Gas separation – Plural serial basically diverse separating media
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2001-11-06
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation
Plural serial basically diverse separating media
C055S385300, C055S418000, C055S433000, C055S462000, C096S189000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312488
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device for separating liquids, particularly water, out of gasses, in particular the drainage of the intake air of an internal combustion engine.
Such water separators for insertion in the intake section of an internal combustion engine are known from the prior art. The principle for effecting the separation is based on the inertia of the water droplets being removed. Due to a sudden diversion or rerouting of the air path, the water droplets hit a collection surface and exit the system via an outlet provided for that purpose. These arrangements, however, require more pieces for construction and therefore increase the cost of materials and the difficulty and expense of assembling the water separator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide an economical water separator with a minimum of required parts.
This object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing an apparatus for separating entrained liquid from a gas stream flowing through a gas conduit comprising a plurality of interconnected conduit sections; the apparatus comprising a conduit inlet section for introducing a stream of gas from which liquid is to be removed, a conduit outlet section for discharging a stream of gas from which liquid has been removed, and a drainage outlet for discharging liquid separated from the gas stream, and the apparatus forming the interconnection between the conduit inlet section and the conduit outlet section such that gas introduced through the conduit inlet section must undergo a sharp diversion in direction of flow before it can be discharged through the conduit outlet section.
The present invention has numerous advantages. The water separator according to the invention is formed by the connection of two pipe sections in the intake section. In most cases, the intake section of an internal combustion engine is comprised of several pieces anyway. Thus, the added expenditure of an additional water separator can be spared. Naturally, the use of the inventive water separator arrangement is not restricted to the air intake section of an internal combustion engine. Rather, it can be employed generally in liquid separators in gas conduits.
One advantageous embodiment of the invention envisions the insertion of the water separator before the air filter in an intake section. This is advantageous because it causes the filter to be contacted by the driest possible air.
Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the water separator comprises a rebounding surface and a deflection edge. The deflection edge is part of the outlet pipe, which is part of the intake section, and forms a gap together with the rebounding surface, which is formed by a wall section of the intake pipe. Before the intake air can leave the water separator through the outlet pipe, it must pass through the gap, where it experiences a sharp rerouting. There, the water droplets contained in the intake air collect on the rebounding surface due to their inertia. The separated water can exit the system via an outlet.
One particular embodiment of the invention provides that the outlet pipe is formed by the intake opening or nipple of an air filter housing. This version of the water separator is advantageously integrated into the connection between the air filter housing and the intake channel.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the drain is provided with an outlet valve. This keeps intake air from entering through the outlet valve, which opens only to discharge the collected water.
A particular embodiment of the invention provides that one of the pipe sections ends in a rebounding pot, where the bottom of the pot forms the rebounding surface. The outlet pipe is inserted through the surface of the wall opposite the bottom of the pot. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the two pipe sections form an angle of approximately 90 degrees.
A modification of the invention provides a guide rib which is attached to the rebounding surface and extends to the deflection edge of the pipe end. The guide rib thereby closes a part of the gap for deflecting the intake air. This type of arrangement is advantageous when the two pipe sections are supposed to be connected parallel to each other.
These and other features of preferred embodiments of the invention, in addition to being set forth in the claims, are also disclosed in the specification and/or the drawings, and the individual features each may be implemented in embodiments of the invention either individually or in the form of subcombinations of two or more features and can be applied to other fields of use and may constitute advantageous, separately protectable constructions for which protection is also claimed.
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patent: 403704 (1889-05-01), Stuart
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patent: 2075337 (1937-03-01), Burnaugh
patent: 4041569 (1977-08-01), Peterson
patent: 4080184 (1978-03-01), Peterson
patent: 6143049 (2000-11-01), Gieseke et al.
patent: 12/2500 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 1606154 (1990-11-01), None
Crowell & Moring LLP
Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
Hopkins Robert A.
Simmons David A.
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