Airborne component extractor with adjustable flow rates

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9468958-B2
Application number	US-201313767551-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 16, 2012
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A extraction system is designed for metal working and other applications. The system may comprise a cart-type base or may be incorporated into a fixed or semi-fixed installation. A blower delivers a positive pressure airflow to a hood that creates an air region by directing the air through an annular space between inner and outer shrouds, impacting the air against a single generally perpendicular flange. Return air from the operation may be mixed with fresh air, both of which may be filtered, to supply the positive pressure air. Both air streams to and from the hood may be adjusted to optimize operation. Adjustments may be made at the base unit or remotely.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An extractor system comprising:
a single blower having an inlet and an outlet;
a single motor configured to drive the blower;
a single positive pressure conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet of the blower, and configured to convey a positive pressure gas stream towards a work area;
a single negative pressure conduit fluidly coupled to the inlet of the blower, and configured to convey a negative pressure gas stream from the work area, wherein the positive pressure conduit is disposed about the negative pressure conduit in an annular arrangement, and wherein a ratio of flow areas through the positive pressure conduit and the negative pressure conduit is between approximately 4:1 and 0.7:1;
a hood coupled to receive the positive pressure gas stream and to direct the positive pressure gas stream around the work area, creating an isolated air region around the work area, and to draw airborne components from the work area into the negative pressure gas stream; and
an adjustment for manually adjusting a flow rate of either the positive or the negative pressure gas stream without altering a speed of the motor or the blower;
wherein the isolated air region at least partially surrounds an operator during operation of the extractor system.

2. The system of claim 1 , comprising a filter for filtering air returning from the work area or directed to the work area.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment is provided in a base unit.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment is provided at the work area.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment is configured to direct a portion of the positive pressure gas stream to the environment other than around the work area.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment comprises a manual adjustment portion of the hood.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the positive pressure gas stream is provided in a first common conduit distributing the positive pressure gas stream to a plurality of work areas, and wherein the negative pressure gas stream is provided by a second common conduit receiving airborne components from the work areas, and wherein the system comprises a hood disposed in each work area.

8. The extractor system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment comprises a bypass valve or a louver.

9. An extractor system comprising:
a single blower having an inlet and an outlet;
a single motor configured to drive the blower;
a single positive pressure conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet of the blower, and configured to convey a positive pressure gas stream towards a work area;
a single negative pressure conduit fluidly coupled to the inlet of the blower, and configured to convey a negative pressure gas stream from the work area, the positive pressure conduit is disposed about the negative pressure conduit in an annular arrangement, and wherein a ratio of flow areas through the positive pressure conduit and the negative pressure conduit is between approximately 4:1 and 0.7:1;
a hood coupled to receive the positive pressure gas stream and to direct the positive pressure gas stream around the work area, creating an isolated air region around the work area, and to draw airborne components from the work area into the negative pressure gas stream; and
means for manually adjusting relative flow rates of the positive pressure gas stream and the negative pressure gas stream without altering a speed of the motor or the blower;
wherein the isolated air region at least partially surrounds an operator during operation of the extractor system.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the means for adjusting the relative flow rates is provided in a base unit with the positive and negative pressure gas streams.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the means for adjusting the relative flow rates is provided partially in a work area from which airborne components are drawn.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the means for adjusting the relative flow rates comprises mechanical means.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the means for adjusting the relative flow rates comprises electrical means.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the means for adjusting the relative flow rates permits adjustment of a ratio R between the positive pressure gas stream and the negative pressure gas stream:

R
=

positive
⁢

⁢
pressure
⁢

⁢
gas
⁢

⁢
flow
⁢

⁢
rate
×
positive
⁢

⁢
pressure
⁢

⁢
gas
⁢

⁢
velocity

⁢

negative
⁢

⁢
pressure
⁢

⁢
gas
⁢

⁢
flow
⁢

⁢
rate
×

negative
⁢

⁢
pressure
⁢

⁢
gas
⁢

⁢
velocity

between about 0.25 and 100.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the means for adjusting the relative flow rates permits adjustment of the ratio R between about 0.6 and 10.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the means for adjusting the relative flow rates comprises a

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Hammers Brian J
• Frank Adam Joseph
• Maske William
• Carman Bradley G
• Mcdonald Daniel P
• Lind Gary

Classifications

• B08B15/00

  Preventing escape of dirt or fumes from the area where they are produced; Collecting or removing dirt or fumes from that area · CPC title

• F24F7/007

  with forced flow (using ducting systems F24F7/06) · CPC title

• B08B15/02 Primary

  using chambers or hoods covering the area {(B08B15/002 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B23K26/142

  for the removal of by-products · CPC title

• B08B15/002 Primary

  using a central suction system, e.g. for collecting exhaust gases in workshops (removing dust from textile machines D01H11/00; ventilation of mines, galleries or tunnels, e.g. traffic tunnels, E21F1/00) · CPC title