Discharge element for a liquid-gas separator unit

Claim 2

A discharge element, adapted for use in a separator unit, comprising: a cylindrical body having upper and lower portions, a vertical bore extending through a central portion of the body, the lower portion defining a gas collection chamber, at least one passage in the body communicating with the gas collection chamber and leading upwardly therefrom to a respective passage port on the exterior of the body, the passage port being adapted to discharge a stream of gas in a substantially upward direction, the gas collection chamber being defined by a circular body lip, at least one passageway formed in the circular body lip and extending in an upwardly curved path from the lower end of the lip to a respective passageway port communicating with a central region of the upper body portion.

Claim 3

A discharge element of cylindrical configuration with upper and lower body portions, the upper portion defining an upper central chamber that opens onto the upper end of the body, the lower portion defining a lower central chamber that opens onto the lower end of the body, a central passage interconnecting the chambers and adapted to receive a shaft, a plurality of symmetrically arranged passages communicating with the lower chamber and leading upwardly therefrom to passage ports on the outside of the upper portion, a plurality of outwardly disposed, symmetrically arranged passageways communicating with the lower end of the body at locations situated outwardly of the lower chamber, the passageways curving upwardly from said locations to passageway ports communicating with the upper chamber, the passageways spiraling upward from the lower body portion then extending inwardly to the passageway port.

Claim 4

A discharge element of cylindrical configuration with upper and lower body portions, the upper portion defining an upper central chamber that opens onto the upper end of the body, the lower portion defining a lower central chamber that opens onto the lower end of the body, a central passage interconnecting the chambers and adapted to receive a shaft, a plurality of symmetrically arranged passages communicating with the lower chamber and leading upwardly therefrom to passage ports on the outside of the upper portion, a plurality of outwardly disposed, symmetrically arranged passageways communicating with the lower end of the body at locations situated outwardly of the lower chamber, the passageways curving upwardly from said locations to passageway ports communicating with the upper chamber, the passageways spiraling upward from the lower body portion then extending inwardly to the passageway port.

Claim 5

The element of claim 2 wherein the passageways are tapered along at least part of their spiralled sections to gradually increase in area with increasing distance from the lower end.

Claim 6

A discharge element for use at the upper end of a liquid-gas separation chamber wherein gas is separated from a liquid-gas mixture prior to discharge of the liquid component of the mixture through the discharge element, the discharge element comprising an annular body having an axial wall and at least one passageway terminating at its upper end in an aperture through said wall to provide communication between the outside and inside of said annular body for conveying liquid through the wall of the discharge element, said passageway including an outside wall segment leading upwardly from the lowermost end of said body and curving in substantially helical fashion around a vertical axis through said body toward said aperture.

Claim 7

A discharge element for use at the upper end of a liquid-gas separation chamber wherein gas is separated from a liquid-gas mixture prior to discharge of the liquid component of the mixture through the discharge element, the discharge element comprising an annular body having an axial wall and at least one passageway terminating at its upper end in an aperture through said wall to provide communication between the outside and inside of said annular body for conveying liquid through the wall of the discharge element, said passageway including an outside wall segment leading upwardly from the lowermost end of said body and curving in substantially helical fashion around a vertical axis through said body toward said aperture.

Claim 8

The discharge element of claim 4 wherein said passageway outside wall segment is gradually tapered to increase in area with increasing distance from the lower end of the body.

Claim 9

The discharge element of claim 4 wherein said aperture leads upward to communication with a vertical chamber formed in an upper central portion of said body.

Claim 10

The discharge element of claim 4 wherein the body further includes a passage for conveying gas through the body.

Claim 11

The discharge element of claim 7 wherein said gas passage leads upward away from the lower portion of the body to a passage discharge port.

Claim 12

The discharge element of claim 8 wherein said gas discharge port is oriented to direct a stream of gas in a substantially upward direction.

Claim 13

The discharge element of claim 8 wherein said gas discharge port is located on the exterior of said body which body has a reduced cross section area upwardly of the discharge port.

Claim 14

The discharge element of claim 7 wherein said gas passage leads upward from a central region of the lower end of the body.

Claim 15

The discharge element of claim 7 wherein said gas passage leads upwardly to the exterior of said body at a point below the upper end thereof.

Claim 16

The discharge element of claim 7 wherein the lower end of said gas passage and said liquid passageway are arranged so that liquid may flow in an unobstructed path into the lower end of said liquid passageway.

Claim 17

The discharge element of claim 7 wherein the said gas passage through the body leads upwardly through the body from a downwardly opening central chamber formed in the lower end of the body.

Claim 18

A discharge element for use at the upper end of a liquid-gas separation chamber wherein gas is separated from a liquid-gas mixture prior to discharge along separate paths of the liquid and gas components of the liquid-gas mixture through the discharge element, the discharge element comprising an annular body having an axial wall and a gas passage defining a first aperture through said wall from the inside to the outside of said body for conveying gas outwardly through said discharge element wall, said body also having a liquid passageway terminating in a second aperture through said wall for conveying liquid inwardly through the wall of said discharge element from outside of said body, said gas passage and said liquid passageway each leading upwardly from a lower portion of the body, with said gas passage leading to ports located outside and above the lower end of said body.

Claim 19

A discharge element for use at the upper end of a liquid-gas separation chamber wherein gas is separated from a liquid-gas mixture prior to discharge along separate paths of the liquid and gas components of the liquid-gas mixture through the discharge element, the discharge element comprising an annular body having an axial wall and a gas passage defining a first aperture through said wall from the inside to the outside of said body for conveying gas outwardly through said discharge element wall, said body also having a liquid passageway terminating in a second aperture through said wall for conveying liquid inwardly through the wall of said discharge element from outside of said body, said gas passage and said liquid passageway each leading upwardly from a lower portion of the body, with said gas passage leading to ports located outside and above the lower end of said body.

Claim 20

The discharge element of claim 15 wherein said liquid passageway includes a curved segment curving upwardly around a vertical body axis from a lower end portion of said body.

Claim 21

The discharge element of claim 16 wherein said liquid passageway leads upwardly into communication with a central region of the upper portion of said body.

Claim 22

The discharge element of claim 16 wherein said liquid passageway is formed in an outer portion of the body outside the central region of said body.

Claim 23

The discharge element of claim 15 wherein said liquid passageway includes a tapered segment that increases in area with increasing distance along the passageway from the lower end of the body.

Claim 24

The discharge element of claim 15 wherein said body has a central chamber formed in its lower portion for collecting gas and wherein said gas passage leads downward to said central chamber and leads upward through said ports to the exterior of said body.

Claim 25

The discharge element of claim 15 wherein said liquid passageway is a slot formed in the exterior of the body and leading upwardly through said second aperture into communication with a central chamber in the upper portion of the body.