Swirling flow bubble trap

Claim 1

In a method for separating low density materials such as gas bubbles from a liquid utilizing a chamber having an inner side wall defining generally circular, transverse cross sections about its longitudinal axis, said inner wall being generally conical in shape with a lower, wider end and a narrow, upper end, the interior of said chamber being free of flow-restricting baffles, the steps comprising: inserting said bubble-containing liquid into said chamber adjacent said upper end in a direction to pass liquid into said chamber circumferentially about the inner side wall for swirling flow within said chamber, and withdrawing said liquid in a tangential direction from said chamber adjacent the lower end thereof, while simultaneously withdrawing any gas bubbles present from a port positioned adjacent the upper end of the longitudinal axis of said chamber, while keeping said chamber essentially full of liquid, whereby said liquid flows in a spiral vortex flow pattern, in which exterior portions of spirally flowing liquid adjacent said side wall flow downwardly, while interior portions of said spirally flowing liquid, adjacent said longitudinal axis, flow upwardly to facilitate the removal of gas bubbles.