Patent ID: 6658833
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: A01G,A47L,B02C

Abstract:
A free-flow apparatus for separating entrained lawn debris from a transporting air stream by action of body forces thereupon comprising:a. means for delivering a stream of air bearing entrained lawn debris; b. means defining a primary-separation duct having an entrance and an exit, said entrance being adapted to receive said stream of air bearing entrained lawn debris, said duct being adapted for conducting said stream of air bearing entrained lawn debris from said entrance to said exit; said primary-separation duct having a generally curvilinear outer surface spanning an arc of at least about arc cosine RI/RO â€ƒcircumferentially along its length, adapted to direct said stream of air bearing entrained lawn debris to flow generally circumferentially along its length and initiate separation of said stream of air bearing entrained lawn debris into an outerly located debris-enriched stream and an innerly located debris-depleted stream, wherein RI=radius of curvature for the generally curvilinear inner surface of said primary-separation duct, and RO=radius of curvature for said generally curvilinear outer surface; c. means defining a secondary-separation chamber connected to said exit from said primary-separation duct and having a generally annular outer wall defining a primary axis generally co-incident with the center of curvature of said generally annular outer wall, said secondary-separation chamber further comprising means for: i. receiving and directing said streams of air bearing entrained lawn debris from said primary-separation duct in a direction generally tangential to said generally annular outer wall of said secondary-separation chamber, ii. directing said outerly located debris-enriched stream from said primary-separation duct adjacent to said outer wall of said secondary-separation chamber, iii. directing said innerly located debris-depleted stream from said primary-separation duct radially inward of said debris-enriched stream and iv. further separating said streams of air bearing entrained lawn debris into an upwardly and inwardly directed debris-depleted stream and a downwardly and outwardly directed debris-enriched stream; d. means defining a generally centrally located passage having an entrance and an exit, said generally centrally located passage being adapted for: i. receiving said upwardly and inwardly directed debris-depleted stream from said secondary-separation chamber through said entrance to said passage, and ii. conducting said upwardly and inwardly directed debris-depleted stream to said exit from said passage and discharging it into the atmosphere; e. a baffle extending generally outwardly from a central point below said entrance to said passage, the outer periphery of said baffle being spaced inwardly from said generally annular outer wall; f. means defining an accumulation chamber below said baffle; g. said baffle being disposed between said secondary-separation chamber and said accumulation chamber; and h. means providing an opening around said baffle into the interior of said accumulation chamber below said baffle; said baffle being disposed to permit passage of entrained yard debris in said downwardly and outwardly directed debris-enriched stream into said accumulation chamber while impeding passage of fine particulates of reduced yard debris from said accumulation chamber into said upwardly and inwardly directed debris-depleted stream discharged from said secondary-separation chamber through said passage.