Abstract: A self-purging separator for separating impurities from fluid intermittently pumped from a well or the like having a segregating device adapted to be received in such a well for segregating impurities from the fluid for descent of the impurities in such a well and a valve below the segregating device for accumulating the descending impurities when the fluid is being pumped and releasing such impurities for further gravitational descent in such well when the pumping is interrupted.

Abstract: A concavo-convex reaction member for use in a device for centrifuging separation into a receiver of a heavier, particulate constituent of a fluid system from a lighter, fluid constituent, the system swirling downwardly in a chamber wherein the member is disposed to reflect a swirl of the lighter constituent upwardly after separation of a portion of the heavier constituent with particles of the heavier constituent tending to settle on the member and to become mixed with the upward swirl, the member providing a convex, downwardly and outwardly sloping upper surface which sheds such particles downwardly into the receiver and providing a concave surface disposed toward the receiver to obstruct movement of separated heavier constituent upwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A separator, for use in boreholes of limited diameter, having a vortex chamber adapted to be received in the borehole having upper and lower ends and including a sidewall constituting a surface of revolution; a tubular vortex finder concentrically disposed in the upper end of the chamber defining an annular throat therebetween; a swirling chamber interconnecting the upper end of the vortex chamber and the vortex finder and providing a surface of revolution of larger diameter than the vortex chamber disposed concentrically thereabout; and an axially facing, swirl inducing inlet extended outwardly of the chamber to admit fluid from the borehole into the swirling chamber and through the throat for centrifuging flow in the vortex chamber.

Abstract: An hydraulic separating device with automatic flow control having an outer member providing a passage circumscribed by a surface of revolution; an inner member mounted concentrically in the passage circumscribed by a surface of revolution and with the outer member defining an annular passage therebetween; means for directing fluid in a swirling action through the passage to centrifuge heavier constituents therefrom; and a frusto-concial flap mounted on the inner member in circumscribing relation thereto, the flap extended in converging relation toward the outer member in the direction of the fluid flow therethrough and being resiliently flexible toward and from said outer member.

Abstract: A device for separating a fluid system, having at least two phases of different specific gravities, including a lower preceding centrifugal separator; and an upper succeeding centrifugal separator, each of said separators having an axially upwardly extended centrifuging chamber providing an upper tangential inlet through which the fluid system enters the chamber to swirl therein, a lower outlet for drawing the heavier phase from the chamber, and a tubular vortex finder through which the lighter phase exits from the chamber mounted coaxially within the upper end of the chamber having a lower end in the chamber downwardly spaced from the inlet and an upper end upwardly of the chamber, said separators being substantially axially aligned, and a substantially cylindrical conduit circumscribing the upper separator having a lower end connected to the upper end of the vortex finder of the lower separator and to the inlet of the upper separator, the inlet of the lower separator being adapted for connection to a source

Abstract: A device for separating a plural phase fluid system into constituent phases having different specific gravities providing a vortexing chamber with a closed upper end, a lower end and a sidewall constituting a surface of revolution; a tubular vortex finder mounted concentrically in the upper end of the chamber having an upper end above the chamber and a lower end within the chamber, the sidewall having an inlet adjacent to the upper end for directing the fluid system tangentially into the chamber to swirl downwardly within the chamber for centrifugal separation of the heavier phase outwardly and downwardly while the lighter phase is discharged upwardly through the vortex finder; an auxiliary vortexing chamber concentrically downwardly extended within the vortexing chamber downwardly spaced from the vortex finder having a sidewall constituting a surface of revolution, a closed upper end, and an open lower end; and a tubular auxiliary vortex finder mounted concentrically in the upper end of the auxiliary chamber

Abstract: A device for separating multiple phase fluid systems according to the relative specific gravities of the phase having a vortex chamber providing upper and lower ends and a circumscribing side wall, a supply conduit connected to the upper end of the chamber adapted to supply a fluid system to the chamber so as to cause it to swirl in the chamber to throw a heavier phase outwardly to descend in the chamber and to cause a lighter phase to move inwardly in the chamber, a tubular vortex finder extended in the upper end of the chamber about which said system is swirled having an open end in downwardly spaced relation to the upper end of the chamber through which a phase of intermediate specific gravity is discharged, a conduit connected to the lower end of the chamber to remove the heavier phase therefrom, a partition in the upper end of the chamber extended between the vortex finder and the wall of the chamber to define a collecting compartment thereabove, said partition having an opening therethrough adjacent to

Abstract: A purging apparatus having a housing for receiving material subsequently to be purged, a source of fluid under pressure connected to the housing adapted to direct a fluid stream into the housing to agitate the material therein, a tube mounted on the housing and having a vortex chamber communicating with the housing through a slot disposed transversely and eccentrically to the chamber, and a discharge conduit connected to the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particles from fluid providing a casing having a first chamber with an inlet for particle laden fluid disposed in substantially tangential relation to the first chamber to produce a fluid vortex therewithin, a second chamber with individual particle and fluid outlets, and a partition disposed within the casing intermediate the chambers to form an annular passage interconnecting the chambers in fluid transferring relation for annular constriction of the fluid vortex centrifically to separate particles from the fluid for segregated discharge through their respective particle and fluid outlets.