Liquid separator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850219-B2
Application number	US-201916282850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2019
Priority date	Oct 3, 2013
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A liquid separator comprises a vessel with an inlet for a liquid/gas mixture. The vessel defines a space sealed at the top by means of a lid in which is situated an outlet to discharge treated gas. A shield is provided in the space extending around the outlet as of the lid, and a filter element provided within the shield. An outlet zone is defined between the shield and the filter element, wherein the outlet zone is in connection with the outlet. The shield comprises a bottom wall with at least one inlet opening and connection means for attaching the filter element onto the bottom wall. The connection means is configured such that the filter element, in a mounted condition, extends around the inlet opening as from the bottom wall, within a chamber defined by the shield, the lid and the bottom wall.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquid separator comprising:
a vessel with an inlet for a liquid/gas mixture, the vessel defining a space that is sealed at the top by a lid, the vessel having an outlet provided in the lid to discharge treated gas,
wherein the liquid separator further comprises within the space defined by the vessel
a shield that extends around the outlet, the shield having a sidewall and a bottom wall, the sidewall extending from the lid to the bottom wall to define a chamber between the lid and the bottom wall, and
a filter element provided within the shield such that an outlet zone is defined between the shield and the filter element;

wherein the outlet zone is connected with the outlet,
wherein the bottom wall includes an inlet opening, and a connector is provided at the inlet opening to attach the filter element to the bottom wall, the connector being configured such that the filter element, in a mounted condition, extends around the inlet opening,
wherein the bottom wall is provided with a protruding wall that extends from the bottom wall around the inlet opening, the protruding wall extending generally perpendicularly from a plane of the bottom wall,
wherein the protruding wall extends within the chamber,
wherein the connector includes a snap-in connection including a male part and a female part configured to co-operate, one of the male part and female part being provided on an inner periphery of the protruding wall and the other of the male part and female part being provided on an outer periphery of a connector body of the filter element,
wherein the male part of the snap-in connection extends in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the filter element, and
wherein the male part comprises an elliptical portion and a circular portion, wherein the elliptical portion and the circular portion overlap such that a fish-shaped portion is realized and that the female part comprises at least one flexible lip that is arranged to form a semicircle.

2. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the male part is provided on an inner periphery of the protruding wall and the female part is provided on the outer periphery of a connector body of the filter element.

3. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the circular portion of the male part is smaller than the elliptical portion of the male part.

4. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the female part comprises two flexible lips that are arranged to form half of a split circle, wherein a split is present between the lips.

5. The liquid separator according to claim 4 , wherein one of the at least two flexible lips is provided with an extended side portion that forms a guidance part of the male part.

6. The liquid separator according to claim 5 , wherein the extended side portion is curved to a shape complementary to the shape of the male part.

7. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the shield is provided with an integrated scavenge line.

8. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured so as to facilitate connecting and disconnecting of the filter element from the bottom wall.

9. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall forms an integral part with the shield.

10. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall is provided with two or more inlet openings, each inlet opening being associated with a connector that allows the mounting of a corresponding filter element.

11. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is a reversible connector that provides connection and disconnection between the filter element and the bottom wall by rotation of the filter element relative to the bottom wall.

12. The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is shaped as a dovetail connection.

13. A filter element configured to be used in a liquid separator according to claim 1 .

14. The filter element according to claim 13 , wherein the filter element comprises a connector body that is provided with a female part configured to co-operate with a male part of the connector, the female part being provided on an outer periphery of the connector body of the filter element so as to co-operate with the male part provided on an inner periphery of a protruding wall that extends from the bottom wall around the inlet opening of the liquid separator.

15. The filter element according to claim 14 , wherein the female part of the filter element is configured to co-operate with the male part that extends in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the filter element.

Assignees

• Atlas Copco Airpower Nv

Inventors

• COOLS Ronny

Classifications

• B01D46/58

  connected in parallel · CPC title

• B01D50/20

  Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00 · CPC title

• B01D2265/024

  Mounting aids · CPC title

• B01D2265/028

  Snap, latch or clip connecting means · CPC title

• B01D27/005

  Making filter elements not provided for elsewhere · CPC title