Patent GB-1536366-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for separating foreign matter from fluid
IPC: B01D45/16
Filed: 1976-03-01
Abstract: 1536366 Centrifugal separators CENTURY 21 POLLUTION CONTROL INC 1 March 1976 [6 March 1975] 08095/76 Heading B2P [Also in Division F4] An apparatus for separating foreign matter entrained in a fluid comprises a separator unit 41, Fig. 4, having a passage 48 with a fluid inlet 49 and a fluid outlet 51, helical means located in the passage and consisting of helical elements 52, 53, 54 which are angularly displaced relative to each other whereby fluid flowing through the passage follows a helical path and is divided successively into separate streams and the foreign matter is moved outwardly and in the direction of the flow of fluid through the passage, and a collector 67, adjacent the outlet 51 of the passage, for foreign matter discharged from the end of the passage. The fluid may be liquid or gaseous and the foreign matter may be solid, liquid or gaseous. A number of separator units 41, Figs. 2 and 3, form part of a hood assembly 10 located over a cooking plate or grill 11. The units are mounted in a chamber 35 located within a housing 13 and communicating via an opening 39 with a chamber 14 having an open front 15 and containing a light source 21. The chamber is also in communication via a clean air passage 25 with a chamber 26 which opens at 32 into a casing 31 containing two motor-driven exhaust blowers 28 and having clean air side outlets (33), Fig. 1 (not shown). Liquid may be introduced through nozzles 77 from a manifold 79 into the units 41 and may consist of water to facilitate separation of foreign matter from the air or of a cleaning solution, e.g. a detergent or sanitizer, to wash the units. Temperature-responsive sprinklers 84 are provided in the chamber 35 to dispense fire quenching substance, e.g. water, into the area surrounding the separator units 41. Such sprinklers may also be attached to the top wall 18 of chamber 14. The separator units consist of tubular members 46 made of stainless steel or synthetic material, e.g. urethane rubber. The helical elements 52, 53, 54 of each separator unit have notches, e.g. 61, in their adjacent edges to provide a dovetail or interlocking connection between the elements. Each element may have a 30 to 180 twist and adjacent edges of adjacent elements may be positioned at an angle of 30 to 90 to each other. The collector 67 of each unit has an inwardly tapered flange 68 surrounding an opening 69 and defining a throat 71 through which air and foreign matter, that has been thrown by centrifugal force against the wall of the respective unit, pass into an enlarged annular collection chamber defined by an upwardly extending outside annular wall 73 of the collector whereby the air expands and passes upwardly through chamber 35 and the foreign matter settles into the bottom of the chamber and discharges through a hole 72 into a trough 44 and thence via a conduit 37 into a container 37A. Liquid or solution discharging from the units 41 via the opening 69 of the collector 67 and an opening 36B in the bottom wall 36 of chamber 35 passes into a channel defined by an angle-shaped wall 36A and is removed through a drain pipe 89.