Pumps Patents (Class 159/DIG40)
  • Patent number: 6099693
    Abstract: A movable water distiller capable of use in conjunction with a water heater includes a frame having a top which supports the water heater. The distiller components are supported on a tray having a guide assembly engaging a track assembly horizontally positioned in the bottom region of the frame. The guide assembly allows the distiller components to be inserted within, and extracted from, the frame interior while the track assembly maintains alignment of the tray. Alternatively, the guide assembly may be attached to the top surfaces of the track assembly. Paneling surrounds the sides and back of the frame, while a front cover is attached to the front of the tray. The front cover and the paneling enclose the interior of the frame and prevent access to the distiller components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Pure Water, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Palmer, Mark W. Napier
  • Patent number: 5935388
    Abstract: A distillation plant includes a heat pump whose working fluid is compressed by a vapor jet compressor. A collection location for a liquid is arranged in the stripper part of a distillation column of the plant. At least a portion of the collected liquid is provided in the vaporized form as strip vapor. Connections lead from the collection location to a first vaporizer and to a second vaporizer. The liquid can be vaporized in these vaporizers at an elevated and at a reduced pressure respectively. The vapor jet compressor is connected to the two vaporizers and to the column in such a manner that the vapor from the second vaporizer can be compressed under a driving jet action of the vapor from the first vaporizer and used in the column as strip vapor. A pump is arranged in the connection to the first vaporizer and at least one restrictor member is contained in the connection to the second vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventor: Istvan Meszaros
  • Patent number: 5922174
    Abstract: Distilling equipment including evaporation apparatus having a boiling chamber and equipment and conduits for supplying raw liquid to the boiling chamber, a plurality of cells with the first cell being connected to the top of the boiling chamber to receive gas therefrom and condense the gas by contact with cold recycled distillate from the first cell, with each stage having vertical vacuum producing bubble tubes through which distillate and gas bubbles pass downward to a collection chamber through the bubble tubes. Cell recycle conduits and pumps recycle fluid from collection chamber to condensing chamber. Distillate is drawn from the condensing chamber of the first cell only. Gas by-pass tubes connect the collecting chamber of a cell to the condensing chamber of the next cell and provide the only connection between the cells to sum the vacuum generated by each cell's bubble tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Eco-Still Corporation
    Inventor: Philip G. Youngner
  • Patent number: 5630913
    Abstract: A water distillation system (10) includes a boiling chamber (11) and a condensation chamber (12). Water is fed via an inlet pipe (13) to a degassing chamber (15) where volatile gases are removed from the water. The water is evaporated in the boiling chamber (11) and vapour is, in turn, condensed in the condensing chamber (12). Distilled water is collected in a water storage tank (30) and is used, with a pump (28) and entrainment device (27), to provide a substantial vacuum within the system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventor: Davoud Tajer-Ardebili
  • Patent number: 5601688
    Abstract: The horizontal distance traveled by droplets of starting solution sprayed into a gaseous medium above a catch basin, where the gaseous medium has a horizontal velocity component is controlled by controlling the size of the droplets as a function of the horizontal velocity component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Gad Assaf, Joseph Weinberg
  • Patent number: 5591310
    Abstract: An apparatus for distillation of a liquid near or above its critical point wherein the liquid contains a dissolved solid. The apparatus includes a separation section wherein the liquid may be separated into a vapor and a liquid residue separated by a liquid surface. The apparatus includes a pump for pumping liquid into the apparatus so as to establish and maintain the liquid and vapor in the separation section at a desired pressure and a heat source for heating the liquid and vapor so as to establish a rising temperature profile in the separation section. The pump and heat source are cooperatively controllable for regulating the position of the liquid surface so that liquid residue can be discharged from immediately below the liquid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Grundfos International A/S
    Inventor: Henrik G. Olrik
  • Patent number: 5582680
    Abstract: A compact, transportable and self-contained apparatus for treating wastewater containing as impurities and pollutants various non-volatile (at water boiling points) fluids such as greases, oils and soaps, having a vessel/evaporator for receiving the wastewater, a heater below the evaporator to heat the wastewater admixture and boil off the water, a collector to draw off the non-volatile fluids from substantially the entire height of the water evaporator, and automatic refill/shutdown control devices for the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Raymond E. Vankouwenberg
    Inventors: Raymond E. Vankouwenberg, Robert D. Gendreau
  • Patent number: 5534118
    Abstract: A controlled bubble of cavitation is formed within the distilland by opposed centrifugal and centripetal forces in the plane of an afferent mesial passage. Thus a distilland surface forms around the axis of rotation, and saturated vapor is continuously stripped from this distilland surface by the work of a vapor pump, which also creates the centripetal force. The vapor vortex within this cavitation region ejects by centrifugal force whatever in it is denser than pure vapor, including any particles or droplets which may somehow become entrained in the vapor. Bubbling at the distilland surface, which might produce mist, is suppressed by centrifugal force. Vapor is compelled to follow an afferent flow path, and is scrubbed by cyclones in the afferent mesial passage. Scrubbed vapor is then withdrawn from within the distilland along the axis of rotation. No container is necessary for the distilland and no heat is added to produce evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Wilmot H. McCutchen
  • Patent number: 5509996
    Abstract: A method for evaporating a starting solution to produce an end solution by spraying the starting solution into a gaseous medium under the conditions that the heat content of the starting solution in contact with the gaseous medium is smaller than the heat content of the gaseous medium; the duration of contact is such that most of the evaporation of solution takes place under conditions of constant enthalpy; and the vapor pressure of the gaseous medium is less than the vapor pressure of the liquid/gas interface of the end solution including the step of spraying the starting solution supplied by delivering devices using a pump through spray heads, each spray head includes a member having a plurality of holes the radii of which are not less than 0.025 mm and the distance between them is at least 0.3 mm for producing a shower of starting solution droplets of substantially constant radius substantially independent of spray head operating pressure. An apparatus for evaporating a starting solution is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Geophysical Engineering Company
    Inventor: Gad Assaf
  • Patent number: 5439560
    Abstract: An apparatus for concentrating a photographic processing solution in which there are provided an evaporation chamber, a heater for heating the solution to generate a vapor in the evaporation chamber, a condensation chamber communicated to the evaporation chamber for recieving the vapor, a cooling device for cooling the vapor to generate a condensation, and an ejector for reducing the pressure in the evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber. There is further provided a heat pump having a heat radiating portion used for the heater and a plurality of heat absorbing portions, one of which is used for the cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignees: Konica Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kurematsu, Nobutaka Goto
  • Patent number: 5338409
    Abstract: There is described an apparatus for distilling liquids in a vacuum, having a receptacle for a liquid that can be connected to a vacuum pump, a heating arrangement for heating the receptacle causing the liquid to evaporate, a condenser for condensing the vapour, and a collecting vessel for the condensate. To be able to handle the apparatus quickly and more simply and to make it overall more economical and make it possible to carry out continuous distillation, the heating arrangement includes a vacuum-tight receiving chamber (1) for the receptacle (2) and a microwave generator (13, 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: MLS Mikrowellen-Labor-Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Jacob Heierli
  • Patent number: 5306397
    Abstract: The apparatus is located almost completely under the surface of the sea. The vacua in the de-aeration and the evaporation chambers are generated by a vacuum pump and are maintained by the effects of a pressure reduction device at the inlet for warm seawater and a lifting pump at the outlet for brine. The de-aerator and the evaporator are laid out as heat exchangers and penetrated by heating tubes, which are flowed through passively by warm seawater. The immersion tube forming the steam compartment which is suspended vertically in the sea serves as a condenser. The condenser is cooled passively by cold seawater. The attachment to the bottom of the sea is performed by a single point mooring construction via an anchor chain at an anchor weight. The elevation of the water production unit is controlled automatically by means of an air chamber and an air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: PI Praktische Informatik GmbH
    Inventor: Edgar Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5259931
    Abstract: A system for removing volatile constituents (e.g., hydrocarbons) from a liquid (e.g., water) containing the same by which there is a continuous countercurrent contact between the liquid and a forced air flow. Water collected in a reservoir is continuously pumped to the top of a stripping tower where it is dispersed downwardly over packing material. A blower forces air upwardly in the tower so as to remove the volatile constituents that exit the tower with the exit air. Since the water flow is continuous, multiple passes occur through the tower to enhance separation efficiency. Water from the base of the tower returns to the reservoir via overflow from a standpipe. A lower liquid level sensor in the reservoir initiates operation of the water pump to the tower, and an upper liquid level sensor initiates operations of another pump for pressure discharge from the base of the tower to an exterior site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Inventor: James R. Fox
  • Patent number: 5242548
    Abstract: An improved distillation device (1) which uses a combination of centrifugal and positive displacement pumps to purify raw liquid in an area of limited space. The device (1) includes evaporation assembly (2) having a boiling chamber (5), a valve and float switches (15, 16, 17) for maintaining the liquid level (20) in the boiling chamber (5) at a predetermined level, and connecting conduit (21) for directing vapor to a condensation apparatus (3). The condensation assembly (3) includes a condensation chamber (6), a collection chamber (7), and at least one bubble tube (22) connecting the two chambers (6, 7). Leading from the collection chamber (7) is first transfer conduit (50), a tube (51) for permitting vapor to bleed from the collection chamber (7) back to condensation chamber (6), and second transfer conduit (52) for returning only distillate from collection chamber (7) to condensation chamber (6) to cool condensation chamber (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Inventor: Philip G. Youngner
  • Patent number: 5211816
    Abstract: A low temperature vacuum distillation apparatus. The distillation apparatus includes an evaporation section and a condensation section. Fluid flow throughout the system is assisted by an appropriate pump, and heat exchangers, one in each of the evaporation and condensation sections, are interconnected by employment of a heat pump.The condensation section includes a condensation chamber downward from which bubble tubes extend into a collection chamber. Collection chamber is provided with a pump to effect transfer of distillate having volatile impurities entrained therein to a final collection vessel. A pump communicates with vessel to create a partial vacuum therein to ensure venting of the impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Eco Pure, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Youngner
  • Patent number: 5198076
    Abstract: A low-pressure desalinization in a water chamber having an open end submerged in a water supply such as an ocean. An air exhaust pump draws air out of the water chamber to lower the surface tension of an upper stratum of water, which is thereby converted to vapor and subsequently condensed to nonsalinated water and collected in a U-shaped trap with a pair of sealing, closable valves. Moreover, a velocity enhancing parabolic channel is included for efficiently utilizing the potential energy of the fresh water. The fresh water is conveyed from its height at the top of the water chamber to a turbine via a velocity enhancement parabolic channel which enhances the velocity of the water for the turbine. The desalinator also includes a plurality of strips of sheeting partially immersed in the water being desalinated and drawing water therefrom via capillary action to increase the surface area of the water being subjected to the vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Bowpec Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter M. Borgren
  • Patent number: 5108548
    Abstract: A low pressure distillation apparatus in which evaporation takes place at sub-atmospheric pressures. An evaporation chamber has a feed liquid inlet port, a concentrated liquid outlet port, and a vapor outlet port. The vapor outlet port is in communication with a vapor treating device immersed in distillate in a distillate chamber. The preferred vapor treating device is a rotating impeller pump which reduces the pressure in the evaporation chamber to a working pressure, draws off vapor boiled from the liquid in the evaporation chamber, entrains the vapor in a stream of distillate, and condenses the vapor in the stream of distillate to transfer the latent heat of condensation of the vapor directly to the distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Valuepace Limited
    Inventors: Brian H. Keane, Farhad Shafaghi, Colin W. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5082535
    Abstract: An apparatus for dissolving oil or PCB which exists in the electrical insulation of parts to be cleaned, wherein a solvent is evaporated during a heating phase by an evaporator located with the parts in an autoclave. The solvent vapor condenses on the parts and penetrates into the electrical insulation to form an oil or PCB-solvent mixture. The apparatus provides for a plurality of intermediate pressure reductions which are carried out in the autoclave, and during each intermediatre pressure reduction the solvent is simultaneously evaporated from the oil or PCB-solvent mixture, directly from the autoclave. That is, during each of the pressure reductions, the solvent supply is discontinued and the mixture circulated through a circulating line. Following the completion of each intermediate pressure reduction, the pure oil or PCB present in a condensate vessel is pumped out by an intermediately located feed pump through a connecting line and into a reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Micafil, AG
    Inventors: Gustav Oesch, Paul Gmeiner, Urs Hofer
  • Patent number: 4886574
    Abstract: A citrus juice concentrate processor homogenizes a mixture of citrus juice and pulp within or after a multi-effect, multi-stage evaporator. The homogenizer employs a positive displacement pump for pumping the citrus juice mixture through an orifice with a high pressure differential across the orifice. The homogenizer reduces viscosity of the citrus juice mixture. Inter-stage placement of the homogenizer further enables final citrus juice concentrate Brix levels of 65.degree.Brix and greater to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: APV Gaulin, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip M. Grant
  • Patent number: 4853088
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating volatile components from a volatile-containing liquid by a stripping gas flowing countercurrent to the liquid. Separation of the volatile components is enhanced by heating the liquid with radiant solar energy and agitating the liquid as it flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: David D. Conway
  • Patent number: 4790904
    Abstract: An atmospheric evaporator for reducing the water content of various chemical solutions, more particularly useful in the electroplating industry, wherein the evaporator includes a solution-secure molded tank in which a removable blower sleeve is mounted having a blower inlet duct and support strut members formed at the opposite end thereof to support a multiplicity of finned evaporator members over which the solution is sprayed. When a large-volume, low RPM blower is mounted to the inlet duct, a straight-line downdraft of both air and solution is created, allowing the air and evaporated water to exhaust through an up-facing outlet duct, thus defining a substantially "U" shaped duct arrangement from the inlet side to the exhaust side of the tank with the heavy chemical particles returning to the process tank from the bottom of the evaporator tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: William Yates
  • Patent number: 4762593
    Abstract: Distilling equipment comprising evaporation apparatus (2) including a boiling chamber (6) and equipment and conduits (46-59, 62, 63, 65-71) for supplying raw liquid to the boiling chamber at a predetermined level (43), a plurality of serial condensation stages (10, 20, 30), the first stage (10) connected to the top (7) of the boiling chamber (6) to receive gas therefrom and condense the gas by contact with cold recycled distillate from the final condensation stage (30), each stage having vertical vacuum producing bubble tubes (15, 25, 35) through which distillate and gas bubble (17) pass downward to a collection vessel (16, 26), gas carrier tubes (19, 29) which carry gas from each collection vessel (16, 26) to the condensation chamber (21, 31) of the following stage, and pump (41, 42) in cooperating conduits (18, 22, 28, 32) for pumping distillate free of gas from each collection chamber (16, 26) to the condensation chamber (21, 31) of the following stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Inventor: Philip G. Youngner
  • Patent number: 4759825
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary evaporator for carrying out a processor-controlled distilling operation. A rotary flask (5), a condenser (8) and a distillate collector receptacle (10) of the rotary evaporator (1) are continually kept under vacuum.According to the invention, the automatically controlled supply of a sample solution to the rotary flask is accomplished by means of a metering receptacle adapted to have the sample solution supplied thereto from a supply container for temporary transitory storage therein prior to transfer of the solution to the vacuum system, or the rotary flask (5), respectively. For discharging the distillate from the distillate collector receptacle (14), an outlet valve associated therewith is operable to connect the collector receptacle to a vacuum conduit (26) for the discharge of the distillate. This provision offers the advantage of permitting substantially discharge of the distillate without requiring the vacuum system to be vented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Inventors: Bela Medvey, Laszlo Rozsnoki
  • Patent number: 4664751
    Abstract: A de-salinator 10 for brackish- or salt-water has a heat insulating shell 11 closed by end plates 12. A heat exchanger 22 in the bottom of the chamber 13 is heated by engine coolant from a marine engine 27, while a pair of condensor coils 19, connected to manifolds 33, 34, use sea water to cool the fresh water vapour which is drawn off by outlets 21. The engine driven pump 37 which draws the water through the condensor coils 19 operates an eductor 36 which generates a partial vacuum in the chamber 13, drawing off brine from the bottom of the chamber and any excess water in the chamber. The level of water in the chamber 13 is maintained by drawing off a portion of the heated water passing through the condensor tubes 19. The condensate is drawn from the outlets 21 via an eductor 46 which is driven by a suction pump 45 connected to the fresh water tank 47.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Nautical Services Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian D. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 4554055
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering a solvent from a mixture containing the solvent is disclosed. In certain aspects, a portion of the recovered liquid is recycled and used in the evaporative process, such as for the seal liquid in a liquid ring vacuum pump. In another aspect, the initial separation is achieved in a thin film evaporator operating under partial vacuum from the liquid ring vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Patrick Rooney
  • Patent number: 4430156
    Abstract: In a multiphase flow tube for drying pumpable suspensions to form solids having low residual moisture contents, the process uses brief increases in the pressure of the gas stream to prevent blockages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Clemens Casper, Dieter Grenner, Gerd-Rudiger Klette, Edzard Tholema
  • Patent number: 4368100
    Abstract: Spray drying coffee extract by uniformly fluctuating the extract and concomitant inert gas flow through the drying tower spray nozzle produces a unique agglemorate-type product. A two-fluid ventur-type flowrator is employed to assist regulation of extract flow rate cycles between set maximum and minimum values. Smaller, quickly drying droplets, atomized at high flow rates of extract are caused to impact with the larger, slower drying drop (minimum extract flow rate) by the reported expansion and collapse of the spray pattern and the augmentation of turbulence by the cyclic inert gas flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: General Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Pyves, James W. Jeffery
  • Patent number: 4201629
    Abstract: A diffusion pump capable of separating impurities from its pump fluid during operation is disclosed. Skimming drains are provided in the pump's boiler for periodically skimming the evaporative surface of the working fluid. This eliminates nearly all contaminants of higher molecular weight than the pump fluid. In the foreline of the pump, a series of peripheral gutters are provided for trapping, separating and draining off condensates. The gutters facilitate the removal of impurities of lower molecular weight than that of the pump fluid. Means are also provided for further removing trace quantities of residual volatile impurities which tend to backstream up the diffusion pump barrel. The highly purified pump fluid allows for a more vigorously working evaporative surface, thereby increasing the throughput of the diffusion pump. Together with the elimination of volatile impurities from the pump barrel, this facilitates the attainment of significantly higher ultimate chamber vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Inventor: Alvin E. Buggele