Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream and comprising an upright cylindrical chamber having an inlet tangentially intersecting the cylindrical wall adjacent the upper end thereof for directing the flow stream into the cylindrical chamber wherein a cyclonic action is produced therein, an axial light component outlet provided in the upper end of said cylindrical chamber, a heavy component outlet provided in the lower end of said cylindrical chamber, an open topped cylindrical interface member freely movably disposed within said cylindrical chamber and having an exterior diameter less than interior diameter of said cylindrical chamber providing an annual area therebetween, said heavy components being cast outwardly against the cylindrical wall of said cylindrical chamber by the cyclonic action and passing downwardly through said annular area to the lower portion of said cylindrical chamber for discharge out said heavy components outlet, and means for controlling the discharge of fluid through said heavy components outlet in response to the lever of the heavy components in said cylindrical chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream and comprising an upright cylindrical chamber having an inlet tangentially intersecting the cylindrical wall adjacent the upper end thereof for directing the flow stream into the cylindrical chamber wherein a cyclonic action is produced therein, an axial light component outlet provided in the upper end of said cylindrical chamber, a heavy component outlet provided in the lower end of said cylindrical chamber, an open topped cylindrical interface member freely movably disposed within said cylindrical chamber and having an exterior diameter less than interior diameter of said cylindrical chamber providing an annual area therebetween, said heavy components being cast outwardly against the cylindrical wall of said cylindrical chamber by the cyclonic action and passing downwardly through said annular area to the lower portion of said cylindrical chamber for discharge out said heavy components outlet, and means for controlling the discharge of fluid through said heavy components outlet in response to the lever of the heavy components in said cylindrical chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream according to claim 1 wherein said interface member is vertically movable within said cylindrical chamber, wherein said interface member floats in said heavy components, and said discharge means comprises valve means cooperating between said interface member and said cylindrical chamber heavy components outlet wherein said valve means opens when the heavy components level rises to a preselected level and closes when the heavy components level falls to a preselected lower level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream according to claim 2 wherein said valve means includes a valve seat means formed about said cylindrical chamber heavy components outlet, and a valve closing element affixed to said interface member sealably engagable with said valve seat element configured to engage with and seal said heavy components outlet when the heavy components in said cylindrical chambers falls to said preselected lower level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
117 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream according to claim 1 wherein said means of controlling the discharge of fluid through said heavy components outlet includes a flow control valve in series with said cylindrical chamber heavy components outlet, interface detecting means within said cylindrical chamber including means of detecting the height of the interface between the heavy components and the light components in said cylindrical chamber, said interface detecting means being connected to said control valve and operable to open said valve when the height of the interface reaches a preselected level and to close said valve when the height of the interface falls to a lower preselected level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical interface member has an opening in the bottom thereof, and including a conduit connected to said interface member opening and extending exteriorly of said cylindrical chamber providing a second light component outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream according to claim 1 wherein said means of controlling the discharge of fluid through said heavy components outlet in response to the level of the heavy components in said clyindrical chamber includes a siphon connected to said cylindrical chamber heavy components outlet, said siphon being configured to automatically withdraw liquid when the height of said heavy components within said cylindrical chamber reaches a preselected level and to terminate withdrawal when tHe height of said heavy components falls to a preselected minimum level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream according to claim 6 wherein said axial light components outlet in the upper end of said cylindrical chamber is closed, wherein said interface member has an opening in the lower portion thereof, and including a siphon connected to said opening in the lower end of said interface member, said siphon being configured to automatically withdraw liquid when the height of said light components within said cylindrical chamber reaches a preselected level and to terminate withdrawal when the height of said light components falls to a preselected minimum level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical wall of the interface member is formed of coalescing material wetted by said heavy components.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A hydroclone for separating immiscible heavy components from light components of a flow stream according to claim 8 wherein the upper portion of the cylindrical wall of said interface member is formed of said coalescing material.