US3847810A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for separating oil from water and measuring the amount of oil so separated
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-04
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Granted: 1974-11-12
•
Expires: 1993-05-04
Abstract
Abstract Trace amounts of oil in a stream of water are separated from this stream by an apparatus including a motor having a drive shaft and a rotor connected to the end of this drive shaft. This rotor is contained within a housing having an inlet for introducing the stream of oily water into the housing and an outlet for removing purified water. The rotor has two spaced metal plates electrically isolated from each other and absorber material such as polyurethane foam between the plates. As the rotor turns, oil is collected near the center of the rotor in the absorber material. The two plates of the rotor are connected in an electrical circuit for measuring capacitance between the plates. As oil is absorbed by the foam, the capacitance changes. This capacitance measurement is a function of the amount of oil collected from a water stream. Thus, the amount of oil in the stream is measured by measuring capacitance.
Inventors
- 👤 A Tulumello
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:59
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03F; E03F5/00; E03F5/14; E03F5/16; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0202; B01D17/0208; B01D17/0214; B01D17/0217; B04; B04B; B04B5/00; B04B5/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for separating oil and water comprising a chamber, rotor means in the chamber including an absorber means which selectively absorbs oil, in conductive means, inlet means in said chamber means for introducing oil-water mixture into the said chamber, outlet means in said chamber near the periphery of the rotor means for removing separated water from the chamber, and means for revolving said rotor means to establish a centrifugal force-field in said chamber which separates the oil from water, pulling the oil to the center of the rotor means and pushing separated water to the periphery of the rotor means and out the outlet means, and circuit means coupled to the conductive means in said rotor means, said circuit means measuring capacitance across said conductive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for separating oil and water comprising a chamber, rotor means in the chamber including an absorber means which selectively absorbs oil, in conductive means, inlet means in said chamber means for introducing oil-water mixture into the said chamber, outlet means in said chamber near the periphery of the rotor means for removing separated water from the chamber, and means for revolving said rotor means to establish a centrifugal force-field in said chamber which separates the oil from water, pulling the oil to the center of the rotor means and pushing separated water to the periphery of the rotor means and out the outlet means, and circuit means coupled to the conductive means in said rotor means, said circuit means measuring capacitance across said conductive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where the rotor means includes a pair of spaced plates having the absorber disposed between said plates, said pair of plates being conductive, electrically isolated from each other, and connected in said capacitance measuring circuit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 where the capacitance measuring circuit means includes means which integrates capacitance measurement as oil is collected in the absorber means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 where the capacitance measuring circuit means includes means which differentiates capacitance measurement as oil is collected in the absorber means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2 where the absorber means comprises polyurethane foam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The appartus of claim 1 including means for introducing air into the chamber to purge the absorber means of oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The appartus of claim 1 including means for periodically removing oil collected in the absorber means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus comprising a rotor including a pair of spaced metal plates electrically isolated from each other, and a porous absorber material between said plates, a chamber adapted to house the rotor, said chamber having an inlet for introducing into the chamber a mixture of heavy and light fluids, and an outlet near the periphery of the chamber for removing heavy fluid collected at the periphery of the rotor, a motor including a drive shaft extending into the center of the chamber, said rotor being secured at its center to said drive shaft, and a measuring circuit including a power source, and electrical coupling means for connecting the plates in said circuit so that said plates act as a variable capacitor whose capacitance changes as fluid collects in the absorber material, and capacitance measuring means including recorder means for providing a record of capacitance measurement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus comprising a rotor including a pair of spaced metal plates electrically isolated from each other, and a porous absorber material between said plates, a chamber adapted to house the rotor, said chamber having an inlet for introducing into the chamber a mixture of heavy and light fluids, and an outlet near the periphery of the chamber for removing heavy fluid collected at the periphery of the rotor, a motor including a drive shaft extending into the center of the chamber, said rotor being secured at its center to said drive shaft, and a measuring circuit including a power source, and electrical coupling means for connecting the plates in said circuit so that said plates act as a variable capacitor whose capacitance changes as fluid collects in the absorber material, and capacitance measuring means including recorder means for providing a record of capacitance measurement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 where the capacitance measuring circuit includes means which integrates capacitance measurement as oil is collected in the absorber means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 where the capacitance measuring circuit includes means which differentiates capacitance measurement as oil is collected in the absorber means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 8 where the inlet includes a valve means for selectively discontinuing flow of fluid into the chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 8 where the heavy fluid is collected near the center of the chamber and the drive shaft is hollow having its remote end connected to a vacuum for withdrawing the heavy fluid from the chamber through the hollow drive shaft.
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) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |