Patent ID: 6887290
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: B01D,E01H

Abstract:
1. A debris collection vehicle comprising at least one combined debris separation and filtration unit, the combined debris separation and filtration unit comprising: a housing having a substantially circular cross section, which housing comprises a middle section defined by a cylindrical sidewall and a bottom debris-collecting section, wherein the bottom section of the housing has a reduced diameter as compared to the middle section, an inner shell positioned in the middle section of the housing and comprising a number of airflow passageways, the exterior side of the inner shell and interior side of the housing sidewall being spaced apart so as to form an outer chamber having a bottom end in communication with the bottom section of the housing, which outer chamber is substantially circular along its cross section, an inlet that communicatively engages the cylindrical sidewall such that debris-laden air entering the outer chamber through the inlet is directed in a substantially tangential path with respect to the substantially circular cross section of the outer chamber, and at least one filter, the sides of which at least one filter are at least substantially surrounded by the inner shell, wherein when the debris separation and filtration unit receives debris-laden air having a sufficient airflow rate a centrifugal airflow is formed in the outer chamber such that at least a portion of the debris particles in the debris-laden air is collected in the housing before debris-laden air passes through the airflow passageways of the inner shell and into the filter.