WO2000060960A2 - Filter to slow down flow - Google Patents

Abstract

A multiple action filter for retaining in the interior particles which are harmful to health, cause cancer or are in any case pollutants, contained in gaseous flow. The first action is to channel the flow into a conduit suitably dimensioned to increase the velocity and at the same time enhance the adhesion of the particles to be eliminated into an adequate filter element. The second action is to slow down the flow so that it no longer has the energy to detach the particles from the filter element, and the particles therefore do not reach the filter outlet.

Description

FILTER TO SLOW DOWN FLOW AND WITH MULTIPLE ACTION TO FILTER TOBACCO SMOKE OR SMOKE FROM OTHER POLLUTING SOURCES

DESCRIPTION This invention, the functioning of which and possible applications are fully explained below, consists of a filter element which because of its small size and industrial cost, can also be cheaply installed in the filter section of cigarettes or similar. It can also be used in various devices such as pipes, cigarette-holders or other devices suited for use to smoke tobacco or similar and also for filtering flues, polluting discharges etc. In the case of use for filtering "condensate" or "tar" contained in the smoke of combusted tobacco, it has been ascertained that this system can hold 100% of the amount declared by the manufacturers as being contained in their product. Since the device can be installed in series, the filter effect can be optimised to achieve the desired effect. The invention fully described here basically consists of a conduit (or several conduits) through which the gasseous flow is channelled. This conduit, which can have any shape and section, can have any size and profile, and in the part closest to the tobacco will contain a very small section through which the condensate retention element is installed. The latter may consist of one or more components consisting, for example, in a strip of absorbent paper or fine cloth with a large number of threads, textile fibres or other elements. In the passage through the smaller section, the flow is forced to penetrate and run along the elements along the area of passage, producing the physical principle of adhesion, i.e. the mutual attraction of separate bodies that come into contact and immediately after to the force cohesion, when similar particles aggregate. The relative strength of the force of adhesion exercised between the particles fo two different bodies, and of the force of cohesion exercised between the particles of the same body is therefore the basis of the device described. The forces mentioned are considered fundamental for the "multiple action" stated in the title. Furthermore, since these forces involve several principles such as capillarity and surface tension, and there is a series of parameters to take into account (for example, the temperature, pressure, size, area and the cleanliness of the contact surfaces), it is easy to understand the potential results obtainable. TO further confirm the "multiple action" mentioned in the title, the filter can be optimised by taking into account these principles and the various factors such as the molecular structure of the substances, the particularly high adhesion values between solids and liquids, the material used in relation to the substances to be filtered. In the part just after, broadening of the conduit and the free or obligatory position of the element or elements inserted in the conduit to retain the harmful particles, ensures that the flow has a sharp fall in velocity and is therefore unable to overcome the forces of adhesion and cohesion mentioned above, i.e. to attract the particles which due to their intrinsic physical characteristics have passed near the elements designed to retain them.

On the basis of what has been said, there are obviously numerous applications deriving from the principles mentioned, and these can be easily exploited wholly or partially, either fully or partially exploiting the potentials of each one or ignoring some of the aforesaid principles to optimise the efficiency of others. The examples, illustrated below, must therefore be understood to represent a descriptive and not a limiting coverage, it being clear that any other form, any other group of materials or other things referring to the principal action of slowing down the flow (whether as the sole effect or by the combined action of fibres or components of any type designed to thicken and/or retain the particles requiring isolation) should be considered as an application of the invention described here.

The following description contains a descriptive and not a limiting coverage of some of the countless solutions made possible by the above combined effect of the which the principal ones are as follows: 1. the adhesion factor (enhanced by the configuration of the filter elements)

2. the cohesion factor (enhancing the aggregation of similar particles)

3. the slowdown of the flow (which deprives the flow of the energy needed to overcome the force of adhesion between the harmful particles and the filter element and the force of cohesion between the particles themselves, and to pull them to the filter output or, in the case of tobacco smoke, to the smoker's mouth.

4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

Illustration 1 :

Fig. 1 The section and plan of a filter consisting of: B body of the filter, in which conduit A is inserted; A, through which the filter element F is introduced; F which starting from conduit A, acts in the slowdown area Ra. In this figure the filter element consists of a thick series of threads or thin fibres fibre.

Fig. 2 The filter, unlike the one shown in Fig.l, has a circular crown section (as already said, one of the infinite possibilities for producing it) and a filter element consisting of a narrow sack of longitudinal fibres which may also be enclosed by a permeable reticular element; the indication of the components are common for all the drawings and more detailed configuration of this system is shown in Fig. 10 and 10b

(basically, the filter element has been represented as a short piece of one of those small ropes consisting of longitudinal fibres enveloped by a reticular containing element). Fig. 3 With the same letter references as the other figure, this shows a filter in which the new element lies in the multiple conduits; conduit "A" through which the fluid is obliged to pass.

Here there are three but there can obviously be a great variety in their number and shape; they can range from one to a high non-definable number. Fig. 4\4b The filter element is no longer formed by numerous fibres or elements but by one only; the shape of conduit A and of area Ra activates the filter, besides its composition and consistency which, as hypothesised in the previous text, could consist of a strip of absorbent paper, compressed cotton or other materials. The substantial difference between the two figures discussed is the difference in section or the size of the filter element and the shape of the flow slowdown area, elements which in an industrial product will be optimised to achieve the result.

Fig. 5 A cigarette is shown with the insertion of a filter element as in Fig. 1 ; the part containing tobacco is lettered T and with the ordinary cellulose filter as Fc.

Illustration 2:

Fig. 6 This shows a series of filters as in Fig.1 , designed for a subsequent filtering of the smoke. It should be considered that in this case the sizes of the conduits shown with A and the parameters of conduit Ra, can vary in order to optimise the effect.

Fig. 7 This shows a series of filters in which the type of filter varies, still considering that there is practically an infinity of possible solutions based on the stated principles, and they cannot all be suitably illustrated except by referring to the active principles. Fig. 8 This shows a normal cigarette-holder which contains the filter element composed of two conduits and two layers of fibres or similar material; mention is not made of the obvious fact that the filtering part can be replaced with a new, clean one.

Fig. 9 This shows a pipe containing the filter element. The same considerations apply as for Fig.

8 regarding the number of filter elements, conduits and the possibility to replace the filter element.

Illustration 3 :

Fig. lOMOb This shows a cigarette with a filter as in drawing 2, with the indication in 10b of the flow of the smoke and of the particles filtered and held in an area of the filter suited to containing them.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 ) A device consisting of a body containing a conduit with a variable section in which there are one or more filter elements; it is dimensioned and structured in such a way as to be inserted in the part of a cigarette normally containing other filter elements. 2) A device as in point 1 but contained in a cigarette-holder designed for the smoking of cigarettes or cigars or in a pipe for smoking tobacco or similar.

3) A device as in point 1 but dimensioned and structured in such a way as to function in a flue or in a any discharge device.

4) A device as in point 1 but installed inside a tubular element with the function of aspiration of liquid or gas requiring filtering

5) A device as in point 1,2,3,4 composed of a series of elements designed to improve the filtering action; these elements can be the same, similar or also different.

6) A device as in points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 but removable and not structurally fixed in such a way as to be used several time, applying it from time to time to the element to be filtered. 7) A device as in points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in which the filter element is replaceable while maintaining the original structure. 8) A device as in points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 installed or installable together with other types of filters which can mutually form parts of the same filter.

9) A device installed or to be installed in an "antismog mask" for filtering the air breathed.