Filter and filter assembly with inclined opening, collector and method of use

Abstract

Filters having inclined openings, filter assemblies including filters, filter supports, collectors, collectors having reduced profile clean air chambers, and methods of their use are described herein.

Description

[0001] This disclosure describes filters having angled openings, filter assemblies including the filters, filter supports, collectors, collectors having a clean air chamber with a reduced profile, and methods of using the same.

[0002] Many industries encounter particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere. In some industries, such particulate matter is a valuable product (e.g., starch), and it would be beneficial if the suspended particulate matter could be recovered and reintroduced into the processing stream. For other industries (e.g., metal or wood processing), it may be desirable to remove particulate matter from the air, e.g., to provide a cleaner working environment.

[0003] Some collectors for cleaning air or other gas streams laden with particulate matter include filters constructed of a filter medium (e.g., fabric, pleated paper, and / or pleated fabric, etc.). The gas contaminated with particulate matter (e.g., air, etc.) passes through the filter, where the particulate matter is captured and retained by the filter. In some collectors (sometimes referred to as "plug-in collectors"), the filter can be suspended within a structure (e.g., a silo, a bin, etc.) such that as the structure is filled, particulate matter in the air removed from the structure is filtered. In other collectors (sometimes referred to as "housed collectors"), the filters can be located in a dirty air chamber within a housing, where the gas containing particulate matter is delivered to the dirty air chamber such that as the gas passes through the filters into a clean air chamber, the particulate matter can be captured by the filters.

[0004] In either case, the collector includes a structure typically referred to as a tube sheet in which apertures are formed to receive and hold the filter while preventing particulate matter from passing from a first volume to a second volume. In a plug-in collector, the first volume is the internal volume of the structure in which the plug-in collector is installed, and the second volume is, for example, the ambient atmosphere (which may be inside a building or simply outside the structure into which the bag is inserted). In a housed collector, the tube sheet typically separates the dirty air chamber from the clean air chamber, the gas carrying entrained particulate matter is delivered to the dirty air chamber, and after passing through the filters and the filters remove the particulate matter from the gas, the clean / filtered gas enters the clean air chamber.

[0005] Some examples of collectors are described in the following documents: U.S. Patent No. 3,942,962 (Duyckinck), U.S. Patent No. 4,218,227 (Frey), U.S. Patent No. 4,424,070 (Robinson), U.S. Patent No. 4,436,536 (Robinson), U.S. Patent No. 4,443,237 (Ulvestad), U.S. Patent No. 4,445,915 (Robinson), U.S. Patent No. 4,661,131 (Howeth), U.S. Patent No. 5,207,812 (Tronto et al.), U.S. Patent No. 4,954,255 (Muller et al.), U.S. Patent No. 5,222,488 (Forsgren), U.S. Patent No. 5,211,846 (Kott et al.), U.S. Patent No. 5,730,766 (Clements), U.S. Patent No. 6,090,173 (Johnson et al.), U.S. Patent No. 6,902,592 (Green et al.), and U.S. Patent No. 7,641,708 (Kosmider et al.).

[0006] As the filter captures particulate matter, the flow through the filter is inhibited and the filter can be cleaned periodically to increase the air flow through the collector. The cleaning can be accomplished by periodically pulsing a short jet of pressurized air into the interior of the filter to reverse the air flow through the filter, thereby causing the collected particulate matter to be driven off the filter. Pressurized air (or any other suitable gas) can be directed into the pulse collector as described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,942,962 (Duyckinck), U.S. Patent No. 4,218,227 (Frey), U.S. Patent No. 6,090,173 (Johnson et al.), U.S. Patent No. 4,395,269, U.S. Patent No. 6,902,592 (Green et al.), U.S. Patent No. 7,641,708 (Kosmider et al.), and U.S. Patent Application Publication US2006 / 0112667 A1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Described herein are filters having angled openings, filter assemblies including a filter and a filter support, filter supports, collectors having angled tube sheets for use with the filters and filter assemblies, and collectors having a clean air chamber with a reduced profile. Also described are methods of using the collectors, filters, filter supports, and filter assemblies.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, the filters described herein include an envelope-shaped filter body having a closed end, and a filter seal is attached to the open end of the filter body. One edge of the envelope-shaped filter body is shorter than the opposite edge of the envelope-shaped filter body such that the open end of the filter body and the filter seal attached thereto can be described as having an inclined orientation relative to a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body (the filter axis being generally aligned with the edge of the envelope-shaped filter body). Compared to conventional filter bags, filters having an inclined or angled opening as described herein have an enlarged opening and seal located around the opening, where the opening is oriented generally perpendicular to the filter axis extending along the length of the filter.

[0009] One advantage is that filters with enlarged openings fit within and seal around larger tube sheet apertures. In many cases, those larger tube sheet apertures allow for easier placement and removal of the filter within those larger tube sheet apertures because the filter body is generally smaller than the larger tube sheet aperture. This size difference provides additional clearance between the filter body and the tube sheet aperture. This additional clearance can, for example, reduce the likelihood of damaging the filter body when the filter is pushed through the tube sheet aperture.

[0010] Regarding filters where the filter body is in the form of an envelope-shaped filter bag, the enlarged opening and corresponding seal can allow the filter body to be advanced more easily onto a support cage for supporting the filter bag / filter body as described herein.

[0011] Although the entire filter bag can be enlarged to make it easier to install on the cage, an enlarged filter bag will result in the filter bag not fitting as tightly on the support cage as described herein. This loose fit is expected to reduce pulse cleaning performance and / or filter bag life.

[0012] Specifically, pulse cleaning of the filter bag on the support cage as described herein can be improved by fitting the filter bag tightly onto the support cage of the filter assembly. The tension of the more tightly fitted filter medium is increased such that the rapid acceleration (sometimes referred to as "bag snap") associated with the pulse cleaning of the filter bag is increased. The increased rapid outward acceleration can cause an increase in the shedding of particulate matter collected on the filter bag, where the shed particulate matter falls by gravity into the funnel of the collector.

[0013] In addition to improving pulse cleaning performance, the more tightly fitted filter bag / support cage combination can also increase filter bag life by reducing filter bag wear caused by excessive movement between the support cage and the more loosely fitted filter bag during pulse cleaning.

[0014] Another advantage attributable to a more closely assembled filter bag / cage combination is that the spacing between adjacent filter bags in the dirty air chamber of the collector can be reduced without causing a corresponding reduction in pulse cleaning performance. This closer spacing between adjacent filters can result in a corresponding reduction in the overall size of the collector. When the available space in a facility is limited, a smaller collector providing the same (or better) filtration capacity as a larger collector can be an important factor.

[0015] The filters, filter assemblies, and collectors described herein may be particularly useful for industrial air filter applications that must remove particulate matter from relatively large volumes of dirty air. Accordingly, the sizes of the filters and filter assemblies must be determined to handle those air volumes and the particulate matter associated with those volumes. Generally, the filters described herein can have a filter length measured from the open end to the closed end of the filter body of 0.3 meters or greater, 0.5 meters or greater, or even 1 meter or greater. The associated filter body height (measured transverse to the length of the filter) can be 0.2 meters or greater, 0.3 meters or greater, 0.4 meters or greater, or 0.5 meters or greater.

[0016] In a first aspect, one or more embodiments of a collector for removing particulate matter from a gas, as described herein, include: a tube sheet that includes a clean side and a dirty side; a housing operably attached to the tube sheet, wherein the housing defines a clean air volume that is at least partially bounded by the tube sheet, and wherein the clean side of the tube sheet faces the clean air volume; a plurality of orifices formed through the tube sheet, wherein each orifice of the plurality of orifices includes an elongated orifice that includes a length extending along an orifice axis, the length being greater than a width of the orifice measured in a direction transverse to the orifice axis, and wherein, for each orifice of the plurality of orifices, a distance between the clean side of the tube sheet surrounding the orifice and a reference plane oriented transverse to a center pulse axis passing through the orifice changes as the orifice axis is traversed; a pulse device located in the clean air volume and configured to deliver a pulse gas through the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet, wherein the pulse device defines a center pulse axis that extends through each orifice of the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet. The collector further includes a filter positioned within each orifice of the plurality of orifices, wherein each filter includes a filter body attached to a filter seal, and wherein the filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body that includes a filter medium defining an internal volume within the filter, the filter body including an open end and a closed end, the filter body extending along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body, the filter body defining a first major side and a second major side, wherein, as the filter axis is traversed, the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body, and wherein, as the filter axis is traversed between the open end and the closed end, the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge extending from the closed end to the open end of the filter body; wherein the filter seal is positioned about a perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is compressed against the clean side of the tube sheet when the filter is installed in a selected orifice of the plurality of orifices to form a seal with the clean side of the tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or through a filter opening; and wherein, for each orifice of the plurality of orifices, the orifice axis and the reference plane oriented transverse to the center pulse axis passing through the orifice form an angle of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 20 degrees or greater, 25 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater.

[0017] In one or more embodiments of the collector according to the first aspect, for each orifice of the plurality of orifices, the angle between the orifice axis and the reference plane is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less.

[0018] In one or more embodiments of the collector according to the first aspect, the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

[0019] In one or more embodiments of the collector according to the first aspect, the length of the first edge of the filter body between the closed end and the filter seal is greater than the height of the filter body measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0020] In one or more embodiments of the collector according to the first aspect, the seal axis and the filter axis form an angle of less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less. In one or more embodiments, the angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater.

[0021] In one or more embodiments of the collector according to the first aspect, the closed end of the filter extends along a closed end axis that is transverse to the filter axis and aligned with the filter height axis.

[0022] In one or more embodiments of the collector according to the first aspect, the filter body includes a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge, and wherein the filter body includes a filter body width measured in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis between the first major side and the second major side of the filter body, wherein the filter body width is 0.25 times or less, 0.2 times or less, or 0.1 times or less of the filter body height.

[0023] In one or more embodiments of the collector according to the first aspect, at least one filter in the plurality of orifices includes a support cage of the filter support positioned within an interior volume of the filter, and when the support cage is within the interior volume of the filter and the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, the support cage is attached to the seal support and extends away from the seal support along a cage axis aligned with the filter axis, wherein the seal support includes a support orifice that, when the support cage is within the interior volume of the filter, is aligned with the filter opening and the orifice in the tube sheet, and wherein the filter seal is compressed between the tube sheet and the filter side of the seal support against the clean face of the tube sheet such that gas entering the interior volume through the filter opening passes through the support orifice of the seal support, and optionally wherein the support cage includes a distal end that is close to the closed end of the filter body when the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, wherein, when the support cage is within the interior volume of the filter, the support cage includes a first strut positioned near a first edge of the filter body and a second strut positioned near a second edge of the filter body, wherein the first strut extends from the seal support to the distal end near the closed end of the filter, and the second strut extends from the seal support to the distal end near the closed end of the filter.

[0024] In one or more embodiments of the collector according to the first aspect, the filter body includes a pleated filter medium that includes pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end, or a plurality of filter tubes.

[0025] In a second aspect, one or more embodiments of a filter as described herein include a filter body attached to a filter seal. The filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body that includes a filter medium defining an interior volume within the filter. The filter body includes an open end and a closed end and extends along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body. The filter body defines a first major side and a second major side, where the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moving along the filter axis, and where the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge when moving between the open end and the closed end along the filter axis, the first edge and the second edge extending from the closed end to the open end of the filter body. The filter body includes a pleated filter medium that includes pleats or filter tubes extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end. The filter seal is positioned around the perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet such that gas entering the interior volume must pass through the filter medium or through the filter opening. And where the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

[0026] In one or more embodiments of the filter according to the second aspect, the filter seal includes an elongate shape that includes a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal near the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal near the second edge of the filter body. The seal length is greater than the filter body height measured along a filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge. And / or where the length of the first edge of the filter body between the closed end and the filter seal is greater than the height of the filter body measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0027] In a third aspect, one or more embodiments of a filter as described herein include a filter body attached to a filter seal. The filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body that includes a filter medium defining an interior volume within the filter. The filter body includes an open end and a closed end, and the filter body extends along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body. The filter body defines a first major side and a second major side, where the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moving along the filter axis, and where the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge when moving between the open end and the closed end along the filter axis. The first edge and the second edge extend from the closed end to the open end of the filter body. The filter body includes a pleated filter medium that includes pleats or a plurality of filter tubes extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end. The filter seal is positioned around the perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet, such that gas entering the interior volume must pass through the filter medium or through a filter opening. The filter seal includes an elongate shape that includes a seal length measured along a seal axis that extends between a first end of the filter seal near the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal near the second edge of the filter body. The seal length is greater than the filter body height measured along a filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge. And the seal axis forms an angle less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less with the filter axis.

[0028] In one or more embodiments of the filter according to the second or third aspect, the seal axis forms an angle less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less with the filter axis. And optionally, the angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater.

[0029] In one or more embodiments of the filter according to the second or third aspect, the closed end of the filter extends along a closed end axis that is transverse to the filter axis and aligned with the filter height axis; and / or the filter body includes a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge, and wherein the filter body includes a filter body width measured in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis between the first major side and the second major side of the filter body, where the filter body width is 0.25 times or less, 0.2 times or less, or 0.1 times or less of the filter body height.

[0030] Also described herein are methods of using the filter, the filter support, the collector, and the filter assembly.

[0031] As used herein, relational terms such as above, below, top, bottom, etc. (unless otherwise specified in the specification and / or claims) are only used to facilitate the description of various features of the devices and methods described herein and should not be construed as requiring any particular orientation of the devices and / or methods described herein unless otherwise explicitly required.

[0032] As used herein, the term "aligned with" (and its variants) when used in connection with various components, axes, directions of travel, etc. includes both parallel and substantially parallel arrangements. For example, when two axes (or other components, features, etc.) are both completely parallel to each other or almost parallel, e.g., when the axes (or other components, features, etc.) form an angle greater than 0 degrees but 5 degrees or less with each other, these axes (or other components, features, etc.) can be described as "aligned".

[0033] As used herein, the term "transverse" (and its variants) when used in connection with the relative orientation of an axis (and / or other components, features, etc.) includes a perpendicular orientation (i.e., forming a 90-degree angle) and an orientation where the axis (and / or other components, features, etc.) is almost perpendicular, e.g., the axis (and / or other components, features, etc.) can be oriented at an angle deviating from the perpendicular direction by 5 degrees or less.

[0034] As used herein, the term "substantially" has the same meaning as "significantly" and can be understood to modify the subsequent term by at least about 75%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or at least about 98%. The term "non-substantially" as used herein has the same meaning as "non-significantly" and can be understood to have the opposite meaning of "substantially", i.e., to modify the subsequent term by no more than 25%, no more than 10%, no more than 5%, or no more than 2%.

[0035] The numerical values used herein include normal variations of the measurement results as expected by those skilled in the art, and should be understood to have the same meaning as "approximate" and cover typical error margins, such as ±5% of the recited value.

[0036] Terms such as "a", "an", and "the" are not intended to refer only to a single entity, but include the general category of specific instances that can be used for illustration. The terms "a", "an", and "the" are interchangeable with the term "at least one". The phrases "at least one of... " and "comprising at least one of... " before a list refer to any one item in the list and any combination of two or more items in the list.

[0037] As used herein, the term "or" is generally used in its ordinary sense that includes "and / or", unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term "and / or" means one or all of the recited elements or a combination of any two or more of the recited elements.

[0038] Reciting a numerical range by endpoints includes all numbers subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc., or 10 or less includes 10, 9.4, 7.6, 5, 4.3, 2.9, 1.62, 0.3, etc.). In the case of a value range of "up to" or "at least" a particular value, that value is included within the recited range.

[0039] The terms "preferred" and "preferably" (when used) refer to embodiments that can provide certain benefits in certain circumstances. However, in the same or other circumstances, other embodiments may also be preferred. In addition, reciting one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not available and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure, including the claims.

[0040] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" used herein and in the appended claims include plural referents. Thus, for example, reference to "a" or "the" component may include one or more of the components known to those skilled in the art and their equivalents. In addition, the term "and / or" means one or all of the recited elements or a combination of any two or more of the recited elements.

[0041] It should be noted that the terms "comprising" and its variants do not have a limiting meaning where these terms appear in the subsequent description. In addition, "a", "an", "the", "at least one", and "one or more" are interchangeable herein.

[0042] In a similar manner, terms such as "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe various elements. However, such terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. It should be further understood that describing any particular element as operatively attached, connected, and / or coupled to another element may indicate that the elements are either directly attached, connected, and / or coupled to each other, or indirectly attached, coupled, and / or connected to each other via intermediate elements.

[0043] Unless otherwise specified, all numbers representing quantities and all terms representing directions / orientations (e.g., vertical, horizontal, parallel, perpendicular, etc.) in the specification and claims shall be understood to be modified in all instances by the word "about". The term "and / or" (if used) means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

[0044] The foregoing summary is not intended to describe every embodiment or every implementation of the filtration systems, filters, filter assemblies, filter supports, collectors, and related methods described herein. Instead, a more complete understanding of the invention will become apparent and be understood from the following description of illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the drawings and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Illustrative embodiments will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0046] Figure 1 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a filter having an inclined or enlarged opening as described herein.

[0047] Figure 2 is Figure 1 of the filter taken along an observation axis aligned with the filter axis 11 in Figure 1 and viewed from above towards the filter 10.

[0048] Figure 3 is Figure 1 and Figure 2 of the filter taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2 and is a cross-sectional view.

[0049] Figures 4 to 5 depicts an alternative illustrative embodiment of a filter having an enlarged / inclined opening and corresponding seals as described herein.

[0050] Figure 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a filter support for use with a filter as described herein.

[0051] Figure 7 is Figure 6The filter support extends along Figure 6 Cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in

[0052] Figure 8 Depicts an illustrative embodiment of placing a filter in a filter support as described herein Figure 6 of the filter support.

[0053] Figure 9 Depicts the assembled Figure 8 filter and filter support.

[0054] Figure 10 Is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a filter support including a venturi as described herein.

[0055] Figure 11 And Figure 12 Are Figure 10 Additional views of the filter support depicted in

[0056] Figure 13 Depicts an alternative illustrative embodiment of a filter support including a venturi as described herein.

[0057] Figure 14 Depicts the Figure 13 filter support in a view taken from above along the cage axis 241.

[0058] Figure 15 Depicts an alternative illustrative embodiment of a filter support including a removable venturi as described herein.

[0059] Figure 16 Depicts Figure 15 the venturi in a view taken from above the venturi and filter support along the cage axis 341.

[0060] Figure 17 Depicts Figure 15 the seal support of the filter support depicted in

[0061] Figure 18 Depicts an illustrative embodiment of a collector having an inclined tube sheet as described herein.

[0062] Figure 19 Is Figure 18 a view of the collector taken along the collector axis 61.

[0063] Figure 20 Depicts Figures 18 to 19 the collector with a set of filters and pulse devices placed therein.

[0064] Figure 21 depicts a filter being placed in Figures 18 to 20 the orifice of the tube sheet of a collector (extraneous features removed for clarity).

[0065] Figure 22 depicts another illustrative embodiment of a collector as described herein.

[0066] Figures 23 to 25 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a tube sheet adapter for use in a collector as described herein.

[0067] Figures 26 to 28 depicts an illustrative embodiment of an alternative tube sheet that can be used in one or more collectors as described herein.

[0068] Figure 29 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a shelled collector as described herein.

[0069] Figure 30 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a plug-in collector as described herein.

[0070] Figure 31 is a schematic diagram of a collector according to one embodiment;

[0071] Figure 32 is a perspective view of an existing collector 1 (on the left) and a collector according to an embodiment of the present invention (on the right);

[0072] Figure 33 is Figure 32 a perspective view of a collector with some internal components exposed;

[0073] Figure 34 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a collector as described herein and depicted in Figures 32 to 33 ;

[0074] Figure 35 is Figure 34 an enlarged partial side view of a collector; and

[0075] Figures 36A to 36C is Figures 34 to 35 an enlarged partial side view of a collector showing removal and / or insertion of a spray tube relative to the collector.

[0076] The accompanying drawings are presented primarily for clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Additionally, various structures / components, including but not limited to fasteners, electrical components (wiring, cables, etc.), etc., may be shown diagrammatically or removed from some or all of the views, either to better show aspects of the depicted embodiments or in cases where including such structures / components is not necessary for understanding the various exemplary embodiments described herein. However, the absence of such structures / components from a particular drawing should not be construed as limiting the scope of the various embodiments in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] In the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be used and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0078] Unless otherwise indicated, relative terms such as "left", "right", "front", "forward", "rear", "back", "top", "bottom", "side", "upper", "lower", "above", "below", "horizontal", "vertical", etc. may be used herein, and if so, these terms are from the perspective shown in the particular drawing. However, these terms are used only for simplicity of description and are not intended to limit the interpretation of any of the embodiments described.

[0079] It is to be understood that features of the illustrative embodiments of the filtration system described herein that are not explicitly recited in the claims are optional, e.g., features such as the number of filters and inlet openings, the shape and / or dimensions of the housing, etc. may vary in one or more alternative embodiments of the filtration system as described herein. It is also to be understood that, except for the filter media in the filters, the components of the filtration system described herein are typically constructed of air-impermeable materials (e.g., metals, polymers, ceramics, etc.).

[0080] Furthermore, although the illustrative filter 10 is depicted as having a constant size (e.g., width, height, diameter, etc.) between its proximal and distal ends, its size may vary, and further, an optional pulse collector used in one or more alternative embodiments of the filter system described herein may vary in size between its inlet and outlet, as described in the (s) references incorporated hereinabove.

[0081] Figures 1 to 3 Various views of an illustrative embodiment of a filter as described herein are depicted. In Figure 1In [the figure], the filter 10 includes a filter body 20, and the filter body includes an open end 12 and a closed end 14. The filter body 20 extends from the open end 12 to the closed end 14 along a filter axis 11 that extends between the open end 12 and the closed end 14.

[0082] The body 20 of the filter 10 can be described as an envelope-shaped filter body, where the filter medium defines an internal volume within the filter 10. As an envelope-shaped filter body 20, the body 20 has a first major side 23 and a second major side 25 (see, for example Figure 3 ) that are positioned across the internal volume 13. When moving along the filter axis 11, the first major side 23 and the second major side 25 are defined by the closed end 14 and the open end 12 of the filter body 20. The first major side 23 and the second major side 25 of the filter body 20 are further defined by a first edge 22 and a second edge 24, where in the depicted embodiment, the first edge 22 and the second edge 24 are substantially aligned with the filter axis 11. However, in one or more alternative embodiments, the edges 22 and 24 of the filter body 20 may or may not be substantially aligned with the filter axis 11.

[0083] As an envelope-shaped filter body 20, the filter body can be described as having a filter body height measured between the first edge 22 and the second edge 24 along a filter height axis 21. The envelope-shaped filter body 20 can also be described as having a filter body width measured between the first major side 23 and the second major side 25 of the filter body 20 in a direction transverse to both the filter axis 11 and the filter height axis 21 (see Figure 3 the dimension W in [the figure]). In one or more embodiments, the envelope-shaped filter body width can be 0.25 times or less, 0.2 times or less, or 0.1 times or less of the filter body height.

[0084] Although not required, the illustrated embodiment of the filter 10 includes a closed end 14 that extends along a closed end axis 14-1 that is transverse to the filter axis 11 and aligned with a filter height axis 21 that extends between the first edge 22 and the second edge 24 (also in a direction transverse to the filter axis 11).

[0085] Since the filter body 20 is an envelope-shaped filter body, the first major side 23 and the second major side 25 of the filter body 20 can be described as being operably attached to each other along the closed end 14 of the filter body 20 and along the first edge 22 and the second edge 24 to enclose the internal volume 13 of the filter, such that air (or any other gas) entering or leaving the internal volume 13 must pass through the open end 12 or through the filter medium that defines the internal volume 13.

[0086] In one or more embodiments, the filter axis 11 may be described as coinciding with the central axis of the filter body 20, where the central axis / filter axis 11 extends through the center of the filter body 20 such that the central axis / filter axis 11 contains the geometric center of the cross-section intercepted by the filter body 20 in a plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis / filter axis 11.

[0087] Reference Figures 1 to 3 , the filter 10 further includes a filter seal 30 positioned around the perimeter of the open end 12 of the filter body 20. The filter seal 30 is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter 10 is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume 13 must pass through the filter medium defining the internal volume or through the open end 12 of the filter body 20. In one or more embodiments of the filter described herein, the filter seal 30 extends around the entire perimeter of the open end 12, as seen, for example, in Figure 2 .

[0088] In one or more embodiments, the filter seal 30 may be provided as a discrete component attached to the filter body 20 of the filter 10. In one or more embodiments, the filter seal may be provided as a multi-layer filter medium by one or more combinations of stitching, adhesives, thermal welding, chemical welding, etc. The filter seal may include a polymer component, such as a flexible polymer component. In one or more embodiments, the filter seal may be capable of taking the shape of the filter body 20 of the filter 10. In one or more embodiments, the filter seal may be in the form of a compressible material, such as foam (closed-cell, open-cell, etc.), fabric, filter medium, etc., to assist in forming a seal when clamped within a collector as described herein. In one or more embodiments, the filter seal may be formed of an elastically compressible material capable of returning to its original shape (or close to its original shape) after compression. In one or more other embodiments, the filter seal may include one or more layers of material exhibiting increased resistance to wear and / or tear. In still other additional embodiments, the filter seal for use in a filter as described herein may be formed of two or more components attached to the filter body by any suitable technique or combination of techniques.

[0089] Although the illustrative embodiment of the filter 10 depicted includes a filter seal 30 positioned at the open end 12, in one or more embodiments, the filter seal 30 may be positioned proximal to the open end 12 such that the filter seal 30 is located between the open end 12 and the closed end 14, but is also spaced apart from the open end 12. One advantage of providing the filter seal 30 at the open end 12 is that compression of the filter seal 30 can be more readily achieved when such an arrangement of the filter seal 30 is provided. Compression of the filter seal 30 can be important for forming an adequate seal to prevent the undesired passage of particulate matter when using a filter as described herein.

[0090] One or more embodiments of the filters described herein may be characterized in terms of the lengths of the first edge 22 and the second edge 24 of the envelope-shaped filter body 20. Specifically, for example, when moving in the direction of the filter axis 11, the first edge 22 of the filter body 20 is shorter than the second edge 24 of the filter body 20. As a result of the difference in length between the first edge 22 and the second edge 24, the open end 12 and the filter seal 30 are oriented at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the filter axis 11. In other words, the open end 12 and the filter seal 30 may be described as being inclined or angled with respect to the filter axis 11, rather than perpendicular to the filter axis as is common in filters.

[0091] Although conventional envelope-shaped filters may exhibit minor variations in length between their opposing edges, these differences may be attributable to manufacturing tolerances and do not provide the advantages associated with differences in edge lengths and the corresponding increase in the size of the opening defined by the open end of the filter at the filter seal of the envelope-shaped filter, as described in connection with the present invention (these advantages include easier insertion of the filter support into the interior volume of the filter and / or easier insertion of the filter into a tube sheet opening, as described herein).

[0092] In one or more embodiments, the filter seal 30 may be described as having an elongate shape defining a seal length that is measured along a seal axis 31 extending between a first end 17 of the filter seal 30 proximate the first edge 22 of the filter body 20 and a second end 18 of the filter seal 30 proximate the second edge 24 of the filter body 20. Because the open end 12 and the filter seal 30 are inclined or angled with respect to the filter axis 11, the seal length measured between the first end 17 and the second end 18 of the filter seal 30 is greater than the filter body height measured along the filter height axis 21 between the first edge 22 and the second edge 24, where the filter height axis 21 is oriented transverse to the filter axis 11.

[0093] In one or more embodiments, the seal axis 31 can be described as forming an angle 32 with the filter axis 11 that is less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less. In one or more embodiments, with respect to the lower limit, the angle formed between the seal axis 31 and the filter axis 11 can be 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater.

[0094] Although increasing the size of the bag opening 12 / filter seal 30 by reducing the angle 32 between the filter axis 11 and the seal axis 31 can make the installation of the filter 10 easier, reducing the angle 32 will also increase the overall length of the filter 10, as measured along the second edge 24 of the filter body 20 and thus as measured for the filter 10. It is expected that this increased filter length will result in a correspondingly increased size of the collector in which the filter 10 is installed. Because an increase in the overall size of the collector may be a problem, it may be preferred that the angle 32 between the filter axis 11 and the seal axis 31 be in the range of, for example, 60 degrees to 80 degrees in order to provide a balance between easier installation and filter length while maintaining pulse cleaning performance and filter life.

[0095] As described herein, the angled or inclined open end 12 and filter seal 30 provide an advantage in terms of the size of the opening defined by the open end 12 and the filter seal 30, where this enlarged opening provides an advantage when placing a support cage or other structure within the internal volume 13 of the filter 10.

[0096] For those filters where a support cage or other internal structure is not required, the enlarged size of the angled or inclined open end 12 and filter seal 30 provides the ability to seal or enclose a larger orifice in the tube sheet into which the filter 10 is inserted. Because the height of the filter body as measured between the first edge 22 and the second edge 24 of the filter body is less than the length of the filter seal 30 and correspondingly less than the size of the orifice in the tube sheet sealed by the filter seal 30, insertion and removal of the filter 10 from the larger orifice can also be facilitated, as described herein.

[0097] In one or more embodiments of a filter having an angled or inclined opening and a filter seal as described herein, the length of the shorter first edge 22 of the filter body (measured, for example, between the closed end 14 and the filter seal 30) is greater than the height of the filter body 20 measured along the filter height axis 21 between the first edge 22 and the second edge 24. As a result, the filters described herein have a length greater than their height, which, in one or more embodiments, can provide additional filtering capacity compared to shorter filters.

[0098] In one or more embodiments of the filter described herein, the filter body 20 may be constructed of a generally planar filter medium configured to filter air or any other gas passing through the filter medium forming the body 20, wherein particulate matter entrained in the air or other gas is captured within or on the filter medium forming the body 20. Generally, the filter medium may preferably be sufficiently flexible such that the filter medium can bend during a pulse cleaning process as described herein, wherein this bending or movement of the filter medium preferably causes removal of at least a portion of the particulate matter captured within or on the filter medium forming the filter body 20. Such a construction of the filter medium is well known to those skilled in the art and may include, for example, woven materials, non-woven materials, paper, etc., selected according to the particulate matter to be collected, airflow requirements, strength requirements, etc. Suitable filter bags may be constructed of one or more layers of filter medium, scrim, etc. including one or more of the following: polyester, polypropylene, aramid, polyester / polytetrafluoroethylene materials in woven and / or non-woven configurations, etc.

[0099] While Figures 1 to 3 the filter 10 depicted in Figure 4 and Figure 5 depict alternative embodiments of filters having angled or inclined open ends and associated filter seals, which also provide the advantages in placing and removing the filter within and from a collector as described herein.

[0100] Figure 4An illustrative embodiment of the filter 110 depicted includes a filter body 120 that extends between an open end 112 and a closed end 114 along a filter axis 111. The filter body 120 is also envelope-shaped as described in connection with filter 10 and includes a first edge 122 and a second edge 124 that extend from the open end 112 to the closed end 114 of the filter 110. The filter 110 also includes a filter seal 130 that is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter 110 is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet such that gas entering the interior volume of the filter 110 must pass through the filter medium forming the filter body 120 or through the filter openings at the open end 112. In the depicted embodiment, the filter body 120 is formed of a pleated filter medium, where the pleats extend along the length of the filter body such that the pleats are aligned with the filter axis 111. Any other suitable arrangement may alternatively be used in place of the pleated filter medium, e.g., the pleats may advantageously extend in a direction transverse to the filter axis 111 or in any other orientation that provides suitable advantages.

[0101] Figure 5 An illustrative embodiment of the filter 210 depicted includes a filter body 220 that extends between an open end 212 and a closed end 214 along a filter axis 211. The filter body 120 is constructed of a series of filter tubes 226 that are aligned with the filter axis 211 such that the open end 212 of the filter 210 is a collection of the openings of each of the filter tubes 226, and the closed end 214 of the filter 210 is formed by the closed ends of each of the filter tubes 226. The edges of the filter body 220 are formed by the outermost filter tubes, where in Figure 5 the depicted view, the first edge 222 of the filter body 220 is formed by the leftmost filter tube 226, and the second edge 224 of the filter body 220 is formed by the rightmost filter tube 226. The filter 210 also includes a filter seal 230 that is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter 210 is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet such that gas entering the interior volume of any one of the filter tubes 226 of the filter 210 must pass through the filter medium of one of the filter tubes 226 forming the filter body 220 or through the filter tube openings at the open end 212 of the filter body 220. Filter assembly

[0102] The filter assemblies described herein may be used in at least some embodiments of the filters described herein. Referring to Figures 6 to 7 wherein Figure 7 is taken along Figure 6 line 7-7 in Figure 6Cross-sectional view depicting an illustrative embodiment of a filter support 40, wherein the depicted filter support 40 includes a support cage 42 and a seal support 44. The support cage 42 is configured to be placed within the interior volume of one or more embodiments of the filters described herein. In one or more embodiments, the support cage includes struts 43 aligned with a cage axis 41, wherein the cage axis 41 extends through the seal support 44. In the depicted illustrative embodiment, the support cage 42 includes brackets 47 extending between struts 43 aligned with the cage axis 41, including brackets 47 extending between outermost struts 43 at the distal end 46 of the support cage 42. In the depicted embodiment, the brackets 47 extend in a direction transverse to the cage axis 41. The depicted arrangement of struts 43 and brackets 47 in the support cage 42 provides only one example of a support cage that can be used to support a filter in combination with a filter assembly described herein.

[0103] In the depicted embodiment, a strut 43-1 extending between the seal support 44 and the distal end 46 of the support cage 42 is shorter than a strut 43-3 located on the opposite side of the support cage 42 and extending from the seal support 44 to the distal end 46. In one or more embodiments, the length of the strut 43-1 between the seal support 44 and the distal end of the strut 43-1 (at the distal end 46 of the support cage 42) is greater than the height of the support cage 42 measured in a direction transverse to the cage axis 41 between a first strut 43-1 and a second strut 43-2. These relationships can preferably be similar to those found in a filter to be assembled onto the filter support 40 to provide a sufficiently tight fit of the support cage 42 within a complementary filter.

[0104] The seal support 44 includes a support orifice 45 that extends through the seal support 44 from a clean side 44-1 of the seal support 44 to a filter side 44-2. In one or more embodiments, the seal orifice has an elongate shape having an orifice length measured along an orifice axis 49 that extends between a first end 48-1 and a second end 48-2 of the support orifice 45. In one or more embodiments, the orifice axis 49 may form an angle 41-1 of less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less with the cage axis 41. In one or more embodiments, with respect to a lower limit, the angle formed between the orifice axis 49 and the cage axis 41 may be 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater. A range that may be useful can involve an angle 41-1 between the orifice axis 49 and the cage axis 41 of 60 degrees to 80 degrees to provide a balance between ease of use of a compatible filter and filter size / filter capacity.

[0105] In one or more embodiments, the orifice length of the support orifice 45 measured along the orifice axis 49 that extends between a first end 48-1 (near the junction between the first strut 43-1 and the seal support 44) and a second end 48-2 (near the junction between the second strut 43-2 and the seal support 44) of the support orifice 45 is greater than the support cage height measured in a direction transverse to the cage axis 41 between the first strut 43-1 and the second strut 43-2.

[0106] Figure 8 is Figure 9 a side elevational view of an assembled filter assembly. Specifically, Figure 8 depicts a filter 10 as depicted in Figures 1 to 3 that is partially advanced onto a support cage 42 of a filter support 40, while Figure 9 depicts a fully assembled filter assembly that includes the filter 10 and a filter support 40 located within an interior volume of the filter 10.

[0107] As in Figure 8As seen, the filter seal 30 of the filter 10 is oriented generally perpendicular to the filter axis 11 / cage axis 41 such that if the filter is within the filter seal 30, the enlarged opening can be used to more easily advance the filter 10 onto the support cage 42. In the depicted embodiment of the filter 10, a portion of the second edge 24 proximate the filter seal 30 is folded or compressed to orient the filter seal 30 generally transverse to the cage axis 41 / filter axis 11, as Figure 8 seen.

[0108] The struts of the support cage 42 that are attached to the seal support 44 extend into the filter body 20, where strut 43-1 is positioned proximate the first edge 22 of the filter body 20 and struts 43-2 on the opposite side of the support cage 42 are positioned proximate the second edge 24 of the filter body 20. In the depicted embodiment, the strut 43-1 that extends between the seal support 44 and the distal end 46 of the support cage 42 is shorter than the strut 43-2 that is located on the opposite side of the support cage 42 and extends from the seal support 44 to the distal end 46. This relationship is preferably similar to the relationship found in the filter 10 when assembled onto the filter support 40.

[0109] When, as Figure 9 depicted, the filter 10 is fully assembled onto the filter support 40, the filter seal 30 seats against the filter side 44-2 of the seal support 44, and the closed end 14 of the filter body 20 is positioned proximate the bracket 47 that extends between the struts 43-1 and 43-2 of the support cage 42. In this arrangement, the orifice axis 49 is aligned with the seal axis 31 and the cage axis 41 is aligned with the filter axis 11.

[0110] Accordingly, the filter seal 30 (when installed in the collector) is configured to form a seal with the filter side 44-2 of the seal support 44 such that gas entering the internal volume 13 of the filter 10 through the filter opening defined within the filter seal 30 will pass through the support orifice 45 of the seal support 44. In one or more embodiments, the seal support 44 can be used to press the filter seal 30 against the clean air side of a tube sheet in the collector to form a seal. As used herein, the term "compressed" means that the filter seal 30 has been at least partially deformed between the seal support 44 and the tube sheet.

[0111] Figures 10 to 12Depicts another illustrative embodiment of a filter support that can be used with one or more embodiments of the filters and / or collectors described herein. The filter support 140 includes a seal support 144 and a support cage 142. The support cage 142 includes struts 143 that are generally aligned with a cage axis 141 defined by the support cage 142. The struts 143 extend to a distal end 146 of the support cage 142. Similar to the seal support 44 described in connection with the filter support 40, the seal support 144 is oriented at an angle along an orifice axis 149, where the cage axis 141 and the orifice axis 149 form an included angle, as discussed above in connection with the filter support 40.

[0112] One feature depicted in connection with the filter support 140 and not found in the filter support 40 is the addition of a venturi 150 attached to the filter support 140. The venturi 150 is used to collect and direct a cleaning pulse of gas into the interior volume of a filter mounted on the filter support 140 in a collector that uses pulse cleaning to drive the collected particulate matter off the filter mounted on the filter support 140. The venturi 150 extends between a collector opening 152 facing away from the support cage 142 and a filter opening 154 facing the support cage 142. In one or more embodiments, the venturi 150 can be described as extending through a support orifice of the seal support 144. Gas entering the interior volume of the filter mounted on the support cage 142 (such that the support cage is within the interior volume of the filter) passes through the venturi 150 before entering the interior volume of the filter.

[0113] In the depicted embodiment, the collector opening 152 of the venturi 150 can be described as an elongated collector opening that extends along a venturi axis 151 between a first end 156-1 and a second end 156-2. The venturi 150 can further be described as having a first depth near the first end 156-1 that is greater than a second depth near the second end 156-2, where the first depth and the second depth are measured between the collector opening 152 and the seal support 144 when moving along the cage axis 141.

[0114] In one or more embodiments, the relationship between the seal support 144 and the collector opening 152 of the venturi 150 can be described using the venturi axis 151 defined by the collector opening 152 and the orifice axis 149 defined by the support orifice in the seal support 144. As discussed herein, the orifice axis 149 extends between a first end and a second end of the support orifice in the seal support 144, while the venturi axis 151 extends between a first end and a second end of the collector opening 152. In one or more embodiments, the venturi axis 151 forms an angle 159 of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater with the orifice axis. In one or more embodiments, with respect to an upper limit, the angle between the venturi axis 151 and the orifice axis 149 can be 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, or 30 degrees or less. One range that may be useful for the angle 159 is 10 degrees to 30 degrees to match the angle of complementary filters to provide a balance between ease of use and filter size / filtering capacity.

[0115] Although visible in Figure 11 , the venturi 150 has a generally rectangular profile where the collector opening 152 and the filter opening 154 are generally parallel to each other, the venturi used in conjunction with the filters and filter supports described herein can be different. With respect to Figures 13 to 14 , an alternative embodiment of a filter support 240 including a venturi 250 is depicted, where Figure 14 the view is taken along the cage axis 241 depicted in Figure 13 .

[0116] The filter support 240 includes a support cage 242 and a seal support 244, which can be, for example, very similar to those depicted and described in Figures 6 to 7 . The venturi 250 attached to the seal support 244 includes a collector opening 252 and a filter opening 254, where the filter opening 254 is located on the seal support 244 such that the venturi 250 does not extend into the volume defined by the support cage 242.

[0117] The filter opening 254 at the base of the venturi 250 (where the base of the venturi 250 is at its junction with the seal support 244) and the seal support 244 both extend along the orifice axis 249 defined by the support orifice 245 in the seal support 244 (where, in the illustrative embodiment depicted, the filter opening 254 and the support orifice 245 are coextensive with each other). Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the collector opening 252 can extend along a venturi axis 251 that is transverse to the cage axis 241.

[0118] Figures 15 to 17 Depicts another alternative embodiment of a filter support 340 and a venturi 350 configured to be assembled with the filter support 340. The filter support 340 includes a support cage 342 and a seal support 344, wherein the support cage standard member 42 extends away from the seal support 344 along the cage axis 341.

[0119] The venturi 350 includes a venturi base 358 facing the clean side 344-1 of the seal support 344. The passage for the pulse gas extends from the collector opening 352 through the venturi 350 to the filter opening 354 in the venturi base 358. Further, the venturi base 358 is configured to be attached to the clean side 344-1 of the seal support 344 such that the pulse gas passing through the collector passes through the seal orifice 345 (see, for example Figure 17 ) to be delivered to the interior volume of the filter assembled on the support cage 342.

[0120] In one or more embodiments, the venturi base 358 of the depicted embodiment of the venturi 350 may be oriented at an angle relative to the cage axis 341, the same angle as formed between the seal support 344 and the cage axis 341.

[0121] Further, when the filter support 340 and the venturi 350 are assembled together, in one or more embodiments, the collector opening 352 may extend along the venturi axis 351 transverse to the cage axis 341.

[0122] A potential advantage of the venturi having a collector opening defining a venturi axis that is oriented relative to the cage axis and the seal support as described herein is that when so arranged, the collector opening can be oriented generally transverse to the pulse axis defined by the pulse device used in the collector in which the filter support and the venturi are installed. This orientation can improve the collection of the pulse gas for delivery to the interior volume of the filter positioned on the filter support, which can thus enhance the pulse cleaning of the filter positioned on the filter support. Collector

[0123] Figures 18 to 30 Depicts different features of a collector that can be used in one or more embodiments of the collector as described herein to remove particulate matter from a gas stream (e.g., air) in which particulate matter is entrained. These collectors can be particularly adapted to use filters having inclined or angled openings as described herein (wherein these filters may or may not be provided with a filter support as described herein).

[0124] Figures 18 to 21An illustrative embodiment of the collector is depicted, in which Figure 18 A tube sheet 70 is depicted within a housing defined by a wall 66 to define a dirty air volume 62 and a clean air volume 64, wherein a clean air outlet 67 is provided for removing clean air from the clean air volume of the collector 60. Although not depicted, a dirty air inlet delivers dirty air to the dirty air volume 62. The collector 60 also includes a funnel 68 into which particulate matter moves after being removed from a filter within the dirty air volume 62 of the collector 60.

[0125] The tube sheet 70 can be described as having a dirty face 75 facing the dirty air volume 62 and a clean face 76 facing the clean air volume 64 within the collector 60, where "dirty" is used to denote the portion of the collector 60 that receives particulate matter entrained in air or other gas, and "clean" is used to denote the portion of the collector 60 into which the air or other gas is delivered after passing through one or more filters within the collector 60.

[0126] The depicted tube sheet 70 includes apertures 72-1 and 72-2 (collectively referred to herein as apertures 72) formed through the tube sheet 70. Each aperture 72 can be described as forming an elongated aperture having a length along the aperture axis that is greater than the aperture width measured in a direction transverse to the aperture axis.

[0127] Referring, for example, to Figures 18 to 19 , aperture 72-1 extends from a first end 73-1 to a second end 74-1 along aperture axis 71-1, while aperture 72-2 extends from a first end 73-2 to a second end 74-2 along aperture axis 71-2. As can be seen, for example, in Figure 19 , the length of each aperture 72 measured along the path of its corresponding aperture axis is greater than its width measured in a direction transverse to that aperture axis. A collector axis 61 extends through the collector 60.

[0128] In one or more embodiments, the collector 60 also includes a pulse device located within the clean air volume 64 and configured to deliver a pulse gas through the apertures 72 in the tube sheet 70. In Figure 20 the depicted illustrative embodiment, the pulse device takes the form of a pair of injection tubes 85-1 and 85-2. Injection tube 85-1 is positioned adjacent to aperture 72-1 and is configured to deliver a pulse gas through aperture 72-1, while injection tube 85-2 is positioned adjacent to aperture 72-2 and is configured to deliver a pulse gas through aperture 72-2.

[0129] The injection tube 85-1 delivers pulsed gas through a series of openings 82-1, where a pulsed gas stream 84-1 exits the injection tube 85-1 such that the pulsed gas stream 84-1 is directed toward a venturi 450-1 associated with a filter 410-1 positioned in an orifice 72-1 of the collector 60. The pulsed gas streams 84-1 exiting the openings 82-1 in the injection tube 85-1 together define a central pulse axis 81-1 that extends through the orifice 72-1. In one or more embodiments, the central pulse axis 81-1 is preferably aligned with a filter axis 411-1 of the filter 410-1 positioned in the orifice 72-1 to facilitate pulsed cleaning of the filter 410-1.

[0130] Similarly, the injection tube 85-2 delivers pulsed gas through a series of openings 82-2, where a pulsed gas stream 84-2 exits the injection tube 85-2 such that the pulsed gas stream 84-2 is directed toward a venturi 450-2 associated with a filter 410-2 positioned in an orifice 72-2 of the collector 60. Again, the pulsed gas streams 84-2 exiting the openings 82-2 in the injection tube 85-2 together define a central pulse axis 81-2 that extends through the orifice 72-2. In one or more embodiments, the central pulse axis 81-2 is preferably aligned with a filter axis 411-2 of the filter 410-2 positioned in the orifice 72-2 to facilitate pulsed cleaning of the filter 410-2.

[0131] To accommodate filters and filter assemblies having angled openings as described herein, the tube sheet 70 of the collector 60 is also angled or inclined. The orientation of the portion of the tube sheet 70 that includes the orifices 72 can be described relative to a reference plane defined by the central pulse axes that are directed through each orifice 72. In the illustrative embodiment of the collector 60 depicted where the central pulse axes 81-1 and 81-2 are aligned with each other, a common reference plane RP1 is defined, where the reference plane RP1 is oriented transverse to both of the pulse axes 81-1 and 81-2.

[0132] With respect to the orifice 72-2 in the tube sheet 70 through which the central pulse axis 81-2 extends, the distance (D) between the RP1 and the clean face 76 of the tube sheet 70 surrounding the orifice 72-2 changes as it is moved along the orifice axis 71-2 of the orifice 72-2. In the depicted embodiment, this distance increases when moving from right to left, i.e., from the end 73-2 to the end 74-2 of the orifice 72-2.

[0133] Regarding the orifice 72-1 in the tube sheet 70 through which the central pulse axis 81-1 extends, the distance between RP1 and the clean surface 76 of the tube sheet 70 surrounding the orifice 72-1 changes as it moves along the orifice axis 71-1 of the orifice 72-1. In the depicted embodiment, this distance increases when moving from left to right, i.e., from the end 73-1 to the end 74-1 of the orifice 72-1.

[0134] Another way to characterize the orientation of the orifice 72 in the tube sheet 70 of the collector 60 can be based on the angular relationship between the orifice axis and a reference plane oriented transverse to the central pulse axis passing through the orifice 72. Although the reference plane RP1 will provide the same angular relationship, Figure 18 includes a second reference plane RP2, which is Figure 18 oriented parallel to the reference plane RP1 for clarity in

[0135] Regarding the orifice 72-1, the orifice axis 71-1 forms an included angle α-1 (alpha one) of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 20 degrees or greater, 25 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater with the reference plane RP2. Regarding the upper limit, the included angle α-1 (alpha one) between the orifice axis 71-1 and the reference plane RP2 is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less. A range that may be useful can involve an included angle α-1 (alpha one) with the reference plane RP2 of 10 degrees to 30 degrees to provide a balance between the ease of use of the compatible filter and the filter size / filtration capacity.

[0136] Regarding the orifice 72-2, the orifice axis 71-2 forms an included angle α-2 (alpha two) of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 20 degrees or greater, 25 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater with the reference plane RP2. Regarding the upper limit, the included angle α-2 (alpha two) between the orifice axis 71-2 and the reference plane RP2 is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less. Similarly, a useful range can involve an included angle α-2 (alpha two) with the reference plane RP2 of 10 degrees to 30 degrees to provide a balance between the ease of use of the compatible filter and the filter size / filtration capacity.

[0137] Although the angles formed between these orifice axes and this reference plane are the same, it should be understood that in one or more alternative embodiments of the collector described herein, these angles can be different as needed to accommodate different angular relationships between the angled openings of the filters used in the collector described herein.

[0138] Refer to Figure 20, where a pair of filters 410-1 and 410-2 are respectively located in the orifices 72-1 and 72-2 in the tube sheet 70 within the collector 60. It can be seen that the filter seals 430-1 and 430-2 of the filters 410-1 and 410-2 form a seal with the clean surfaces 76 of the tube sheet 70 surrounding each orifice.

[0139] In the depicted embodiment, the filters 410-1 and 410-2 further include seal supports 444-1 and 444-2 attached to the venturis 450-1 and 450-2. Although the seal supports can be used to at least partially compress the filter seals 430-1 and 430-2 to form a proper seal, thereby preventing air or other gases and / or particulate matter from undesirably passing through the interface between the filter seals 430-1 and 430-2 and the tube sheet 70, this is required to facilitate the proper filtration of particulate matter from the air or other gases in the dirty air volume 62 delivered to the collector 60.

[0140] As discussed and Figure 20 depicted herein, the central pulse axes 81-1 and 81-2 passing through each of the orifices 72-1 and 72-2 of the tube sheet 70 are aligned with the filter axes 411-1 and 411-2 of each of the filters 410-1 and 410-2 located within the orifices 72-1 and 72-2.

[0141] Figure 21 (is a simplified version of the collector 60 as Figure 20 depicted) provides an illustration of one advantage of the angled or tilted filter seals and filter openings of the filters as described herein, which provide an enlarged opening when the filter is placed in or removed from an orifice in the tube sheet. As Figure 21 depicted, it may be beneficial or even required to remove the pulse device located in the clean air volume 64 of the collector 60 during the insertion and / or removal of the filter.

[0142] Figure 21The filter 410-2 depicted in [description] includes a filter seal 430-2 that extends along a seal axis 431-2, which is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle to the filter axis 411-2, as discussed above in connection with, for example, filters 10 and 110. Thus, the height of the filter measured in a direction transverse to the filter axis 411-2 between edges 422-2 and 424-2 is less than the length of the filter seal 430-2 measured along the seal axis 431-2. This enlarged seal 430-2 allows for a larger orifice 72-2 in the tube sheet 70, where the larger orifice 72-2 has a length between a first end 73-2 and a second end 74-2 that is greater than the height of the filter measured between edges 422-2 and 424-2.

[0143] In other words, the orifice 72-2 into which the filter 410-2 is inserted is larger than the filter 410-2 to such an extent that the filter 410-2 can more easily pass through the orifice 72-2. Of course, it should be understood that any orifice into which a filter is to be inserted will be at least as large as the filter in any conventional collector. However, the enlarged filter opening provided by the angled or inclined filter seal and the corresponding filter opening provides an even greater clearance between the edge of the filter and the orifice through which the filter passes during insertion and removal.

[0144] The movement of the filter 410-2 through the orifice 72-2 in a direction not aligned with the central pulse axis 81-2 provides the operator with the ability to take advantage of the larger orifice 72-2 compared to the smaller filter 410-2 when inserting the filter into the orifice 72-2 and / or removing it therefrom.

[0145] Figure 22 An alternative illustrative embodiment of the collector 160 is depicted in [description]. The collector 160 includes a tube sheet 170 that is located within a housing defined by a wall 166 to define a dirty air volume 162 and a clean air volume 164, the clean air volume having a clean air outlet 167 that provides a path for clean air to leave the clean air volume 164. Although not depicted, a dirty air inlet delivers dirty air to the dirty air volume 162. The collector 160 also includes a funnel 168 into which particulate matter moves after being removed from a filter located within the dirty air volume 162.

[0146] The tube sheet 170 can be described as having a dirty face 175 that faces the dirty air volume 162 and a clean face 176 that faces the clean air volume 164 within the collector 60. The depicted tube sheet includes orifices 172-1 and 172-2 formed through the tube sheet 170.

[0147] The collector 160 also includes a pulsation device in the form of two sets of nozzles 185-1 and 185-2. Specifically, the nozzles 185-1 are aligned with the orifices 172-1, and the nozzles 185-2 are aligned with the orifices 172-2. Each of the nozzles 185-1 defines a nozzle axis 186-1 along which pulsating gas (e.g., air) is directed as it exits the nozzle 185-1. The pulsating gas is provided by a gas chamber 187 to which the nozzles 185-1 are fluidly connected. The nozzle axes 186-1 together define a central pulsation axis 181-1 that extends through the center of the orifice 172-1.

[0148] The nozzles 185-2 are aligned with the orifices 172-2 and define nozzle axes 186-2 along which pulsating gas (e.g., air) is directed as it exits the nozzle 185-2. The pulsating gas is also provided by the gas chamber 187 to which the nozzles 185-2 are fluidly connected. The nozzle axes 186-2 together define a central pulsation axis 181-2 that extends through the center of the orifice 172-2.

[0149] The filter 510 is positioned within Figure 17 the orifice 172-1 to show that the central pulsation axis 181-1 preferably aligns with the filter axis DXI that extends through the filter 510, as discussed in connection with the various embodiments of the filter described herein.

[0150] Although the tube sheet 170 and the orifices 172-1 and 172-2 formed therein have an overall planar configuration, the collector 160 includes a set of tube sheet adapters for accommodating filters and filter assemblies having angled openings as described herein. Specifically, an illustrative embodiment of the collector 160 includes an adapter 190 positioned within the clean air volume 164 above the orifice 172-1 and another adapter 190 positioned within the clean air volume 164 above the orifice 172-2.

[0151] Figures 23 to 25 Various views of the adapter 190 removed from the collector 160 are depicted. The depicted adapter 190 includes a sleeve 192 that extends between a receiving opening 194 and a base opening provided in a base 196. The base 196 of the adapter 190 is configured to seal against the clean face of the tube sheet (e.g., the clean face 176 of the tube sheet 170) when the adapter 190 is properly positioned within the collector.

[0152] The platform 193 is located within the sleeve 192, where the platform 193 includes a platform orifice 198 that is configured to receive a filter in the same manner as discussed with respect to the tube sheet orifices described herein. In essence, the platform 193 defines, within the boundaries of the sleeve 192, an effective clean surface 176' of the tube sheet (e.g., tube sheet 170) on which the adapter 190 is positioned, where the effective clean surface 176' is removed or spaced apart from the planar tube sheet on which the adapter 190 is positioned.

[0153] As Figure 23 depicted therein, the platform 193 (depicted in dashed lines as it is hidden from view by the sleeve 192) is preferably oriented at an angle with respect to the central pulse axis (e.g., Figures 23 to 25 the central pulse axis 181-1 depicted in each of the figures therein) that is similar to the angle described for a tube sheet having an inclined or angled surface configured to receive a filter having an inclined or angled opening as described herein. In one or more embodiments, Figure 23 the angle β (beta) between the platform axis 191 (which extends between opposite ends of the platform orifice 198 formed in the platform 193) and the reference plane 171 defined by the tube sheet on which the adapter 190 is positioned (and the tube sheet is typically transverse to the central pulse axis 181-1 extending through the platform orifice 198) depicted therein is less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less. In one or more embodiments, with respect to the lower limit, the angle β (beta) can be 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater. One range that may be useful for the angle β (beta) is 60 degrees to 80 degrees to match the angle of the complementary filter to provide a balance between ease of use and filter size / filtering capacity.

[0154] There is provided Figures 26 to 28 to (schematically) show only a few of the many different potential tube sheets that can be provided in a collector as described herein.

[0155] In Figure 26 it, the tube sheet 270 can be described as a serrated pattern, where the orifices 272 are oriented along the orifice axis 271 such that the orifice axis 271 forms a similar angle with a set of aligned pulse axes 281 extending through the orifices 272 in the tube sheet 270.

[0156] In Figure 27In [reference], the tube sheet 370 can be described as having a convex shape, wherein the orifices 372 are oriented along an orifice axis 371 such that the orifice axes intersect each other above the tube sheet 370 and form equal but opposite angles with a pulse axis 381 extending through the orifices 372.

[0157] In Figure 28 [reference], the tube sheet 470 can be described as having both a convex shape and a concave shape. Specifically, the tube sheet 470 including a pair of orifices on the left side of the tube sheet 470 forms a concave shape, wherein the orifices 472 are oriented along an orifice axis 471 (similar to, for example, Figures 13 to 16 the orifices 72 in the tube sheet 70 depicted in [reference]), while the portion of the tube sheet 470 including a pair of orifices 472 on the right side of the tube sheet 470 forms a convex shape similar to that depicted in Figure 27 [reference].

[0158] Figure 29 FIG. depicts an illustrative embodiment of a collector 260, which can generally be referred to as a shelled collector, wherein both a clean air volume and a dirty air volume are defined by the housing of the collector. Specifically, the housing defines a dirty air volume, which is partially bounded by the dirty face of the tube sheet in the collector, such that the collector includes a wrapped collector, and the filter body of the filter located in the collector is located in the dirty air volume.

[0159] Figure 30 FIG. depicts an illustrative embodiment of a plug-in collector 360, wherein the combination of the tube sheet and the housing defines a clean air volume, while the filter 310 is positioned within a dirty air volume, which is only defined after the plug-in collector 360 is attached to an otherwise enclosed structure (such as a silo, a bin, etc.). In such a plug-in collector, the housing does not define a dirty air volume until the collector is attached to an otherwise enclosed structure (such as a silo, a bin, etc.).

[0160] Referring to the figures in the accompanying drawings, wherein throughout these views, like reference numerals denote like parts and components, Figures 31 to 3 FIG. 6 depicts various different features that can be used in one or more embodiments of the collectors described herein for removing particulate matter from a gas stream (e.g., air) entraining particulate matter. These collectors can be particularly adapted to use filters having inclined or angled openings as described herein (wherein these filters may or may not be provided with filter supports as described herein). In one or more embodiments, these collectors can include a filter 10 as described herein. In one or more embodiments, these collectors can further include part or all of different embodiments of any filter assembly, any collector 60, and any filter support 40 as described herein.

[0161] An illustrative embodiment is depicted in Figure 31 which shows a schematic view of a collector 600. The depicted collector 600 includes a housing 602 which includes a first panel 617 (which serves as, for example, a tube sheet) and a second panel 619, a clean air chamber 618 (e.g., including 618A and 618B), an access cover 604, a manifold 606, a filter 610, and a fan housing 660. The collector 600 may optionally further include a filter housing 700 which surrounds the filter 610 to define a dirty air chamber 616 which houses the filter 610 (if the collector 600 is provided as, for example, a "housed collector"). A filter axis 611 is shown extending through the access cover 604, a first portion 618A of the clean air chamber, and the filter 610.

[0162] In use, dirty air is delivered to the filter 610 which traps or collects particulate matter in the dirty air. Clean air passes through the filter 610 to enter the clean air chamber 618. The clean air can then be exhausted into the surrounding environment (not shown). Optionally, a fan (not shown) located within the fan housing 660 can draw air through the collector 600 as described herein. Over time, particulate matter and other substances accumulate on the outer side of the filter 610 and / or within the dirty air chamber 616. A reverse pulse of air can be delivered into the filter 610 to dislodge or remove any particulate on the outer side of the filter 610. In one or more embodiments, the pulse can be delivered using a jet tube (not shown) located within the clean air chamber 618, and compressed gas (e.g., air) can be supplied from the manifold 606 and using the manifold.

[0163] The housing 602 defines the clean air chamber 618 of the depicted illustrative embodiment between the first panel 617 (e.g., 617A, 617B) and the second panel 619 (e.g., 619A, 619B). The first panel 617 may include a tube sheet section 617A and a housing section 617B. The second panel 619 may include an inlet section 619A and an exhaust section 619B. The first panel 617 and the second panel 619 can advantageously provide structure for or be part of the housing 602. The housing 602 (and associated panels) can be constructed using one or more of metal, plastic, composite materials, ceramics, or any other suitable material or combination of materials.

[0164] The illustrative embodiment of the collector 600 depicted includes a filter orifice 630A located in the tube sheet section 617A. The size of the filter orifice 630A is preferably determined to hold the open end of the filter 610, as further described herein. In one or more embodiments, the tube sheet section 617A may include a mounting for releasably securing the filter 610 in the filter orifice 630A. In proper operation, unfiltered air cannot enter the clean air chamber 618 without first entering / passing through the filter 610 and then through the filter orifice 630A in the tube sheet section 617A.

[0165] Some specific filters are further described herein, but it should be understood that a variety of filters with a variety of materials and sizes can be used with one or more embodiments of the collectors described herein. In one or more embodiments, the illustrative embodiment of the filter 610 may include a flange or other feature at the proximal end 609A that may facilitate attachment between the filter 610 and the filter orifice 630A in the tube sheet section 617A in a manner that limits or prevents leakage through those joints. The proximal end 609A is the end of the filter 610 that is closer to the filter orifice 630A and opposite the distal end 609B of the filter 610. In one or more embodiments, for example, the filter 610 may take the form of, for example, a bag, packet, cartridge, etc.

[0166] The illustrative embodiment of the collector 600 depicted includes an access orifice 604A located in the access section 619A of the second panel 619. The size of the access orifice 604A may be determined to provide, for example, access for an operator or user to the interior of the housing 602. The access orifice 604A may advantageously provide access to the interior of the housing 602 to allow removal and replacement of the filter 610 in the filter orifice 630A. An access cover 604 closes the access orifice 604A. In one or more embodiments, the access cover 604 may take any suitable form capable of closing the access orifice 604A for proper operation of the collector, such as, for example, a hinged door, a removable panel, a roll-away panel, etc., that can be opened and closed by an operator or user.

[0167] In the depicted embodiment, the first part 618A of the clean air chamber is located between the tube sheet section 617A of the first panel 617 and the access section 619A of the second panel 619. The first part 618A of the clean air chamber defines a first clean air partial volume. The depicted collector 600 further includes a second part 618B of the clean air chamber. In the depicted embodiment, the second part 618B of the clean air chamber is also located between the first panel 617 and the second panel 619.

[0168] In one or more embodiments, the filter 610 is positioned within the filter aperture 630A in the tube sheet section 617A of the first panel 617 as described herein. In one or more embodiments, the clean air entering the first portion 618A of the clean air chamber through the filter aperture 630A must pass through the filter 610 before entering the clean air chamber through the filter aperture 630A in the tube sheet section 617A. The depicted filter 610 includes a distal end 609B located distal to the filter aperture. The filter axis 11 extends through the filter aperture 630A and the distal end 609B. The filter axis 11 also passes through the first portion 618A of the clean air chamber and the inlet aperture 604A in the inlet section 619A. In one or more embodiments, the position of the filter axis 11 within the filter aperture 630A can be described as being at the geometric center of the projection of the filter aperture 630A onto a plane oriented orthogonally to the filter axis 11.

[0169] In one or more embodiments, such as the illustrative embodiment depicted, the filter axis 11 does not extend through the second portion 618B of the clean air chamber. In such an embodiment, the second portion 618B of the clean air chamber can be described as being offset from the first portion 618A of the clean air chamber in a direction transverse to the filter axis 11. In one or more embodiments, this offset can provide an opportunity to provide a collector including a clean air chamber having a reduced or controlled depth to facilitate removal and replacement of the filter as described herein. Different offset distances can be envisioned in the present disclosure, including different clean air chamber volumes and shapes.

[0170] In one or more embodiments (and as Figures 31 to 3 shown in the illustrative embodiment depicted in 6), the collector 600 can be oriented such that the filter axis 11 is vertical (i.e., aligned with the direction of gravity). In alternative embodiments, the collector 600 can be oriented such that the filter axis 11 forms any suitable angle with respect to the direction of gravity. In some alternative orientations, the outer edge of the manifold 606 or the outer edge of the fan housing 660 (the outer edge can be defined as the edge of the element remote from the filter axis 11) can be at the bottom or base of the collector.

[0171] The ability to position the collector 600 such that the filter axis 11 is oriented at any suitable angle with respect to the direction of gravity allows the collector 600 to be installed in various orientations as needed to accommodate a particular site and / or to enhance one or more selected benefits of a particular embodiment (e.g., filter removal / replacement, space savings, efficient filtration, etc.).

[0172] In the illustrative embodiment depicted, a second portion 618B of the clean air chamber is adjacent to a first portion 618A of the clean air chamber. Such an arrangement can advantageously provide more surface area for the housing 602 for additional elements (e.g., access cover 604, manifold 606, and fan shroud 660), and thus in one or more embodiments can permit various configurations of the components of the collector described herein. In embodiments without the fan 612, the fan shroud 660 can be smaller. These factors can also advantageously permit the collector 600 to be mounted in various orientations as needed to fit a particular site or to improve one or more selected benefits of a particular implementation (e.g., filter removal / replacement, collector size, etc.).

[0173] In one or more embodiments of the housed collector as described herein, a filter housing 700 can be coupled to the tube sheet section 617A. The filter housing 700 can surround the filter 610 to define a dirty air chamber. A collector that does not include the filter housing 700 that defines the dirty air chamber can be referred to as an "insertable" collector, where the filter 610 is "inserted" into a volume from which particulate matter and air are to be removed. A collector that includes an optional filter housing 700 that defines a dirty air chamber typically includes a dirty air inlet configured to deliver dirty air (e.g., air containing particulate matter to be removed from the air) to the dirty air chamber defined by the housing 700. Such systems are well known and will not be described further herein as to their features.

[0174] The filter 610 in the collector as described herein can be described as defining a filter length L along the filter axis 11 between the distal end 609B of the filter 610 and the filter orifice 630A in the tube sheet section 617A of the first panel 617 (including the endpoints).

[0175] In the illustrative embodiment depicted, the first portion 618A of the clean air chamber defines a first portion depth D2 measured along the filter axis 11 between the filter orifice 630A in the tube sheet section 617A of the first panel 617 and the access orifice 604A in the access section 619A of the second panel 619 (including the endpoints). In one or more embodiments, the first portion depth D2 can be equal to or less than half of the filter length L. This relationship can advantageously reduce the volume of the collector and can further advantageously permit more efficient cleaning, maintenance, repair, and / or replacement of the filter and / or the injection tube (see, e.g., Figure 35 and the related description). In one or more embodiments, with respect to the upper limit, the first portion depth D2 can be equal to or less than 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% of the filter length L. In one or more embodiments, with respect to the lower limit, the first portion depth D2 can be equal to or greater than 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% of the filter length L.

[0176] Figure 32 Shows both an illustrative embodiment of a prior art collector 1 (Donaldson Company Dalamatic Insertable “DLMV” filtration system, as described in the DALAMATIC dust collector, Donaldson TORIT product manual, donaldsontorit.com, accessed at least on February 24, 2023) and collector 600 as described herein. As shown, the prior art collector 1 includes a similar structure, but has a deeper clean air chamber through which the filter must pass when removed or inserted.

[0177] Figure 33 Depicts Figure 32 a collector in which one or more portions of the housing have been removed to expose Figure 32 some of the internal components of the collector. As seen in Figure 33 , the depicted embodiment of collector 600 includes a clean air outlet 611 that is in fluid communication with a second portion 618B of the clean air chamber. Clean air entering the first portion 618A of the clean air chamber enters the second portion 618B of the clean air chamber before leaving the clean air chamber 618. The clean air outlet 611 may be located in the exhaust section 619B. The exhaust section 619B may be positioned adjacent to the inlet section 619A.

[0178] For the purposes of this disclosure, the tube sheet section 617A may be the tube sheet 670 as further described herein (instead of, for example, an impermeable wall of the housing 602). In embodiments where the tube sheet section 617A is the tube sheet 670, the tube sheet 670 still separates the interior volume of the housing 602 and associates the clean air chamber 618 with the filter 610 and optional dirty air chamber 616. The tube sheet 670 may be described as having a dirty air side facing the dirty air chamber 616 and a clean air side facing the clean air chamber 618. In embodiments where the tube sheet section 617A is the tube sheet 670, the tube sheet 670 includes filter apertures 630A in and / or above which the filter 610 is positioned, as Figure 31 and Figure 33 seen.

[0179] In one or more embodiments, the filter aperture 630A may include a first filter aperture 630A among a plurality of filter apertures 630A located in the tube sheet section 617A, as Figure 33As shown. The filter 610 may include a first filter 610 among the plurality of filters 610 positioned in the plurality of filter apertures 630A. The filter axis 11 may include a first filter axis 11 among the plurality of filter axes 11 extending through the plurality of filter apertures 630A. The plurality of filter axes 11 may pass through the first part 618A of the clean air chamber and the inlet section 619A.

[0180] In Figure 33 The illustrative embodiment of also depicts a fan 612 and a motor 614. The fan housing 660 may be coupled to the housing 602 near the exhaust section 619B. The fan housing 660 may include a fan air inlet 611A fluidly coupled to the clean air outlet 611. The fan housing 660 may include a fan air outlet 611B. The fan air outlet 611B is fluidly coupled to the surrounding environment 800. In an embodiment where the collector 600 is vertically mounted such that the filter axis 11 is vertical relative to the ground, the fan air outlet 611B may be protected from weather and / or environmental elements as it faces the ground. In additional embodiments where the collector 600 is not vertically mounted, the fan air outlet 611B may be protected from weather and / or surrounding environmental factors via a grille or other breathable covering. The fan housing 660 may include a fan 612 mounted within the fan housing 660. The fan 612 may be mounted proximal to the fan air inlet 611A. In an alternative embodiment, the fan 612 may be mounted distal to the fan air inlet 611A. In another alternative embodiment, the fan 612 may be offset a selected distance from the nearest filter axis 11. In another alternative embodiment, there may be no fan 612 and the fan housing 660 may be smaller.

[0181] The fan housing 660 may further include a motor 614. The motor 614 may be coupled to the fan 612. The motor 614 may be configured to power the fan 612 to draw air from the clean air outlet 611 towards the surrounding environment 800. The fan 612 may advantageously draw unfiltered air into the collector 600 and push the filtered air out of the collector 600, and may improve the efficiency and / or speed of the collector 600. The motor may include any electric fan, gas fan or battery-operated fan 612 sized to fit the collector 600.

[0182] Figure 34 is described herein and in Figures 32 to 33Side view of an illustrative embodiment of the collector depicted. The depicted collector 600 also includes a lance 620 that is part of a pulse jet cleaning system. The pulse jet cleaning system can include, for example, the lance 620, the manifold 606, etc. The lance 620 is configured to direct air pulses into the filter 610, as described herein. The collector 600 can also include an optional hopper (e.g., Figure 7 reference numeral 568), to collect particulate matter shaken off the filter 610 as described herein.

[0183] The lance 620 can extend along a lance axis J. The lance 620 transfers gas (e.g., air) from the surrounding environment (e.g., Figure 33 the surrounding environment 800) to an outlet (e.g., Figure 35 the lateral opening 626). The lance 620 can be tubular or can be any other shape. The lance 620 can extend within the clean air chamber 618 along the lance axis J. The lance axis J can be substantially parallel to the surface area of the first panel 617. This can advantageously allow more targeted air pulses to enter the filter 610, which can remove particulates more efficiently. However, in alternative embodiments, the lance axis J can not extend substantially parallel to the surface area of the first panel 617. This can advantageously allow the filter 610 to be mounted to the housing 602 at an angle such that the air pulses still enter the filter 610 directly in a pulsed manner along the filter axis 11, but the filter axis 11 can be slightly inclined while still falling within the scope of this disclosure.

[0184] In Figure 34 the optional support cage 642 is also seen, which in one or more embodiments can be attached to the tube sheet 670. The support cage 642 is described herein as reference numeral 42 with respect to additional embodiments and can be provided to assist in supporting the filter 610.

[0185] Figure 35 is Figure 34An enlarged partial side view of the collector. The injection tube 620 depicted in connection with the illustrative embodiment of the filter collector 600 is configured to direct air through the filter orifices 630A in the tube sheet 670 into the filter 610. The air from the injection tube 620 enters the filter 610 to remove particulate matter from the filter 610 in a manner similar to that described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,218,227 (Frey), U.S. Patent No. 5,562,746 (Raether), U.S. Patent No. 6,090,173 (Johnson et al.), U.S. Patent No. 6,902,592 (Green et al.), U.S. Patent No. 7,641,708 (Kosmider et al.), and U.S. Patent No. 8,075,648 (Raether).

[0186] More specifically, the injection tube 620 may include lateral openings 626. The lateral openings 626 may open toward the filter orifices 630A. The injection tube 620 may include a first injection tube 620 among a plurality of injection tubes 620 positioned within the clean air chamber 618. The lateral opening 626 may include a first lateral opening 626 among a plurality of lateral openings 626 positioned on the plurality of injection tubes 620.

[0187] The plurality of lateral openings 626 may be positioned on a single injection tube 620. The plurality of lateral openings 626 may be positioned across a plurality of different injection tubes 620 among the plurality of injection tubes 620. A single injection tube 620 may have one or more lateral openings 626. The lateral openings 626 may vary in size, shape, and distribution along the injection tube 620 or the plurality of injection tubes 620. The injection tube 620 may be provided as part of a pulse jet cleaning system including one or more compressed gas (e.g., air) sources, valves, and a control system. The pulse jet cleaning system may include, for example, a manifold 606. The manifold 606 may be configured to supply compressed air to the injection tube 620 or the plurality of injection tubes 620.

[0188] Figures 36A to 36C Stages of removing and / or reinserting the injection tube 620 into the housing 602 are depicted. A method of servicing the injection tube 620 of the collector 600 may include, in no particular order: opening the access cover 604 ( Figure 36A ), lifting the injection tube 620 toward the open access cover 604 ( Figure 36B ), disconnecting the injection tube 620 from the housing 602, removing the injection tube 620 from the collector 600 ( Figure 36C ), discarding the injection tube 620, inserting a different injection tube 620 into the collector 600 ( Figure 36C ), connecting the different injection tube 620 to the housing 602 ( Figure 36B ), and closing the access cover 604 (Figure 36A )。To disconnect the injection tube 620 from the housing 602, the injection tube 620 can be removed from the connector 622. To remove the injection tube 620 from the collector 600, the user can allow the distal end 624 to remain in the housing, lift the proximal end, which is opposite to the distal end 624, out into the orifice 604A, and then remove the distal end 624. To insert the injection tube 620, the reverse may be true.

[0189] Similar methods can be used to remove and / or reinsert the filter 610 into the housing 602. The method of servicing the filter 610 of the collector 600 may include, without a specific order: opening the access cover 604( Figure 36A ), moving the filter 610 towards the orifice 604A such that the body of the filter 610 passes through the filter orifice 630A in the tube sheet section 617A to remove the filter 610 from the collector 600 (not shown), inserting a different filter 610 into the collector 600 (not shown), and closing the access cover 604( Figure 36A ).

[0190] The reduced depth of the clean air chamber as described herein can facilitate the replacement, removal, reinsertion, and / or servicing of the injection tube 620, the filter 610, or any other internal components of the collector 600. More specifically, in one or more embodiments of the collector described herein, when the first partial depth D2 is, for example, equal to or less than half of the filter length L, the user can more easily reach into the collector and grasp the filter to remove / replace the filter. Exemplary aspects

[0191] The following are some exemplary aspects of the filters, filter assemblies, collectors, and methods described herein.

[0192] In independent aspect A1, a filter as described herein includes a filter body attached to a filter seal, wherein the filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body that includes a filter medium defining an internal volume within the filter, the filter body includes an open end and a closed end, the filter body extends along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body, the filter body defines a first major side and a second major side, wherein when moving along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body, and wherein when moving between the open end and the closed end along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge that extend from the closed end of the filter body to the open end, wherein the filter body includes a pleated filter medium that includes pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end, or a plurality of filter tubes; wherein the filter seal is positioned around the perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or through the filter opening; And wherein the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

[0193] In aspect A2 according to any one of aspects A1, the filter seal includes an elongate shape that includes a seal length measured along a seal axis that extends between a first end of the filter seal near the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal near the second edge of the filter body, wherein the seal length is greater than the filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0194] In aspect A3 according to any one of aspects A1 to A2, the length of the first edge of the filter body between the closed end and the filter seal is greater than the height of the filter body measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0195] In aspect A4 according to any one of aspects A2 to A3, the seal axis forms an angle of less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less with the filter axis.

[0196] In aspect A5, a filter as described herein includes a filter body attached to a filter seal, wherein the filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body that includes a filter medium defining an internal volume within the filter, the filter body includes an open end and a closed end, the filter body extends along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body, the filter body defines a first major side and a second major side, wherein when moving along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body, and wherein when moving between the open end and the closed end along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge that extend from the closed end of the filter body to the open end, wherein the filter body includes a pleated filter medium that includes pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end, or a plurality of filter tubes; wherein the filter seal is positioned around the perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or through the filter opening; wherein the filter seal includes an elongate shape that includes a seal length measured along a seal axis that extends between a first end of the filter seal near the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal near the second edge of the filter body, wherein the seal length is greater than the filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge; and wherein the seal axis forms an angle of less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less with the filter axis.

[0197] In aspect A6 according to any one of aspects A4 to A5, the angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater.

[0198] In aspect A7 according to any one of aspects A1 to A6, the closed end of the filter extends along a closed end axis that is transverse to the filter axis and aligned with the filter height axis.

[0199] In aspect A8 according to any one of aspects A1 to A7, the filter body includes a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge, and wherein the filter body includes a filter body width measured in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis between the first major side and the second major side of the filter body, wherein the filter body width is 0.25 times or less, 0.2 times or less, or 0.1 times or less of the filter body height.

[0200] In aspect A9 according to any one of aspects A1 to A8, the filter body includes a pleated filter medium, the pleated filter medium including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end.

[0201] In an independent aspect B1, a filter assembly as described herein includes: a filter that includes a filter body attached to a filter seal, the filter body including an enveloping filter body that includes a filter medium defining an internal volume within the filter, the filter body including an open end and a closed end, the filter body extending along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body, the filter body defining a first major side and a second major side, wherein when moving along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body, and wherein when moving along a filter height axis oriented transverse to the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge that extend from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, wherein the filter seal is positioned around the perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or through the filter opening; and a filter support that includes a seal support attached to a support cage, the support cage extending away from the seal support along a cage axis aligned with the filter axis when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter and the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, wherein the support cage is configured to be placed within the internal volume of the filter, the support cage including a distal end that is close to the closed end of the filter body when the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, wherein when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter, the support cage includes a first strut positioned close to the first edge of the filter body and a second strut positioned close to the second edge of the filter body, wherein the first strut extends from the seal support to the distal end close to the closed end of the filter, and the second strut extends from the seal support to the distal end close to the closed end of the filter, and wherein the seal support includes a support aperture that is aligned with the filter opening when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter, and the filter seal is configured to form a seal with the filter side of the seal support such that gas entering the internal volume through the filter opening passes through the support aperture of the seal support.

[0202] In aspect B2 according to aspect B1, the filter support includes a venturi tube attached to the filter support, wherein when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter, gas entering the internal volume through the filter opening passes through the venturi tube before entering the internal volume of the filter.

[0203] In aspect B3 according to aspect B2, the venturi extends between a collector opening facing away from the support cage and a filter opening facing the support cage, wherein the collector opening includes an elongated collector opening that extends along the venturi axis from a first end to a second end, wherein the venturi includes a first depth near the first end that is greater than a second depth near the second end, wherein the first depth is measured in a direction along the cage axis between the first end of the collector opening and the seal support, and the second depth is measured in a direction aligned with the cage axis between the second end of the collector opening and the seal support.

[0204] In aspect B4 according to any one of aspects B2 to B3, the support orifice of the seal support includes an elongated shape that includes an orifice length measured along the orifice axis that extends between a first end of the support orifice near the junction between the first strut and the seal support and a second end of the support orifice near the junction between the second strut and the seal support, wherein the venturi axis forms an angle of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater with the orifice axis, and optionally wherein the angle between the venturi axis and the orifice axis is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, or 30 degrees or less.

[0205] In aspect B5 according to any one of aspects B1 to B4, the support orifice includes an elongated shape that includes an orifice length measured along the orifice axis that extends between a first end of the support orifice near the junction between the first strut and the seal support and a second end of the support orifice near the junction between the second strut and the seal support, wherein the orifice length is greater than the support cage height measured in a direction transverse to the cage axis between the first strut and the second strut.

[0206] In aspect B6 according to aspect B5, the orifice axis forms an angle of less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less with the cage axis.

[0207] In aspect B7 according to aspect B6, the angle between the orifice axis and the cage axis is 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater.

[0208] In aspect B8 according to any one of aspects B1 to B7, the length of the first strut between the seal support and the distal end of the first strut is greater than the height of the support cage measured in a direction transverse to the cage axis between the first strut and the second strut.

[0209] In aspect B9 according to any one of aspects B1 to B18, the filter seal includes an elongate shape that includes a seal length measured along a seal axis that extends between a first end of the filter seal adjacent the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal adjacent the second edge of the filter body, wherein the seal length is greater than the height of the filter body measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0210] In aspect B10 according to aspect B9, the seal axis forms an angle of less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less with the filter axis.

[0211] In aspect B11 according to aspect B10 of the claims, the angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater.

[0212] In aspect B12 according to any one of aspects B9 to B11, the length of the first edge of the filter body between the closed end and the filter seal is greater than the height of the filter body measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0213] In aspect B13 according to any one of aspects B9 to B12, the filter body includes a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge, and wherein the filter body includes a filter body width measured in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis between a first major side and a second major side of the filter body, wherein the filter body width is 0.25 times or less, 0.2 times or less, or 0.1 times or less the filter body height.

[0214] In aspect C1, a collector for removing particulate matter from a gas as described herein includes: a tube sheet including a clean side and a dirty side; a housing operatively attached to the tube sheet, wherein the housing defines a clean air volume partially bounded by the tube sheet, and wherein the clean side of the tube sheet faces the clean air volume; a plurality of orifices formed through the tube sheet, wherein each of the plurality of orifices includes an elongated orifice having a length extending along an orifice axis that is greater than a width of the orifice measured in a direction transverse to the orifice axis, and wherein for each of the plurality of orifices, a distance between the clean side of the tube sheet surrounding the orifice and a reference plane oriented transverse to a center pulse axis passing through the orifice changes as the orifice axis is traversed; a pulse device located in the clean air volume and configured to deliver pulsed gas through the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet, wherein the pulse device defines a center pulse axis extending through each of the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet; and a filter positioned in each of the plurality of orifices. Each filter includes a filter body attached to a filter seal: wherein the filter body includes an enveloping filter body including a filter medium defining an internal volume within the filter, the filter body including an open end and a closed end, the filter body extending along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body, the filter body defining a first major side and a second major side, wherein the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body as the filter axis is traversed, and wherein the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge extending from the closed end to the open end of the filter body as the filter axis is traversed between the open end and the closed end; wherein the filter seal is positioned around a perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is compressed against the clean side of the tube sheet to form a seal with the clean side of the tube sheet when the filter is installed in a selected one of the plurality of orifices such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or through the filter opening; wherein the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body, and / or wherein for each of the plurality of orifices, the orifice axis and the reference plane oriented transverse to the center pulse axis passing through the orifice form an angle of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 20 degrees or greater, 25 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater.

[0215] In aspect C2 according to aspect C1, for each of the plurality of orifices, the angle between the orifice axis and the reference plane is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less.

[0216] In aspect C3 according to any one of aspects C1 to C2, the pulse device includes a plurality of injection tubes located in the clean air volume, wherein each injection tube of the plurality of injection tubes includes a plurality of holes configured to deliver air from the injection tube through selected ones of the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet.

[0217] In aspect C4 according to any one of aspects C1 to C3, the filter body includes a pleated filter medium, the pleated filter medium including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end, or a plurality of filter tubes.

[0218] In aspect C5 according to any one of aspects C1 to C3, for each filter located in an orifice of the plurality of orifices, a support cage of the filter support is positioned within the internal volume of the filter, and when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter and the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, the support cage is attached to the seal support and extends away from the seal support along a cage axis aligned with the filter axis, wherein the seal support includes a support orifice that, when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter, is aligned with the filter opening and the orifice in the tube sheet, and wherein the filter seal is compressed between the tube sheet and the filter side of the seal support against the clean face of the tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume through the filter opening passes through the support orifice of the seal support, and optionally wherein the support cage includes a distal end that is close to the closed end of the filter body when the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, wherein when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter, the support cage includes a first strut positioned close to a first edge of the filter body and a second strut positioned close to a second edge of the filter body, wherein the first strut extends from the seal support to the distal end close to the closed end of the filter, and the second strut extends from the seal support to the distal end close to the closed end of the filter.

[0219] In aspect D1, a collector for removing particulate matter from a gas as described herein includes: a tube sheet including a clean side and a dirty side; a housing operably attached to the tube sheet, wherein the housing defines a clean air volume partially bounded by the tube sheet, wherein the clean side of the tube sheet faces the clean air volume; a plurality of orifices formed through the tube sheet, wherein each of the plurality of orifices includes an elongated orifice having a length extending along an orifice axis that is greater than the width of the orifice measured in a direction transverse to the orifice axis; and a pulse device located in the clean air volume configured to deliver pulsed gas through the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet, wherein the pulse device defines a central pulse axis extending through each of the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet. For each of the plurality of orifices, the collector includes a tube sheet adapter positioned on the clean side of the tube sheet in the clean air volume, the tube sheet adapter including a sleeve extending between a base opening and a receiving opening and a platform located within the sleeve, wherein the platform defines an effective clean surface within the sleeve and a platform orifice within the sleeve, and wherein the platform orifice includes an elongated orifice extending along a platform orifice axis, and wherein the central pulse axis extends through the platform orifice. For each tube sheet adapter, the distance between the platform surrounding each platform orifice and a reference plane oriented transverse to the central pulse axis passing through the platform orifice changes as the platform is moved along the platform orifice axis.

[0220] In aspect D2 according to aspect D1, for each platform orifice, the platform orifice axis and the reference plane oriented transverse to the central pulse axis passing through the platform orifice form an angle of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 20 degrees or greater, 25 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater, and wherein optionally, the angle between the orifice axis and the reference plane is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less.

[0221] In aspect D3 according to any one of aspects D1 to D2, the pulse device includes a plurality of injection tubes located in the clean air volume, wherein each of the plurality of injection tubes includes a plurality of holes configured to deliver air from the injection tube through a selected one of the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet.

[0222] In aspect D4 according to any one of aspects D1 to D3, the housing defines a dirty air volume partially bounded by the dirty side of the tube sheet such that the collector includes an encapsulated collector, and the filter body of a filter located in the collector is located in the dirty air volume.

[0223] In aspect D5 according to any one of aspects D1 to D3, the housing does not define a dirty air volume such that the collector comprises a plug-in collector configured to fit into an enclosed volume, such as a bin or a silo.

[0224] In aspect D6 according to any one of aspects D1 to D5, a filter as described herein or a filter assembly as described herein is positioned within each platform aperture of the plurality of adapters, and a central pulse axis passing through each platform aperture is aligned with a filter axis of each filter or filter assembly located within the platform aperture.

[0225] Independent aspect E1 includes a method of removing particulate matter using any collector described herein.

[0226] In independent aspect F1, a filter support as described herein includes a seal support and a venturi attached to a support cage. The support cage extends away from the seal support along a cage axis and is configured to be placed within an internal volume of an envelope filter. The seal support includes a support aperture through which the cage axis extends. The venturi is configured to direct gas into the internal volume of the envelope filter within which the support cage is placed. The venturi extends between a collector opening facing away from the support cage and a filter opening facing the support cage, wherein the collector opening includes an elongated collector opening extending along a venturi axis from a first end to a second end, wherein the venturi includes a first depth near the first end that is greater than a second depth near the second end, wherein the first depth is measured in a direction along the cage axis between the first end of the collector opening and the seal support, and the second depth is measured in a direction aligned with the cage axis between the second end of the collector opening and the seal support.

[0227] In aspect F2 according to aspect F1, the support aperture of the seal support includes an elongated shape including an aperture length measured along an aperture axis extending between a first end and a second end of the support aperture. The venturi axis forms an angle of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater with the aperture axis, and optionally wherein the angle between the venturi axis and the aperture axis is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, or 30 degrees or less.

[0228] In aspect F3 according to aspect F1, the support cage includes a first strut extending away from the seal support near a first end of the support aperture and a second strut extending away from the seal support near a second end of the support aperture. The aperture length is greater than the support cage height measured in a direction transverse to the cage axis between the first strut and the second strut.

[0229] In independent aspect G40, a collector as described herein may include: a housing that defines a clean air chamber between a first panel and a second panel; a filter aperture located in a tube sheet section of the first panel; an inlet aperture located in an inlet section of the second panel, wherein a first portion of the clean air chamber is located between the tube sheet section of the first panel and the inlet section of the second panel; an access cover closing the inlet aperture; a filter positioned in the filter aperture, wherein clean air entering the first portion of the clean air chamber through the filter aperture must pass through the filter, wherein the filter includes a distal end located distal to the filter aperture, wherein a filter axis extends through the filter aperture and the distal end, the filter axis passing through the first portion of the clean air chamber and the inlet section of the second panel; a second portion of the clean air chamber located between the first panel and the second panel, wherein the second portion of the clean air chamber is adjacent to the first portion of the clean air chamber; and a clean air outlet in direct fluid communication with the second portion of the clean air chamber, wherein clean air entering the first portion of the clean air chamber enters the second portion of the clean air chamber before leaving the clean air chamber.

[0230] In aspect G41 according to aspect G40, the collector described herein includes a filter as described herein.

[0231] In aspect G42 according to aspect G40, the collector described herein includes a filter assembly according to any one of aspects B1 to B13.

[0232] In aspect G43 according to any one of aspects G40 to G42, the clean air outlet is located in an exhaust section of the second panel. The exhaust section is positioned adjacent to the inlet section of the second panel.

[0233] In aspect G44 according to any one of aspects G40 to G43, the filter axis extends through the inlet aperture.

[0234] In aspect G45 according to any one of aspects G40 to G44, the filter axis does not extend through the second portion of the clean air chamber.

[0235] In aspect G46 according to any one of aspects G40 to G45, the filter orifice includes a first filter orifice among a plurality of filter orifices positioned in the tube sheet section of the first panel, and the filter includes a first filter among a plurality of filters in the plurality of filter orifices, and the filter axis includes a first filter axis among a plurality of filter axes extending through the plurality of filter orifices, and the plurality of filter axes pass through a first part of the clean air chamber and the inlet section of the second panel.

[0236] In aspect G47 according to any one of aspects G40 to G46, the collector further includes a fan housing that is coupled to the housing near the exhaust section of the second panel. The fan housing includes: a fan air inlet fluidly coupled to the clean air outlet; a fan air outlet fluidly coupled to the surroundings; a fan mounted within the fan housing near the fan air inlet; and a motor coupled to the fan and configured to power the fan to draw air from the clean air outlet to the surroundings.

[0237] In aspect G48 according to any one of aspects G40 to G47, the collector further includes an injection tube extending along an injection tube axis positioned within the clean air chamber. The injection tube axis is generally parallel to the surface area of the first panel, and the injection tube includes a lateral opening facing the filter orifice. Optionally, the injection tube includes a first injection tube among a plurality of injection tubes positioned within the clean air chamber. Optionally, the lateral opening includes a first lateral opening among a plurality of lateral openings on the plurality of injection tubes.

[0238] In aspect G49 according to any one of aspects G40 to G48, the collector further includes a filter housing coupled to the tube sheet section of the first panel, and the filter housing defines a dirty air chamber that houses the filter.

[0239] In aspect G50 according to any one of aspects G40 to G49, the filter defines a filter length along the filter axis between (including the endpoints) the distal end and the filter orifice in the tube sheet section, and the first part of the clean air chamber defines a first part depth along the filter axis between (including the endpoints) the filter orifice in the tube sheet section of the first panel and the inlet opening in the inlet part of the second panel section, and the first part depth is less than half of the filter length.

[0240] In aspect G51 according to aspect G50, the first part depth is 25% or less of the filter length.

[0241] In aspect G52 according to any one of aspects G40 to G51, the filter orifice includes a first filter orifice among a plurality of filter orifices positioned in the tube sheet section of the first panel, and the filter includes a first filter among a plurality of filters in the plurality of filter orifices, and the filter axis includes a first filter axis among a plurality of filter axes extending through the plurality of filter orifices, the plurality of filter axes passing through a first part of the clean air chamber and an entry section of the second panel, and each filter among the plurality of filters defines a filter length between the distal end and the filter orifice in the tube sheet section along a respective filter axis (including the endpoints), and the first part of the clean air chamber defines a first part depth between the filter orifice in the tube sheet section of the first panel and the entry opening in the entry part of the second panel section along each filter axis among the plurality of filter axes (including the endpoints), and the first part depth is less than half of the filter length of any one of these filters.

[0242] The complete disclosures of the patents, patent documents, and publications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties as if each were incorporated individually. In the event of any inconsistency between the disclosure of the present application and the disclosure of any document incorporated herein by reference, the disclosure of the present application shall govern.

[0243] Some possible variations of the illustrative embodiments of the filtration systems and methods discussed herein have been described. Without departing from the scope of the invention, these and other changes and modifications in the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the claims provided below and their equivalents. It should also be understood that the invention may be practiced appropriately in the absence of any element not specifically disclosed herein as necessary.

Claims

1. A collector for removing particulate matter from a gas, the collector comprising: a tube sheet, the tube sheet including a clean side and a dirty side; a housing operatively attached to the tube sheet, wherein the housing defines a clean air volume partially bounded by the tube sheet, wherein the clean side of the tube sheet faces the clean air volume; a plurality of orifices formed through the tube sheet, wherein each of the plurality of orifices includes an elongate orifice having a length extending along an orifice axis, the length being greater than the width of the orifice measured in a direction transverse to the orifice axis, and wherein for each of the plurality of orifices, as moving along the orifice axis, the distance between the clean side of the tube sheet surrounding each orifice and a reference plane oriented transverse to a center pulse axis passing through the orifice changes; a pulse device located in the clean air volume, the pulse device configured to deliver pulsed gas through the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet, wherein the pulse device defines a center pulse axis extending through each of the plurality of orifices in the tube sheet; and a filter positioned in each of the plurality of orifices, wherein each filter includes a filter body attached to a filter seal: wherein the filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body, the envelope-shaped filter body including a filter medium defining an internal volume within the filter, the filter body including an open end and a closed end, the filter body extending along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body, the filter body defining a first major side and a second major side, wherein as moving along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body, and wherein as moving between the open end and the closed end along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge extending from the closed end to the open end of the filter body; wherein the filter seal is positioned around the perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is compressed against the clean side of the tube sheet when the filter is installed in a selected one of the plurality of orifices to form a seal with the clean side of the tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or through the filter opening; wherein for each of the plurality of orifices, the orifice axis and the reference plane oriented transverse to the center pulse axis passing through the orifice form an angle of 5 degrees or greater, 10 degrees or greater, 15 degrees or greater, 20 degrees or greater, 25 degrees or greater, 30 degrees or greater, or 45 degrees or greater.

2. The collector according to claim 1, wherein, For each of the plurality of orifices, the angle between the orifice axis and the reference plane is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less.

3. The collector according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein, The first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

4. The collector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The length of the first edge of the filter body between the closed end and the filter seal is greater than the height of the filter body measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

5. The collector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The seal axis forms an angle of less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less with the filter axis.

6. The collector according to claim 5, wherein, The angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater.

7. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The closed end of the filter extends along a closed end axis that is transverse to the filter axis and aligned with the filter height axis.

8. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The filter body includes a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge, and wherein the filter body includes a filter body width measured in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis between the first major side and the second major side of the filter body, wherein the filter body width is 0.25 times or less, 0.2 times or less, or 0.1 times or less of the filter body height.

9. The collector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, For at least one filter in the plurality of apertures, the support cage of the filter support is positioned within the internal volume of the filter, and when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter and the filter seal contacts the seal support, the support cage is attached to the seal support and extends away from the seal support along a cage axis aligned with the filter axis. Wherein the seal support includes a support aperture, and when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter, the support aperture is aligned with the filter aperture and the aperture in the tube sheet. And wherein the filter seal is compressed between the tube sheet and the filter side of the seal support against the clean face of the tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume through the filter aperture passes through the support aperture of the seal support. And optionally wherein the support cage includes a distal end that is close to the closed end of the filter body when the filter seal contacts the seal support, wherein when the support cage is within the internal volume of the filter, the support cage includes a first strut positioned close to the first edge of the filter body and a second strut positioned close to the second edge of the filter body, wherein the first strut extends from the seal support to the distal end close to the closed end of the filter, and the second strut extends from the seal support to the distal end close to the closed end of the filter.

10. The collector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The filter body includes a pleated filter medium, and the pleated filter medium includes pleats extending from the filter seal to the closed end along the filter body, or a plurality of filter tubes.

11. A filter, the filter including a filter body attached to a filter seal: Among them, The filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body, the envelope-shaped filter body including a filter medium defining an internal volume within the filter. The filter body includes an open end and a closed end, and the filter body extends along a filter axis extending between the open end and the closed end of the filter body. The filter body defines a first major side and a second major side, where the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moving along the filter axis, and where, when moving between the open end and the closed end along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge extending from the closed end to the open end of the filter body. The filter body includes a pleated filter medium, and the pleated filter medium includes pleats or a plurality of filter tubes extending from the filter seal to the closed end along the filter body; wherein the filter seal is positioned around the perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet, such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or through the filter opening; and wherein the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

12. The filter according to claim 11, wherein, The filter seal includes an elongate shape, the elongate shape including a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal near the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal near the second edge of the filter body, where the seal length is greater than the filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge; and / or wherein the length of the first edge of the filter body between the closed end and the filter seal is greater than the height of the filter body measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

13. A filter, the filter including a filter body attached to a filter seal: Among them, The filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body, the envelope-shaped filter body includes a filter medium that defines an internal volume within the filter, the filter body includes an open end and a closed end, the filter body extends along a filter axis that extends between the open end and the closed end of the filter body, the filter body defines a first major side and a second major side, wherein the first major side and the second major side are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moving along the filter axis, and wherein, when moving between the open end and the closed end along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side are further defined by a first edge and a second edge that extend from the closed end of the filter body to the open end, wherein the filter body includes a pleated filter medium, the pleated filter medium includes pleats or a plurality of filter tubes that extend along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end; Wherein, the filter seal is positioned around the perimeter of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter is installed in an aperture of a tube sheet, such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or through the filter opening; Wherein, the filter seal includes an elongate shape, the elongate shape includes a seal length measured along a seal axis that extends between a first end of the filter seal near the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal near the second edge of the filter body, wherein, the seal length is greater than the height of the filter body measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge; And wherein, the seal axis forms an angle with the filter axis that is less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less.

14. The filter according to any one of claims 12 to 13, wherein, The seal axis forms an angle with the filter axis that is less than 90 degrees, 85 degrees or less, 80 degrees or less, 75 degrees or less, 70 degrees or less, 65 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, or 45 degrees or less; And wherein optionally, the angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater.

15. The filter according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein, The closed end of the filter extends along a closed end axis that is transverse to the filter axis and is aligned with the filter height axis; and / or wherein the filter body includes a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge, and wherein the filter body includes a filter body width measured in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis between the first major side and the second major side of the filter body, wherein the filter body width is 0.25 times or less, 0.2 times or less, or 0.1 times or less of the filter body height.

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