US2634862A - Strainer construction - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1953 J. B. SMITH 2,634,862

STRAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 9, 1947 Q l l I I,

INVENTOR.

' JOSEPH .B SMITH MTOLMO4 HTTO/A/EXi Patented Apr. 14, 1953 STRAINER CONSTRUCTION Joseph B. Smith, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Oil Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July 9, 1947, Serial No. 759,861 6 Claims. (01. 210-165) In pipe systems transporting liquids, as for instance notably in the case of crude pet oleu strainers are quite frequently interposed ahead of meters, pumps, etc, and such strainers must be of high through-put capacity. Desirably also they should be operable for long periods without necessity of taking down and cleaning; however, with the commonly known strainers, this desirable factor is not obtained. found that customarily only a relatively small proportion of the strainer surface is arranged so as to function efliciently, and most of the stream is directed against a relatively limited proportion of the strainer surface, and blocking occurs unduly quickly in the operation of such constructions. In accordance with the present invention, however, an efficient distribution and load factor is attained, and with strainers operating even on large through-put lines there is a relatively long duration of operation before necessity arises for dismantling and cleaning. Additionally, the construction is such as to allow standardization and simplification, and easy replacement and repair. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

I have In said annexed drawing, in which the figures are broken out centrally on account of space limitations: f

Fig. 1 is an axial sectional view of a strainer embodying the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views of modifications; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of another modification, the housing being partly broken away in the lower portion, and the right half being partially also in axial section.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a housing 2, illustrated as in generally upright position, has an inlet 3 leading to its lower portion, and above the inlet is a strainer basket 4 in communication therewith. Conveniently, the strainer basket may be supported on an annular flange 5 carried by the housing wall, and the end of the strainer basket may be provided a rein forcement ring- 6 and a basal ring I at right angles thereto, the strainer mesh body being suitably secured to such ring. A gasket or packlow strainer element receives the inf-lowing liq'- uid, which distributes around its entire peripheral surface and passes therethrough. The other end of the strainer basket is closed by a plate 9, except for a central opening In which leads to an 1 axial pipe I I and thence to the outlet I2. Desirably, the plate 9 is secured to a reinforcing end-ring I3 which is generally analogous to the reinforcing ring 6. From this construction, it is seen that the liquid is required to distribute along and through the entire inner periphery of the strainer basket, and thence passing into the space 5 between the basket and the housing, and thence proceeds to the top of the housing and down through the opening I0 tothe outlet pipe II, I2, all portions of the strainer area being brought into uniform use. For convenience of assembly, the strainer basket may have a tubular projection I5 which screw-threadedly engages the end of the pipe II, and by a bail or handle I6 projecting from the strainer basket, its manipulation in assembly and disassembly with respect to the pipe I I housing is closed by a plate I! and suitable securing means, as for instance bolts I8. Projecting at one side is a bracket 20 which may support the cover plate I! when opened by swinging around onto the bracket support, all of the bolts except the one adjacent the support having been removed. As strainers for large sizes of pipes are of considerable size and the cover plates correspondingly heavy, this particularly facilitates access to the interior on occasion of cleaning or repairs. A handle 2| the cover plate. At the bottom of the housing, a clean-out opening 22, closed by a plate or leadmg to a discharge pipe if desired, permits convenient removal of accumulated sediment when desired.

The manner of operation of is apparent from the foregoing, it being seen that the incoming stream through the inlet 3 is distributed, as indicated by the arrows, and thence proceeding the strainer basket and the housing, takes its exit through the opening III to the outlet pipe I I, I2. By reason of the bafiling effect of the plate 9, equalization of flow without short circuit overload on limited portions of the strainer surface is attained. Furthermore, it is noticed that the construction permits of attaining an this construction efiicient velocity ratio in the flowing incoming I have found that and discharging liquid, and there is a certain desirable relation which should is facilitated. The top of the may be provided on through the space between be provided for best results. The leaving velocity is thus greater than the approaching velocity, and the liquid utilizes an efiective per cent of the screen area. Desirably, the ratio of cross sectional annular area of the passageway between the strainer basket and the housing, with respect to the annular area between the basket periphery and the opening [0, is in the ratio of 225i10%. And, desirably, the strainer body area is 10-15 times the inlet pipe area, so that the entering stream is reduced to /1 of its pipeline velocity. This causes the heavier particles to fall to the bottom of the housing and never reach the strainer basket. This sediment can be blown out occasionally through the bottom cleanout 22.

Where the liquid is of petroleum character or inflammable, I prefer to employ a non-sparking metal, such as bronze for instance, as the material of the basket ring I, or I may apply a bronze edge to such ring where made of steel. In any-event, by elimination of steel surfaces where the device might strike against the housing in removing the strainer basket, possibility of sparks and fire hazard is eliminated.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, the general arrangement of the housing 2a and the strainer basket 4a is the same as foregoing, also the manner of mounting with the rings Ba, la, on the flange 5a, but the outlet, instead of passing back'through the strainer basket, is centered at Ha, opposite the end of the strainer basket, and the plate 9a closes the entire end surface thereof. Thus, the incoming liquid at the inlet 3a likewise distributes around the inside of the strainer basket and passes to the annular space between the basket and housing and thence to the centered outlet Ha. Whereas in the Fig. 1 construction the inlet 3 and outlet l2 conform to a piping arrangement in straight line, the Fig. 2 form accommodates a piping arrangement in off-set lines. The bottom cleanout 22a is the same. By a flange connection or the like on the outlet pipe l2a, the cover plate Ila with such attached pipe section may be easily removed for access to the strainer basket.

In the-form shown in Fig. 3, the arrangement of the housing 21) and the inlet 32) and the strainer basket 4b with the top closure plate 92) is the same, and the outlet pipe Hb again is centered over the end of the strainer basket, but instead of being carried by the cover plate lib is positioned therebelow, and is removable when the cover plate is off, by a screw-threaded or slip joint connection J to the pipe section l2b carried by the housing. Again, settlings in the bottom of the housing are removed by the cleanout 22b.

In some cases, by reason of the nature of the conditions for the installation, or the size, it is advantageous to construct the strainer basket in sections separably removable, and the housing may be of a permanent closed character as in Fig. 4, where the housing 20 has a side-access opening 25 with a closure plate l'lc held in position by straddle clamps 26 on bolts 21 secured to the plate 110, and nuts 23, in the general manner of access-openings in steam boilers. A suitable gasket is interposed between the margins of the plate I and the margins of the housing where the overlapping internally of the housing occurs. The strainer basket 40 is made up of a plurality of strainer sections, the number depending somewhat upon the size of the installation, such sections being held to the foundation by suitable means, as screws 29 taking through the strainer sections into the strainer foundation. The latter is skeletonized, and many include a ring 3| and tubular projection 32, and ring 33, to which the ring 34 for the other end is joined by spaced strip elements 35. A support 36 secured to the housing carries a tubular extension 37, upon which the strainer basket is screwthreadedly mounted by its element 32. (In any installation of the forms as of Figs. 2 or 3 where the size and weight of the basket may not be sufficient tomaintain it in place, a similar tubular extension on this order carried up from the annular flange below may screw-threadedly engage the inside edge of the basket basal ring.) When the access plate [1c is removed by the loosening of the nuts 28 and the manipulation of the straddle clamps and plate such as to pass the latter out through the opening 25, the screws 29 of the basket sections may be removed, and the respective sections may be cleaned. The screw-threaded mounting on the support 3'! facilitates such rotation as is required for access to the respective strainer sections. And, likewise, the strainer sections may be put into place on the strainer basket skeleton and be fastened by their screws 29, the basket being rotated as necessary for such access, and finally the closure plate He is inserted and the straddle clamps tightened. Again, the inlet 30 leads to a settling chamber at the bottom, whence settlings may be removed through the cleanout 22c, and the liquid passing up into the interior of strainer basket distributes through its wall, and being prevented from escaping axially on account of the end plate 90, proceeds on through the annular space between the strainer basket and the housing and through the centered outlet lflc and pipe I20.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the detail described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a strainer, an upright cylindrical housing, a lateral inlet in the lower portion, a settling zone and cleanout below said inlet, a hollow cylindrical strainer basket in said housing above said inlet and being bottomless for having its inside in communication therewith and discharging from its whole periphery, a plate closing the top of said strainer basket except for an outlet pipe opening at its center, said outlet pipe extending down centrally through the strainer basket and by a lateral turn emerging from the lower portion of the housing in alignment with and opposite the aforesaid inlet, a bolted-on cover plate at the top of said housing, and a bracket laterally of, the top of the housing whereon said cover plate may be swung around and supported when loosed.

2. In a strainer having a housing with side inlet and a settling space and cleanout therebelow and a strainer basket above the inlet with an open bottom and a peripheral discharge space between the strainer basket and the housing wall, the combination of a bafiling plate closing the top of the strainer basket and an outlet opening in the center of the plate with outlet pipe extending thence axially in the strainer basket and out through the housing wall, the cross-sectional annular area of the passageway between the strainer basket and the housing wall relative to theannular area between the basket periphery and the outlet opening in the top plate of the basket being in a ratio about 2:5.

3. In a strainer having a housing with side inlet and a settling space and cleanout therebelow and a strainer basket above the inlet wit-h an open bottom and a peripheral discharge space between the strainer basket and the housing wall, the combination of a bafiling plate closing the top of the strainer basket and an outlet opening in the center of the plate with outlet pipe extending thence axially in the strainer basket and out through the housing wall.

4. In a strainer having a housing with a side inlet and a settling space and cleanout therebelow and a strainer basket above the inlet with an open bottom and a peripheral discharge space between the strainer basket and the housing wall, the combination of a plate closing the top of the strainer basket and an outlet pipe to draw ofi centrally from above the plate and extending thence axially of and in the strainer basket and out through the housing wall, and rotary-releasable means for positively holding the basket including screw-threading of one end.

5. In a strainer having a housing with a side inlet and a settling space and cleanout therebelow and a strainer basket above the inlet with an open bottom and a peripheral discharge space between the strainer basket and the housing wall,

the oombination of a plate closing the top of the a strainer basket and an outlet pipe to draw off centrally from above the plate thence extending axially of and in the strainer basket and out through the housing wall, the discharge space between the periphery of the strainer basket and the housing wall being at least ten times greater than the cross-section area of the basket.

6. In a strainer having a housing with a side inlet and a settling space and cleanout therebelow and a strainer basket above the inlet with an open bottom and a peripheral discharge space between the strainer basket and the housing wall, the combination of a plate closing the top of the strainer basket and an outlet pipe to draw ofi centrally relative to the plate thence extending axially of and in the strainer basket and out through the housing wall, a housing-coverplate and mounting means for lateral-swing opening movement, and support means at the side of the housing for the cover in open position.

JOSEPH B. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 72,359 Bassett Dec. 17, 1867 629,376 Leland July 25, 1899 854,738 Hass May 28, 1907 1,152,831 Monteagle Sept. 7, 1915 1,331,237 Burris Feb. 17, 1920 1,539,910 Parish June 2, 1925 1,673,391 Brubaker June 12, 1928 1,991,644 Wolters Feb. 19, 1935 2,031,589 Burckhalter et a1. Feb. 25, 1936 2,047,266 Hill July 14, 1936 2,083,005 Czarnecki June 8, 1937 2,201,849 Cotterman May 21, 1940 2,253,686 Burckhalter Aug. 26, 1941

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