Filters and filter assemblies with angled openings, collection devices, and methods of use

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter having angled openings, a filter assembly including the filter, a filter support, a collector, a collector with a thinned clean air chamber, and methods of using the same. A collector for removing particulate matter from a gas includes a tube sheet including a clean side and a dirty side, a housing operably attached to the tube sheet, a plurality of openings formed through the tube sheet, a pulse device located within the clean air chamber, and a filter positioned within each opening of the plurality of openings.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Described herein are filters with angled openings, filter assemblies including filters, filter supports, collection devices, collection devices with low-profile clean air chambers, and methods of using them. [Background technology]

[0002] Many industries encounter airborne particulate matter. In some industries, this particulate matter is a valuable product (e.g., starch), and it would be beneficial to be able to recover the airborne particulate matter and reintroduce it into the process. In other industries (e.g., metalworking or woodworking), it may be desirable to remove particulate matter from the air, for example, to provide a cleaner working environment.

[0003] Some collection devices for cleaning air or other gas streams containing particulate matter include a filter composed of a filter media, such as fabric, pleated paper, and / or fabric. Gas (e.g., air) contaminated with particulate matter passes through the filter, and the particulate matter is captured and retained by the filter. In some collection devices (sometimes called "insertable collection devices"), the filter may be suspended within a structure (e.g., a bin, silo, etc.) to filter particles from air removed from the structure when the structure is filled. In other collection devices (sometimes called "encased collection devices"), the filter may be located within a dirty air chamber within a housing, into which particulate-laden gas is pumped so that the filter can capture the particulate matter while the gas passes through the filter and enters the clean air chamber.

[0004] In either case, the collector typically includes a structure called a tube sheet with openings formed in the tube sheet to receive and retain the filter while preventing passage of particulate matter from the first volume to the second volume. In an insertable collector, the first volume is the interior volume of the structure within which the insertable collector is installed, while the second volume is, for example, the ambient atmosphere (which may be within a building or simply not within the structure into which the bag is inserted). In an encased collector, a tube sheet typically separates the dirty air chamber from the clean air chamber, with gas containing the entrapped particulate matter being routed to the dirty air chamber and clean / filtered gas entering the clean air chamber after passing through a filter that removes particulate matter from the gas.

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

[0006] As the filter traps particulate matter, flow through the filter is impeded, and periodic cleaning of the filter can be performed to increase airflow through the trapping device. Cleaning can be achieved by periodically pulsing short jets of pressurized air into the interior of the filter, reversing the flow through the system and blowing the trapped particulate matter off the filter. Pressurized air (or any other suitable gas) can be directed into the pulse trapping device, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,962 (Duyckinck), U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,227 (Frey), U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,173 (Johnson et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,269, U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,592 (Green et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,708 (Kosmider et al.), and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006 / 0112667 A1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 3,942,962 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 4,218,227 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] Described herein are filters with angled openings, filter assemblies including filters and filter supports, filter supports, collectors with angled tube sheets for use with the filters and filter assemblies, and collectors with thinned clean air chambers. Methods of using the collectors, filters, filter supports, and filter assemblies are also described.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the filters described herein include an envelope-shaped filter body having a closed end and a filter seal 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, and the open end of the filter body and the filter seal attached to the open end can be described as having an oblique orientation relative to a filter axis extending between the open and closed ends of the filter body (the filter axis is generally aligned with the edge of the envelope-shaped filter body). Compared to conventional filter bags, the filters with oblique or angled openings described herein include enlarged openings and seals located around the openings compared to conventional filters in which the openings are oriented generally perpendicular to the filter axis extending along the length of the filter.

[0010] One advantage is that filters with enlarged openings fit within and seal around larger tubesheet openings. These larger openings often allow for easier placement or removal of the filter from the larger tubesheet openings because the filter body is generally smaller than the larger opening. This size difference provides extra clearance between the filter body and the tubesheet opening. This extra clearance can, for example, reduce the possibility of damage to the filter body when advancing the filter through the tubesheet opening.

[0011] For filters in which the filter body is in the form of an envelope-like filter bag, the enlarged opening and corresponding seal may allow for easier advancement of the filter body over a support cage used to support the filter bag / body as described herein.

[0012] While the entire filter bag can be enlarged to make it easier to install the filter bag on the cage, an enlarged filter bag results in a filter bag that does not fit snugly against the support cage as described herein, and such loose attachment is expected to reduce pulse cleaning performance and / or filter bag life.

[0013] In particular, pulse washing of filter bags on a support cage as described herein can be improved by tightly fitting the filter bags onto the support cage of the filter assembly. The increased tightness of the tighter fitting filter media results in an increased sudden acceleration associated with pulse washing of the filter bags (sometimes referred to as "bag snap"). The increased sudden outward acceleration can result in increased removal of particulate matter trapped on the filter bag, which falls under gravity into the hopper of the collector.

[0014] In addition to improving pulse cleaning performance, a tighter fitting filter bag / support cage combination may also improve filter bag life by reducing wear on the filter bag caused by excessive movement between the support cage and a loosely mounted filter bag during pulse cleaning.

[0015] Yet another benefit that can result from a tighter-fitting filtration filter bag / cage combination is that the spacing between adjacent filter bags within the collection device's dirty air chamber can be reduced without a corresponding decrease in pulse cleaning performance. This closer spacing between adjacent filters can result in a corresponding reduction in the overall size of the collection device. A smaller collection device that provides the same (or better) filtering capacity as a larger collection device can be an important factor when available space within a facility is limited.

[0016] The filters, filter assemblies, and collectors described herein can be particularly useful in industrial air filtration applications where particulate matter must be removed from relatively large volumes of dirty air. As such, the filters and filter assemblies must be sized to handle those volumes of air and the particulate matter associated with those volumes. Generally, the filters described herein can have a filter length, measured from the opening of the filter body to the closed end, that is 0.3 meters or more, 0.5 meters or more, or even 1 meter or more. The associated filter body height (measured across the length of the filter) can be 0.2 meters or more, 0.3 meters or more, 0.4 meters or more, or 0.5 meters or more.

[0017] In a first aspect, one or more embodiments of a trapping device for removing particulate matter from a gas as described herein include: a tube sheet including a clean side and a dirty side; a housing operably attached to the tube sheet, the housing defining a clean air volume partially bounded by the tube sheet, the clean side of the tube sheet facing the clean air volume; a plurality of openings formed through the tube sheet, each opening of the plurality of openings comprising an elongated opening including a length extending along an opening axis that is greater than a width of the opening measured in a direction transverse to the opening axis, and for each opening of the plurality of openings, a distance between the clean side of the tube sheet surrounding each opening and a reference plane oriented transverse to a central pulse axis passing through the opening changes when moving along the opening axis; and a pulse device located within the clean air volume, the pulse device configured to send pulsed gas through the plurality of openings in the tube sheet, the pulse device defining a central pulse axis extending through each opening of the plurality of openings in the tube sheet.The collection device further includes a filter positioned within each opening of the plurality of openings, each filter including a filter body attached to the filter seal, the filter body including an envelope-like filter body including a filter medium defining an interior 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, the first major side and the second major side being defined by the closed end and open end of the filter body as it moves along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side further moving along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end. the filter body is defined by a first edge and a second edge when the filter is installed in the filter body, the first edge and the second edge extending from the closed end to the open end, and the filter seal is positioned on the outer periphery of the open end of the filter body and is compressed against the clean surface of the tubesheet when the filter is installed in a selected one of the plurality of openings to form a seal with the clean surface of the tubesheet such that gas entering the interior volume must pass through the filter media or filter opening, and for each opening of the plurality of openings, an opening axis and a reference plane oriented transverse to a central pulse axis passing through the opening form an included angle of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 20 degrees or more, 25 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more.

[0018] In one or more embodiments of the collection device according to the first aspect, for each aperture of the plurality of apertures, the included angle between the aperture axis and the reference plane is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less.

[0019] In one or more embodiments of the collection device according to the first aspect, the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

[0020] In one or more embodiments of the collection device according to the first aspect, a length of the first edge of the filter body between the closed end and the filter seal is greater than a height of the filter body measured between the first edge and the second edge along the filter height axis.

[0021] In one or more embodiments of the collection device according to the first aspect, the seal axis forms an included angle with the filter axis 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 included angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or more, 60 degrees or more, 65 degrees or more, 70 degrees or more, or 75 degrees or more.

[0022] In one or more embodiments of the collection device 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.

[0023] In one or more embodiments of the collection device according to the first aspect, the filter body comprises a filter body height measured along a filter height axis between a first edge and a second edge, and the filter body comprises a filter body width measured between a first major side and a second major side of the filter body in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis, wherein the filter body width is no more than 0.25, no more than 0.2, or no more than 0.1 times the filter body height.

[0024] In one or more embodiments of the collection device according to the first aspect, the at least one filter positioned within one of the plurality of openings includes a support cage of a filter support positioned within the interior volume of the filter, the support cage being attached to the seal support and extending away from the seal support along a cage axis aligned with the filter axis when the support cage is located within the interior volume of the filter and a filter seal is in contact with the seal support, the seal support including a support opening aligned with the filter opening and the opening in the tube sheet when the support cage is located within the interior volume of the filter, and the filter seal extending through the filter opening. and wherein the support cage includes a first strut located proximate a first edge of the filter body and a second strut located proximate a second edge of the filter body when the support cage is positioned within the filter's interior volume, the first strut extending from the seal support to a distal end proximate the closed end of the filter, and the second strut extending from the seal support to a distal end proximate the closed end of the filter.

[0025] In one or more embodiments of the collection device according to the first aspect, the filter body comprises pleated filter media that includes pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end or to the plurality of filter tubes.

[0026] In a second aspect, one or more embodiments of the filters described herein include a filter body attached to a filter seal, the filter body including an envelope-shaped filter body including a filter media defining an interior 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, the first major side and the second major side being defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moved along the filter axis, and the first major side and the second major side further being defined by a first edge and a second edge when moved along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end. wherein 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 media including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end or to the plurality of filter tubes, the filter seal is positioned on the outer periphery of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with the sealing surface when the filter is installed in the opening in the tube sheet such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter media or the filter openings, and the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

[0027] In one or more embodiments of the filter according to the second aspect, the filter seal comprises an elongated shape including a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal proximate the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal proximate the second edge of the filter body, the seal length being greater than a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge, and / or a length of the first edge of the filter body between the closed end and the filter seal being greater than a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0028] In a third aspect, one or more embodiments of the filters described herein include a filter body attached to a filter seal, the filter body comprising an envelope-shaped filter body including a filter media defining an interior 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, the first major side and the second major side being defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moving along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side being further defined by a first edge and a second edge when moving along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end, the first edge and the second edge extending from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, and the filter body including pleated filter media including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end or to a plurality of filter tubes. the filter seal is positioned on an outer periphery of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with the sealing surface when the filter is installed in the opening in the tube sheet so that gas entering the interior volume must pass through the filter media or the filter opening, the filter seal having an elongated shape including a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal proximate a first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal proximate a second edge of the filter body, the seal length being greater than a filter body height measured between the first edge and the second edge along the filter height axis, and the seal axis forming an included angle with the filter axis 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.

[0029] In one or more embodiments of the filter according to the second or third aspect, the seal axis forms an included angle with the filter axis 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; optionally, the included angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or more, 60 degrees or more, 65 degrees or more, 70 degrees or more, or 75 degrees or more.

[0030] 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 transverse to the filter axis and aligned with the filter height axis; and / or the filter body comprises a filter body height measured between the first edge and the second edge along the filter height axis, and the filter body comprises a filter body width measured between the first major side and the second major side of the filter body in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis, wherein the filter body width is no more than 0.25, no more than 0.2, or no more than 0.1 times the filter body height.

[0031] Also described herein are filters, filter supports, collection devices, and methods of using the filter assemblies.

[0032] As used herein, terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, and related terms are used solely to facilitate the description of various features of the devices and methods described herein (unless otherwise specified in the description and / or claims) and should not be construed as requiring any particular orientation of the devices and / or methods described herein unless expressly required otherwise.

[0033] As used herein, the term "aligned with" (and variations thereof) when used in connection with various components, axes, directions of movement, etc., includes both parallel and substantially parallel configurations. For example, two axes (or other components, features, etc.) may be described as "aligned with" if the axes (or other components, features, etc.) are both completely parallel or substantially parallel to one another, e.g., if the axes (or other components, features, etc.) may form an angle with one another that is greater than 0 degrees but less than or equal to 5 degrees.

[0034] As used herein, the term "transverse" (and variations thereof) when used in reference to the relative orientation of an axis (and / or other component, feature, etc.) includes an orthogonal orientation (i.e., at a 90 degree angle) as well as an orientation in which the axis (and / or other component, feature, etc.) is approximately orthogonal; for example, the axis (and / or other component, feature, etc.) may be oriented at an angle of 5 degrees or less from orthogonal.

[0035] 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%. As used herein, the term "substantially free" has the same meaning as "significantly free" and can be understood to have the opposite meaning of "substantially," i.e., modifying the subsequent term by no more than about 25%, no more than 10%, no more than 5%, or no more than 2%.

[0036] Numerical values ​​used herein should be understood to include normal variations in measurement that one of ordinary skill in the art would expect, have the same meaning as "approximately," and encompass a typical error range, such as ±5% of the stated value.

[0037] Terms such as "a," "an," and "the" are not intended to refer only to a singular entity, but include general classifications for which specific examples may be used for illustration. The terms "a," "an," and "the" are used interchangeably with the term "at least one." The phrases "at least one of" and "including at least one of" following a list refer to any one of the items in the list and any combination of two or more items in the list.

[0038] As used herein, the term "or" is generally used in its ordinary sense, including "and / or," unless the context dictates otherwise. The term "and / or" refers to one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

[0039] The recitation of numerical ranges 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.). When a range of values ​​is "up to" or "at least" a particular value, then that value is included within that range.

[0040] The words "preferred" and "preferably" (when used) refer to embodiments that may offer certain advantages, under particular circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure, including the claims.

[0041] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a" or "the" element may include one or more of the elements and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the term "and / or" means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

[0042] It should be noted that the term "comprises" and variations thereof do not have a limiting meaning where this term appears in the accompanying description. Moreover, "a," "an," "the," "at least one," and "one or more" are used interchangeably herein.

[0043] Similarly, terms such as "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe various elements. However, such terms are merely used to distinguish one of the elements from another. Furthermore, it will be understood that the description of any particular element as being operably attached, connected, and / or coupled to another element may indicate that the elements are directly attached, connected, and / or coupled to each other, or indirectly attached, coupled, and / or coupled to each other via intervening elements.

[0044] Unless otherwise expressly stated, all numbers expressing quantities and all terms expressing direction / orientation (e.g., vertical, horizontal, parallel, orthogonal, etc.) in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about." The term "and / or" (when used) means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

[0045] The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the filtration systems, filters, filter assemblies, filter supports, collection devices, and related methods described herein. Rather, a more complete understanding of the present invention will become apparent and appreciated by reference to the following description of exemplary embodiments and claims, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0046] The exemplary embodiments will be further described with reference to the figures of the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0047] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a filter having angled or enlarged openings as described herein. [Figure 2] 2 is a view of the opening of the filter of FIG. 1 taken along a viewing axis aligned with the filter axis 11 of FIG. 1 (viewing the filter 10 from above). [Figure 3]3 is a cross-sectional view of the filter of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. [Figure 4-5] 10 illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of a filter having an enlarged / angled opening and corresponding seal as described herein. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a filter support for use with the filters described herein. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the filter support of FIG. 6 taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 7 illustrates placement of the filter support of FIG. 6 within an exemplary embodiment of a filter described herein. [Figure 9] 9 illustrates the filter and filter support of FIG. 8 after assembly. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a filter support including a venturi as described herein. [Figure 11-12] 11 is a further view of the filter support shown in FIG. 10. [Figure 13] 1 illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of a filter support including a venturi as described herein. [Figure 14] 14 illustrates the filter support of FIG. 13 in a view taken along the cage axis 241 and viewed from above. [Figure 15] 1 illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of a filter support including a detachable venturi as described herein. [Figure 16] 15 is shown in a cut along the cage axis 341 and in a top view of the venturi and filter support. [Figure 17] 16 illustrates the seal support of the filter support illustrated in FIG. 15 in a view taken along the cage axis 341 and viewed from above the filter support and below the venturi. [Figure 18] 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a collector having an inclined tube plate as described herein. [Figure 19]19 is a view of the collector of FIG. 18 taken along collector axis 61. FIG. [Figure 20] 18-19 after a set of filters and a pulse device have been placed within the collection device. [Figure 21] 21 illustrates (with extraneous features removed for clarity) placement of a filter within an opening in the tube sheet of the collector of FIGS. 18-20; FIG. [Figure 22] 1 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a collection device as described herein. [Figure 23-25] 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a tube sheet adapter for use in the collection devices described herein. [Figure 26-28] 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an alternative tube sheet that may be used in one or more of the collection devices described herein. [Figure 29] 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a cased collection device as described herein. [Figure 30] 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of an insertable collection device as described herein. [Figure 31] 1 is a schematic diagram of a collection device according to one embodiment. [Figure 32] 1 is a perspective view of one prior art collection device 1 (left side) and a collection device according to one embodiment of the present invention (right side). [Figure 33] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the collection device of FIG. 32 with some internal components exposed. [Figure 34] FIG. 34 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a collection device described herein and illustrated in FIGS. 32-33. [Figure 35] FIG. 35 is an enlarged partial side view of the collection device of FIG. 34. [Figures 36A-36C] 36 is an enlarged, partial side view of the collection device of FIGS. 34-35, illustrating the removal and / or insertion of an ejection tube from the collection device. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] The figures are drawn primarily for clarity and, as a result, are not necessarily drawn to scale. Moreover, various structures / components, including, but not limited to, fasteners, electrical components (wires, cables, etc.), etc., may be shown schematically or removed from some or all of the figures to better illustrate aspects of the depicted embodiments, or the inclusion of such structures / components is not necessary for an understanding of the various exemplary embodiments described herein. However, the absence of an illustration / description of such structures / components in a particular figure should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the various embodiments.

[0049] Description of exemplary embodiments In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawings, which form a part hereof. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made that may not be described and / or illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0050] Unless otherwise expressly stated, relative terms such as "left," "right," "front," "anterior," "back," "rear," "rearward," "top," "bottom," "side," "upper," "lower," "upper," "lower," "horizontal," "vertical," etc. may be used herein, where these terms are from the perspective shown in a particular figure. However, these terms are used for ease of description only and do not limit the interpretation of any described embodiment.

[0051] It should be understood that features of the exemplary embodiments of the filtration systems described herein that are not explicitly recited in the claims, such as the number of filters, the access openings, the shape and / or size of the housing, etc., may vary in one or more alternative embodiments of the filtration systems described herein. It should also be understood that the components of the filtration systems described herein, other than the filter media within the filters, are typically constructed of materials that are impermeable to air (e.g., metals, polymers, ceramics, etc.).

[0052] Additionally, while the exemplary filter 10 is illustrated as having a constant size (e.g., width, height, diameter, etc.) between its proximal and distal ends, the size may vary, and further, the 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 above-incorporated references.

[0053] 1-3 illustrate various views of an exemplary embodiment of a filter described herein. In FIG. 1, filter 10 includes a filter body 20 that includes an open end 12 and a closed end 14. Filter body 20 extends from open end 12 to closed end 14 along a filter axis 11 that extends between open end 12 and closed end 14.

[0054] The body 20 of the filter 10 can be described as an envelope-like filter body with a filter media defining an interior volume within the filter 10. As an envelope-like filter body 20, the body 20 has a first major side 23 and a second major side 25 positioned across the interior volume 13 (see, for example, FIG. 3 ). 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 when moving along the filter axis 11. 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, with the first edge 22 and the second edge 24 generally aligned with the filter axis 11 in the illustrated embodiment. However, in one or more alternative embodiments, the edges 22 and 24 of the filter body 20 may or may not be generally aligned with the filter axis 11.

[0055] As an envelope-shaped filter body 20, the filter body may be described as having a filter body height measured between first edge 22 and second edge 24 along filter height axis 21. Envelope-shaped filter body 20 may also be described as having a filter body width (see dimension W in FIG. 3 ) measured between first major side 23 and second major side 25 of filter body 20 in a direction transverse to both filter axis 11 and filter height axis 21. In one or more embodiments, the envelope-shaped filter body width may be no greater than 0.25, no greater than 0.2, or no greater than 0.1 times the filter body height.

[0056] Although not required, the illustrated exemplary embodiment of filter 10 includes a closed end 14 extending along a closed end axis 14-1 transverse to the filter axis 11 and aligned with a filter height axis 21 extending between first edge 22 and second edge 24 (also transverse to the filter axis 11).

[0057] Because filter body 20 is an envelope-like filter body, first major side 23 and second major side 25 of filter body 20 may be described as being operably attached to one another along closed end 14 and along first edge 22 and second edge 24 of filter body 20 to seal interior volume 13 of the filter such that air (or any other gas) entering or exiting interior volume 13 must pass through open end 12 or through the filter media that defines interior volume 13.

[0058] In one or more embodiments, the filter axis 11 may be described as coinciding with the central axis of the filter body 20, with the central axis / filter axis 11 extending through the center of the filter body 20 such that the central axis / filter axis 11 includes the geometric center of a cross-section of the filter body 20 taken along a plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis / filter axis 11.

[0059] 1-3, filter 10 also includes a filter seal 30 positioned around the periphery of open end 12 of filter body 20. Filter seal 30 is configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when filter 10 is installed within an opening in a tubesheet such that gas entering interior volume 13 must pass through the filter media defining the interior volume or through open end 12 of filter body 20. In one or more embodiments of the filters described herein, filter seal 30 extends around the entire periphery of open end 12, as seen, for example, in FIG.

[0060] In one or more embodiments, the filter seal 30 may be provided as a separate component attached to the filter body 20 of the filter 10. In one or more embodiments, the filter seal may be provided as multiple layers of filter media bonded together using one or more of stitching, adhesives, heat welding, chemical welding, etc. The filter seal may include a polymeric component, such as a flexible polymeric component. In one or more embodiments, the filter seal may be capable of assuming 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 a foam (closed-cell, open-cell, etc.), fabric, filter media, etc., to aid in forming a seal when secured within the collection device, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, the filter seal may be formed of a resiliently compressible material that can return to its original shape (or nearly its original shape) after compression. In one or more other embodiments, the filter seal may include one or more layers of material that exhibit increased resistance to wear and / or tear. In still other embodiments, the filter seals used in the filters described herein may be formed of two or more components attached to the filter body by any suitable technique or combination of techniques.

[0061] While the illustrated exemplary embodiment of filter 10 includes filter seal 30 positioned at open end 12, in one or more embodiments, filter seal 30 can be positioned proximal to open end 12 such that filter seal 30 is located between open end 12 and closed end 14, while at the same time being spaced apart from open end 12. One advantage of providing filter seal 30 at open end 12 is that compression of filter seal 30 is more easily achieved when provided with such a configuration. Compression of filter seal 30 can be important in forming an adequate seal to prevent the undesired passage of particulate matter when using the filters described herein.

[0062] One or more embodiments of the filters described herein may be characterized with respect to the lengths of the first edge 22 and second edge 24 of the envelope-shaped filter body 20. In particular, for example, the first edge 22 of the filter body 20 is shorter than the second edge 24 of the filter body 20 when moving along the direction of the filter axis 11. 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 an angle that is not perpendicular 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 relative to the filter axis 11, rather than being perpendicular to the filter axis 11, as is commonly found in filters.

[0063] While conventional envelope-type filters may exhibit slight variations in the length between their opposing edges, these differences may be due to manufacturing tolerances and do not provide the advantages associated with the differences in edge length and the corresponding increase in size of the opening defined by the open end of the filter in the filter seal of an envelope-type filter as described in connection with this specification (which advantages include easier insertion of the filter support into the interior volume of the filter and / or easier insertion of the filter into the tube sheet opening as described in this specification).

[0064] In one or more embodiments, filter seal 30 can be described as having an elongated shape defining a seal length measured along a seal axis 31 extending between a first end 17 of filter seal 30 adjacent first edge 22 of filter body 20 and a second end 18 of filter seal 30 adjacent second edge 24 of filter body 20. Open end 12 and filter seal 30 are inclined or angled relative to filter axis 11 such that the seal length measured between first end 17 and second end 18 of filter seal 30 is greater than the filter body height measured between first edge 22 and second edge 24 along filter height axis 21, which is oriented transverse to filter axis 11.

[0065] In one or more embodiments, the seal axis 31 can be described as forming an included 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. At the lower end, the included angle formed between the seal axis 31 and the filter axis 11 can be 45 degrees or more, 60 degrees or more, 65 degrees or more, 70 degrees or more, or 75 degrees or more, in one or more embodiments.

[0066] While decreasing the included angle 32 between the filter axis 11 and the seal axis 31 can increase the size of the bag opening 12 / filter seal 30, making installation of the filter 10 easier, decreasing the included angle 32 also increases the second edge 24 of the filter body 20 and, therefore, the overall length of the filter 10 as measured along the filter 10. This increased filter length can be expected to result in a corresponding increase in the size of the collection device within which the filter 10 is installed. Because the increase in the overall size of the collection device can be a concern, it may be preferable for the included angle 32 between the filter axis 11 and the seal axis 31 to be, for example, in the range of 60 degrees to 80 degrees to provide a balance between easier installation and filter length while maintaining pulse cleaning performance and filter life.

[0067] As described herein, the beveled or angled open end 12 and filter seal 30 provide advantages with respect to the size of the opening defined by the open end 12 and the filter seal 30, which provides advantages when placing a support cage or other structure within the interior volume 13 of the filter 10.

[0068] For filters that do not require a support cage or other internal structure, the beveled or angled open end 12 and the enlarged size of the filter seal 30 provide the ability to seal or close larger openings in the tube sheet through which the filter 10 is inserted. Because the filter body height, 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 opening in the tube sheet sealed by the filter seal 30, insertion and removal of the filter 10 from larger openings may also be easier, as described herein.

[0069] In one or more embodiments of the filters having slanted or angled openings described herein, the length of the shorter first edge 22 of the filter body (measured between the closed end 14 and the filter seal 30) is greater than the height of the filter body 20 measured between the first edge 22 and the second edge 24 along the filter height axis 21. As a result, the filters described herein have a greater length than they are high, which, in one or more embodiments, may provide additional filtering capacity compared to shorter filters.

[0070] In one or more embodiments of the filters described herein, the filter body 20 may be comprised of a generally planar filter medium configured to filter air or any other gas passing through the filter medium forming the body 20, such that particulate matter entrained in the air or other gas becomes trapped in or on the filter medium forming the body 20. Generally, the filter medium may preferably be sufficiently flexible to allow the filter medium to flex during pulse washing as described herein, the flexing or movement of the filter medium preferably removing at least a portion of the particulate matter trapped in or on the filter medium forming the filter body 20. The construction of such filter media is well known to those skilled in the art and may include, for example, woven materials, nonwoven materials, paper, etc., selected based on considerations such as the particulate matter to be trapped, airflow requirements, strength requirements, etc. Suitable filter bags may be comprised of one or more layers of filter media, scrims, etc., including one or more of polyester, polypropylene, aramid, polyester / polytetrafluoroethylene materials, etc., in both woven and / or nonwoven structures.

[0071] While the filter 10 illustrated in Figures 1-3 may be constructed of a generally planar filter media, Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the filter having a beveled or angled open end and associated filter seal, which also provides advantages during placement and removal of the filter within a collection device, as described herein.

[0072] The exemplary embodiment of filter 110 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a filter body 120 extending along a filter axis 111 between an open end 112 and a closed end 114. 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 extending from the open end 112 to the closed end 114 of the filter 110. The filter 110 also includes a filter seal 130 configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter 110 is installed within an opening in a tubesheet, such that gas entering the interior volume of the filter 110 must pass through the filter media forming the filter body 120 or through the filter opening at the open end 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter body 120 is formed of pleated filter media, with the pleats extending along the length of the filter body such that the pleats are aligned with the filter axis 111. Alternatively, any other suitable configuration of pleated filter media may be substituted. For example, the pleats may advantageously extend transverse to the filter axis 111 or in any other orientation that provides suitable advantages.

[0073] The exemplary embodiment of filter 210 depicted in Figure 5 includes a filter body 220 extending along a filter axis 211 between an open end 212 and a closed end 214. Filter body 120 is comprised of a series of filter tubes 226 aligned with filter axis 211 such that open end 212 of filter 210 is the collection of the openings of each filter tube 226, while closed end 214 of filter 210 is formed by the closed ends of each filter tube 226. The edges of filter body 220 are formed by the outermost filter tubes, and in the view depicted in Figure 5, a first edge 222 of filter body 220 is formed by the left-most filter tube 226, and a second edge 224 of filter body 220 is formed by the right-most filter tube 226. The filter 210 also includes a filter seal 230 configured to form a seal with a sealing surface when the filter 210 is installed within the opening in the 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 media forming one of the filter tubes 226 of the filter body 220 or through the filter tube opening at the open end 212 of the filter body 220.

[0074] Filter Assembly The filter assemblies described herein may be useful in at least some embodiments of the filters described herein. Referring to Figures 6-7, which are cross-sectional views of Figure 6 taken along line 7-7 in Figure 6, an exemplary embodiment of a filter support 40 is illustrated, where the illustrated filter support 40 includes a support cage 42 and a seal support 44. The support cage 42 is configured to be disposed 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, which extends through the seal support 44. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the support cage 42 includes braces 47 extending between the struts 43 aligned with the cage axis 41, including braces 47 extending between the outermost struts 43 at a distal end 46 of the support cage 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the braces 47 extend transversely to the cage axis 41. The illustrated configuration of struts 43 and braces 47 within support cage 42 provides just one example of a support cage that may be used to support a filter in connection with the filter assemblies described herein.

[0075] In the illustrated embodiment, the struts 43-1 extending between the seal support 44 and the distal end 46 of the support cage 42 are shorter than the struts 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 struts 43-1 between the seal support 44 and their distal ends (at the distal end 46 of the support cage 42) is greater than the height of the support cage 42 measured between the first strut 43-1 and the second strut 43-2 in a direction transverse to the cage axis 41. These relationships may preferably be similar to those found in a filter mounted on the filter support 40 to provide adequate sealing of the support cage 42 within a complementary filter.

[0076] The seal support 44 includes a support opening 45 formed therethrough from the clean side 44-1 to the filter side 44-2 of the seal support 44. In one or more embodiments, the seal opening is elongated in shape, with an opening length measured along an opening axis 49 extending from a first end 48-1 of the support opening 45 to a second end 48-2 of the support opening 45. In one or more embodiments, the opening axis 49 may form an included angle 41-1 with the cage axis 41 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. At the lower end, the included angle between the opening axis 49 and the cage axis 41 may be 45 degrees or more, 60 degrees or more, 65 degrees or more, 70 degrees or more, or 75 degrees or more in one or more embodiments. One range that may be useful may include an included angle 41-1 between the opening axis 49 and the cage axis 41 of 60 to 80 degrees to provide a balance between ease of use of the matching filter and filter size / filtration capacity.

[0077] In one or more embodiments, the opening length of the support opening 45 measured along an opening axis 49 extending between a first end 48-1 of the support opening 45 adjacent the junction between the first support pillar 43-1 and the seal support 44 and a second end 48-2 of the support opening 45 adjacent the junction between the second support pillar 43-2 and the seal support 44 is greater than the support cage height measured between the first support pillar 43-1 and the second support pillar 43-2 in a direction transverse to the cage axis 41.

[0078] Figure 8 is a side view of the assembled filter assembly of Figure 9. In particular, Figure 8 illustrates filter 10 as depicted in Figures 1-3 partially advanced on support cage 42 of filter support 40, while Figure 9 illustrates the fully assembled filter assembly including filter 10 and filter support 40 positioned within the interior volume of filter 10.

[0079] As seen in Figure 8, filter seal 30 of filter 10 is oriented generally perpendicular to filter axis 11 / cage axis 41 so that an enlarged filter opening in filter seal 30 can be used to more easily advance filter 10 over support cage 42. In the illustrated embodiment of filter 10, a portion of second edge 24 adjacent filter seal 30 is folded or compressed to orient filter seal 30 generally transverse to cage axis 41 / filter axis 11 as seen in Figure 8.

[0080] The struts of the support cage 42 mounted on the seal support 44 extend into the filter body 20, with strut 43-1 positioned proximate the first edge 22 of the filter body 20 and strut 43-2 on the opposite side of the support cage 42 positioned proximate the second edge 24 of the filter body 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the struts 43-1 extending between the seal support 44 and the distal end 46 of the support cage 42 are shorter than the struts 43-2 located on the opposite side of the support cage 42 and extending from the seal support 44 to the distal end 46. This relationship is preferably similar to that found in a filter 10 mounted on a filter support 40.

[0081] 9, filter seal 30 seats on filter support 40 on filter side 44-2 of seal support 44, and closed end 14 of filter body 20 is positioned adjacent brace 47 extending between posts 43-1 and 43-2 of support cage 42. In this configuration, opening axis 49 is aligned with seal axis 31, and cage axis 41 is aligned with filter axis 11.

[0082] As a result, filter seal 30 (when installed within the collector) is configured to form a seal with filter side 44-2 of seal support 44 such that gas entering interior volume 13 of filter 10 through filter openings defined in filter seal 30 passes through support openings 45 in seal support 44. In one or more embodiments, seal support 44 may be used to compress filter seal 30 against the clean air side of a tube sheet within the collector to form a seal. As used herein, the term "compressed" refers to at least partially deforming filter seal 30 between seal support 44 and the tube sheet.

[0083] 10-12 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a filter support that may be used with one or more embodiments of the filters and / or collection devices described herein. Filter support 140 includes a seal support 144 and a support cage 142. Support cage 142 includes struts 143 that are generally aligned with a cage axis 141 defined by support cage 142. Stuts 143 extend to a distal end 146 of support cage 142. Seal support 144 is oriented at an angle along opening axis 149, similar to seal support 44 described in connection with filter support 40, with cage axis 141 and opening axis 149 forming an included angle, as described above in connection with filter support 40.

[0084] One feature illustrated in connection with filter support 140 that is not found in filter support 40 is the addition of a venturi 150 mounted to filter support 140. Venturi 150 is used to collect and direct cleaning pulses of gas into the interior volume of a filter mounted on filter support 140 in a collector that uses pulse cleaning to blow trapped particulate matter off a filter mounted on filter support 140. Venturi 150 extends between a collector opening 152 facing away from support cage 142 and a filter opening 154 facing support cage 142. In one or more embodiments, venturi 150 may be described as extending through a support opening in seal support 144. Gas entering the interior volume of a filter mounted on support cage 142 (such that the support cage is located within the interior volume of the filter) passes through venturi 150 before entering the interior volume of the filter.

[0085] In the illustrated embodiment, the collector opening 152 of the venturi 150 may be described as an elongated collector opening extending between a first end 156-1 and a second end 156-2 along the venturi axis 151. The venturi 150 may further be described as having a first depth proximate the first end 156-1 that is greater than a second depth proximate the second end 156-2, the first depth and second depth being measured between the collector opening 152 and the seal support 144 when moving along the cage axis 141.

[0086] 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 a venturi axis 151 defined by the collector opening 152 and an opening axis 149 defined by the support opening in the seal support 144. As described herein, the opening axis 149 extends between a first end and a second end of the support opening 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 included angle 159 with the opening axis of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more. At the upper end, the included angle between the venturi axis 151 and the opening axis 149 can be 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, or 30 degrees or less in one or more embodiments. One range that may be useful for the included angle 159 is 10 degrees to 30 degrees to match the angle of a complementary filter that provides a balance between ease of use and filter size / filtration capacity.

[0087] 11, the venturi 150 has a generally rectangular profile with the collector opening 152 and the filter opening 154 generally parallel to one another, although venturis used in connection with the filters and filter supports described herein may differ. With reference to Figures 13-14, an alternative embodiment of a filter support 240 including a venturi 250 is shown, with the view in Figure 14 taken along the cage axis 241 illustrated in Figure 13.

[0088] Filter support 240 includes a support cage 242 and a seal support 244, which may be very similar to the components shown and described in, for example, Figures 6-7. A venturi 250 attached to seal support 244 includes a collector opening 252 and a filter opening 254, which is located on seal support 244 such that venturi 250 does not extend into the volume defined by support cage 242.

[0089] Both the filter opening 254 at the base of the venturi 250 (which is located at the junction with the seal support 244) and the seal support 244 extend along an opening axis 249 defined by the support opening 245 in the seal support 244 (the filter opening 254 and the support opening 245 are coextensive with one another in the illustrated exemplary embodiment). Additionally, the collector opening 252 may extend along a venturi axis 251 that transverses the cage axis 241 in one or more embodiments.

[0090] 15-17 illustrate another alternative embodiment of a venturi 350 and filter support 340 configured to be assembled with the filter support 340. The filter support 340 includes a support cage 342 and a seal support 344, with the support cage datum 42 extending along a cage axis 341 in a direction away from the seal support 344.

[0091] Venturi 350 includes a venturi base 358 facing clean side 344-1 of seal support 344. A passageway for pulsed gas extends through venturi 350 from collector opening 352 to filter opening 354 in venturi base 358. Further, venturi base 358 is configured to be mounted on clean side 344-1 of seal support 344 such that pulsed gas that has passed through the collector passes through seal opening 345 (see, e.g., FIG. 17 ) and is delivered to the interior volume of a filter mounted on support cage 342.

[0092] The venturi base 358 of the illustrated embodiment of the venturi 350 may, in one or more embodiments, be oriented relative to the cage axis 341 along the same angle as the angle formed between the seal support 344 and the cage axis 341.

[0093] Additionally, when the filter support 340 and the venturi 350 are assembled together, the collector opening 352 may, in one or more embodiments, extend along a venturi axis 351 that transverses the cage axis 341 .

[0094] One potential advantage of a venturi having a collector opening defining a venturi axis oriented relative to the cage axis and seal support as described herein is that the collector opening, when so positioned, may be oriented generally transverse to a pulse axis defined by the filter support and the pulse device used in the collector within which the venturi is installed, which may improve collection of pulsed gases directed into the interior volume of a filter positioned on the filter support, thereby enhancing pulse cleaning of the filter positioned on the filter support.

[0095] Collection device 18-30 illustrate various features of a collection device that may be used in one or more embodiments of the collection device described herein to remove particulate matter from a gas stream (e.g., air) that the particulate matter has been entrained in. The collection device may be particularly adapted to use filters having slanted or angled openings as described herein (which may or may not be provided with a filter support as described herein).

[0096] One exemplary embodiment of a collection device is illustrated in Figures 18-21, with Figure 18 illustrating a tube sheet 70 located within a housing defined by walls 66 to define a clean air volume 64 and a dirty air volume 62 with a clean air outlet 67 used to remove clean air from the clean air volume of collection device 60. A dirty air inlet, not shown, delivers dirty air to dirty air volume 62. Collection device 60 also includes a hopper 68 into which particulate matter enters after removal from a filter located within dirty air volume 62 of collection device 60.

[0097] Tube sheet 70 may be described as having a dirty side 75 facing dirty air volume 62 and a clean side 76 facing clean air volume 64 within collector 60, with "dirty" being used to refer to the portion of collector 60 that receives particulate matter entrained in air or other gases, and "clean" being used to refer to the portion of collector 60 into which air or other gases are pumped after passing through one or more filters within collector 60.

[0098] The illustrated tubesheet 70 includes openings 72-1 and 72-2 (sometimes collectively referred to herein as openings 72) formed therethrough. Each opening 72 may be described as forming an elongated opening having a length along the opening axis that is greater than the width of the opening measured transverse to the opening axis.

[0099] 18-19, aperture 72-1 extends from first end 73-1 to second end 74-1 along aperture axis 71-1, while aperture 72-2 extends from first end 73-2 to second end 74-2 along aperture axis 71-2. For example, as seen in FIG. 19, the length of each aperture 72 measured along its respective aperture axis is greater than its width measured transverse to the aperture axis. Collector axis 61 extends through collector 60.

[0100] In one or more embodiments, the collection apparatus 60 also includes a pulse device located within the clean air volume 64, the pulse device configured to direct pulses of gas through the openings 72 in the tube sheet 70. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 20, the pulse device is in the form of a pair of ejection tubes 85-1 and 85-2. The ejection tube 85-1 is positioned proximate to the opening 72-1 and configured to direct pulses of gas through the opening 72-1, while the ejection tube 85-2 is positioned proximate to the opening 72-2 and configured to direct pulses of gas through the opening 72-2.

[0101] The ejection tube 85-1 directs pulsed gas through a series of openings 82-1, and a pulsed gas stream 84-1 exits the ejection tube 85-1 to be directed toward a venturi 450-1 associated with a filter 410-1 positioned within the opening 72-1 of the collection device 60. The pulsed gas stream 84-1 exiting the openings 82-1 in the ejection tube 85-1 collectively defines a central pulse axis 81-1 extending through the opening 72-1. In one or more embodiments, the central pulse axis 81-1 is preferably aligned with the filter axis 411-1 of the filter 410-1 located within the opening 72-1 to facilitate pulse cleaning of the filter 410-1.

[0102] Similarly, the ejection tube 85-2 directs pulsed gas through a series of openings 82-2, and the pulsed gas stream 84-2 exits the ejection tube 85-2 to be directed toward a venturi 450-2 associated with a filter 410-2 positioned within the opening 72-2 of the collection device 60. Again, the pulsed gas stream 84-2 exiting the openings 82-2 in the ejection tube 85-2 collectively defines a central pulse axis 81-2 extending through the opening 72-2. In one or more embodiments, the central pulse axis 81-2 is preferably aligned with the filter axis 411-2 of the filter 410-2 located within the opening 72-2 to facilitate pulse cleaning of the filter 410-2.

[0103] As described herein, tube sheet 70 of collector 60 is also angled or tilted to accommodate filters and filter assemblies having angled openings. The orientation of the portion of tube sheet 70 containing openings 72 can be described with respect to a reference plane defined by central pulse axes oriented through each of openings 72. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of collector 60 in which central pulse axes 81-1 and 81-2 are aligned internally with one another, a common reference plane RP1 is defined, and reference plane RP1 is oriented transverse to both pulse axes 81-1 and 81-2.

[0104] For an opening 72-2 in the tubesheet 70 through which the central pulse axis 81-2 extends, the distance (D) between RP1 and the clean surface 76 of the tubesheet 70 surrounding the opening 72-2 changes when moving along the opening axis 71-2 of the opening 72-2. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance increases from right to left, i.e., moving from end 73-2 to end 74-2 of the opening 72-2.

[0105] For an opening 72-1 in the tubesheet 70 through which the central pulse axis 81-1 extends, the distance between RP1 and the clean surface 76 of the tubesheet 70 surrounding the opening 72-1 changes when moving along the opening axis 71-1 of the opening 72-1. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance increases from left to right, i.e., moving from end 73-1 to end 74-1 of the opening 72-1.

[0106] Another way in which the orientation of the apertures 72 in the tubesheet 70 of the collection device 60 may be characterized is based on the angular relationship between the aperture axis and a reference plane oriented transverse to the central pulse axis passing through the aperture 72. Reference plane RP1 provides the same angular relationship, but FIG. 18 includes a second reference plane RP2 oriented parallel to reference plane RP1 for clarity in FIG. 18.

[0107] For aperture 72-1, aperture axis 71-1 forms an included angle α-1 (alpha-1) with reference plane RP2 of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 20 degrees or more, 25 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more. At the upper end, the included angle α-1 (alpha-1) between aperture axis 71-1 and reference plane RP2 is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less. One range that may be useful includes an included angle α-1 (alpha-1) with reference plane RP2 of 10 degrees to 30 degrees to provide a balance between ease of use of a compatible filter and filter size / filtration capacity.

[0108] For aperture 72-2, aperture axis 71-2 forms an included angle α-2 (alpha-2) with reference plane RP2 of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 20 degrees or more, 25 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more. At the upper end, the included angle α-2 (alpha-2) between aperture axis 71-2 and reference plane RP2 is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less. Again, one useful range includes an included angle α-2 (alpha-2) with reference plane RP2 of 10 degrees to 30 degrees to provide a balance between ease of use of the corresponding filter and filter size / filtration capacity.

[0109] It will be understood that although the angles formed between the opening axis and the reference plane are the same, in one or more alternative embodiments of the collection devices described herein, these angles may vary as needed to accommodate different angular relationships between the angled openings of the filters used in the collection devices described herein.

[0110] A pair of filters 410-1 and 410-2 are positioned within openings 72-1 and 72-2, respectively, in tube sheet 70 within collection device 60. Referring to FIG. 20, it can be seen that filter seals 430-1 and 430-2 of filters 410-1 and 410-2 form a seal with clean surface 76 of tube sheet 70 surrounding each of the openings.

[0111] In the illustrated embodiment, filters 410-1 and 410-2 also include seal supports 444-1 and 444-2 attached to venturis 450-1 and 450-2. However, the seal supports may be used to at least partially compress filter seals 430-1 and 430-2 to form a proper seal, prevent the undesired passage of air or other gases and / or particulate matter between the interfaces of filter seals 430-1 and 430-2 and tubesheet 70, and facilitate proper filtration of particulate matter from air or other gases delivered to dirty air volume 62 of collector 60, if desired.

[0112] As described herein and illustrated in FIG. 20, central pulse axes 81-1 and 81-2 passing through each opening 72-1 and 72-2 in tube sheet 70 are aligned with filter axes 411-1 and 411-2 of each filter 410-1 and 410-2 located within openings 72-1 and 72-2.

[0113] Figure 21 (which is a simplified version of the collector 60 shown in Figure 20) provides an example illustrating one advantage of the enlarged opening provided by the angled or tilted filter seal and filter opening of the filter as described in the present invention when placing or removing a filter relative to an opening in a tube sheet. As shown in Figure 21, it may be beneficial or even necessary to remove a pulse device located within the clean air volume 64 of the collector 60 during insertion and / or removal of a filter.

[0114] 21 includes a filter seal 430-2 extending along a seal axis 431-2 oriented at a non-perpendicular angle to the filter axis 411-2, e.g., as described above in connection with filters 10 and 110. As a result, the height of the filter measured between edges 422-2 and 424-2 transverse to the filter axis 411-2 is less than the length of the filter seal 430-2 measured along the seal axis 431-2. The enlarged seal 430-2 allows for a larger opening 72-2 in the tube sheet 70, with the larger opening 72-2 having 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.

[0115] In other words, the opening 72-2 through which the filter 410-2 is inserted is larger than the filter 410-2 to facilitate the passage of the filter 410-2 through the opening 72-2. Of course, it is understood that any opening through which a filter is inserted will be at least as large as the filter in any conventional collection device. However, the enlarged filter opening provided by the angled or sloped filter seal and corresponding filter opening provides even more clearance between the opening through which the filter passes and the edge of the filter during insertion and removal.

[0116] Moving the filter 410-2 through the opening 72-2 in a direction that is not aligned with the central pulse axis 81-2 provides the operator with the ability to utilize the larger opening 72-2 compared to the smaller filter 410-2 when inserting and / or removing the filter from the opening 72-2.

[0117] 22 illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of the collector 160. The collector 160 includes a tube sheet 170 located within a housing defined by walls 166 to define a clean air volume 164 and a dirty air volume 162, with a clean air outlet 167 providing a path for clean air to exit the clean air volume 164. A dirty air inlet, not shown, delivers dirty air to the dirty air volume 162. The collector 160 also includes a hopper 168 into which particulate matter enters after removal from a filter located within the dirty air volume 162.

[0118] Tube sheet 170 may be described as having a dirty side 175 facing dirty air volume 162 and a clean side 176 facing clean air volume 164 within collection device 60. The illustrated tube sheet includes openings 172-1 and 172-2 formed therethrough.

[0119] The collection system 160 also includes a pulse device in the form of two sets of nozzles 185-1 and 185-2. In particular, the nozzle 185-1 is aligned with the opening 172-1, while the nozzle 185-2 is aligned with the opening 172-2. Each of the nozzles 185-1 defines a nozzle axis 186-1 along which the pulsed gas (e.g., air) is directed upon exiting the nozzle 185-1. The pulsed gas is supplied from a plenum 187 to which the nozzles 185-1 are fluidly connected. The nozzle axes 186-1 collectively define a central pulse axis 181-1 that extends through the opening 172-1.

[0120] Nozzle 185-2 is aligned with opening 172-2 and defines a nozzle axis 186-2 along which pulsed gas (e.g., air) is directed upon exiting nozzle 185-2. Pulsed gas is also supplied from plenum 187 to which nozzle 185-2 is fluidly connected. Nozzle axis 186-2 collectively define a central pulse axis 181-2 that extends through opening 172-2.

[0121] As noted in connection with the various filter embodiments described herein, filter 510 is positioned within opening 172-1 in FIG. 17 to illustrate that central pulse axis 181-1 is preferably aligned with filter axis DXI extending through filter 510.

[0122] While tube sheet 170 and openings 172-1 and 172-2 formed therein are generally planar, collector 160 includes a pair of tube sheet adapters that are used to accommodate filters and filter assemblies having angled openings, as described herein. In particular, collector 160 includes one exemplary embodiment of an adapter 190 positioned within clean air volume 164 over opening 172-1 and another adapter 190 positioned within clean air volume 164 over opening 172-2.

[0123] 23-25 ​​illustrate various views of the adapter 190 removed from the collection apparatus 160. The illustrated adapter 190 includes a sleeve 192 extending between a base opening in a base 196 and a receiving opening 194. The base 196 of the adapter 190 is configured to seal against the clean surface of a tubesheet (e.g., clean surface 176 of tubesheet 170) when the adapter 190 is properly positioned within the collection apparatus.

[0124] A platform 193 is located within the sleeve 192 and includes a platform opening 198 configured to receive a filter in the same manner as described with respect to the tubesheet openings described herein. Essentially, the platform 193 defines within the confines of the sleeve 192 an effective clean surface 176' of the tubesheet (e.g., tubesheet 170) on which the adapter 190 is positioned, the effective clean surface 176' being removed or spaced from the planar tubesheet on which the adapter 190 is positioned.

[0125] 23, platform 193 (shown in dashed lines because it is obscured by sleeve 192) is preferably oriented at an angle relative to a central pulse axis (e.g., central pulse axis 181-1 shown in each of FIGS. 23-25) that is similar to the angles described herein for tube sheets having sloped or angled surfaces configured to receive filters with sloped or angled openings as described herein. In one or more embodiments, the included angle β (beta) shown in FIG. 23 between platform axis 191 extending across platform opening 198 formed in platform 193 and reference plane 171 defined by the tube sheet on which adapter 190 sits (and which typically intersects central pulse axis 181-1 extending through platform opening 198) 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. At the lower end, the included angle β (beta) can be, in one or more embodiments, 45 degrees or greater, 60 degrees or greater, 65 degrees or greater, 70 degrees or greater, or 75 degrees or greater. One range that can be useful for angle β (beta) is 60 degrees to 80 degrees to match the angle of a complementary filter that provides a balance between ease of use and filter size / filtration capacity.

[0126] Figures 26-28 are provided to illustrate (schematically) just a few of the many different possible tube sheets that may be provided in the collection devices described herein.

[0127] In FIG. 26, the tubesheet 270 can be described as a sawtooth pattern in which the apertures 272 are oriented along aperture axes 271 so that the aperture axes 271 form a similar angle with a set of aligned pulse axes 281 extending through the apertures 272 in the tubesheet 270.

[0128] In FIG. 27, tube sheet 370 can be described as having a convex shape with openings 372 oriented along opening axes 371 such that the opening axes intersect each other on tube sheet 370 and form equal but opposite angles with pulse axis 381 extending through openings 372.

[0129] 28, tubesheet 470 may be described as having both a convex and a concave shape. In particular, the tubesheet 470 including a pair of openings on the left side of the tubesheet 470 forms a concave shape with openings 472 oriented along opening axis 471 (e.g., similar to openings 72 in tubesheet 70 illustrated in FIGS. 13-16), while the portion of tubesheet 470 including a pair of openings 472 on the right side of the tubesheet 470 forms a convex shape similar to the shape illustrated in FIG.

[0130] 29 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a collector 260, sometimes commonly referred to as a cased collector, in which both the clean air volume and the dirty air volume are defined by the housing of the collector. In particular, the housing defines a dirty air volume bounded in part by the dirty surface of a tubesheet within the collector, and the collector includes a cased collector with a filter body of a filter located within the collector located within the dirty air volume.

[0131] 30 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an insertable collector 360 in which the tube sheet and housing combine to define a clean air volume, while the filter 310 is positioned within a dirty air volume that is defined after the insertable collector 360 is attached to another enclosed structure (bin, silo, etc.). In such an insertable collector, the housing does not define a dirty air volume until the collector is attached to another enclosed structure (bin, silo, etc.).

[0132] Referring to the drawing figures, in which like reference numbers indicate like parts and assemblies throughout the several views, FIGS. 31-36 illustrate various features that may be used in one or more embodiments of a collection device described herein to remove particulate matter from an entrained gas stream (e.g., air). The collection device may be particularly adapted to use filters having slanted or angled openings as described herein (which filters may or may not be provided with a filter support as described herein). In one or more embodiments, the collection device may include a filter 10 as described herein. In one or more embodiments, the collection device may further include some or all of the various embodiments of any filter assembly as described herein, any collection device 60 as described herein, and any filter support 40 as described herein.

[0133] One exemplary embodiment is illustrated in Figure 31, which shows a schematic diagram of a collection device 600. The illustrated collection device 600 includes a housing 602 including a first panel 617 (e.g., functioning as a tube sheet) and a second panel 619, a clean air chamber 618 (e.g., including panels 618A and 618B), an access cover 604, a manifold 606, a filter 610, and a fan enclosure 660. The collection device 600 may optionally further include a filter housing 700 surrounding the filter 610 to define a dirty air chamber 616 that houses the filter 610 (e.g., when the collection device 600 is provided as a "cased collection device"). A filter axis 611 is shown extending through the access cover 604, the clean air chamber first portion 618A of the clean air chamber, and the filter 610.

[0134] During use, dirty air is directed through filter 610, which captures or traps particulate matter in the dirty air. Clean air passes through filter 610 and enters clean air chamber 618. The clean air may then be exhausted to the surrounding environment (not shown). Optionally, a fan (not shown) located within fan housing 660 may draw air through collection device 600, as described herein. Over time, particles or other matter accumulate on the outside of filter 610 and / or within dirty air chamber 616. To dislodge or remove particles outside filter 610, a counter-current pulse of air may be directed through filter 610. The pulse may, in one or more embodiments, be directed using a blowoff tube (not shown) located within clean air chamber 618, and compressed gas (e.g., air) may be supplied from and using manifold 606.

[0135] The housing 602 defines a clean air chamber 618 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment between a first panel 617 (e.g., 617A, 617B) and a second panel 619 (e.g., 619A, 619B). The first panel 617 may include a tubesheet section 617A and a housing section 617B. The second panel 619 may include an access section 619A and an exhaust section 619B. The first panel 617 and the second panel 619 may advantageously provide structure to or be part of the housing 602. The housing 602 (and associated panels) may be constructed using one or more of metal, plastic, composite, ceramic, or any other suitable material or combination of materials.

[0136] The illustrated exemplary embodiment of collection device 600 includes a filter opening 630A located in tube sheet section 617A. Filter opening 630A is preferably sized to retain the open end of filter 610, as described further herein. Tube sheet section 617A, in one or more embodiments, may include a mount for removably securing filter 610 within filter opening 630A. In proper operation, unfiltered air must first enter / pass through filter 610 and then pass through filter opening 630A in tube sheet section 617A before it can enter clean air chamber 618.

[0137] While several specific filters are described further herein, it should be understood that a variety of filters of different materials and sizes can be used with one or more embodiments of the collection devices described herein. The exemplary embodiment of filter 610, in one or more embodiments, includes a flange or other feature at proximal end 609A that can facilitate attachment of filter 610 to filter opening 630A in tubesheet section 617A in a manner that reduces or prevents leakage at the interface. Proximal end 609A is the end of filter 610 that is proximate filter opening 630A and that is opposite distal end 609B of filter 610. In one or more embodiments, filter 610 can take any suitable form, such as a bag, a sock, a cartridge, or the like, for example.

[0138] The illustrated exemplary embodiment of collection device 600 includes an access opening 604A located in access section 619A of second panel 619. Access opening 604A may be sized, for example, to allow an operator or user access to the interior of housing 602. Access opening 604A may advantageously provide access to the interior of housing 602 to allow removal and replacement of filter 610 in filter opening 630A. Access cover 604 closes access opening 604A. In one or more embodiments, access cover 604 may take any suitable form capable of closing access opening 604A for proper operation of the collection device, such as a hinged door that can be opened and closed by an operator or user, a removable panel, a roll-up panel, etc.

[0139] The clean air chamber first portion 618A, in the illustrated embodiment, is located between the tube sheet section 617A of the first panel 617 and the access section 619A of the second panel 619. The clean air chamber first portion 618A defines a first clean air subvolume. The illustrated collection device 600 further includes a clean air chamber second portion 618B, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is also located between the first panel 617 and the second panel 619.

[0140] The filter 610, in one or more embodiments, is positioned within a filter opening 630A in the tube sheet section 617A of the first panel 617, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, clean air entering the clean air chamber first portion 618A through the filter opening 630A must pass through the filter 610 before passing through the filter opening 630A in the tube sheet section 617A and entering the clean air chamber. The illustrated filter 610 includes a distal end 609B located distal to the filter opening. A filter axis 11 extends through the filter opening 630A and the distal end 609B. The filter axis 11 also passes through the clean air chamber first portion 618A and the access opening 604A in the access section 619A. In one or more embodiments, the location of the filter axis 11 within the filter opening 630A can be described as being located at the geometric center of a projection of the filter opening 630A onto a plane oriented perpendicular to the filter axis 11.

[0141] In one or more embodiments, such as the exemplary embodiment shown, the filter axis 11 does not extend entirely through the clean air chamber second portion 618B. In such embodiments, the clean air chamber second portion 618B can be described as being offset from the clean air chamber first portion 618A in a direction transverse to the filter axis 11. That offset, in one or more embodiments, can provide an opportunity to provide a collection device that includes a clean air chamber with a reduced or controlled depth to facilitate filter removal and replacement, as described herein. Various offset distances, including various clean air chamber volumes and shapes, are contemplated by the present disclosure.

[0142] In one or more embodiments (as shown in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 31-36), collection device 600 can be oriented such that filter axis 11 is vertical (i.e., aligned with the direction of gravity). In alternative embodiments, collection device 600 can be oriented such that filter axis 11 forms any suitable angle with respect to the direction of gravity. In some alternative orientations, the outer edge of manifold 606 or the outer edge of fan housing 660 (which may be defined as the edge of an element distal to filter axis 11) can be located at the bottom or base of the collection device.

[0143] The ability to position collection device 600 so that filter axis 11 is oriented at any suitable angle relative to the direction of gravity allows collection device 600 to be installed in a variety of orientations as needed to suit a particular location and / or to enhance one or more selected benefits of a particular embodiment (e.g., filter removal / replacement, space savings, efficient filtration, etc.).

[0144] The second portion 618B of the clean air chamber is adjacent to the first portion 618A of the clean air chamber in the illustrated embodiment. Such a configuration may advantageously provide a larger surface area on the housing 602 for additional elements (e.g., the access cover 604, the manifold 606, and the fan housing 660), and thus, in one or more embodiments, may allow for various configurations of the collection device components described herein. In embodiments without the fan 612, the fan housing 660 may be smaller. These elements may also advantageously allow the collection device 600 to be installed in various orientations as needed to fit a particular location or to improve one or more selected benefits of a particular implementation (e.g., filter removal / replacement, collection device size, etc.).

[0145] In one or more embodiments of the encased collector described herein, a filter housing 700 may be coupled to the tubesheet section 617A. The filter housing 700 may surround the filter 610 to define a dirty air chamber. Collectors that do not include a filter housing 700 defining a dirty air chamber are sometimes referred to as "insertable" collectors, in which the filter 610 is inserted into a volume from which particulate matter and air are to be removed. Collectors that include an optional filter housing 700 defining a dirty air chamber typically include a dirty air inlet configured to deliver dirty air (e.g., air containing particulate matter to be removed from the air) into the dirty air chamber defined by the housing 700. Such systems are well known, and their features will not be described further herein.

[0146] The filter 610 in the collection device 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 opening 630A in the tube sheet section 617A, including the distal end 609B and the filter opening 630A.

[0147] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the clean air chamber first portion 618A defines a first portion depth D2 measured along the filter axis 11 between the filter opening 630A in the tube sheet section 617A of the first panel 617 and the access opening 604A in the access section 619A of the second panel 619, including the filter opening 630A and the access opening 604A. In one or more embodiments, the first portion depth D2 may be equal to or less than half the filter length L. This relationship may advantageously reduce the volume of the collection device and may further enable efficient cleaning, maintenance, inspection, and / or replacement of the filter and / or blowout tube (see, e.g., FIG. 35 and related discussion). At the upper end, the first portion depth D2 may be equal to or greater than 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% of the filter length L in one or more embodiments. At the lower end, the depth D2 of the first portion can be 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% or more of the filter length L in one or more embodiments.

[0148] 32 shows both a prior art collector 1 (the Donaldson Company Dalamatic Insertable "DLMV" filtration system, described at least in DALAMATIC Dust Collectors, Donaldson TORIT brochure, donaldsontorit.com, accessed on February 24, 2023) and an exemplary embodiment of collector 600 described herein. As shown, prior art collector 1 includes similar structure, but with a deeper clean air chamber that the filter must pass through when it is removed or inserted.

[0149] Figure 33 illustrates the collector of Figure 32 with one or more portions of the collector's housing removed to expose some of the collector's internal components. As seen in Figure 33, the illustrated embodiment of collector 600 includes a clean air outlet 611 in fluid communication with the clean air chamber second portion 618B. Clean air entering the clean air chamber first portion 618A enters the clean air chamber second portion 618B before exiting the clean air chamber 618. The clean air outlet 611 may be located in an exhaust section 619B. The exhaust section 619B may be located adjacent to the access section 619A.

[0150] For purposes of this disclosure, tube sheet section 617A may be a tube sheet 670, as described further herein (e.g., instead of an impermeable wall of housing 602). In embodiments where tube sheet section 617A is a tube sheet 670, tube sheet 670 further separates the interior volume of housing 602 and associated clean air chamber 618 from filter 610 and optional dirty air chamber 616. Tube sheet 670 may be described as having a dirty air side facing dirty air chamber 616 and a clean air side facing clean air chamber 618. In embodiments where tube sheet section 617A is a tube sheet 670, tube sheet 670 includes a filter opening 630A within and / or over which filter 610 is positioned, as seen in FIGS. 31 and 33 .

[0151] In one or more embodiments, the filter opening 630A comprises a first filter opening 630A of a plurality of filter openings 630A located in the tubesheet section 617A, as shown in FIG. 33 . The filter 610 may comprise a first filter 610 of a plurality of filters 610 positioned within the plurality of filter openings 630A. The filter axis 11 may comprise a first filter axis 11 of a plurality of filter axes 11 extending through the plurality of filter openings 630A. The plurality of filter axes 11 may pass through the clean air chamber first portion 618A and the access section 619A.

[0152] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 33 , a fan 612 and a motor 614 are also shown. A fan housing 660 may be coupled to the housing 602 proximate 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 ambient environment 800. In embodiments in which the collection device 600 is mounted vertically, such that the filter axis 11 is perpendicular to the ground, the fan air outlet 611B faces the ground and may be protected from wind, rain, and / or ambient elements. In further embodiments in which the collection device 600 is not mounted vertically, the fan air outlet 611B may be protected from wind, rain, and / or ambient elements via a grate or other breathable cover. The fan housing 660 may include a fan 612 mounted within the fan housing 660. The fan 612 may be mounted proximate the fan air inlet 611A. In an alternative embodiment, the fan 612 is mounted distal to the fan air inlet 611A. In a further alternative embodiment, the fan 612 may be offset a selected distance from the nearest filter axis 11. In a further alternative embodiment, there may be no fan 612 and the fan housing 660 may be smaller.

[0153] Fan housing 660 may further include motor 614. Motor 614 may be coupled to fan 612. Motor 614 may be configured to power fan 612 to draw air from clean air outlet 611 toward ambient environment 800. Fan 612 may advantageously draw unfiltered air into collection device 600 and push filtered air out of collection device 600, increasing the efficiency and / or speed of collection device 600. The motor may include any electric, gas-operated, or battery-powered fan 612 sized to fit collection device 600.

[0154] Figure 34 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the collection apparatus described herein and illustrated in Figures 32-33. The illustrated collection apparatus 600 also includes an ejection tube 620 as part of a pulse-jet cleaning system. The pulse-jet cleaning system may include, for example, the ejection tube 620 and a manifold 606. The ejection tube 620 is configured to direct air pulses into the filter 610, as described herein. The collection apparatus 600 may also include an optional hopper (e.g., reference numeral 568 in Figure 7) for collecting particulate matter shaken off the filter 610, as described herein.

[0155] The ejection pipe 620 may extend along an ejection pipe axis J. The ejection pipe 620 transports gas (e.g., air) from an ambient environment (e.g., ambient environment 800 in FIG. 33 ) to an outlet (e.g., lateral opening 626 in FIG. 35 ). The ejection pipe 620 may be tubular or may have any other shape. The ejection pipe 620 may extend along an ejection pipe axis J within the clean air chamber 618. The ejection pipe axis J may be substantially parallel to the surface area of ​​the first panel 617. This may advantageously allow for more precise air pulses to be delivered into the filter 610, which may more efficiently remove particles. However, in alternative embodiments, the ejection pipe axis J may not be substantially parallel to the surface area of ​​the first panel 617. This may advantageously allow filter 610 to be mounted in housing 602 at an angle so that air pulses are still pulsed directly into filter 610 along filter axis 11, although filter axis 11 may be slightly tilted while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0156] Also seen in Figure 34 is an optional support cage 642, which in one or more embodiments may be attached to the tube sheet 670. The support cage 642, described herein with reference to further embodiments as 42, may be provided to help support the filter 610.

[0157] Figure 35 is an enlarged, partial side view of the collector of Figure 34. The illustrated outlet tube 620 in connection with the exemplary embodiment of the filtration collector 600 is configured to direct air into the filter 610 through a filter opening 630A in the tube sheet 670. The air from the outlet 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. Pat. No. 4,218,227 (Frey), U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,746 (Raether), U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,173 (Johnson et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,592 (Green et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,708 (Kosmider et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,648 (Raether).

[0158] More specifically, the ejection pipe 620 may include a lateral opening 626. The lateral opening 626 may open to the filter opening 630A side. The ejection pipe 620 may include a first ejection pipe 620 of a plurality of ejection pipes 620 positioned within the clean air chamber 618. The lateral opening 626 may include a first lateral opening 626 of a plurality of lateral openings 626 positioned in the plurality of ejection pipes 620.

[0159] Multiple lateral openings 626 may be positioned on a single ejection pipe 620. Multiple lateral openings 626 may be positioned across various ejection pipes 620 of the multiple ejection pipes 620. A single ejection pipe 620 may have one or more lateral openings 626. The lateral openings 626 may vary in size, shape, and distribution along the ejection pipe 620 or multiple ejection pipes 620. The ejection pipes 620 may be provided as part of a pulse-jet cleaning system that includes one or more sources of pressurized gas (e.g., air), 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 ejection pipe 620 or multiple ejection pipes 620.

[0160] 36A-36C illustrate various stages of removing and / or reinserting the ejection tube 620 into the housing 602. A method for servicing the ejection tube 620 of the collection device 600 can include, in any order, opening the access cover 604 (FIG. 36A), lifting the ejection tube 620 toward the open access cover 604 (FIG. 36B), disconnecting the ejection tube 620 from the housing 602, removing the ejection tube 620 from the collection device 600 (FIG. 36C), positioning the ejection tube 620, inserting a different ejection tube 620 into the collection device 600 (FIG. 36C), connecting the different ejection tube 620 to the housing 602 (FIG. 36B), and closing the access cover 604 (FIG. 36A). To remove the ejection tube 620 from the housing 602, the ejection tube 620 can be removed from the connecting piece 622. To remove the ejection tube 620 from the collection device 600, the user can allow the distal end 624 to remain within the housing, lift the proximal end opposite the distal end 624 out of the access opening 604A, and then remove the distal end 624. The reverse can be done to insert the ejection tube 620.

[0161] A similar method may be used to remove and / or reinsert filter 610 into housing 602. A method for servicing filter 610 in collection device 600 may include, in any order, opening access cover 604 ( FIG. 36A ), moving filter 610 toward access opening 604A so that the body of filter 610 passes through filter opening 630A in tubesheet section 617A to remove filter 610 from collection device 600 (not shown), inserting a different filter 610 into collection device 600 (not shown), and closing access cover 604 ( FIG. 36A ).

[0162] Replacement, removal, reinsertion, and / or servicing of ejection tube 620, filter 610, or any other internal components of collection device 600 may be facilitated by reducing the depth of the clean air chamber, as described herein. More specifically, in one or more embodiments of collection devices described herein, if the depth D2 of the first portion is, for example, less than or equal to half the filter length L, a user may reach into the collection device and grab the filter to remove / replace it.

[0163] Exemplary Embodiments The following are some exemplary aspects of the filters, filter assemblies, collection devices, and methods described herein.

[0164] In independent aspect A1, a filter described herein includes a filter body attached to a filter seal, the filter body including an envelope-like filter body including a filter media defining an interior 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, the first major side and the second major side being defined by the closed end and open end of the filter body when moving along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side further varying along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end. The filter body is defined by a first edge and a second edge when moving along a line, the first edge and the second edge extending from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, the filter body including pleated filter media including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end or to the plurality of filter tubes, the filter seal is positioned on an outer periphery of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with the sealing surface when the filter is installed in the opening in the tube sheet so that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter media or the filter openings, and the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

[0165] In aspect A2 according to aspect A1, the filter seal has an elongated shape including a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal proximate a first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal proximate a second edge of the filter body, the seal length being greater than a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0166] In aspect A3 according to any one of aspects A1-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 between the first edge and the second edge along the filter height axis.

[0167] In aspect A4 according to any one of aspects A2 to A3, the seal axis forms an angle with the filter axis 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.

[0168] In aspect A5, a filter described herein includes a filter body attached to a filter seal, the filter body comprising an envelope-shaped filter body including a filter media defining an interior 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, the first major side and the second major side being defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moving along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side being further defined by a first edge and a second edge when moving along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end, the first edge and the second edge extending from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, the filter body extending along the filter axis from the filter seal to the closed end or a plurality of filters. the filter body includes a pleated filter media including pleats extending into the filter tube; a filter seal positioned on an outer periphery of the open end of the filter body and configured to form a seal with the sealing surface when the filter is installed in the opening in the tube sheet so that gas entering the interior volume must pass through the filter media or the filter opening; the filter seal has an elongated shape including a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal proximate a first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal proximate a second edge of the filter body, the seal length being greater than a filter body height measured between the first edge and the second edge along the filter height axis, and the seal axis forming an included angle with the filter axis 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.

[0169] 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 more, 60 degrees or more, 65 degrees or more, 70 degrees or more, or 75 degrees or more.

[0170] In embodiment A7 according to any one of embodiments A1-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.

[0171] In embodiment A8 according to any one of embodiments A1-A7, the filter body includes a filter body height measured along a filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge, and the filter body includes a filter body width measured between the first major side and the second major side of the filter body in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis, and the filter body width is no greater than 0.25, no greater than 0.2, or no greater than 0.1 times the filter body height.

[0172] In embodiment A9 according to any one of embodiments A1-A8, the filter body includes pleated filter media including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end.

[0173] In independent aspect B1, a filter assembly as described herein includes a filter including a filter body attached to a filter seal, the filter body including an envelope-like filter body including a filter media defining an interior 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, the first major side and the second major side being moved by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moved along the filter axis. the first and second major sides are further defined by first and second edges when moving along a filter height axis oriented transverse to the filter axis, the first and second edges extend from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, a filter seal is positioned on an outer periphery of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with the sealing surface when the filter is installed in the opening in the tube sheet such that gas entering the interior volume must pass through the filter media or the filter opening, and a filter support is attached to the support cage. the filter body includes a seal support attached thereto, the support cage extending away from the seal support along a cage axis aligned with the filter axis when the support cage is located within the interior volume of the filter and the filter seal is in contact with the seal support; the support cage is configured to be disposed within the interior volume of the filter, the support cage including a distal end proximate the closed end of the filter body when the filter seal is in contact with the seal support; when the support cage is located within the interior volume of the filter, the support cage includes first struts located proximate a first edge of the filter body and second struts located proximate a second edge of the filter body, the first struts extending from the seal support to a distal end proximate the closed end of the filter, and the second struts extending from the seal support to a distal end proximate the closed end of the filter; the seal support including a support opening aligned with the filter opening when the support cage is located within the interior volume of the filter; and the filter seal configured to form a seal with the filter side of the seal support such that gas entering the interior volume through the filter opening passes through the support opening in the seal support.

[0174] In embodiment B2 according to embodiment B1, the filter support includes a venturi attached to the filter support, and gas entering the internal volume through the filter opening passes through the venturi before entering the internal volume of the filter when the support cage is positioned within the internal volume of the filter.

[0175] 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, the collector opening including an elongated collector opening extending from a first end to a second end along the venturi axis, the venturi including a first depth adjacent the first end that is greater than a second depth adjacent the second end, the first depth being measured between the first end of the collector opening and the seal support in a direction along the cage axis, and the second depth being measured between the second end of the collector opening and the seal support in a direction aligned with the cage axis.

[0176] In aspect B4 according to any one of aspects B2-B3, the support opening of the seal support has an elongated shape with an opening length measured along an opening axis extending between a first end of the support opening proximate a junction between the first strut and the seal support and a second end of the support opening proximate a junction between the second strut and the seal support, and the venturi axis forms an included angle with the opening axis of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more, and optionally, the included angle between the venturi axis and the opening axis is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, or 30 degrees or less.

[0177] In aspect B5 according to any one of aspects B1-B4, the support opening has an elongated shape including an opening length measured along an opening axis extending between a first end of the support opening proximate the junction between the first strut and the seal support and a second end of the support opening proximate the junction between the second strut and the seal support, the opening length being greater than a support cage height measured between the first strut and the second strut in a direction transverse to the cage axis.

[0178] In embodiment B6 according to embodiment B5, the opening axis forms an included angle with the cage axis 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.

[0179] In embodiment B7 according to embodiment B6, the angle between the opening 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.

[0180] In embodiment B8 according to any one of embodiments B1-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 between the first strut and the second strut in a direction transverse to the cage axis.

[0181] In aspect B9 according to any one of aspects B1-B18, the filter seal has an elongated shape including a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal proximate a first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal proximate a second edge of the filter body, the seal length being greater than a filter body height measured along the filter height axis between the first edge and the second edge.

[0182] In embodiment B10 according to embodiment B9, the seal axis forms an included angle with the filter axis 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.

[0183] In aspect B11 according to claim aspect B10, the angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is 45 degrees or more, 60 degrees or more, 65 degrees or more, 70 degrees or more, or 75 degrees or more.

[0184] 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 between the first edge and the second edge along the filter height axis.

[0185] In embodiment B13 according to any one of embodiments B9-B12, the filter body includes a filter body height measured along a filter height axis between a first edge and a second edge, and the filter body includes a filter body width measured between a first major side and a second major side of the filter body in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the filter height axis, and the filter body width is no greater than 0.25, no greater than 0.2, or no greater than 0.1 times the filter body height.

[0186] In an independent 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 operably attached to the tube sheet, the housing defining a clean air volume partially bounded by the tube sheet, the clean side of the tube sheet facing the clean air volume; a plurality of apertures formed through the tube sheet, each aperture of the plurality of apertures including an elongated aperture including a length extending along an aperture axis that is greater than a width of the aperture measured in a direction transverse to the aperture axis, and for each aperture of the plurality of apertures, a distance between the clean side of the tube sheet surrounding each aperture and a reference plane oriented transverse to a central pulse axis passing through the aperture changes when moving along the aperture axis; a pulse device located within the clean air volume, the pulse device configured to send pulsed gas through the plurality of apertures in the tube sheet, the pulse device defining a central pulse axis extending through each aperture of the plurality of apertures in the tube sheet; and a filter positioned within each aperture of the plurality of apertures.Each filter includes a filter body attached to a filter seal, the filter body including an envelope-like filter body containing a filter media defining an interior 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, the first major side and the second major side being defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body when moving along the filter axis, the first major side and the second major side being further defined by a first edge and a second edge when moving along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end, an edge of the filter body extends from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, the filter seal is positioned on an outer periphery of the open end of the filter body and is compressed against the clean surface of the tube sheet to form a seal with the clean surface of the tube sheet when the filter is installed in a selected one of the plurality of openings so that gas entering the interior volume must pass through the filter media or filter opening, the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body, and / or for each opening of the plurality of openings, an opening axis and a reference plane oriented transverse to a central pulse axis passing through the opening form an included angle of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 20 degrees or more, 25 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more.

[0187] In aspect C2 according to aspect C1, for each of the plurality of apertures, the included angle between the aperture axis and the reference plane is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less.

[0188] In aspect C3 according to any one of aspects C1-C2, the pulse device includes a plurality of ejection tubes located within the clean air volume, each ejection tube of the plurality of ejection tubes including a plurality of orifices configured to direct air from the ejection tube through a selected one of the plurality of openings in the tube sheet.

[0189] In embodiment C4 according to any one of embodiments C1-C3, the filter body includes pleated filter media including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end or to the plurality of filter tubes.

[0190] In aspect C5 according to any one of aspects C1-C3, for each filter positioned within one of the plurality of openings, a support cage of the filter support is positioned within the interior volume of the filter, the support cage is attached to the seal support and extends in a direction away from the seal support along a cage axis aligned with the filter axis when the support cage is located within the interior volume of the filter and a filter seal is in contact with the seal support, the seal support includes a support opening that aligns with the filter opening and the opening in the tube sheet when the support cage is located within the interior volume of the filter, and the filter seal is passed through the filter opening to the interior. The gas entering the volume is compressed against the clean surface of the tube sheet between the tube sheet and the filter side of the seal support so as to pass through the support openings in the seal support, and optionally the support cage includes a distal end proximate the closed end of the filter body when the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, and when the support cage is positioned within the interior volume of the filter, the support cage includes first struts located proximate a first edge of the filter body and second struts located proximate a second edge of the filter body, the first struts extending from the seal support to a distal end proximate the closed end of the filter, and the second struts extending from the seal support to a distal end proximate the closed end of the filter.

[0191] In independent 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, the housing defining a clean air volume partially bounded by the tube sheet, the clean side of the tube sheet facing the clean air volume; a plurality of openings formed through the tube sheet, each opening of the plurality of openings including an elongated opening including a length extending along an opening axis that is greater than a width of the opening measured in a direction transverse to the opening axis; and a pulse device located within the clean air volume, the pulse device configured to direct pulsed gas through the plurality of openings in the tube sheet, the pulse device defining a central pulse axis extending through each opening of the plurality of openings in the tube sheet. For each opening of the plurality of openings, the collection device includes a tube sheet adapter positioned on the clean surface of the tube sheet within 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, the platform defining an effective clean surface within the sleeve and a platform opening located within the sleeve, the platform opening including an elongated opening extending along a platform opening axis, and a central pulse axis extending through the platform opening. For each tube sheet adapter, the distance between the platform surrounding each platform opening and a reference plane oriented transverse to the central pulse axis passing through the platform opening changes when moving along the platform opening axis.

[0192] In aspect D2 according to aspect D1, for each platform opening, the platform opening axis and the reference plane, oriented transverse to the central pulse axis passing through the platform opening, form an included angle of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 20 degrees or more, 25 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more, and optionally, the included angle between the opening axis and the reference plane is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, 30 degrees or less, or 20 degrees or less.

[0193] In aspect D3 according to any one of aspects D1-D2, the pulse device includes a plurality of ejection tubes located within the clean air volume, each ejection tube of the plurality of ejection tubes including a plurality of orifices configured to direct air from the ejection tube through a selected one of the plurality of openings in the tube sheet.

[0194] In aspect D4 according to any one of aspects D1-D3, the housing defines a dirty air volume partially bounded by the dirty surface of the tubesheet, and the collector includes a cased collector with a filter body of a filter located within the collector located within the dirty air volume.

[0195] In embodiment D5 according to any one of embodiments D1-D3, the housing does not define a dirty air volume, and the collection device includes an insertable collection device configured to be attached to an enclosed volume, such as a bin or silo.

[0196] In aspect D6 according to any one of aspects D1 to D5, a filter described herein or a filter assembly described herein is positioned within each platform opening of the plurality of adapters, and a central pulse axis passing through each platform opening is aligned with the filter axis of each filter or filter assembly positioned within the platform opening.

[0197] Independent embodiment E1 includes a method of removing particulate matter using any of the collection devices described herein.

[0198] In an independent aspect F1, a filter support as described herein includes a seal support attached to a support cage and a venturi. The support cage extends away from the seal support along a cage axis and is configured to be disposed within an interior volume of the envelope-shaped filter. The seal support includes a support opening, and the cage axis extends through the support opening. The venturi is configured to direct gas into the interior volume of the envelope-shaped filter in which the support cage is disposed. The venturi extends between a collector opening facing away from the support cage and a filter opening facing the support cage, the collector opening including an elongated collector opening extending from a first end to a second end along a venturi axis, the venturi including a first depth adjacent the first end that is greater than a second depth adjacent the second end, the first depth being measured between the first end of the collector opening and the seal support in a direction along the cage axis, and the second depth being measured between the second end of the collector opening and the seal support in a direction aligned with the cage axis.

[0199] In aspect F2 according to aspect F1, the support opening of the seal support comprises an elongated shape including an opening length measured along an opening axis extending between a first end of the support opening and a second end of the support opening. The venturi axis forms an included angle with the opening axis of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more, and optionally, the included angle between the venturi axis and the opening axis is 60 degrees or less, 45 degrees or less, or 30 degrees or less.

[0200] In embodiment F3 according to embodiment F1, the support cage includes a first strut extending away from the seal support proximate a first end of the support opening and a second strut extending away from the seal support proximate a second end of the support opening, the opening length being greater than the support cage height measured between the first strut and the second strut in a direction transverse to the cage axis.

[0201] In independent embodiment G40, a collection device as described herein includes a housing defining a clean air chamber between a first panel and a second panel, a filter opening located in a tube sheet section of the first panel, an access opening located in an access 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 access section of the second panel, an access cover closing the access opening, and a filter positioned within the filter opening, wherein clean air entering the first portion of the clean air chamber through the filter opening must pass through the filter. The filter may include a distal end located distal to the filter opening, a filter axis extending through the filter opening and the distal end, the filter axis passing through a first portion of the clean air chamber and an access section of the second panel, a second portion of the clean air chamber located between the first panel and the second panel, the second portion of the clean air chamber 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 exiting the clean air chamber.

[0202] In embodiment G41 according to embodiment G40, the collection device described herein includes a filter described herein.

[0203] In embodiment G42 according to embodiment G40, a collection device described herein includes a filter assembly according to any one of embodiments B1-B13.

[0204] In embodiment G43 according to any one of embodiments G40-G42, the clean air outlet is located in an exhaust section of the second panel, the exhaust section being located adjacent to the access section of the second panel.

[0205] In embodiment G44 according to any one of embodiments G40-G43, the filter axis extends through the access opening.

[0206] In embodiment G45 according to any one of embodiments G40-G44, the filter axis does not extend through the second portion of the clean air chamber.

[0207] In aspect G46 according to any one of aspects G40 to G45, the filter opening includes a first filter opening of a plurality of filter openings located in the tube sheet section of the first panel, the filter includes a first filter of a plurality of filters positioned within the plurality of filter openings, and the filter axis includes a first filter axis of a plurality of filter axes extending through the plurality of filter openings, and the plurality of filter axes pass through a first portion of the clean air chamber and an access section of the second panel.

[0208] In embodiment G47 according to any one of embodiments G40-G46, the collection device further includes a fan housing coupled to the housing proximate the exhaust section of the second panel, the fan housing including a fan air inlet fluidly coupled to the clean air outlet, a fan air outlet fluidly coupled to the ambient environment, a fan mounted within the fan housing proximate the fan air inlet, and a motor coupled to the fan, the motor configured to power the fan to draw air from the clean air outlet toward the ambient environment.

[0209] In embodiment G48 according to any one of embodiments G40-G47, the collection device further includes an ejection tube extending along an ejection tube axis positioned within the clean air chamber. The ejection tube axis is substantially parallel to a surface area of ​​the first panel, and the ejection tube includes a lateral opening toward the filter opening. Optionally, the ejection tube includes a first ejection tube of a plurality of ejection tubes positioned within the clean air chamber. Optionally, the lateral opening includes a first lateral opening of a plurality of lateral openings positioned in the plurality of ejection tubes.

[0210] In embodiment G49 according to any one of embodiments G40-G48, the collection device further includes a filter housing coupled to the tube sheet section of the first panel, the filter housing defining a dirty air chamber that houses the filter.

[0211] In embodiment G50 according to any one of embodiments G40 to G49, the filter defines a filter length along the filter axis between the distal end and the filter opening in the tube sheet section, including the distal end and the filter opening, and the first portion of the clean air chamber defines a first portion depth along the filter axis between the filter opening in the tube sheet section of the first panel and the access opening in the access portion of the second panel, including the filter opening and the access opening, and the depth of the first portion is less than half the filter length.

[0212] In embodiment G51 according to embodiment G50, the depth of the first portion is no more than 25% of the filter length.

[0213] In aspect G52 according to any one of aspects G40 to G51, the filter opening includes a first filter opening of a plurality of filter openings located in the tube sheet section of the first panel, the filter includes a first filter of a plurality of filters positioned within the plurality of filter openings, the filter axis includes a first filter axis of a plurality of filter axes extending through the plurality of filter openings, the plurality of filter axes pass through a first portion of the clean air chamber and the access section of the second panel, each filter of the plurality of filters defines a filter length along its respective filter axis including a distal end and the filter opening between the distal end and the filter opening in the tube sheet section, the first portion of the clean air chamber defines a first portion depth along each of the filter axes including the filter opening in the tube sheet section of the first panel and the access opening in the access portion of the second panel, the first portion depth being less than half the filter length of any one of the filters.

[0214] The complete disclosures of the patents, patent documents, and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each were individually incorporated. In the event of any inconsistency between the disclosure of this application and the disclosure of any document incorporated herein by reference, the disclosure of this application shall control.

[0215] Exemplary embodiments of filtration systems and methods have been described herein, and several possible variations have been described. These and other variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, and it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only by the claims set forth below and their equivalents. It should also be understood that the present invention may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element not specifically disclosed herein, if necessary.

Claims

1. A collection device for removing particulate matter from a gas, wherein the collection device is A tube sheet including a clean surface and a dirty surface, A housing movably mounted on the tube sheet, wherein the housing defines a clean air volume partially demarcated by the tube sheet, and the clean surface of the tube sheet faces the clean air volume, A plurality of openings formed through the tube sheet, each of the plurality of openings includes an elongated opening with a length extending along the opening axis that is greater than the width of the opening measured in a direction transverse to the opening axis, and for each of the plurality of openings, the distance between the clean surface of the tube sheet surrounding each opening and a reference plane positioned in a direction transverse to the central pulse axis passing through the opening changes as it moves along the opening axis, A pulse device located within the clean air volume, wherein the pulse device is configured to deliver pulsed gas through the plurality of openings in the tube sheet, and the pulse device defines a central pulse axis extending through each of the plurality of openings in the tube sheet, A filter positioned within each of the multiple openings, each filter including a filter body attached to a filter seal, and Includes, The filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body containing 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 main surface and a second main surface, the first main surface and the second main surface are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body as they move along the filter axis, the first main surface and the second main surface are further defined by a first edge and a second edge as they move along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end, the first edge and the second edge extend from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, The filter seal is positioned on the outer circumference of the open end of the filter body and is compressed against the clean surface of the tube sheet when the filter is placed in a selected opening among the plurality of openings, so that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or the opening of the filter, thereby forming a seal with the clean surface of the tube sheet. A collection device wherein, for each of the plurality of openings, the opening axis and the reference plane, which are arranged in a direction that crosses the central pulse axis passing through the opening, form an angle of 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, 20 degrees or more, 25 degrees or more, 30 degrees or more, or 45 degrees or more.

2. The collection device according to claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of openings, the angle between the opening 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 collection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

4. The collection device according to claim 1 or 2, 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 between the first edge and the second edge along the height axis of the filter.

5. The collection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the axis of the seal forms an angle with respect to the filter axis 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.

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

7. The filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the closed end of the filter extends along a closed end axis that crosses the filter axis and is aligned with the height axis of the filter.

8. The filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter body includes a filter body height measured between the first edge and the second edge along the height axis of the filter, and the filter body includes a filter body width measured between the first main side surface and the second main side surface of the filter body in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the height axis of the filter, and 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.

9. For at least one filter positioned within one of the plurality of openings, the support cage of the filter support is positioned within the internal volume of the filter, and the support cage is attached to the seal support when the support cage is positioned within the internal volume of the filter and the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, and extends away from the seal support along a cage axis aligned with the filter axis, The sealing support includes a support opening that aligns with the opening in the filter and the opening in the tube sheet when the support cage is located within the internal volume of the filter. The filter seal is compressed between the tube sheet and the filter side of the seal support with respect to the clean surface of the tube sheet so that the gas that enters the internal volume through the opening of the filter passes through the support opening of the seal support. The collection device according to claim 1 or 2, optionally the support cage includes a distal end adjacent to the closed end of the filter body when the filter seal is in contact with the seal support, and when the support cage is located within the internal volume of the filter, the support cage includes a first support located adjacent to the first edge of the filter body and a second support located adjacent to the second edge of the filter body, the first support extending from the seal support to the distal end adjacent to the closed end of the filter, and the second support extending from the seal support to the distal end adjacent to the closed end of the filter.

10. The collection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter body includes a pleated filter medium having pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end or a plurality of filter tubes.

11. A filter including a filter body attached to a filter seal, The filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body containing 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 main surface and a second main surface, the first main surface and the second main surface are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body as they move along the filter axis, the first main surface and the second main surface are further defined by a first edge and a second edge as they move along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end, the first edge and the second edge extend from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, and the filter body includes a pleated filter medium including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end or a plurality of filter tubes. The filter seal is positioned on the outer circumference of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with the sealing surface when the filter is installed in the opening of the tube sheet, such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or the opening of the filter. A filter in which the first edge of the filter body is shorter than the second edge of the filter body.

12. The filter seal has an elongated shape including a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal adjacent to the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal adjacent to the second edge of the filter body, wherein the seal length is greater than the height of the filter body measured between the first edge and the second edge along the height axis of the filter. The filter according to claim 11, and / or, the length of the first edge of the filter body between the closing end and the filter seal is greater than the height of the filter body measured between the first edge and the second edge along the height axis of the filter.

13. A filter including a filter body attached to a filter seal, The filter body includes an envelope-shaped filter body containing 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 main surface and a second main surface, the first main surface and the second main surface are defined by the closed end and the open end of the filter body as they move along the filter axis, the first main surface and the second main surface are further defined by a first edge and a second edge as they move along the filter axis between the open end and the closed end, the first edge and the second edge extend from the closed end to the open end of the filter body, and the filter body includes a pleated filter medium including pleats extending along the filter body from the filter seal to the closed end or a plurality of filter tubes. The filter seal is positioned on the outer circumference of the open end of the filter body and is configured to form a seal with the sealing surface when the filter is installed in the opening of the tube sheet, such that gas entering the internal volume must pass through the filter medium or the opening of the filter. The filter seal has an elongated shape including a seal length measured along a seal axis extending between a first end of the filter seal adjacent to the first edge of the filter body and a second end of the filter seal adjacent to the second edge of the filter body, wherein the seal length is greater than the height of the filter body measured between the first edge and the second edge along the height axis of the filter. A filter in which the seal axis forms an angle with respect to 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 seal axis forms an angle with respect to 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. The filter according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the angle between the seal axis and the filter axis is optionally 45 degrees or more, 60 degrees or more, 65 degrees or more, 70 degrees or more, or 75 degrees or more.

15. The closed end of the filter extends along a closed end axis that crosses the filter axis and is aligned with the height axis of the filter. The filter according to claim 11 or 13, further and / or, the filter body includes a filter body height measured between the first edge and the second edge along the height axis of the filter, the filter body includes a filter body width measured between the first main side surface and the second main side surface of the filter body in a direction transverse to both the filter axis and the height axis of the filter, the filter body width being 0.25 times or less, 0.2 times or less, or 0.1 times or less the filter body height.

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