Flow divider with internal vane
AssigneeCummins Inc.
InventorsGeorge Martin Tolhurst, Alan C. Anderson, John Robert Andras, Jonathan Bowen Wickliff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow splitter may include an inlet, at least two outlets, and an internal vane comprising a first end corresponding to the inlet and a second end corresponding to the at least two outlets, wherein the internal vane is configured to turn, between the first end and the second end, an internal flowing fluid from 0 degrees to a degree between about 60 degrees and 150 degrees. Methods of dividing fluid flow are also provided.
Claims20
A flow splitter selectively fluidly coupled downstream of a sharp turn of a fluid circuit, comprising:
- an inlet;
- at least two outlets;
- and
- an internal vane comprising a first end located at to the inlet and a second end corresponding to the at least two outlets, wherein the internal vane is configured to turn, between the first end and the second end, an internal flowing fluid from 0 degrees to a degree between about 60 degrees and 150 degrees, the internal vane forming a first conduit and a second conduit using the internal vane, the first conduit and the second conduit having equal cross-sectional areas between the first end and the second end;
- wherein the internal vane splits an initial flow of the internal flowing fluid at the first end into a first sub-flow through the first conduit and a second sub-flow through the second conduit, the first sub-flow being isolable from the second sub-flow through and downstream of the flow splitter by the internal vane.
A flow circuit, comprising:
- a sharp turn and
- a flow splitter fluidly coupled downstream of the sharp turn such that an initial flow through the flow circuit enters the sharp turn and then flows to the flow splitter, the flow splitter comprising an inlet, at least two outlets;
- and an internal vane, the internal vane comprising:
- a first end located at the inlet;
- and
- a second end corresponding to the at least two outlets,
- wherein the internal vane is configured to turn, between the first end and the second end, an internal flowing fluid from 0 degrees to a degree between about 60 degrees and 150 degrees, the internal vane forming a first conduit and a second conduit using the internal vane;
- and
- wherein the internal vane splits the initial flow of the internal flowing fluid at the first end into a first sub-flow through the first conduit and a second sub-flow through the second conduit, the first sub-flow being isolable from the second sub-flow through and downstream of the flow splitter by the internal vane.
A method of splitting fluid flow comprising:
- directing a fluid flow through a sharp turn;
- directing the fluid flow into an inlet of a flow splitter downstream of the sharp turn;
- dividing the fluid flow into a first sub-fluid flow and a second sub-fluid flow at the inlet with an internal vane to thereby turn at least one of the first sub-fluid flow or the second sub-fluid flow from 0 degrees to a degree between about 60 degrees and 150 degrees, wherein the internal vane comprises a first end of the internal vane that is substantially parallel with the fluid flow before the sharp turn;
- directing the first sub-fluid flow to a first outlet of the flow splitter;
- and
- directing the second sub-fluid flow to a second outlet of the flow splitter, the first sub-fluid flow being isolable from the second sub-fluid flow through the flow splitter by the internal vane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.