Centrifugal Type Patents (Class 96/208)
  • Patent number: 6827820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a degassing centrifugal apparatus such as a pump and to a process for pumping and degassing a fluid. The apparatus has a rotatable hollow rotor connected to a stationary fluid inlet at one end and a stationary liquid outlet at the opposite end and a gas exhaust in the center thereof. The rotor has at its inlet end a bladed wheel with arcuate blades. The bladed wheel accelerates a fluid flow in said rotor inlet end and causes the fluid to rotate at a peripherical velocity higher than the peripherical velocity of said rotor inlet end. The apparatus is especially useful for pumping and degassing backwater in the production of paper or board in a paper machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: POM Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Paul Meinander
  • Patent number: 6811690
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separation of suspended solid particles from fluids, for separation and mixing of fluids, and for dissolving gases in aqueous fluids. The apparatus employs a grooved ring to divide the fluid stream and impart a high velocity on each of the divided or sub-streams. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be spiral in shape is used to create a high velocity circular motion on a divided stream for separation of suspended solid particles by centrifugal force in a cyclone filter and for saturation of liquid with gases in a fluid mixer where gases are introduced through a diffuser. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be radial is used in a fluid mixer to divide a stream of fluid, produce a high velocity flow through each groove, introduce a second fluid through an orifice into the first fluid flowing through each groove, and direct the fluid mixture to a center impact zone where the various streams collide to complete the mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hydrotreat, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny Arnaud
  • Publication number: 20040168572
    Abstract: A tubular separation unit insertable into a caisson or tube for separating liquid from an upward flowing liquid/gas multi-phase stream, and comprising: a centrifugal flow-induced liquid separator having a multi-phase gas/liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas stream outlet; a liquid transfer conduit connected to the liquid outlet of the flow separator; and a pump for pumping liquid, disposed below the separator and including a pump liquid inlet connected to the liquid transfer conduit and through which liquid separated in the separator is received, and a pumped liquid outlet through which separated liquid is, in use, caused to flow selectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventor: Hans P. Hopper
  • Patent number: 6752860
    Abstract: An apparatus for separation of the fluid flow flowing through a pipeline into a light fraction and a heavier fraction has a tubular casing (2) arranged to constitute a section of the pipeline proper, a spin element (5) for rotation of the fluid flow at the upstream end of the casing (2), and a discharge element (12) downstream of the spin element (5) having opening (13) for discharge of the light fraction and possibly entrained heavier fraction. The apparatus also has a control separator (25) connected to the discharged element (12) and arranged to separate entrained heavier fraction from the light fraction, and a control system including a level transmitter (42) indicating the level of separate heavier fraction in the separator, and a level control unit (43) connected to the level transmitter (42) and to a drain valve (40, 41) in a separator outlet (28) for the light fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Jan Hoydal, David Stanbridge
  • Publication number: 20040107836
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing volatile contaminants, such as methyl tertbutyl ether (MTBE), from water or other supplies of liquid. In one embodiment of the invention, a gas is sparged through a helical flow of liquid to strip away contaminants. The flowrate of the helical flow of liquid and the flowrate of the gas are held at an optimum ratio to maintain flow stability and maximize stripping efficiency. In another embodiment of the invention, the liquid is processed through a series of stripping stages until volatile contaminants are stripped to a desired level. A portion of the liquid is recycled within each stage, while a system flow of liquid passed from one stage to the next. The flowrate of the recycled flow and the flowrate of the system flow have a ratio that provides improved system capacity while ensuring proper volatile removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Ye Yi
  • Patent number: 6730214
    Abstract: System and apparatus to accelerate solution of gas into liquid. The system includes an aspirating injector to bring the gas into the pressurized system, a collider, a reactor, and an optional gas/liquid separator. The collider and reactor provide for prompt renewal of the interface in the bubble with the liquid as the consequence of abrupt changes of direction of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Angelo L. Mazzei
  • Publication number: 20030233942
    Abstract: A cyclone type bubble removing device 30 is arranged in a hydraulic tank 1. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to secure a space for installing a bubble removing device 30 outside the tank 1 and hence the space dedicated to the hydraulic system can be reduced. Since the bubble removing device 30 is fitted to the inside of the hydraulic tank 1 in advance, it does not need to be installed separately somewhere in the hydraulic circuit so that the installing operation can be performed quickly. Additionally, the outflow ports 322 for causing hydraulic fluid from which bubbles have been removed to flow out and the exhaust port 333 for expelling bubbles are arranged separately so that it is possible to expose the exhaust port 333 to the drain space 127. Thus, if the hydraulic tank 1 is rocked to a large extent, the hydraulic fluid coming out of the outflow ports is not mixed with bubbles and hence bubbles can be eliminated reliably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Akiko Konishi, Shotaro Ishii, Kouji Chikaishi, Noboru Kanayama, Tatsuro Nohara
  • Patent number: 6620217
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator is provided for separating water out of wet steam, and comprises a first cylindrical tube and a second cylindrical tube that is coaxially disposed in the first tube. The inner diameter of the first tube is greater than the outer diameter of the second tube. Disposed in the first tube is a swirl producer that comprises a ring of swirl vanes secured onto a hub. The first and second cylindrical tubes are provided on their ends that face away from one another with a connector that is insertable into a steam line that conveys the wet steam. The first and second cylindrical tubes are sealingly surrounded by a casing that is provided with a water drain and is radially spaced from the tubes to form a separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Balcke-Dürr Energietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Willi Bruckmann, Martin Klenböck
  • Patent number: 6497114
    Abstract: An oil separator comprising a cylindrical portion, an inlet for incoming gas/oil mixture, an outlet for separated gas, a lower portion, and an outlet for separated oil is provided. The lower portion decreases in diameter as it proceeds from top to bottom, thereby providing for an increase in centrifugal force within the oil separator and greater separation of oil. The inlet traverses an upper wall of the oil separator, and preferably comprises a plurality of passageways angled with respect to the upper wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guntis Viktors Strikis, Kanwal Bhatia, Srinivas Pitla, Vipen Khetarpal
  • Patent number: 6478962
    Abstract: The bubble trap is used in extracorporeal blood flow circuits of the type used for open heart surgery. The trap is placed in the external blood flow and it removes small micro bubbles from the blood prior to delivery to the body. The device accelerates the blood flow radially and the small bubbles migrate toward the center of the accelerated flow. These bubbles are concentrated at this location and the blood that contains the micro bubbles is extracted and recirculated before the degassed blood flow is returned to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Brockhoff, Hans Plechinger, Hans-Jurgen Tiedke
  • Patent number: 6409808
    Abstract: A gravity separator including a vessel within which a mixture containing oil and water can separate under gravity to form vertically discrete oil and water layers, the vessel having an inlet assembly including a cyclone separator for separating an oil-containing inlet flow into gas and liquid phases, that assembly including ducting for receiving the underflow of cyclone separator and conducting that underflow into that region of the vessel which, in use, is above the water layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Kvaerner Process Systems a.s.
    Inventors: Neville Paul Chamberlain, Ian Charles Bedwell, Bjorn Christiansen, Gunnar Vangen, Jan Hoydal
  • Publication number: 20020059866
    Abstract: It is common in oil extraction operations to reinject produced gas and\or water back into hydrocarbon bearing formations in order to maintain formation pressure. Conventional production facilities normally flow all formation fluids to the surface and subsequently reinject the required fluids back into the formation, which can be extremely inefficient due to the high power input required to overcome the large pressure differential between the surface and formation level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Angus Grant, Per Almdahl, Per Eivind Gramme, Sven Arne Kjolberg, Bjarne Olsen, Terje Sondtvedt
  • Patent number: 6376732
    Abstract: A centrifugal vapor/liquid separator separates the vapor and liquid in a flash of hydrocarbon and steam mixture, such that only the vapor stream is fed and processed further downstream. The design of the separator ensures that all partially wetted surfaces in the separator, except at the vapor outlet pipe, are well-wetted and washed by the non-vaporized liquid portion of the feed or by injection of external liquid thus ensuring that no coke deposition occurs inside the separator. The flash temperature in the separator therefore can be increased beyond the typical limit thus achieving a deeper cut into the feed and recovering a larger fraction of the feed as vapor for further downstream processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniel Yuk-Kwan Ngan, Richard Addison Sanborn, Louis Edward Stein, Raul Jasso Garcia, Sr., Vance Jordan Grieshop
  • Patent number: 6364940
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a wellhead fluid mixture containing oil and gas phases obtained from hydrocarbon production systems into its constituent parts employs a pressure vessel having an inlet for entry of the wellhead fluids mixture and an outlet for exit of a separated gas referred to as export gas. A primary centrifugal separator is provided in the pressure vessel for centrifugally separating a first portion of the oil from the wellhead fluids mixture to produce a wet gas containing some remaining oil. A second centrifugal separator is also provided in the vessel and performs a second centrifugal separation operation on the wet gas to remove substantially all of the remaining oil from the wet gas to produce the export gas which is conveyed out of the pressure vessel. The oil and remaining oil separated from the wellhead fluids mixture is conveyed from the pressure vessel via another outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: McDermott Technology Inc.
    Inventors: William Paul Prueter, Daniel Patrick Birmingham, Matthew James Reed
  • Publication number: 20020011151
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for an apparatus used for deaeration of treatment agents applied to webs of paper and board, the assembly comprising at least one inlet manifold (3), at least one accept-fraction manifold (4), and at least one reject-fraction manifold (5) with associated framework structures; also a method is disclosed for operating the assembly. For deaeration the assembly uses a plurality of air separator units (12) connected to the manifolds so as to allow admission of the treatment agent to the air separator units (12) from the inlet manifold (3) and discharge of the accept and reject fractions formed in the air separator units (12) respectively to the accept-fraction and reject-fraction manifolds (4, 5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Valmet-Raisio Oy
    Inventors: Martti Myrttinen, Ilkka Roitto
  • Patent number: 6322616
    Abstract: A gas separator connectable between the seating nipple/pump and the mud anchor of a well production line takes advantage of gravitational, shear and centrifugal forces to detrain gas from the formation fluid. An outer cylindrical tube is concentrically secured by upper and lower couplings in relation to an inner cylindrical tube having an axial flow passage and a plurality of radial perforations. The upper coupling is adapted for connection to the seating nipple/pump and the lower coupling is adapted for connection to the mud anchor. The couplings each have a passage therethrough to extend the inner tube axial flow passage in fluid communication between the pump and the mud anchor. The outer cylindrical tube has a plurality of inwardly downwardly centrifugally oriented passages for admitting liquid entrained with gas into an annulus between the tubes and for causing the admitted liquid to flow in a downward spiral in the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: SDH, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard L. Kennedy, Gary W. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6193893
    Abstract: Process and apparatus to strip volatile contaminants from a liquid supply stream in which the contaminants are dissolved. A gas inducing mixer-injector injects a stripping gas into the stream to form a mixed stream of liquid with its contaminants and bubbles of the stripping gas. The mixed stream is passed through a tangential degasser separator, withdrawing separated gas and water, while maintaining the flow part from the injector to the outlets of the separator at sub-atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: GDT Corporation
    Inventors: Angelo L. Mazzei, Raymond M. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6176903
    Abstract: A device for removing gases from fluids, in particular from a dialyzing fluid, includes a container, which in the position of normal use is provided with a bottom first orifice and a bottom second orifice. Disposed inside the container is a partition wall which divides the container into a first chamber having the first orifice and a second chamber having the second orifice. The partition wall extends from the container bottom up to near the container cover, forming a gap-shaped interstitial space between the first and second chamber, and the container cover. Provision is made in the container cover for a venting orifice that is sealed by a hydrophobic filter. In one preferred embodiment, the first and second chamber form a tube-in-tube arrangement. The device according to the invention allows for a high separation rate to be achieved with a compact and simple design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Wamsiedler
  • Patent number: 6096121
    Abstract: A seal joint is for an arrangement for separating a gas and liquid mixture having a vessel with an inlet for entry of the gas and liquid mixture and an outlet for exit of a separated gas, and a centrifugal separation cyclone in the vessel for centrifugally separating the gas from the mixture. The joint requires the vessel to have an internal vessel flange defining a flange opening. An inlet tube extends into the flange opening. A first retaining ring having a first outer ring which engages the flange, also has a first inner ring portion extending around the inlet tube in the flange opening. A second retaining ring has a second outer ring engaged with the flange and a second inner ring extending around the inlet tube in the flange opening. An O-ring is engaged around the inlet tube and between the first and second inner rings and fastening bolts are use for fastening the first and second outer rings to the flange, around the flange opening for deforming the O-ring against the inlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventor: George S. Millas
  • Patent number: 6090299
    Abstract: The method of operating rotating separator apparatus, to which fluid, including gas and liquids is supplied in a fluid jet via a nozzle, which includes separating the liquids from the gas in the stream, at a first zone within the rotating apparatus, and separating the liquids into liquids of differing density at a second zone within the apparatus. The separated liquids are removed via two open weirs which isolate the liquids in the separating zones from the shear forces from scoops within the weir passages. Longitudinal ribs may be provided for structural support, coalescence promotion and fluid recirculation inhibition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Biphase Energy Company
    Inventors: Lance G. Hays, Simon Roger Henderson Davies, Bjoern Christiansen
  • Patent number: 6053967
    Abstract: An air separator for liquid containing gas bubbles having an essentially cylinder-shaped chamber through which liquid, such as blood, flows essentially in helical flow paths, with the result that air bubbles are driven in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the chamber because of pressure differences produced by centrifugal forces. The inlet and outlet of the chamber of the air separator are coaxial relative to each other in the longitudinal axis of the chamber. The air separator also includes a flow-deflection component or influx distributor, which includes a rotation-symmetrical base body element whose outer surface faces inflowing liquid as a first deflection surface, which is geometrically defined by rotation of a curve section about the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fresenius AG
    Inventors: Klaus Heilmann, Bernd Knierbein
  • Patent number: 6036749
    Abstract: A liquid/gas helical separator operates on a combination of centrifugal and gravitational forces. The separator includes a primary separator formed basically by an expansion chamber, a secondary separator formed basically by a helix for directing the flow, a tertiary separator which consists of a reservoir or gravitational-separation tank and of a transition region between the primary and secondary separators, which consists of at least two variable-pitch helixes whose inclination varies from an angle of 90.degree. to the angle of inclination of the constant-pitch helix of the secondary separator with the function of providing a gentler flow of the liquid phase at the transition between the first two separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras
    Inventors: Geraldo Afonso Spinelli Martins Ribeiro, Divonsir Lopes, Osvaldo Roberto Do Vale, Fernando De Almeida Fran.cedilla.a, Eugenio Spano Rosa, Mauricio Gargaglione Prado
  • Patent number: 6019822
    Abstract: An air dehumidifying apparatus having a cyclone separator, a primary filter, a secondary filter, and a separation membrane element made of a special high polymer for passing steam smoothly and hardly passing air. The elements of the apparatus are disposed in a flow direction of air, so that the air may pass sequentially. Also, a casing is provided for forming an outer wall of the cyclone separator and accommodating the primary and secondary filter and separation membrane element. Large particles of oil, moisture, dust and other foreign matter are removed by the cyclone separator. As a result, the life of the primary filter is extended. By putting the filters and separation membrane element into one casing, the apparatus is reduced in size, and is installed easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Misuzu Machineries & Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Terukazu Kanzawa, Hideaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6004385
    Abstract: A gas/oil separation system for monitoring the performance of a compact, gas/oil separator apparatus which utilizes at least one pair of centrifugal force primary and secondary separators for separating a wellhead fluid containing crude oil, produced water, and hydrocarbon gas from a hydrocarbon production system into its gas and liquid parts employs relatively simple differential pressure instrumentation for producing real-time signals representative of the compact, gas/oil separator apparatus' liquid carryover performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Birmingham
  • Patent number: 5963611
    Abstract: A separator/injector having an outlet pressure higher than an inlet pressure thereof is introduced instead of the dynamic equipment for a reactor recirculation system that is necessary in the prior art, to achieve both liquid-vapor separation and forced circulation. A jet pump and a recirculation flow-rate control valve are provided in a lower portion of a downcomer portion of a reactor pressure vessel. A shroud head has a double-walled structure, a two-phase liquid-vapor flow that is flowing from a lower portion of the lower shroud head is accelerated by an accelerator nozzle of the separator/injector, and a liquid component of the thus-separated flow is increased in pressure and guided into a jet pump through a space formed between the double shroud heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadashi Narabayashi, Miyuki Akiba, Shinichi Morooka, Mikihide Nakamaru, Makoto Yasuoka
  • Patent number: 5885333
    Abstract: The steam/water separator includes a lower standpipe for receiving a two-phase mixture of water and steam at its lower end. Internal threads or elements spaced about the interior wall of the standpipe impart a swirl to the incoming mixture, producing a thin film along the walls. Standard pick-off rings or a porous wall may be employed to separate the liquid from the vapor. A central swirl is imparted to the flow in the region dominated by vapor. This combination of peripheral swirl followed by a central swirl for steam/water separation affords minimum pressure losses along the separator with reduced sensitivity to inlet and submergence conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary E. Dix
  • Patent number: 5755924
    Abstract: An apparatus, e.g. centrifugal evaporator, has at least one rotary treatment surface, e.g. a heated evaporating surface, which rises outwards from the rotation axis, a liquid feed in the vicinity of the lowest point of the treatment surface close to the rotation axis and a product removal on the periphery of the treatment surface. Such an apparatus is characterized in that the treatment surface over at least part of its axial length has a stepped construction and each step has a step angle of approximately 90.degree.. Thus, as desired, a laminar or turbulent flow is possible. Through the construction of the steps it is possible to widely vary the nature of the flow and consequently the heat and material exchange, as well as the residence time of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Vaclav Feres
  • 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: 5649998
    Abstract: A cyclone separating device includes a transparent and tapered separator flask, with an upper outlet where a tube provided with seal means and a tubular extension is fastened, and a lateral inlet through a lateral appendix communicating with the inside of the flask through a fine channel offset in order to generate a cyclone effect promoting the separation of the phases and lined with an insert made of a plastic material. The fluid sample is injected, for example, through a septum by means of a hollow needle guided through the insert. The device can be used for processing geologic fluid samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Philippe Ungerer, Gerard Moracchini, Jose Sanchez
  • Patent number: 5644802
    Abstract: A simplified vacuum sewer arrangement comprises a limited number of toilet bowls, preferably at the most 60 toilet bowls, which through a sewer pipe are connected to a common sewage collecting container, and a dry rotary vane pump for generating and maintaining a considerable partial vacuum in the sewer pipe and in the collecting container. The sewage collecting container is a relatively small reservoir which has to be frequently emptied and the volume of which is preferably at the most 100 liters. A liquid separator protects the pump from moisture. A rigidly installed tube and valve system connects the pressure side of the dry rotary vane pump periodically to the collecting container for emptying the container to another location by means of the pressure created by the dry rotary vane pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Evac AB
    Inventor: Henry Olin
  • 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: 5618335
    Abstract: An air oil separator adapted for attachment to a dry sump type oil pump incorporates a novel centrifuge and air ducting system. The centrifuge is formed of two disks axially spaced on a hollow rotatable shaft with the shaft having small air passages located between the disks that extend radially through to a hollow interior of the shaft. An air duct couples an open end of the centrifuge shaft to an air outlet for exhausting air from the shaft interior to the upper air side of the oil sump. Axially rotating at high speed the centrifuge separates air from inputted oil by throwing the oil to the outer reaches of the housing where the oil exits through an outlet and the separated air is exhausted through the shaft and duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Edelbrock Corporation
    Inventors: Edward N. Pink, Michael F. Johnson
  • 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: 5531811
    Abstract: A process for recovering entrained liquid from natural gas. The gas containing entrained liquid flows from a subterranean formation via a well into a gas/liquid separation chamber where the liquid and gas are separated by centrifugal force. One or more vanes mounted in one or more slits in the separator wall extend into the separation chamber and aid in transposing liquid through the slit or slits. Outside the chamber, the liquid drains into a storage tank. The gas is vented to the atmosphere or to a gas collection system. The separator chamber may be mounted inside a storage tank and may have an external shell around the chamber wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: Thomas W. Kloberdanz
  • Patent number: 5494501
    Abstract: Lubricant in exhaust fluid from a pneumatic motor is extracted by a separator. The separator comprises a housing in which a cyclonic flow of the exhaust is created to expel the lubricant in the exhaust. The exhaust is directed through a turbine within the housing wherein lubricant is deposited on blades of the turbine and then expelled against a housing wall by rotation of the turbine. After passing through the turbine blades, the exhaust flow is forced to reverse direction thereby extracting additional lubricant due to centrifugal force. After the lubricant has been extracted, the exhaust flows through a filter to remove other particles before exiting the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: The Anspach Effort, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Anspach, Eddy H. del Rio
  • Patent number: 5484521
    Abstract: A rotating drum divided in axial spaced compartments with one of the compartments includes paddles and coalescing material to separate the fluid from the liquid and the other compartment includes stationary oil pumping and water pumping means and an energy recovery means for effectively separating fluid such as oil from liquid such a water. Another embodiment includes a simplified version of the fluid/liquid separator adapted for zero gravity environment and includes means for purging the lines from air prior to pumping the liquid. An electrical sensing circuit including conductivity sensors or an electronic controller including pressure sensors serve to control the rate of removal of the separated component or controlling said purging means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Robert W. Kramer
  • Patent number: 5474601
    Abstract: A VASPS (vertical annular separation and pumping system) is integral with a floating production vessel such as a TLP. The head section of the VASPS is located at the deck level of the vessel. The tail section is located at or near the bottom of the body of water. The head and tail sections are in fluid communication by a riser having at least two fluid passageways (conductors). The invention constitutes an improvement on the VASPS unit described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,433.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Choi
  • Patent number: 5368007
    Abstract: An expansion chamber with a connection to an airgun employing carbon dioxide or similar gas as a propellant. The expansion chamber is normally connected to a source of liquified gas, included therein is a structure for separating liquified gas into the gaseous state for use as a propellant. Any remaining liquid portion is retained until it is converted into the gaseous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Air America
    Inventor: Kent L. Carroll
  • Patent number: 5338341
    Abstract: A separator for removing gases from water. An elongated vortex tube with an interior cylindrical wall houses a concentric separator tube of smaller diameter, leaving a vortex region between them. Perforations through the wall of the separator tube connect the interior of the separator tube to the vortex region. Water containing gas is tangentially injected into the vortex region, flowing downwardly to an exit port. Separated gases in the separator tube collect at its top and are released by a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Claude Laval Corporation
    Inventors: Angelo L. Mazzei, Steven D. Ford
  • Patent number: 5334239
    Abstract: A separation device employing a gas separation filter and swirler vanes for separating gas from a gasliquid mixture is provided. The cylindrical filter utilizes the principle that surface tension in the pores of the filter prevents gas bubbles from passing through. As a result, the gas collects in the interior region of the filter and coalesces to form larger bubbles in the center of the device. The device is particularly suited for use in microgravity conditions since the swirlers induce a centrifugal force which causes liquid to move from the inner region of the filter, pass the pores, and flow through the outlet of the device while the entrained gas is trapped by the filter. The device includes a cylindrical gas storage screen which is enclosed by the cylindrical gas separation filter. The screen has pores that are larger than those of the filters. The screen prevents larger bubbles that have been formed from reaching and interfering with the pores of the gas separation filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Hwang Choe, Thomas T. Fallas
  • Patent number: 5330641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a separator of solid particles for variable flow rates of discharge from dental apparatus. The separator includes a container (3) equipped with an upper cylindrical zone (3a), having an inlet hole (5) for the fluid to be separated, in which rotates the rotor (2) of a centrifugal pump which initializes the separation of the particles by centrifugation; it further includes a truncoconical zone (3b) which, functioning as a cyclone, continues the separation of the solid particles and expels the fluid, freed of the particles, from the container (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Cattani S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ennio Cattani
  • Patent number: 5314529
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid from a liquid/gas mixture by establishing a laminar flow within a curved channel. Entrained liquid droplets, that have higher inertia than the gas, follow a trajectory, deviate from the gas flow lines, and impinge on the wall. The liquid droplets coalesce and migrate to the inner radius under the influence of shear from the secondary flow, where the liquid is collected and retained in an artery by capillary action. The liquid is then forced through bleed ports into the liquid drain line. The term liquid/gas mixtures is intended to include liquid/vapor mixtures as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventors: Donald E. Tilton, Charles L. Tilton
  • Patent number: 5275730
    Abstract: A baffle means (2) is provided at a dip pipe (1) which latter projects into the separating chamber of a facility for the separation of substance mixtures of a liquid or gaseous medium and a liquid or solid substance under the effect of centrifugal forces, the medium being discharged from the facility through this dip pipe. The baffle means (2) includes at least one baffle (3) having the shape of the shell of a truncated cone, the axis of curvature (4) of which extends in parallel to the longitudinal axis (5) of the dip pipe (1) and is offset with respect to this axis (5). By the baffle means (2), the medium is guided into the dip pipe (1) with simultaneous reconversion of the flow energy into pressure energy, there being imparted to the medium an acceleration oriented axially in the flow-off direction of the medium and an acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Josef Keuschnigg