Method of and system for fluid purification

• US 7,244,353 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oil Purification Systems, Inc. (Pittsburgh Power, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oil Purification Systems, Inc. (Pittsburgh Power, Inc.)
• Inventors: Whitmore, C. Barclay, Gutierrez, Jose G., Gutierrez, Javier G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Savage; Matthew O.
• Application Number:
  US10/713,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/92, 210180-182, 210/184, 210/248, 210/249, 210/418, 210/444, 210/450, 210/453, 210/440, 210/442, 210/443, 210/455, 210/457, 210/497.01, 210/259, 210/295, 123/196.A, 196/46, 196/46.1, 196/121, 196/128, 219/205, 962/18, 962/19
• US Class Current: 210/85
• CPC Class Codes: B01B 1/005 Evaporation for physical or chemical purposes; Evaporation apparatus therefor, e.g. evaporation of liquids for gas phase reactions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/0082 Regulation; Control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/00 Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor

Abstract

A method of and system for purifying fluid of an internal combustion engine or hydraulic system utilizes an evaporation chamber separate from a filtering chamber. A metering valve may be oriented between the filtering chamber and the evaporation chamber to control the flow of fluid to the evaporation chamber.

Claims

1. A system for purifying fluid, said system comprising:

a filtration canister for filtering particulates from the fluid and including;

a cylindrical container,

a filter element for removing the particulates from the fluid,

the filtration canister adapted for receiving one of a plurality of types of the filter element and for receiving fluid via a pipe connection,

a head for sealing an upper portion of the container,

a threaded stud for securing the head and the container,

a centering spring for securing the filter element around the threaded stud,

means for securing and sealing the head and the filter element therein without allowing fluid to bypass the filter element; and

a separate evaporation canister, in flow communication with the filtration canister, for removing liquid contaminants by evaporation and including;

a heating wand and an evaporator cup assembly housed within the evaporation canister, said evaporator cup having a base containing an orifice through which fluid flow is received, said orifice defining an opening at a floor of the evaporator cup for directing fluid into the evaporator cup, the heating wand being disposed adjacent said floor and over said opening of the evaporator cup and defining a fluid volume within the evaporator cup and above the heating wand that is greater than a fluid volume within the evaporator cup and beneath the heating wand, wherein the fluid flow from the orifice engulfs the heating wand thereby facilitating heating of the fluid rising in the evaporator cup and the evaporation of the liquid contaminants.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said filter element is adapted for filtering oil.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said filter element is adapted for filtering hydraulic fluid.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the head of the filtration canister comprises:

a compression ring for pressing against a portion of the filter element;

a first orifice for receiving oil from an engine;

a second orifice for receiving filtered oil; and

a gasket for sealing the head against the filtration canister.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said filtration canister further comprises:

a sampling valve for sampling fluid from the filtration canister;

wherein the sampling valve is adapted for sampling fluid during fluid flow into the filtration canister.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a shut-off valve for preventing flow of fluid into the filtration canister by causing the fluid to bypass the filtration canister.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the evaporator cup is manufactured with exterior ridges for impeding the flow of the fluid.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the evaporation canister comprises:

a visual indicator for alerting a user as to whether electrical power is supplied to the heating wand; and

a conduit for receiving and removing vaporized liquid contaminants from the evaporation canister.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a metering valve located between the filtration canister and the evaporation canister for selective positioning to control fluid flow.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the evaporation canister is formed of cold rolled steel and plated with Nickel Plating, and wherein the head of the evaporation canister is formed of Aluminum Alloy.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the head of the evaporation canister comprises an orifice for receiving wires that supply electrical power to the heating wand.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical container of the filtration canister is formed of cold rolled steel and plated with Nickel Plating, and wherein the head of the filtration canister is formed of Aluminum Alloy.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the head of the evaporation canister includes an outer raised edge that is oriented to be placed inside the container and prevents liquid from leaking out of the filtration canister.

14. A system for purifying fluid, said system comprising:

a filtration canister for filtering particulates from the fluid;

a separate evaporation canister, in flow communication with the filtration canister, for removing liquid contaminants by evaporation and including;

a heating wand and an evaporator cup assembly housed within the evaporation canister, said evaporator cup having a base containing an orifice through which fluid flow is received, said orifice defining an opening at a floor of the evaporator cup for directing fluid into the evaporator cup, the heating wand being disposed adjacent said floor and over said opening of the evaporator cup and defining a fluid volume within the evaporator cup and above the heating wand that is greater than a fluid volume within the evaporator cup and beneath the heating wand, wherein the fluid flow from the orifice engulfs the heating wand thereby facilitating heating of the fluid rising in the evaporator cup and the evaporation of the liquid contaminants.