US3951818A — Chevron clarifier

Claim 1

Independent Claim 324 words

A clarifier for separating a substance of heavier density from a liquid having a lesser density comprising: a vessel having a separation portion and an upper weir portion; a plurality of pairs of separation elements positioned in the separation portion in vertically stacked opposed parallel relation to define a common up flow channel therebetween and a down flow path exteriorly thereof, each having a substantially uniform cross section in the direction of liquid flow, each separation element having a vertical downward extending wing and a downward and outward jutting wing, the vertically downward wing and the downward and outward wing being joined at a predetermined angle α at an apex, and each separation element further having a predetermined number of fluid flow apertures of predetermined cross sectional areas formed in the vertically downward wing adjacent the apex; and, retaining means retaining the separation elements in at least one pair of vertical columns within the separation portion of the vessel with the downward extending wings of each separation element being in near vertical alignment with the downward extending wing of each vertically adjacent separation element of the column, said means further retaining said elements with the adjacent downward extending wings of the separation elements in one column facing in opposed substantial parallel relation to the similar adjacent downward extending wings of the separation elements of the other column of the pair to define a vertical up flow collecting channel extending through the separation portion and communicating with the upper weir portion of the vessel; whereby the heavier density substance is caused by gravity to settle along the downward and outward jutting wings of the separation elements and the liquid is caused by a decrease in specific gravity due to settling of the heavier density substance to flow upward and inward through the fluid flow apertures to the up flow collecting channel to provide clarified liquid of lesser density at the weir portion of the vessel.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 324 words

A clarifier for separating a substance of heavier density from a liquid having a lesser density comprising: a vessel having a separation portion and an upper weir portion; a plurality of pairs of separation elements positioned in the separation portion in vertically stacked opposed parallel relation to define a common up flow channel therebetween and a down flow path exteriorly thereof, each having a substantially uniform cross section in the direction of liquid flow, each separation element having a vertical downward extending wing and a downward and outward jutting wing, the vertically downward wing and the downward and outward wing being joined at a predetermined angle α at an apex, and each separation element further having a predetermined number of fluid flow apertures of predetermined cross sectional areas formed in the vertically downward wing adjacent the apex; and, retaining means retaining the separation elements in at least one pair of vertical columns within the separation portion of the vessel with the downward extending wings of each separation element being in near vertical alignment with the downward extending wing of each vertically adjacent separation element of the column, said means further retaining said elements with the adjacent downward extending wings of the separation elements in one column facing in opposed substantial parallel relation to the similar adjacent downward extending wings of the separation elements of the other column of the pair to define a vertical up flow collecting channel extending through the separation portion and communicating with the upper weir portion of the vessel; whereby the heavier density substance is caused by gravity to settle along the downward and outward jutting wings of the separation elements and the liquid is caused by a decrease in specific gravity due to settling of the heavier density substance to flow upward and inward through the fluid flow apertures to the up flow collecting channel to provide clarified liquid of lesser density at the weir portion of the vessel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 65 words

The clarifier as recited in claim 1 wherein the apex angle α of each separation element conforms to the relationship: V ≦V.sub.t .sup.. cos α where V t is the settling velocity of the substance of heavier density, and V is the velocity of up flow through the separation element as a function of the predetermined number of separation apertures of predetermined cross sectional area.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The clarifier as recited in claim 1 wherein the vessel further includes a sump portion below the separation portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The clarifier as recited in claim 3 wherein the sump portion includes a means for removing the substance of heavier density.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The clarifier as recited in claim 1 wherein the vertical downward wing and the downward and outward jutting wing each are generally rectangular in shape.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The clarifier as recited in claim 1 wherein there are provided a plurality of pairs of vertical columns.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 87 words

The clarifier as recited in claim 1 further including inlet means for introducing the mixture of the liquid of lesser density and the substance of greater density into the vessel, said inlet means for introducing the mixture being positioned near the top of the separation portion of the vessel and adapted to discharge the mixture into the vessel exteriorly of the collecting channel of each pair of vertical columns of separation elements and further positioned to introduce the mixture below the normal liquid level in the vessel.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

The clarifier as recited in claim 1 wherein a fluid flow path is provided for the clarified liquid of lesser density between the top of the collecting channel and the weir portion of the vessel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The clarifier as recited in claim 1 wherein the vertical downward extending portions of the separation elements in the vertical column are formed as a unitary member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 66 words

The clarifier of claim 1 wherein the vertically downward extending wing portions of the separation elements terminate at their upper end within the weir portion with the side walls thereof having a transverse V-shaped cut therein and liquid tight cover means covering the top of the up flow channel and the V-shaped cut therein to avoid mixing of the incoming unclarified liquid and the clarified liquid.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 49 words

The clarifier of claim 10 wherein means for supplying liquid to be clarified is positioned to discharge unclarified liquid into the separation portion above the liquid tight cover means covering the top of the up flow channel and below the normal liquid level of the liquid in the vessel.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 74 words

The clarifier of claim 1 wherein the separation elements are of elongate configuration to extend from one side of the separation portion of the vessel to the other and the retaining means comprises stub means received within the apex of angle α at each end of a separation element with gravitational force causing the separation element to engage the retaining means and a separation element being rotatably engaged by the separation element immediately above.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-04-20	1979-10-20	1980-04-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-04-20	1983-10-20	1984-04-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-04-20	1987-10-20	1988-04-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Chevron clarifier

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