Method and apparatus for separating fluids having different specific gravities

Claim 2

Apparatus for separating a fluid having a lighter specific gravity from a fluid having a heavier specific gravity comprising: fluid passage means for receiving the fluids to be separated and having an inlet and an outlet and a longitudinal axis; a discharge conduit connected to said outlet; rotatable impeller means positioned in said fluid passage means for imparting a swirling axial movement to the fluids in said fluid passage means downstream of said impeller means and in said discharge conduit and causing the fluid having the heavier specific gravity to migrate outwardly; and discharge means connected to said discharge conduit for discharging the fluid having the lighter specific gravity separately from the fluid having the heavier specific gravity; said impeller means comprising at least two concentric helical blades each having an inlet end and an outlet end, said helical blades each having a greater axial pitch at said inlet end than at said outlet end, and said helical blades each terminating short of said longitudinal axis of said fluid passage means to define a hollow core through which the fluids pass.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an axially rotatable drum, said fluid passage means forming part of said rotating drum, and said helical blades being integral with and extending from said fluid passage means, whereby said helical blades rotate with said rotating drum.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axial pitch of each of said helical blades at said inlet end is approximately ten inches and the axial pitch of each of said helical blades at said outlet end is approximately five inches.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, said discharge means comprising an axially movable conduit section having substantially the same inner diameter as said drum, sealing ring means affixed to said conduit section for sealingly connecting said conduit section to said discharge conduit and permitting relative axial movement of said conduit section and said discharge conduit, said sealing means including a circumferential discharge channel, and adjustment means for moving said conduit section into and out of engagement with said discharge conduit for respectively closing and opening said discharge channel.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of said blades is two.

Claim 7

Fluid flow apparatus comprising: an axially rotatable drum having an inlet and an outlet and a longitudinal axis; and impeller means positioned in said rotating drum for imparting a swirling axial movement to fluids downstream of said impeller means, said impeller means comprising at least two concentric helical blades integral with and extending inwardly from said rotating drum, whereby said helical blades rotate with said rotating drum, said helical blades each having an inlet end and an outlet end, said helical blades each having a greater axial pitch at said inlet end than at said outlet end, and said helical blades each terminating short of said longitudinal axis of said fluid passage means to define a hollow core.

Claim 8

Fluid flow apparatus comprising: an axially rotatable drum having an inlet and an outlet and a longitudinal axis; and impeller means positioned in said rotating drum for imparting a swirling axial movement to fluids downstream of said impeller means, said impeller means comprising at least two concentric helical blades integral with and extending inwardly from said rotating drum, whereby said helical blades rotate with said rotating drum, said helical blades each having an inlet end and an outlet end, said helical blades each having a greater axial pitch at said inlet end than at said outlet end, and said helical blades each terminating short of said longitudinal axis of said fluid passage means to define a hollow core.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the number of said blades is two.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the axial pitch of said helical blades at said inlet end is approximately ten inches and the axial pitch of said helical blades at said outlet end is approximately five inches.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9, wherein in said producing step, the swirling action increases from the inlet to the outlet of the fluid passage means.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: providing a discharge conduit connected to the outlet of the fluid passage means; providing a conduit section having a first end and a second end, the conduit section being axially movable with respect to the fluid conduit; and providing sealing ring means affixed to the first end of the conduit section for sealingly connecting the first end of the conduit section to the second end of the fluid conduit and permitting relative axial movement of the conduit section and the fluid conduit, the sealing ring means including a circumferential discharge channel; and wherein the drawing off step comprises moving the first end of the conduit section out of engagement with the second end of the fluid conduit to open the discharge channel.

Claim 15

An adjustable manifold for discharging fluid from a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said manifold comprising: an axially movable conduit section having a first end and a second end and having substantially the same inner diameter as the fluid conduit; sealing ring means affixed to said first end of said conduit section for sealingly connecting said first end of said conduit section to the second end of the fluid conduit and permitting relative axial movement of said conduit section and the fluid conduit, said sealing ring means including a circumferential discharge channel; and adjustment means for moving said first end of said conduit section into and out of engagement with the second end of the fluid conduit for respectively closing and opening said discharge channel, wherein said adjustment means comprises: a platform extending over said sealing ring means and having a first end affixed to the fluid conduit adjacent the second end of the fluid conduit and a second end positioned above said conduit section adjacent said first end of said conduit section; a link having a first end pivotally mounted to said conduit section adjacent said first end of said conduit section and a second end pivotally mounted to said second end of said platform; and handle means pivotally connected to said second end of said link for transmitting motion to said conduit section through said link.

Claim 16

An adjustable manifold for discharging fluid from a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said manifold comprising: an axially movable conduit section having a first end and a second end and having substantially the same inner diameter as the fluid conduit; sealing ring means affixed to said first end of said conduit section for sealingly connecting said first end of said conduit section to the second end of the fluid conduit and permitting relative axial movement of said conduit section and the fluid conduit, said sealing ring means including a circumferential discharge channel; and adjustment means for moving said first end of said conduit section into and out of engagement with the second end of the fluid conduit for respectively closing and opening said discharge channel, wherein said adjustment means comprises: a platform extending over said sealing ring means and having a first end affixed to the fluid conduit adjacent the second end of the fluid conduit and a second end positioned above said conduit section adjacent said first end of said conduit section; a link having a first end pivotally mounted to said conduit section adjacent said first end of said conduit section and a second end pivotally mounted to said second end of said platform; and handle means pivotally connected to said second end of said link for transmitting motion to said conduit section through said link.

Claim 17

The manifold of claim 12, wherein the second end of the fluid conduit is tapered inwardly, and wherein said first end of said conduit section is tapered outwardly for mating engagement with the second end of the fluid conduit.

Claim 18

The manifold of claim 13, wherein said circumferential discharge channel in said sealing ring means is adjacent said first end of said conduit section and wherein said sealing ring means further comprises a discharge port opening into said discharge channel.

Claim 19

The manifold of claim 12, wherein said circumferential discharge channel in said sealing ring means is adjacent said first end of said conduit section and wherein said sealing ring means further comprises a discharge port opening into said discharge channel.

Claim 20

The manifold of claim 12, further comprising stop means for blocking relative axial movement of said conduit section and the fluid conduit towards each other when said first end of said conduit section is fully in engagement with the second end of the fluid conduit.

Claim 21

The manifold of claim 12, further comprising stop means for blocking relative axial movement of said conduit section and the fluid conduit away from each other when said first end of said conduit section is fully out of engagement with the second end of the fluid conduit.

Claim 22

The manifold of claim 12, wherein said sealing ring means slidably engages the second end of the fluid conduit.