Patents Examined by Douglas Theisen
  • Patent number: 8333825
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating multi-phase fluids, comprising a cyclonic separator (40) having an inlet (42) for multi-phase fluids, a cyclonic separation chamber, a first outlet (44) for relatively high density fluids and a second outlet (46) for relatively low density fluids, and a secondary separator (52) comprising a separation vessel in which fluids are separated primarily by gravity, a first inlet (96) connected to receive the relatively high density fluids, a second inlet (94) connected to receive the relatively low density fluids, a first outlet (54) in the upper part of the vessel for a separated gas phase and a second outlet (56) in the lower part of the separation vessel for a separated liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Caltec Limited
    Inventors: Mahmood Mir Sarshar, Ali Najam Miraz Beg, Raja Kishore Nalukurthy
  • Patent number: 8323382
    Abstract: A black water treatment system for a flow of black water. The black water treatment system may include one or more non-vacuum flash drums and a scrub-cooler. The scrub-cooler may include a water pathway with a nitrogen tube and a flow of nitrogen therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Vijayalakshmi Shah
  • Patent number: 8317904
    Abstract: A sand separation system includes a first separator (2) that is constructed and arranged to receive a first mixture of gas, sand and liquid, and separate gas at least partially from the first mixture to leave a second mixture of sand and liquid. A second separator (22) comprising a uniaxial cyclonic separator is constructed and arranged to receive the second mixture and separate liquid at least partially from the second mixture to leave a third mixture of sand and liquid. A third separator (34) comprising a gravity separator is constructed and arranged to receive the third mixture and separate liquid at least partially from the third mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Caltec Limited
    Inventors: Mir Mahmood Sarshar, Mirza Najam Ali Beg, Carl Wordsworth
  • Patent number: 8313565
    Abstract: A cyclonic separator for separating fluids comprises an inlet chamber (6) having means for inducing fluids flowing through the chamber to swirl around an axis, a cyclonic separation chamber (10) connected to receive fluids from the inlet chamber, and an outlet chamber (8) connected to receive fluids from the cyclonic separation chamber. The outlet chamber (8) has a tangential outlet (22) for relatively dense fluids and an axial outlet (24) for less dense fluids. The separation chamber is elongate and has a length L and an inlet diameter D, where L/D is in the range 1 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Caltec Limited
    Inventors: Mahmood Mir Sarshar, Ali Najam Miraz Beg, Carl Wordsworth
  • Patent number: 8308856
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air separator for an extracorporeal blood circuit for separating out air from a fluid flowing through the air separator, comprising an air separation chamber having at least one inflow passage and at least one outflow passage. It further relates to an external functional apparatus, a blood circuit, and a treatment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Brueckner, Martin Lauer, Manfred Weis
  • Patent number: 8282711
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a subsea installation for treatment of hydrocarbons from a subsea well, having a pipe system comprising a first manifold (2) connected to at least one well (1) and at least two first pipe segments (3) with an inlet connected to the manifold (2) and where the first pipe segments (3) comprise at least two outlets, where the first manifold (2) and the first pipe segments (3) are arranged in a first plane and where one of the outlets from the first pipe segments leads to a second manifold (7). According to the invention a second of the outlets from the first pipe segments (3) leads to at least two second pipe segments (9) arranged in a second plane and where at least one of the outlets forms an inlet to the second pipe segments (9), where the second pipe segments (9) comprise at least one outlet leading to a third manifold (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS
    Inventors: Jens Grenstad, Marit Mork, Odd Marius Rosvold, Magnus Bernt
  • Patent number: 8277547
    Abstract: A separator tank comprises an essentially cylindrical vertical tank (1) having an upper part (6) and a lower part (7), a tangentially arranged inlet (2) for fluid in the upper part of the tank, at least one first outlet (4) in the upper part of the tank, at least one second outlet (3) in the lower part of the tank, and means (12) for calming a stream around the second outlet. An inner annular wall (5) has a first opening (8) at an upper end of said inner annular wall to allow communication between the upper part and the lower part of the tank. The separator tank comprises a rod-shaped vortex eye breaker (11) extending vertically at the center of the tank in order to improve the capacity of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Jorn Folkvang
  • Patent number: 8273151
    Abstract: A liquid/gas separator device for separating liquid and gaseous phases of a fluid, in particular crude oil, the device comprising a network of first and second separator pipes disposed horizontally, said first and second separator pipes being connected together by vertical link third pipes. The first separator pipes are fed from and connected upstream to a horizontal cylindrical diffuser and are connected downstream to a first horizontal cylindrical manifold. The second separator pipes are connected upstream to the same diffuser and downstream to a second horizontal cylindrical manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Saipem S.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Miotto, Massimo Chiarotti
  • Patent number: 8268051
    Abstract: A preassembled and portable crude oil processing apparatus includes a support platform with a gas separator vessel covered by a shed structure and an elongated liquid separator vessel pivotally connected to the support platform. The liquid separator vessel includes support structure which supports it an a horizontal transport configuration. The apparatus is loaded onto a flatbed trailer and transported to a crude oil processing site with the liquid vessel in the horizontal configuration. At the processing site, the apparatus is hoisted off the trailer and deposited on the ground, and the liquid separator vessel is pivoted to a vertical configuration supported by the platform and secured in place. Plumbing associated with the gas separator vessel is then interconnected with plumbing associated with the liquid separator, with piping carrying a crude oil emulsion for processing, and with tanks for storing products of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel L. Hess
  • Patent number: 8231714
    Abstract: A combined machine for pumping and separating into two distinct and purified phases a two-phase liquid/gas mixture or fluid, is provided. A first stage of the combined machine is equipped with an intake for the two-phase fluid, in which the two-phase fluid is sucked, pumped and partially separated into two distinct phases. One phase is mainly liquid and the other phase is mainly gaseous. A second stage of the combined machine includes two zones, which includes a first zone and a second zone. In the first zone, the mainly liquid phase extracted from the first stage is degassed. In the second zone, the mainly gaseous phase extracted from the first stage is dried. In a third stage of the combined machine, the degassed liquid is forced back and pressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Techspace Aero S.A.
    Inventors: Albert Cornet, Nicolas Raimarckers
  • Patent number: 8226742
    Abstract: A liquid/gas separator device for separating the liquid and gaseous phases of a fluid, the device having first and second vertically-disposed elongate reservoirs. The first reservoir has a first bottom orifice connected to an arrival pipe for the fluid that includes a pressure-lowering device, at least one first top orifice, and a plurality of first intermediate orifices. The first reservoir is connected to a plurality of second reservoirs via a plurality of first transfer pipes, and via at least one second transfer pipe. Each of second reservoirs has a second top orifice connected to a common gas discharge pipe, and a second bottom orifice connected to a common degassed fluid discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Saipem S.A.
    Inventors: Stéphanie Abrand, Marc Bonnissel, Roberto Di Silvestro, Raymond Hallot
  • Patent number: 8226753
    Abstract: A fluid storage tank has an internal spill containment chamber and a separator having a fluid inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet passing into the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Enviro Vault Inc.
    Inventor: Russ Hebblethwaite
  • Patent number: 8221529
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a dialysis fluid cassette is disclosed. The cassette includes a plurality of walls defining at least one valve chamber, a dialysis fluid inlet, a dialysis fluid outlet and a dialysis fluid pathway. The cassette further includes a baffle extending from a first one of the walls to an opposing second one of the walls. The baffle includes an end fixed to a third one of the plurality of walls and a free end. The fixed end separates the dialysis fluid inlet from the dialysis fluid outlet and the baffle and the plurality of walls are constructed and arranged such that the flow of dialysis fluid along the pathway defined in part by the baffle slows as the flow approaches the free end of the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Baxter International, Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Donald D. Busby, Michael E. Hogard, Michael R. Prisco, Atif M. Yardimci, James C. Laird
  • Patent number: 8202356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a degassing centrifugal apparatus (10), such as a degassing centrifugal pump (10) for use in a pulp- or papermaking process. The degassing centrifugal apparatus (10) according to the present invention comprises a rotatable hollow rotor (20) connected to a stationary fluid inlet (14) at one end portion and a stationary liquid outlet (18) at the opposite end portion, and having a gas exhaust (36) for removing gas from the centre thereof. The apparatus further comprises at said inlet end portion means (24) for rotating said fluid and directing it to the inner wall of said rotor (20). The apparatus further comprises a rotatable sensor (42) arranged to measure the layer thickness of a liquid (40) rotating in said apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Pom Technology Oy AB
    Inventors: Paul Olof Meinander, Tom Cichoracki
  • Patent number: 8202357
    Abstract: A bubble trap is especially suitable for separating gas bubbles from liquid fuel supplied from a fuel tank in a spacecraft. The bubble trap includes a rotationally symmetrical collecting container forming a container wall, plural liquid guide vanes extending radially and longitudinally along the inside of the container wall, a perforated conical gas separator that tapers conically toward an outlet of the collecting container, and screens arranged between the gas separator and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Astrium GmbH
    Inventors: Kei Philipp Behruzi, Dennis Haake, Mark Michaelis
  • Patent number: 8197577
    Abstract: A passive hydrocarbon containment system for containing hydrocarbons in a fluid comprises a subsea separator dome, an oil pathway in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon collector disposed within the collection dome, and a gas outlet pipe having a discharge height dimensioned and adapted in relation to the height of the oil pathway sufficient to keep a portion of the oil pathway submerged into a fluid such as seawater present in the collection dome interior void. The hydrocarbon containment system can be moored subsea and used to collect oil and gas coming out of the ocean floor. One advantage of the hydrocarbon containment system is that there are no moving parts. A further advantage is that the hydrocarbon containment system requires limited maintenance to pump out the collected oil as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Jack Couch
  • Patent number: 8197582
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing system includes a dispensing pump for delivering the fluid material to a substrate. The fluid dispensing system further includes a vacuum unit that draws a vacuum on the feed tube for removing gas impurities from the fluid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: DL Technology, LLC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Fugere
  • Patent number: 8182586
    Abstract: A bubble reduction system for a fluid flowing system is provided. The bubble reduction system can include a vat containing a fluid, a pump operable to pump the fluid into the vat, a moat containing a portion of the fluid and a bubble trap also containing a portion of the fluid. The bubble trap can have an upstream section and a downstream section with a panel located between the two sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Mahaffy
  • Patent number: 8177895
    Abstract: An apparatus for degassing oil comprising:—a room (30) for receiving oil comprising a first chamber (30a) and a second chamber (30b) connected to the first chamber;—an inlet (31) feeding oil into the first chamber;—an outlet (32) for feeding oil out of the first chamber;—a suction arrangement (40) connected to the outlet (32) for sucking out oil from the room;—a non-return valve (33) connected to the second chamber; and—a regulating device comprising a float (51) and a valve member (52) activated by the float for regulating the feeding of oil into the room. The float has a lower section (51) located in the first chamber and an upper section (51 b) extending into the second chamber. The upper section delimits a flow passage (63) extending between the first chamber and the second chamber. The valve member is arranged to open the inlet when the float assumes a lower position in the room and close the inlet when the float assumes an upper position in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Hydac Fluidteknik AB
    Inventors: Håkan Ingvast, Andreas Norberg
  • Patent number: 8152911
    Abstract: A tank system for capturing fluids from an oil or gas well. The system comprises a trailer, a tank body supported on the trailer, a separator supported on the trailer, and a sand trap supported on the trailer. The tank includes a gas buster line and a flare line. The tank body has a main inlet port at a top of the tank body and a vent port on a top of the tank body. The gas buster line is disposed in the tank body and is connected to the main inlet port. The gas buster line has multiple lengths of pipe sections, each pipe section increasing in length and diameter. The last section of the gas buster is characterized by a plurality of slots cut in a circumference of the pipe section to allow fluids in the gas buster line to disperse into the tank. The flare line is operatively connected to the vent port and includes an igniter to burn gases before they are vented to the atmosphere. The sand trap and the separator can be used as conditions require to treat fluids from a well before the fluids enter the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventors: Michael E. Williams, Johnnie E. Melton, Tony E. Melton