# US 5,705,076 A · Method for filtering contaminants from a mixture

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- Number: US 5,705,076 A
- Document ID: US5705076A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/626,356
- Filed: 1996-04-02
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1991-05-15
- Inventors: Herman E. Brinkley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705076A

## CPC

- B01D 17/0202: {by ab- or adsorption}
- B01D 17/00: Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion (devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material from water, waste water, or sewage C02F1/40; cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; arrangements for separating lubricants from refrigerants F25B43/02)
- B01D 17/04: Breaking emulsions
- B01D 17/044: {by changing the pressure}
- B01D 17/10: {with stationary filtering elements}
- C02F 1/681: {by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water}
- E02B 15/10: Devices for removing the material from the surface {(E02B15/041, E02B15/042, E02B15/06 take precedence)}
- E02B 15/104: {Conveyors; Paddle wheels; Endless belts (E02B15/101 takes precedence)}
- Y02A 20/204: Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills
- Y10S 210/924: using physical agent, e.g. sponge, mop
- 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)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A method for filtering contaminants from a mixture containing an oil-based fluid and a non-oil based fluid is provided. The method includes the steps of providing an oil-based fluid absorbent cloth of man-made fibers, the absorbent cloth having at least a portion thereof that is napped so as to define voids therein; forcing the mixture to flow through the absorbent cloth; trapping, in the absorbent cloth, contaminants from the mixture as the mixture is forced through the absorbent cloth; and absorbing, with the absorbent cloth, the oil-based fluid from the mixture while allowing the non-oil based fluid to flow through the absorbent cloth.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for filtering contaminants from a mixture containing an oil-based fluid and a non-oil-based fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an oil-based fluid absorbent article including an oil-based fluid absorbent cloth of man-made fibers and an oil-based fluid absorbent filler of man-made material, the absorbent cloth having at least a portion thereof that is napped so as to define voids therein;
forcing the mixture to flow through the absorbent cloth and the absorbent filler;
trapping, in the absorbent cloth and absorbent filler, contaminants from the mixture as the mixture is forced through the absorbent cloth and the absorbent filler; and
absorbing, with the absorbent cloth and the absorbent filler, the oil-based fluid from the mixture while allowing the non-oil-based fluid to flow through the absorbent cloth and the absorbent filler.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent filler is an open cell foam.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the foam is selected from the group consisting of polyester foams and polyether foams.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent filler is a shredded oil-based fluid absorbent cloth.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent filler is encased by the absorbent cloth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent cloth is formed from two sheets of sheet-form cloth and the absorbent filler is encased within the two sheets of sheet-form cloth.