US4897206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bidirectionally corrugated plate separator for fluid mixtures
Assignee: Facet Quantek Inc
•
Filing: 1988-11-30
•
Granted: 1990-01-30
•
Expires: 2008-11-30
Abstract
Abstract The coalescing plate is designed to separate immiscible components of differing densities mixed in a fluid. The plate includes bidirectional corrugations forming crests and valleys. Bleed holes are provided in the crests and valleys to allow the immiscible components to pass through. Plural plates are stacked and separated by spacers. The spacers are configured to provide multiple spacings between adjacent plates. The immiscible components less dense than the host fluid migrate upwardly and pass through the bleed holes in the crests. Solids and other components denser than the host fluid move downwardly and pass through the bleed holes in the valleys. The plates are readily cleaned in situ by passing a nozzle through the bleed holes nad introducing a pressurized fluid or gas to flush out the space between the plates.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph L. Castelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:13
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0208; B01D17/0211; B01D21/00; B01D21/0039; B01D21/0045; B01D21/0069; B01D21/0075; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
A coalescing plate for separating immiscible components of differing densities in a fluid, the plate having bidirectional corrugations, running both laterally and longitudinally along the single plane of the plate, forming crests and valleys, the crests and valleys including bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
A coalescing plate for separating immiscible components of differing densities in a fluid, the plate having bidirectional corrugations, running both laterally and longitudinally along the single plane of the plate, forming crests and valleys, the crests and valleys including bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The coalescing plate of claim 1 wherein the bidirectional corrugations are oriented orthogonally to one another
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The coalescing plate of claim 1 wherein the corrugations are approximately sinusoidal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The coalescing plate of claim 1 wherein the corrugation cross sections include 45° angles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The coalescing plate of claim 1 further including spacers to separate the plate from an adjacent similar plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The coalescing plate of claim 5 wherein each of the spacers includes asymmetrically located multistep projections and asymmetrically located internal passages adapted for mating with a similar spacer, whereby a 180° rotation of the plate results in a different separation from a similar plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The coalescing plate of claim 6 further including a lug removably attached to the lowermost spacer projection to provide additional separation between adjacent plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for separating immiscible components of different densities in a horizontally flowing fluid comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed, spaced coalescing plates, each of the plates having bidirectional corrugations, running both laterally and longitudinally along the single plane of the plate, forming crests and valleys, the crests and valleys including bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for separating immiscible components of different densities in a horizontally flowing fluid comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed, spaced coalescing plates, each of the plates having bidirectional corrugations, running both laterally and longitudinally along the single plane of the plate, forming crests and valleys, the crests and valleys including bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the wavelength of the corrugations in one direction is greater than the wavelength of the corrugations in the other direction, and wherein the direction of the fluid flow is parallel to the corrugations formed by either the longer or the shorter wavelength.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the corrugation cross section of each of the plates includes 45° angles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of spaced coalescing plates is invertible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the separation between plates varies in the direction of fluid flow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further including troughs under the bleed holes in the valleys to collect solids and other components denser than the fluid stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the plates includes spacers to separate the plate from adjacent plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of the spacers includes asymmetrically located multistep projections and asymmetrically located internal passages adapted for mating with a similar spacer, whereby a 180° rotation of the plate results in a different separation from an adjacent plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further including a lug removably attached to the lowermost spacer projection to provide additional separation between adjacent plates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
In apparatus for separating immiscible components of different densities in a horizontally flowing fluid comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed, spaced coalescing plates, each of the plates having bidirectional corrugations, running both laterally and longitudinally along the single plane of the plate, forming crests and valleys, the crests and valleys including bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components, the method of cleaning the plates in situ comprising: passing a nozzle sequentially through the bleed holes in the plate and into the space between adjacent plates; and passing a pressurized fluid or gas through the nozzle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
96 words
In apparatus for separating immiscible components of different densities in a horizontally flowing fluid comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed, spaced coalescing plates, each of the plates having bidirectional corrugations, running both laterally and longitudinally along the single plane of the plate, forming crests and valleys, the crests and valleys including bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components, the method of cleaning the plates in situ comprising: passing a nozzle sequentially through the bleed holes in the plate and into the space between adjacent plates; and passing a pressurized fluid or gas through the nozzle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the nozzle is adapted to direct the pressurized fluid or gas along the corrugations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the pressurized fluid is water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the pressurized fluid is a solvent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the pressurized gas is air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3348466A
Cited
US3385439A
Cited
US3741401A
Cited
US3957656A
Cited
US3847813A
Cited
US3898164A
Cited
US4053292A
Cited
US4133758A
Cited
US4122017A
Cited
US4299706A
Cited
US4405459A
Cited
US4278545A
Cited
US4361426A
Cited
US4389315A
Cited
US4337561A
Cited
US4437988A
Cited
US4410427A
Cited
US4589983A
Cited
US4526691A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-07-31 | 1994-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-29 | 1997-07-31 | 1998-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-29 | 2001-07-31 | 2002-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |