# US 8,784,651 B2 · Water separator

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- Number: US 8,784,651 B2
- Document ID: US8784651B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/120,860
- Filed: 2008-09-26
- Published: 2011-09-29
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-09-26
- Applicants: Fridthjof Moe
- Inventors: Fridthjof Moe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784651B2

## CPC

- A61C 17/065: {characterised by provisions for processing the collected matter, e.g. for separating solids or air}
- B01D 29/88: having feed or discharge devices
- B01D 35/14: Safety devices specially adapted for filtration (preventing or minimising fires or explosions A62C); Devices for indicating clogging (incorporated in a throw-away filter B01D27/10)
- Y10T 137/0324: With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
- Y10T 137/3109: Liquid filling by evacuating container
- Y10T 137/7316: Self-emptying tanks
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A water separator for continuous separation of water, air and particles includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, an upper chamber connected with a lower chamber, and a three-way valve located in an air connection pipe being adapted to establish a connection between the upper and lower chambers in a first position and closing the connection to the upper chamber and allowing atmospheric air to enter into the lower chamber in a second position. The upper chamber includes a coarse filter capturing particles from the liquid flow to the lower chamber. The water separator includes a main tank and a safety tank, which are connected through a connection pipe from the upper chamber in the main tank to the safety tank and through the air connection pipe from the lower chamber in the main tank to the safety tank. The inlet pipe is through the lid of the main tank.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A water separator for continuous separation of water, air and particles, said separator comprising:
an inlet pipe configured to receive a mixture of water, air and particles simultaneously from several sources;
an outlet pipe connected to a suction motor;
an upper chamber connected with a lower chamber by a valve in the bottom of the upper chamber, a bottom of the lower chamber normally being closed by a check valve; and
a three-way valve located in an air connection pipe being adapted to establish a connection between the upper and lower chambers in a first position and closing said connection to the upper chamber and allowing atmospheric air to enter into the lower chamber in a second position,
wherein the upper chamber comprises a coarse filter capturing particles from the liquid flow to the lower chamber, wherein the water separator comprises two tanks, a main tank and a safety tank, which are connected through a connection pipe from the upper chamber in the main tank to the safety tank and through the air connection pipe from the lower chamber in the main tank to the safety tank,
wherein the inlet pipe is through a lid of the main tank, and
wherein the outlet pipe is through a lid of the safety tank, and wherein a bottom of the safety tank is normally closed by a check valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The water separator according to claim 1, wherein the lower chamber comprises a level switch adapted to place the three way valve in the second position when the water level in the lower chamber reaches the level switch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The water separator according to claim 2, wherein the lower chamber comprises a lower level switch below the first level switch, being adapted to return the three way valve to the first position when the water level in the lower chamber reaches the lower level switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The water separator according to claim 3, wherein the safety tank comprises a level switch adapted to stop the suction motor and to give an alarm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method of controlling a water separator according to claim 4, where said level switch being activated by the water surface reaching said level switch causing the three-way valve to close the connection to the upper chamber and allowing atmospheric air to enter into the lower chamber, the valve in the upper chamber thereby closing due to the under pressure in the upper chamber through the safety tank, the check valve opening due to the atmospheric pressure in the lower chamber thereby allowing the content of the lower chamber to be drained until the surface of the content in the lower chamber reaches the lower level switch said switch activating the three-way valve to return to the first position for normal operation, wherein said level switch in the safety tank being activated by water surface reaching said level in the safety tank switch causing the suction motor to be stopped abruptly and an alarm signal being sent.