Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR CYCLONIC SEPARATOR FOR SEPARATING SOLID
IMPURITIES FROM AN AIRFLOW
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a cyclonic separator, and
more particularly to a modular cyclonic separator for
separating solid impurities from an airflow.
2. Description of the Related Art
Figure 1 illustrates a conventional centrifugal
filter 1 that is used to separate solid impurities, such
as dust, debris, solid particles, etc., from an airflow
using cyclonic principle. The conventional centrifugal
filter 1 includes two separating barrels 11, 12, three
pipes 131, 132, 133, an exhaust fan 14 and a solid
collector 15. Each of the separating barrels 11, 12 has
an air inlet 111, 121, and an air outlet 112, 122 and
a solid outlet 113, 123 opposite to each other along
a central axis thereof. The pipe 131 is connected to
the air inlet 111 of the separating barrel 11. The pipe
132 interconnects the air outlet 112 of the separating
barrel 11 and the air inlet 121 of the separating barrel
12. The pipe 133 interconnects the air outlet 122 of
the separating barrel 12 and the exhaust fan 14. The
solid collector 15 is connected to the solid outlets
113, 123. The exhaust fan 4 is operable to draw ambient
air through the pipe 111, the separating barrel 11, the
pipe 132, the separating barrel 12 and the pipe 133,
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such that an airflow flowing into each of the separating
barrels 11, 12 follows a cyclonic flow pattern so as
to separate some of solid impurities from the airflow.
The separated solid impurities fall into the solid
collector 15 through the solid outlets 113, 123.
In such a configuration, the pipe 132 interconnecting
the separating barrels 11, 12 needs to have an adequate
length to be bent in a manner that does not affect flowing
of the airflow through the pipe 132. Therefore, the pipe
132 occupies a relatively large space. Moreover, when
additional one or more separating barrels are used to
improve filtration effect, additional one or more pipes
like the pipe 132 are required for series connection
of the additional separating barrel (s) between the
separating barrels 11, 12. In this case, due to the use
of the additional pipe (s) and separating barrel (s) , the
entire volume of the conventional centrifugal filter
1 becomes much larger, and pipe entanglement may occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to
provide a modular cyclonic separator for separating
solid impurities from an airflow that can overcome the
aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the present invention, a modular
cyclonic separator comprises:
a plurality of separating tubes, each of which
includes an outer tube body having opposite inlet and
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outlet ends and defining a separating chamber therein
in spatial communication with the inlet and outlet ends,
and an air-guiding impeller coaxially fixed in the inlet
end of the outer tube body, and formed with an axial
hole and a plurality of spiral channels that are disposed
around the axial hole for causing an airflow, which flows
radially into the separating chamber through the spiral
channels, to follow a cyclonic flow pattern through the
separating chamber and around a central axis of the outer
tube body, such that some of solid impurities are
separated from the airflow within the separating chamber;
and
a plurality of three-port valves, each of which has
first and second ports with the same size, and a third
port, and is configured with a first fluid passage in
fluid communication with the first and third ports, and
a second fluid passage in fluid communication with the
second and third ports.
Each of the separating tubes is capable of connecting
selectively with one of the three-port valves to form
a first filtration module, in which the inlet end of
the outer tube body of the separating tube is connected
detachably to the third port of the one of the three-port
valves, or with two of the three-port valves to form
a second filtration module, in which the inlet and outlet
ends of the outer tube body are connected detachably
and respectively to the third ports of the two of the
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three-port valves.
For the first filtration module, the airflow passes
through the first fluid passage in the one of the
three-port valves prior to entering the separating tube.
The airflow in the separating tube flows out of the first
filtration module through the second fluid passage in
the one of the three-port valves. The separated solid
impurities are able to be discharged out of the first
filtration module through the outlet end of the outer
tube body.
For the second filtration module, the airflow passes
through the first fluid passage in one of the two of
the three-port valves that connects the inlet end prior
to entering the separating tube. The airflow in the
separating chamber flows out of the second filtration
module through at least one of the second fluid passages
in the two of the three-port valves. The separated solid
impurities are able to be discharged out of the second
filtration module through the first fluid passage and
the first port of the other one of the two of the three-port
valves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent in the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments with reference
to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional
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centrifugal filter;
Figure 2 is a partly explodedperspective view showing
some components used in the first and second preferred
embodiments of a modular cyclonic separator according
5 to this invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the first
preferred embodiment of the modular cyclonic separator
of this invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the
first preferred embodiment;
Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view showing the
second preferred embodiment of the modular cyclonic
separator according to this invention;
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the third
preferred embodiment of the modular cyclonic separator
according to this invention; and
Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of the third
preferred embodiment taken along line VII-VII in Figure
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before the present invention is described in greater
detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted
by the same reference numerals throughout the
disclosure.
Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the first preferred
embodiment of a modular cyclonic separator according
to the present invention is shown to include three
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separating tubes 3 (hereinafter also referred to as first
to third separating tubes 3) , five three-port valves
4 (hereinafter also referred to as first to fifth
three-port valves 4) , and a connecting unit which
consists of four connection members 5 (hereinafter also
referred to as first to fourth connection members 5)
and a connection tube 6.
Each separating tube 3 includes an outer tube body
31, an air-guiding impeller 32 and an impeller-shaped
filtering piece 33. For each separating tube 3, the outer
tube body 31 has opposite inlet and outlet ends 311,
312, and defines a separating chamber 310 therein in
spatial communication with the inlet and outlet ends
311, 312. The air-guiding impeller 32 is coaxially fixed
in the inlet end 311 of the outer tube body 31, and is
formed with an axial hole 321, and a plurality of spiral
channels 322 disposed around the axial hole 321 for
causing an airflow, which flows radially into the
separating chamber 310 through the spiral channels 322,
to follow a cyclonic flow pattern through the separating
chamber 310, as indicated by spiral hollow arrows in
Figure 4, such that some of solid impurities, such as
dust, debris and solid particles, are separated from
the airflow within the separating chamber 310. The
impeller-shaped filtering piece 33 is made of a foam
material, and is attached fittingly over the air-guiding
impeller 32 for filtering a portion of debris in the
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airflow.
Each three-port valve 4 includes a T-shaped valve
body 41 that has opposite first and second ports 411,
412 with the same size, and a third port 413 corresponding
in size to the inlet or outlet end 311, 312 of each
separating tube 3 and being greater in size than the
first and second ports 411, 412, and that is formed
integrally with an internal partitioning tube body 42
for partitioning an interior of the T-shaped valve body
41 into a first fluid passage 43 in fluid communication
with the first and third ports 411, 413, and a second
fluid passage 44 in fluid communication with the second
and third ports 412, 413. For each three-port valve 4,
the internal partitioning tube body 42 extends coaxially
toward the third port 413 in a manner that the third
port 413 is partitioned by the internal partitioning
tube body 42 into a central portion 4131, which is in
fluid communication with the second fluid passage 44,
and a peripheral portion 4132, which surrounds the
central portion 4131 and is in fluid communication with
the first fluid passage 43. In addition, the T-shaped
valve body 41 is formed with two holes 45 that are in
spatial communication respectively with the first and
second fluid passages 43, 44, and two annular rim flanges
414 that define respectively the first and second ports
411, 412. In use, each hole 45 is used to be selectively
plugged by a plug 46 or a fluid injection valve 47, which
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is used to inject a fluid, such as water or a cleaning
fluid, into the T-shaped valve body 41 (see Figure 4) .
In this embodiment, the inlet end 311 of the third
separating tube 3 (i.e., the rightmost one in Figure
4) is connected threadedly to the third port 413 of the
fifth three-port valve 4 (i.e., the upper right one in
Figure 4) , such that the third separating tube 3
cooperates with the fifth three-port valve 4 to form
a first filtration module (A) . The inlet and outlet ends
311, 312 of the first separating tube 3 (i.e., the
leftmost one in Figure 4) are connected threadedly to
the third ports 413 of the first and second three-port
valves 4 (i.e., the upper left and lower left ones in
Figure 4) , respectively, such that the first separating
tube 3 cooperates with the first and second three-port
valves 4 to form a second filtration module (B) .
Similarly, the second separating tube 3 (i . e . , the middle
one in Figure 4) connects with the third and fourth
three-port valves 4 (i.e., the lower middle and upper
middle ones in Figure 4) in the same way to form another
second filtration module (B) . It is noted that, for the
second filtration modules (B) , each of the first and
second separating tubes 3 further includes an inner tube
body 34 that is disposed coaxially in the outer tube
body 31 and that has a connecting end 341 extending
outwardly of the outlet end 312 of the outer tube body
31 and connected to the internal partitioning tube body
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42 of a respective one of the second and fourth three-port
valves 4, and a free end 342 opposite to the connecting
end 341 and adjacent to the axial hole 321 in the
air-guiding impeller 32, such that the separating
chamber 310 is defined between the outer tube body 31
and the inner tube body 34 and such that the inner tube
body 34 is in fluid communication with the second fluid
passage 44 in a respective one of the second and fourth
three-port valves 4. In addition, a filtering sleeve
35 made of a foam material is sleeved fittingly on the
inner tube body 34. For each of the first and second
filtration modules (A, B), the central portion 4131 and
the peripheral portion 4132 of the third port 413 of
the three-port valve 4, which connects the inlet end
311 of the separating tube 3, correspond respectively
in position to the axial hole 321 and the group of the
spiral channels 322 in the air-guiding impeller 32.
The connection tube 6 has a first end 61 corresponding
to the first or second port 411, 412 of each three-port
valve 4 in size, and a second end 62 opposite to the
first end 61 and capable of connecting threadedly with
the inlet or outlet end 311, 312 of each separating tube
3. The connection tube 6 is formed with an annular rim
flange 611 that defines the first end 61. In this
embodiment, the second end 62 of the connection tube
6 is connected threadedly to the outlet end 312 of the
third separating tube 3.
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Each connection member 5 is used to connect with one
three-port valve 4, or interconnect two adjacent
three-port valves 4 or one three-port valve 4 and the
connection tube 6 (not shown in this embodiment) . Each
5 connection member 5 includes a C-shaped retaining ring
51 that is formed with an inner annular groove 511 for
engaging one annular rim flange 414 of the one three-port
valve 4, or engaging corresponding two annular rim
flanges 414 of the two adjacent three-port valves 4 that
10 face each other, or engaging one annular rim flange 414
of the one three-port valve 4 and the annular rim flange
611 of the connection tube 6, and an anchoring piece
52 that is for anchoring opposite ends of the c-shaped
retaining ring 51 to maintain connection with the one
three-port valve 4 or connection between the two adjacent
three-port valves 4 or between the one three-port valve
4 and the connection tube 6. Each connection member 5
further includes a spacer unit configured as a washer
53 and a cover body 54 (see Figure 2) that selectively
engage the inner annular groove 511 in the C-shaped
retaining ring 51 together with the one annular rim
flange 414 of the one three-port valve 4, or configured
as one of the washer 53 and the cover body 54 that
selectively engages the inner annular groove 511 in the
C-shaped retaining ring 51 together with the
corresponding two annular rim flanges 414 or together
with the one annular rim flange 414 of the one three-port
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valve 4 and the annular rim flange 611 of the connection
tube 6, and that is clamped between the corresponding
two annular rim flanges 414 or between the one annular
rim flange 414 of the one three-port valve 4 and the
annular rim flange 611 of the connection tube 6. In this
embodiment, referring to Figure 4, the first connection
member 5 (i.e. , the upper left one) interconnects the
second port 412 of the first three-port valve 4 and the
first port 411 of the fourth three-port valve 4, wherein
the cover body 54 is clamped sealingly between
corresponding two annular rim flanges 414 of the first
and fourth three-port valves 4 for blocking fluid
communication between the second port 412 of the first
three-port valve 4 and the first port 411 of the fourth
three-port valve 4. The second connectionmember 5 (i .e . ,
the lower left one) interconnects the second port 412
of the second three-port valve 4 and the first port 411
of the third three-port valve 4, wherein the washer 53
is clamped sealingly between corresponding two annular
rim flanges 414 of the second and third three-port valves
4. The third connection member 5 (i.e., the upper right
one) interconnects the second port 412 of the fourth
three-port valve 4 and the first port 411 of the fifth
three-port valve 4, wherein the washer 53 is clamped
sealingly between corresponding two annular rim flanges
414 of the fourth and fifth three-port valves 4. The
fourth connection member 5 (i.e., the lower right one)
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connects with the second port 412 of the third three-port
valve 4, wherein the washer 53 and the cover body 54
engages the inner annular groove 511 together with one
annular rim flange 414 of the third three-port valve
4 for blocking the second port 412 of the third three-port
valve 4.
In such a configuration, for each of the first and
second filtration modules (A, B) , an airflow passes
through the first fluid passage 43 in the three-port
valve 4, which connects with the inlet end 311 of the
separating tube 3, prior to entering the separating tube
3. The airflow within the separating chamber 310 flows
out of the first filtration module (A) through the second
passage 44 in the three-port valve 4 thereof, whereas
the airflow within the separating chamber 310 flows out
of each second filtration module (B) through the second
passage 44 in the three-port valve 4, which connects
the outlet end 312 of the separating tube 3. Accordingly,
the airflow entering the modular cyclonic separator of
this embodiment flows along a flow path indicated by
the solid line arrows in Figure 4 to thereby be filtered
three times. At the same time, the separated solid
impurities are able to be discharged through the first
port 411 of the second three-port valve 4 and through
the connection tube 6, as indicated by the dashed line
arrows in Figure 4. Furthermore, due to the presence
of the fluid injection valve 47 provided on fourth
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three-port valve 4, the fluid injected from the fluid
inj ection valve 4 7 pas ses through the first fluid passage
43 in the fourth three-port valve 4 and into the
separating chamber 310 in the second separating tube
3, and is easily combined with the solid impurities
within the separating chamber 310 to add weight to the
solid impurities so as to facilitate easier separation
of the solid impurities from the airflow within the
separating chamber 310 under the action of centrifugal
force.
Figure 5 illustrates the second preferred embodiment
of a modular cyclonic separator according to this
invention, which is a modification of the first preferred
embodiment. In this embodiment, the modular cyclonic
separator includes one second filtration module (B),
two connection tubes 6, two connecting members 5, and
four third filtration modules (C).
In this embodiment, each connection member
5interconnects the second port 412 of a respective
three-port valve 4 of the second filtration module (B)
and the first end 611 of a respective connection tube
6 in the same way as the second and third connection
members 5 of the first preferred embodiment illustrated
in Figure 4.
The third filtration modules (C) are divided into
two groups, each of which consists of two filtration
modules (C) connected detachably to each other and is
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connected threadedly to the second end 62 of a respective
connection tube 6. Each third filtration module (C)
includes one separating tube 3 and an extension tube
7. The extension tube 7 includes a tubular tube-mounting
seat body 71 formed with a central hole 711 and a plurality
of radial holes 712, an elongate tube body 72 mounted
coaxially on the tube-mounting seat body 71, and a
filtering sleeve 73 made of a foam material and sleeved
fittingly on the tube body 72. The outlet end 312 of
the separating tube 3 is connected threadedly to the
tube-mounting seat body 71 in a manner that the tube
body 72 extends into the outer tube body 31 through the
outlet end 312 of the outer tube body 31 and adjacent
to the axial hole 321 in the air-guiding impeller 32,
such that the separating chamber 310 is defined between
the outer tube body 31 of the separating tube 3 and the
tube body 72 of the extension tube 7 and is in fluid
communication with the radial holes 712 in the
tube-mounting seat body 71.
In such a configuration, an airflow entering the
second filtration module (B) through the first port 411
of one of the three-port valves 4 is filtered and then
is divided into two sub-airflows, as indicated by the
solid line arrows in the second filtration module (B)
of Figure 5, each of which passes through a respective
connection tube 6 to serve as an airflow to flow into
a respective group of the third filtration modules (C) .
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Subsequently, the airflow entering each group of the
third filtrationmodules (C) is filteredtwice , and flows
out of the group of the third filtration modules (C)
through the extension tube 7 of the distal one of the
5 third filtration modules (C). At the same time, the
separated solid impurities are able to be discharged
out of the modular cyclonic separator through the first
port 411 of the other one of the three-port valves 4
and the radial holes 712, as indicated by the dashed
10 line arrows in Figure 5.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the third preferred
embodiment of a modular cyclonic separator according
to this invention, which is a modification of the second
preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the modular
15 cyclonic separator includes a mix module (D), two
additional three-port valves 4, four connection members
5 and two third filtration modules (C).
The mix module (D) is a modification of the second
filtration module (B) of the second preferred embodiment
(Figure 5). Unlike the second filtration module (B),
the mix module (D) includes two three-port valves 4,
and a mixing tube 3' instead of the separating tube 3
(Figure 5). The mixing tube 3' includes a tube body 31'
and two air-guiding impellers 32. The tube body 31' has
opposite open ends 313 connected threadedly and
respectively to the third ports 413 of the three-port
valves 4 thereof, and defines a mixing chamber 310'
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therein in fluid communication with the open ends 313.
It is noted that the tube body 31' is identical to the
outer tube body 31 (Figure 5) . Each air-guiding impeller
32 is coaxially fixed in a respective open end 313 of
the tube body 31' for causing an airflow, which flows
radially into the mixing chamber 310' through the spiral
channels 322, to follow a cyclonic flow pattern through
the mixing chamber 310' and around a central axis of
the tube body 31'. As a result, for the mix module (D),
two airflows, which pass respectively through the first
fluid passages 43 of the three-port valves 4 and then
enter the mixing tube 3' respectively through the open
ends 313õ are mixed together in the mixing chamber
310'. Thereafter, the mixed airflow in the mixing chamber
310' flows out of the mix module (D) in two streams
respectively through the second fluid passages 44 in
the three-port valves 4 of the mix module (D).
For each additional three-port valve 4, the third
port 413 is connected threadedly to a respective third
filtration module (C), and the first port 411 is
connected to the second port 412 of a respective
three-port valve 4 of the mix module (D) using a
corresponding connection member 5 in a manner that the
second port 412 of the respective three-port valve 4
of the mix module (D) is in fluid communication with
the respective third filtration module (C) through the
first fluid passage 43 in the additional three-port valve
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4. In addition, the second port 412 of each additional
three-port valve 4 is blocked by the cover body 54 of
a corresponding connection member 5, which connects
therewith. Accordingly, the two streams of the mixed
airflow fromthe mixmodule (D) respectively pass through
the first fluid passages 43 in the additional three-port
valves 4 and then respectively enter the third filtration
modules (C) to be filtered.
To sum up, since the modular cyclonic separator of
this invention can be assembled selectively using the
first filtration module Cs) (A), the second filtration
module(s) (B), the thirdfiltrationmodule(s) (C) and/or
the mix module (D) without requiring any pipe for
interconnection, the modular cyclonic separator of this
invention can be easily assembled to have a relatively
small volume, which meets actual spatial needs, can
provide multi-filtration effect and can avoid pipe
entanglement encountered in the prior art.
While the present invention has been described in
connection with what are considered the most practical
and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments
but is intended to cover various arrangements included
within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications
and equivalent arrangements.
