of the cyclone 10 and there are also formed six mounting holes 34, here at sixty-degree intervals around the opening 32. The flange 16 of the cyclone 10 mounts onto the disk 22, and the mounting holes 34 are designed to align with the bolt holes on the cyclone's ring flange.

(10) As seen in FIG. 5, the mounting holes 34 may each have a recess at the underside of the lid to serve as a nut pocket for a standard threaded nut to fit the recommended #10 bolts or machine screws. As an alternative, these mounting holes may be in the form of threaded bosses 134 (FIG. 7) such that a separate nut is not needed for each bolt.

(11) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the lid 20 of this embodiment is shaped such that the central disk 22 is elevated about ¾ inch above the level of the rim 24, This places the connecting ribs 26 sloping higher towards the central disk 22, and so that the coffers 28 ramp up in the radially inward direction, as shown. The coffers 28 also ramp upward in the circumferential direction, i.e., the air flow direction. However, as discussed earlier, the coffers and ribs could have different shapes, and there does not have to be six of them only, as illustrated in this example. There could be fewer ribs and coffers, or more of them, depending on the application and system characteristics.

(12) While one clamp member 30 is shown here as an example, there may be two or several clamps distributed around the circumference of the rim 24. There are other constructions of clamp that may be used.

(13) Many modifications and variations would be apparent to persons of skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, as defined in the appended Claims.