Antivortex device and method of assembling thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9970389-B2
Application number	US-201414199093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2014
Priority date	Mar 6, 2014
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

An antivortex device for use in suppressing formation of a vortex created by fluid flowing through multiple outlet ports defined in a sump is provided. The antivortex device includes a plurality of center plates extending through a central axis of the sump, an extension plate substantially aligned with one of the plurality of center plates and extending substantially radially outward from the central axis, and a top plate coupled to the plurality of center plates.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antivortex device for use in suppressing formation of a vortex created by fluid flowing through multiple outlet ports defined in a sump, said antivortex device comprising:
a plurality of center plates coupled to and extending radially through a central axis of the sump, each center plate of the plurality of center plates having a bottom edge contained in a first plane perpendicular to said central axis;
a top plate coupled to said plurality of center plates, said top plate having a top surface in a second plane perpendicular to said central axis, the antivortex device having a height defined as a distance between the first plane and the second plane along said central axis; and
a plurality of extension plates, wherein each one of said plurality of extension plates is substantially aligned with a respective center plate of said plurality of center plates, said plurality of extension plates extending substantially radially outward from said plurality of center plates such that a distal end of each one of said plurality of extension plates is located within said height.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said plurality of center plates are oriented such that at least one of the multiple outlet ports are substantially aligned with a flow path defined between adjacent center plates.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said plurality of extension plates are removably coupled to respective center plates of said plurality of center plates.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said plurality of center plates are sized for insertion into the sump.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said plurality of center plates, said extension plate, and said top plate comprise a plurality of perforations such that each of said plurality of center plates, said extension plate, and said top plate have a porosity between about 20% and about 40%.

6. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one stringer coupled between two plates including at least two of said plurality of center plates or at least two of said plurality of extension plates, said at least one stringer configured to increase the rigidity of the antivortex device.

7. The device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said plurality of extensions plates each comprise a top edge that is substantially coplanarly aligned with said top plate.

8. A liquid reservoir comprising:
a bottom portion;
a sump selectively coupled to said bottom portion and comprising multiple outlet ports; and
an antivortex device comprising:
a first sub-assembly comprising:
a plurality of center plates coupled to said sump, said plurality of center plates coupled to and extending radially through a central axis of said sump, each center plate of the plurality of center plates having a bottom edge contained in a first plane perpendicular to said central axis; and
a top plate coupled to said plurality of center plates, said top plate having a top surface in a second plane perpendicular to said central axis, the antivortex device having a height defined as a distance between the first plane and the second plane along said central axis;

a second sub-assembly coupled to said bottom portion and comprising:
a plurality of extension plates, wherein each one of said plurality of extension plates is substantially aligned with a respective center plate of said plurality of center plates, said plurality of extension plates extending substantially radially outward from said plurality of center plates such that a distal end of each one of said plurality of extension plates is located within said height; and

at least one stringer coupled between two plates, the at least two plates including at least two of said plurality of center plates or at least two of said plurality of extension plates.

9. The liquid reservoir in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the liquid reservoir is a tank for storing liquid propellant for a rocket.

10. The liquid reservoir in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said first sub-assembly is sized for insertion through a sump aperture defined in said bottom portion.

11. The liquid reservoir in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said sump comprises a recessed region configured to receive at least a portion of said plurality of center plates.

12. The liquid reservoir in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said at least a portion of said plurality of center plates extend below a bottom edge of each one of said plurality of extension plates.

13. The liquid reservoir in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said plurality of center plates and said plurality of extension plates comprise a plurality of perforations such that each of said plurality of center plates and said plurality of extension plates have a porosity between about 20% and about 40%.

14. The liquid reservoir in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said plurality of extensions plates each comprise a top edge that is substantially coplanarly aligned with said top plate.

15. A method of assembling an antivortex device for use in a liquid reservoir, said method comprising:
coupling a first sub-assembly to a sump detached from the liquid reservoir, wherein the first sub-assembly includes:
a plurality of center plates coupled to and extending radially through a central axis of the sump, each center plate of the plurality of center plates having a bottom edge contained in a first plane perpendicular to said central axis; and
a top plate coupled to said plurality of center plates, said top plate having a top surface in a second plane perpendicular to said central axis, the first sub-assembly having a height defined as a distance between the first plane and the second plane along said central axis; and

coupling a second sub-assembly to a bottom portion of the liquid reservoir through a sump aperture defined in the bottom portion, wherein the second sub-assembly includes a plurality of extension plates coupled inside said liquid reservoir;
coupling at least one stringer between two plates, the at least two plates including at least two of said plurality of center plates or at least two of said plurality of extension relates to increase rigidity of the antivortex device; and
coupling the sump to the bottom portion by inserting the first sub-assembly into first sub-assembly such that each one of said plurality of extension plates is substantially aligned with a respective one of the plurality of center plates and extends substantially radially outward from the central axis such that a distal end of each one of said plurality of extension plates is located within said height.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein coupling the sump to the bottom portion comprises sizing the first sub-assembly for insertion through the sump aperture defined in the bottom portion of the liquid reservoir.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising defining a plurality of perforations in the plurality of center plates and the plurality of extension plates such that each of the plurality of center plates and the plurality of extension plates have a porosity between about 20% and about 40%.

18. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein coupling a second sub-assembly to the bottom portion comprises forming a bottom portion of each one of the plurality of extension plates to substantially correspond to a contour of the bottom portion of the liquid reservoir.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Lopez Alfredo
• Grayson Gary David
• Addison Stephen Michael

Classifications

• Y10T137/86348

  Tank with internally extending flow guide, pipe or conduit · CPC title

• Y10T29/49346

  Rocket or jet device making · CPC title

• F05D2300/514

  Porosity · CPC title

• F05D2260/602

  Drainage · CPC title

• F05D2240/12

  Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes · CPC title