Fluid separators employing a fluidic bearing
AssigneeFenwal, Inc.
InventorsSalvatore Manzella, JR., Richard L. West
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid separation device is provided with an outer housing and a rotor rotatably received within the outer housing. The rotor housing has a first end and a second end. The outer surface of the rotor and/or the inner surface of the outer housing is adapted to allow passage of a fluid component through the surface. The device further includes a flexible seal associated with one of the ends of the rotor and adapted to allow for rotational, non-axial, and axial movement of the rotor with respect to the outer housing.
Claims15
A fluid separation device comprising:
- an outer housing;
- a rotor rotatably received within the outer housing and comprising
- a first end,
- a second end spaced from the first end, and
- an outer surface of the rotor and/or an inner surface of the outer housing adapted to allow passage of a fluid component through the surface;
- and
- a flexible seal associated with one of the ends of the rotor and adapted to allow for rotational, non-axial, and axial movement of the rotor with respect to the outer housing.
A bearing system comprising:
- a static body;
- a dynamic body which is rotatable about an axis;
- and
- a fluid between the static body and the dynamic body, wherein
- rotation of the dynamic body causes at least a portion of the fluid to rotate, and
- substantial coaxial alignment between the static body and the dynamic body is achieved by pressure equilibrium of at least a portion of the rotating fluid acting on the rotating dynamic body.
A method of achieving substantial coaxial alignment between a static body and a dynamic body, comprising:
- providing a static body, a dynamic body, and a fluid therebetween, with at least one end of the dynamic body being non-rigidly maintained in coaxial alignment with the static body;
- rotating the dynamic body about an axis, thereby causing at least a portion of the fluid to rotate;
- and
- achieving substantial coaxial alignment of said at least one end of the dynamic body with the static body by pressure equilibrium of at least a portion of the rotating fluid acting on the rotating dynamic body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.