US7156901B2 — Apparatus for simultaneous cleaning of a liquid a…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

An apparatus for cleaning suspended particles from a gas, comprising: a centrifugal rotor positioned for rotation about a rotational axis, said centrifugal rotor including a gas cleaning device rotatable therewith and arranged to allow for the through flow of said gas; said gas cleaning device including a plurality of separation discs distributed about said rotational axis, each of said separation discs extending axially relative to said axis and defining a plurality of axially extending separation passages for allowing the through flow of said gas; means for rotationally driving said centrifugal rotor; and wherein said separation discs extend in a direction relative to said axis such that each of said separation passages crosses at least one imaginary radius extending from said axis.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 121 words

An apparatus for cleaning suspended particles from a gas, comprising: a centrifugal rotor positioned for rotation about a rotational axis, said centrifugal rotor including a gas cleaning device rotatable therewith and arranged to allow for the through flow of said gas; said gas cleaning device including a plurality of separation discs distributed about said rotational axis, each of said separation discs extending axially relative to said axis and defining a plurality of axially extending separation passages for allowing the through flow of said gas; means for rotationally driving said centrifugal rotor; and wherein said separation discs extend in a direction relative to said axis such that each of said separation passages crosses at least one imaginary radius extending from said axis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said separation discs open radially outwardly with respect to said axis.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 2 , wherein said separation discs define an arcuate chamber and extend generally radially from said axis.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 1 , wherein the centrifugal rotor is operatively positioned in a stationary housing and a through flow channel for said gas is defined between said centrifugal rotor and said stationary housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of said through flow channel is defined by said separation passages.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of said through flow channel defines a supply channel for presenting said gas to at least a portion of said separation passages.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 6 , wherein said separation passages each define an inlet and an outlet, said inlets being positioned closer to said axis than said outlets.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 1 , wherein said means for driving includes a source of pressurized fluid and a turbine device coupled to and rotatable with said centrifugal rotor, said turbine device being rotatably driven by said pressurized fluid.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 44 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 8 , wherein said centrifugal rotor is arranged to receive said pressurized fluid and includes at least one outlet for releasing said pressurized fluid so that said pressurized fluid rotatably drives said turbine and thereby said centrifugal rotor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 9 , wherein said pressurized fluid is in the form of a liquid.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 1 , said apparatus being in gaseous communication with an area containing crankcase gas generated by a combustion engine.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 143 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 1 , wherein: said plurality of separation discs are positioned adjacent a first end of said rotor and extend part-way along an axial length defined thereby; said gas cleaning device further includes a plurality of arcuate blades coupled to said rotor and positioned at a second end thereof, said blades being distributed about said rotational axis and extending generally axially part way long said length of said rotor and defining separation passages between successive blades for allowing gas flow there through; and whereby said gas, having particulate suspended therein, enters said rotor and flows into said separation passages defined by said blades where a rough separation of the particulate from the gas occurs, said gas then flows into said separation passages defined by said separation discs where a fine separation of the particulate from said gas occurs.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 12 , wherein said centrifugal rotor is in gaseous communication with a source of crankcase gas generated by said internal combustion engine.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

An apparatus as defined by claim 12 , wherein said blades extend between and are coupled to an inner and outer annular sleeve, said inner annular sleeve being mounted on said centrifugal rotor.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 197 words

A method for cleaning suspended particles from a gas comprising the steps of: providing a separation device having a centrifugal rotor positioned for rotation about a rotational axis, said centrifugal rotor including a gas cleaning device rotatable therewith and arranged to allow for the through flow of said gas, said gas cleaning device including a plurality of separation discs distributed about said rotational axis, each of said separation discs extending axially relative to said axis and defining a plurality of axially extending separation passages for allowing the through flow of said gas, said separation discs extending in a direction relative to said axis such that each of said separation passages crosses at least one imaginary radius extending from said axis; causing said centrifugal rotor to spin about said axis at a predetermined rate of rotation; presenting a gas having particulate suspended therein to said centrifugal rotor so that said gas is introduced into said axially extending separation passages and said particulate is separated from said gas; and expelling said separated particulate from at least one outlet defined by said separation device and expelling said gas, substantially free from particulate from another outlet defined by said separation device.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 197 words

A method for cleaning suspended particles from a gas comprising the steps of: providing a separation device having a centrifugal rotor positioned for rotation about a rotational axis, said centrifugal rotor including a gas cleaning device rotatable therewith and arranged to allow for the through flow of said gas, said gas cleaning device including a plurality of separation discs distributed about said rotational axis, each of said separation discs extending axially relative to said axis and defining a plurality of axially extending separation passages for allowing the through flow of said gas, said separation discs extending in a direction relative to said axis such that each of said separation passages crosses at least one imaginary radius extending from said axis; causing said centrifugal rotor to spin about said axis at a predetermined rate of rotation; presenting a gas having particulate suspended therein to said centrifugal rotor so that said gas is introduced into said axially extending separation passages and said particulate is separated from said gas; and expelling said separated particulate from at least one outlet defined by said separation device and expelling said gas, substantially free from particulate from another outlet defined by said separation device.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method as defined by claim 15 , wherein: said step of presenting a gas having particulate suspended therein includes presenting crankcase gas generated by an internal combustion engine to said separation device.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 174 words

A method as defined by claim 15 , wherein: said plurality of separation discs are positioned adjacent a first end of said rotor and extend part-way along an axial length defined thereby, and said gas cleaning device further includes a plurality of arcuate blades coupled to said rotor and positioned at a second end thereof, said blades being distributed about said rotational axis and extending generally axially part way along said length of said rotor and defining separation passages between successive blades for allowing gas flow there through; and wherein said step of presenting a gas having particulate suspended therein to said centrifugal rotor so that said gas is introduced into said axially extending separation passages and said particulate is separated from said gas further includes, first presenting said gas into said separation passages defined by said blades where a rough separation of the particulate from the gas occurs, and then presenting said gas into said separation passages defined by said separation discs where a fine separation of the particulate from said gas occurs.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 64 words

A method as defined by claim 15 , wherein said step of providing a separation device further includes: providing a turbine coupled to said centrifugal rotor; and wherein said step of causing said centrifugal rotor to spin about said axis includes providing a source of pressurized fluid, and introducing said pressurized fluid to said turbine, said turbine being rotatably driven by said pressurized fluid.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as defined by claim 18 , wherein said pressurized fluid is a liquid.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 202 words

A method as defined by claim 15 , wherein said separation device includes a stationary housing, said plurality of separation discs being located in said stationary housing; and wherein said step of presenting a gas having particulate suspended therein to said centrifugal rotor so that said gas is introduced into said axially extending separation passages and said particulate is separated from said gas further includes the steps of; introducing said gas having said particulate entrained therein into said housing through a gas inlet defined by said housing; causing said gas to be conducted upwardly and axially through separation passages defined between adjacent separation discs so that said particulate is deposited on said separation discs and via centrifugal force slides radially to outermost edges defined by said separation discs, said particulate being thrown from said outermost edges to a wall defined by said stationary housing; and wherein said step of expelling said separated particulate from at least one outlet defined by said separation device and expelling said gas, substantially free from particulate from another outlet defined by said separation device further includes; said particulate being acted on by gravity and sliding down said wall defined by said housing to an outlet defined thereby.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method as defined by claim 20 , wherein said particulate includes solids and oil mist.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 277 words

A method for cleaning suspended particles from a gas comprising the steps of: providing a separation device having a centrifugal rotor positioned for rotation about a rotational axis, said centrifugal rotor including a first and a second gas cleaning device rotatable therewith and arranged to allow for the through flow of said gas, said first gas cleaning device including a plurality of separation discs positioned adjacent a first end of said rotor and extending part-way along an axial length defined thereby, said separation discs being arranged to define a plurality of separation passages therebetween; said second gas cleaning device including a plurality of arcuate blades coupled to said rotor and positioned at a second end thereof, said blades being distributed about said rotational axis and extending generally axially part way along said length of said rotor and defining separation passages between successive blades for allowing gas flow there through; presenting gas, having particulate suspended therein into said second gas cleaning device so that said gas flows into said separation passages defined by said blades where a rough separation of the particulate from said gas occurs; causing said gas to flow from said second gas cleaning device to said first gas cleaning device; and presenting said gas to said first gas cleaning device so that said gas having a portion of said particulate still entrained therein flows into said separation passages defined by said separation discs, where a fine separation of the particulate from said gas occurs; and expelling said separated particulate from at least one outlet defined by said separation device and expelling said gas, substantially free from particulate from another outlet defined by said separation device.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 277 words

A method for cleaning suspended particles from a gas comprising the steps of: providing a separation device having a centrifugal rotor positioned for rotation about a rotational axis, said centrifugal rotor including a first and a second gas cleaning device rotatable therewith and arranged to allow for the through flow of said gas, said first gas cleaning device including a plurality of separation discs positioned adjacent a first end of said rotor and extending part-way along an axial length defined thereby, said separation discs being arranged to define a plurality of separation passages therebetween; said second gas cleaning device including a plurality of arcuate blades coupled to said rotor and positioned at a second end thereof, said blades being distributed about said rotational axis and extending generally axially part way along said length of said rotor and defining separation passages between successive blades for allowing gas flow there through; presenting gas, having particulate suspended therein into said second gas cleaning device so that said gas flows into said separation passages defined by said blades where a rough separation of the particulate from said gas occurs; causing said gas to flow from said second gas cleaning device to said first gas cleaning device; and presenting said gas to said first gas cleaning device so that said gas having a portion of said particulate still entrained therein flows into said separation passages defined by said separation discs, where a fine separation of the particulate from said gas occurs; and expelling said separated particulate from at least one outlet defined by said separation device and expelling said gas, substantially free from particulate from another outlet defined by said separation device.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 197 words

A method as defined by claim 22 , wherein said separation device includes a stationary housing, said first and second gas cleaning device being located in said stationary housing, wherein: said step of presenting gas, having particulate suspended therein into said second gas cleaning device so that said gas flows into said separation passages defined by said blades where a rough separation of the particulate from said gas occurs, includes causing said particulate separated by said blades to collect onto a wall defined by said stationary housing; said step of presenting said gas to said first gas cleaning device into said separation passages defined by said separation discs therein, where a fine separation of the particulate from said gas occurs, further includes causing said particulate separated by said discs to collect onto said wall defined by said stationary housing; and wherein said step of expelling said separated particulate from at least one outlet defined by said separation device and expelling said gas, substantially free from particulate from another outlet defined by said separation device further includes; said particulate being acted on by gravity and sliding down said wall defined by said housing to an outlet defined thereby.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method as defined by claim 22 , wherein said particulate includes solids and oil mist.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-01-01	2010-07-03	2011-01-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-01-01	2014-07-03	2015-01-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-01-01	2018-07-03	2019-01-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for simultaneous cleaning of a liquid and a gas

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