IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM AIR
Year: 1882

page_text: ,,
LETTERS PATENT to William Bleckly Dell of No 26 Mark Lane in the City of
London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING
DUST FROM AIR Communicated to him from abroad by The George T.
Smith Middlings Purifier Company, of Jackson, Michigan, in the United States
of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bleckly Dell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1882.
WILLIAM BLECKLY DELL of N° 26 Mark Lane in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM AIR.' [Communi-
cated to him from abroad by The George T. Smith Middlings Purifier Company, of
Jackson, Michigan, in the United States of America]
"
This invention consists in separating dust from air charged therewith by causing
the air to flow in thin streams in contact with surfaces charged with electricity,
whereby the dust contained in the air will be attracted to and retained by the said
surfaces, which are then cleared from time to time of the accumulated deposit,
while the air passes away from them entirely freed from dust. The invention is
more particularly applicable to so called "dust catchers" in flour mills; it may be
carried into practice in a variety of ways. Thus according to one arrangement a
number of discs of glass, ebonite or other surface capable of being electrified by
friction are arranged side by side at small distances apart, and are made to rotate
in contact with rubbing surfaces whereby they become electrified and thus attract
and retain the particles of dust contained in a current of air blown between them
by a fan. Scrapers are also provided at one point of the discs whereby the
accumulated dust is removed therefrom as the discs rotate.
According to another modification endless travelling bands of vulcanite or other
suitable material are arranged side by side with small spaces between them through
which the dust laden air is made to pass either in the direction of their travel or
at right angles thereto. Rubbers are provided at one point for electrifying the
endless bands, and scrapers at another point for removing the accumulated dust.
According to another arrangement a number of insulated metal plates are
arranged side by side with small spaces between them, which plates are charged
with electricity from any suitable source, such as a dynamo electric machine
connected thereto by wires, and scrapers are provided which are made from time
to time to pass over the metal surfaces to remove the accumulated dust therefrom,
or the said metal plates may be arranged as endless travelling bands.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Bleckly Dell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd March 1883.
WILLIAM BLECKLY DELL of No 26, Mark Lane, in the city of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM AIR " A communi-
cation to me from abroad by The George T Smith Middlings Purifier Company, of
Jackson, Michigan, in the United States of America
This invention consists in separating dust from air charged therewith by causing
the air to flow in thin streams in contact with surfaces charged with electricity,
whereby the dust in the air will be attracted to and retained by the said
surfaces, which are then cleared, from time to time, of the accumulated deposit, while
the air passes away from them entirely freed from dust. The invention is more
particularly applicable to so-called "dust-catchers" in flour mills; it may be carried
into practice in a variety of ways. Thus, according to one arrangement, a number
of discs of glass, ebonite, or other surface capable of being electrified by friction, are
arranged side by side at small distances apart, and are made to rotate in contact
with rubbing surfaces, whereby they become electrified and thus attract and retain
the particles of dust contained in a current of air blown between them by a fan.
Scrapers are also provided at one point of the discs, whereby the accumulated dust
is removed therefrom as the discs rotate.
According to another modification endless travelling bands of vulcanite or other
suitable material are arranged side by side with small spaces between them,
through which the dust laden air is made to pass either in the direction of their
travel or at right angles thereto. Rubbers are provided at one point for electrifying
the endless bands, and scrapers at another point for removing the accumulated
dust. Or insulated metal plates electrified by any suitable known means may be
employed in like manner, as above described.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents I
wish it to be understood that I am aware that electrified cylinders or rollers have
been used in combination with sieves for separating "middlings," whereby the
branny particles are separated by being attracted to the surfaces of the said rollers,
and I do not claim such an application of electrified surfaces, but I claim :-
The use for separating dust or solid impurities from air, of a series of electrified
surfaces placed in close contiguity to each other, between which the said air is
caused to flow in thin strata, so that practically the whole of the dust or impurities
is or are readily separated therefrom by the attraction of the electrified surfaces,
while the air passes away from them in a more or less pure state, substantially as
herein described.
In Witness whereof, I the said William Bleckly Dell have hereunto set my
hand and seal this first day of March, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand, eight hundred and eighty-three.