Aeroacoustic duster

US8695156B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Jeffrey S. Marshall · Jericho, US
• Di Chen · Beijing, CN
• Nicholas Vachon · Vergennes, US
• Darren Hitt · Jericho, US
• Junru Wu · South Burlington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 9, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 15, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F28G7/00
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The aero-acoustic duster invention disclosed herein provides for high particle removal rate from surfaces with low energy expenditure relative to competing vacuum-based devices. The device removes particulate matter from a surface using a two-step process: 1. Acoustic radiation is used to break the adhesive bonds between dust and the surface, forcing particles into a mode where they continuously bounce up and down on the surface; and, 2. A bounded vortex is generated over the surface, with suction in the vortex center and jets for blowing air along the periphery. The jets are tilted in the tangential direction to induce vortex motion within the suction region. The vortex is said to be bounded because streamlines originating in the downward jets are entrained back into the central vortex.