US1515126A - Separator for crude oil and gas - Google Patents

Description

T. LENNOX SEPARATOR FOR CRUDE OIL AND GAS Filed Feb. 7. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

r T. LEN NOX SEPARATOR FOR CRUDE OIL AND GAS Fil ed' Feb. 7. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet r Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

TALBOT LENNOX, 0F MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

SEPARATOR FOR CRUDE OIL AND GAS.

Applicationfiled. February 7, 1924. Serial No. 691,164.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALBOT LENNOX, a

pensive construction, and of small and compact form, that may be readily, conveniently and economically moved from place to place and set up for use, and by the use of which crude oil and gas delivered from an oil well may be passed through'the separator and the gas thoroughly and completely sepa-f rated from the oil, thus leaving theoil in its best condition for storage in tanks and the like and saving the gas for use.

A further object is to provide improved means for automatically removing the oil and also any water that maybe discharged into the separator with the oil, and automatically maintaining a certain pre-determined oil level and Water level within the separator. I

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 shows a vertical central sectional View of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2'shows a detail side view of the exterior illustrating the gas and water discharge pipes and their automatic opening and closing devices partly in section taken on the line 22of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 1 shows a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to in dicate the outer casing of my improved separator, which is preferably made of circular form and closed at both ends, substantially like the casing or outer walls of a steam boiler. Spaced slightly below its horizontal center is a perforated metal partition 11, and contained within the space above the partition. is a tubular spiral or helical separator coil 12 substantially rectangular in cross section and having its lower end open and communicating with the space below the partition 11 at the point marked 13. Its upperend near the top of the casing communicates with the discharge pipe 14:. This coil 12 is preferably braced and supported by means of supporting rods 15 secured to the partition 11.

Communicating with the interior of the casing at a point above the partition 11 is v a pipe 16 which communicates with the flowing or spouting well, or other sources of gas and crude oil supply. Below the partition.

11 I have fitted to the exterior of the casing a circular flange member 1'? having a detachable arched cover member 18. Mounted within this detachable arched cover member.

are two shafts 19 and 20, each being rotatively supported in packing boxes 21 mounted in the cover member 18. On the" shaft 19 within the cover member 18' is a square head 22, and a rounded projection 23 at the end of the shaft extends beyond this square portion. The other shaft 20 is also .provided with a square head 2& within the cover member 18, and this part 24: has a depression to receive the projection 23. Fixed to the outer end of the shaft 19 is an arm 25 having an adjustable weight 26 therein and fixed to the shaft 20 is a similar arm 27 having an adjustable weight 28...

Communicating with the interior of the casing at a point spaced at considerable distance above the bottom is an oil discharge pipe 29. having a cut-off valve 30 therein controlled by a valve stem 31, and this valve stem 31 is connected to the arm 27. Com

municating with .the interior of the casing at a point near its bottomv is a water discharge pipe 32. This water discharge pipe h'rlw a valve 33 therein controlled by a valve stem, 34, which latter is connected to a levei 25.

Mounted upon the part 24 of the shaft 20 is an arm 35 projected toward thecentral portion of the interior. of the casing and having a cup shaped float 36 at its inner end, and connected to the part22 of the shaft 19 is a similar arm 37 extended inwardly and then downwardly and also having a cup shaped float 38. on its inner end.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, this float 38.

is shown adjacent to the waterlevel which is indicated by the numeral 39, and the cup shaped float 36 is shown at the oil level which is indicated by the numeral 40. When in use the Weights 26-and 28 are so positioned relative to their respective bars that they will counterbalance'thelr'respec-v tive, cup shaped floats when the latter are full of dill.

In practical use it i s obvious that on=account of the compactness and relatively small size of my improved separator it may be readily and easi up. .Wh 16 from a flowm or gushing'well, then a uantity of mixe gas and crudeoil will be Iorced, under high pressure, into the interior of the casing. This oil and gas will then flow downwardly through the erforated partition as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. When the oil under pressure passes through the perforated partition, itwill be divided into small streams or jets, facilitatin the escape of the gas. That 1s to say, it wi be sprayed and the globules of oil will thereby become finely separated so that the gas commingled therewith will be thereby free from the oil. This gas will.

, then pass upwardly through the opening 13 into the spiral separating coil, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, and on account of the high pressure of the will flow with great speed through the coil. There will,of course, be more or less oil enter the opening 13 with the gas. However, on account of the centrifugal action. to, which the oil is subjected during its rapid passage upwardly through the coil, the globules. of oil will be thrown out against the outer wall of the coil. In Fi ure 3 I have indicated the globules of 011 forced against the outer. wall of the coil by this centrifugal action, and on account of the fact that the coil itself is of large diamstar in cross section, the oil will flow back by gravity into the casing below the perforated partition, and during the travel of the oil and gas through the coil, every pars ticle of oil will be separated before it reaches the discharge point.

p In practice I have found that, at the discharge point, a white handkerchief may be placed 1n front"of the gas discharge port and. it will not be discolored by the oil. This gas is'then conducted through a suitable pipe to a container where it may be utilized. I

Theoil passing throu h the perforated partitionwill be accumu ated in the lower portion of the casing, 'and'will maintain the T float 36 level full of oil at all times, and the upper surface of this float will at all times be slightly above the oil level in the casing,

as shown in Figure 1, on account of the ei ht 28,. When the oil accumulates Within t e casing above a predetermined level,

then the arm to which the wei ht 28 is attached moves downwardly an opens the y transported and set] en a pipe is connected to the intake gas it;

from the gas During the operation of a separating device of this character, more or less water wi ll also enter the casing and will seek its level below-the oil. The water is automatically discharged in the same manner as reviously described in regard to the oil.

vencev the entire apparatus is automatic in its action.

I claim as my invention:

1. A separator for gas and oil comprising incombinat-ion a casing, means for introducing gas and oil into the casing, and'a pipe in the form of a helical coil arranged wholly within the casing and having its lower end open to the interior of'the casing to receive gas and oil and having its upper endv communicating with a gas discharge pipe, and also having an imperforate outer wall, for the purposes stated.

2. A separator for gas and ,oil comprising in combination a casing, means for introducing' gas and oil into the casing, and a pipe in the form of a helical coil arranged wholly within the casing "and having its lower end open to the interior of the casing to receive gas and oil and having its upper end communicating with a. gas discharge pipe, and also having an 1m rfo rate outer wall, said coil being angu ar in cross section, I

3. An improved gas and oil separator comprising 1n combination a casing, means forntroducing gas and oil to the interior of the casing, a partition within the casing below a. pointwhere the gasand oil enter it, containing a large number of small perforations designed to produce a spray of oil and gas, and. an oil and gas separating pipe communicating with the interior of the casing below the perforated partition and extended upwardly to a point of discharge,

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, means for introducing oil and gas into the upper end thereof, means for collecting and retainin a quantity of oil in the bottom thereof, a discharge pipe communicating with the casing, a valve for controlling the discharge pipe, a" cup shaped float open at its top and designed to receive the oil that is dehvered into the casing and thereby maintained filled with oil' during the operation of the device, means for counterbalancing the weight of the float when filled with liquid, means connected with the float for operating said thereof, a second dischar e pipe communieatin with the interior 0 the casing below the rst one, a controlling valve for each discharge pipe, a hollow support secured to 6 the casing and communicatm with its interior, two shafts mounted in t e said hollow support and extended inwardly to the interior of the. casing a float for each shaft, 3.

counterbalancing means for each float, and means whereby upon movement of either 1 float the corres onding valve will beoperated, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa, January 31, 1924.

TALBOT LENNOX.

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