US4414112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil/water separator
Assignee: RECOVERY TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATES Inc A CORP OF TX
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Filing: 1982-01-29
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Granted: 1983-11-08
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Expires: 2002-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A separator for liquids, such as oil and water, is provided. The separator comprises a tangentially-fed, cylindrical vortex generating chamber which communicates axially with a conical accelerating chamber so as to form an axially disposed vortex of the lower density liquid surrounded by the higher density liquid. Both liquids flow generally downwardly in a helical flow pattern and leave the liquid separator by gravity, the lower density liquid flowing freely through an axially disposed vortex finding tube. The axially disposed vortex finding tube may be adjusted in a plane normal to the axis of the accelerating chamber as well as in the direction of the axis of the accelerating chamber. Additionally, the vortex finding tube may contain a flexible section to permit oscillation of the mouth of the vortex finding tube in a plane normal to the axis of the accelerating chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Simpson
- 👤 Billy H. Amstead
- 👤 Charles R. Barden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:01
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0217; B04; B04C; B04C3/00; B04C3/04; B04C3/06; B04C5/00; B04C5/08; B04C5/10; B04C5/12; B04C5/13; B04C2005/133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A separator comprising elements designed and positioned to separate a feed mixture consisting essentially of liquids of differing densities including a substantially cylindrical vortex generating chamber having a vertical axis, a liquid entry duct communicating at one end tangentially with said vortex generating chamber at a point near the upper edge of said vortex generating chamber, pump means having inlet and outlet ports, the outlet port of said pump means communicating with the other end of said liquid entry duct, a conical truncated accelerating chamber affixed at its larger end coaxially to the bottom of said vortex generating chamber and having its truncated apex comprising an orifice directed downwardly, a thin-walled vortex finding tube extending through said orifice and within said accelerating chamber substantially along the vertical axis of said accelerating chamber a distance into said accelerating chamber sufficient to provide separating efficiences up to 94%, first liquid collecting means communicating with said orifice and second liquid collecting means communicating with said vortex finding tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A separator comprising elements designed and positioned to separate a feed mixture consisting essentially of liquids of differing densities including a substantially cylindrical vortex generating chamber having a vertical axis, a liquid entry duct communicating at one end tangentially with said vortex generating chamber at a point near the upper edge of said vortex generating chamber, pump means having inlet and outlet ports, the outlet port of said pump means communicating with the other end of said liquid entry duct, a conical truncated accelerating chamber affixed at its larger end coaxially to the bottom of said vortex generating chamber and having its truncated apex comprising an orifice directed downwardly, a thin-walled vortex finding tube extending through said orifice and within said accelerating chamber substantially along the vertical axis of said accelerating chamber a distance into said accelerating chamber sufficient to provide separating efficiences up to 94%, first liquid collecting means communicating with said orifice and second liquid collecting means communicating with said vortex finding tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 in which said vortex finding tube extends substantially along the axis of said accelerating chamber a distance between one-third and one-half the height of said accelerating chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 in which the diameter of the vortex finding tube is between 50 and 75 percent of the diameter of said orifice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 3 in which the accelerating chamber is tapered at an angle in the range of 13° to 16°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 4 in which the vortex generating chamber is tapered at an angle in the range of 1.5° to 3°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 in which the liquid entry duct is formed with a rectangular cross section and communicates tangentially with said vortex generating chamber adjacent the upper edge of said vortex generating chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 in which said vortex finding tube is adjustable in a plane normal to the axis of said accelerating chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 in which said vortex finding tube is adjustable in the direction of the axis of said accelerating chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 8 and in which said vortex finding tube is also adjustable in a plane normal to the axis of said accelerating chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 in which said vortex finding tube contains a flexible section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 and comprising, in addition, a plurality of weep holes formed in the lower portion of said accelerating chamber and third collecting means associated with said weep holes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 11 in which said third collecting means communicate with said first collecting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inside surfaces of the vortex generating chamber and the accelerating chamber are coated with an antifriction material to reduce the coefficient of friction between said inside surfaces and the liquid in contact therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 13, wherein the antifriction material is an epoxy resin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said generating chamber is provided with a top fabricated from a translucent material whereby the liquid vortex within the separator may be observed during operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said accelerating chamber is formed from a translucent material to facilitate observation of the vortex within the separator during operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
187 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 and comprising, in addition, a second liquid separator, said second liquid separator comprising elements designed and positioned to separate a feed mixture consisting essentially of liquids of differing densities including pump means having inlet and outlet ports communicating at its inlet port with said first collecting means, a liquid entry duct having inlet and outlet ends and communicating at its inlet end with the outlet port of said pump means, a substantially cylindrical vortex generating chamber communicating tangentially with the outlet end of said entry duct at a point near the upper edge of said vortex generating chamber, a conical truncated accelerating chamber affixed at its larger end to the bottom of said vortex generating chamber and having its truncated apex comprising an orifice directed downwardly, a thin-walled vortex finding tube extending through said orifice and into said accelerating chamber substantially along the vertical axis of said accelerating chamber a distance sufficient to provide separating efficiences up to 94%, third liquid collecting means communicating with said orifice and fourth liquid collecting means communicating with said vortex finding tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
187 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 17 and comprising, in addition, a third liquid separator, said third liquid separator comprising elements designed and positioned to separate a feed mixture consisting essentially of liquids of differing densities including pump means having inlet and outlet ports communicating at its inlet port with said second collecting means, a liquid entry duct having inlet and outlet ends and communicating at its inlet end with the outlet port of said pump means, a substantially cylindrical vortex generating chamber communicating tangentially with the outlet end of said entry duct at a point near the upper edge of said vortex generating chamber, a conical truncated accelerating chamber affixed at its larger end to the bottom of said vortex generating chamber and having its truncated apex comprising an orifice directed downwardly, a thin-walled vortex finding tube extending through said orifice and into said accelerating chamber substantially along the vertical axis of said accelerating chamber a distance sufficient to provide separating efficiencies up to 94%, fifth liquid collecting means communicating with said orifice and sixth liquid collecting means communicating with said vortex finding tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 18 comprising, in addition, duct means having inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end of said duct means communicating with said fourth collecting means of said second liquid separator and said third collecting means of said third liquid separator and the outlet end of said duct means communicating with the inlet port of said pump means of said liquid separator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
189 words
A liquid separator as set forth in claim 1 and comprising, in addition, a second liquid separator, said second liquid separator comprising elements designed and positioned to separate a feed mixture consisting essentially of liquids of differing densities including pump means having inlet and outlet ports and communicating at its inlet port with said second collecting means, a liquid entry duct having inlet and outlet ends and communicating at its inlet end with the outlet port of said pump means, a substantially cylindrical vortex generating chamber communicating tangentially with the outlet end of the entry duct at a point near the upper edge of said vortex generating chamber, a conical truncated accelerating chamber affixed at its larger end to the bottom of said vortex generating chamber and having its truncated apex comprising an orifice directed downwardly, a thin-walled vortex finding tube extending through said orifice and into said accelerating chamber substantially along the vertical axis of said accelerating chamber a distance sufficient to provide separating efficiencies up to 94%, fifth liquid collecting means communicating with said orifice and sixth liquid collecting means communicating with said second liquid collecting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2816490A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-07 | 1987-05-09 | 1987-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-07 | 1991-05-09 | 1991-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-07 | 1995-05-09 | 1995-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |