US5302301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multistage liquid and gas separator
Assignee: Pall Corp
•
Filing: 1992-06-17
•
Granted: 1994-04-12
•
Expires: 2012-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A separator which can be used for separating water from an air/water mixture in an aircraft where the air is to be supplied to electronics equipment comprises a chamber containing a generally tangential inlet tube through which a mixture is supplied to a curved side wall section of the chamber to separate water from the air by centrifical action. The efficiency of the unit is improved either by moving the filter unit away from the center of the chamber or by providing a guide plate between the filter unit and the curved side wall on which the water coalesces. In this latter case, the filter unit can also be offset from the center of the chamber to give even greater improvement and efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey Stamp
- 👤 Eric C. Bula
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:39
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D50/00; B01D50/20; B04; B04C; B04C5/00; B04C5/02; B04C5/04; B04C5/08; B04C5/103; B04C9/00; B04C2009/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for separating a liquid from a liquid/gas mixture comprising a chamber having opposed end walls and a side wall extending between the end walls, an inlet provided in the side wall for directing the mixture towards a curved section of the side wall extending from the inlet to separate the liquid from the mixture by centrifugal force, a filter unit provided in the chamber for filtering the air and offset from the center of the chamber, a liquid outlet for separated liquid, and an air outlet leading from the filter unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for separating a liquid from a liquid/gas mixture comprising a chamber having opposed end walls and a side wall extending between the end walls, an inlet provided in the side wall for directing the mixture towards a curved section of the side wall extending from the inlet to separate the liquid from the mixture by centrifugal force, a filter unit provided in the chamber for filtering the air and offset from the center of the chamber, a liquid outlet for separated liquid, and an air outlet leading from the filter unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 and further including a guide surface arranged within the chamber and extending from a point on the side wall such that the guide surface and the curved section define a passage for the mixture within the chamber leading from the inlet and in which liquid in the mixture coalesces on the passage surface, the guide surface terminating at a point in the chamber spaced from the side wall to provide an outlet to the passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 including an inlet tube connected to the inlet and extending in a direction towards said curved section of the side wall and towards one end wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the filter unit comprises a pleated cylinder of hydrophobic filter medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method for separating water from an air/water mixture comprising passing the air/water mixture through the apparatus according to claim 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 5 further comprising removing at least 85% of the water from the air/water mixture at an accountability of at least 94%.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for separating a liquid from a liquid gas mixture comprising a chamber having opposed end walls and a side wall extending between the end walls, an inlet provided in the side wall, an inlet tube connected to the inlet for directing the mixture towards a curved section of the side wall extending from the inlet, a guide surface arranged within the chamber and extending from a point on the side wall to define with the curved surface section a passage within the chamber for the mixture leading from the inlet and in which passage the liquid in the mixture can coalesce on the passage surfaces, the guide surface terminating at a point in the chamber spaced from the side wall to provide an outlet for the passage, and a filter unit for separated air provided in the chamber and located on a side of the guide surface opposite to said passage and communicating with a chamber outlet for filtered separated gas.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for separating a liquid from a liquid gas mixture comprising a chamber having opposed end walls and a side wall extending between the end walls, an inlet provided in the side wall, an inlet tube connected to the inlet for directing the mixture towards a curved section of the side wall extending from the inlet, a guide surface arranged within the chamber and extending from a point on the side wall to define with the curved surface section a passage within the chamber for the mixture leading from the inlet and in which passage the liquid in the mixture can coalesce on the passage surfaces, the guide surface terminating at a point in the chamber spaced from the side wall to provide an outlet for the passage, and a filter unit for separated air provided in the chamber and located on a side of the guide surface opposite to said passage and communicating with a chamber outlet for filtered separated gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the axis of the filter unit is arranged closer to the inlet than to the passage outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the curved section of the side wall is a portion of a cylinder and the filter unit is generally cylindrical with an axis parallel to the axis of the side wall, the inlet and the passage being located in two adjacent quadrants of the space defined by the cylinder of which the side wall section is a portion and the axis of the filter unit being located in a third quadrant adjacent the quadrant containing the inlet, the filter being disposed primarily in the third quadrant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the passage is divergent and then convergent in the direction of flow of the mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the inlet tube extends in a direction towards said curved section of the side wall and towards one end wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the filter unit comprises a pleated cylinder of hydrophobic filter medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method for separating water from an air/water mixture comprising passing the air/water mixture through the apparatus according to claim 7.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 13 further comprising removing at least 80% of the water from the air/water mixture at an accountability of at least 94%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1146993A
Cited
GB1208789A
Cited
US3707068A
Cited
US3853518A
Cited
US3953184A
Cited
GB1578706A
Cited
GB2096026A
Cited
EP0353903A1
Cited
US4941900A
Cited
US4872890A
Cited
US5053126A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-11 | 1997-10-11 | 1998-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-11 | 2001-10-11 | 2002-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-11 | 2005-10-11 | 2006-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |