An apparatus for separating liquids from gases or gaseous fluids is described. Features of the apparatus include: (1) the collection and removal of the moisture in the fluid is not dependent upon, or affected by gravity; (2) all the collected water is cyclically drained from the apparatus irrespective of the attitude of the separator; and (3) a fluid actuator is utilized to remove the collected water from the separator

Austin, I. G.

Dunn, W. F.

English

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U.S. Patent No. 2. / 31, 6 4-6
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Bonnie L. Henderson
Enclosure
7H&SA-Case-XBS-Ol295-1)
Patent (NSSA) * P
SATEB SEPABATOR
CSCL 131
N79-21345
Onclas
00/37 19.2,621
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19790013174 2020-03-20T18:34:08+00:00Z
April 28, 1964 W. F. DUNN ETAL
WATER SEPARATOR
Filed Dec. 23. 1960
3,131,040
INVENTORS:
IRVING G.AUSTIN ,*
WIN FRED F. DUNN,
Attorney.
3,131,040
Patented Apr. 28, 1964
3,131.040
WATER SEPARATOR
Winfred F. Dunn, Woodland Kills, snd Irving G. Austin,
Englewood, Calif., assignors <o The Garrett Corpora-
tion, Los Angeles, Calif™ a corporation of California
Filed Dec. 23, 1950, Ser.' No. 77,869
5 Claims. (CI. 55—159)
TTiis invention relates to apparatus for separating liquids
from gases or gaseous fluids,
The invention has particular utility in air conditioning
systems such as those employed for conditioning the air
delivered to a compartment or enclosure. However, it
is to 'oe understood that its utility is not limited to such
systems sines many other applications are possible, as
wDl be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Heretofore, in apparatus employed to remove moisture
from air delivered to an encsoiure, the moisture was con-
densed cr coalesced into water droplets and the droplets
were conveyed or blown to a collector section of the ap-
paratus where they gravitated to the lower portion of the
section. The water collected in the apparatus was drained
from the apparatus by means of a vaived drain locr.ted on
the bottom of the collector section.
A disadvantage cf the abcve-dsscribed separator is that
since the force of gravity is required to make the collected
water flow to-the lower portion of the collector section,
the separator could not be utilized under conditions of
zero gravity. Another disadvantage of such a separator
is that even if the collected water gravitated to the lower
portion of the collector section the water could not be
drained from the apparatus if the apparatus were disposed
fo that the vaived drain was in a position other than at
the bottom of the collector section.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome
the above disadvantages of prior water separators by
providing a separator wherein the collection and removal
of the moisture in the fluid is not dependent upon, or
affected by, gravity.
It is another object of the invention to provide a water
separator wherein all the collected water may be cyclically
drained from the apparatus irrespective of the attitude of
the separator.
It is still another object of the invention to provide
a water separator wherein z. fluid actuator is utilized
to remove the collected water from the separator.
Other and further objects of the invention will b? ap-
parent from the disclosure ia the following specification,
appended claims and drawing wheiein:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a separator embodying
. the present invention showing the sponge in position to
absorb and accumulate the moisture in the fluid flowing
through the separator; and
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2—2 of FIG.
1 showins the sponge compressed to squeeze the water
out of the sponge.
Referring to the drawing, a water separator embodying
the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The
separator comprises a housing 11 having an iniet 14
for admitting a stream of moisture-laden gas from which
entrained liquid particles, such as water, are to be re-
moved, and an outlet 15 through which the dry gas passes
from the separator. Disposed within the housing 11 and
supported in more or kss centra! relation thereto is a body
cf porous absorbent material such as, for example, a cel-
iuous vinyl sponge 16 adapted to absorb and retain the
moisture in the fluid passing therethrough. The sponge
16 Is shown rectangular in form, bat it is to be under-
stood that it may be any suitable form and dimension.
The sponge 16 is secured at one end to an imperforate
plate 18 and is adapted to be reciprocated in the manrier
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
CO
55
60
65
70
hereinafter described into and out of a walled chamfer
29 disposed in the housing 11 on one side of the inlet
and cutlet 14 and -.5. The chamber 2-J is formed of a
cover 21 ard a plurality of dependent wall plates 22
arranged to snugly receive the plate 18 when the sponge
16 is moved into the chamber 20. An O-ring 23 is dfe-
poscd around the periphery of the plate IS to pit-vent
leakage of the liquid past the plate when the sponge
16 is moved into the chamber 20 and squeezed. The
Iquid or moisture squeezed out of the sponge 16 is forced
through a check valve 25 located in tins cover 21 and
conducted to a container, not shown, or other place of
disposal. The chock valve 25 functions to prevent bacfc-
flow of tlie liquid into the chamber 20 when the spouse a
retracted from the chamber.
An actuator, designated generally by the numeral 27,
is provided to effect movement of the sponge 16 into
and out cf the chamber 20. The actuator includes aa
inner tubular member 28 secured on one end to fee
piste 18 and on i'.s opposite end to a piston 29. The
piston 29 anc! the tubular member 23 are arranged to
reciprocate within a chamber 30 formed within an outer
tubular member 32. The tubular member 23 additionally
extends through a guide member 33 to reciprocate the
plate 13 ia the housing 11. The outer tubular Eensbar
32 surrounds and is spr.ced from the inner tubular mem-
ber 2S to form an annular chamber 34 which is bounded
en one end by the guide member 33 and on the opposite
end by the piston 29. One or more vent opecinss 36
are arranged in the tubular member 2S adjacent the pis-
ton 23 to provide communication between the chamber
34 and a chamber 37 formed within the inner tubular
member 23.
A conduit 23 is provided for conducting pressurized
fluid from a source, not shown, to a closure member 39
secured on one end of the chamber 30. A passageway
40 in the member 3? joins the conduit 38 with a conduit
42 leading to an opening 43 in the cuter tubular mem-
ber 32. A cross passageway 44 leads froni the passage-
way 40 in the member 39 to the chamber 30.
A solenoid valve 46 disposed in the conduit 38 is pro-
vided with a vent 47 and is arranged so that the chgmfrgr
30 can be supplied with pressurized fluid from the con-
duit 38 or vented to a region of lower pressure, such as
ambient atmosphere, through the %'cnt 47. A check vahs
49 is arranged in the conduit 42 to permit equalization
of the pressures on the two sides of the piston 29 daring
the squeeze stroke. A conduit 51 joins an opening 52
in the cuter tubular member 32 with the pressure OJB-
duit 33 on the upstream side cf the solenoid valve 46
and is provided with a check valve 53 to prevent UK
pressure on to? of the piston 29 from exceeding the piss-
sure in the conduit 38.
In operation, when the sponge is in the position shawm
in FIG. 1, the chamber 30 is vented to a region of lower
pressure through the passageways 44 and 40, condail 38,
solenoid valve 46 and vent 47. The water droplets and
moisture in the fluid passing through the sponge !6 an
retained in the sponge. When it is desired to Tenons the
accumulated moisture from the sponge, the solenoid-valve
46 is actuated to shut off the vent 47 and the chamber 3>
is supplied with pressurized fluid from the conduit 3S
through the passageways 40 and 44. Simultaneously,
pressurized fluid is fed through the conduit 42 and open-
ing 43 to the chamber 34, and from the chamber 34
through the openings 36 to the chamber 37 within the
inner tubaiar member 28. The force of tte pressarfeed
fluid acts on the entire face of the piston 29 in the clam-
ber 30 and is opposed by the force of the pre
fluid acting on the portion of the piston 29 in
chamber 34. The differential between these two forces
3,131,040
moves the piston 29, the tubular member 28, and the
plate 18 in an upward direction, as shown in the drawing,
so that the sponge 16 is compressed within the chamber
29, as shown in FIG. 2, and ths accumulated moisture is
squeezed out of the sponge and forced through the check
valve 25 to a place of disposal.
When the solenoid 46 is de-energized to return the
sponge 16 to the position shown in FIG. 1, the chamber
30 is again vented to a region of Sower pressure through
the passageways 44 and 40, conduit 38, solenoid valve
46 anJ vent 47. However, due to the check valves 49
and 53 the upper side of the piston 29 remains pres-
surized, initially at line pressure. As the piston assembly
comprising the plate 13, the tubular member 28 and the
piston 29 is initially urged in the downwardly direction,
as shown in the drawing, by the expanding sponge, the
force of ihe pressurized fluid on the upper side of the
piston 29 acting on that poition of the piston in the an-
nular chamber 34 will augment the force exerted by the
expanding sponge and continue the downward movement
of the piston assembly. This process involves an ex-
pansion in the fluid volume of the pressurized fluid and
hence the finalized pressure and the resultant force on the
upper side of the piston will be lowered. The upper side
of the piston remains pressurized ai the lowered pressure
until another squeeze stroke is initiated.
As the sponge 16 is retracted from the compressed
position in the chamber 20 shown in FIG. 2 to the ex-
panded position shown in FIG. 1, a partial vacuum is
created in the chamber 2D. To prevent this vacuum from
adversely affecting the return of the sponge to the position
shewn in FIG. 1, a check valve 55 having a connection
with the chamber 20 is arranged to permit fluid to flow
from a source, such ES the ambient atmosphere, into the
chamber 20 to relieve the partial vacuum in the chamber.
V/e claim:
1. Apparatus operable in any attitude or under condi-
tions of zero gravity for collecting and removing liquid
entrained in a stream of gaseous fluid, comprising:
a housing having a cover and a plurality of dependent
wall plates;
an inlet associated with the wall plates of said housing
for admitting moisture-laden fluid into said housing;
an outlet associated with the wall plates of said housing
for conveying dry fluid from said housing;
a body of porous absorbent material normally dis-
posed in said housing in the line of flow of fluid
intermediate said inlet and said outlet to absorb the
moisture in the fluid;
an imperforate plate secured on the end of the body
of porous absorbent material opposite the cover of
said housing;
a nonreturn valve associated with the cover of said
housing and arranged to permit fluid to flow outward-
ly from said housing;
means arranged to move said imperforate plate to com-
press said body of absorbent material between said
imperforate plate and the cover i>f said housing to
squeeze the accumulated liquid out of snid material;
and sealing means disposed on said imperforate plate
to prevent leakage of fluid between the wall plates
of said housing and said imperforate plate whereby
the liquid squeezed out of said absorbent material is
forced out of ssid housing through said nonreturn
valve.
2. Apparatus operable in any attitude or under condi-
tions of zero gravity for collecting :<nd removing liquid
entrained in a stream of gaseous fiuid. comprising:
a housing having a cover and a plurality of dependent
wall plates;
an inlet associated with the wall plates of said housing
for admitting nroisture-lauen fluid into said housing;
an outlet associated with the v?al! plates of said hom-
ing for conveying dry fluid from said housing;
a body of porous absorbent material normally disposed
in said housing in the lire of flow of the fluid inter-
mediate said inlet and said outlet;
an imperforate plate secured on the end of the body
of porous absorbent material opposite the cover of
5 said housing;
a nonreturn valve associated with the cover of said
housing and arranged to permit fluid to flow out-
wardly from said housing;
actuator means including a piston connected to said
10 imperforate plate to reciprocally actuate said plate
to move said absorbent material between a normally
disposed position in the line of flow of fluid inter-
mediate said inlet and said outlet wherein the mate-
rial absorbs the moisture in the fluid and a position
15 adjacent the cover of said housing wherein the im-
pcrforate plate functions to squeeze the accumulated
liquid out of said absorbent material;
and sealing means disposed on said imperforate plate
to prevent leakage of fluid between the wall plates
20 of said housing and said imperforate plate whereby
the liquid squeezed out of said absorbent material
is forced out of said housing through said nonreturn
valve.
3. Apparatus operable in any attitude or under condi-
25 tions of zero gravity for collecting and removing liquid
entrained in a stream of gaseous fluid, comprising:
a housing;
an inlet for conducting moisture-laden fluid to said
housing;
30 an outlet for conveying dry fluid from said housing;
a body of porous absorbent material normally disposed
in said housing in the line of flow of fluid inter-
mediate said inlet and said outlet;
an imperforate plate secured on one end of said porous
35 absorbent material;
a chamber including walls disposed in said housing out-
side the line of fluid flow and contiguous the other
end of said poro;is absorbent material;
means including a nonreturn valve communicating with
40 said chamber and arranged to permit fluid to flow
outwardly from said chamber;
actuator means including a piston connected to said
imperforate plate to reciprocally actuate said plate
to move said absorbent material between a normally
45 disposed position in said housing in the line of flow
of fluid intermediate said inlet and said outlet wherein
the material absorbs the moisture in the fluid and a
position in said chamber wherein the imperforate
plate functions to squeeze the accumulnted liquid out
50 of said absorbent material;
and sealing means disposed on said imperforate plate
to prevent leakage of fluid between the walls cf said
chamber and said imperforate plate whereby the
liquid squeezed out of said absorbent material is
55 forced out of said chamber through said nonreturn
valve.
4. Apparatus operable in any attitude or under con-
ditions of zero gravity for collecting and removing liquid
entrained in a stream cf gaseous fluid, comprising:
60 a housing;
an inlet for conducting moisture-laden fluid to said
housing;
an outlet for conveying dry fluid from said housing;
a body of porous absorbent material normally disposed
65 in said housing in the line of flow of fluid inter-
mediate said inlet and said outlet to absorb the
moisture in the fluid;
an imperforate plate secured on one end of said porous
absorbent material;
70 a chamber including walls disposed in said housing
outside the line of fluid flow and contiguous the other
end of said porous absorbent material;
r.-.cans including a nonreturn valve communicating with
said chamber and arranged to permit fluid to flow out-
75 wardly from said chamber;
3,131,040
piston means adapted to be reciprocally actuated in
response to Euid" pressure to actuate said imperforate
plate to move sard body of absorbent material from
its normally disposed position in said housing in the
line of flow of ihe fluid intermediate said inlet and 5
said outlet into said chamber and compress the ma-
terial therein to squeeze the accumulated liquid out
of said material and to return said body of absorbent
material from ssid chamber to its normally disposed
position in said bousing; 10
means for supplying pressurized fluid to actuate said
piston means;
and sealing means disposed on said imperforate plate
to prevent leakacs of fluid between the walls of said
chamber and said imperforate plate whereby the 15
liquid squeezed out of said absorbent material is
forced out of ssld chamber through said nonreturn
valve.
5. Apparatus operable in any attitude or under condi-
tions of zero gravity for collecting and removing liquid 20
entrained in a streaia of gaseous fluid, comprising:
a housing;
an inlet for coniiKting moisture-laden fluid to said
housing;
an outlet for conveying dry fluid from said housing; 25
a body of porous ssscrbent material normally disposed
in s>atd bousing ci the line of flow of fluid inter-
mediate-said islet and said outlet to absorb the
moisture in the feud;
an imperforate plate secured on one end of said porous 30
absorbent material;
a chamber including walls disposed in said housing out-
side the line of fluid flow and contiguous the other
end of said porcos absorbent material; 331,840
means on said housing forming a piston chamber;
piston means connected to said imperforate plate and
disposed for movement in said piston chamber;
means for conducting fluid under pressure to the piston
chamber to actuate said piston means and said im-
perforate plate in a direction to move said porous
absorbent material into said chamber and compress
said material therein;
means including a nonreturn valve communicating with
said chamber and arranged to permit fluid to flow
outwardly from said chamber;
sealing means disposed on said imperforate plate to
prevent leakage of fluid between the walls of said
chamber and said imperforate plate whereby the
liquid squeezed out of said absorbent material v/hea
said material is being compressed in said chamber is
forced out of said chamber through said nonreturn
valve;
and means for venting the pressure fluid from said
piston chamber and actuating said piston means and
said imperforate plate in a direction to move said
absorbent material out of said chamber and return it
to its normally disposed position in said housing In-
termediate said inlet and said outlet.
259,041
515,769
1,252,872
2,798,573
References Cited in the file of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
Perrett June 6, 1882
Harris Mar. 6,1894
Yoggerst et al Jan. 8,1918
Vesterdal et al. July 9,1957
FOREIGN PATENTS
Switzerland Sept. 30, 1958


Water separator

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