US4081373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for exhausting impurities from engine fuel
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1977-05-26
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Granted: 1978-03-28
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Expires: 1997-05-26
Abstract
Abstract In turbine engine systems liquid diesel fuel (more viscous than gasoline) s heretofore been purged of water impurity and solid impurity by a two stage system comprised of a disposable cartridge type depth filter and a water coalescer. The present invention modifies the conventional system by replacing the disposable cartridge type depth filter with an extended life cyclone; concentrated impurities are vented from the cyclone and coalescer to an additional separator mechanism. This additional separator mechanism returns purified fuel to the fuel tank; separated impurity is exhausted out of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J. Rozniecki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:16
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/06; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0217; B01D17/04; B01D17/045; B01D17/08; B01D17/10; F; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
In an engine fuel impurity purge system comprising a liquid fuel tank: the combination comprising a conical cyclone and water coalescer means arranged in series flow relation between the tank and engine for removing solids impurity and water impurity from the fuel; each of said cyclone and water coalescer means having outlet means for discharging fuel-impurity underflow; an additional separator mechanism for returning the discharged fuel to the tank while simultaneously exhausting the impurity out of the system; said additional separator mechanism comprising a number of vertically-spaced hydrophobic screens, a settling chamber directly below the the hydrophobic screens, means for introducing fuel-impurity underflows from said outlet means of the cyclone and the water coalescer means into an entrance zone between the screens and settling chamber, fuel take-off means above the screens whereby fuel-impurity is caused to flow upwardly through the screens to reach the take-off means, a fuel return line adapted to convey purified fuel from the take-off means to the tank, and valve means controlling gravitational flow of impurity out of the settling chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
In an engine fuel impurity purge system comprising a liquid fuel tank: the combination comprising a conical cyclone and water coalescer means arranged in series flow relation between the tank and engine for removing solids impurity and water impurity from the fuel; each of said cyclone and water coalescer means having outlet means for discharging fuel-impurity underflow; an additional separator mechanism for returning the discharged fuel to the tank while simultaneously exhausting the impurity out of the system; said additional separator mechanism comprising a number of vertically-spaced hydrophobic screens, a settling chamber directly below the the hydrophobic screens, means for introducing fuel-impurity underflows from said outlet means of the cyclone and the water coalescer means into an entrance zone between the screens and settling chamber, fuel take-off means above the screens whereby fuel-impurity is caused to flow upwardly through the screens to reach the take-off means, a fuel return line adapted to convey purified fuel from the take-off means to the tank, and valve means controlling gravitational flow of impurity out of the settling chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
In the system of claim 1: the improvement further comprising a number of drainage passages interconnecting the screens and settling chamber; the screens being sloped to direct water droplets toward the drainage passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
In the system of claim 2: the screens being upright cones, and the drainage passages being located at the outer peripheral edges of the cones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the system of claim 1: the screens having decreasing pore sizes measured from the lowermost screen to the uppermost screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
In the system of claim 1: the further improvement comprising means responsive to rising water impurity level in the settling chamber for actuating the valve means to the valve-open condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
In the system of claim 1: the further improvement wherein fuel-impurity concentrate from the cyclone is introduced into the entrance zone of the additional separator mechanism at a point below fuel-impurity underflow coming into the separator mechanism from the water coalescer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the system of claim 6: the improvement further comprising a filtration screen located within the entrance zone to intercept upflowing cyclone liquid without interference with flow from the water coalescer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
In the system of claim 1: the further improvement wherein the separator mechanism comprises an upright cylindrical housing having a conical bottom wall defining the aforementioned settling chamber; said hydrophobic screens comprising a stack of vertically-spaced upright conical screens arranged in the upper portion of the cylindrical housing; the cylindrical housing having at least one opening in its side wall for introduction of the fuel-impurity mixture into the aforementioned entrance zone; said housing having a number of drainage passages located around its side wall, said passages extending vertically downwardly from the peripheral edges of the conical screens to a level below the aforementioned entrance zone whereby impurity is allowed to drain from the screen edges without encountering the upflowing stream.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-27 | 1981-09-26 | 1982-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-27 | 1985-09-26 | 1986-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-27 | 1989-09-26 | 1990-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |