Liquid purification or separation – Filter – Movable medium
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-05
2001-09-25
Reifsnyder, David A. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Filter
Movable medium
C210S360100, C210S295000, C494S036000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06294091
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to centrifuging of fluids to separate solid contaminate from such fluids; and more particularly concerns highly effective and efficient submersible centrifuging apparatus operating at very high rates of rotation, and methods of operation.
There is continual need for more efficient, reliable, simple and effective centrifuging equipment, and capable of removing micron size particulate from fluids such as aircraft fuel and hydraulic fluids. The present invention provides apparatus and methods that meet such needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a major object of the invention to provide improved centrifuging apparatus that comprises, in combination:
a) a motor driven shaft,
b) a fluid centrifuging chamber carried by the shaft, to rotate therewith,
c) first porting extending endwise in the shaft and opening to said chamber, to deliver fluid to be centrifuged to the chamber,
d) a matrix in the chamber and into which contaminate in the fluid is centrifuged for compaction and separation from the fluid, during chamber high speed rotation,
e) second porting extending endwise in the shaft and communicating with the chamber, to receive fluid from which contaminate has been separated,
f) fluid delivery inlet structure communicating with the first porting, and fluid outlet structure communicating with the second porting.
It is another object of the invention to provide a highly effective shaft configuration, wherein the shaft end contains terminal portions of the first and second porting, the first porting typically including multiple elongated first ducts extending endwise in the shaft, and the second porting including multiple elongated second ducts also extending endwise in the shaft. For most effective and balanced operation, and cooling, the first and second ducts extend in alternating relation, about the shaft axis.
A further object is to provide such second porting or ducts to have fluid entrance or entrances at the shaft periphery to communicate with the centrifuging chamber, and to receive centrifuged fluid therefrom. Also, the first porting or ducts typically have an outlet or outlets at the shaft periphery, in axially spaced relation from the second porting entrances, to deliver fluid to be centrifuged to the chamber.
Yet another object is to provide the matrix with multiple interstices less than 1 micron in cross dimension. The matrix may have the form of a mesh located proximate the radially outermost extent of the chamber; and it may advantageously be incorporated in a replaceable cartridge form, axially insertible into and removable from the centrifuging chamber.
A further object is to locate the centrifuging apparatus in aircraft structure, as for example in a fuel tank in the aircraft wing, the apparatus capable of mounting location at any angular position relative to the wing.
As will appear, the centrifuging apparatus may be electric motor driven at rotation rates typically in excess of 20,000 RPM.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 4557831 (1985-12-01), Lindsay
patent: 4871458 (1989-10-01), Purvey
patent: 5096581 (1992-03-01), Purvey
patent: 5656164 (1997-08-01), Vado et al.
Alpha Omega Centrifuge Inc.
Haefliger William W.
Reifsnyder David A.
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