Patent US4033851A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4033851A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A.C. hydroelectrostatic precipitator
Assignee: B and O Railroad Co
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Filing: 1976-06-25
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Granted: 1977-07-05
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Expires: 1996-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for separating oil from water in a raw mixture in which the mixture enters a separator tank having within it electrodes to which an A.C. voltage is applied to cause separation of the oil and water. In one embodiment, two sets of electrodes extend to different lengths in the tanks with a high voltage being applied to the shorter electrodes and a low voltage to the longer. A valve can be disposed in the water outlet pipe to be opened to drain water whenever the sensed conductivity near the tank bottom exceeds a given value. The tank can be immersed in a larger tank and can be provided with porous walls through which the raw mixture enters and the separated oil and water leave. The electrodes can comprise a center electrode and a plurality of high voltage electrodes disposed about said center electrode with a high voltage then applied between said center electrode and the circumferentially disposed electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard G. Oros
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:10
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/02; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/06; B03; B03C; B03C11/00; B03C2201/00; B03C2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
Apparatus for separating oil from water in a raw mixture comprising: a separator tank having an oil outlet disposed near the top thereof, a water outlet disposed near the bottom thereof and a raw mixture inlet disposed between said water outlet and oil outlet, a plurality of electrodes disposed in said tank between said raw mixture inlet and said oil outlet for applying an electrical potential to separate said oil from said water, comprising first and second bars extending across said tank near the top thereof, a plurality of first wires suspended therefrom, third and fourth bars extending across said tank near the top thereof and separated from said first and second bars, a plurality of second wires having a length greater than said first wires suspended therefrom, means for applying a first AC voltage between the first wires suspended from said first bar and from said second bar and applying a second AC voltage between said second wires suspended from said third bar and from said fourth bar, said first AC voltage being higher than said second AC voltage, means for sensing the conductivity of the liquid at a location adjacent the bottom of said tank, an outlet pipe connected to said water outlet, valve means in said outlet pipe for controlling flow through said outlet pipe, and means connected to said valve means and said sensing means for opening said valve means when the sensed conductivity is greater than a given value and closing said valve means when the sensed conductivity is less than said value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
Apparatus for separating oil from water in a raw mixture comprising: a separator tank having an oil outlet disposed near the top thereof, a water outlet disposed near the bottom thereof and a raw mixture inlet disposed between said water outlet and oil outlet, a plurality of electrodes disposed in said tank between said raw mixture inlet and said oil outlet for applying an electrical potential to separate said oil from said water, comprising first and second bars extending across said tank near the top thereof, a plurality of first wires suspended therefrom, third and fourth bars extending across said tank near the top thereof and separated from said first and second bars, a plurality of second wires having a length greater than said first wires suspended therefrom, means for applying a first AC voltage between the first wires suspended from said first bar and from said second bar and applying a second AC voltage between said second wires suspended from said third bar and from said fourth bar, said first AC voltage being higher than said second AC voltage, means for sensing the conductivity of the liquid at a location adjacent the bottom of said tank, an outlet pipe connected to said water outlet, valve means in said outlet pipe for controlling flow through said outlet pipe, and means connected to said valve means and said sensing means for opening said valve means when the sensed conductivity is greater than a given value and closing said valve means when the sensed conductivity is less than said value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second voltage is between 220 and 440 volts A.C. and said first voltage is between 3,000 and 6,000 volts A.C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said water outlet is disposed in the bottom of said tank and said raw mixture inlet is disposed about 1/4 of the way between the bottom and the top of said tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said bars are plastic and extend parallel to each other in a horizontal plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a raiser pipe connected to said water outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said opening means includes a relay connected to said sensing means for shifting its output condition when said sensing means senses greater than said given value, and a pull solenoid connected to said valve means for opening said valve means when said relay shifts its output condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a screen over said water outlet for blocking movement of sludge particles out of said water outlet.
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) | 1980-07-04 | 1981-01-03 | 1981-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-04 | 1985-01-03 | 1985-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-04 | 1989-01-03 | 1989-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |