Pre-filter device and valve for industrial dust collector

Abstract

A valve arrangement configured to generate a reverse air flow to clean a pre-filter for a heavy dust remover, the valve arrangement comprising: a main valve closure body arranged to move between a first position in which the main valve closure body is arranged to seal a passage between an ambient pressure side and a low pressure side of the valve arrangement, and a second position in which the main valve closure body is arranged to seal the passage between the ambient pressure side and the low pressure side of the valve arrangement; in a second position, the main valve closure body is arranged to seal a passage between the low pressure side of the valve arrangement and the suction conduit, the valve arrangement further comprising: a control body connected to the main valve closure body such that a position of the main valve closure body is determined by a position of the control body; the present invention relates to a pressure regulator comprising a control body, a control chamber partially defined by the control body, whereby a volume of the control chamber is variable relative to a position of the control body, and a control chamber valve having an open state and a closed state for regulating a pressure in the control chamber, where the state of the control chamber valve is determined by a trigger device.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application, with its parent application having application number 202380050259.4 (the corresponding international application having application number PCT / SE2023 / 050629), an application date of June 19, 2023, and an invention titled "Pre-filter device and valve for industrial dust collectors". Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to a heavy-duty dust collection device for use with building facilities to handle materials such as concrete and stone. A pre-filter device, a valve device, and other means for cleaning the pre-filter in the dust collector are disclosed. Background Technology

[0003] Dust and slurry are generated from cutting, drilling, grinding, shot blasting, and / or demolishing concrete, brick, and other hard building materials. Dust and slurry can be collected by dust collectors and removed from the construction site in a controlled manner. Dust collectors typically collect dust and slurry by creating a vacuum through an impeller and motor unit; similar to a household vacuum cleaner. Many industrial-grade dust collectors include a pre-separator or cyclone separator unit with a pre-filter designed to capture most of the dust, followed by a base filter, such as a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, to capture the remaining finer dust particles.

[0004] When particulate matter accumulates in the filter, the airflow through the dust collection system is obstructed, ultimately leading to a decrease in dust collection efficiency. To mitigate this decrease in efficiency, at least temporarily reversing the airflow through the filter can periodically remove dust and slurry from the pre-filter.

[0005] US 7,082,640 B2 describes a dust collector with a filtration and cleaning function.

[0006] WO 2021 / 088172 A1 describes another dust collector with similar functionality. An improved pre-filter device that can remove dust more efficiently is still needed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide an improved pre-filter device for industrial dust collectors that at least mitigates some of the problems mentioned above.

[0008] This objective is achieved by a pre-filter for heavy-duty dust collectors. The pre-filter includes filter orifices and filter sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls are configured to allow airflow through them and prevent at least some particulate matter from passing through. The filter sidewalls extend away from the filter orifices and taper inward toward the central axis of the filter to define an internal volume within the filter. The pre-filter is configured to hold partition walls in place within the internal volume to divide the internal volume, and optionally the filter orifices, into at least two portions.

[0009] In this way, forming two separate filter sections or chambers within the same sidewall is advantageous because it achieves a space-saving arrangement and is also easier to maintain. It is advantageous for the filter sidewalls to taper inward toward the center of the filter because this means that during cleaning the filter using reverse air thrust, gravity helps remove particles from the filter sidewalls. The filter sidewalls can, for example, have a tapered, frustoconical, pyramidal, or frustopyramidal shape. The filter sidewalls preferably form an angle relative to the central axis of the pre-filter, between 10 and 30 degrees, and preferably about 20 degrees. In some cases, the partition wall does not extend all the way to the filter orifice. In this case, the matching section of the wall can be configured to extend from the dust collector cover into the pre-filter.

[0010] According to some aspects, a first resilient seal extends around the edge of the filter orifice, and a second resilient seal is formed on the edge of a partition wall that divides the filter orifice into at least two parts. This means that the air duct can be integrated into the cover of the dust collector in an efficient manner, because a portion that mates with the seal can be formed in the cover.

[0011] The partition walls of a pre-filter can be fixedly attached to the internal volume of the filter. Alternatively, the pre-filter may include recesses or other attachment mechanisms configured to receive the partition walls and releasably retain them in place within the internal volume of the filter. This is advantageous because it means that different types of partition walls can be used with the same pre-filter base structure. By changing the sidewall structure, the number of internal chambers can be adjusted to suit a given dust collector. For example, some dust collectors may require a single pre-filter internal chamber, while others may require two or more. The examples discussed herein primarily concern dust collectors with two pre-filter internal chambers; however, it should be understood that pre-filters are not limited to any particular number of internal filter chambers. Some aspects taught herein also apply to pre-filter systems comprising two or more individual pre-filters arranged in the same pre-separator tank.

[0012] The filter orifice, i.e., the main filter opening, can be disc-shaped, and the partition walls can be planar to separate the internal volume of the filter, thus dividing the filter orifice into a first half-disc portion and a second half-disc portion. The height of the filter, measured along the central axis, can be between 300 mm and 400 mm, and preferably about 345 mm. The thickness of the filter sidewalls is preferably between 20 mm and 40 mm, and more preferably about 30 mm.

[0013] This document also discloses a dust collector including a pre-filter device. Some of these dust collectors include: a hatch mechanism comprising an orifice having a periphery; and at least three elongated closure elements pivotally attached along the periphery to corresponding hinged ends. Each closure element has a distal end arranged opposite the hinged end along the extension direction of the closure element. Adjacent closure elements arranged along the periphery are connected by a foldable connecting member configured to guide the distal ends to a common intersection spaced apart from the plane containing the orifice, thereby folding the closure elements around the corresponding hinged end to a mutually supporting position to close the hatch mechanism. This hatch mechanism has proven particularly suitable for use with pre-filters and valve devices for cleaning the pre-filters, which will be discussed in more detail below. The hatch mechanism is relatively flexible and does not easily damage the dust collection bag. The ease with which the hatch can be opened to allow accumulated dust to drain from the pre-separator tank is an advantage.

[0014] A pre-filter is also disclosed, comprising a rotary guide member configured to guide axial rotation of the pre-filter as it is inserted into a dust collector. These pre-filters are more difficult to insert into the pre-separator of the dust collector if they are incorrectly rotated about their central axis. As discussed herein, the rotary guide member is particularly suitable for use with filters having more than one section, as the internal partition walls of these filters may be important for alignment at a predetermined location.

[0015] The rotation guide member may include, for example, a protrusion configured to engage a corresponding recess on the dust collector, a recess or notch configured to engage a corresponding protrusion on the dust collector, and / or a visual indication indicating rotation of the pre-filter about the central axis (260) of the pre-filter.

[0016] The pre-filter of the above type has a rotating guide member and includes a cover that is configured to prevent the pre-filter from entering a closed position if it is not rotated correctly to a predetermined position around a central axis. Dust collectors including this pre-filter are beneficial because the cover prevents the dust collector from being misused, i.e., the operator cannot or at least finds it difficult to use the dust collector unless the pre-filter is installed correctly.

[0017] Some of the aforementioned deficiencies in the art can also be mitigated by a valve device configured to generate a reverse airflow, preferably an air pulse, to clean a pre-filter for a heavy-duty dust collector. The device includes: a main valve closing body configured to move between a first position as a suction position and a second position as a pre-filter cleaning position, wherein, in the first position, the main valve closing body is configured to seal a passage between the ambient pressure side and the low-pressure side of the valve device, and wherein, in the second position, the main valve closing body is configured to seal a passage between the low-pressure side of the valve device and the suction pipe, while simultaneously opening the passage between the ambient pressure side and the low-pressure side of the valve device to allow a reverse airflow through the pre-filter, thereby causing dust to detach from the pre-filter wall. The valve device further includes: a control body connected to the main valve closing body such that the position of the main valve closing body is determined by the position of the control body; a control chamber partially defined by the control body, whereby the volume of the control chamber is variable relative to the position of the control body; and a control chamber valve having an open state and a closed state for regulating the pressure in the control chamber, wherein the state of the control chamber valve is determined by a triggering device. Therefore, an efficient mechanism for cleaning a pre-filter is provided, which is capable of sealing the suction pipe during cleaning, thereby allowing suction to continue through another pre-filter during the pre-filter cleaning period (due to the closure of the passage between the low-pressure side of the valve device and the suction pipe). This mechanism operates based on the principle of pressure difference, meaning that a powerful actuator is not required to overcome the pressure difference in the system (i.e., to overcome or counteract the effects of the pressure difference in the system). The valve device is also advantageous because it can open quickly to generate reverse air thrust, which improves filter cleaning effectiveness.

[0018] The reverse airflow generated in this way pushes accumulated dust away from the filter walls, thus cleaning the filter. The reverse airflow is preferably sudden and pulsed, but in some cases it may last for a few seconds, but in most cases it is less than 10-15 seconds.

[0019] According to some aspects, the control chamber is fluidly connected to the low-pressure side via a connection passage orifice, and the control chamber valve is configured with an orifice larger than the connection passage orifice, such that the control chamber valve is configured to overcome the connection passage when it is in the open state.

[0020] The trigger device may also include a manual control device, such as a button or switch, configured to force the control chamber valve into an open state. In this way, a simple and efficient trigger device is provided. The trigger device may also be combined with a manual trigger or, alternatively, include an electro-actuated control device configured to force the control chamber valve into an open state in response to a wired or wireless control signal. This electro-actuated control device can be used to automate the cleaning process, which is an advantage. For example, the electro-actuated control device may include an electromagnet configured to engage a magnetic material component (such as an iron or permanent magnet), i.e., a solenoid device, on a control lever attached to the control chamber valve to provide an efficient and sensitive triggering mechanism. If the magnetic material component is a polarized permanent magnet, specific advantages can be obtained, in which case the electromagnet can be configured to reverse polarity to attract and repel the magnetic material component. In this way, magnetic force can be used to open and close the control valve quickly, which is an advantage. Electro-actuated control devices are advantageously surrounded by some type of seal to prevent foreign particles from coming into contact with the components of the control device, such as preventing metallic dust from accumulating on electromagnets and / or permanent magnets.

[0021] The control chamber valve preferably has an orifice area at least twice the orifice area of ​​the connecting passage orifice, in order to effectively actuate the valve. The control chamber valve may, for example, be configured with a circular orifice with a diameter between 10 mm and 20 mm, and preferably about 15 mm. The connecting passage may be configured with a circular orifice with a diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm, and preferably between 3 mm and 4 mm.

[0022] The dust collector discussed herein preferably includes at least a first valve device and a second valve device, and includes a control unit configured to actuate the trigger devices of the first and second valve devices. The control unit is configured to alternately actuate the trigger devices of the first and second valve devices. Therefore, the control unit can be configured to automatically clean the filter by repeatedly and alternately cleaning different parts of the pre-filter device, thereby maintaining suction through the system at all times and extending the operating time of the dust collector system due to the periodic cleaning of the pre-filter. Various techniques involving the first and second valve devices can be advantageously combined with the separate pre-filters discussed above, but can also be used with separate pre-filters arranged in the same pre-separator tank, i.e., one pre-filter per valve device.

[0023] The control unit can also be configured to simultaneously actuate the trigger devices of the first valve device and the second valve device in response to the pre-separator dump signal, i.e., with some overlap in timing. This causes a rapid increase in pressure inside the pre-separator tank, causing the hatch mechanism of the pre-separator tank to open in a controlled manner, thereby efficiently emptying the pre-separator tank of the dust collector into the dust collector.

[0024] The pre-separator tank of the dust collector can be emptied particularly effectively if the dust collector includes a hatch mechanism with a periphery-mounted orifice and at least three elongated closure elements pivotally attached along the periphery to the respective hinged ends. Each closure element includes a distal end arranged opposite the hinged end along the extension direction of the closure element. Adjacent closure elements arranged along the periphery are connected by a foldable connecting member configured to guide the distal ends to a common intersection spaced apart from the plane of the orifice, thereby folding the closure elements around the respective hinged ends to a mutually supporting position to close the hatch mechanism.

[0025] This document also discloses a dust collector cover for a heavy-duty dust collector. The cover includes a valve device configured to generate a reverse airflow, preferably an air pulse, to clean the pre-filter of the heavy-duty dust collector. The dust collector cover extends in a cover plane, and the valve device includes a main valve closing body configured to move between a first position and a second position in a direction transverse to or even perpendicular to the cover plane, wherein in the first position, the main valve closing body is configured to seal a passage between the ambient pressure side and the low-pressure side of the valve device, and wherein in the second position, the main valve closing body is configured to seal a passage between the low-pressure side of the valve device and the suction pipe. This device is highly efficient in terms of filter cleaning capability and is also compact, which is an advantage. In this document, "transverse to" can be interpreted in some cases as an angle between 45 and 90 degrees relative to the cover plane, where 90 degrees relative to the plane means perpendicular to the cover plane.

[0026] The suction pipe is preferably located on the pre-filter side of the cover plane, and includes a seat. A main valve closing body is arranged against this seat to seal the passage between the low-pressure side of the valve device and the suction pipe. In this case, the main valve closing body separates the seat from the cover plane. By locating the suction pipe on the pre-filter side of the cover plane, or even inside the pre-filter volume, a space-efficient design can be achieved. The suction pipe can extend beyond the orifice plane of the pre-filter.

[0027] This disclosure also relates to a dust collector comprising at least a first valve device and a second valve device, and a pre-filter system having at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first valve device is associated with the first portion of the pre-filter system, and the second valve device is associated with the second portion of the pre-filter system. Each valve device is configured to generate a reverse airflow in response to actuation of a corresponding trigger device configured to place the valve device in a pre-filter cleaning position, to clean the associated portion of the pre-filter system. Actuation of the valve trigger device can be performed in a time-overlapping manner to simultaneously place the first valve device and the second valve device in the respective pre-filter cleaning positions. In this way, a particularly strong pre-filter cleaning effect is achieved, which also allows dust retained in the pre-filter canister to be emptied into a dust collector below the canister. Thus, the dust emptying function is achieved by allowing both valves to open simultaneously. The pre-filter system may include a single pre-filter divided into a first portion and a second portion, or a separate pre-filter arranged in the same pre-separator canister.

[0028] The dust collector may optionally include a control unit, and the triggering device may include an electrically actuated control device. In this case, the control unit may be configured to actuate the corresponding triggering devices of the first and second valve devices in a time-overlapping manner in response to a pre-separator emptying signal. In this way, the automatic dust emptying function can be achieved efficiently. The control unit may also be configured to synchronously actuate the corresponding triggering devices of the first and second valve devices in response to a pre-separator emptying signal, thereby optimizing the efficiency of the dust emptying operation.

[0029] The dust collector optionally includes a control input device, such as a button or switch, configured to generate a pre-separator emptying signal. The control unit responds to this signal and performs an automatic emptying operation. This control input device allows the operator to trigger the dust emptying operation when excessive dust accumulates in the filter canister. The operator can also use the control input device to empty the dust from the filter canister when the work task is nearing completion. The control unit can also be configured to automatically and periodically generate the pre-separator emptying signal, thereby providing an automatic dust emptying function to maintain the dust level in the filter canister within the desired range.

[0030] The trigger device may also include a manual control device that allows manual actuation of the valve device. This manual control device may or may not be used with the control unit and the electronically actuated valve device.

[0031] Generally, unless otherwise expressly defined herein, all terms used in the claims should be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the art. Unless otherwise expressly stated, all references to “a / an / the element, facility, component, device, step, etc.” should be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of that element, facility, component, device, step, etc. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the steps of any method or process disclosed herein need not be performed in the exact order disclosed. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent when considering the appended claims and the following description. Those skilled in the art will understand that different features of the invention can be combined to form embodiments other than those described below without departing from the scope of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0032] This disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1A to 1B An exemplary heavy-duty dust collector is shown; Figures 2A to 2F A pre-filter for a dust collector is shown schematically. Figures 3A to 3C An exemplary pre-filter with different partition walls is shown; Figure 4 An exemplary apparatus for pre-filter cleaning is shown; Figures 5A to 5B An exemplary valve device for pre-filter cleaning is shown; Figure 5C The pre-filter cleaning operation is shown; Figures 6A to 6B An exemplary hatch mechanism in the closed position is shown; Figures 7A to 7B An exemplary hatch mechanism in the open position is shown; Figure 8 An exemplary control unit is shown; and Figure 9 The computer program product is illustrated schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain aspects of the invention are illustrated. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments and aspects set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to make this disclosure thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals denote the same elements.

[0034] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings; rather, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the appended claims. In particular, the different valve devices discussed herein can be used with a wide variety of dust collectors, and not just the dust collector design used as an example.

[0035] Figure 1A and Figure 1B An exemplary dust removal device 100 is shown. This dust removal device can be connected to a dust generator via a flexible tube. Figure 1A and Figure 1B (Not shown in the image), such as a hollow drill, floor grinder, concrete saw, etc. Dust and slurry from the dust generator enter the dust collector through inlet 110. A pre-separator 120 is located downstream of the inlet, i.e., downstream of the airflow direction entering inlet 110. The pre-separator may include a cyclone separator with a pre-filter for separating larger debris particles from the particle-laden airflow entering inlet 110. The larger debris particles can then be collected through outlet 130 of the pre-separator 120. Hatch mechanism 600 (an example of which will be combined with...) Figures 6A to 6B and Figures 7A to 7B (Discussed in more detail) The outlet 130 is configured to close during operation and open in response to an increase in pressure in the pre-separator 120 to discharge dust and slurry from the pre-separator 120. During normal operation, the pre-separator 120 captures most of the dust generated, which is then discharged into a dust collector, such as a bag or bucket. Figure 1A and Figure 1B (Not shown in the image). Figure 1A A dust collector cover 101 forming the upper portion of the dust collector 100 is also shown. The cover 101 is... Figure 1B The diagram shows the pre-filter 200 inside the pre-separator 120 in the open maintenance position, where it is accessible. The exemplary cover is substantially planar when in its closed position. This means that the cover 101 extends primarily within the cover plane 102, as shown... Figure 1A As shown in the figure, and the height h of the cover (when the dust collector 100 is in the position shown in the figure) Figure 1A and Figure 1B The dimensions shown (measured vertically in the normal operating position) are significantly smaller than its width w and depth d. The advantage of having a flat cover is that it does not increase the height of the dust collector 100. It should be noted that the cover is advanced due to the inclusion of a valve device for cleaning the pre-separator filter 200 and a suction pipe 140 integrally formed with the cover. This valve device and suction pipe will be discussed in more detail below.

[0036] The pre-separator 120 can also be referred to as a cyclone separator, cyclone separator canister, or filter canister. As mentioned above, the hatch mechanism 600 discussed herein is suitable for most industrial dust collectors and does not need to be configured to seal the pre-separator. Instead, the hatch mechanism can be used to seal the filter canister structure of any dust collector.

[0037] Airflow continues from the pre-separator 120 through one or more suction pipes 140 formed in the cover 101 into one or more basic filters. Figure 1A and Figure 1B (Not shown in the image). A basic filter is a fine filter (finer than a pre-filter) designed to meet stringent filtration requirements. This basic filter can be, for example, a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, but other air filters may also be used. The term "basic filter" is commonly used in the technical field of wet and dry vacuum cleaners, see, for example, European Standard EN 60335-2-69, August 2012, which uses the term "basic filter".

[0038] A blower unit 150 is located downstream of the pre-separator 120, and is also located downstream of one or more basic filters. The blower unit generates suction or vacuum, drawing particulate-laden airflow through inlet 110, through the pre-separator 120, and through one or more basic filters. Here, vacuum or vacuum level refers to the degree to which the pressure in the airflow is lower than a reference pressure level (e.g., atmospheric pressure).

[0039] It is desirable to clean the pre-filter in the pre-separator regularly. Known mechanisms use reverse air thrust to achieve cleaning. Some such mechanisms use more than one separate pre-filter, which allows one filter to be cleaned while another is used to maintain suction through the inlet. Dust collector 100 includes pre-filter 200 (in Figures 2A to 2F(Shown in more detail below). The pre-filter 200 includes: a filter orifice 210, i.e., an opening through which airflow can exit the clean side of the filter; and a filter sidewall 220. The sidewall 220 is configured to allow airflow through it and prevent at least some particulate matter from passing through it; i.e., the filter sidewall is made of some form of filter material in a known manner. Airflow from the pre-separator 120 can enter from the contaminated side (outside the filter wall 220) of the pre-filter 200 to the clean side (inside the filter wall 220), leaving most of the dust in the pre-separator, where the dust can be collected in a dust collector via a hatch mechanism 600. The pre-filtered, contamination-reduced airflow then continues forward to one or more primary filters of the dust collector 100 and then exits the dust collector. Notably, the filter sidewall 220 in this exemplary pre-filter 200 extends away from the filter orifice 210 and tapers inward toward the central axis 260 of the filter 200 to define an internal volume V within the filter. This tapering has a significant technical effect on filter cleaning. When the filter is used in an upright position (with the orifice facing upwards vertically), dust adhering to the filter sidewalls and subjected to reverse air thrust (i.e., air thrust from the inside of the filter through the filter sidewalls to the outside) will "fall" off the sidewalls due to gravity. The filter sidewalls 220 can, for example, have the following characteristics: Figures 2A to 2D The shape shown is a tapered or truncated cone that tapers inward toward the center of the filter, but other tapering shapes are also possible. A pyramidal or truncated pyramidal shape would also have a similar technical effect. Therefore, the pre-filter 200 disclosed herein differs from a columnar sidewall pre-filter, whose sidewalls do not taper inward but extend vertically. Here, "vertical" refers to the position of the pre-filter 200 in use (e.g., ...). Figure 1B As shown in the figure, at this position, the filter orifice 210 faces upward in the vertical direction.

[0040] The filter sidewall 220 preferably forms an angle α with respect to the central axis of the pre-filter 260, such as Figure 2D As shown, the angle is between 10 and 30 degrees, and preferably about 20 degrees.

[0041] The pre-filter 200 is also configured to hold the partition wall 230 in place within the internal volume V of the filter to divide the internal volume V of the filter, and optionally also to divide the filter orifice 210 into at least two parts. Figures 2A to 2DThe exemplary partition wall divides the internal volume V of the filter into two equal halves, effectively enabling a single filter unit to function as a dual filter. This is an advantage because only one filter needs maintenance and replacement, compared to the common practice in the art of using a single filter. Due to the sidewall 230, reverse air thrust can be generated in one filter half without affecting the airflow through the other filter half. This allows for alternating cleaning of both filter halves while dust collection is ongoing, which is an advantage. The pre-filter 200 is easier to remove than when using two or more individual filters. In cases where the sidewall cannot divide the filter orifice into at least two parts, for example, because it does not extend all the way to the orifice, a complementary partition wall can be provided in the cover of the dust collector to extend downward into the pre-filter and engage the sidewall.

[0042] It should be noted that the sidewall can be configured to divide the interior of the pre-filter into more than two parts, thereby obtaining a filter in which the internal filter volume is divided into two or more sections (i.e., two or more chambers surrounded by the same sidewall 220). Figures 3A to 3C Some exemplary sidewalls are shown in the figure, wherein, Figure 3A and Figure 3B The exemplary sidewall construction in the example divides the interior of the pre-filter into three sections, while Figure 3C The example in the example divides the interior of the pre-filter into four sections. These sections do not need to have the same volume, but preferably, all sections can maintain equivalent filtration characteristics, i.e., the air permeability of all sections is approximately the same. It should be noted that sidewalls of different shapes can be used with the same base sidewall. This allows the number of sections inside the filter to be adjusted according to the dust collector. Some dust collectors can be designed to be used with a single pre-filter, in which case no sidewalls are used.

[0043] Pre-filter 200 may optionally include, for example: Figures 3A to 3CThe rotary guide members 300, 310, and 320 are shown. These rotary guide members are configured to guide the axial rotation R of the pre-filter (about the central axis 260) when the pre-filter 200 is inserted into the dust collector 100, such that, for example, the resilient seal on the pre-filter properly engages the mating portion 103 of the cover 101, thereby forming an airtight pre-separation tank 120 including the separated pre-filter components. In other words, the rotary guide members 300, 310, and 320 on the pre-filter 200 ensure that the filter rotates correctly, ensuring proper alignment of the different filter components and seals. The rotary guide members can be implemented in various ways, such as protrusions in the filter edge 300, notches or recesses formed in the filter edge 310, or cat-ear-like portions 320 formed on the exterior of the filter. Visual indication is also possible, i.e., markings on the pre-filter 200 indicating its rotation about the central axis 260. This marking can then have matching markings formed on the dust collector 100, thereby ensuring the correct rotation of the pre-filter.

[0044] The dust collector cover 101 can also be designed so that it cannot be closed unless the pre-filter is rotated correctly. This can be achieved in several different ways. For example, a protrusion can be provided on the pre-filter to prevent it from being fully inserted into the receiving portion of the pre-separator 120. The pre-filter then interferes with the cover and prevents it from closing unless the protrusion enters a matching recess formed in the dust collector 100 to allow the pre-filter to be fully received in the pre-separator 120 of the dust collector 100. This type of arrangement is often referred to as a mistake-proof feature because it prevents incorrect handling of the filter assembly.

[0045] In some cases, the partition wall 230 may be subjected to relatively large forces, especially during filter cleaning, when the pressure in different sections of the pre-filter changes rapidly. Therefore, the partition wall 230 may optionally include reinforcing structures, such as ribs and / or some form of honeycomb structure, configured to resist deformation of the partition wall 230.

[0046] According to some aspects, portions of the filter sidewall 220 associated with at least two sections have different filtration characteristics. This means that the filtration characteristics of the portion of the filter sidewall defining the first section of the pre-filter differ from the filtration characteristics of the portion of the filter sidewall defining the second section of the pre-filter. For example, one pre-filter section may be configured to be easier to clean than the other filter section. One filter section may also have higher permeability than the other filter section. According to some aspects, a first resilient seal 240 extends around the edge of the filter orifice 210, and a second resilient seal 250 is formed on the edge of the partition wall 230 that divides the filter orifice 210 into at least two sections. These resilient seals engage with the mating portion 103 of the cover 101 to form an airtight pre-separator canister 120. Thus, when the cover 101 is in its closed position, the pre-filter 200 acts as two separate filters, wherein one pre-filter section can be cleaned at a time without significantly affecting the operation of the other pre-filter section.

[0047] According to one example, the partition wall 230 is fixedly attached to the internal volume V of the filter. In other words, the partition wall 230 can be integrally formed with the rest of the pre-filter 200, and preferably, the partition wall is made of an airtight material such as plastic. However, the partition wall can also allow a small amount of air to flow between different pre-filter sections without significantly affecting the function of the overall dust removal system.

[0048] According to another example, the pre-filter 200 includes a recess 270 configured to receive and releasably retain the partition wall 230 in place within the internal volume V of the filter. This means that, depending on the application, the pre-filter can be used as a single-chamber filter (by removing the partition wall) or as a filter with more than one internal chamber. Therefore, the same filter can be used with more than one type of dust collector, which is an advantage. The partition wall, made of an impermeable material, can obviously also be reused in more than one pre-filter.

[0049] Figures 2A to 2F The exemplary pre-filter 200 shown has a disc-shaped filter orifice 210 and a planar partition wall 230. This means that the partition wall divides the internal volume V of the filter into two parts and divides the filter orifice 210 into a first half-disc portion and a second half-disc portion.

[0050] Figure 2DSome exemplary dimensions of a pre-filter suitable for heavy-duty dust collectors are shown. According to this example, the filter height H, measured along the central axis 260, is between 300 mm and 400 mm, and preferably about 345 mm. The thickness W of the filter sidewall 210 is between 20 mm and 40 mm, and preferably about 30 mm.

[0051] Figure 4 An exemplary valve device is shown for housing a dust collector 100 containing a pre-filter 200. However, it should also be noted that the same valve device can be used in designs with multiple individual pre-filters, such as designs in which two or more individual columnar pre-filters are arranged in the same pre-separator tank.

[0052] In this device, two separate valves 400 are configured in corresponding sections of the pre-filter 200 to clean the various parts of the filter. The space-efficient configuration of the valves and suction duct 140 is of particular importance. Each valve assembly 400 is integrated into the cover 101 and extends into the interior of the dust collector away from the cover plane 102. The suction duct 140 is at least partially formed within the internal volume V of the pre-filter, thereby reducing the overall height of the dust collector.

[0053] Each valve device 400 is configured to generate a reverse airflow to clean a corresponding portion of the pre-filter 200. However, it should be understood that the valve devices can also be used individually, i.e., for cleaning pre-filter devices in dust collectors that include only a single pre-filter or include a pre-filter without partition walls. Figure 4 Each valve device 400 shown includes a main valve closing body 410 configured to move between a first position 420 and a second position 430. In the first position 420, the main valve closing body 410 seals a passage 440 between the ambient pressure P2 side and the low pressure P3 side of the valve device 400. In the second position 430, the main valve closing body 410 seals a passage 450 between the low pressure P3 side of the valve device 400 and the suction conduit 140, P4. In this example, the first position 420 is associated with a seat 415 against which the main valve closing body 410 abuts to seal the passage 440 between the ambient pressure P2 side and the low pressure P3 side of the valve device 400, while the second position 430 is associated with a seat 145 against which the main valve closing body 410 abuts to seal the passage 450 between the low pressure P3 side of the valve device 400 and the suction conduit 140. Note how the suction pipe 140 is at least partially located inside the pre-filter, and how the seat 145 for the main valve closing body is formed at the opening of the suction pipe 140 to create a space-saving arrangement.

[0054] refer to Figures 1A to 1B , Figure 4 and Figures 5A to 5B This document discloses a dust collector cover 101 for a heavy-duty dust collector 100, the dust collector cover including a valve device 400 configured to generate a reverse airflow to clean the pre-filter 200 of the heavy-duty dust collector 100, wherein the dust collector cover 101 extends in a cover plane 102. The valve device 400 is integrated into the cover 101 and includes a main valve closing body 410 configured to move between a first position 420 and a second position 430 in a direction transverse to or even perpendicular to the cover plane 102, wherein in the first position 420, the main valve closing body 410 is configured to seal a passage 440 between the ambient pressure P2 side and the low pressure P3 side of the valve device 400, and wherein in the second position 430, the main valve closing body 410 is configured to seal a passage 450 between the low pressure P3 side of the valve device 400 and the suction pipes 140, P4.

[0055] For example, refer to Figures 5A to 5B The suction pipe 140 is disposed on the pre-filter side of the cover plane 102 (i.e., the plane along which the dust collector cover 101 extends). The suction pipe 140 includes a seat 145 against which a main valve closing body 410 is arranged to seal a passage 450 between the low-pressure P3 side of the valve device 400 and the suction pipe 140. To seal this passage, the main valve closing body 410 is moved downward toward the seat 145 away from the cover plane 102. Thus, the main valve closing body 410 separates the seat 145 from the cover plane 102 and most of the other parts of the cover 102.

[0056] It should also be noted that the suction pipe 140 extends beyond the orifice plane of the pre-filter 200, that is, extends into the pre-filter 200. This provides a particularly efficient design in terms of building height, i.e., it is a space-saving way to construct the cover 101 of the heavy-duty dust collector 100.

[0057] The valve assembly 400 also includes a control body 460 connected to the main valve closing body 410 such that the position of the main valve closing body 410 is determined by the position of the control body 460. In other words, if the control body 460 moves, the main valve closing body 410 also moves. It should be noted that this movement is vertical in the normal operating position, or perpendicular to the plane of the main valve closing body 410, but such precise configuration is not strictly necessary for the function of the assembly. The position of the main valve closing body 410 can be determined by the position of the control body 460 in a variety of different ways, for example, via a lever, cable, or some other form of mechanical linkage. The position of the control body 460 can also be controlled using an electric or electromechanical actuator, such as a solenoid or electromagnet. An elastic member, such as a spring 490, can be configured to bias the main valve closing body 410 to a first position 420.

[0058] Figure 4 The mechanism in this system uses air pressure differential to actuate the valve mechanism. Figure 4 In the example, control chamber 461 is partially defined by control body 460, and the volume of control chamber 461 relative to the position of control body 460 is variable. A control chamber valve 462, having open and closed states, is also present for regulating the pressure P1 in the control chamber. Therefore, by changing the pressure in the control chamber, the control body can be moved, which will cause a corresponding movement of the main valve closing body 410. The state of control chamber valve 462 is determined by trigger devices 470 and 480, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0059] exist Figure 4 and Figures 5A to 5B In the example shown, the control chamber 461 is a space sealed by an elastic membrane that can move up and down to limit or expand the volume of the control chamber (although this is not precisely shown in the figures). Therefore, the volume of the control chamber 461 relative to the position of the control body 460 is variable. Other methods for implementing this type of control chamber include, for example, cylinder and piston devices or airbag devices.

[0060] refer to Figure 4 If the pressure P1 inside the control chamber 461 is less than the pressure P2 outside the control chamber 461, the control body 460 will move to limit the volume in the control chamber 461. This movement will also pull the main valve control body 410 to the sealing position 420 because the reaction force acting on the main valve control body 410 is smaller due to the pressure difference between the low-pressure P3 side and the high-pressure P2 side.

[0061] When control chamber valve 462 opens to increase the pressure in control chamber 461, for example, from machine operating pressure to atmospheric pressure, the main valve control body shifts to the unsealed position 430 and now seals the suction pipe. This is at least partly because the main valve control body is drawn against the orifice of the suction pipe (because pressure P4 is less than pressure P3). The effective area of ​​control body 460 can be set to be larger than the effective area of ​​main valve control body 410.

[0062] According to some aspects, the control chamber 461 is fluidly connected to the low-pressure P3 side via a connection passage 463 configured with a connection passage orifice 464, and the control chamber valve 462 is configured with an orifice larger than the connection passage orifice 464, such that the control chamber valve 462 is configured to overcome the connection passage 463 when it is in the open state.

[0063] Figures 5A to 5BThe valve device 400 shown differs from known valve devices in how the pressure P1 in the control chamber 461 is regulated to trigger an air pulse for cleaning the air filter. The valve device 400 includes a connection passage 463 that fluidly connects the control chamber 461 to the low-pressure P3 side. The connection passage 463 is a relatively narrow pipe extending from the low-pressure P3 side into the control chamber 461 (the connection passage orifice 464 opens upwards into the control chamber 461, for example, from...). Figure 1A (Inferred).

[0064] Therefore, when the dust collector is in use, air is continuously drawn from the control chamber 461 towards the low-pressure P3 side via the connection passage 463. Thus, a low pressure is generated in the control chamber 461 as long as the control chamber valve 462 is closed. The control chamber valve 462 is configured with an orifice larger than the orifice 464 of the connection passage 463, meaning that the control chamber valve is designed to overcome the orifice 464 of the connection passage when it is open. In this case, "overcoming" means that the pressure inside the control chamber increases even when the control chamber valve 462 is open, although the connection passage 463 always connects the control chamber to the low-pressure P3 side. It should be noted that when an air pulse is triggered, the connection passage 463 is not closed, meaning that complex three-way valves, etc., as described in WO 2017 / 025305 are not required.

[0065] For example, for a circular orifice, the diameter of the orifice of the control chamber valve 462 might be approximately 15 mm, which means the area is approximately 175 mm². 2 This larger orifice easily overcomes the orifice of connecting passage 464, for an area of ​​7 mm². 2 -13mm 2 For a circular opening, the diameter of the opening for connecting passages may be approximately 3 mm to 4 mm.

[0066] It should be understood that the orifice of the control chamber valve 462 and the orifice of the connecting passage 464 do not need to be circular, or even regular in shape. The orifice area is important for the control chamber valve 462 to overcome the connecting passage 464. An orifice area approximately twice the size of the control chamber valve 462 might be sufficient, but a larger difference, such as ten times or more, might be preferred. A larger difference between the orifices results in a faster response to the trigger. However, an excessively large orifice of the control chamber valve can lead to structural difficulties.

[0067] When the control chamber valve 462 enters the open state, the pressure in the control chamber increases rapidly due to the open connection with atmospheric pressure; that is, the pressure inside the control chamber quickly changes from the machine operating pressure to atmospheric pressure. The effect of the connection passage in reducing pressure is overcome, and therefore, the main valve control body shifts to the unsealed position 430, thereby generating a reverse airflow (preferably an air pulse) to clean the filter.

[0068] The trigger device may include a manual control device 470 configured to force the control chamber valve 462 into an open state, such as Figure 5A and Figure 5B The button shown is used to conveniently trigger filter cleaning on demand.

[0069] Return to reference Figure 1A and Figure 1B The dust collector 100 may also include a control unit 160 configured to perform various control actions, such as monitoring pressure levels at various locations within the dust collector 100 and controlling the blower assembly 150. The control unit 160 may also be configured to control one or more valves of the dust collector, as will be discussed below. A display unit 170 may be configured as a device for user interaction with the dust collector. The display unit 170 may include input devices to allow the user to trigger various functions on the dust collector, such as triggering a pre-filter cleaning procedure or a pre-filter emptying procedure, in which dust and slurry are discharged from the pre-separator 120 into a dust collector below the pre-separator. The dust collector may also include dedicated control input devices connected to the control unit 160 via wired or wireless connection. For example, there may be a dust emptying command button or switch, a filter cleaning button or switch, etc.

[0070] According to some aspects, the trigger device includes an electrically actuated control device 480, which is configured to force the control chamber valve 462 into an open state in response to a wired or wireless control signal. Figure 5A and Figure 5B In one example, the electro-actuated control device 480 is an electromagnet configured to engage a magnetic material component 485 (such as an iron, steel, or permanent magnet) on a control lever attached to the control chamber valve 462, i.e., a solenoid device. In this way, a control current can flow in the electromagnet, thereby pulling the magnetic material component 485 toward the electro-actuated control device 480 to operate the lever, and thus open the control chamber valve 462.

[0071] According to some aspects, the electro-actuated control device 480 (and the magnetic material component 485, if present) is sealed and isolated from the rest of the dust collector, particularly from the surrounding environment. Therefore, optionally, the electro-actuated control device 480 is surrounded by a seal configured to prevent foreign particles from the surrounding environment and the pre-separator tank from degrading the performance of the control device or even causing malfunction. This seal, for example, prevents foreign particles such as iron powder from entering between the electro-actuated control device 480 and the magnetic material component 485, which would degrade the performance of the control device 480. The seal may include a bellows or similar material surrounding the electro-actuated control device 480 and the magnetic material component 485, or a columnar body defining an internal sealed volume in which the control device 480 operates. Alternatively, an airtight solenoid may be used as the electro-actuated control device 480, in which the seal is integrated into the control device.

[0072] The magnetic material component 485 can be made of iron or steel, as mentioned above. However, further advantages can be obtained by using a permanent magnet with polarity. In this case, the electromagnet can be configured to reverse polarity to attract and repel the magnetic material component 485. This allows the control chamber valve 462 to open and close more rapidly, as the control chamber valve opens considerably faster due to the attractive force between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet. When the current in the electromagnet reverses, the control chamber valve 462 closes rapidly due to the repulsive force between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet. Of course, a bidirectional solenoid with the same technical effect can also be used.

[0073] As mentioned above, the low-pressure P3 side can be associated with the pressure in the internal volume V of the pre-filter 200, and the ambient pressure P2 side is associated with atmospheric pressure. The pressure in the suction pipe 140 is typically lower than the pressure in the low-pressure P3 side, especially during filter cleaning. The control chamber valve 462 preferably has an orifice area that is at least twice the orifice area of ​​the connecting passage orifice 464. For example, the control chamber valve 462 may be configured with a circular orifice with a diameter between 10 mm and 20 mm, preferably about 15 mm, and the connecting passage 464 may have a circular orifice with a diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 4 mm.

[0074] Some dust collectors described in this article include more than one pre-filter chamber, that is, two or more separate pre-filters or such Figures 2A to 2DThe pre-filter shown has more than one internal chamber. This is primarily because a pre-filter system with more than one filter chamber allows other filter chambers to be used to maintain suction through inlet 110 while one filter chamber is being cleaned. Another advantage of using two or more pre-filter chambers to maintain suction even during filter cleaning is that fine dust is less likely to escape from the base filter during turbulence that may be generated during pre-filter cleaning.

[0075] Also refer to Figure 5C The dust collector 100 preferably includes at least a first valve device and a second valve device 400, and includes a control unit 160 configured to actuate trigger devices 480 of the first and second valve devices. The control unit 160 is configured to alternately actuate the trigger devices 480 of the first and second valve devices. This means that one of the cleaning valves is actuated first (placing its corresponding main valve closing body 140 in the second position 430), then the other cleaning valve is actuated, and then the first cleaning valve is actuated again. The cycle of cleaning actuation may vary depending on the machine, and typically the two filter chambers operate in parallel. The filter cleaning operation may also include placing both valve devices in the second position (i.e., the pre-filter cleaning position), such as... Figure 5C The operation near the end of the time axis is shown in 500. In this case, both sections of the pre-filter 200 are opened to atmospheric pressure, meaning the filter is cleaned and the pressure inside the pre-separator tank also increases. When this occurs, the hatch mechanism (such as those combined below) Figures 6A to 6B and Figures 7A to 7B The hatch mechanism 600 (under discussion) is opened to discharge accumulated dust and slurry into a dust collector located below the hatch.

[0076] According to one example, the valve assembly is intermittently placed in a pre-filter cleaning state, i.e., a second position, in which the main valve closing body is configured to open the passage between the ambient pressure side and the low pressure side of the valve assembly for approximately 0.7 to 1.0 seconds, and then placed in a first position (in which the passage to ambient pressure is sealed) for approximately 15 to 20 seconds. It is generally desirable to minimize the time the valve spends in the second position, as the passage to ambient pressure reduces the suction power of the dust collector.

[0077] As mentioned above, the control unit 160 can also simultaneously (i.e., overlapping for at least a certain period of time) actuate the trigger devices 470 and 480 of the first and second valve devices in response to the pre-separator emptying signal. This increases the pressure in both chambers of the pre-filter 200, thereby increasing the pressure in the separator tank. This pressure increase causes the hatch mechanism to open, and allows the dust collected inside the pre-separator tank to be discharged into the dust collector below the pre-separator. The pre-separator emptying signal can be obtained from the operator via some control input device (e.g., a button). Alternatively, the pre-separator emptying signal can be automatically generated internally by the control unit based on a timer or similar mechanism.

[0078] As mentioned above, Figure 5C Operation 500 (in which more than one valve device is simultaneously placed in the filter cleaning position 430) can be referred to as a tipping operation. It should be understood that the actuation of the valve device's trigger mechanism does not need to be synchronized. Some overlap between the two or more valves in their respective second positions is sufficient, for example, with an overlap greater than 0.5 seconds, preferably between 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds.

[0079] The tipping operation function of the dust collector 100 complements the other features discussed herein, but can also be used alone without the other features discussed herein. In other words, this document discloses a dust collector 100 comprising at least a first valve device and a second valve device 400. These valve devices may be one of those valve devices discussed herein, or some other type of filter cleaning valve device known in the art. The dust collector also includes a pre-filter system arranged in the same pre-separator tank 120 with at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first valve device is associated with the first portion of the pre-filter system and the second valve device is associated with the second portion of the pre-filter system. The pre-filter system may be a split-type filter (with a single common sidewall), for example, as... Figures 2A to 2F or Figures 3A to 3C As shown, or including two or more separate pre-filter units, such as two conventional columnar pre-filters arranged in parallel and located in the same pre-separator tank 120.

[0080] Each valve device 400 is configured to generate a reverse airflow of the type discussed above, which cleans the relevant portion of the pre-filter system. The reverse airflow is generated in response to the actuation of a corresponding trigger device 470, 480 configured to place the valve device in the pre-filter cleaning position. The actuation of the trigger devices can be alternating, in which case only one valve is used for filter cleaning, or the actuation of the trigger devices can be performed in a time-overlapping manner, such as… Figure 5CAs shown, in this manner, both the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly are placed in their respective pre-filter cleaning positions. The control unit 160 is preferably configured to synchronously actuate the corresponding trigger devices 480 of the first and second valve assemblies in response to a pre-splitter dumping signal, such that the valves open and close almost simultaneously, resulting in a more efficient dumping operation. However, synchronous actuation of the valves is not necessary. In fact, asynchronous operation can be advantageous in certain situations. For example, keeping one valve open for a longer period compared to the other, where the overlap occurs only for a short time of less than about 1 second. For instance, both valves can initially be placed in the pre-filter cleaning position 430, and then one of the valves can be controlled to return to the first position 420. Alternatively, only one valve can be initially controlled into the pre-filter cleaning position 430, and then the other valve can be controlled into the pre-filter cleaning position 430 to achieve a shorter overlap. The control unit can alternately control the valve that remains open for a longer period.

[0081] The triggering device may include a manual control device 470 for the first valve device and the second valve device 400. These manual control devices may be implemented as buttons mechanically connected to the valves, for example... Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown in the diagram. The trigger device may also include an electrically actuated control device 480, in which case the control unit 160 may be configured to actuate the corresponding trigger devices 480 of the first valve device and the second valve device in response to a pre-separator tilting signal with a time overlap of 500.

[0082] According to some aspects, the dust collector 100 includes a control input device, such as a button or switch, configured to generate a pre-separator emptying signal. This allows the user to manually operate the dust collector to empty dust from the pre-separator tank into the dust collector below. The control input device can be directly connected to the control unit 160 via wired connection, or it can be part of a human-machine interface (HMI), such as a display system.

[0083] Control unit 160 is optionally configured to periodically generate a pre-separator emptying signal, causing the pre-separator tank to be periodically emptied. Control unit 160 may also be configured to monitor the pressure difference and / or pressure difference accumulation between the ambient pressure P2 side of the valve device and the low pressure P3 side of the valve device 400, and trigger an emptying operation 500 if normal pre-filter cleaning operation is insufficient to efficiently clean the pre-filter 200.

[0084] The valve devices discussed in this article are particularly suitable for use with Figures 6A to 6B and Figures 7A to 7BThe hatch mechanism 600 of the type shown is used in conjunction with this mechanism. This mechanism includes an orifice 610 having a periphery 620 and at least three elongated occluding elements 640 pivotally attached along the periphery 620 to corresponding hinged ends 630. Each occluding element has a distal end 635 arranged opposite to the hinged end 630 along the extension direction of the occluding element 640. Adjacent occluding elements 640 arranged along the periphery 620 are connected by a foldable connecting member 660 configured to guide the distal ends 635 to a common intersection spaced apart from the plane of the orifice, thereby folding the occluding elements 640 around the corresponding hinged ends 630 to a mutually supporting position to close the hatch mechanism 600.

[0085] The hatch mechanism 600 is typically an important part of the dust collector 100. This hatch is used when emptying the pre-separator chamber into the dust collector located below it (but...). Figures 1A to 1B (Not shown in the image). The dust collector can be, for example, a removable box-like structure or a plastic bag, such as the Longopac® bagging system mentioned above. If the hatch mechanism is used with a non-rigid plastic bag dust collector system, it is important that the dust bag is not sucked into the pre-separator chamber via the hatch. However, this does not mean that the hatch needs to be airtight during operation. Since many components may be made of soft materials such as rubber, the hatch mechanism can be made quite flexible. A flexible hatch mechanism will not damage the dust bag, which is an advantage. Furthermore, the hatch mechanism 600 is shown as opening when cleaning the pre-filter chamber by actuating the valve device discussed above, which is an advantage because it always keeps the amount of dust generated in the pre-separator tank low.

[0086] This disclosure relates in part to a hatch mechanism that closes to prevent the dust collector from being drawn into the pre-separator during operation, while allowing dust to be easily emptied into the dust collector.

[0087] refer to Figures 6A to 6B and Figures 7A to 7B The mechanism includes an orifice 610 with a perimeter 620 arranged in a plane. Accumulated dust and slurry are poured through this orifice into a dust collector below the hatch mechanism. To empty the pre-separator chamber, a low operating pressure is first increased within the chamber, for example, by opening a duct to the outside atmosphere during filter cleaning or by shutting off the blower unit 150. This plane can be freely defined as a plane with the primary emptying direction of the hatch as its normal. It should be understood that the perimeter does not need to be perfectly aligned with this plane along its entire outer perimeter.

[0088] At least three elongated occlusion elements 640 are pivotally attached along periphery 620 to corresponding hinge ends 630. Each occlusion element includes a distal end 635 arranged opposite the hinge end along the extension direction of the occlusion element 640. This means that each occlusion element is connected to periphery 620 in a manner that allows it to swing inward relative to the orifice.

[0089] Figures 6A to 6B An exemplary hatch mechanism 600 in the closed position is shown. Adjacent blocking elements 640 arranged along perimeter 620 are connected by a foldable connecting member 660, which is configured to guide the distal ends 635 to a common intersection spaced apart from the plane containing the opening, thereby closing the hatch mechanism 600 by folding the blocking elements 640 around their respective hinged ends 630 into a mutually supporting position. Thus, the blocking elements swing inward to the mutually supporting position, forming an inverted conical or pyramidal structure in which the distal ends meet at their tips. The blocking elements 640 can be implemented, for example, by a rigid or semi-rigid slat structure, such as a metal strip structure or an elongated plastic structure.

[0090] When the structure is subjected to a pressure gradient above the orifice, the blocking element 640 and the foldable connecting member 660 are drawn towards the pre-separator chamber, i.e., in the direction toward the orifice 610. This causes the blocking element 640 to pivot, thereby closing the hatch, at least sufficiently to prevent the dust collection bag from being drawn into the pre-separator chamber. When the low pressure in the pre-separator chamber is released, the blocking element 640 will no longer remain in the closed position but will swing radially outward, thereby opening the hatch, as... Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown in the diagram. In some respects, the blocking element 640 is configured with a greater weight to facilitate the opening of the hatch by gravity.

[0091] Unlike other known hatch mechanisms based on metal covers, this hatch mechanism is not rigid. Instead, the hatch can be integrally made of an elastic material that moves and / or vibrates during operation, such as during periods when the pressure differential in the main chamber of the pre-separator decreases over time. This movement of the hatch mechanism prevents dust and slurry from forming harder clumps that are difficult to empty. Furthermore, the hatch mechanism allows dust and slurry to pass through even when a pressure gradient exists above the orifice, as the accumulated dust has sufficient weight to overcome the suction of the closed hatch. This means that the hatch mechanism disclosed herein can automatically open as needed to dump dust and slurry into a dust collector below the hatch. This automatic opening can occur, for example, when cleaning the pre-filter 120 by reverse air thrust.

[0092] Figure 8The general components of the control unit 160 are schematically shown in the form of multiple functional units. The processing circuitry 810 is provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit (CPU), multiprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product, for example, in the form of a storage medium 830. The processing circuitry 810 may also be provided as at least one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0093] Specifically, processing circuitry 810 is configured to cause device 160 to perform a set of operations or steps, such as the methods discussed herein. For example, storage medium 830 may store the set of operations, and processing circuitry 810 may be configured to retrieve the set of operations from storage medium 830 to cause device to perform the set of operations. The set of operations may be provided as a set of executable instructions. Thus, processing circuitry 810 is thereby configured to perform the methods disclosed herein.

[0094] The storage medium 830 may also include persistent memory, which may be any one or a combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid-state memory, or even remotely mounted memory.

[0095] The device 160 may also include an interface 820 for communicating with at least one external device. Therefore, the interface 820 may include one or more transmitters and receivers, including analog and digital components, and a suitable number of ports for wired or wireless communication.

[0096] The processing circuit 810 controls the general operation of the control unit 160, such as sending data and control signals to the interface 820 and the storage medium 830, receiving data and reports from the interface 820, and retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium 830.

[0097] Figure 9 A computer-readable medium 910 carrying a computer program, including program code means 920, is shown for performing the methods and / or implementing the various functions described above when the program product is run on a computer. The computer-readable medium and the code means may together form a computer program product 900.

Claims

1. A valve device (400) configured to generate a reverse airflow to clean a pre-filter (200) for a heavy-duty dust collector (100), said valve device comprising: The main valve closing body (410) is configured to move between a first position (420) and a second position (430). In the first position (420), the main valve closing body (410) is configured to seal the passage (440) between the ambient pressure (P2) side and the low pressure (P3) side of the valve device (400). In the second position (430), the main valve closing body (410) is configured to seal the passage (450) between the low-pressure (P3) side of the valve device (400) and the suction pipe (140, P4). The valve device (400) further includes: A control body (460) is connected to the main valve closing body (410) such that the position of the main valve closing body (410) is determined by the position of the control body (460); A control chamber (461), which is partially defined by the control body (460), wherein the volume of the control chamber (461) relative to the position of the control body (460) is variable; and A control chamber valve (462) having an open state and a closed state for regulating the pressure (P1) in the control chamber. The state of the control chamber valve (462) is determined by the trigger devices (470, 480).

2. The valve device (400) according to claim 1. in, The control chamber (461) is fluidly connected to the low-pressure (P3) side via a connection passage (463) configured with a connection passage orifice (464), and The control chamber valve (462) is configured with an orifice larger than the connection passage orifice (464), such that the control chamber valve (462) is configured to overcome the connection passage (463) when it is in the open state.

3. The valve device (400) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The trigger device includes a manual control device (470) configured to force the control chamber valve (462) into the open state.

4. The valve device (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The trigger device includes an electro-actuated control device (480) configured to force the control chamber valve (462) into the open state in response to a wired or wireless control signal.

5. The valve device (400) according to claim 4, wherein, The electro-actuated control device (480) includes an electromagnet configured to engage a magnetic material component (485) on a control lever attached to the control chamber valve (462).

6. The valve device (400) according to claim 5, wherein, The magnetic material component (485) is a permanent magnet with polarity, wherein the electromagnet is configured to reverse polarity to attract and repel the magnetic material component (485).

7. The valve device (400) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein, The electrically actuated control device (480) is enclosed in a seal configured to prevent foreign particles from interacting with the control device (480).

8. The valve device (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The low-pressure (P3) side is associated with the pressure in the internal volume (V) of the pre-filter (200), and the ambient pressure side (P2) is associated with atmospheric pressure.

9. The valve device (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control chamber valve (462) has an orifice area that is at least twice the orifice area of ​​the connection passage orifice (464).

10. The valve device (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control chamber valve (462) is provided with a circular orifice with a diameter between 10 mm and 20 mm, and preferably about 15 mm, and wherein the connection passage (464) has a circular orifice with a diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm, and preferably between 3 mm and 4 mm.

11. A dust collector (100) comprising at least one valve device (400) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. The dust collector (100) according to claim 11, comprising at least a first valve device and a second valve device (400), and including a control unit (160), the control unit being configured to actuate the trigger devices (470, 480) of the first valve device and the trigger devices of the second valve device, wherein, The control unit (160) is configured to alternately actuate the trigger devices (470, 480) of the first valve device and the trigger devices (470, 480) of the second valve device.

13. The dust collector (100) according to claim 12, wherein, During the use of the dust collector, each valve is repeatedly placed in the second position for 0.7 to 1.0 seconds, and then placed in the first position for about 15 to 20 seconds.

14. The dust collector (100) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising at least a first valve device and a second valve device (400), and comprising a control unit (160) configured to actuate the trigger devices (470, 480) of the first valve device and the trigger devices of the second valve device, wherein, The control unit (160) is configured to actuate the trigger devices (470, 480) of the first valve device and the trigger devices of the second valve device in a time-overlapping manner in response to the pre-separator tilting signal.

15. The dust collector (100) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further comprising: A hatch mechanism (600) includes an opening (610) having a periphery (620). And at least three elongated occlusion elements (640) pivotally attached along the periphery (620) to a corresponding hinge end (630), each occlusion element including a distal end (635) arranged opposite to the hinge end (630) along the extension direction of the occlusion element (640). Adjacent blocking elements (640) arranged along the perimeter (620) are connected by a foldable connecting member (660) configured to guide the distal end (635) to a common intersection spaced apart from the plane of the orifice, thereby folding the blocking element (640) around the corresponding hinged end (630) to a mutually supporting position to close the hatch mechanism (600).

16. A dust collector cover (101) for a heavy-duty dust collector (100), the cover (101) including a valve device (400) configured to generate a reverse airflow to clean the pre-filter (200) of the heavy-duty dust collector (100). in, The dust collector cover (101) extends in the cover plane (102), The valve device (400) includes: The main valve closing body (410) is configured to move between a first position (420) and a second position (430) in a direction transverse to or perpendicular to the cover plane (102). In the first position (420), the main valve closing body (410) is configured to seal the passage (440) between the ambient pressure (P2) side and the low pressure (P3) side of the valve device (400). In the second position (430), the main valve closing body (410) is configured to seal the passage (450) between the low-pressure (P3) side of the valve device (400) and the suction pipe (140, P4).

17. The dust collector cover (101) according to claim 16, wherein, The suction pipe (140) is disposed on the pre-filter side of the cover plane (102), wherein the suction pipe (140) includes a seat (145), and the main valve closing body (410) is arranged against the seat to seal the passage (450) between the low-pressure (P3) side of the valve device (400) and the suction pipe (140), wherein the main valve closing body (410) separates the seat (145) from the cover plane (102).

18. The dust collector cover (101) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein, The suction pipe (140) extends beyond the orifice plane of the pre-filter (200).

19. The dust collector cover (101) according to any one of claims 16 to 18, provided with a structure such as a protrusion configured to prevent the cover from closing when the pre-filter is inserted in a position where it cannot be properly rotated about the central axis of the pre-filter.

20. A dust collector comprising a dust collector cover according to any one of claims 16 to 19.

Images