Claims
- 1. A device for separating solids from a fluid environment, the device comprising:a housing having a substantially cylindrical upper portion and a substantially conical lower portion within which the upper portion is received, the conical lower portion configured to collect solids which have been separated from the fluid environment; a chamber positioned circumferentially about a lower end of the upper portion at an intersection between the upper portion and the conical lower portion to generate a cyclonic flow pattern within the housing; an inlet on the chamber to introduce a suspension of solids and fluid into the housing; and a drain port positioned on the conical portion through which the separated solids can be removed.
- 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drain port is positioned at an apex of the conical portion.
- 3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drain port includes a draining assembly having:an substantially circular concavity; a substantially conical projection rising from within the concavity to localize cyclonic acceleration of the cyclonic flow pattern to draw the separated solids into the concavity; and an outlet in communication with the interior of the concavity to permit removal of the separated solids from within the concavity.
- 4. A device as set forth in claim 1, further including a weir trough positioned about the cylindrical upper portion to collect overflowing fluid as the fluid rises from within the housing.
- 5. A device as set forth in claim 4, further including an outlet port on the weir trough to permit removal of collected overflow fluid from the trough.
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION(S)
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial Nos. 60/200,155, filed Apr. 26, 2000, and 60/232,274, filed Sep. 13, 2000, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
6-2905 |
Jan 1994 |
JP |
2043304 |
Sep 1995 |
RU |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
PTO-2002-4299 which is a Machine Translation of Unexamined Japanease Patent Application JP 6-2905 dated Jan. 1994.* |
PTO-2002-4273 which is a Translation of Russian Federation Patent No. RU 2043304 C1 dated Sep. 1995. |
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/200155 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
|
60/232274 |
Sep 2000 |
US |