Precleaner arrangement for use in air filtration and methods

Abstract

A precleaner arrangement for separating a portion of entrained material from air flow air entering an engine air cleaner. The precleaner arrangement includes a precleaner housing and at least a first flexible air deflection vane with a fixed portion secured to the precleaner housing and a deflectable portion. The deflectable portion includes a curved section extending from the fixed portion and a tail section extending from the curved section. The deflectable portion is configured to deflect in response to a sufficient air flow rate change through the precleaner arrangement, in use. Some arrangements will also include a second stage, outlet vane assembly.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A precleaner arrangement for separating a portion of entrained material from air flow air entering an engine air cleaner; the precleaner arrangement comprising:
 (a) a precleaner housing; and   (b) a plurality of air deflection vanes, each having a fixed portion secured to the precleaner housing and a deflectable portion;
 (i) the deflectable portion including a curved section extending from the fixed portion and a tail section extending from the curved section; 
 (ii) the deflectable portion including an inner side edge and an outer side edge; 
 (iii) the curved section having a center of curvature along the inner side edge and a center of curvature along the outer side edge; 
   wherein the air deflection vanes are arranged to induce a vortical air flow.   
     
     
         2 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the fixed portion of the first air deflection vane defines an upper terminal edge; and 
 (b) the deflectable portion further includes a lower terminal edge bridging the inner and outer side edges; each of the inner and outer side edges extending from the fixed portion; the tail section defining the lower terminal edge. 
 
     
     
         3 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the center of curvature along the inner side edge is spaced from the upper terminal edge a greater axial distance than the center of curvature along the outer side edge is spaced from the upper terminal edge. 
 
     
     
         4 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the precleaner housing has a central hub with a central longitudinal axis passing therethrough; and 
 (b) the lower terminal edge being angled at a non-zero and non-perpendicular angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
         5 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) the tail section defines an inner corner at an intersection of the inner side edge and the lower terminal edge, and an outer corner at an intersection of the outer side edge and the lower terminal edge; and 
 (b) the outer corner is axially spaced closer to the upper terminal edge than the inner corner is from the upper terminal edge. 
 
     
     
         6 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) the tail section defines an inner corner at an intersection of the inner side edge and the lower terminal edge, and an outer corner at an intersection of the outer side edge and the lower terminal edge; and 
 (b) the outer corner is angled from a plane orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis at a first non-zero angle; and the inner corner is angled from a plane orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis at a second non-zero angle. 
 
     
     
         7 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 6  wherein the first angle and second angle are zero. 
     
     
         8 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 6  wherein the second angle is not greater than or equal to the first angle. 
     
     
         9 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 8  wherein the first angle and second angle range between 15° and 60°. 
     
     
         10 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 6  wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle. 
     
     
         11 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the tail section has a radial thickness greatest at the inner side edge and decreasing in thickness to the outer side edge. 
 
     
     
         12 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 11  wherein:
 (a) the thickness at the inner side edge is up to 10 times the thickness of the outer side edge. 
 
     
     
         13 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the precleaner housing has a central hub; and 
 (b) the plurality of flexible air deflection vanes is positioned around the central hub, 
 
     
     
         14 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 13  wherein:
 (a) the precleaner housing further includes an outer ring, and each of the flexible air deflection vanes being positioned between the outer ring and the central hub; and 
 (b) each flexible air deflection vane being secured to the central hub and outer ring at the fixed portion of each vane. 
 
     
     
         15 . A precleaner arrangement for separating a portion of entrained material from air flow air entering an engine air cleaner; the precleaner arrangement comprising:
 (a) a precleaner housing;   (b) an inlet vane system in the precleaner housing arranged to induce a vortical air flow in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction;
 (i) the inlet vane system comprises a plurality of flexible air deflection vanes, each with a fixed portion secured to the precleaner housing and a deflectable portion; 
 (ii) the deflectable portion including a curved section extending from the fixed portion and a tail section extending from the curved section; the deflectable portion including an inner side edge and an outer side edge; 
 (iii) the curved section having a center of curvature along the inner side edge and a center of curvature along the outer side edge; and 
 (iv) the deflectable portion being configured to deflect in response to a sufficient air flow rate increase through the precleaner arrangement, in use; and 
   (c) an outlet vane system in the precleaner housing downstream of the inlet vane system; the outlet vane system arranged to reverse the vortical air flow of the inlet vane system to cause the air to flow in a substantially straight flow.   
     
     
         16 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 15  wherein:
 (a) the precleaner housing has a central hub; and 
 (b) the plurality of flexible air deflection vanes are secured to and positioned around the central hub. 
 
     
     
         17 . The precleaner arrangement of  claim 16  wherein:
 (a) the outlet vane system comprises a plurality of rigid vanes secured to and positioned around the central hub.