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US3828524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Centrifugal lyophobic separator
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1971-08-09
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1991-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A centrifugal separator using a lyophobic filter for removing liquid particles from a mixed stream of gas and liquid under various negative or positive external acceleration conditions as well as zero g or weightless conditions. Rotating the lyophobic filter and inclining the filter to the entering flow improves the lyophobic properties of the filter, provides gross separation of larger liquid particles and prevents prolonged contact of liquid droplets with the spinning filter which might change the filter properties or block the filter.
Inventors
- 👤 F Booth
- 👤 R Bruce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:07
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04B; B04B5/00; B04B5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 1 including deflector means attached to said rotating member and spaced from and partially surrounding said nonwettable porous means, said deflector means for shielding said nonwettable porous means from direct contact with the mixture of gas and liquid as the mixture enters said rotating member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 2 wHerein said deflector means includes drain means for providing one way flow of liquid from within said deflector means outward by centrifugal action to said rotating member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 3 wherein said drain means are capillary channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 3 wherein said deflector means includes an inner surface and said inner surface includes guide means for channeling liquid over said inner surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 1 including cap means attached to said nonwettable porous means, said cap means blocking an area of said nonwettable porous means near said axis of rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 6 including deflector means attached to said rotating member and spaced from and partially surrounding said nonwettable porous means, said deflector means for shielding said nonwettable porous means from direct contact with the mixture of liquid and gas entering said rotating member and wherein said cap means includes a cavity partly enclosing an edge of said deflector means and cusp means projecting into said cavity, said cusp means for directing the flow of the mixture circulating between said deflector means and said nonwettable porous means, whereby the liquid droplets entering the cavity are directed against the inside of the deflector means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 1 wherein the housing surrounding said rotating member does not rotate; a space between said housing and said rotating member; seal means located between said housing and said rotating member for preventing the passage of fluid between said rotating member and said space; gas outlet means attached to said housing for removing gas passing through said nonwettable means; and pressure seal line means connecting said space and said gas outlet means, said pressure seal line means for pressurizing said space and for preventing the passage of fluid from said rotating member into said space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 1 including liquid pitot collector means disposed within said rotating member and for removing liquid from said rotating member, said liquid pitot collector means including means for creating a backpressure, whereby a positive liquid pressure is required for liquid exit from said rotating member and gas may not escape said rotating member through said liquid pitot collector means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The separator of claim 1 wherein said nonwettable porous means includes a surface, said surface being three-dimensionally shaped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The separator of claim 10 wherein said surface comprises a body of revolution having an axis along said axis of rotation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The separator of claim 10 wherein said surface forms a truncated cone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The separator of claim 10 including deflector means attached to said rotating member and for shielding said nonwettable porous means from direct contact with the mixture of gas and liquid entering said rotating member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 13 wherein said deflector means includes drain means for providing one way flow of liquid from within said deflector means to said rotating member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 14 wherein said deflector means includes an inner surface and said inner surface includes guide means attached to said inner surface for channeling liquid over said inner surface whereby the liquid passes through said drain means into said rotating member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 15 including cap means attached to said nonwettable porous means, said cap means for blocking an area of said nonwettable porous means near said axis of rotation, said cap means including a cavity partly enclosing an edge of said deflector means and cusp means projecting into said cavity, said cusp means for directing the flow of the mixture circulating between said deflector means and said nonwettable porous means, whereby the liquid droplets entering the cavity are directed against said inner surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
156 words
The centrifugal separatoR of claim 16 wherein said housing does not rotate and surrounds said rotating member; a space between said housing and said rotating member; seal means located between said housing and said rotating member for preventing the passage of fluid between said rotating member and said space; gas outlet means attached to said housing for removing gas passing through said nonwettable porous means; pressure seal line means connecting said space and said gas outlet means, said pressure seal line means for pressurizing said space and for preventing the passage of fluid from said container member into said space; liquid pitot collector means disposed within said rotating member and for removing liquid from said rotating member, said liquid pitot collector means including means for creating a backpressure, whereby a positive liquid pressure is required for liquid exit from said rotating member and gas may not escape said rotating member through said liquid pitot collector means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The centrifugal separator of claim 17 wherein said surface forms a truncated cone, said drain means are capillary channels and said guide means are vanes projecting from said inner surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of improving the lyophobic efficiency of lyophobic filter subjected to a flow of a mixture of gas and liquid having a flow direction comprising the step of: rotating the lyophobic filter about an axis of rotation; whereby the equivalent filter pore size as seen by the flow is decreased.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 19 including the further step of inclining the surface of the lyophobic filter such that the surface is approximately perpendicular to the flow direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 19 including the further step of inclining the surface of said lyophobic filter such that the surface and the flow direction form an acute angle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 19 including the further step of blocking the surface of said rotating lyophobic filter near said axis of rotation to prevent areas of the filter surface experiencing low centrifugal force from filtering the mixture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 21 including the further step of blocking the surface of said rotating lyophobic filter near said axis of rotation to prevent an area of the filter surface experiencing low centrifugal force from filtering the mixture.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of separating gas and liquid from a mixture of gas and liquid comprising the steps of: providing a flow of the mixture having a flow direction: interposing a lyophobic filter in said flow to filter the liquid out of the mixture, rotating said filter about an axis of rotation to improve the lyophobic properties of the filter; and recovering essentially pure gas and essentially pure liquid ingredients of the mixture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 including the further step of inclining the surface of the lyophobic filter approximately perpendicular to the flow direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 including the further step of inclining the surface of the lyophobic filter at an acute angle to the flow direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 24 including the further step of blocking the surface of said lyophobic filter near said axis of rotation to prevent an area of the filter experiencing low centrifugal force from filtering the mixture.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 24 including the further steps of shielding the lyophobic filter with a deflector from direct contact by the flow; and circulating the mixture after said mixture has struck the deflector, through a space between the deflector and the filter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 28 including the further step of depositing the flow of the mixture against said deflector in such a manner as to minimize splatter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 28 including the further step of rotating the deflector to provide gross separation of liquid, whereby the heavier liquid droplets entering the separator are made to flow outward by contact with the outer surface of the deflector and recovered in a container.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 30 including the Further steps of depositing the flow of the mixture against said deflector in such a manner as to minimize splatter, trapping the liquid thrown outward by the rotating lyophobic filter against the inner surface of said deflector and channeling the liquid within said deflector into a container.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 31 including the further step of blocking the surface of said lyophobic filter near said axis of rotation to prevent an area of the filter experiencing low centrifugal force from filtering the mixture.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 32 including the steps of providing a rotating container, a fixed housing surrounding said container, and a seal between said container and said housing; pressurizing said seal to prevent the mixture or any ingredient from escaping said container; providing a liquid exit; and restricting the recovery of separated liquid through said liquid exit so that a positive pressure is required for recovery of the liquid whereby gas cannot escape through the liquid exit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |