Rotating Means Patents (Class 96/196)
  • Patent number: 11965396
    Abstract: A system includes an electric submersible pump assembly and a control valve assembly. The electric submersible pump assembly transports a fluid in a casing string of a well to a surface location and includes a pump that receives the fluid through a pump intake and vents the fluid through a pump discharge when activated. The electric submersible pump assembly further includes a shaft that is fixed to the pump and extends downhole from the pump. The control valve assembly includes a propeller shaft axially movable along a central axis of the system, a propeller attached to the propeller shaft that pushes the propeller shaft downhole when the pump of the electric submersible pump assembly is active, a shaft coupler that connects the propeller shaft and the shaft of the electric submersible pump assembly, and a stinger that has a conduit for the fluid to flow from the casing string to the pump intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jinjiang Xiao, Songlin Zhong, Chidirim Enoch Ejim
  • Patent number: 11400632
    Abstract: An extruder includes a screw for extruder provided with a screw element for kneading a raw material, and a barrel including a cylinder portion in which the screw is inserted so as to be rotatable. A plurality of screw elements identical with the screw element are provided in a longitudinal direction of the screw under a certain rule. The barrel is integrated by combining a plurality of barrel blocks blocked. Each of the plurality of barrel blocks is configured in accordance with a length of the screw element provided in the longitudinal direction of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha, HSP Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Fujii, Hiroshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11312056
    Abstract: A twin screw extruder (10) for producing a fiber-reinforced resin composition, which is obtained by charging the extruder with a thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers in roving form and the reinforcing fibers being fibrillated/cut and being dispersed/kneaded into the thermoplastic resin, comprises: a plate-shaped blade (15), which protrudes from the inner surface of a cylinder (11) and faces a screw (20) and the longitudinal direction of which faces the axial direction of the cylinder; and a height adjustment means (16) for adjusting the gap between the blade (15) and the screw (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Kimura, Makoto Tojo, Daigo Saga
  • Patent number: 11229889
    Abstract: A conveyance portion, a barrier portion, and a path are provided at places of a screw main body in which a kneading portion is provided. In at least one of the places, the path is provided inside the screw main body, and includes an entrance and an exit. The entrance is opened to urge the raw materials having the conveyance limited by the barrier portion to increase pressure on the raw materials, to flow in the entrance. The raw materials flowing from the entrance flow through the path in the same direction as a conveyance direction of the conveyance portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Fujii, Takafumi Sameshima
  • Patent number: 11230033
    Abstract: At a part of the screw main body at which the kneading portion is provided, conveyance portions, a barrier portion and a path are provided at a plurality of places. At least one of the places, the path is provided inside the screw main body, and includes an entrance and an exit. The entrance is opened in such a manner that the raw material whose pressure is enhanced by being restricted in conveyance by the barrier portion flows into the entrance. The path is formed in such a manner that the raw material flowing into the path from the entrance flows toward the exit in a direction opposite to the direction of conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Fujii, Takafumi Sameshima
  • Patent number: 10967554
    Abstract: An extruder screw includes a screw main body, conveyance portions, barrier portions, and paths. The raw materials, the conveyance of which is limited by the barrier portions, flow in from the entrance. The raw materials flowing in from the entrance flow through the paths in an opposite direction to a conveyance direction of the conveyance portions. The exit is opened in the outer circumferential surface of the screw main body at a position on an upstream side in the conveyance direction in the conveyance portions in which the entrance is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha, HSP TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Fujii, Takafumi Sameshima, Hiroshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10704346
    Abstract: A system having a screen having an upper side and a lower side for separating drill cuttings and drilling fluid within a vibratory separator; a tray positioned below the screen for receiving the drilling fluid from the screen; a pressure differential generator coupled to the tray, the pressure differential generator configured to create a pressure differential between the upper side and the lower side through the screen to enhance the flow of drilling fluid through the screen; and a hose assembly coupling the pressure differential generator to a coupler, an inlet of the coupler being arranged perpendicularly between a first outlet coupled to a mist eliminator and a second outlet coupled to a tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Evan T. Frazier, Colin Stewart, Richard Bingham
  • Patent number: 10035084
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a de-aeration apparatus and system, and more particularly, to an apparatus and system suitable for de-aerating highly viscous fluids comprising a vacuum chamber, an annular disk for rotating within the chamber, and a fixed baffle covering a portion of the surface of the annular disk and thereby defining a predetermined path by which the fluid to be de-aerated is spread more quickly into a thinner layer on the disk, exposing a greater amount of air/gas bubbles from the fluid in a shorter amount of time and resulting in a higher quality product than conventional de-aeration systems allow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Cook and Cook Incorporated
    Inventors: Wallace Cook, Federico Robles
  • Patent number: 8888898
    Abstract: A two-phase working fluid, having a liquid phase and a gas phase, is purged of non-condensable gas prior to being used to charge a closed thermal management system, improving the heat transfer performance of the thermal management system. The liquid phase of the two-phase working fluid is exposed to conditions that cause non-condensable gas to separate from the two-phase working fluid. The non-condensable gas is vented, and two-phase working fluid that vaporizes under the conditions is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Rice, Jeffrey Spaulding
  • Publication number: 20140290486
    Abstract: A liquid depth-operated valve assembly for use in a zero gravity environment includes a Pitot pump disposed within a centrifugal separator configured to separate an air and a liquid from one another. Also included is a Pitot opening disposed at a first radial location relative to a substantially central location of the centrifugal separator. Further included is a depth-sensing port disposed at a second radial location along the Pitot pump, the second radial location disposed radially inwardly of the first radial location, the depth-sensing port in operative communication with a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventor: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8383078
    Abstract: Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or “syngas”) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (“POX”) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: GTLpetrol LLC
    Inventors: Shoou-I Wang, John Michael Repasky, Shankar Nataraj, Xiang-Dong Peng
  • Publication number: 20120291631
    Abstract: A degassing apparatus 1 includes a housing 2 having a degassing chamber 22, a rotor 3 rotatably provided in the housing 2 and a decompressing mechanism 4 for decompressing the degassing chamber 22 of the housing 2. The housing 2 further includes a conduit line 21 and a cylindrical portion 23. The degassing chamber 22 is provided in a middle part of the conduit line 21. An upper end of the conduit line 21 constitutes an inlet port 24 and a lower end of the conduit line 21 constitutes an outlet port 25. The rotor 3 is rotatably provided inside the cylindrical portion 23 so that a passage between the outlet portion 25 and the degassing chamber 22 can be hermetically separated by the rotor 3. The rotor 3 has four partitioning plates 31 which partition the inside of the cylindrical portion into four spaces 231-234.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Kazuo Noda, Shigehisa Ueda
  • Patent number: 8202403
    Abstract: A distillation tower for use in a petrochemical or petroleum operation effects liquid and vapor separation by using centrifugal force applied to the feed introduced into a ring from a tangential inlet. The feed is separated into a liquid component that flows into the bottoms section of the tower and a vapor component that flows upwardly through the core of the ring to a wash zone in the tower. De-entrainment devices are provided in the core so that the vapor swirling upwardly impacts the devices and any remaining entrained liquid is separated from the vapor. As a result, overflash with decreased resid can be collected from the wash zone and used as feed suitable for a fluid catalytic cracking operation, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Theodore Sideropoulos, Arun K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 8097069
    Abstract: A pressurized container (10, 20) for containing oil and a gas dissolved therein at a constant overall average pressure at a pressure above atmospheric pressure comprising a means (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) for introducing a local area of reduced pressure within the oil. Preferably the local area of reduced pressure result in the gas dissolved in the oil evolving from the oil. This enables gas to be evolved from the oil without needing to reduce the pressure of the entire volume of oil which the gas is to be evolved from. The evolved gas and remaining oil occupy a greater volume than did the gas containing oil and consequently the pressure in the vessel will increase. This will allow the gas to be drawn off while the overall pressure of the container (10, 20) is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: David Morgan
  • Patent number: 7947100
    Abstract: A compact suction and separation device is shown and described. The suction and separation device includes a pump and a separator. The pump includes a vertically oriented rotary vane pump comprising a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet. The separator includes a collector configured to receive combinations of solids, liquids and air. The separator separates solids and/or liquids from the air. Air from the separator is routed from an air discharge into the suction inlet of the pump. Solids and/or liquids are drained from a liquids/solids discharge of the separator. The separator may be gravity-based or centrifuge-type separator driven by the pump motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Gast Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Delbert Thomas, Christopher Lee Blackburn, Troy Smits
  • Patent number: 7935179
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for exhausting gas from a coating material. The coating material is fed in the bottom part area of a drum (3) rotating around an essentially vertical axis inside a vacuum tank (1), whereby the rotating motion of the drum causes the coating material to rise up the inner wall of the drum and to discharge from the upper edge of the drum as a thin film against the inner wall of a vacuum tank, wherefrom the coating material flows downwards. The coating material is arranged to rise up the wall of the drum stepwise, so that the coating material will form a thin veil-like film on at least two different step levels (10-12), whereupon the gas bubbles in the coating material will break and be discharged from the coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Heikki Vatanen, Timo Nurmiainen, Jukka Koskinen, Ilpo Honkanen
  • Publication number: 20110073812
    Abstract: A method and a device (1) for de-gassing a liquid-gas-mixture (3) is proposed. The method comprises: inserting the liquid-gas-mixture (3) into a chamber (5) wherein the chamber (5) is at a reduced gas pressure and arranging the liquid-gas-mixture (3) on a centre region (11) of a surface (13) of a rotating body (15) such that the liquid-gas-mixture (3) is subjected to a centrifugal force. Therein, the surface (13) of the rotating body (15) is adapted such that the liquid-gas-mixture (3) is spread over the surface (13) due to the centrifugal force and finally flows over a radially outward edge region (21) of the surface (13) of the rotating body (15). Due to the occurring centrifugal forces, even highly viscous or thixotropic liquids may be-spread over the rotating surface as a thin layer from which gas incorporated in the liquid can easily and effectively escape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Hans Negle
  • Patent number: 7879140
    Abstract: Coating material is fed into a vacuum container inside which are apparatus for separating gas from the coating material. The degassing apparatus (10) has two separate compartments (11, 12) so that degassing is carried out in two different stages by using a single apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Eero Kesti, Esa Forsten
  • Patent number: 7842123
    Abstract: Apparatus (20) for removing gas bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient wherein a gas trap (42) is located at the upper end of a vertical column (38, 40, 40a) having a lower inlet (44) and an upper outlet (56). A bracket (39) supports the column above the patient, and a bubble-separator (46, 39a, 47, 66, 63), positioned between the inlet and the outlet, causes gas bubbles to move toward the column axis as they rise so that they are captured in the gas trap (42). Liquid to be de-gasified is supplied from a vertical level above the column outlet and is delivered through the side outlet (56) to the patient below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventors: Ehud Milo, Simcha Milo
  • Publication number: 20100192988
    Abstract: A deaeration device for bubbling dissolved air in the cleaning liquid by cavitation is connected on a cleaning-liquid circulation path so as to bubble the dissolved air in the cleaning liquid flowing through the cleaning-liquid circulation path by the deaeration device, and the bubbled dissolved air flows back to the cleaning tank together with the cleaning liquid so that the bubbled dissolved air is ejected from the liquid surface of the cleaning tank to the outside of the tank. Moreover, a propeller-type pump is used as the circulating pump, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled within a range of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/l.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Kazuyuki SAIKI, Masaru Hase, Katsuhiro Koyama, Katsutada Sakazaki
  • Patent number: 7757866
    Abstract: In an embodiment, axially-fed slurry can be continuously separated into clarified liquid, stripped gas, and thickened sludge in radial counterflow between counter-rotating coaxial centrifugal impellers. One impeller comprises an annular crossflow filter through which liquids are extracted. At the periphery of the impellers, where they are narrowly separated, the sludge is shear thickened into an extruded paste. Suspended solids in the feed pass over the surface of the rotating annular crossflow filter by the shear lift effect, and the vortex-wall interaction jets water radially inward from the periphery, dewatering the sludge. Evolved gases, oils, and fractions lighter than water flow radially inward to the impeller axis through radial vortices in a shear layer between the impellers, and are extracted through an axial exhaust conduit. Feed has long residence time so that separation is complete and continuous. Municipal wastewater, produced water, beverages, food, and scrubber sludge are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: McCutchen Co.
    Inventor: Wilmot H. McCutchen
  • Patent number: 7635410
    Abstract: A photo-resist dispensing apparatus is disclosed and comprises; a tank adapted to hold a photo-resist solution, a pump unit adapted to pump the photo-resist solution from the tank, a filter unit adapted to receive the photo-resist solution from the pump unit, and at least one of a first gas discharge unit connected to the tank and adapted to remove gas bubbles from the photo-resist solution held in the tank, and a second gas discharge unit connected to the filter unit and adapted to remove gas bubbles from the photo-resist solution in the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Jun Park, Suk-Fill Yun
  • Patent number: 7588631
    Abstract: Vacuum deaerators and methods of using for deaeration comprise a vessel having side walls and a cover. The vacuum deaerator further comprises at least one vacuum source coupled to the vessel, and an open-ended distributor plate comprising outer edges spaced from the walls of the vessel. Additionally, the vacuum deaerator comprises a drive shaft configured to rotate the distributor plate, and at least one feed port configured to provide a liquid comprising entrained gases to a surface of the distributor plate. The distributor plate is configured to deaerate the liquid by substantially removing entrained gases from the liquid through the application of centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: The Western States Machine Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20090199708
    Abstract: Apparatus (20) for removing gas bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient wherein a gas trap (42) is located at the upper end of a vertical column (38, 40, 40a) having a lower inlet (44) and an upper outlet (56). A bracket (39) supports the column above the patient, and a bubble-separator (46, 39a, 47, 66, 63), positioned between the inlet and the outlet, causes gas bubbles to move toward the column axis as they rise so that they are captured in the gas trap (42). Liquid to be de-gasified is supplied from a vertical level above the column outlet and is delivered through the side outlet (56) to the patient below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Ehud MILO, Simcha MILO
  • Publication number: 20080166488
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for exhausting gas from a coating material. The coating material is fed in the bottom part area of a drum (3) rotating around an essentially vertical axis inside a vacuum tank (1), whereby the rotating motion of the drum causes the coating material to rise up the inner wall of the drum and to discharge from the upper edge of the drum as a thin film against the inner wall of a vacuum tank, wherefrom the coating material flows downwards. The coating material is arranged to rise up the wall of the drum stepwise, so that the coating material will form a thin veil-like film on at least two different step levels (10-12), whereupon the gas bubbles in the coating material will break and be discharged from the coating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: METSO PAPER, INC.
    Inventors: Heikki Vatanen, Timo Nurmiainen, Jukka Koskinen, Ilpo Honkanen
  • Patent number: 7267529
    Abstract: A deaerator includes a stationary separation chamber with first and second opposite walls or ends and a peripheral wall in between. Rotating vanes are mounted on a shaft. A large inlet leads to the stationary chamber at the first end and is arranged along a center axis of the chamber. An air reject port lies inside the inlet and is arranged along a center axis of the chamber. The vanes are spaced from the peripheral wall to define a gap. An exit chamber is included at the second end between the vanes and second wall. A vacuum is connected through the air reject port. A variable orifice valve is located at the inlet and outlet. Pressure sensors are also provided at the inlet and outlet. The valves are controlled to regulate the fluid flow, internal level, and pressure in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventor: John A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6884401
    Abstract: A high viscosity liquid is fed into a rotation pack bed at a position with a distance far enough from a rotation axis, creating a centrifugal force exerted on the high viscosity liquid overwhelming a drag thereof, so that it can flow radially through the rotation pack bed. A high pressure gas is introduced into the rotation pack bed peripherally and/or a suction force source is connected to a position near the rotation axis, so that a volatile component contained in the high viscosity fluid is entrained in the gas counter currently flowing through the rotation pack bed and withdrawn from the position near the rotation axis, or the volatile component exits from the position near the rotation axis in gas phase, and thus the volatile component is removed from the high viscosity liquid. A second fluid can also be fed into the rotation pack bed to react with the high viscosity liquid, so that a reaction product is formed, and a volatile side product is removed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Industiral Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Sheng Yang, Chia-Chang Lin, I-Min Tseng, Wen-Tzong Liu, Hua-Tang Yu
  • Patent number: 6884281
    Abstract: First, the overall quantity of bubbles in a coating liquid is reduced in advance by vacuum deaeration performed in conjunction with preparation of the coating liquid in a stirring tank in a first step, then bubbles of relatively large sizes, of bubbles that have not been removed in the first step are removed by a tank type deaeration device with ultrasonic waves in a floatation tank in a second step, and finally bubbles of very small to small sizes that are difficult to remove in the first and second steps are dissolved in the liquid under pressure with ultrasonic waves and thereby removed in a pipeline in a third step. According to this, bubbles in the coating liquid can reliably be removed irrespective of the nature of the coating liquid, a large amount of coating liquid can be treated, and the possibility that the quality of the deaerated coating liquid is adversely affected is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6736880
    Abstract: A downhole liquid and gas separator system has a pump, a separator and a motor, and a shroud around the pump, separator and motor. The shroud has a lower impermeable portion with a closed lower end and an upper porous portion. The upper end of the impermeable portion is above the inlet port for the separator so that production fluid flows upwards between the well casing and the shroud, over the upper end of the impermeable portion and downwards to the inlet port, generating a pressure drop and releasing gas before the production fluid enters the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Pure Savers, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Ford, Thomas S. Osborne
  • Patent number: 6723158
    Abstract: A gas separator has a separator member that rotates with a shaft for separation of fluid components. A flow divider directs more dense fluid to the pump and less dense fluid into an annulus surrounding the pump. An impeller is located within the flow divider for urging fluid out of a downstream gas exit port. A single large gas exit port is used and may be combined with use of a single large fluid inlet. An auger may be located within the rotary separator member. Holes may be located in the sidewall of the rotary member or chamber. The holes are preferably located in a helical pattern above and adjacent the flights of the auger or are in vertical columns adjacent the baffles. The chamber may have a cylindrical or tapered profile. Alternatively, a series of sub-chambers may be used, each having a smaller radius than the preceding, upstream sub-chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Brown L. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6712883
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for deaerating liquid crystal contained in at least one liquid crystal container. The apparatus includes a chamber, a holder, a displacement mechanism, a vacuum system and a gas supply. The chamber has an opening to provide access to an interior of the chamber and a cover to seal the opening. The holder is disposed in the chamber to hold the liquid crystal container having the liquid crystal while the displacement mechanism displaces the at least one container. Here, the vacuum system creates a vacuum state in the chamber during deaeration, and the gas supply restores the chamber to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyug Jin Kweon, Hae Joon Son
  • Patent number: 6672387
    Abstract: A system (SPARC) for producing a mixed gas-oil stream wherein gas is to be separated and compressed downhole in a turbine-driven compressor before the gas is injected into a subterranean formation. A turbine bypass valve allows all of the stream to bypass the turbine during start-up until surging in the production stream has subsided. The valve then opens to allow a portion of the stream to pass through the turbine. Also, a compressor recycle valve recycles the compressor output until the surging in the stream has subsided while a check valve prevents back flow into the outlet of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, John M. Klein, Steven P. Petullo, Curtis G. Blount
  • Patent number: 6564865
    Abstract: A system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream which contains solid particulates wherein gas is to be separated and compressed downhole in a turbine-driven compressor before the gas is injected into a subterranean formation. The stream is passed through an upstream separator to separate out the particulates which pass through a first and second set of slots into first and second passages, both of which empty into a bypass through the turbine whereby the separated particulates do not contact the rotary vanes of the turbine thereby alleviating the erosive effects of the solids in the produced stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Conocophillips Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, James L. Cawvey, John M. Klein, Mark D. Stevenson, Steven J. Svedeman, Steven P. Petullo, Kerry N. Oliphant
  • Patent number: 6464758
    Abstract: An apparatus for degassing a liquid or pasty medium in a machine for producing and/or upgrading a fiber material web includes a vessel rotatable about an axis of rotation, a medium-supply device for introducing the medium to be degassed into the vessel, a medium-discharge device for discharging a low-gas fraction of the medium out of the vessel and a gas-discharge device for discharging a gas-rich fraction of the medium out of the vessel. The gas-discharge device has an immersion-tube arrangement with at least one immersion tube, the inlet orifice of each being arranged so as to be at least adjacent to the axis of rotation of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Papertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Hoferer
  • Patent number: 6391094
    Abstract: An apparatus and method that is used for removing gas from drilling mud coming from gas and oil well-bores. The apparatus receives the gas ladened drilling mud and utilizes the energy from the gas ladened mud to power blower fans that are used to discharge any released gas. A set of conical trays are used to catch the gas ladened mud that is dispersed in the energy utilization by a set of helical blades. The gas ladened mud will slowly flow down the conical trays and liberate gas with the assistance of a partial vacuum that is within the reaction vessel. A liquid trap is also formed in the bottom portion of the reaction vessel, to prevent air from entering the reaction vessel. The gas generated is expelled out of the reaction vessel and burned off by a flare line or simply released into the outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel A. Ramos
  • Patent number: 6372006
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator of vertical axis for the separation of a flowable medium, in particular a dental liquid/solids mixture, from conveying suction air has a motor-driven removal element (10) which is arranged in a flow chamber with a rotationally symmetrical peripheral wall (4) and a bottom limit. A top, central outlet (9) for the suction air and a bottom, peripheral outlet (8) for the flowable medium are flow-connected to an inlet (5) for the mixture to be separated, which opens out between these outlets, the peripheral outlet (8) being surrounded by an annular non-return valve (7). Vanes (16) are provided on the removal element (10) between the mixture inlet (5) and the peripheral outlet (8). The mixture inlet (5) is formed between the bottom edge of the peripheral wall (4) and a holding ring (22) for the non-return valve (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventors: Bruno Pregenzer, Alfred Konzett
  • Patent number: 6296690
    Abstract: An alternating compression-pumping system includes at least one alternating compression-pumping section, suited to impart a pressure value to an essentially liquid fluid or to an essentially gaseous fluid, at least one pumping section suited for an essentially fluid, at least one device for separating the various phases of the fluid, provided with a level detector allowing to detect the gas-liquid interface level, valves allowing to control the flow rate of the liquid or gas phases, and a control system allowing to vary the state of the valves so as to shift the compression section from an operating mode suited for gas to an operating mode suited for liquid and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Yves Charron
  • Patent number: 6139606
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for degassing gas-containing fluid media in a container with the apparatus including a centrifugal pump for pumping the gas-containing fluid medium from the container, an ejector including a suction side, an ejector inlet for a drive fluid, and an ejector outlet for the drive fluid, whereby at least a portion of the pump fluid medium is fed to the suction side of the ejector for removing the gas therefrom, a diversion conduit for diverting a separate portion of the pump fluid medium from the centrifugal pump to the ejector inlet, and a return conduit for returning the separate portion of the fluid medium from the ejector outlet to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Valmet Fibertech Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Kjell Forslund, Leo Kotkaniemi
  • Patent number: 6113675
    Abstract: A gas separator having a reduced rotating mass. The gas separator includes a stationary flow inducer that creates a vortex within an outer housing. The flow inducer includes an accelerator mechanism that increases the velocity of the fluid mixture as it flows through a portion of the gas separator. The resultant liquid and gaseous phases are directed from the gas separator through separate outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Camco International, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd M. Branstetter
  • Patent number: 6066193
    Abstract: The present invention provides a submersible pumping system which includes a tapered flow gas separation system. The tapered flow gas separation system of the present invention includes at least a first and second gas separator. The first separator is configured to receive and process a first flow rate of production liquid. The first separator is adapted to draw production liquid from a production casing and to separate a first portion of gas from the production liquid. The second separator is configured to receive and process a second flow rate of production liquid which is less than the first flow rate received by the first separator. The second separator is adapted to receive the production liquid from the first separator and to separate a second portion of gas from the production liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Camco International, Inc.
    Inventor: Woon Yung Lee
  • Patent number: 6024780
    Abstract: An automatic apparatus for substantially reducing gas levels in a fluid is provided. The apparatus comprises: (a) an upper portion comprising a reusable vacuum chamber with a resealable opening thereto; the vacuum chamber being capable of containing a suitable vessel holding a sample of the fluid; and (b) an enclosed lower portion comprising: (1) a magnetic stirrer positioned below the vacuum chamber; (2) mechanism for applying a vacuum in the vacuum chamber; (3) a microprocessor for controlling timing sequences for the magnetic stirrer and the vacuum means; and (4) one or more control switches or dials accessible to the user for selecting the timing sequences. A method for substantially reducing carbon dioxide levels in a pre-measured sample of a carbonated beverage is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventor: Odell Kent Haselden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5993518
    Abstract: A deaerating apparatus for removing a gas from a liquid, including a liquid container rotatable and storing the liquid from which the gas is to be removed, a rotating device for rotating the liquid container, a sucking device for absorbing the gas from the liquid container; a feed-out device for feeding out the liquid stored in the liquid container, a liquid introducing pipe for introducing the liquid into the liquid container, a gas exhausting pipe for exhausting the gas from the liquid container, a liquid feed-out pipe for feeding out the liquid from the liquid container, and a head member which is removably placed on the liquid container, with the head member in contact with the liquid container. With the head member separated a predetermined interval from the liquid container, the liquid container is rotated to collect the gas contained in the liquid to the center of the liquid container. Then, the gas in the liquid container is absorbed, with the liquid container semi-closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kiyohisa Tateyama
  • Patent number: 5972171
    Abstract: De-entrainment devices are provided for separating an entrained liquid from a vapor stream exiting a flash zone in a separation column. Methods for utilizing the de-entrainment devices are also provided. In one embodiment, the de-entrainment device of the present invention is embodied in a de-entrainment tray that has a tray deck and a plurality of risers extending vertically up from the tray deck. The risers are provided with devices for imparting rotational movement to the fluid stream, which have the vapor stream and entrained liquid, entering the riser. The rotational movement imparted to the fluid stream causes the liquid to separate from the vapor stream and to flow upward along the riser walls. The de-entrained liquid is then transported from above the separation tray back into the flash zone by way of a liquid downcomer. The vapor stream separates from the liquid within the riser and flows out of the riser upward through the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Sheldon Ross, Berne K. Stober, John Scott Buchanan
  • Patent number: 5863317
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating a gas-liquid mixture into component parts having a coalescing filter mounted on a rotatable shaft. The gas-liquid mixture is directed to the coalescing filter in a generally radial inward direction relative to the shaft and the retained liquid is spun in a generally radial outward direction from the filter by centrifugal force associated with the rotation of the shaft and thereby the coalescing filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventors: John Cambridge Smith, Alex George Hunter
  • Patent number: 5861052
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for pumping a fluid mixture of a gas and a liquid and for separating said gas and liquid from each other, said apparatus having a fluid inlet (14) at one end (18) and at the opposite end (22) a pump housing (16) with a liquid outlet (28) and, between said inlet (14) and said pump housing (16), a hollow elongated gas separation part (30) of an essentially circular cross section with a generally central outlet (26) for separated gas. Said gas separation part (30) is provided by a hollow rotor (12) between said inlet (14) and said pump housing (16), the inner wall of said rotor (12) providing a large rotatable gas separation surface (32). The diameter of said rotor (12) increases at said opposite end (22) of the apparatus to form a larger diameter pumping zone (17) extending into said pump housing (16). Said rotor (12) is provided with a blade wheel (24) extending into said pump housing (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: POM Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Paul Olof Meinander
  • Patent number: 5858070
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning hydraulic fluid includes a centrifugal fluid-spinning disk arranged in a housing, of which an upper portion forms a vapor chamber and a lower portion forms a fluid collecting basin. A vacuum pump is connected to the housing through an oil mist separator, such that water vapor is vacuumed away and hydraulic fluid collects in the oil mist separator to then be pumped away. The apparatus further includes preferably a single container that contains both the contaminated hydraulic fluid that is to be cleaned and the cleaned hydraulic fluid. A flexible inlet line and a flexible outlet line with respective hydraulic quick connectors are provided to connect the apparatus and particularly the oil container to a hydraulic system of an aircraft, for example. A high pressure pump connected to the outlet line pumps the cleaned hydraulic fluid into the aircraft hydraulic system and a pressure maintaining valve in the inlet line maintains the system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Halm, Jochen Mertens, Manfred Becher
  • Patent number: 5749945
    Abstract: A system is described for rapidly removing dissolved permanent gasses or dissolved volatile contaminants from a liquid, in which the liquid is forced through a cavitating venturi, designed and operated in a fashion to produce micro-bubbles in the high-shear, converging flow section at its entry, to coalesce a significant fraction of these micro-air bubbles in a nominally straight section of maximum restriction following the inlet section, then in a final section, a diffuser, the steam bubbles condense, having during their lives caused coalescence of a significant fraction of the micro air bubbles, which are then, with the water carrying them separated from the remaining stream and its micro-bubbles. The stream separated carries large, easily broken air bubbles which then are broken in a suitable device (four are shown, each with a proposed best design for a specific size of system). The bubbles' contents, a mixture of air, volatiles and vapor are then sent to a vacuum system for processing to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Earl Joseph Beck
  • Patent number: 5634963
    Abstract: An apparatus suitable in particular for degassing fluoropolymers which have been subjected to thermal degradation contains--in the direction of flow of the product--a product intake, a coolable conveyor section, a comminution apparatus, a heated conveyor section and a product discharge, the entire apparatus being designed to be gastight and advantageously being designed to be resistant to pressure surges and having a gas outlet in the area of the coolable conveyor section and/or in the area of the comminution apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Strasser, Bernd Felix, Ulrich Reiff, Hans-Bodo Richter, Tilman Zipplies
  • Patent number: 5554343
    Abstract: A fluid centrifuge device for separating fluids and/or solids comprises a non-rotatable containment vessel (6) and a rotatable shroud (6A) of conical or other form within said vessel (6). The vessel (6) is located between an inlet assembly (2) including a manifold (8) which leads to the interior of a tubing housing (14) of a turbocharger and an outlet assembly (4) including two outlets (10, 10A) for respectively clean and dirty gases. The shroud (6A) is mounted on a drive shaft (20) for rotation therewithin. The shaft (20) and the shroud (6A) are driven by turbine blades (16) or by other drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Brian Wade
  • 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