Particle separation method and apparatus
AssigneeCobe Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsDennis Hlavinka, Frank Corbin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for filtering or separating particles. The apparatus has a centrifuge rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation. A fluid chamber rotates with the rotor. A substance is supplied to the inlet of the chamber. A saturated fluidized bed of first particles forms within the fluid chamber and obstructs flow of second particles through the chamber. Additive substances alter sedimentation velocity of the first particles to modify the filtration characteristics of the saturated fluidized bed.
Claims29
A method of separating first particles from second particles, the method comprising the steps of:
- rotating a centrifuge rotor about an axis of rotation, the rotor having an associated fluid chamber rotatable therewith, the fluid chamber having an inlet and an outlet;
- controlling rotation of the rotor;
- altering sedimentation velocity of the first particles;
- passing a quantity of the first particles into the inlet of the rotating fluid chamber;
- forming, with the first particles, a saturated fluidized bed within the fluid chamber;
- and
- flowing into the fluid chamber inlet liquid having at least a quantity of the second particles dispersed therein while simultaneously maintaining the bed within the fluid chamber, so that the bed substantially prevents flow of the second particles from the fluid chamber inlet to the fluid chamber outlet while substantially permitting flow of the liquid and a portion of the first particles to the outlet.
A method of separating first particles from second particles, the method comprising the steps of:
- rotating a centrifuge rotor about an axis of rotation, the rotor having an associated fluid chamber rotatable therewith, the fluid chamber having an inlet and an outlet;
- controlling rotation of the rotor;
- altering sedimentation velocity of the first particles;
- passing a quantity of the first particles into the inlet of the rotating fluid chamber;
- forming, with the first particles, a saturated fluidized bed within the fluid chamber;
- flowing into the fluid chamber inlet liquid having at least a quantity of the second particles dispersed therein while simultaneously maintaining the bed within the fluid chamber, so that the bed substantially prevents flow of the second particles from the fluid chamber inlet to the fluid chamber outlet while substantially permitting flow of the liquid and a portion of the first particles from the outlet;
- and
- separating the portion of the first particles flowing from the outlet of the fluid chamber from the liquid flowing from the outlet of the fluid chamber.
An apparatus for separating first particles from second particles, the apparatus comprising:
- a motor;
- a centrifuge rotor coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis of rotation;
- a holder for holding a fluid chamber on the rotor with an outlet of the fluid chamber positioned closer to the axis of rotation than an inlet of the fluid chamber;
- means for supplying liquid and first and second particles to the inlet of the fluid chamber;
- means for altering sedimentation velocity of the first particles;
- and
- means for controlling at least one of the motor and the supplying means to maintain a saturated fluidized bed of first particles within the fluid chamber and to cause second particles to be retained in the fluid chamber.
An apparatus for separating first particles from second particles, the apparatus comprising:
- a motor;
- a centrifuge rotor coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis of rotation;
- a fluid chamber connected to the rotor, the fluid chamber having an inlet and an outlet;
- means for supplying liquid and first and second particles to the inlet of the fluid chamber;
- means for controlling at least one of the motor and the supplying means to maintain a saturated fluidized bed of first particles within the fluid chamber and to cause second particles to be retained in the fluid chamber;
- and
- means for separating particles flowing from the outlet of the fluid chamber from liquid flowing from the outlet of the fluid chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.