Impeller Or Screw On Rotating Shaft Patents (Class 96/217)
  • Patent number: 11773753
    Abstract: This turbine stator vane extends in the radial direction which intersects the flow direction of steam, and includes a pressure surface facing the upstream side in the flow direction, and a suction surface facing the downstream side in the flow direction. A plurality of grooves are formed in at least the pressure surface, the grooves extending outward in the radial direction toward the downstream side. At the periphery of the grooves in the pressure surface, formed is a hydrophilic uneven region having greater hydrophilic properties than the pressure surface. The downstream-side ends of the plurality of grooves are connected to slits for capturing a liquified component of the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Mizumi, Soichiro Tabata, Chongfei Duan, Koji Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 11719132
    Abstract: A turbine stator blade (21) includes a pressure side (21P) extending in a radial direction intersecting a flow direction of steam, and facing upstream in the flow direction. A slit (5) extending in the radial direction and capturing a liquefied component of the steam is formed on a downstream side of the pressure side (21P). A hydrophilic uneven region (6) having a liquid film capacity greater than that of the pressure side (21P) by being recessed in a depth direction intersecting the pressure side (21P) is formed in a further upstream position than the slit (5). The hydrophilic uneven region (6) has a depth in the depth direction increasing and a flow resistance decreasing toward downstream and toward the slit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Mizumi, Chongfei Duan, Yasuhiro Sasao, Soichiro Tabata
  • Patent number: 11661833
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus, method, and system for separating solids from fluids, particularly in a downhole environment. The separator apparatus comprises a vortex inducer and a solids collection conduit. The separator apparatus can be mounted in a cylindrical housing for attachment to downhole piping for removal of solids in fluid flowing to other equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Reynolds Lift Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kyle Meier
  • Patent number: 11408427
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises an inverted shroud separating a centrifugal ESP pump from a well casing, the ESP pump rotatably coupled to an ESP motor, the inverted shroud having an opening on an upstream terminal side, the upstream terminal side terminating at a head of the ESP motor, at least a portion of the ESP motor extending through the opening, the portion of the ESP motor extending through the opening exposed to formation fluid, and the opening sealed to the formation fluid at the head of the ESP motor tapered and wedged to the inverted shroud, wherein a centerline of the inverted shroud is offset from a centerline of the ESP motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Wayne Webster, Wesley John Nowitzki, Jason Eugene Hill, Steven Andrew Lovell, Casey Laine Newport, Donn J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11352908
    Abstract: A turbine stator blade (21) includes a pressure side (21P) extending in a radial direction intersecting a flowing direction of steam and facing upstream in the flowing direction. A slit (5) capturing droplets generated by liquefaction of the steam is formed on a downstream side of the pressure side (21P). A fine uneven region (6), which guides the droplets attached to the pressure side (21P) in the radial direction such that the droplets are moved toward the slit (5) and from upstream toward downstream, is formed in a further upstream position than the slit (5). The fine uneven region (6) has a flow resistance to the droplets gradually increasing from inward to outward in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Mizumi, Chongfei Duan, Yasuhiro Sasao, Soichiro Tabata
  • Patent number: 11193671
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor defining a liquid fuel inlet, a stripping gas inlet and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; and a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in flow communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor and an axis. The fuel gas separator further includes a stationary casing; and a separator assembly including a core and a plurality of paddles extending from the core, the separator assembly rotatable about the axis within the stationary casing to separate a fuel/gas mixture received through the fuel/gas mixture inlet into a liquid fuel flow and stripping gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8851110
    Abstract: A multi-phase fluid is split in a flow splitting device that includes a feed pipe in which a flow redistribution element induces tangential motion in the phases such that the denser phase is forced to redistribute around the periphery of the feed pipe. The so redistributed flow is then split into two or more distribution conduits that are typically perpendicular to the flow direction of the feed flow. Most typically, the feed pipe is in a vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Garry E. Jacobs, Gerald Zeininger
  • Publication number: 20140216720
    Abstract: A gas separator is configured to separate gas from a two-phase fluid. The gas separator includes a rotatable shaft and one or more separation stages. At least one of the one or more separation stages includes a rotor connected to the rotatable shaft and a channeled compression tube, wherein the channeled compression tube includes a compression tube hub and a plurality of channels. The channels are configured to isolate abrasive solid particles from the rotary components within the gas separator. The gas separator may optionally include a streamer upstream from the separation stage that reduces rotational currents upstream from the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS ESP, INC.
    Inventors: Chengbao Wang, Kelly Pidsadowski
  • Patent number: 8657907
    Abstract: A cam shaft has a tubular part extending longitudinally along an axis and a helical body fixed in the tubular part and having a first helical passage extending between an inlet end where a first pressure is present and an outlet end where a second pressure is present. This helical body forms an oil separator between the inlet and outlet ends. A flow-blocking element at the inlet end moves as a function of a pressure differential between the first and second pressures to open and close the first helical passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta Teccenter AG
    Inventors: Juergen Meusel, Ulf Mueller
  • Publication number: 20130118357
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow body having a hollow cylindrical design at least in some regions, in particular to a camshaft (1), comprising an oil separation device that is integrated in a cavity of the hollow body, wherein a first pressure (p1) is present on an outlet side (5) of the oil separation device, and wherein a second pressure (P2) is present on an inlet side (4) of the oil separation device. According to the invention, the oil separation device is designed as a multiple thread worm body (2) which is connected to the hollow shaft section in a rotationally fixed manner. In addition, a shut-off element (6, 6?) is provided, which on the inlet side (4) opens or closes the access to at least one worm channel (3b, 3c) of the multiple thread worm body (2) depending on the pressure difference (?p) between the second pressure (p2) and the first pressure (P1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Juergen Meusel, Ulf Mueller
  • Patent number: 8349059
    Abstract: A number of pocketed apparatus for separating various materials are described. A pocketed cyclonic separator that includes a cyclone chamber, which includes interior chamber walls, an inlet connected to the cyclone chamber, and one or more pocket separators, located on the interior chamber walls, is described. A substance may be introduced through the inlet into the cyclone chamber so as to create a rotational force sufficient to generate a cyclone in the cyclone chamber. Forces generated by the cyclone will cause heavier material in the substance to move towards the interior chamber walls when in use. The one or more pocket separators define one or more pockets that trap heavier material in the substance when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Peerless Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Dani Fadda
  • 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: 8173016
    Abstract: A mechanical vessel may effectively and simultaneously displace a first undesired gas from within water with a second desired gas, and remove at least one alkaline species and oily matter from the water. The vessel raises the pH of the water and reduces the lime requirement for subsequent lime softening. The vessel receives the water containing the first gas and passes the water through a series of gasification chambers. Each gasification chamber may have a mechanism that ingests and mixes a second gas into the water thereby physically displacing at least a portion of the first gas into a vapor space at the top of each gasification chamber from which it is subsequently removed. There is an absence of communication between the vapor spaces of adjacent chambers. An acid is added to remove the alkaline species, where the first gas is an optional by-product that is also removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: James C. T. Chen, Shaya Movafaghian
  • 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: 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110067568
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus (1) for deaerating a feed liquid (3) comprising a liquid suspension or pulp, the apparatus comprising a feed conduit (2) to convey the feed liquid (3) into a separator (4), the separator (4) comprising a mechanical agitator (5) for inducing a rotational flow of the feed liquid in a separation chamber (6), such that the rotational flow generates a centrifugal vortex (15) to separate the feed liquid into a first component (7) consisting essentially of froth or gas and a second component (8) consisting essentially of deaerated liquid or sludge, the separator (4) further comprising a device (17) for controlling the location of the vortex (15) in the separation chamber (6). The invention also provides a method for deaerating a feed liquid (3) comprising a liquid suspension or pulp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Richard Triglavcanin, Ian Arbuthnot
  • Patent number: 7866876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the extrusion of thermoplastic synthetic material featuring an extruder screw (2) which is mounted on a housing (1) including a plasticizing section (P) at the inlet side, a degassing section which is mounted upstream on a discharge section (A) and a conveying outlet (3) operating in the opposite direction which is located between the plasticizing section (P) and the degassing section (E). A flow channel (5) that contains a melt filter (4) is bridged over by at least one of the conveying outlets (3) in the opposite direction. To create favorable production conditions, the extruder screw (2) forms a similar conveying outlet (7) operating in the same direction between the conveying outlet (3) in the opposite direction and the downstream port (6) of the flow channel (5). The housing (1) has at least one degassing vent (8) at the transition area of the conveying outlet (3) operating in the opposite direction and the conveying outlet (7) operating in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Helmuth Schulz
  • 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: 7766081
    Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly has a gas separator that separates gas prior to entering into the pump. A shroud encloses a portion of the pump assembly, including the gas separator. The gas separator has gas discharge tubes that extend from it out through the shroud. The gas discharge tubes are tangentially aligned to create a vortex on the exterior of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Brown Lyle Wilson, Gary L. James
  • Publication number: 20100139490
    Abstract: A method and system for degassing a resin containing trapped gas bubbles is provided. A centrifugal chamber that is capable of being rotated retains the resin, and the rotation of the centrifugal chamber reduces the amount of trapped gas bubbles contained within the resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Rebecca E. Hefner, Ronald R. Cairo
  • Patent number: 7695548
    Abstract: A dual use fluid filtration tool to separate both solids and gas from a fluid. The fluid filtration tool is suspended from and connected to a downhole submersible pump having a motor which rotates a shaft. The tool includes a housing having a cylindrical wall with a plurality of perforations therethrough and an interior chamber therein. A removable cylindrical filter surrounds the interior chamber of the housing in order to filter solid particles. At least one centralizer bearing within the interior chamber of the housing centralizes the shaft which passes therethrough. The fluid in the interior chamber is radially induced in order to separate gas from fluid. The gas separated from the fluid is directed out of the chamber while the fluid remaining in the interior chamber is directed to the intake of the downhole pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Global Oilfield Services LLC
    Inventors: William A. Grubb, Carl G. Woodworth, Mark D. Fajt, Steve Smith
  • Patent number: 7695549
    Abstract: A dual use fluid filtration tool to separate both solids and gas from a fluid. The fluid filtration tool is suspended from and connected to downhole equipment, such as a downhole submersible pump having a motor, which rotates a shaft. The tool includes a housing having a cylindrical wall with a plurality of perforations therethrough and an interior chamber therein. A removable cylindrical filter surrounds the interior chamber of the housing in order to filter solid particles. At least one centralizer bearing within the interior chamber of the housing centralizes the shaft which passes therethrough. The fluid in the interior chamber is radially induced in order to separate gas from fluid. The gas separated from the fluid is directed out of the chamber while the fluid remaining in the interior chamber is directed to the intake of the downhole pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Global Oilfield Services LLC
    Inventors: William A. Grubb, Carl G. Woodworth, Steve Smith
  • 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: 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: 20090084263
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating components of a fluid containing liquid and gas comprises a housing having at least one elongate channel. Each channel has an inlet end, an outlet end and rounded walls enabling the fluid flowing through the channel to flow substantially free of turbulent flow. Each channel defines a spiral path through the housing and acts to separate the fluid flowing through the channel into a gas-depleted outer portion and a liquid-depleted inner portion. The apparatus includes a liquid outlet port for the gas-depleted outer portion and a gas outlet port for the liquid-depleted inner portion. The housing may include a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the inlet end of the channel. The mixing chamber may include a surface the fluid impacts against. The apparatus may include a chamber at the outlet end of the channel. The chamber may have a gas outlet port closer to the outlet end of the channel than the liquid outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: Marcel Obrejanu
  • Patent number: 7462225
    Abstract: An agitator assembly for use in a gas separator includes a central hub and at least one blade affixed to the central hub. The blade includes a leading end, a trailing end, a first curved portion adjacent to the leading end and a second curved portion adjacent to the trailing end. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second curved portions are substantially parabolic and have foci on opposite sides of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Wood Group ESP, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Ketter, Raymond E. Floyd, Chengbao Wang
  • Patent number: 7416661
    Abstract: A mechanical vessel may effectively and simultaneously displace a first undesired gas from within water with a second desired gas, and remove at least one alkaline species and oily matter from the water. The vessel raises the pH of the water and reduces the lime requirement for subsequent lime softening. The vessel receives the water containing the first gas and passes the water through a series of gasification chambers. Each gasification chamber may have a mechanism that ingests and mixes a second gas into the water thereby physically displacing at least a portion of the first gas into a vapor space at the top of each gasification chamber from which it is subsequently removed. There is an absence of communication between the vapor spaces of adjacent chambers. An acid is added to remove the alkaline species, where the first gas is an optional by-product that is also removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Petreco International Inc.
    Inventors: James C. T. Chen, Shaya Movafaghian
  • Patent number: 7232476
    Abstract: An apparatus for scum removal is disclosed wherein toothed paddle induces turbulent effect on the fluids present in the reactor by means of its rotary motion. This results in both breaking and radial displacement of the scum, accumulated on the fluid during the course of the biochemical or chemical reaction, towards the outlet of the reactor, thereby ensuring that the reaction continues in scum free environment uninterruptedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Ramamoorthy A. Ramanujam, Krishnasami Thirumaran, Rajendran Arumugam
  • Patent number: 7032444
    Abstract: This invention concerns a module for extracting samples in gas phase of compounds present in an underground working liquid, the extractor module including a receptacle for the liquid, associated with a device for stirring the liquid, a liquid inlet duct, a liquid evacuation duct, an auxiliary gas admission duct, and an outlet duct for delivering auxiliary gas and gas extracted from the liquid. The auxiliary gas admission duct and the evacuation duct include a common segment, for preventing the auxiliary gas from passing is provided in the evacuation duct downstream from the common segment in the liquid-passing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Geoservices
    Inventors: Jérôme Breviere, Jean-François Evrard
  • Patent number: 6962618
    Abstract: Device and process for the removal of air from flotation foam formed during the flotation of a paper-fiber-containing suspension. The device includes a driven rotor that includes a shaft and at least one rotor blade positioned on the shaft, and a non-rotating wall arranged to surround the rotor in a region of the rotor blade by a non-rotating wall. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Gaus, Harald Hess, Herbert Britz
  • 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: 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: 6716273
    Abstract: A continuous process for removing oxygen from aqueous monomer solutions, including flowing an inert gas and a monomer solution in a column-shaped apparatus as a countercurrent, wherein the monomer solution is added at the head of the apparatus, flows through the apparatus as a liquid column, and is withdrawn slightly above the bottom, at least one section of the liquid column is mixed in radial flow direction and in a turbulent fashion, and the at least one section of the liquid column is mixed using at least one stirring element which is one of a turbine disk and a dispersing disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Schulte, Detlef Albin
  • 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: 6660067
    Abstract: It has been discovered that a mechanical device may be used to effectively displace a first undesired gas from within a liquid with a second desired or at least inert gas. The device is a vessel that receives the liquid containing the first gas and passes the liquid through a series of gasification chambers. Each gasification chamber has at least one mechanism that ingests and mixes a second gas into the liquid thereby physically displacing at least a portion of the first gas into a vapor space at the top of each gasification chamber from which it is subsequently removed. There is an absence of communication between the vapor spaces of adjacent chambers. The ingesting and mixing mechanisms may be a dispersed air flotation mechanism, and may be a conventional depurator. The liquid now containing the second gas and very little or none of the first gas is removed from the vessel for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Petreco International Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Stacy, James Chen
  • 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: 20030183081
    Abstract: Device and process for the removal of air from flotation foam formed during the flotation of a paper-fiber-containing suspension. The device includes a driven rotor that includes a shaft and at least one rotor blade positioned on the shaft, and a non-rotating wall arranged to surround the rotor in a region of the rotor blade by a non-rotating wall. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: VOITH PAPER PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Gaus, Harald Hess, Herbert Britz
  • Patent number: 6613128
    Abstract: An aromatic polycarbonate extruder which is a twin screw extruder for kneading components into a molten aromatic polycarbonate, the extruder having at least one module consisting of a kneading unit, a material seal unit, a back kneading unit and full-flight unit which are arranged from an upstream side to a downstream side and a method of kneading components into an aromatic polycarbonate by using the above extruder. The present invention also provides a kneading apparatus and method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate which has an extremely small content of foreign matter and is free from residence deterioration such as coloration, crosslinking or gelation when the aromatic polycarbonate is to be kneaded with various components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Masasi Simonaru, Toru Sawaki, Katsushi Sasaki, Kazuki Hatono, Eiji Ito
  • Publication number: 20020144598
    Abstract: It has been discovered that a mechanical device may be used to effectively displace a first undesired gas from within a liquid with a second desired or at least inert gas. The device is a vessel that receives the liquid containing the first gas and passes the liquid through a series of gasification chambers. Each gasification chamber has at least one mechanism that ingests and mixes a second gas into the liquid thereby physically displacing at least a portion of the first gas into a vapor space at the top of each gasification chamber from which it is subsequently removed. There is an absence of communication between the vapor spaces of adjacent chambers. The ingesting and mixing mechanisms may be a dispersed air flotation mechanism, and may be a conventional depurator. The liquid now containing the second gas and very little or none of the first gas is removed from the vessel for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Melvin Stacy, James Chen
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20020017193
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel A. Ramos
  • 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: 6197095
    Abstract: A subsea multiphase fluid separation system and method are disclosed which provide for efficient and reliable remote separation operation at deep and ultra deep water depths including depths of ten thousand feet or more. The system is preferably of modular construction wherein the modules are secured in a single frame to be lowered as a unit to the seabed. The system utilizes reliable cyclonic operation. The sequence of process steps is designed to make the system more efficient as compared to surface separating systems and thereby permit a more compact size as is desirable for subsea operation. The method of operation includes up to five basic process steps with the initial step in one embodiment including cyclonically separating solids. In a presently preferred embodiment, the cyclonic solids separator is sized to eliminate solids greater than fifty microns. A second stage is directed to cyclonically removing bulk gas from the liquid in either a cyclone or auger separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: John C. Ditria, David A. Hadfield
  • 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: 6103128
    Abstract: A mixing device in the form of a centrifugal pump is used to mix gas (typically air) with liquid (typically effluent water, dispersion water, or waste paper pulp suspension, etc.). The pump is provided with a common inlet conduit for both the liquid and the gas so that liquid and gas flow freely and in an arbitrary ratio into the pump, that is there is no controlling or adjusting of the flows. The gas is allowed to either dissolve in the liquid or be mixed as small bubbles with the liquid, and any surplus gas is separated from the mixing device (e.g. by holes in the pump impeller leading to a rear portion of the pump which is attached to a vacuum source, such as a liquid ring pump). The liquid and gas dissolved therein, and small bubbles mixed therein, are discharged from the mixing device at a pressure that is raised from the inlet pressure, due to the action of the impeller, which pressure development enhances the dissolution of gas in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventors: Arto Koso, Heikki Manninen
  • 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