Varying Inlet Area Patents (Class 55/459.5)
  • Patent number: 8973215
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner operable to separate debris from an air stream. The vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclonic separator and a second cyclonic separator having an inlet configured to receive the air stream from the first cyclonic separator. The inlet of the second cyclonic separator directs the air steam in an inlet flow direction from an upper end of the first housing toward a lower end of the first housing and along a longitudinal axis into the second cyclonic separator. The inlet of the second cyclonic separator has an inlet cross-sectional area for flow of the air stream measured normal to the longitudinal axis that decreases in the inlet flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: Sergey V. Makarov
  • Patent number: 8945265
    Abstract: A compressor compressing a fluid including lubricating oil includes, on the discharge side thereof, a first separation chamber for separating the lubricating oil by generating a swirling flow in the fluid. The first separation chamber includes: a circumferential wall; an inflow port that is formed in the circumferential wall and causes the fluid to flow into the first separation chamber; and a guiding plate extending from the circumferential wall. The guiding plate extends so as to face the inflow port in a direction where the fluid flows from the inflow port into the first separation chamber, and so as to deflect the fluid flow from the inflow port to guide it along an inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakashima, Shinichi Sato, Akio Saiki, Kazuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8806707
    Abstract: A cyclonic separation device for dust and debris in vacuum cleaners, comprising a roughly cylindrical interior cyclonic chamber connected to an air intake, as well as a separator filter located in the central part of the interior chamber, comprising a tube segment to direct airflow to the air intake with this tube segment located around the roughly cylindrical interior cyclonic chamber, from a starting point to an end point near the air intake, with the cross-section of this tube segment near the end point being smaller than that near the starting point in order to form an acceleration ramp for the airflow between these two points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Soen, Sylvain Reynard
  • Patent number: 8657902
    Abstract: Apparatuses for separating solid catalyst particles from a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) vapor are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a vessel formed with a vessel wall. A conduit is positioned within the vessel and is configured to direct flow of an FCC vapor-solid stream. The apparatus also includes a channel positioned within the vessel and in fluid communication with the conduit. The channel has a channel inlet with an inlet cross-sectional area and a channel outlet with an outlet cross-sectional area less than about 75% of the inlet cross-sectional area. The channel outlet is configured to direct the vapor-solid stream tangentially toward the vessel wall to separate the solid catalyst particles from the FCC vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Bing Sun
  • Patent number: 8657934
    Abstract: A cyclone for separating sticky particles from gas streams includes an inlet duct having an end in a direction of a particle outlet. The end has a flow cross-section including a triangular expansion that is formed laterally by a vertical of a cylindrical outer wall of the cyclone and by art outer boundary of the cyclone. An outer angle of inclination between the vertical and the outer boundary, proceeding from the end of the inlet duct, is reduced from 30° to 0° in a flow direction of gas streams. An immersion tube is disposed eccentrically in a direction of the inlet duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Michael Missalla, Mithat Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8372172
    Abstract: To improve the separation efficiency of a gas-liquid separator in the gas-liquid separator and an air conditioner, the gas-liquid separator having a vessel with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe is arranged such that an exit end section of the inlet pipe is formed to be closed or to have a gap, an expanded end section having a width greater than the diameter of that portion of the inlet pipe which crosses a container of the gas-liquid separator is provided, and that a lateral hole is formed in a side face of the expanded end section. Refrigerant vapor and refrigerant liquid are efficiently separated from each other at the expanded end section, and this improves separation efficiency of the gas-liquid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Murakami, Hironori Nagai, Tadashi Saito, Hiroaki Makino, Yasuhide Hayamaru, Kazuhide Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8343360
    Abstract: A device for separating a flowing medium mixture into at least two different fractions with differing average mass density, comprising an elongate separating space which is circle-symmetrical in axial direction and enclosed by a stationary casing (2), wherein the casing is provided with feeds for a mixture for separating and at least two discharges (9, 10) for discharging at least two fractions with differing mass density, and rotation means located in the separating space for causing the mixture to rotate as a vortex in the separating space. Also disclosed is a method for separating a flowing medium mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Tail-End Oil Company N.V.
    Inventor: Robert Schook
  • Patent number: 8157895
    Abstract: A pressure cyclone is disclosed having a concave top head, wherein the concave top head has a substantially flat roof disposed in the interior of the cyclone vessel. An inlet is tangentially-coupled to the vessel and has an inlet nozzle disposed therein and configured to smoothly transition into the cyclone vessel to create a vortex that separates solid particulates from an incoming particulate-fluid suspension. In particular, the one surface of the inlet nozzle is tangent to the inner surface of cyclone vessel and another surface of the inlet nozzle is parallel and continuous with the substantially flat roof. An inlet casing is disposed around a length of the inlet nozzle and configured to transition from a circular casing to an elliptical casing along the length of the inlet nozzle, and couple to the vessel with the elliptical casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: William E. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7883561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the tangential introduction of a gas-loaded liquid stream into the top of a column in which gas and liquid are separated. Entry into the column top proceeds through a conventional radially arranged port, to which, however, a special tube construction connects which ensures as smooth as possible non-turbulent flow and its tangential exit into the column top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Volker Schuda, Rupert Wagner
  • Patent number: 7867310
    Abstract: Methods and devices for separating oil from a mixture of oil and air are provided. In various embodiments, an air/oil separator includes a cylindrical housing that creates a circular flow path of the air and oil. Further, the air/oil separator may include various flow guides that improve the air/oil separation properties of the separator. Other embodiments include a turbine engine with a lubrication system that includes the improved air/oil separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Allen Baten
  • Patent number: 7736409
    Abstract: A cyclone-type processor has a vortex initiator positioned thereabove and an exhaust sleeve extending through the initiator and into the processor. A blower connects to the initiator chamber by a duct having a divider wall that separates the duct into an air-only channel and an entrained material channel. A feed inlet feeds material to be processed into the air flow of the entrained channel. The vortex initiator includes an outer annular chamber and an inner annular chamber open to the cyclone processor and is engaged by the duct to convey air into the outer chamber and air entrained material into the inner chamber. The inner and outer chambers and slots therebetween cooperate to cause the air flow to form a vortex and to urge entrained material away from the inner wall. The system may include additional cyclone stages for further material treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventors: Frank F. Rowley, Jr., Marilyn M. Rowley, legal representative, Randolph B. Robinson
  • Patent number: 7662201
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dust collecting apparatus. The dust collecting apparatus includes a cyclone body forming a cyclone chamber; a plurality of inlets formed at the cyclone body, and causing air to enter through; and a discharging port formed at the cyclone body, and discharging the air from the cyclone chamber, wherein each inlet of the plurality of inlets is formed at a different height at a side of the cyclone body so that the air is divided to enter the cyclone chamber at a different height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-yun Lee
  • Patent number: 7335241
    Abstract: Disclosed are a cyclone vessel dust collection and a vacuum cleaner including the same. The cyclone vessel dust collector comprises a cyclone vessel main-body including a primary cyclone vessel unit for separating dusts from dust containing air, and one or more secondary cyclone vessel units for separating dusts from the air passing through the primary cyclone vessel unit, the secondary cyclone vessel units being arranged to surround at least a part of the primary cyclone vessel unit; and a dirt collection bin for receiving dusts or the like separated by the cyclone vessel main-body, wherein the cyclone vessel main-body has an outer circumference with a non-constant radius. Therefore, the cyclone vessel dust collector can have a dust collection capability of large capacity with a small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Yun-sup Hwang
  • Patent number: 7160347
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for separating and collecting waste driven by an air stream, comprising an intake duct (52) emerging along a tangential direction in a waste separating chamber (53) defining an internal volume having substantially the shape of a cylinder, in the central part of said chamber (53) is arranged at least an opening (61, 63) emerging onto a duct connected to a suction unit, said chamber (53) having a channel (68) for evacuating waste along a radial direction, said channel (68) being connected to a sealed pan (76) collecting centrifuged waste, the air intake channel (52) and the waste evacuating channel (68) being arranged substantially at the same height in the waste separating chamber (53). The invention is characterized in that the diametrical section of the chamber (53) ranges between twice and ten times the smallest cross-section of the channel carrying waste from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Fabien David, Paul Dancer
  • Patent number: 6979360
    Abstract: In a cyclone separator used for separating solids from gases, we discovered placing at least one opening in a lateral surface of a gas outlet conduit on a side facing away from an inlet to the cyclone separator prevents coke deposits from forming thereon. A plurality of openings may be placed on the side of the lateral surface of the gas outlet conduit facing away from the inlet. In an embodiment, no openings are placed on a side of the lateral surface facing the inlet to the cyclone separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ismail B. Cetinkaya, Keith A. Couch, Lawrence A. Lacijan
  • Patent number: 6938780
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator for separating particles from gas uses a separator chamber having an upper potion with at least three substantially vertical planar walls with perpendicular inner faces, and a lower portion, for defining in the chamber a vertical gas vortex. The gas vortex has an inlet formed in the vicinity of a first corner between the first and second walls for gas to be dedusted, an outlet for dedusted gas, and an outlet for separated particles. The separator uses an acceleration duct with a first transverse section at the first end of the duct that is distinctly greater than a second cross section at the second end. This second end is connected to the inlet for gas to be dedusted at the first corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Baglione, Jean-Claude Semedard, Pierre Gauville, Jean-Xavier Morin, Emmanuel Flores
  • Patent number: 6926749
    Abstract: A cyclone separator is provided with a compact inlet path, in which the inner and outer walls of the inlet path are curved, with the inner wall having a radius that is essentially the same as the radius of the cyclone body wall and with the outer wall wrapping around the cyclone body wall and merging with the cyclone body wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Fisher-Klosterman
    Inventor: Edwin D. Tenney
  • Patent number: 6896720
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating particulate matter from an airstream includes a housing including an intake for particulates-containing air and an exhaust for cleaned air, in which the apparatus includes a primary vortex generator in the intake air and the housing includes a separation zone which includes primary and secondary separation chambers each associated with respective particulates collector and including an interconnector adapted to generate a secondary vortex in the secondary separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventors: Adrian Christopher Arnold, Arthur John Arnold
  • Patent number: 6755897
    Abstract: A vehicle air cleaner system 10 includes a cyclone chamber 14 and a variable inlet 30. The variable inlet 30 communicates airflow to the cyclone chamber 14 at a relatively constant velocity by varying an opening 32 in response to airflow which enters the inlet 12. During a relatively low airflow condition the variable inlet 30 directs airflow closer to a center of the cyclone chamber 14 which increase the angular velocity of the airflow by directing airflow toward smaller radii 42s within the cyclone chamber. During a relatively high airflow condition the variable inlet directs airflow toward the outer diameter of the cyclone chamber 14 and larger radii 42 L to assure an angular speed sufficient to separate out undesirable particles yet prevent an undesirable pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10. By varying communication of airflow to particular radii within the cyclone chamber 14, a relatively constant pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10 is provided regardless of airflow velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Desmond Daly
  • Publication number: 20040079229
    Abstract: A vehicle air cleaner system 10 includes a cyclone chamber 14 and a variable inlet 30. The variable inlet 30 communicates airflow to the cyclone chamber 14 at a relatively constant velocity by varying an opening 32 in response to airflow which enters the inlet 12. During a relatively low airflow condition the variable inlet 30 directs airflow closer to a center of the cyclone chamber 14 which increase the angular velocity of the airflow by directing airflow toward smaller radii 42s within the cyclone chamber. During a relatively high airflow condition the variable inlet directs airflow toward the outer diameter of the cyclone chamber 14 and larger radii 42 L to assure an angular speed sufficient to separate out undesirable particles yet prevent an undesirable pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10. By varying communication of airflow to particular radii within the cyclone chamber 14, a relatively constant pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10 is provided regardless of airflow velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Desmond Daly
  • Patent number: 6599348
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the reduction in entrainment of solids and liquids, and loss of valuable chemicals such as catalysts, in processing and refining sequences that employ separation devices in which non-vapors are to be separated from vapors. The methods comprise regulating the velocities of the incoming stream and the vapor being separated, and creating and maintaining the flow of the incoming stream tangentially to the inner surface of the separation vessel, so as to aid in the reduction in entrainment and loss of valuable chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Chosnek, David William Ford, Michael B. Lakin
  • Patent number: 6494929
    Abstract: A cyclone is provided above a liquid receptacle (4) in a housing (1,3) whose interior is at reduced pressure in operation. Liquid and solid particles carried by the incoming stream of air accumulate in the cyclone (18) and circulate as a body of solid-laden liquid while coming repeatedly into contact with the incoming stream. Excess solid-laden liquid flows down into the receptacle (4) from the cyclone (18) through a lower outlet (23a). The air leaves the cyclone substantially freed from liquid droplets and solid particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Stimvak Limited
    Inventor: John Thomas Wilkins
  • Patent number: 6485534
    Abstract: An evacuation system for a chamber (14) is provided, including a pump (12) for removing gases and contaminants from the chamber. The pump has an outlet (32) connected to an exhaust duct (34). A collector trap (42) for use in collecting contaminants evacuated from the chamber is positioned between the pump outlet (32) and the exhaust duct (34). The collector trap (42) comprises: (i) a gas/contaminant separator (46) having an inlet (56) for introducing gases and contaminants therein, the separator (46) functioning to physically separate the gases and contaminants; (ii) a contaminant collector (48) for collecting the separated contaminants, the collector (48) including an extractor coupling (70) for allowing extraction of the contaminants from the collector; and (iii) an outlet (72) for allowing the separated gases to exit the gas/contaminant separator (46) and into the exhaust duct (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Axcellis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Quill
  • Patent number: 6398973
    Abstract: A cyclone separator has an inlet chamber 52 and an outlet chamber 53, means 51 for introducing a fluid mixture into the inlet chamber so that it swirls around the chamber and passes to the outlet chamber in which it swirls about an outlet chamber axis, the outlet chamber being provided with means 62 for conducting heavier phase fluids from the outlet chamber at a relatively large distance from the outlet chamber axis and an outlet 63 for lighter phase fluids at a relatively small distance from the outlet chamber axis 55. The flow through the separator and the efficiency of separation are improved by forming at least one of the chambers 52, 53 as involute shaped, the corresponding one 51, 62 of said means being defined by the curved wall of the involute of maximum radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: B.H.R. Group Limited
    Inventors: David Henry Saunders, Emil Gyorgy Arato, Owen Matthew Davies
  • Patent number: 6379411
    Abstract: A separator for substantially resolving at least one component of a process stream, such as from the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. The separator includes a body defining a chamber therein. A nozzle housing is located proximate the chamber. An exhaust inlet is in communication with the nozzle housing and the chamber. A nozzle assembly is positioned in the nozzle housing and includes a nozzle moveable within and relative to the nozzle housing. The nozzle includes at least one passage formed therethrough such that a process stream entering the exhaust inlet connection passes through the passage formed in the nozzle, which imparts a substantially rotational flow to the process stream as it enters the chamber. A positioning member is configured to position the nozzle relative to the nozzle housing in response to changes in process stream pressure to adjust flowrate of said process stream entering into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
    Inventors: Terry D. Turner, Bruce M. Wilding, Michael G. McKellar, Kevin T. Raterman
  • Patent number: 6322601
    Abstract: Smoke inlet trunking for a cyclone separator has two lateral faces referred to as an extrados face and an intrados face, the latter terminating at a nose of the cyclone, a ceiling face and a floor face. The intrados face, which connects a point at the start of the trunking to a point at the nose of the cyclone, has a profile such that it includes at least two separate tangents such that one tangent intersects the extrados face at a point upstream of the foot of a perpendicular to the extrados face dropped from the nose of the cyclone. The intrados face begins at the point at the start of the trunking with a first part having a rectilinear profile followed by a second part having a curvilinear profile with a point of inflexion or a second rectilinear part connected to the nose of the cyclone and the point at the start of the trunking is located at an outlet from the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Combustion
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Semedard, Eugène Guilleux
  • Patent number: 6238579
    Abstract: The present invention provides for discharge (exit) ports for exit fluid flow disposed at or adjacent to one another on one end of a vortex separating body; an inlet port(s) disposed at one end of a separating body having discharge (exit) ports for exit fluid flow disposed at or adjacent to one another at an opposite end of the separating body; increased separation efficiency; solid mass separated per unit energy expended; a body that is predominantly cylindrical in shape that can be made inexpensively from standard sizes of pipe or tubing; a device that is predominantly cylindrical in shape so that the separation (vortex) length of the device can be changed simply by installing or removing sections of pipe or tubing; a device which promotes smooth rotational flow within the vortex region, therefore affecting an efficient separation of particles carried by the transporting fluid therein and reducing the pressure and/or energy required to move the fluid through the device; a device with entrance and especially
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: MBA Polymers, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine K. Paxton, Laurence E. Allen, Larry G. Heald