US 4,437,986 AGranted

Separating device and cartridge therefor

AssigneeFram Corporation

InventorsCharles K. Hutchins, Donald I. Thornton, Richard H. Peyton

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Abstract

Separating device for separating the liquid components of a liquid mixture comprising an annular coalescing medium (84) for causing the liquid component to be removed from the mixture to coalesce into droplets, and a conical separating medium (102) tapering toward a liquid collecting sump (98). A heating element (46) heats the liquid mixture when the temperature of the mixture is below a predetermined temperature. An open, fibrous batt of filtering material (100) circumscribes the coalescing medium (84) to collect wax crystals which form during cold temperature conditions. A relief valve (108) permits liquid to bypass the separating medium (102) when the pressure differential across the separating medium (102) exceeds a predetermined amount. Accordingly, initial flow through the separating device is established, permitting the heater to heat the liquid to a temperature above that at which wax crystals form.

Claims13

Dependent claims

Separator cartridge for separating immiscible components of a liquid mixture comprising a casing having inlet and outlet connections adapted for communication to a liquid flow system, an annular coalescing medium within said casing for causing the liquid component to be separated from said mixture to agglomerate into liquid droplets, said coalescing medium having inner and outer surfaces, a sump defined within said casing for collecting the liquid to be separated from the liquid mixture, means in said casing for deflecting liquid flow through said inlet connection to the outer surface of said coalescing medium, a separating medium coaxial with said coalescing medium and located downstream of the latter so that the liquid mixture flows through the coalescing medium before reaching the separating medium, said liquid mixture flowing from the inner surface of said coalescing medium to said separating medium while allowing at least some of the coalesced liquid droplets of the liquid to be removed from said mixture to deposit in said sump, the surface of said separating medium being a material repellant to the liquid to be removed from said mixture so that droplets of the liquid to be removed deposit on said surface and fall into said sump while the other liquid of said liquid mixture passes therethrough, and pressure differential responsive means opening to permit said liquid mixture to bypass said separating medium when pressure differential across said separating medium attains a predetermined level, said pressure differential responsive means closing when the pressure differential drops below the predetermined level.

Separating device for separating immiscible components of a liquid mixture in which wax crystals form when the temperature is below a predetermined temperature, comprising a housing having inlet and outlet fittings for connection in a liquid flow system, a sump for collecting liquid separated from said mixture and means to effect separation of water from said mixture, said housing having a heating element for heating the liquid flowing through said device to a temperature above said predetermined temperature, said heating element being located in the flowpath in said housing between said inlet and outlet fittings, said separating effecting means including an annular coalescing medium within said housing, a separating medium in said housing arranged so that said mixture flows through said coalescing medium before reaching said separating medium, and pressure differential responsive means responsive to a predetermined differential pressure for permitting said liquid mixture to bypass said separating medium after said liquid mixture has passed through the coalescing medium and closing when said pressure differential across said pressure differential responsive means drops below said predetermined differential pressure, said predetermined differential pressure being set at a pressure level at which the wax crystals in the liquid mixture may cause said separating medium to be restricted by said wax crystals, said pressure differential responsive means closing when a sufficient quantity of the liquid mixture has been bypassed around said separating medium to permit the liquid heated by the heating element to reach the separating medium at which time the pressure differential across said pressure differential responsive means drops below said predetermined differential pressure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.