AU637159B2

AU637159B2 - Apparatus for the separation of fluids

Info

Publication number: AU637159B2
Application number: AU66580/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: William Bobbi Roden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-11-13
Filing date: 1990-11-13
Publication date: 1993-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-13
Also published as: AU6658090A

Description

637 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Application Number: PJ7392 Class Lodged: 13 November, 1989 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Int. Class 0gS*

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*5 *e C TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: WILLIAM BOBBI RODEN Address of Applicant:

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of Lot 2 Chapman Valley Road, Waggarkine, in the State of Western Australia, Commonwealth of Australia.

P 005045 13 WILLIAM BOBBI RODEN Actual Inventor: Address for Service:- Wray Associates Primary Industry House 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth Western Australia 6000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "Apparatus for the Separation of Fluids" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:i 2 THIS INVENTION relates to the separation of immiscible fluids.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for the collection and removal of immiscible fluid pockets or bubbles from a body of fluid of differing specific gravity.

In one form the invention resides in an apparatus for removal of pockets or bubbles of a first fluid from a body of a second fluid, said fluids being of different specific gravity and immiscible, said apparatus comprising a collection chamber having an inlet for receiving a portion of said fluids, an outlet, valve means for opening and closing said outlet, said chamber accommodating a float cooperating with said valve means, said float having an effective specific gravity lying between the specific gravity values of said first and second fluids, and being responsive to the portion of said first fluid contained in said chamber to cause the valve means to open said outlet, in response to the portion of said first fluid contained within said collection chamber exceeding a predetermined volume and close said outlet in response to the portion of said first fluid contained within said collection chamber falling below a predetermined volume, with said fluids being maintained at a sufficient pressure where upon opening of said valve means said first fluid is ejected *5*e through said outlet under said pressure.

Preferably said valve means comprises an aperture in said collection chamber adapted to co-operate with a sealing The apparatus may be operated with the valve means located S. men rvie nsadfot above the inlet for removing pockets of a fluid of lower specific gravity from a high specific gravity fluid, in 2/1 which case the fluids must be maintained at a pressure sufficient to allow the lower specific gravity fluid to be expelled. In an application where the valve means is located below the inlet and a high specific gravity fluid is being separated from a low specific gravity fluid, the high specific gravity fluid will flow from the outlet unless the pressure external to the apparatus is too great.

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S~j 3 Preferably said sealing means comprises a convex conical portion.

Preferably said collection chamber comprises a first cylindrical body and said float comprises a second cylindrical body being of substantially smaller diameter than said first cylindrical body and received therein, said first cylindrical body having means for guiding the linear displacement of said float.

Preferably said apparatus includes means for preventing said float from occluding said inlet.

Preferably said inlet is adapted for connection to a container for said fluids.

Preferably said collection chamber is mounted vertically above said container where said first fluid has a lower specific gravity than that of said second fluid.

Preferably said container is a pipe for transporting said fluids.

Preferably said pipe includes a non-return valve located in the flow after said apparatus.

Alternatively said collection chamber is mounted vertically below said container where said first fluid has a specific gravity of a value greater than that of said second fluid.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawing which is a cut away perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention.

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r V 4 The embodiment is directed toward an apparatus 10 for removing air from a liquid flowing along a pipe 17. The apparatus allows air to be bled from the liquid as it flows along the pipe.

The air bleeding apparatus 10 has a collection chamber in the form of an enclosure 11 mounted on a base 13. The enclosure 11 has a top 15 defining a distal portion, the base 13 defining a proximal portion with respect to the pipe 17. The volume within the enclosure 11 and the base 13 is in fluent connection with the volume within the pipe 17. The top 15 of the enclosure 11 includes an aperture 19 in the form of a round hole. The air bleeding apparatus is mounted vertically above the pipe 17 to which it is joined.

The enclosure 11 accommodates a float 21. The float 21 has a convex conical portion 23 defining a sealing means. The aperture 19 and convex conical portion 23 together define a valve means, which is closed when the float 21 is in a first position.

Guide means are provided for guiding the float 21 along a vertical path. The guide means comprises pins 25 attached C to the inner wall of the enclosure 11 at a first level 27 and a second level 29. Four pins are used at each level.

The pins together form a guide for guiding the linear Sdisplacement of the float 21 within the enclosure 11, to maintain correct alignment between the convex conical :....portion 23 and the aperture 19, ensuring a good seal when the aperture is closed. The float 21 is shown in a second position where the valve means defined by aperture 19 and convex conical portion 23 is open.

foot* .a 4G C, C0 'C oo r oo 5 The base 13 has a support structure 31 which has a number of slots 33. The support structure 31 provides support for the float 21 in the second position (away from the first position). In addition the slots 33 therein serve to prevent the float 21 from occluding the inlet to the enclosure 11 and thus allow fluid to enter and exit the chamber.

A one way valve 35 is provided in the pipe 17 to allow fluid to pass in the direction indicated by arrow 37.

The disclosure of this embodiment is intended for use in a delivery pipe for water being pumped from a windmill, this water often containing pockets of air. It is equally adapted for use in other situations where aerated water or fluid is being pumped.

G 0 0 SO. In use, air entrapped with water being pumped along the pipe 17 will rise out of the pipe 17 and into the base 13, through slots 33 and into the enclosure 11, displacing water in the enclosure 11 down through the slots 33 to the S pipe 17. When enough air enters the enclosure 11 from the pipe 17, the float wil~l be caused to fall under the 06 0 influence of gravity, causing the convex conical portion 23 to separate from the aperture 1 9. The pressure supplied by the pump then forces the air from the S enclosure through the aperture 19. As air is dispelled in this manner, the level of water in the enclosure rises, 0, causing the float to rise o that the convex conical portion 23 sealingly engages the aperture 19.

When the pump is initially operated, air contained in the pipe will ba 2fw!ced ahead of the water or stratified leith the water and upon reaching the air bleeding apparatus the air will be dispelled in the manner described, under 6 pressure, due in part to the restriction imposed by the one way valve. Eventually, as the air is dispelled, water will be forced into the enclosure 11, dispelling air ahead of it, through the space between aperture 19 and the convex conical portion 23. When the water level rises sufficiently, the float will lift guided by pins 25, and the convex conical portion will engage the aperture 19 and seal the enclosure 11 from the outside atmosphere.

Further pockets of air which flow with the water in the pipe 17 will, upon reaching the base 13, percolate upward into the enclosure 11. The air will cause the fluid level t.o, in the enclosure 11 to drop, causing the float 21 to drop vst* within the enclosure and open the aperture 19. The pressure of the water in the pipe 17 will dispel the air through the aperture 19 into the atmosphere, and again more water will enter the enclosure, causing the float 21 to rise and seal the aperture 19 with the convex conical portion 23.

If the restriction imposed by the reticulation following s,29 the air bleeding apparatus is large enough, the one way 06, valve may be replaced by an upwardly directed U bend having a height greater than that of the air bleed apparatus, to ensure air is bleed from the systewm upon switch on, or alternatively the one way valve can be deleted altogether.

4 In order that the apparatus of this embodiment can remove air from a water supply, it is necessary that it is aligned vertically, and located above the pipe.

A further embodiment is envisaged where the apparatus is located in an inverted manner, being placed below the pipe, wherein drops of water can be removed from an air 7supply or alternatively drops of water can be removed from a fuel supply. In either embodiment the effective specific gravity of the float and its convex conical portion must lie between the specific gravities of the fluid being pumped and the fluid which is intended to be removed.

In yet a further embodiment, the slots 33 in the support structure could be replaced by a fluid flow pathway through the float, to allow fluid to enter the collection chamber without undue restriction.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiment described herein.

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Claims

1. An apparatus for removal of pockets or bubbles of a first fluid from a body of a second fluid, said fluids being of different specific gravity and immiscible, said apparatus comprising a collection chamber having an inlet for receiving a portion of said fluids, an outlet, valve means for opening a'nd closing said outlet, said chamber accommodating a float co-operating with said valve means, said float having an effective specific gravity lying between the specific gravity values of said first and second fluids, and being responsive to the portion of said first fluid contained in said chamber to cause the valve means to open said outlet, in response to the portion of said first fluid contained within said collection chamber exceeding a predetermined volume and close said outlet in response to the portion of said first fluid contained within said collection chamber falling below a predetermined volume, with said fluids being maintained at a sufficient pressure where upon opening of said valve means said first fluid is ejected through said outlet under said pressure.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises an aperture in said collection chamber adapted to co-operate with a sealing means included in said float.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sealing means comprises a convex conical portion.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said collection chamber comprises a first S: cylindrical body and said float comprises a second *0 cylindrical body being of substantially smaller diameter Sthan said first cylindrical body, said first cylindrical 9 body having means for guiding the linear displacement of said float.

An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 herein means are provided for preventing said float from occluding said inlet.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said inlet is adapted for connection to a container for said fluids.

7. A method of removing a first fluid of a low specific gravity from a second fluid of a relatively higher specific gravity, said method comprising utilisiyn an apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims mounted in connection with said fluids with the inlet thereof disposed lowermost.

C. A method of removing a first fluid of a high specific gravity from a second fluid of a relatively lower specific gravity, said method comprising utilising an apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 mounted in connection with said fluids with the inlet thereof disposed uppermost.

9. An apparatus for removal of a first fluid from a second fluid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. DATED this THIRD day of MARCH 1993. WILLIAM BOBBI RODEN Applicant WRAY ASSOCIATES Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for Applicant