Rotating Means Patents (Class 96/214)
  • Patent number: 11702921
    Abstract: A wellbore gas separator having a pair of helical ramps. The separator ingests a liquid-gas solution, and a pump draws the solution into a first course between the pair of ramps. As centrifugal force is imparted upon the solution prior to the pump inlet, gas is forced out of solution. The liquid portions of the solution may fall into a dead space prior to the pump inlet. Gaseous portions enter into a second course between the pair of ramps and escapes, unimpeded, up the separator before being released into an annulus of a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Ellithorp
  • Patent number: 11391141
    Abstract: This application discloses an improved downhole assembly for separating oil and gas in an oil well. The downhole assembly includes an improved agitation device for causing centrifugal force and shear stress on oil and wellbore liquid with entrained gas such that the gas is released and allowed to flow upwards towards the ground surface. The improved agitation device includes the use of a standard helix and a reverse helix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Jordan Binstock
  • Patent number: 11213779
    Abstract: An apparatus to separate water droplets from an air stream includes an elongated tube having a first end and a second end. The elongated tube includes an opening at a first end of the elongated tube, the opening may be positioned to accept the air stream. A reservoir is positioned at a second end of the elongated tube. A helix structure is positioned within the elongated tube. The helix structure includes an upper surface, a lower surface arranged opposite the upper surface, an outer edge, and a variable pitch along a length of the elongated tube. The variable pitch may provide a variable interior angle between an inner wall of the elongated tube and the upper surface of the helix structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sierra Space Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Hoerr, Ross Remiker, Michael Peterson, Zachary James Setmire, Mark Milton Weislogel, Andrew Wollman
  • Patent number: 11098570
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes an outer tube, an inner tube, an outlet pipe, and a control mechanism. The outer tube defines at least one outer tube inlet and at least one outer tube outlet. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube. The inner tube is configured to separate the flow of a first fluid into the flow of a second fluid and a flow of a third fluid by rotation thereof. The outlet pipe is partially disposed within the inner tube and the outer tube. The outlet pipe includes a cross-sectional area. The outlet pipe is configured to channel the flow of the third fluid out of the inner tube and the outer tube. The control mechanism is coupled to the outlet pipe. The control mechanism is configured to regulate the flow of the third fluid by changing the cross-sectional area of the outlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Anindya Kanti De, Subrata Pal, Shyam Sivaramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9028204
    Abstract: The centrifugal pump assembly comprises a device for separating gas from the fluid to be delivered, which is arranged on the suction side. The gas separation device is provided with an impact body (2) which at least partly is arranged in the suction-side flow path (11) of the fluid to be delivered, and on the housing side is arranged at a distance to the suction port of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventor: Bent Døssing
  • Patent number: 8764891
    Abstract: A headliner for a vehicle roof includes a substrate and a reinforcement trim member attached to the substrate. The substrate has a planar edge characterized by lack of folding. The reinforcement trim member has a body and an attachment feature extending from the body. The attachment feature mates the headliner to the vehicle roof. The reinforcement trim member has a tip, which extends from the body, and a slot receptacle defined by the body. The slot receptacle of the reinforcement trim member receives the planar edge of the substrate to facilitate mating of the substrate to the reinforcement trim member. The headliner also includes a cover stock member, which covers the substrate and continuously wraps from the substrate around at least the tip the of reinforcement trim member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: David L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8632624
    Abstract: A fluid trap apparatus includes an inlet configured to receive a flow of composite fluid into the apparatus. The composite fluid contains at least a first fluid and a second fluid. An outer wall defines an interior chamber. A flow diffuser is interposed within the interior chamber. The flow diffuser directs the flow of the composite fluid to circulate through the interior chamber. The first fluid and the second fluid separate as the composite fluid circulates through the interior chamber. A method of separating a first fluid from a second fluid includes introducing a flow of composite fluid into a separate chamber. A pressure gradient is created within the separation chamber. A flow diffuser is interposed in a flow path between an inlet and an outlet. The flow diffuser directs the flow of the composite fluid within the separation chamber. The first fluid and the second fluid are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David E. Cassidy, Eric E. May, Garrett Austin Sheffer
  • Patent number: 8245383
    Abstract: A method of assembling a moisture separation system for a gas turbine power system is provided. The gas turbine power system includes a filter housing assembly and a weather hood coupled to the filter housing assembly, and the weather hood defines an inlet for directing airflow into the filter housing assembly. The method includes providing a moisture separator and coupling the moisture separator to the weather hood such that the moisture separator extends at least partially across the inlet, the moisture separator rotatable in response to the airflow to facilitate removing moisture from the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard M. A. Mann, John C. Davies
  • Patent number: 8231714
    Abstract: A combined machine for pumping and separating into two distinct and purified phases a two-phase liquid/gas mixture or fluid, is provided. A first stage of the combined machine is equipped with an intake for the two-phase fluid, in which the two-phase fluid is sucked, pumped and partially separated into two distinct phases. One phase is mainly liquid and the other phase is mainly gaseous. A second stage of the combined machine includes two zones, which includes a first zone and a second zone. In the first zone, the mainly liquid phase extracted from the first stage is degassed. In the second zone, the mainly gaseous phase extracted from the first stage is dried. In a third stage of the combined machine, the degassed liquid is forced back and pressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Techspace Aero S.A.
    Inventors: Albert Cornet, Nicolas Raimarckers
  • Patent number: 8202356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a degassing centrifugal apparatus (10), such as a degassing centrifugal pump (10) for use in a pulp- or papermaking process. The degassing centrifugal apparatus (10) according to the present invention comprises a rotatable hollow rotor (20) connected to a stationary fluid inlet (14) at one end portion and a stationary liquid outlet (18) at the opposite end portion, and having a gas exhaust (36) for removing gas from the centre thereof. The apparatus further comprises at said inlet end portion means (24) for rotating said fluid and directing it to the inner wall of said rotor (20). The apparatus further comprises a rotatable sensor (42) arranged to measure the layer thickness of a liquid (40) rotating in said apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Pom Technology Oy AB
    Inventors: Paul Olof Meinander, Tom Cichoracki
  • Patent number: 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
  • Publication number: 20110219955
    Abstract: Provided is a radon reduction apparatus for groundwater having a disinfection means. The radon reduction apparatus includes an agitation space forming body that groundwater fed through a groundwater feed pipe passes through before inflow into the groundwater storage tank and that forms a water turbine installation space whose top portion is not filled with groundwater; a water turbine located in the water turbine installation space to be rotated by groundwater when the fed groundwater falls, is run against the bottom and scattered; an oxygen supply means supplying oxygen to groundwater before inflow of the groundwater to the agitation space forming body; a ventilating fan that is rotated by receiving rotary power of the water turbine and that is connected to the water turbine installation space to discharge air of the water turbine installation space; and an antiseptic solution supply means supplying antiseptic solution to be mixed with the groundwater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES (KIGAM)
    Inventors: Kil Yong LEE, Kyung Seok KO, Yoon Yeol YOON
  • Patent number: 7993425
    Abstract: The present invention provides a free vortex air-oil separator that may be used in systems for separating oil from air oil mixtures. The free vortex air-oil separator comprises a free vortex chamber having a first chamber wall, a second chamber wall located axially aft from the first chamber wall and a rim located in a radially outer region from an axis of rotation, a plurality of vent holes in the rim and a cavity formed by the first and second chamber walls, and the rim, wherein a free vortex is created when there is a flow into the cavity through the plurality of vent holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bala Corattiyil, Duane Howard Anstead, Mark Eden Zentgraf, Stephen Anthony Wilton, Ramon Themudo, Gary Paul Moscarino, Kenneth Lee Fisher
  • Patent number: 7981253
    Abstract: An improved de-entrainment device for use in distillation towers, especially vacuum distillation towers used for fractionating petroleum atmospheric resids is in the form of a baffle which is to be located in the portion of the tower below the feed zone and at the top of the flash zone. The baffle is in the form of an apertured plate above the stripping zone and in its preferred form comprises number of radial fins or blades, resembling a static fan with openings between the fins to permit vapors from the lower portions of the tower to pass upwards through the baffle with a minimal pressure drop. The fins of the baffle are preferably oriented at an angle between 30° and 60° away from the incoming feed so that the incoming feed stream skims over the top edges of the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Arun K. Sharma, Theodore Sideropoulos, Rutton D. Patel, Brian D. Albert, Alvin U. Chen
  • Patent number: 7972423
    Abstract: An apparatus for stripping and strengthening and subsequent condensing and final strengthening of an easily vaporizable component of a preferably aqueous mixture permits the heat necessary for stripping and strengthening to be transferred through a common heat transmission body (3), where the heat is derived from condensing the vapor generated by stripping and strengthening, which vapor via compression using a heat pump (26) has obtained the increase in boiling point necessary for condensation. The apparatus is comprised of two sections, namely a stripping and strengthening section or first section (1) and a condensing and final strengthening section or second section (2), said sections being joined around a common heat transmission body (3) forming a dividing wall, each section being further defined by a horizontal partially cylindrical housing (13) and an end wall at each end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Holm Christensen Biosystemer APS
    Inventor: Erik Jensen
  • Publication number: 20110094384
    Abstract: A method of assembling a moisture separation system for a gas turbine power system is provided. The gas turbine power system includes a filter housing assembly and a weather hood coupled to the filter housing assembly, and the weather hood defines an inlet for directing airflow into the filter housing assembly. The method includes providing a moisture separator and coupling the moisture separator to the weather hood such that the moisture separator extends at least partially across the inlet, the moisture separator rotatable in response to the airflow to facilitate removing moisture from the airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Richard M. A. Mann, John C. Davies
  • 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: 7794527
    Abstract: A variable position gas trap apparatus and method to separate gases entrained in drilling fluid in a tank. The apparatus includes a gas trap attached to a carriage and a frame attached to the tank. A lever moveable by the float rod, activates the control valve to raise or lower the carriage having the gas trap container attached thereto. A feedback control loop is responsive to changes in the level of the drilling fluid in the tank. A mechanism is provided to mechanically and automatically move the carriage with respect to the frame in response to the feedback control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Fluid Inclusion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Michael Sterner
  • Patent number: 7677308
    Abstract: A combination liquid and gas separator and jetting tool includes a housing containing a rotatable drum, a stator in the inlet end of the housing for swirling a liquid/gas mixture, a rotor attached to the drum for rotation by the mixture; whereby the gas and liquid are separated. The liquid and gas are discharged through separate restricted orifices downstream of the drum. Orifices can be located in a rotating head for cleaning, cutting or other downhole operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Jack J. Kollé
  • Patent number: 7429288
    Abstract: A spinning impingement multiphase contacting device and method for heat or mass transfer are disclosed. A first fluid, from which the transfer is to occur, is caused to impinge and be entrained in a spinning permeable element, creating a highly dispersed phase. The highly dispersed phase contacts the second fluid to cause the desired heat or mass transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Cleveland Gas Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Nelson C. Gardner, Xintian Zheng, Robert E. Harris
  • Patent number: 7326283
    Abstract: A spinning impingement multiphase contacting device and method for heat or mass transfer are disclosed. A first fluid, from which the transfer is to occur, is caused to impinge and be entrained in a spinning permeable element, creating a highly dispersed phase. The highly dispersed phase contacts the second fluid to cause the desired heat or mass transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Cleveland Gas Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Nelson C. Gardner, Xintian Zheng, Robert E. Harris
  • Patent number: 7250075
    Abstract: A self-regulated water separator provides centrifugal separation of fuel cell product water from oxidant gas. The system uses the flow energy of the fuel cell's two-phase water and oxidant flow stream and a regulated ejector or other reactant circulation pump providing the two-phase fluid flow. The system further uses a means of controlling the water outlet flow rate away from the water separator that uses both the ejector's or reactant pump's supply pressure and a compressibility sensor to provide overall control of separated water flow either back to the separator or away from the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Arturo Vasquez, Kerri L. McCurdy, Karla F. Bradley
  • Patent number: 7141100
    Abstract: A low flow rotary separator includes a housing that defines a separator chamber and a liquid/gas mixture inlet. A shaft driven by a motor includes a plurality of disks in frictional contact with the mixture to drive the liquid outward against an inner wall of the separator and displace gas to a central region about the shaft. The liquid exits through a liquid outlet valve into a high-pressure storage container. The pressure of the liquid is increased to allow flow into the high-pressure storage container by a pump driven by the shaft. A level control valve closes in response to a predetermined pressure differential between liquid in the feed line and liquid within the separator chamber to allow liquid flow through an outlet check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand
    Inventor: W. Clark Dean
  • 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: 6761215
    Abstract: A downhole separator has a housing defining an interior cavity divided into a first chamber and a second chamber by a flow restricting bearing housing. A shaft driven impeller pumps production fluid into the first chamber and to the bearing housing. The bearing housing generates a pressure drop in production fluid entering the second chamber, separating gas from liquid. A vortex generator in the second chamber segregates the liquid to the outside and the gas to the inside of the second chamber. A downhole separation method includes pumping production fluid into a first chamber, and generating a pressure drop in the fluid as the fluid enters a second chamber to separate gas and liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventors: James Eric Morrison, Guy Morrison, III
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20040031391
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the separation of air out of a waste water mixture, in particular such a waste water mixture as arises at a medical or dental-medical treatment station, having a housing (2) which has a round cross-sectional form in horizontal cross-section, an inlet (3) for the waste water mixture which tangentially opens into the housing (2), a first outlet (4) for air, arranged above the inlet (3), and a second outlet (5) for heavy materials, such as waste water, arranged below the inlet (3). For the purpose of improving the separation function, the inlet (3) is arranged in the region of a hollow cone shaped peripheral wall section (6) of the housing (2), which section is downwardly divergent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Grimm, Baur Helmut, Braetsch Hartmut
  • Patent number: 6629821
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multipurpose pump apparatus of high achievement, which can continuously pump and convey liquid even containing a large amount of foams and can make high level defoaming function and degassing function, and pumped liquid sterilizing function, etc. The pump apparatus comprises a gas-liquid separating impeller disposed in a pumped liquid path of a primary pump for pumping liquid, a cavity receiver which receives the tail bottom of a tornado-shaped cavity produced by the rotation of the gas-liquid separating impeller to prevent the tornado-shaped cavity from extending, and vacuum means connected to a part in a vicinity of the center of the tornado-shaped cavity through a degassing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yokota Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yokota, Shingo Yokota, Tetsuya Tanimoto
  • Publication number: 20030177905
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing bubbles from a sealant for fabricating a liquid crystal display device is disclosed in the present invention. The apparatus includes a drum, a rotating shaft in the drum, a first gear at an upper portion of the rotating shaft, a second gear matching the first gear, and a container at a lower portion of the second gear including an interior container accommodating a sealant, an exterior container surrounding the interior container, a space receiving cooling water between the interior container and the exterior container, a sealant discharge port formed at a lower portion of the interior container, and a water introducing port formed at the exterior container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moo Yeol Park, Sung Su Jung
  • Publication number: 20020178924
    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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Brown L. Wilson
  • 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: 6368068
    Abstract: A system for controlling one or more borehole pumps includes a receiver/separator tank. The receiver/separator tank includes a body having a sealable top cap, an electronics panel, a separator housing, a separator cap that divides the electronics panel from the separator housing, and an inlet base at a second end of the body and dimensioned to maintain entry pipes in appropriate positions. The tank further includes a fluid outlet pipe; a gas pipe; a safety line; a supply line; an exhaust line; a propellant line; a fluid return line; and a spiral diffuser. The spiral diffuser is connected to the fluid return line to disperse fluid received through the return line at an angle to separate gas contained in the fluid. Pressure from the fluid causes the spiral diffuser to spin within the separator housing, and thus, separating gas contained within the fluid from the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventors: Edward A. Corlew, Henry B. Steen, III, John W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6345908
    Abstract: The device is used to mix and degas a flowable mass (5), in particular a filler-containing casting resin. It is provided with a cylindrically constructed, evacuatable container (1), the container axis (2) of which is oriented essentially vertically. Guided along the container axis (2), it also contains a shaft (12) that holds agitating elements (8, 21). The container (1) is divided into an upper storage container (4) for holding the mass (5) to be degassed, a lower buffer space (19) for holding the degassed mass (20), as well as a pass-through container (6) with a degassing system arranged between storage container (4) and buffer space (19), in which degassing system the mass (5) to be degassed is guided in the form of thin layers. The thin layer degassing system contains at least two conically constructed run-off surfaces (15, 16) offset axially relative to each other. The run-off surfaces are angled in opposing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Micafil AG
    Inventor: Paul Gmeiner
  • Patent number: 6341667
    Abstract: An arrangement in a circulation lubrication system includes a lubricating oil tank, pressure pipe lines for supplying oil to parts that are to be lubricated, return pipe lines for returning the oil from the parts that are to be lubricated to the oil tank, and a mechanism for pumping oil into the pressure pipe lines and maintaining a desired state of lubrication. The lubricating oil tank has a rotationally symmetric structure; and a return duct, positioned at the center axis of the rotationally symmetric structure, is configured to extend below the surface of the oil in the lubricating oil tank. A return flow through the return duct passes through a dividing element to a mechanism configured to separate impurities from the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Safematic Oy
    Inventors: Kari Ahlbom, Ari Airaksinen, Kari Antila, Jari Rinkinen, Arto Alfthan
  • 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: 6155345
    Abstract: A submergible pumping system having a gas separator with multiple separation chambers. The gas separator includes an outer housing having a hollow interior divided into a plurality of separation chambers. A shaft and an inducer are rotatably mounted within the hollow interior. A plurality of flow-through bearings are distributed through the hollow interior to support the rotatable shaft. Also, a plurality of vortex generators are disposed in the hollow interior to generate and maintain a fluid vortex during separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Camco International, Inc.
    Inventors: Woon Yung Lee, Bobby D. Evans
  • Patent number: 6117217
    Abstract: A liquid ammonia pump-vapor stripper unit is disclosed having an impeller pump assembly which increases the system pressure before it is delivered to a receiver-accumulator where the ammonia vapor mass formed along its path from the storage tank is separated from the liquid and throttled across a variable area regulator formed between a regulator cone and a regulator ball and past a normally closed demand valve before the vapor mass is returned to the storage tank. The dew point of the liquid ammonia mass flowing through the unit is increased by the impeller pump due to the additional pressure added to the system, the liquid ammonia leaving the receiver-accumulator behaves more like a true liquid resulting in a more accurate downstream metering and a more efficient delivery of ammonia to the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: James Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 6071331
    Abstract: Gas is separated from fluent material, particularly a liquid or a cellulose fiber suspension having a consistency of about 8-18%, utilizing a closed separation apparatus having a spiral housing with a central axis, a fluent material inlet channel, a fluent material outlet, and a gas outlet. A pressure differential is maintained between the inlet channel and the spiral housing, and the pressure differential is converted to kinetic energy of the fluent material by causing the fluent material to flow through one or more spiral flow paths through the inlet channel toward the spiral housing. In the spiral housing a rotor is rotated to impart a strong centrifugal force to the fluent material to cause gas to separate and collect adjacent the central axis of the spiral housing, from which the gas is removed. The strong centrifugal force caused by the rotating rotor discharges the fluent material through the outlet. The spiral flow paths rotate with the rotor in the spiral housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Toivo Niskanen, Kari Peltonen
  • 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: 6056856
    Abstract: A paper-making machine includes a wet end associated with a wet fiber web, a headbox having an outlet gap, and a forming fabric positioned adjacent to the outlet gap and moving in a direction of web travel. An air/water separator is positioned in association with the forming fabric and downstream from the headbox relative to the direction of web travel. The air/water separator is configured for receiving liquid from the fiber web. A blower having a housing and an impeller is fluidly connected with the air/water separator. The impeller is rotatably carried by and within the housing and has a rotating hub with a periphery. The impeller also has a plurality of vanes attached to and extending from the hub and substantially equally spaced around the periphery. The vanes are formed of a non-metallic, composite material and have a coating of a layer of hydrophobic material substantially covering the composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin X. Graf
  • 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: 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: 5833363
    Abstract: The device serves for mixing and degassing a free-flowing compound (5), in particular a casting resin containing filler. The device has an evacuable container (1, 6) of cylindrical design, the container axis (2) of which is aligned essentially in the vertical direction. Provided in the interior of the container is a rotatable plate (13), fastened on an axially guided shaft (12), for distributing compound (5) fed into the container (1, 6), as well as a thin-layer degassing system (14) which can be heated and cooled and degasses the compound (5) fed by the distributing plate (13). A stirrer homogenizes the degassed compound collected in the interior of the container. The thin-layer degassing system (14) occupies the major part of the space present between the shaft (12) and the wall of the container (1, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Micafil Vakuumtechnik AG
    Inventor: Paul Gmeiner
  • 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