Improvements in or relating to the Separation of Dust from Air, or Matter Held in Suspension in Fluids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 1st May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Separation of Dust from Air, or
Matter Held in Suspension in Fluids.
I, JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM, of 32 Seel Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Milling Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates generally to that class of apparatus which is used for the
purpose of separating matter which is held in mechanical suspension in currents
of air or other gaseous fluids, or in mechanical suspension in currents of water or
other fluids.
By means of this invention, I attain an arrangement of apparatus whereby the
force of gravity is more perfectly utilised than hitherto for the purpose of obtaining
a separation of such suspended matter from currents of air, gases, water or other
fluids.
In carrying out this invention, I arrange so that the current shall be gradually
reduced in its velocity to such an extent as will enable the force of gravity to
cause a deposition of the suspended matter, and I arrange surfaces upon which the
suspended matter becomes deposited together with a means of collecting the
deposited matter.
In one form of my invention, I cause a dust laden current of air to enter at or
near the apex and to pass through the spaces contained between the contiguous
inner faces of a hollow cone, such faces being set apart at such distances and so
proportioned in relation to each other that the area of passage for the dust laden
air current is gradually increasing from its entrance to its discharge at the base of
the cone.
In another form of my invention, I cause the dust laden current to enter at or
near the apices of two or more hollow cones and to pass through the spaces
contained between the inner and outer faces of the cones, such faces being set
apart at such distances and so proportioned in relation to each other that the areas
of passages for the current are gradually increasing from its entrance to its discharge
at the bases of the cones.
In carrying out the above arrangements, I attach any desired number of single,
double or multiple cones to a main conduit containing a current of dust laden air;
and I prefer to inake the united areas of the cones at their entrances approximately
equal to the area of the main conduit.
Thus the velocity of the current entering and between the faces of the cones is
continually decreasing from the point of entry to the point of discharge at the
bases of the cones, and I proportion the areas of the passages or apertures of entry
and discharge and their length or distance apart in relation to each other, so that
the velocity of the current before being discharged can no longer hold the matter
in suspension against the force of gravity.
I preferably place the cones at such an incline that the matter deposited upon
their faces is discharged by gravity at the bases of the cones, and I provide for
collecting and automatically removing the collected matter by means of worms or
creepers, or by hoppers and spouts placed underneath the same.
In some cases, I preferably subdivide the original main current into two or
more currents, and I arrange each of the subdivided currents with its own cone or
set of cones.

page_text: In some cases, I arrange the cones upon an axis, and I place the cones either
parallel or inclined or at right angles to such axis.
In some cases, I may cause the cones to revolve, and I may fit the cones with
moving or fixed scrapers and trays to collect the deposited dust.
In some cases, I preferably place the cones in an outer casing provided with a
scraping apparatus to collect and discharge any matter deposited therein. Or I
may place the cones vertically or inclined and allow the deposited matter to fall
into a casing placed underneath.
When applying this invention to the flour milling or other general industries
I use it for separating fine matter or dust from air.
The invention is applicable for separating particles of water from steam, before
such steam is used in steam engine cylinders.
The invention is applicable generally for separating particles of matter being
carried in or by gaseous currents of any kind.
The invention is also applicable for separating suspended matter from currents
of water or other fluids.
When the invention is applied for separating suspended matter from steam or
water or for similar purposes, I arrange the apparatus with converging passages
or apertures to receive the treated fluid in such manner that the original velocity
of the current is again restored.
Dated this 31st day of January 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to the Separation of Dust from Air, or
Matter Held in Suspension in Fluids.
1, JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM of 32, Seel Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Milling Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates generally to that class of apparatus which is used for the
purpose of separating matter which is held in mechanical suspension in currents
of air or other gaseous fluids, or in mechanical suspension in currents of water or
other fluids.
By means of this invention, I attain an arrangement of apparatus whereby
the force of gravity is more perfectly utilised than hitherto for the purpose of
obtaining a separation of such suspended matter from currents of air, gases,
water or other fluids.
In carrying out this invention, I arrange so that the current shall be gradually
reduced in its velocity to such an extent as will enable the force of gravity to
cause a deposition of the suspended matter, and I arrange surfaces upon which
the suspended matter becomes deposited together with a means of collecting the
deposited matter.
In one form of my invention, I cause a dust laden current of air to enter at or
near the apex and to pass through the spaces contained between the contiguous
inner faces of a hollow cone, such faces being set apart at such distances and so
proportioned in relation to each other that the area of passage for the dust laden
air current is gradually increasing from its entrance to its discharge at the base
of the conc.
This form of apparatus is shown on the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 being a longitudinal view partly in section and partly in elevation,

page_text: Figure 2 a cross section of the same; and
Figures 3, 4 and 5 sections of cones hereinafter described.
In these, A. is the casing, B the fan, drawing in the dust laden air which then
passes into the chamber C. D are the cones which may be either single, double
or multiple as hereinafter mentioned, the object of the double or multiple cones
being to increase the surface for deposit of dust.
These cones which are shown single in the drawing are arranged in the
sides E of the aforementioned chamber C with their apices just entering the same.
and in this case the cones are placed at an angle and arranged in rows as shown.
The mode of action of this form of apparatus is as follows:-
The dust laden air is drawn up by means of the fan B and passes through
apertures F, into the chamber C. It then passes through at the apex of each cone
and owing to the increasing sectional area of such cones, the velocity of the
current continually decreases from the point of entry to the point of discharge at
the base of the cone and can no longer hold the matter in suspension. The
particles held in suspension are consequently deposited by gravity upon the faces
of the cones.
In the arrangement shown, that is with inclined cones, the deposited dust trickles.
down and is conveyed away by conveyor G, the air free from dust passing out into
the atmosphere as shown by the arrows H. The dust trickling down the inside of
the cones falls upon the outside of the cone immediately underneath and from
thence to the bottom collecting worms G G, and the dust is conducted by these
worms to the outside of the chambers as is well understood by millers.
Any dust deposited in chamber C is removed by the conveyor G.
The chamber C and cones D may be constructed of any suitable material. I
preferably make the cones as light as possible, namely of thin sheet zinc. The
sides E are also preferably constructed of thin tin or zinc, but the sides E and
cones D
may be constructed of paper to prevent condensation where dust laden air
contains vapour.
In another form of my invention, I cause the dust laden current to enter at or
near the apices of two or more hollow cones, arranged one inside the other as shown
at Figures 4 and 5, and to pass through the spaces contained between the inner
and outer faces of the cones, as shown by the arrows, such faces being set apart at
such distances and so proportioned in relation to each other that the areas of
passages for the current are gradually increasing from its entrance to its discharge
at the bases of the cones.
In carrying out the above arrangements, I attach any desired number of single,
double or multiple cones to a main conduit containing a current of dust laden
air; and I prefer to make the united areas of the cones at their entrances
approximately equal to the area of the main conduit.
Thus the velocity of the current entering and between the faces of the cones
is continually decreasing from the point of entry to the point of discharge at the
bases of the cones, and I proportion the areas of the passages or apertures of
entry and discharge and their length or distance apart in relation to each other, so
that the velocity of the current before being discharged can no longer hold the
matter in suspension against the force of gravity.
I preferably place the cones at such an incline that the matter deposited upon
their faces is discharged by gravity at the bases of the cones, and I provide for
collecting and automatically removing the collected matter by means of worms or
creepers, or by hoppers and spouts placed underneath the same.
In some cases preferably subdivide the original main current into two or
more currents, and I arrange each of the subdivided currents with its own cone or
set of cones.
In some cases, I arrange the cones upon an axis, and I place the cones either
parallel or inclined or at right angles to such axis.
In some cases, I may cause the cones to revolve, and I may fit the cones with
moving or fixed scrapers and trays to collect the deposited dust.

page_text: In some cases I preferably place the cones in an outer casing provided with
a scraping apparatus to collect and discharge any matter deposited therein. Or I
may place the cones vertically or inclined and allow the deposited matter to fall
into a casing placed underneath.
When applying this invention to the flour milling or other general industries I
use it for separating fine matter or dust from air.
The invention is applicable for separating particles of water from steam before
such steam is used in steam engine cylinders.
The invention is applicable generally for separating particles of matter being
carried in or by gaseous currents of any kind.
The invention is also applicable for the separation of suspended matter from
currents of water or other fluids.
When the invention is applied for filtering steam or water or similar purposes,
I arrange the apparatus with converging passages or apertures to receive the
filtered fluid in such manner that the original velocity of the current is again
restored.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. The herein described improvements in or relating to the separation of dust
from air or matter held in suspension in fluids which consist in conveying the
current so that its velocity will be gradually reduced to such an extent as will
enable the force of gravity to cause a deposition of the suspended matter
substantially as set forth.
2. An improved apparatus for the separation of dust from air consisting of a
central chamber into which the dust laden air is drawn and cones attached thereto
through which such air passes and is caused to deposit the suspended matter on the
surface of the said cones substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus such as described in Claim 2 the use of cones concentric or
one inside the other whereby the surface for the deposit of dust is increased.
4. The general construction and arrangement of parts forming this improved dust
separator substantially as described and shown on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of November 1894
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.