Abstract:
A cyclone separator (20) for a pneumatic grain conveyor (10) includes a filter assembly (60) mounted in the upper end thereof. The filter assembly (60) includes a cylindrical casing (62) extending into the separator (20) with a screen (70) therein and an adjustable accelerator plate (84) which cleans an adjacent portion of the screen and distributes the collected dust and foreign particles on the remainder of the screen for reduced clogging and fewer operational interruptions to clear the screen.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to pneumatic grain conveyors, and more particularly to an improved cyclone separator for a pneumatic grain conveyor incorporating an adjustable self-cleaning filter arrangement. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Pneumatic conveyors are widely used today for transferring grain and other types of granular material. For example, such devices can be used for transferring grain from a storage silo to a delivery truck, an otherwise laborious and time-consuming task which was formerly accomplished by shoveling. Such pneumatic conveyors generally, include a cyclone separator having a tangential material side inlet and a bottom axial material outlet. The suction side of a blower is connected to the axial air inlet in the top of the separator. The high pressure side of the blower is connected to a rotary valve which is connected between the material outlet of the separator and a line leading to the point of discharge. Such devices have been mounted for mobility and adapted for use with power take-off attachments on tractors to facilitate portability and use in unloading various silos on a farm, for example. 
     Pneumatic grain conveyors of this general type have been available for years under the name HANDLAIR from Christianson Systems, Inc. of Blomkest, Minnesota, the assignee hereof. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,433,946 and Des. 271,105. 
     The pneumatic grain conveyors of the prior art have generally included some type of filter or screen arrangement between the air outlet of the separator and the inlet of the blower. These screens, of course, must be cleaned periodically, the frequency of which depends upon the particular material being handled. Some foreign particles, such as &#34;bees wings&#34; can clog a filter in minutes. Such screens sometimes have been located in a transparent section of the pipe between the separator and blower so that any clogging could be monitored. In addition, baffles have been located between the material and air outlets within the separator to block passage of foreign particles outward and into the blower. This has been quite effective with respect to the larger dust and foreign particles which could cause the most damage to the blower, but has not been particularly effective with respect to the lighter dust and foreign particles which also add to the wear on the blower and contribute to clogging of the filter. A more restrictive filter would capture more such particles, but also increase the pressure drop and require a larger, heavier and more expensive blower. Heretofore, there has not been available a cyclone separator incorporating a filter with a baffle plate arrangement adapted not only to block passage of the large dust and foreign particles into the air outlet, but which also effects self-cleaning of the filter so that a substantial portion of the relatively smaller particles can also be collected on a certain portion of the screen in order to delay clogging and thus interruption of operation to clear the screen. 
     A need has thus arisen for an improved cyclone separator incorporating an internal screen and baffle arrangement which can be adjusted in accordance with the particular material being conveyed and which reduces clogging. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises an improved cyclone separator which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties associated with the prior art. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a cyclone separator for a pneumatic grain conveyor incorporating an improved internal filter and baffle arrangement. A generally cylindrical subhousing is mounted in the top end of the separator. The subhousing extends downwardly into the separator to define an air inlet therein located in spaced-apart relationship with the material outlet at the bottom of the separator. A cylindrical filter or screen is mounted in the housing between the internal air inlet thereof and an external air outlet. Seal means is provided between the cylinder and the housing so that the air flows into the filter and outward. An accelerator plate or baffle is mounted for adjustable positioning within the cylindrical filter so that the air is accelerated and deflected against an adjacent portion of the screen, which thus stays clean for a longer period of time and reduces clogging. If desired, a fixed baffle plate can be mounted between the air inlet and material outlet. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the invention can be had by reference to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatic grain conveyor incorporating the silencer of the invention and; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partially cut-away side view of the cyclone separator of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a pneumatic grain conveyor 10 incorporating the improved cyclone separator of the present invention. The pneumatic grain conveyor 10 includes a frame 12 having a pair of spacedapart wheels 14 thereon for mobility. A tongue 16 is provided on the front of frame 12, and a hitch 18 is located on the front of the tongue for selective connection to a tractor or other suitable tow vehicle. The tongue 16 is preferably longitudinally offset from the center line of frame 12 for improved clearance when loading trucks or trailers, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. 
     A cyclone separator 20 is mounted on frame 12. The separator 20 includes a housing having a generally cylindrical upper side wall and a generally conical truncated lower side wall as shown. An axial air outlet 21 is located in the tip wall of the separator housing. A tangential grain or material inlet 22 is provided in the generally cylindrical upper wall of the housing of separator 20. A pipe or hose 24, which can be either rigid, semi rigid, or flexible is connected to the material inlet 22 and extends to a nozzle 25 for picking up the material to be conveyed. For example, the hose 24 would typically extend into a bin or silo (not shown) for removing grain or the like therefrom. 
     A rotary air lock conveying valve 26 of the flow-through type is secured to the material outlet 28 in the conical truncated lower portion of the housing of separator 20. The valve 26 includes a material inlet coupled directly to the material outlet 28 of separator 20, a material outlet 30, and an air inlet 32. The valve 26 is typically hydraulically driven. A suitable valve is commercially available from Semco. The material outlet 30 is connected to a discharge pipe 34 which extends upwardly and is supported by an upright 36 on the rear corner of frame 12. A discharge cyclone 38 is provided on the end of pipe 34 for breaking the air lock and assuring that the grain or other material falls gently into an underlying trailer or truck (not shown). 
     The discharge pipe 34 is preferably of split construction to reduce clearance during transport of the pneumatic grain conveyor 10 between sites. In particular, the discharge pipe 34 includes a pivotal upper portion and a fixed lower portion interconnected by a coupling 40 like that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,946, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The upper portion of discharge pipe 34 folds between raised and lowered positions responsive to a crank or hydraulic cylinder arrangement. 
     The air inlet 32 of rotary valve 26 is connected by pipe 50 to the outlet of a blower 52, which is driven through a gear box 54 by a shaft 56 connected to the power takeoff (PTO) attachment of a tractor (not shown). For example, the RCS 409 or RCS 412 blower from Roots division of Dresser Industries, Inc. can be used for the blower 52, which typically operates at about 700-1600 CFM and 5-8 psi. The inlet of blower 52 is connected by pipe 58 to a filter assembly 60 mounted axially in the top end of separator 20. 
     The blower 52 is a positive displacement air pump which draws air from the separator 20 in order to lower the pressure therein, and thus effect suction on the material inlet 22 such that the grain or other material to be conveyed is drawn inwardly thus creating a vortex within the separator. The resulting centrifugal force causes the grain to move outwardly within the separator 20 as it swirls downwardly by gravity through the material outlet 28 and into valve 26, from which it is forced by the pressurized air from blower 52 through the discharge pipe 34. The swirling action within separator 20 results in separation of chaff, dust and other foreign material from the grain which is entrained in the air and carried through the filter assembly 60 and pipe 58 to blower 52 for pressurization. Although filter assembly 60 is used, it will be appreciated that air containing a fair amount of dust and foreign material enters the blower 52. 
     If desired, a noise suppressor or silencer 61 can be connected between valve 26 and blower 52. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, there is shown the constructional details of the filter assembly 60. Assembly 60 includes a case or subhousing 62 secured to the air inlet 21 in the top end wall of separator 20. For purposes of clarity, the valve 26 secured to the material outlet 28 at the bottom end of the separator 20 has been omitted from FIG. 2. As shown, the housing 62 extends downwardly into the separator 20 terminating at an open inlet end 64 located in spaced apart relationship with the material outlet 28. 
     A fixed baffle 66 is preferably positioned between the air inlet end 64 and the material outlet 28. The baffle 66 comprises a circular plate which is rigidly secured to the bottom end of housing 62 by a plurality of support rods 68. The baffle 66 is preferably circular and centered on the longitudinal axis of the separator 20, perpendicular thereto. The outer edge of baffle 66 is spaced inwardly from the generally conical truncated lower wall portion of the separator to define an open annulus through which the grain or other separated material can swirl downwardly into the outlet 28. Baffle 66 is thus positioned in the center of the vortex created as air and grain is drawn into the separator. Incoming air moves toward the center of the vortex and is drawn outwardly through housing 62, while baffle 66 functions to prevent large and medium particles of foreign matter from leaving the separator 20 and entering the blower 52. 
     A cylindrical filter or screen 70 is mounted in the upper end of housing 62. The screen 70 is secured between a removable cover 72 and an internal flange 74 within the housing 62. A threaded shaft 76 is also provided. The lower end of the threaded shaft 76 is secured to a spider 78, which is secured to the lower end of the housing 62 and the upper ends of the support rods 68. Shaft 76 extends upwardly through the screen 70 and a center hole (not shown) in the cover 72, which is secured in place by a handle nut 80 screwed on the top end of the shaft. A gasket 82 is also provided around the screen 70 within housing 62 and below the air outlet 58 so that the flow of air through the screen is in the inside/out direction. 
     A movable accelerator plate or baffle 84 is provided inside the screen 70. The baffle 84, which is preferably a circular plate, is mounted for movement along the shaft 76 and is secured in position as desired by jam nuts as shown. As air passes upwardly into screen 70, it is accelerated outwardly around baffle 84 and through the annulus defined between the baffle and the screen, the adjacent portion of which is thus kept clean. This in turn results in an adjustable distribution of material collected on the inside of the screen 70 part of which is kept clean by the self-cleaning action of the baffle 84. Positioning of the baffle 84 is adjustable in accordance with the area of the screen desired to be kept clean. When the blower 52 is turned off, waste matter collected on the inside of the screen falls downwardly and collects on the top of the fixed baffle 66 for clean out via access door 86 in the separator 20. 
     Although the baffle 84 has been illustrated as being of plate-like circular configuration, it will be understood that it could also be of cylindrical configuration, which in turn would result in a relatively larger area of screen 70 being impinged and kept clean. Further, more than one baffle 84, of either circular or cylindrical configuration, could be used, if desired, with or without the fixed lower baffle 66. 
     From the foregoing, it will thus be apparent that the present invention comprises an improved cyclone separator for a pneumatic grain conveyor having several advantages over the prior art. One advantage involves the fact that the filter is located within an extension of the separator, instead of in a restricted connecting line, resulting in less pressure drop or no greater pressure drop with a finer mesh screen. The adjustable baffle either with or without the lower fixed baffle, keeps at least a portion of the screen clean which in turn results in a heavier build up of waste and foreign particles in on the other portions of the screen that in turn fall away more readily under gravity when the blower is turned off. Other advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited only to the embodiments disclosed, but is intended to embrace any alternative, equivalents, modifications and/or rearrangements of elements falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following Claims.