GB2307423A

GB2307423A - Apparatus for separating media

Info

Publication number: GB2307423A
Application number: GB9624063A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans P Kettl
Original assignee: Trinova GmbH
Current assignee: Eaton Fluid Power GmbH
Priority date: 1995-11-24
Filing date: 1996-11-20
Publication date: 1997-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-20
Also published as: GB2307423B; GB9624063D0; DE19647533A1

Abstract

Apparatus 1 for separating media of different densities, either two liquids or a gas and a liquid, comprises a movable separating element 9, (90, figure 4) that in one position allows the accumulation of one medium M2, and is moved to another position to separate the accumulated medium from the other medium M1. The element 9 may be spherical or cylindrical, and may be rotatably mounted about an axis 15, or it may be mounted for translational movement (90, figure 4). The element encloses at least one collecting chamber 19, 21, in which medium M2 accumulates. The element is then moved to a second position, transferring the accumulated medium to a separate receiving space 27 from which it may subsequently be removed through outlet 29. The element may be caused to move either manually, or automatically due to pressure variations in the media. When mounted for translational movement, the element includes two valve arrangements (31, 33, figure 4) to seal receiving space (27, figure 4) off from the mixed media. The apparatus may be mounted above the media supply pipe 5 to separate off a light medium, or below the pipe to separate off a heavier medium.

Description

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING MEDIA The invention relates to an apparatus for separating media with differing specific gravities, in particular, but not exclusively, for separating air or water from an oil-filled hydraulic system.

In practice, it is inevitable that over a period of time hydraulic systems contain water or air, which greatly reduces the life of the system or rather of the apparatus operated by it. Air leads to damage due to cavitation; water can cause corrosion.

It is therefore the objective of the invention to produce apparatus for separating media with different specific gravities, which is suitable, for example, for removing water and/or air from a hydraulic system.

This objective is achieved by means of an apparatus having the features specified in Claim 1. Owing to the fact that the apparatus has a separating element which has a movable seat and effects a separation of the media of different specific gravities, water and/or air, for example, can be separated from a hydraulic system. The separating element may be operated by pressure variations, which arise for example on switching on and off the hydraulic system. It is also conceivable that the separating element is operated independently of such pressure variations, for example by hand or by means of a driving gear.

A preferred working example of the apparatus is superior in that the separating element is pivot- or swivel-mounted around an axis. Such an apparatus is superior by reason of a very simple construction which is not susceptible to malfunction. In addition it can be manufactured at reasonable cost.

A further embodiment of the apparatus is superior by reason of a separating element which can execute a translational movement. This apparatus is also of simple construction and is not prone to malfunction.

Other arrangements within the scope of the invention are described and claimed.

The invention will now be described in greater detail below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section a schematic diagram of a first working example of the apparatus for separating air from a liquid; Figure 2 shows a detail representation of a separating element of the apparatus according to Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of apparatus for the separation of water from a hydraulic system; and Figure 4 shows a further design variant of the apparatus.

The apparatus can generally be used for separating media of differing specific gravities. Purely by way of example, it is described below with reference to a hydraulic system which is filled with oil and from which water or air is to be separated.

The apparatus 1 represented in Figure 1 is located at a suitable point in a hydraulic system 3, of which a hydraulic pipe 5 is indicated. The apparatus 1 for separating media having differing specific gravities, in this case, has a collecting space 7 located above the hydraulic pipe 5. A medium, which is lighter than the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic pipe 5, rises upwards from the hydraulic pipe and accumulates in the collecting space 7. Therefore air, for example, accumulates here, which is present in the hydraulic oil and which occurs in particular in pipes through which there is no circulation of the hydraulic oil.

The apparatus 1 has a separating element 9 which has a movable seat and a basic element 11, here designed so as to resemble a sphere, of which the width measured in horizontal direction is greater than a channel section 13 inside which the separating element 9 is located. The basic element 11, which may take the form of a cylinder, is pivot- or swivel-mounted about an axis 15. For fixing the position, axle journals, which are not represented in Figure 1, can engage with the basic element 11 and can cooperate with a hydromechanical operating device 17, or be operated externally, for example, by hand or by motor.

The operating device 17 is constructed so that, with pressure variations within the hydraulic system 3, it produces a rotation of the axle journal and consequently a rotating/swivelling movement of the separating element 9. The operating device 17 can also be designed so that the separating element 9 can be operated independently of pressure variations in the hydraulic system 3.

In Figure 1, the operating device 17 is connected in a suitable way, for example by way of a hydraulic supply 18, with the hydraulic oil present in the hydraulic system 3 so that, with pressure variations, an activation of the operating device 17 is possible.

The separating element 9 has two collecting chambers 19 and 21, which are separated from one another by a wall which runs in the region of the axis 15 within the basic element 11. The collecting chambers 19 and 21 are formed by recesses in the basic element 11 and in this case are approximately the same size. It is possible - as represented in Figure 2 to move the wall 23 from within the basic element 11 to an end region 25 of the basic element 11.

Above the separating element 9, an unpressurized receiving space 27 is provided which can be partly filled with the medium M1 of the hydraulic system 3, that is to say with hydraulic oil.

The operating device 17 can act on the separating element 9 so that this is always pivoted or swivelled in only one direction so that the collecting chambers 19 and 21 are alternately in hydraulic communication with the collecting space 7 and the receiving space 27. It is also conceivable that the separating element 9 may be activated by the operating device 17 so that this executes a swivelling, or partial rotational movement through 1800, and is turned first in a clockwise direction and then in an anticlockwise direction. In no circumstances is the hydraulic system, ie. the pressurized system, opened. The evacuation of the air takes place by way of the apparatus 1 acting as a lock.

At the upper end of the receiving space 27, a valve 29 is provided which may take the form of a float valve and serves to let air, ie. a lighter medium M2, separated from the first medium M1, emerge from the receiving space 27. The valve 29 can also be designed so that a filling of the hydraulic system 3 is possible here.

With the operational position of the separating element 9 as represented in Figure 1, the collecting chamber 21 opens downwardly in the direction of the hydraulic system 3, whilst the upper collecting chamber 19 opens in the direction of the receiving space 27 and is filled with hydraulic fluid.

The lighter medium M2 collects in the lower collecting chamber 21. The separating element 9 is now operated, ie. turned around the axis 15, whereby the lighter medium M2 collected in the collecting chamber 21 is conveyed upwards to the receiving space 27, whilst at the same time the hydraulic oil present in the collecting chamber 19 is delivered to the hydraulic system 3. Because of the hydraulic oil in the receiving space 27, air is thus prevented from being conveyed back into the hydraulic system 3 during rotation of the separating element 9.

From the explanation and description given with regard to Figure 1, it will be immediately clear that the collecting space 7 must be located above the hydraulic pipe 5 if a lighter medium M2 is to be separated from the medium M1 present in the hydraulic system 3. If the apparatus 1 is turned through 1800, however, so that it is suspended downwardly from the hydraulic pipe 5, then for example water, ie. a medium which is heavier than the hydraulic oil present in the hydraulic pipe 5, can collect in the collecting chamber. With a rotational movement, the heavier water is then conveyed from the collecting space 7 into the receiving space 27.

Therefore in both cases a rotating or swivelling movement of the separating element 9, produced by reason of pressure variations or as a result of external intervention, leads to a medium being separated from the hydraulic pipe 5, the specific gravity of this medium differing from the specific gravity of the medium M1 in the hydraulic system 3.

Figure 3 shows a working example of an apparatus 1, which is suspended below the hydraulic pipe 5 of the hydraulic system 3 and serves to separate water from hydraulic oil. Identical parts are provided with identical reference numbers so that reference can be made to the description relating to Figure 1.

The separating element 9 of the working example according to Figure 3 has a single collecting chamber 19, since the wall 23, as represented in Figure 2, is moved into an end region 25 of the basic element 11. The receiving space 27 is also filled with hydraulic oil, ie. a medium M1, which is lighter than the water M2 to be separated off, which accumulates on the bottom of the receiving space 27 and can be drained off by way of the valve 29.

Finally, Figure 4 shows a further working example of an apparatus 10, of which the separating element 90 has a basic element 110, which is provided with two valve arrangements 31 and 33. The separating element 90 is housed in a guide bush 35 which has a valve recess 37. A restoring component, here for example taking the form of a helical spring 39, is placed in the valve recess 37, this spring acting on the separating element 90 with a predetermined force acting in the direction of the hydraulic pipe 5 of the hydraulic system 3. The separating element 90 can thus be displaced in the direction of a centre line 43 which is vertical to the centre line 41 of the hydraulic pipe 5. The guide bush 35 is provided with separating openings 45, which lead into the valve recess 37 and break through the wall of the guide bush 35.The openings 45 lead into a receiving space 27 which is filled with a medium M1, as is also used in the hydraulic system 3. In the upper region of the receiving space 27, there is a lighter medium M2, namely air. The receiving space 27 is filled with hydraulic oil to the extent that the separating openings 45 are covered.

The first valve arrangement 31 has a valve piston 47 which lies tightly against the inner wall of the valve recess 37 and can if necessary also have a suitable sealing arrangement 49, for example in the form of an O-ring.

The length of the valve piston 47 is selected so that this completely or partly fills the area of the guide bush 35 between the separating opening 45 and a collecting space 7. Therefore, in a first operational position of the separating element 90, the valve piston 47 closes the connection between the collecting space 7 and the separating openings 45 leading into the receiving space 27.

The second valve arrangement 33 has a valve body 51, the diameter of which is such that it seals off the valve recess 37. In order to improve the sealing action, a seal arrangement 53, for example an O-ring, is provided on the outside of the valve body 51.

The collecting space 7 is located, as in the case of the working example illustrated in Figure 1, above the hydraulic pipe 5 of the hydraulic system 3, so that a medium M2 with lower specific gravity than the medium present in the hydraulic pipe 5, in present case air, rises upwards into the collecting space 7 and accumulates there. Should the separating element 90 be displaced upwards by an increased pressure in the hydraulic system 3 against the action of the helical spring 39, then the lower edge of the valve piston 47 moves upwards beyond the separating openings 45, so that a connection between the collecting space 7 and the receiving space 27 is produced. The fixed valve arrangement 31 is located at a distance from the second valve arrangement 33 which is smaller than the path of movement of the separating element 90.The two valve arrangements 31 and 33 are connected by way of a first link 55, the length of which is selected accordingly. The air present in the hydraulic system 3 can thus escape into the receiving space 27. However, before the lower edge of the valve piston 47 reaches the separating opening 45, the second valve arrangement 33 is forced into the valve recess 37 and seals this off from the collecting space 7. Thus the air present in the region of the fixed link 55 and separated from the hydraulic system 3 is contained between the valve arrangements 31 and 33 and, with a further upward movement of the valve piston 47, can pass by way of the separating openings 45 into the receiving space 27. In the process, the lower valve arrangement 33 seals off the collecting space 7 from the receiving space 27. Thus a collecting chamber is formed around the fixed link.

If, by reason of a further rise in pressure in the hydraulic system 3, the separating element 90 is moved further upwards into its second operational position, the sealing arrangement 53 comes into contact with the upper limiting wall 57 of the collecting space 7 and consequently seals off the valve recess 37, which is in hydraulic communication with the receiving space 27, from the collecting space 7. The second valve arrangement 33 thus prevents further air or oil from the collecting space 7 from arriving in the receiving space 27.

With a fall in pressure, the separating element 90, by reason of the restoring power or action of the restoring component 39, moves downwards in the opposition direction so that the sealing arrangement 53 of the second valve arrangement 33 again frees the opening of the valve recess 37 to the collecting space 7. Previously, the sealing arrangement 49 has already passed the separating openings 45 and sealed the valve recess 37 and in particular the receiving space 27 from the collecting space 7.

Air present in the receiving space 27 can emerge by way of the valve 29 which can also be designed so that a filling of the hydraulic system 3 with hydraulic oil is possible.

From the description and explanation given relating to Figures 1 to 4, it can be seen on the whole that the variant of the apparatus 10 shown in Figure 4 can also be turned through 1800 so as to be suspended downwards from the hydraulic pipe 5, so that a medium, the specific gravity of which is greater than that of the medium present in the hydraulic system 3, thus accumulates in the collecting space 7. Therefore, for example water can accumulate in the collecting space 7 which, with a corresponding operational position of the separating element 90, can pass by way of the separating openings 45 into the receiving space 27 and can be removed by way of the valve 29.

It can be seen that the apparatus represented in the drawings for the separating media of different specific gravities is very simply constructed and consequently is not susceptible to malfunction. The separating element 9 or 90 can be controlled solely by pressure variations within the hydraulic system 3, but can also be operated from the outside independently of the pressure in the hydraulic system. With the working example represented in Figure 4, an operating rod, guided from above through the receiving space 27 and through the guide bush 35, can for example be fixed on to the separating element 90 in order to move this from the first operational position represented in Figure 4 into the abovedescribed second operational position and thus to effect a separation of the media.

It is also clear that the separating element 9, which was illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, can take the form of a swivelling valve which is operated with variations in pressure or by external intervention and allows a medium present in the collecting space to pass into the receiving space 27.

The description shows that the separating element is located in a boundary area between the media M1 and M2 and separates the collecting space 7 from the receiving space 27. Therefore, a lock, as it were, is formed which allows a medium M2 to be separated from the working medium M1 of the hydraulic system 3.

Claims

1. Apparatus for separating media with differing specific gravities, the apparatus comprising a movable separating element operable in one position to permit accumulation of one medium and operable in another position to separate the accumulated medium from another medium.

2. Apparatus for separating media with differing specific gravities, in particular for separating air or water from an oil-filled hydraulic system, the apparatus comprising a separating element having a movable element and operable to effect a separation of the media of differing specific gravities, which element can be operated by pressure variations in the hydraulic system or independently of pressure, and which, with a specific rise in pressure and/or a specific fall in pressure, effects the separation of a certain quantity of the medium to be separated off from another medium.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the separating element encloses at least one collecting chamber in which the medium to be separated off accumulates.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element is pivot- or swivel- mounted around an axis.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element has a basic element which resembles a sphere or cylinder.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the basic element is coupled with a hydromechanical drive which with pressure variations produces a rotating or swivelling movement of the basic element.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the basic element has two collecting chambers which are formed by recesses in the basic element and which are separated by a wall which seals one recess from the other.

8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the separating element is mounted for translational movement.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the separating element includes a first valve arrangement operable, in a first operational position, to seal off the separating element from the media, and a second valve arrangement operable in a second operational position to seal off the separating element from the media, the valve arrangements co-operating so that always only one valve arrangement seals off the separating element from the media.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the first valve arrangement includes.a valve piston which is guided so as to be axially displaceable in a valve recess which is in communication with the media and into which at least one separating opening leads, and wherein in the first operational position of the first valve arrangement the valve piston seals off the separating opening or openings from the media.

11. Apparatus according to any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the second valve arrangement has a valve body which, in the second operational position, seals off the valve recess from the media.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element can be moved against the force of a restoring component.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element is located in a boundary layer between the media depending on the different specific gravities of the media.

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element separates a first area assigned to a first medium from a second area assigned to a second medium to be separated off.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein the second area is formed as a receiving space in which the second medium to be separated off is collected and which is preferably at least partly filled with the first medium.

16. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a collecting space communicates with the media.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the collecting space is located above the media in order to separate off the second medium the specific gravity of which is less than that of the first medium.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the collecting space is located below the media in order to separate off the second medium the specific gravity of which is greater than that of the first medium.

19. Apparatus for separating media with differing specific gravities substantially as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.