Top removal support for dust collector bags

Claim 1

In a reverse blow-back dust collector that includes a flat tube sheet having a plurality of closely spaced plain mounting openings, and a separate bag assembly for each mounting opening, each bag assembly including an elongated skeletal cage, an elongated bag having an open end portion to receive the cage therein, and an air nozzle to fit within the end of the cage, the improvement comprising an improved cage and nozzle mounting and support arrangement for each bag assembly comprising tube sheet sealing means including a sleeve of fabric material having a top fold region, an expansion type clamping means captively disposed within said top fold region for biasing said top fold region outwardly into direct sealing contact with the edge portion of one of said openings of said tube sheet and having upper and lower circular beads of soft resilient material in pressed engagement with said tube sheet above and below the same, and a removable top support structure projecting through said one of said openings and through said sleeve and supporting said cage and said nozzle to extend generally below said tube sheet, said support structure including a flange portion presenting a substantially flat horizontal surface having an opening therethrough, a vertical collar portion for force fit seal reinforcing engagement with said top fold region, and a shoulder portion overlying said edge portion and said upper bead to transmit cage loads through said bead and onto the top side of said tube sheet, said nozzle being affixed to said flange portion and extending downwardly through the opening thereof.