Patent ID: 6428611
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B03C,Y10S

Abstract:
A compact apparatus for collecting and removing smoke, mist and particles generated by machine tools which use water based and petroleum metal working fluids comprisinga housing having an inlet and an outlet and being adapted to be connected to a machine tool for receiving mist, smoke and other particles from the machine tool, a blower device within said housing for producing an air stream flowing upward from the inlet through the outlet and entraining smoke, mist and particles generated by the machine tool, a plurality of mechanical filters within said housing adjacent the inlet for removing large mist droplets and particles entrained in the air stream moving through he mechanical filters, an electrostatic precipitator within said housing down stream of the mechanical filters and including an ionizer and a collector, electrical circuitry including a control circuit electrically connected to a source of electrical current and including on-off power switch means, an electrostatic precipitatcr circuit electrically connected said control circuit and to said ionizer and collector and including a high voltage power supply unit for supplying high voltage current to the ionizer and collector, collector switch means in said electrostatic precipitator circuit disposed in circuit controlling relation with the collector and when opened interrupting current to the collector whereby the ionizing field the energized ionizer will induce a lower output voltage to the collector, and a blower circuit electrically connected to the control circuit and to said blower device and including an electrical speed control device disposed in circuit controlling relation with the blower device and being variously adjustable to control the velocity of the blower device, said speed control device being adjusted to operate the speed of the blower device for producing an air stream having a velocity within the range of 75 cfm to 175 cfm when the collector switch means is opened to thereby permit effective mist collection by the collector generated by a water based metal working fluid of a machine tool minimizing short circuiting in the collector.