Fluid treating centrifugal apparatus and methods

Claim 1

FLUID TREATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER; A SECOND MEMBER CONCENTRICALLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FIRST MEMBER AND HAVING AN OUTER DIAMETRAL SIZE CORRESPONDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE INNER DIAMETRAL SIZE OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, THE CONFRONTING SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS BEING HELICALLY GROOVED FROM END TO END TO FORM RADIALLY INNER AND RADIALLY OUTER FLUID PASSAGES BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER OVER SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID PASSAGES; MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID MEMBER FOR INTRODUCING FLUID TO SAID PASSAGES; MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE END OFF SAID MEMBERS FOR RECEIVING FLUID FROM SAID PASSAGES; ANNULAR SLEEVE MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CONFRONTING SURFACES OF SAID MEMBERS AT LEAST AT ONE END OF SAID MEMBERS FOR SEPARATING SAID INNER AND OUTER PASSAGES FROM EACH OTHER; AND MEANS CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID MEMBERS FOR ROTATING BOTH OF SAID MEMBERS CONJOINTLY AND AT THE SAME SPEED.