Hi all,
I am preparing to construct a cyclone of my own design for my next shop. I
have most of the design ideas worked out but I have one odd question I need
to ask, assuming there is anyone out there with a similar setup. My cyclone
is going to be mounted to the building on the outside (the return air and
filtration will be directed back into the building so there are no makeup
air requirements) and will be a push through design. Under the cyclone I
plan on having no bag. I plan on dumping the contents directly on the
ground. This appears to leave me open to the problem of rodents or other
pests crawling into the system. I could place screen door screen over the
outlet I suppose, but what about the inlet? Hang it from the body so that
they have to climb down the steel sides to get in? Grease around the
exterior of the chip chute at the bottom? I was wondering if anyone else
operated this way or had any suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?
--
Cheers,
Howard
----------------------------------------------------------
Working wood in New Jersey - [email protected]
Visit me in the woodshop - www.inthewoodshop.org
"Swingman" wrote ...
> He might be basing the idea on the one David J. Marks has. IIRC, when
"Wood
> Works" did the show on David's shop, they showed his cyclone emptying onto
a
> big pile out behind the shop ... if you have the room, and make a lot of
> sawdust, it's not a bad idea.
Yeah, I saw a picture of that in one of the books I have, but I took some
notes from an article I read SOMEWHERE (forgot to write down where I found
it) on a push through system where you didn't need a drum. I'm not the
biggest chip maker in the world but I have 360 acres of room and I hate
dumping out those damn cans. It's worse on my allergies than just living
with the dust. I'd rather use the bobcat to scoop it up whenever I pass by
with it. Then I can throw the stuff on the manure pile to compost. No-one
else has seen this, or any info on doing it? Appreciate the help so far.
--
Cheers,
Howard
----------------------------------------------------------
Working wood in New Jersey - [email protected]
Visit me in the woodshop - www.inthewoodshop.org
How are you going to control the air pressure at the dust outlet?
If it's negative (i.e. less than atmospheric) you risk sucking
the dust back up and into your final filter. This is possible
with a 1D3D design because they can generate a strong low pressure
area at the bottom of the cone; c.f. PSI and their comments
about collapsing metal dust bins.
One report described a push through 1D3D design (with a standard
cone) that got a vacuum of about an inch or two of water
at the dust exit depending on the inlet velocity.
When the cone was modified to have a linear flighting (vertical vane)
in the lower third of the cone, the dust exit pressure became very
slightly positive (i.e. a little air flowed out the dust exit).
So, that part should work out as long as you're willing to put
up with wind blown wood dust.
I don't understand what you mean by keeping rodents out of the
inlet; won't that and the air return be terminated inside your
shop?
Putting a screen over the dust exit would risk clogging which would
probably fill your cyclone and clog your filter in short order.
Grease will rapidly fill up with dust.
Maybe a down tube with a weighted flap at the end? A spring to
hold it closed might be better. With the cyclone producing a
positive pressure at the dust exit and the weight of the wood
dust it should open and let the dust fall out. A flap should
also help with those times the wind blows and overwhelms the
positive pressure at the dust outlet.
Or, how about something like an eco-gate on the dust outlet?
Or, how about an pneumatic cylinder operated gate on the dust
exit? When the cyclone is in operation, the inlet pressure
will be higher than atmospheric pressure (this being a
push through design). You could use that pressure
to operate a bellows (maybe a few feet of large diameter, cheap
flex hose or even flexible dryer hose would expand enough) to
operate the gate. If the connection between the inlet and the
bellows were small enough then the air flow in the inlet
wouldn't be affected much. If the hose/bellows were vertical,
the dust should fall back into the inlet instead of building
up in the bellows.
Good luck. Let me know how it turns out.
Bob S
On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 10:37:47 -0800, "Howard Ruttan" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I am preparing to construct a cyclone of my own design for my next shop. I
>have most of the design ideas worked out but I have one odd question I need
>to ask, assuming there is anyone out there with a similar setup. My cyclone
>is going to be mounted to the building on the outside (the return air and
>filtration will be directed back into the building so there are no makeup
>air requirements) and will be a push through design. Under the cyclone I
>plan on having no bag. I plan on dumping the contents directly on the
>ground. This appears to leave me open to the problem of rodents or other
>pests crawling into the system. I could place screen door screen over the
>outlet I suppose, but what about the inlet? Hang it from the body so that
>they have to climb down the steel sides to get in? Grease around the
>exterior of the chip chute at the bottom? I was wondering if anyone else
>operated this way or had any suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?
>
>--
>
>Cheers,
>Howard
>
>----------------------------------------------------------
>Working wood in New Jersey - [email protected]
>Visit me in the woodshop - www.inthewoodshop.org
>
>
On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 10:37:47 -0800, "Howard Ruttan"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I am preparing to construct a cyclone of my own design for my next shop. I
>have most of the design ideas worked out but I have one odd question I need
>to ask, assuming there is anyone out there with a similar setup. My cyclone
>is going to be mounted to the building on the outside (the return air and
>filtration will be directed back into the building so there are no makeup
>air requirements) and will be a push through design. Under the cyclone I
>plan on having no bag. I plan on dumping the contents directly on the
>ground. This appears to leave me open to the problem of rodents or other
>pests crawling into the system. I could place screen door screen over the
>outlet I suppose, but what about the inlet? Hang it from the body so that
>they have to climb down the steel sides to get in? Grease around the
>exterior of the chip chute at the bottom? I was wondering if anyone else
>operated this way or had any suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?
If the reject is open you will lose accept (return) flow and the
cyclone will serve no purpose. Fasten the reject (bottom of the cone)
to an air-tight container. Be concerned about leaks.
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Howard Ruttan wrote:
>
> > exterior of the chip chute at the bottom? I was wondering if anyone else
> > operated this way or had any suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?
>
> I wouldn't worry about rodents. I'd worry about *termites*. They'd have a
> field day with a big pile of wet shavings, then decide while they were in
> the neighborhood anyway, my shop looks pretty tasty.
>
> Might depend on where you live though. Like if you're in a desert or
> something, maybe this is a non-issue.
>
Nope, termites live in the desert too. :-(
>
Howard Ruttan wrote:
> exterior of the chip chute at the bottom? I was wondering if anyone else
> operated this way or had any suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?
I wouldn't worry about rodents. I'd worry about *termites*. They'd have a
field day with a big pile of wet shavings, then decide while they were in
the neighborhood anyway, my shop looks pretty tasty.
Might depend on where you live though. Like if you're in a desert or
something, maybe this is a non-issue.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
He might be basing the idea on the one David J. Marks has. IIRC, when "Wood
Works" did the show on David's shop, they showed his cyclone emptying onto a
big pile out behind the shop ... if you have the room, and make a lot of
sawdust, it's not a bad idea.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 9/21/03
"Larry C in Auburn, WA" wrote in message
> Two questions: Why not put a drum under the cyclone to catch the debris?
> It will be a lot easier to clean up than a pile of chips laying on the
> ground. Not to mention the rodent issue you're concerned about. You're
> going to have to monitor the pile of chips anyway because eventually they
> would pile up to the bottom of the cyclone so you might as well check the
> drum instead. I vote against your current plan (I did get a vote didn't
> I?).
> --
> Larry C in Auburn, WA
On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 10:37:47 -0800, "Howard Ruttan"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I am preparing to construct a cyclone of my own design for my next shop. I
>have most of the design ideas worked out but I have one odd question I need
>to ask, assuming there is anyone out there with a similar setup. My cyclone
>is going to be mounted to the building on the outside (the return air and
>filtration will be directed back into the building so there are no makeup
>air requirements) and will be a push through design. Under the cyclone I
>plan on having no bag. I plan on dumping the contents directly on the
>ground. This appears to leave me open to the problem of rodents or other
>pests crawling into the system. I could place screen door screen over the
>outlet I suppose, but what about the inlet? Hang it from the body so that
>they have to climb down the steel sides to get in? Grease around the
>exterior of the chip chute at the bottom? I was wondering if anyone else
>operated this way or had any suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?
lets ask some questions why a pusher system? you have all of the stuff hitting
the impeller. so you can use a floorsweep.
if you leave the bottom open everything will come out of it including all of
the air you want to return.
you will need some kind of container under it for the air problem.
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
Two questions: Why not put a drum under the cyclone to catch the debris?
It will be a lot easier to clean up than a pile of chips laying on the
ground. Not to mention the rodent issue you're concerned about. You're
going to have to monitor the pile of chips anyway because eventually they
would pile up to the bottom of the cyclone so you might as well check the
drum instead. I vote against your current plan (I did get a vote didn't
I?).
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA
"Howard Ruttan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I am preparing to construct a cyclone of my own design for my next shop.
I
> have most of the design ideas worked out but I have one odd question I
need
> to ask, assuming there is anyone out there with a similar setup. My
cyclone
> is going to be mounted to the building on the outside (the return air and
> filtration will be directed back into the building so there are no makeup
> air requirements) and will be a push through design. Under the cyclone I
> plan on having no bag. I plan on dumping the contents directly on the
> ground. This appears to leave me open to the problem of rodents or other
> pests crawling into the system. I could place screen door screen over the
> outlet I suppose, but what about the inlet? Hang it from the body so that
> they have to climb down the steel sides to get in? Grease around the
> exterior of the chip chute at the bottom? I was wondering if anyone else
> operated this way or had any suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?
>
> --
>
> Cheers,
> Howard
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> Working wood in New Jersey - [email protected]
> Visit me in the woodshop - www.inthewoodshop.org
>
>
"Phisherman" wrote ...
> If the reject is open you will lose accept (return) flow and the
> cyclone will serve no purpose. Fasten the reject (bottom of the cone)
> to an air-tight container. Be concerned about leaks.
Shouldn't be problematic on a push through cyclone, according to the
literature, although the return airflow will be reduced.
--
Cheers,
Howard
----------------------------------------------------------
Working wood in New Jersey - [email protected]
Visit me in the woodshop - www.inthewoodshop.org
Depending on your climate you might consider insulating the unit to reduce
condensation in cold months.
Also consider explosion/fire hazards - i.e. explosion hatches.
A shaker will limit accumulation of debris.
Better check with your local codes i.e fire/building/engineering, especially
if this is for an industrial establishment. Non certified equipment poses
legal/liability insurance problems. If you ever have a fire down the line
you might discover your claim being denied or worse law suits.
Cheers,
"Phisherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 10:37:47 -0800, "Howard Ruttan"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Hi all,
> >
> >I am preparing to construct a cyclone of my own design for my next shop.
I
> >have most of the design ideas worked out but I have one odd question I
need
> >to ask, assuming there is anyone out there with a similar setup. My
cyclone
> >is going to be mounted to the building on the outside (the return air and
> >filtration will be directed back into the building so there are no makeup
> >air requirements) and will be a push through design. Under the cyclone I
> >plan on having no bag. I plan on dumping the contents directly on the
> >ground. This appears to leave me open to the problem of rodents or other
> >pests crawling into the system. I could place screen door screen over
the
> >outlet I suppose, but what about the inlet? Hang it from the body so
that
> >they have to climb down the steel sides to get in? Grease around the
> >exterior of the chip chute at the bottom? I was wondering if anyone else
> >operated this way or had any suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?
>
> If the reject is open you will lose accept (return) flow and the
> cyclone will serve no purpose. Fasten the reject (bottom of the cone)
> to an air-tight container. Be concerned about leaks.