Filter element, dust collector, and methods

1. A filter element retainer for a filter element having opposite, axial flow faces; the retainer comprising:

(a) a base plate defining an opening sized to expose a flow face of the filter element;

(b) a fastener arrangement configured to attach to a tube sheet; the fastener arrangement constructed and arranged to exert an axial force against the base plate and form a seal between the filter element and the tube sheet, when the filter element is operably positioned therein; and

(c) an accumulator secured to the base plate and oriented to retain a pulse of gas over the flow face of the filter element, when the filter element is operably positioned therein; the accumulator including a hood secured to the base plate of the filter element retainer; the hood including a wall extending above the opening in the base plate; the wall having an end secured to the base plate and defining an open mouth.

2. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the fastener arrangement includes a pair of thumbscrews extending through the base plate.

3. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the base plate includes a pair of tabs projecting therefrom, the tabs being configured to engage slots in a tube sheet, when the retainer is attached to a tube sheet.

4. The retainer of claim 1 further including a bar extending across the opening and positioned to prevent the filter element from falling through the opening, when the filter element is operably positioned therein.

5. A dust collector comprising the retainer of claim 1 , and further comprising:

(a) a collector housing having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a tube sheet dividing the housing between an unfiltered air volume and a clean air volume;

(b) at least one filter element removably mounted and sealed within the tube sheet; the at least one filter element including:

(i) a media pack having first and second opposite axial ends and a side extending between the first and second axial ends; and

(ii) a gasket member adjacent to the side; the gasket member including first and second gasket regions separated by a channel;

(A) the first gasket region being nearer the media pack than the second gasket region;

(B) the channel being an open volume between the first and second gasket regions;

(c) at least one projection angled relative to a plane of the tube sheet and extending into the channel of the gasket member;

(d) an air direction arrangement constructed and arranged to draw air through the dirty air inlet, into the unfiltered air volume, through the at least one filter element, into the clean air volume, and then out through the clean air outlet; and

wherein the fastener arrangement connects the retainer to the tube sheet and exerts an axial force against the base plate and the gasket member to form a seal between and against the gasket member and the tube sheet.

6. The dust collector of claim 5 further comprising:

(a) a pulse arrangement constructed and arranged to direct a pulse of gas at a downstream axial end of the media pack.

7. A filter element retainer for a filter element having opposite, axial flow faces; the retainer comprising:

(a) a base plate defining an opening sized to expose a flow face of the filter element;

(b) a fastener arrangement configured to attach to a tube sheet; the fastener arrangement constructed and arranged to exert an axial force against the base plate and form a seal between the filter element and the tube sheet, when the filter element is operably positioned therein; and

(c) an accumulator secured to the base plate and oriented to retain a pulse of gas over the flow face of the filter element, when the filter element is operably positioned therein; the accumulator including a hood secured to the base plate of the filter element retainer; the hood including a throat section and a shroud section extending above and around the opening in the base plate; the shroud having an end secured to the base plate.

8. The retainer of claim 7 wherein the fastener arrangement includes a pair of thumbscrews extending through the base plate.

9. The retainer of claim 7 wherein the base plate includes a pair of tabs projecting therefrom, the tabs being configured to engage slots in a tube sheet, when the retainer is attached to a tube sheet.

10. The retainer of claim 7 further including a bar extending across the opening and positioned to prevent the filter element from falling through the opening, when the filter element is operably positioned therein.

11. A filter element retainer for a filter element having opposite, axial flow faces; the retainer comprising:

(a) a base plate defining an opening sized to expose a flow face of the filter element;

(b) a fastener arrangement configured to attach to a tube sheet; the fastener arrangement constructed and arranged to exert an axial force against the base plate and form a seal between the filter element and the tube sheet, when the filter element is operably positioned therein; and

(c) an accumulator secured to the base plate and oriented to retain a pulse of gas over the flow face of the filter element, when the filter element is operably positioned therein; the accumulator including a hood secured to the base plate of the filter element retainer; the hood including a shroud section that extends above and around the opening in the base plate; the shroud having an end secured to the base plate; the hood further including a diverging section that is connected to the shroud portion and a converging section that is connected to the diverging section; wherein the converging and diverging sections form a region of full flow for a primary filter air flow and a pulse air flow.

12. The retainer of claim 11 wherein the fastener arrangement includes a pair of thumbscrews extending through the base plate.

13. The retainer of claim 11 wherein the base plate includes a pair of tabs projecting therefrom, the tabs being configured to engage slots in a tube sheet, when the retainer is attached to a tube sheet.

14. The retainer of claim 11 further including a bar extending across the opening and positioned to prevent the filter element from falling through the opening, when the filter element is operably positioned therein.

15. A dust collector comprising:

(a) a filter element retainer for a filter element having opposite, axial flow faces; the retainer including,

(i) a base plate defining an opening sized to expose a flow face of the filter element;

(ii) a fastener arrangement configured to attach to a tube sheet; the fastener arrangement constructed and arranged to exert an axial force against the base plate and form a seal between the filter element and the tube sheet, when the filter element is operably positioned therein;

(iii) an accumulator secured to the base plate and oriented to retain a pulse of gas over the flow face of the filter element, when the filter element is operably positioned therein;

(b) a collector housing having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a tube sheet dividing the housing between an unfiltered air volume and a clean air volume;

(c) at least one filter element removably mounted and sealed within the tube sheet; the at least one filter element including:

(i) a media pack having first and second opposite axial ends and a side extending between the first and second axial ends; and

(ii) a gasket member adjacent to the side; the gasket member including first and second gasket regions separated by a channel;

(A) the first gasket region being nearer the media pack than the second gasket region;

(B) the channel being an open volume between the first and second gasket regions;

(d) at least one projection angled relative to a plane of the tube sheet and extending into the channel of the gasket member;

(e) an air direction arrangement constructed and arranged to draw air through the dirty air inlet, into the unfiltered air volume, through the at least one filter element, into the clean air volume, and then out through the clean air outlet; and

wherein the fastener arrangement connects the retainer to the tube sheet and exerts an axial force against the base plate and the gasket member to form a seal between and against the gasket member and the tube sheet.

16. The dust collector of claim 15 further comprising:

(a) a pulse arrangement constructed and arranged to direct a pulse of gas at a downstream axial end of the media pack.

17. The dust collector of claim 15 wherein the fastener arrangement includes a pair of thumbscrews extending through the base plate.

18. The dust collector of claim 15 wherein the base plate includes a pair of tabs projecting therefrom, the tabs being configured to engage slots in a tube sheet, when the retainer is attached to a tube sheet.

19. The dust collector of claim 15 further including a bar extending across the opening and positioned to prevent the filter element from falling through the opening, when the filter element is operably positioned therein.

20. The dust collector of claim 15 wherein the accumulator includes a hood secured to the base plate of the filter element retainer; the hood including a throat section and a shroud section extending above and around the opening in the base plate; the shroud having an end secured to the base plate.

21. The dust collector of claim 15 wherein the accumulator includes a hood secured to the base plate of the filter element retainer; the hood including a shroud section that extends above and around the opening in the base plate; the shroud having an end secured to the base plate; the hood further including a diverging section that is connected to the shroud portion and a converging section that is connected to the diverging section; wherein the converging and diverging sections form a region of full flow for a primary filter air flow and a pulse air flow.