US4282097A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic oil surface coalescer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-09-24
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Granted: 1981-08-04
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Expires: 1999-09-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for separating and removing oil and particulate solids from a dispersion of oil and particulate solids in water or a water-based liquid. During separation, the dispersion is fed under pressure into the inlet end of a plurality of upright coalescer tubes made of a single-layer of flexible, water-permeable fabric and is prevented from exiting through the outlet end of the tubes. The water passes radially through the fabric walls into a stilling chamber surrounding the coalescer tubes and exits through a clean water outlet while the solid particulates are retained on the inner surface of the fabric. The oil particles coalesce on the inner surface of the tubes, forming a layer of oil which migrates through the fabric's pores due to the pressure differential between the inner and outer tube surfaces and forms an oil layer on the outer surface of the fabric. Buoyant forces cause the oil layer on the outside of the tubes to migrate upward along the outside of the fabric to form an easily removed oil layer on the surface of the water in the stilling chamber. The particulate matter which accumulates on the inner surface of the tubes may be removed by periodically permitting the oily waste water to flush rapidly through the inside of the tubes, dislodging the particles and carrying them away through a waste outlet.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore A. Kuepper
- 👤 Robert S. Chapler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:04
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D36/00; B01D36/003; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/045; B01D29/00; B01D29/11; B01D29/13; B01D29/23; B01D29/50; B01D29/52; B01D29/56; B01D29/58; B01D29/62; B01D29/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for treating water-based liquid waste mixtures comprising: a stilling chamber for maintaining a volume of liquid within its boundaries in relatively still condition; a water-permeable, fabric, tubular element having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end coupled to receive said mixture under pressure; means for introducing air into said liquid waste mixture prior to its input into said tubular element; means for selectively controlling the passage of fluid through the outlet end of said element; said means for controlling being capable of closing the outlet end of the element to prevent said mixture from flowing through said outlet end, the water in said mixture thereby being forced to pass through the fabric walls of said element, whereas solid particulates in said mixture are entrained on the inner surface of said fabric element; said means for controlling being capable of opening said outlet end of the element to allow said mixture to flow through said outlet end to dislodge said particulates entrained on the inner wall of said element from said inner wall and to flush said particulates out of said element through said outlet end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for treating water-based liquid waste mixtures comprising: a stilling chamber for maintaining a volume of liquid within its boundaries in relatively still condition; a water-permeable, fabric, tubular element having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end coupled to receive said mixture under pressure; means for introducing air into said liquid waste mixture prior to its input into said tubular element; means for selectively controlling the passage of fluid through the outlet end of said element; said means for controlling being capable of closing the outlet end of the element to prevent said mixture from flowing through said outlet end, the water in said mixture thereby being forced to pass through the fabric walls of said element, whereas solid particulates in said mixture are entrained on the inner surface of said fabric element; said means for controlling being capable of opening said outlet end of the element to allow said mixture to flow through said outlet end to dislodge said particulates entrained on the inner wall of said element from said inner wall and to flush said particulates out of said element through said outlet end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said stilling chamber is also adapted to permit removal of oil from the surface of water in said stilling chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further including means for removing oil from the surface of water in said stilling chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said stilling chamber comprises: an enclosed cavity having an inlet means for receiving the liquid waste mixture, a first outlet means for removing separated water or water-based liquid, a second outlet means for removing separated oil, and a third outlet means, said tubular element coupled between said inlet means and said third outlet means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said tubular element includes tubular coalescer elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said tubular element includes a plurality of tubular elements having their inlet ends coupled to said inlet means and their outlet end coupled to said third outlet means for providing a plurality of parallel coalescing paths for said liquid waste mixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 5 or 6 wherein oil particles in said liquid waste mixtures impinging on the inner surface of said tubular coalescer elements will coalesce into a semi-continuous oil layer and as it is forced to pass through the fabric wall of said coalescer elements form an oil layer on the outside surface thereof which migrates due to its buoyance to the surface of the liquid in the stilling chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality of tubular elements include a plurality of concentric coalescer elements arranged to provide a single coalescing path having a plurality of coalescing stages for said waste material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4 further including: outlet piping means communicating with said tubular element via said third outlet means; and said means for selectively controlling including valve means disposed in said outlet piping means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each said tubular element comprises a single-layer of water-permeable oleophilic fabric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said fabric comprises cotton.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said fabric comprises polypropylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said tubular element is formed of a fabric woven from a natural fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said tubular element is formed of a fabric woven from a synthetic fiber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including means for maintaining the level of water in said stilling chamber at said predetermined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said predetermined level is above the level where said tubular element is coupled to said inlet means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tubular element as recited in claim 1 further including electrically conducting means for dissipating of electrical charges impinging on said tubular element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tubular element as recited in claim 17 wherein said fabric is woven and wherein said electrically conducting means includes metallic threads interwoven in said fabric.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tubular element as recited in claim 17 wherein said electrically conducting means includes a metallic mesh disposed as an outer layer on said fabric.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing air into said mixture includes a venturitypecoupling communicating with said mixture.
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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) | 1984-08-03 | 1985-02-02 | 1985-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-03 | 1989-02-02 | 1989-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-03 | 1993-02-02 | 1993-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |