US3633341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil mist eliminator for a fluid drive
Assignee: AMERICAN DAVIDSON Inc A CORP OF MICH
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Filing: 1970-06-03
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1990-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A fluid drive wherein the runner and impeller assemblies are disposed within a nominally closed tank which defines an oil sump. A fan-filter unit assembly is provided for drawing oil mist from the tank interior through the filter unit, whereby a partial vacuum is established within the tank interior which prevents the mist from leaking into the surrounding atmosphere through small joints in the housing and protruding shafts. The fan-filter unit comprises an oil coalescing device in an upstream portion of the fan-filter unit and a fine mesh filter for trapping fine oil mist droplets which pass through the coalescing device without undergoing coalescence. The coalescing device and fine mesh filter are interconnected by a conduit which has a drain line for draining the coalesced oil droplets into an oil sump.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry J Langlois
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:42
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; F; F16; F16D; F16D33/00; F16D33/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/05; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/19; Y10S55/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In a fluid drive comprising a closed tank defining an oil sump; an impeller-runner assembly comprising confronting vaned impeller and runner shells disposed within the tank, an impeller shaft extending through one wall of the tank, and a runner shaft extending through another wall of the tank: the improvement comprising means for preventing oil mist from escaping from the tank into the surrounding space; said escape-prevention means comprising a filter unit connected to the tank, and fan means for moving oil mist from the tank interior through the filter unit; said filter unit comprising an oil coalescing device in the upstream portion of the unit, means for draining coalesced oil droplets into the oil sump, and a fine mesh filter device for trapping such fine mist droplets that pass through the coalescing device without undergoing coalescence.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a fluid drive comprising a closed tank defining an oil sump; an impeller-runner assembly comprising confronting vaned impeller and runner shells disposed within the tank, an impeller shaft extending through one wall of the tank, and a runner shaft extending through another wall of the tank: the improvement comprising means for preventing oil mist from escaping from the tank into the surrounding space; said escape-prevention means comprising a filter unit connected to the tank, and fan means for moving oil mist from the tank interior through the filter unit; said filter unit comprising an oil coalescing device in the upstream portion of the unit, means for draining coalesced oil droplets into the oil sump, and a fine mesh filter device for trapping such fine mist droplets that pass through the coalescing device without undergoing coalescence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the oil coalescing device and drain means are disposed within the tank, and the fine mesh filter device is disposed outside the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the fine mesh filter device is an upflow unit whereby oil droplets can gravitate back toward the drain means without tending to plug the filter device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the coalescing device and fine mesh filter device are interconnected by a conduit that has an appreciably smaller flow area than the flow area of either device, whereby the mist experiences increased turbulence while flowing through the conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The arrangement of claim 4 wherein the interconnecting conduit includes a downflow section coming from the coalescing device and an upflow section leading to the fine mesh filter device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The arrangement Of claim 5 wherein the drain means comprises a drain line connected with the interconnecting conduit at a point between the downflow section and upflow section, whereby the drain line can receive oil droplets from both conduit sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the coalescing device and filter device are interconnected by a flow conduit having sufficient flow area to permit the fan to produce a partial vacuum within the closed tank; said drain means comprising a drain line extending downwardly from the conduit into the sump liquid, said drain line having a sufficiently small flow area that the fan is unable to produce any appreciable liquid lift action on the drain line liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the fine mesh filter device comprises an upflow housing having an upper media-containment section, and a lower plenum-forming section; said lower housing section being detachable from the upper housing section to permit removal and replacement of the filter media.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement of claim 8 and further comprising a diffuser means arranged in the lower housing section to equalize vapor flow from the plenum chamber to different sections of the filter media.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2521785A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |