US1363833A - Lubricating-oil purifying and reclaiming system - Google Patents

Description

F. R.'C. BOY D AND C. H. HAPGOOD. LUBRICATING OIL PURIFYING AND RECLAIMING SYSTEM.

. APPLICATION ,FILED FEB. 27. 1920.

1,363,833.' Patented Dec, 28,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC B. C. BOYD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND CYRUS HOWARD HAPGOOD,

OF NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

'LUBRICATING-OIL IPURIFYING AND BECLAIMING SYSTEM.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application filed February 27, 1920. Serial No. 361,872.

. State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful. Improvement in Lubricating- Oil Purifying and Reclaiming Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and ex act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming system set forth in the Kennedy Patent No. 1,318,086, dated October 7, 1919,

is also stated to be especially applicable to sea going ships, although it is stated that it may be found applicable to other lubricating systems. .The system has, in fact, been found to be adaptable to power generators other than marine engines and particularly to turbine driven electric generators. In fact, the specific embodiment of the invention described and illustrated in the Kennedy patent may be, without modification, ap

plied to the lubricating systems of electric generating plants, and give much better results than are attainable with the filtration systems generally employed. However, the application, to a turbine driven electric generator, of the specifi system disclosed by Kennedy as illustrative of his invention, may involve considerable modification of the oiling system now in use, thereby making the installation relatively expensive. Moreover, a purchaser who is not absolutely convinced of the superiority of the Kennedy system may hesitate to make a' change which, if it should prove relatively unsatisfactory, might necessitate a restoration of the original system at considerable expense. These considerations militate against sales of a system having the specific construction best designed for marineuse.

The object of the present invention 18. so to modify the marine system of purifying and reclaiming oil as to better adapt t to land use, and especially to power driven electric generators.

These electric generating plants vary widely in size, and while the main features of the present invention are applicable to pipe 0. that it takes out oil from the lowest level of large and small generating plants, different specific constructions are best adapted to the large and small plants respectively. We have therefore disclosed two embodiments of our invention. It will be understood, however, that still other modifications may be. devised that will involve no departure from the principles underlying the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure is a diagram of an oil purifying and reclaiming system adapted more especially to relatively large turbine driven electric generators.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of a system adaptable to a turbine driven electric generator where the construction of Fig. 1 cannot be readily applied.

Referring first to the construction of Fig. 1: a. represents a steam turbine and b an electric generator connected therewith. The base of the engine is shown hollowed out to form an oil reservoir 0. It should be understood, however, that machines of this type are generally already provided with an oil reservoir, and it is intended to utilize the usual oil reservoir, however it may be constructed or positioned. From this reservoir a pump (5 forces lubricating oil through a pipe 6, connections therefrom to the several bearings being shown at f g. and h. 7 The oil escaping from the several bearings passes down pipes i, j, and 7c tothe oil reservoir. The described means for conveying oil to and from the bearings is typical, although it will be understood that other arrangements are available and any arrangement already in use in any given plant may be left undisturbed. A pipe on, equipped with a relief valve n, leads from pipe e to the resoil ervoir. Through this pipe passes pumped from the reservoir in excess of that which flows through the bearings.

From the reservoir 0 extends a discharge This pipe is preferably so located the reservo r, where the oil is most contaminated with water or dirt or both. The pipe ois of goose-neck shape, its discharge end being at the level of the oil in the reservoir. The pipe 0 discharges into a funnel p communicating with a pipe 1' leading to a centrifugal separator and purifier t, which is preferably of the type shown in the Kennedy patent aforesaid. A valve 8 on pipe r re ulates the flow, of oil to the separator.

he separator and purifier t removes the oil, dirt and other impurities from the oil. The pure oil flows into a tank u. A pump 02 conveys the purified oil througha pipe to back to the tank a. The separator and purifier t and the pump '0 may be driven from a common drivlng shaft or motor, or independently, as desired.

A pipe m extends from the tank u into the reservoir 0 and opens somewhat above the normal level of the oil therein." It is normally functionless, but if an abnormal quantity of oil is introduced into the reservoir, some of the excess will be carried off by the pipe a: into the tank u.

A pipe y, provided with a normally closed valve 2, extends from the lower part of pipe 0 to the pipe 1'.

The system described may be used, in different ways. It is usually preferred to allow a continuous flow of oil from the reservoir to the separator and purifier, the purified oil being continuously pumped from the tank 14 to the reservoir 0. This may be called the continuous system'of cleaning;

If, however, it is desired to clean the entire volume of oil at intervals, valve z',may be.

opened when the machine is shutdown and all the oil in the reservoir 0 may be allowed to pass throughpipes'y andr to the separator and purlfier, the tank a being made of sufficient capacity to hold all the oil discharged frorn the reservoir, the pump 4;, being shut down. After .swabbing out the reservoir 0, pump '0 will be started and the reservoir filled with clean oil. This ma be called the batch system of cleaning. 0th the continuous system and the batch system may be employed.

It should be noted that in the continuous system no oil is. positively withdrawn from the system, such dirty oil as flows to the purifier being only such as has been displaced by clean oil added.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the following elements are illustrated having the same construction and arrangement as in Fig. 1, and are similarly lettered: turbine a, generator I), reservoir -c, ump d, pipe 6, branches f, g and h to bearmgs, and

- pipes a, j and k discharging from bearings to reservoir.

A pipe 10 extends from pipe e to a pipe discharge end,' as indicated at 15, or at any point along pipe 12. The relief valve so functions t at any oil in excess of that taken by the bearings will be pumped to the settling tank, from there overflowing through pipe 11 back to the reservoir 0. lVater, dirt and the like settle to the bottom of the tank 16'and thence pass, through pipe 17, to the centrifugal separator and purifier 18. The pure oil discharged therefrom is transferred, through pipe 19,.to the reservoir. For convenience of illustration, the pipe 19 is shown as connected to pipe 11. In-this system, also, the separator and purifier may be, if desired, cut out of the circuit and the oil allowed to circulate endlessly from the reservoir to the bearings and back again. If it is further desired to cut out not only the purifier, but also the overhead settling tank, valve 13 may be opened to allow'the excess oil to pass through pipes 10 and 11 direct to the reservoir. The purifier and separator may be again placed in the oil circulating system by closing the valve 13. I

Where, in the claims, we specify an engine, we meanto be understood as using the word in its broad sense and as comprehending, for example, an electric generator and its driving turbine. I

Having now fully described our invention what we claim and desire to protect by 'liietters Patent is:

1. In a lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of anendless oiling system comprisipg a receptacle adapted to receive oilfrom the oil, and automatically operating -means to divert excess oil from the system and convey it to the separator and purifier;

2. In a lubricating Oll purif ing and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of an endless oiling system comprising a receptacle adapted to receive oil. drained from the engine bearings and pipe connections through which 011 may e pumped from the receptacle direct to the engine bearings, a centrifugal separator and purifier adapted to remove impurities from the oil, automatically operating means to divert excess oil from the s stem and convey it to the separator an purifier, and means to return the oil so purified tothe endless system.

3. In a lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine having a series of bearings, of an oil supply pipe communicating directly with the several bearings, a pump for lifting oil from the receptacle directly to the supply pipe, means whereby oil drained from the bearings is conveyed to the receptacle, and a centifugal separator and purifier connected with the oiling system and adapted to receive therefrom oil and. remove its impurities, and means to convey the purified oil back to the system.

4. In a lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of an endless oiling system comprising a receptacle adapted to receive oil drained from the engine bearings and pipe connections through which oil may be pumped fronithe receptacle to the engine bearings; a by-passage connected with said pipe connections and said receptacle and adapted to bypass oil around the bearings and back to the receptacle, and a relief valve in said passage, and a centrifugal separator and purifier connected with the oiling system and adapted to receive therefrom oil and remove its impurities, and means to convey the purified oil back't'o the system.

5. In a lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of an endless oiling system comprising a receptacle adapted to receive oil drained from the engine bearings and pipe connections through which oil may be pumped from the receptacle to the engine bearings, a centrifugal separator and purifier adapted to remove the impurities from the oil, and means, inoperative when the system contains only a given quantity of oil, but operative when the quantity of 011 in the system exceeds said given quantity, to displace oil from the system and conduct it to said separator and purifier.

6. In a lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of an endless oiling system comprising a receptacle adapted to receive oil drained from theengine bearings and pipe connections through which oil may be pumped fi'om- 'the receptacle to the engine bearings, a centrifugal separator and purifier adapted to remove the impurities from the oil, means, inoperative when the system contains only a given quantity of oil, but operative when the quantity of oil in the system exceeds said given quantity, to displace oil from the system and conduct it to said separator and purifier, and means to return the oil so purified to the endless system.

7. In a lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of an endless oiling system comprising a receptacle adapted to receive oil drained from the engine bearings and pipe connections through which oil may be pumped from the receptacle to the engine bearings, a centrifugal separator and purifier adapted to remove impurities from the oil, and overflow means adapted, when the level of the oilin the receptacle rises above a predetermined level, to carry off oil from the receptacle and convey it to the separator and purifier.

8. In a lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of an endless oiling system comprising a receptacle adapted to receive oil drained from the engine bearings and pipe connections through which oil may be pumped from the receptacle to the engine bearings, a centrifugal separator and purifier adapted to remove impurities from theoil, overflow means adapted, when the level of the oil in the receptacle rises above a predetermined level, to carry off oil from the receptacle and convey it to the separator and purifier, and means to return the oil so purified to the endless system.

9. In a lubricating oil purifying and re claiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of an endless oiling system com-' prising a receptacle adapted to receive oil drained from the engine bearings and pipe connections through which oil may be pumped from the receptacle to the engine bearings; a centrifugal purifier and sepasecond receptacle to the first receptacle and a pump to force oil from the second receptacle through the last named pipe connection to the first receptacle.

10. In a lubricating oil purifying and reclaiming apparatus, the combination with the engine, of an endless oiling system comprising a receptacle'adapted to receive oil drained from the enginebearings and pipe connections through which oil may be pumped from the receptacle to the engine bearings; a by-pa'ss from said. pipe connections direct to the receptacle and a relief valve thereon, a centrifugal purifier and separator arranged belowsaid receptacle, pipe connection from said receptacle to the purifier and separator, a second receptacle adapted to receive purified oil from the purifier and separator, a pipe connection from the second receptacle to the first receptacle and a pump to force oil from the second receptacle through the last named pipe conpumped from the receptacle to the engine bearlngs; a centrifugal (purifier and separator arranged below sai receptacle, a funnel positioned laterally of saidreceptacle. a

centrifugal separator and purifier arranged I In testimony of which invention, We have hereunto set our hands, respectively, at Boston, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Penn- 10 'sylvania, on the 21st day of February, 1920,

and the 24th da of January, 1920. 1 FREDE IO R. C. BOYD.

CYRUS HOWARD HAPGOOD.

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