Inlet particle separator systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9314723-B2
Application number	US-201213621764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2012
Priority date	Sep 17, 2012
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

An inertial inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine is provided. A separator assembly and collector assembly are coupled to the scavenge flow path and configured to receive the scavenge air. The collector inlet has a throat defining a cumulative throat area at each position along the throat length from the first throat end to the second throat end. The collector body defines a cross-sectional area associated with each position along the throat length between the first throat end and the second throat end. The collector outlet is coupled to the collector body such that scavenge air flows into the collector inlet, through the collector body, and out through the collector outlet. At a first position between the first throat end and the second throat end, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inertial inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine, comprising:
a separator assembly defining a fluid inlet for receiving inlet air, the separator assembly further including a scavenge flow path and an engine flow path and configured to separate the inlet air into scavenge air and engine air such that the scavenge air is directed into the scavenge flow path and the engine air is directed into the engine flow path; and
a collector assembly coupled to the scavenge flow path and configured to receive the scavenge air, the collector assembly comprising
a collector inlet coupled to the scavenge flow path, the collector inlet having a throat extending from a first throat end to a second throat end to define a throat length, wherein the throat further defines a cumulative throat area at each position along the throat length from the first throat end to the second throat end;
a collector body coupled to the collector inlet along the throat length, wherein the collector body defines a cross-sectional area associated with each position along the throat length between the first throat end and the second throat end; and
a collector outlet coupled to the collector body such that scavenge air flows into the collector inlet, through the collector body, and out through the collector outlet,
wherein, at a first position between the first throat end and the second throat end, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area,
wherein the collector body defines a first collector body portion to receive a first portion of the scavenge air and a second collector body portion to receive a second portion of the scavenge air,
wherein the throat includes a first throat portion associated with the first collector body portion and a second throat portion associated with the second collector body portion, and wherein the throat length is a first portion throat length, the first throat end and the second throat end forming part of the first throat portion, and
wherein the first collector body portion and the second collector body portion are symmetric with respect to one another.

2. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 1 , wherein, at all positions between the first throat end and the first position, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area.

3. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 1 , wherein, at all positions between the first throat end and the second throat end, respective ratios between respective cross-sectional areas of the collector body and respective cumulative throat areas are generally constant.

4. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 1 , wherein, at all positions between the first throat end and the second throat end, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area.

5. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 1 , wherein the collector assembly is at least partially a scroll that surrounds the separator assembly such that the length of the throat extends circumferentially around the separator assembly between the first throat end and the second throat end.

6. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 1 , wherein the first collector body portion and second collector body portion are separated by a partition.

7. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 1 , wherein the first collector body portion and second collector body portion are arranged to direct the first portion of the scavenge air and the second portion of scavenge air in opposite directions.

8. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 1 , wherein the first collector body portion and the second collector body portion are joined at the outlet.

9. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 1 , wherein the scavenge air flowing through the throat is inlet scavenge air and the scavenge air flowing through the collector body is collected scavenge air, and wherein the collector body includes a vortex fence to direct the collected scavenge air in the same approximate direction as the inlet scavenge air.

10. An inertial inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine, comprising:
a separator assembly defining a fluid inlet for receiving inlet air, the separator assembly further including a scavenge flow path and an engine flow path and configured to separate the inlet air into scavenge air and engine air such that the scavenge air is directed into the scavenge flow path and the engine air is directed into the engine flow path; and
a collector assembly coupled to the scavenge flow path of the separator assembly, wherein the collector assembly is bifurcated to form a first collector assembly portion configured to receive a first portion of the scavenge air and a second collector assembly portion configured to receive a second portion of the scavenge air,
wherein collector assembly further includes a partition separating the first collector assembly portion from the second collector assembly portion,
wherein the first collector assembly portion includes
a first collector inlet portion coupled to the scavenge flow path, the first collector inlet portion having a first throat portion extending in a first circumferential direction from the partition to a first throat portion end to define a first throat portion length, wherein the first throat portion further defines a first cumulative throat portion area at each circumferential position along the first throat portion length from the partition to the first throat portion end; and
a first collector body portion coupled to the first collector inlet portion along the first throat portion length, wherein the first collector body portion defines a first cross-sectional area associated with each position along the first throat portion length between the partition and the first throat portion end,
wherein, at a first position between the partition and the first throat portion end, the respective first cross-sectional area of the first collector body portion is greater than or equal to the respective first cumulative throat area,

wherein the second collector assembly portion includes
a second collector inlet portion coupled to the scavenge flow path, the second collector inlet portion having a second throat portion extending in a second circumferential direction from the partition to a second throat portion end to define a second throat portion length, wherein the second throat portion further defines a second cumulative throat portion area at each circumferential position along the second throat portion length from the partition to the second throat portion end; and
a second collector body portion coupled to the second collector inlet portion along the second throat portion length, wherein the second collector body portion defines a second cross-sectional area associated with each position along the second throat portion length between the partition and the second throat portion end,
wherein, at a second position between the partition and the second throat portion end, the respective second cross-sectional area of the second collector body portion is greater than or equal to the respective second cumulative throat area, and

wherein the first collector body portion and the second collector body portion are symmetric with respect to one another.

11. The inertial inlet particle separator system of claim 10 , wherein the first collector body portion and second collector body portion are arranged to direct the first portion of the scavenge

Assignees

• Judd Zedic Daniel
• Sheoran Yogendra Yogi
• Reich Jennifer Ann
• Kincheloe Todd A
• Wong Yates
• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Judd Zedic Daniel
• Sheoran Yogendra Yogi
• Reich Jennifer Ann
• Kincheloe Todd A
• Wong Yates

Classifications

• B01D50/002

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• F02C7/055

  with intake grids, screens or guards · CPC title

• B01D45/04 Primary

  by utilising inertia (B01D45/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02C7/052

  with dust-separation devices · CPC title

• B01D45/12

  by centrifugal forces (centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C) · CPC title