Jerry W Riddle

US Patent:

56767170, Oct 14, 1997

Filed:

Nov 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/554956

Inventors:

Larry H. Cope - Cooleemee NC
John R. Owings - Mocksville NC
Jerry W. Riddle - Advance NC

Assignee:

Ingersoll-Rand Company - Woodcliff Lake NJ

International Classification:

B01D 3602

US Classification:

55321

Abstract:

An apparatus for primary air/oil separation for an oil-flooded air compressor, the apparatus includes a tank having a sidewall, a bottom end and a top end. The sidewall and ends define a tank separation chamber. The apparatus further includes a flow conduit for flowing an air/oil mixture from the compressor into the tank separation chamber. A primary separator element is located in the chamber and provides primary separation of the air/oil mixture. The primary separator element is flow connected to the flow conduit and includes a body with at least two discharge ends and an arcuate elbow flow connected to each of the at least two discharge ends. Each elbow has an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion. As the air/oil mixture is forced through the separator element, the oil is drawn to the outer peripheral portion and the compressed air is located in the inner peripheral portion. In this way, primary separation of the oil and the air is achieved.