# US 2013/0153484 A1 · Fluid separators employing a fluidic bearing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153484 A1 - Document ID: US20130153484A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/805,751 - Filed: 2011-06-27 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-07 - Assignees: Fenwal, Inc. - Inventors: Salvatore Manzella, JR.; Richard L. West - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153484A1 ## CPC - F16C 32/067: {of bearings adjustable for aligning, positioning, wear or play} - A61M 1/265: {inducing Taylor vortices} - B01D 63/16: Rotary, reciprocated or vibrated modules - B23P 15/003: {bearings (see also F16C33/00)} - B01D 2313/041: Gaskets or O-rings - B01D 2315/02: Rotation or turning - Y10T 29/497: Pre-usage process, e.g., preloading, aligning - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid separation device of claim 1, wherein the first end is an upper end of the rotor, the second end is a lower end of the rotor, and the flexible seal is associated with the second end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid separation device of claim 1, wherein said flexible seal includes a mounting portion positioned against the outer housing and a seal portion extending between the mounting portion and the rotor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid separation device of claim 3, wherein the mounting portion of the flexible seal is generally cylindrical and the seal portion of the flexible seal is generally annular. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fluid separation device of claim 1, further comprising fluid between the outer housing and the rotor, wherein at least a portion of said fluid acts upon the rotor to maintain substantial coaxial alignment between the rotor and the outer housing. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bearing system of claim 6, wherein the dynamic body is rotatably received within the static body and an inner region of the dynamic body is in fluid communication with an outer region of the static body while a fluid seal is maintained between an outer region of the dynamic body and an inner region of the static body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The bearing system of claim 6, further comprising a flexible seal associated with one of a first and second end of the dynamic body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bearing system of claim 8, wherein said flexible seal includes a mounting portion positioned against the static body and a seal portion extending between the mounting portion and the dynamic body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bearing system of claim 9, wherein the mounting portion of the flexible seal is generally cylindrical and the seal portion of the flexible seal is generally annular. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said providing a static body, a dynamic body, and a fluid therebetween includes positioning the dynamic body so as to be rotatably received within the static body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said providing a static body, a dynamic body, and a fluid therebetween includes providing a flexible fluid seal between said at least one end of the dynamic body and the static body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the flexible fluid seal includes a mounting portion positioned against the static body and a seal portion extending between the mounting portion and the dynamic body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bearing system of claim 14, wherein the mounting portion of the flexible fluid seal is generally cylindrical and the seal portion of the flexible fluid seal is generally annular.