US5681372A — Oil reservoir vent system with oil separator and …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 235 words

A vent system for venting oil containing air from an oil containing reservoir of operating equipment that causes a flow Q S of air into the reservoir during operation and for separating oil from vented air, comprising: an oil reservoir in communication with operating equipment causing a flow Q S of air into the reservoir during operation of the equipment; an air/oil vent line in communication with atmosphere above the oil in the reservoir; a suction pump having a suction inlet and a discharge outlet; said air/oil vent line connected to said pump suction inlet; a filter in communication with the pump discharge outlet arranged to receive the outlet flow of air/oil from said outlet, said filter including an oil separation device for separating oil from air/oil discharged from the pump outlet, said filter also arranged to discharge air from which oil has been removed to atmosphere; said suction pump and air/oil vent line configured to circulate flow of air/oil to said filter at a flow rate Q 1 that is greater than Q S ; an air inlet vent line providing free communication between atmosphere and said reservoir, said air inlet vent line configured to permit a flow of atmospheric air into the reservoir at a rate corresponding at least to Q 1 -Q S ; whereby overpressurization and underpressurization of the reservoir relative to atmosphere is avoided during operation of the operating equipment.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 235 words

A vent system for venting oil containing air from an oil containing reservoir of operating equipment that causes a flow Q S of air into the reservoir during operation and for separating oil from vented air, comprising: an oil reservoir in communication with operating equipment causing a flow Q S of air into the reservoir during operation of the equipment; an air/oil vent line in communication with atmosphere above the oil in the reservoir; a suction pump having a suction inlet and a discharge outlet; said air/oil vent line connected to said pump suction inlet; a filter in communication with the pump discharge outlet arranged to receive the outlet flow of air/oil from said outlet, said filter including an oil separation device for separating oil from air/oil discharged from the pump outlet, said filter also arranged to discharge air from which oil has been removed to atmosphere; said suction pump and air/oil vent line configured to circulate flow of air/oil to said filter at a flow rate Q 1 that is greater than Q S ; an air inlet vent line providing free communication between atmosphere and said reservoir, said air inlet vent line configured to permit a flow of atmospheric air into the reservoir at a rate corresponding at least to Q 1 -Q S ; whereby overpressurization and underpressurization of the reservoir relative to atmosphere is avoided during operation of the operating equipment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The vent system according to claim 1, including an oil return line extending from the filter to the reservoir for returning separated oil to the reservoir.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The vent system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air inlet vent line and said oil return line are one and the same structure.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The vent system according to claim 1, including a chamber enclosing said filter and for receiving separated oil and filtered air discharge from the filter; a vent communicating said chamber to atmosphere; said air inlet vent line in communication with said chamber.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

A vent system as claimed in claim 4, including an oil return line communicating the housing to the reservoir, said air inlet vent line and said oil return line constituting one and the same structure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 165 words

The vent system according to claim 1, wherein said suction pump is a compressed air actuated ejector pump including a venturi suction section in communication with said pump inlet; said pump outlet arranged to discharge actuating air and air/oil sucked into said pump inlet directly into said filter; a pressure regulator adapted to regulate flow of actuating air into the pump; a chamber enclosing said filter and for receiving separated oil and filtered air discharge from the filter; a vent communicating said chamber to atmosphere; said air inlet vent line in communication with said chamber; an oil return line communicating the housing to the reservoir, said air inlet vent line and said oil return line constituting one and the same structure; said air/oil vent line, pump and pressure regulator integrated into a first vent system component; said filter, chamber, air vent inlet line and oil return line integrated into a second vent system component; said first and second vent system components being directly connected together.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

A vent system according to claim 6, wherein said equipment is a compressor and said ejector pump is adapted to receive compressed actuating air from said air compressor.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 151 words

A method of venting an oil containing reservoir of operating equipment that supplies air to the reservoir at a flow rate Q S during its operation and for separating entrained oil from the vented air comprising the steps of: sucking air with entrained oil from the reservoir using a suction pump through an air/oil vent line at a flow rate Q 1 that is greater than Q S ; discharging the air with entrained oil into a filter arranged to separate oil from the air; separating the entrained oil from the air in the filter and discharging the air from the filter into atmosphere; admitting a flow of atmosphere air into the reservoir at a flow rate of at least Q 1 -Q S so that the air pressure in the reservoir is never overpressurized or underpressurized relative to atmosphere as a result of the Q S and Q 1 flows.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 151 words

A method of venting an oil containing reservoir of operating equipment that supplies air to the reservoir at a flow rate Q S during its operation and for separating entrained oil from the vented air comprising the steps of: sucking air with entrained oil from the reservoir using a suction pump through an air/oil vent line at a flow rate Q 1 that is greater than Q S ; discharging the air with entrained oil into a filter arranged to separate oil from the air; separating the entrained oil from the air in the filter and discharging the air from the filter into atmosphere; admitting a flow of atmosphere air into the reservoir at a flow rate of at least Q 1 -Q S so that the air pressure in the reservoir is never overpressurized or underpressurized relative to atmosphere as a result of the Q S and Q 1 flows.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 8, including returning separated oil from the filter to the reservoir.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-10-27	2001-04-28	2001-10-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-10-27	2005-04-28	2005-10-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-10-27	2009-04-28	2009-10-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Oil reservoir vent system with oil separator and method thereof

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