Means for separating heavier from lighter components of comingled fluid

Claim 2

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid, comprising: an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter fluid outlet, and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and a plurality of spaced apart conical separator screens vertically stacked within said vessel above said fluid inlet opening and below said lighter fluid outlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from said fluid inlet to said lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens, each separator screen being a conically shaped foraminous recticulm of integrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands all of which strands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicity of continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths on which heavier components may travel towards the lower portion of said vessel for discharge out said heavier fluid outlet; and centrally disposed baffle means secured within said vessel between said conical separator screens and said fluid inlet for separating the downward flow of heavier fluid components from the upward flow of comingled fluid through the fluid inlet.

Claim 3

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid according to claim 1 wherein said separator screens are formed of a conically shaped lattice of expanded metal.

Claim 4

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid according to claim 1 wherein said separator screens are formed of slit and stretched expanded metal, the apertures therein being of diamond shape.

Claim 5

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid according to claim 1 whErein each of said conical separator screens has an opening therein at the apex, the opening being coaxial with the conical separator screen, and including: an elongated vertical central member received in said conical members axial opening.

Claim 6

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid according to claim 4 wherein said conical members are attached to said central member.

Claim 7

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid according to claim 4 wherein said central member is tubular and wherein said vessel has an opening in the upper end thereof, said tubular central member communicating with the exterior of said vessel through said opening.

Claim 8

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid, comprising: an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter fluid outlet, and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and a plurality of spaced apart conical separator screens vertically stacked within said vessel above said fluid inlet opening and below said lighter fluid outlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from said fluid inlet to said lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens, each separator screen being a conically shaped foraminous reticulum of integrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands all of which strands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicity of continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths on which heavier components may travel towards the lower portion of said vessel for discharge out said heavier fluid outlet, wherein each of said conical separator screens has an opening therein at the apex, the opening being coaxial with the conical separator screen, and including: an elongated vertical central member received in said conical members axial opening, said central member being tubular and wherein said vessel has an opening in the upper end thereof, said tubular central member communicating with the exterior of said vessel through said opening, and said central member has apertures therein communicating the interior of the central member with the interior of said vessel between each of said separator screens.

Claim 9

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid, comprising: an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter fluid outlet, and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and a plurality of spaced apart conical separator screens vertically stacked within said vessel above said fluid inlet opening and below said lighter fluid outlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from said fluid inlet to said lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens, each separator screen being a conically shaped foraminous reticulum of integrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands all of which strands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicity of continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths on which heavier components may travel towards the lower portion of said vessel for discharge out said heavier fluid outlet, wherein each of said conical separator screens has an opening therein at the apex, the opening being coaxial with the conical separator screen, and including: an elongated vertical central member received in said conical members axial opening, said central member being tubular and wherein said vessel has an opening in the upper end thereof, said tubular central member communicating with the exterior of said vessel through said opening, and said central member has apertures therein communicating the interior of the central member with the interior of said vessel between each of said separator screens.

Claim 10

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid, comprising: an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter fluid outlet, and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and a plurality of spaced apart conical separator screens vertically stacked within said vessel above said fluid inlet opening and below said lighter fluid outlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from said fluid inlet to said lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens, each separator screen being a conically shaped foraminous reticulum of integrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands all of which strands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicity of continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths on which heavier components may travel towards the lower portion of said vessel for discharge out said heavier fluid outlet; and a circumferential upright, opened top and bottom baffle supported centrally within said vessel below said conical separator screens and providing an annular area between the exterior of the baffle and the interior of said vessel.

Claim 11

A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid, comprising: an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter fluid outlet, and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and a plurality of spaced apart conical separator screens vertically stacked within said vessel above said fluid inlet opening and below said lighter fluid outlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from said fluid inlet to said lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens, each separator screen being a conically shaped foraminous reticulum of integrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands all of which strands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicity of continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths on which heavier components may travel towards the lower portion of said vessel for discharge out said heavier fluid outlet; and a circumferential upright, opened top and bottom baffle supported centrally within said vessel below said conical separator screens and providing an annular area between the exterior of the baffle and the interior of said vessel.