The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 1985
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1984
Pradip S Mehta, Corpus Christi, TX (US);
USM Corporation, Farmington, CT (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for physically separating a heterogeneous mixture of immiscible liquids utilizing the difference in the viscosities of the components. At least one moveable surface is enclosed by at least one stationary surface to form a processing passage. Viscous-drag-induced momentum is transferred preferentially from the moving surface(s) to the more viscous component of the mixture, moving it downstream toward a collecting and pressurizing obstructing member. The resulting pressure 'squeezes' the less viscous droplets upstream to separate from the collected material and drain from the passage through a drainage opening. In a preferred embodiment, an annular channel rotates within a housing, dragging the mixture from an inlet to an obstructing member extending into the passage near an outlet. The separated less viscous component drains from a drainage opening in the housing, while the more viscous component is discharged through the outlet. In another preferred embodiment, a plurality of annular passages is interconnected for series operation by material transfer grooves formed in the closure surface of the housing.