Patent ID: 8097052

Claim:
Apparatus for use in separating particulate matter from a particulate-laden gas stream, said apparatus comprising: a housing defining an upper chamber containing a multiplicity of vertically oriented, elongated filter bags arranged in spaced parallel relation to one another, said multiplicity of bags defining a particle separation zone within said upper chamber having predetermined lateral boundaries, said housing further defining a lower chamber located below the multiplicity of bags; a porous diffuser below said bags within said lower chamber and spanning at least most of said particle separation zone; and an inlet guide projecting laterally into said lower chamber from one side of the housing in disposition for directing particulate-laden gas against a bottom, upstream side of the diffuser, said diffuser having a multiplicity of passages therethrough disposed to create a pressure drop in the particulate-laden gas as it travels from the upstream side to the downstream side of the diffuser whereby to promote even distribution of the particulate-laden gas across the particle separation zone, each passage being bounded on all sides by structure other than portions of the housing when the diffuser is viewed in plan.