Cyclonic Dust Extractor for Sealed Powder Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dust removal systems for powdery products in confined environments are inefficient, often requiring dismantling of equipment for cleaning, which disrupts containment and is costly, and existing solutions do not effectively address the need for sealed operation and contamination prevention during the transfer of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or food-processing materials.
Innovation Solution
A dust removal device with flexible, crushable sleeves and tangentially oriented fluid inlet ducts that create a cyclonic flow for efficient dust removal, allowing for sealed operation and easy adaptation to different container sizes, using a pressurized fluid flow to clean internal walls and evacuate dust without breaking containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional manual cleaning methods are used, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but containment is broken and equipment damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning with a fluid-based cleaning system. A fluid is introduced through nozzles directed at contaminated surfaces, allowing cleaning without physical contact or dismantling of the containment system. This maintains integrity while achieving cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pressurized fluid delivery through a network of nozzles and conduits to clean surfaces. The fluid is pumped under pressure to reach contaminated areas, enabling cleaning within sealed containment without breaking the seal or requiring disassembly of equipment.
2Ease of operation
If equipment is dismantled for cleaning, then cleaning access is improved, but containment is broken and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for mechanical disassembly by using fluid jets to clean surfaces through sealed access points. The fluid-based approach reaches contaminated areas without requiring opening or dismantling of containment structures, thus preventing contamination while maintaining access for cleaning.
3Reliability
If heavy expensive equipment is used for cleaning, then containment can be maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into modular components: a fluid delivery unit, distributed nozzles positioned at strategic locations, and a control system. This segmentation allows the system to maintain containment through coordinated fluid delivery without requiring a single heavy complex machine, reducing overall equipment complexity while preserving containment integrity.
4Reliability
If cleaning operations are performed, then product contamination is prevented, but operational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid-based cleaning system can operate continuously or in rapid cycles without requiring dismantling and reassembly of equipment. The sealed fluid delivery system allows cleaning to be performed while containment remains intact, enabling faster turnover times and reducing the operational time loss associated with traditional cleaning methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective, cost-efficient dust removal within confined spaces, maintaining product containment and preventing contamination, suitable for industrial-scale use with a disposable and reliable solution.
Implementation Method 1
said inlet ducts opening onto said internal wall via orifices allowing the introduction of the fluid, said orifices having an orientation with respect to each other in such a way to create a cyclonic flow of the fluid within the connector carrying with it any powdery product remaining on the internal wall
Implementation Method 2
which is fed by a fluid under pressure, and thus moves randomly within the cavity on the side of its free part of movement by projecting a jet of fluid on the walls of the cavity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a dust extractor (1), in the context of the transfer of powdery products from a first container (2) to a second container (3), the combination of the first container and the second container forming with the dust extractor a closed confinement volume, comprising, as a means of connection between the two containers (2), (3), a hollow connector (10) having an open upper end (11) and an open lower end (12), comprising a side wall (13) between its two ends, said side wall (13) defining an outer wall (14) and an inner wall (15), the extractor being characterized in that said connector (10) is connected to a plurality of inlet pipes (20) connected to tubes (40) supplied with a moving pressurized fluid and to at least one fluid discharge pipe (30), said pipes projecting from said outer wall (14) of said connector (10), and passing in through said inner wall (15) via orifices (50) allowing the fluid to enter, said orifices (50) being oriented with respect to each other in such a way as to set up a cyclonic movement of said fluid inside said connector (10) which entrains any powdery product left on the inner wall (15) and/or upstream and/or downstream of said connector (10). The invention also relates to an installation comprising said device, and to a dust extraction method, a method for transferring at least one powdery product, and a method of sterilization using said extractor.