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:
Mar. 10, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 08, 1996
Hans-Peter Streuber, Solingen, DE;
Julius Montz GmbH, Hilden, DE;
Abstract
Packed columns generate fluid flows which must be evenly divided, preferably over a broad range of fluid flow volumes. Runoff tongues are used to divide and distribute such flows. According to the present invention, each runoff tongue (2) is bifurcated in its lower portion to define two dripoff points (5). Mounted parallel to each bifurcated portion is a guide element (6), preferably of woven or perforated material. Each guide element is associated with a particular fluid outlet opening (3) in an end wall (1). An upper portion (6a) of the guide element extends through the opening (3) in end wall (1) into a fluid-containing zone whose bottom is defined by a seal (4). Preferably, at low-fluid-height states (H1), the guide element feeds fluid through the opening (3) by capillary action, while at high-fluid-height states (H2), direct overflow occurs. In a preferred embodiment, each guide element is semi-cylindrical and contacts the end wall (1) along a laterally central portion (6b) and defines wedge-shaped channels (9) between itself and the wall, which channels (9) serve to reliably conduct fluid to the dripoff points (5).