US4367078A — Liquid degasser with self-clearing exhaust orifice

Claim 1

Independent Claim 302 words

A centrifugal separator for removing entrained gas from a liquid including a body which is symmetrical about an axis, an inlet port for introduction of liquid tangentially to the wall of the body proximate one end thereof to cause a spin induced vortex about said axis, an exit port remote from said one end for discharge of degassed liquid, a gas exhaust orifice in the body at said one end, and a filtering device at said orifice, wherein: said filtering device is interposed between said orifice and said vortex and comprises a vaned spin member mounted for rotation about said axis responsive to liquid flow in said body; said vaned spin member is attached to said body, is supported for rotation about said axis by a bearing structure and has radial vanes extending into the flow path of liquid about said vortex; said spin member includes a gas inlet centered on said spin axis, a gas conduit to convey gas from said gas inlet to said orifice and means for retaining a filter in said gas inlet; said gas conduit includes a conical portion wherein the base of said conical portion constitutes said gas inlet and lies in a plane normal to said axis and the apex of said conical portion communicates with said orifice; and a planar filter is secured in said gas inlet by said means for retaining to interdict all fluid flow from said vortex to said orifice; whereby liquid flowing through said separator to be centrifugally degassed will rotate said vaned spin member to cause said planar filter to spin off liquid entrained in gas enroute to said orifice; and whereby aerosol passing the filter and collecting in the gas conduit will be centrifuged back to the gas inlet rather than being allowed to choke off the orifice.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 302 words

A centrifugal separator for removing entrained gas from a liquid including a body which is symmetrical about an axis, an inlet port for introduction of liquid tangentially to the wall of the body proximate one end thereof to cause a spin induced vortex about said axis, an exit port remote from said one end for discharge of degassed liquid, a gas exhaust orifice in the body at said one end, and a filtering device at said orifice, wherein: said filtering device is interposed between said orifice and said vortex and comprises a vaned spin member mounted for rotation about said axis responsive to liquid flow in said body; said vaned spin member is attached to said body, is supported for rotation about said axis by a bearing structure and has radial vanes extending into the flow path of liquid about said vortex; said spin member includes a gas inlet centered on said spin axis, a gas conduit to convey gas from said gas inlet to said orifice and means for retaining a filter in said gas inlet; said gas conduit includes a conical portion wherein the base of said conical portion constitutes said gas inlet and lies in a plane normal to said axis and the apex of said conical portion communicates with said orifice; and a planar filter is secured in said gas inlet by said means for retaining to interdict all fluid flow from said vortex to said orifice; whereby liquid flowing through said separator to be centrifugally degassed will rotate said vaned spin member to cause said planar filter to spin off liquid entrained in gas enroute to said orifice; and whereby aerosol passing the filter and collecting in the gas conduit will be centrifuged back to the gas inlet rather than being allowed to choke off the orifice.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 286 words

In a centrifugal separator for removing entrained gas from a liquid including a body which is symmetrical about an axis, an inlet port at one end of said body for introduction of liquid tangentially to the wall of the body to cause a spin induced vortex about the axis, an exit port at the other end of said body for discharge of degassed liquid, and a flow limiting gas exhaust orifice also at said one end of the body, the improvement comprising: a filter device mounted proximate said orifice for filtering gas released from said liquid to remove solid particles and liquid therefrom to avoid choking said exhaust orifice as the gas flows from the vortex, said device including: a spin member, bearing means supporting said spin member for rotation about said axis, a gas conduit through said spin member axially thereof having a mouth into which gas accumulating in said vortex will flow, said conduit being flared conically from said orifice to form said mouth which is symmetrical about said axis, means in said mouth for receiving and holding a planar filter for filtering all gas entering such mouth to remove solid debris and liquid droplets, and vanes protruding from the main portion of said spin member radially of said axis into the path of said liquid flowing about said vortex for driving said spin member responsive to liquid flowing through said body; whereby spin imparted to said spin member and by flow of said liquid about said vortex will cause a filter in said conduit mouth to be cleared of solids and liquid droplets by centrifugal force and will cause liquid aerosol collecting in said conically flared conduit to flow out of said mouth.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 286 words

In a centrifugal separator for removing entrained gas from a liquid including a body which is symmetrical about an axis, an inlet port at one end of said body for introduction of liquid tangentially to the wall of the body to cause a spin induced vortex about the axis, an exit port at the other end of said body for discharge of degassed liquid, and a flow limiting gas exhaust orifice also at said one end of the body, the improvement comprising: a filter device mounted proximate said orifice for filtering gas released from said liquid to remove solid particles and liquid therefrom to avoid choking said exhaust orifice as the gas flows from the vortex, said device including: a spin member, bearing means supporting said spin member for rotation about said axis, a gas conduit through said spin member axially thereof having a mouth into which gas accumulating in said vortex will flow, said conduit being flared conically from said orifice to form said mouth which is symmetrical about said axis, means in said mouth for receiving and holding a planar filter for filtering all gas entering such mouth to remove solid debris and liquid droplets, and vanes protruding from the main portion of said spin member radially of said axis into the path of said liquid flowing about said vortex for driving said spin member responsive to liquid flowing through said body; whereby spin imparted to said spin member and by flow of said liquid about said vortex will cause a filter in said conduit mouth to be cleared of solids and liquid droplets by centrifugal force and will cause liquid aerosol collecting in said conically flared conduit to flow out of said mouth.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-01-03	1986-07-05	1987-01-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-01-03	1990-07-05	1991-01-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-01-03	1994-07-05	1995-01-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Liquid degasser with self-clearing exhaust orifice

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