Snapband filter design for horizontal bottom access collector

1. A horizontal dust collector comprising a plurality of elongated filter elements in a horizontally-oriented array, each filter element connected at one end to a tube sheet, and at an opposite end to a support plate; said one end of each filter element fitted with a substantially rigid coupler having an insertion portion, a peripheral, outwardly facing groove in which is received a mating edge defining an aperture in the tube sheet, and a radially outwardly extending flange located axially between said annular groove and said insertion portion, said flange adapted for engagement with a filter element installation tool.

2. The dust collector of claim 1 wherein said elongated filter elements are each substantially cylindrical in shape, and wherein said coupler includes a rearwardly extending cylindrical flange pressed into said one end of each of said filter elements.

3. The dust collector of claim 1 wherein said insertion portion is tapered inwardly in a direction of insertion into the tube sheet.

4. The dust collector of claim 3 wherein said insertion portion has a first internal diameter, and a remaining portion of said coupler adjacent said insertion portion has a second internal diameter less than said first internal diameter.

5. The dust collector of claim 4 wherein a radial shoulder separating said insertion portion and said remaining portion is located radially adjacent said peripheral outwardly facing groove.

6. The dust collector of claim 5 wherein said radial shoulder is substantially perpendicular to said insertion portion and said remaining portion.

7. The dust collector of claim 1 wherein said plurality of elongated filter elements comprise fourteen substantially cylindrical filters in an ordered array of four rows.

8. The dust collector of claim 1 wherein a back face of said coupler and a forward face of said filter element are adhesively secured together.

9. A filter element coupler for a filter in a horizontal dust collector comprising:

a coupler ring adapted to be mounted on one end of an elongated, substantially cylindrical filter element, said coupler ring having an insertion portion, a peripheral, outwardly facing groove adapted to receive a mating edge defining an aperture in a tube sheet, and a radially outwardly extending flange located axially between said annular groove and said insertion portion.

10. The filter element coupler of claim 9 wherein said insertion portion is tapered inwardly in a direction of insertion into the tube sheet.

11. The filter element coupler of claim 10 wherein said insertion portion has a first internal diameter, and a remaining portion of said coupler adjacent said insertion portion has a second internal diameter less than said first internal diameter.

12. The filter element coupler of claim 11 wherein a radial shoulder separating said first and second diameters is located radially adjacent said peripheral outwardly facing groove.

13. The filter element coupler of claim 9 in combination with an installation tool comprising an elongated handle and a substantially U-shaped clevis at a working end of the handle, said clevis including a pair of arms spaced to engage said coupler rearwardly of said radially outwardly extending flange.