US 7,459,092 B2 · Aircraft rinse system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for separating particles and dissolved matter from a fluid stream incorporated in an aircraft rinse system. The present invention includes a first pressure source which transports collected rinse fluid into a separator annulus with a filter element disposed therein. The untreated fluid is placed under appropriate pressure sufficient to produce turbulent flow, increased particle kinetics and/or cavitation physics allowing the desired fluid to penetrate and pass into and through the filter media. The filtered fluid is then transported to a collection tank. The contaminant particulate matter retained on the exterior of the filter media may be removed by the instantenous reverse pressurization of the separator annulus by a second pressure source thereby removing the contaminant particles away from contact with the filter media, and which may then be transported to a waste collection tank or a concentrator for further treatment. The treated rinse fluid is thus recycled for use in the aircraft rinse system.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of recycling rinse fluid, said method comprising the steps of:

a) collecting used rinse fluid having contaminants;
b) removing sediment and scum from said used rinse fluid;
c) pumping said used rinse fluid into at least one separator and through a flux cartridge thereby capturing the remaining contaminant on the flux cartridge and transporting the resulting filtered fluid into the interior of the flux cartridge;
d) transporting the filtered fluid through a first outlet into a post-treatment holding tank;
e) reversing the flow of the filtered fluid through the flux cartridge to dislodge the contaminant collected thereon and transporting the fluid and reentrained contaminant directly to a concentrator;
f) introducing drying air to desiccate the fluid and reentrained contaminant in the concentrator so that a substantial portion of the fluid is removed;
g) removing the substantially dry contaminant from the concentrator,
h) pumping the filtered fluid to said post-treatment holding tank for use as a clean rinse fluid;
and
i) pmping the clean rinse fluid from the post-treatment holding tank to a fluid distribution manifold.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aircraft rinse system

Life of this patent

Aircraft rinse system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15