APPARATUS FOR FILTERING WATER FROM PETROLEUM DERIVATIVES

APPAREIL SERVANT A EXTRAIRE L'EAU DES DERIVES DU PETROLE

English Abstract

An apparatus for filtering water from petroleum
derivatives, includes a liquid containing housing having an
inlet, an outlet and a filter medium retention cavity disposed
between the inlet and the outlet. All liquid flowing through
the housing from the inlet to the outlet must pass through a
filter medium positioned in the filter medium retention cavity.
A first pressure sensor is provided for detecting a first
pressure of petroleum derivatives entering through the inlet
of the housing. A second pressure sensor is provided for
detecting a second pressure of petroleum derivatives exiting
through the outlet of the housing. A pressure switch is
connected to the first pressure sensing means and the second
pressure sensing means. The pressure switch is activated when
a differential in pressure between the first pressure and the
second pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure differential.

French Abstract

Cette invention concerne un appareil servant à extraire l'eau de dérivés du pétrole et qui comprend un corps, un orifice d'entrée, un orifice de sortie et un filtre intercalé entre les deux orifices. Tout le liquide passant dans le corps de l'appareil doit obligatoirement traverser le filtre qui s'y trouve. L'appareil est équipé d'un premier capteur de pression servant à mesurer la pression des dérivés du pétrole à l'entrée et d'un second capteur de pression mesurant la pression à la sortie. Un manocontacteur raccordé à ces deux capteurs intervient lorsque la différence entre les pressions détectées à l'entrée et à la sortie dépasse un seuil prédéterminé.

Claims

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THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for filtering water from petroleum
derivatives, comprising, in combination:
a liquid containing housing having an inlet, an outlet and
a water absorption filter retention cavity disposed between the
inlet and the outlet, such that all liquids flowing through the
housing from the inlet to the outlet must pass through a water
absorption filter positioned in the filter retention cavity;
the inlet and outlet of the housing being in the flow path
of petroleum derivatives to an engine such that all petroleum
derivatives must pass through the housing prior to reaching the
engine;
first pressure sensing means for detecting a first
pressure of petroleum derivatives entering through the inlet
of the housing;
second pressure sensing means for detecting a second
pressure of petroleum derivatives exiting through the outlet
of the housing;
switch means connected to the first pressure sensing
means, and the second pressure sensing means, the switch means
being activated when a differential in pressure between the
first pressure and the second pressure exceeds a predetermined
pressure differential, the switch means being connected to and
controlling the operation of an engine, thereby shutting down
the engine to avoid damage occurring to the engine as a result
of water passing through the water absorption filter, the water
absorption filter having been rendered ineffective due to water
saturation.
2. The apparatus for filtering water from petroleum
derivatives as defined in Claim 1, wherein the switch means is
also connected to an alarm, thereby alerting an operator that
the water absorption filter is becoming saturated with water.
3. The apparatus for filtering water from petroleum
derivatives as defined in Claim 1, wherein the switch means is

6
a pressure switch.
4. An apparatus for filtering water from petroleum derivatives,
comprising:
a liquid containing housing having an inlet, an outlet and
a water absorption filter retention cavity disposed between the
inlet and the outlet, such that all liquid flowing through the
housing from the inlet to the outlet must pass through a water
absorption filter positioned in the filter retention cavity;
an adaptor for coupling the housing with an engine, the
adaptor including in inlet line extending to the inlet and an
outlet line extending to the outlet;
a first pressure sensor for detecting a first pressure of
petroleum derivatives flowing through the inlet line and
entering through the inlet of the housing;
a second pressure sensor for detecting a second pressure
of petroleum derivatives exiting through the outlet of the
housing and flowing through the outlet line;
a differential pressure switch connected to the first
pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, the pressure
switch being activated when a differential in pressure between
the first pressure and the second pressure exceeds a
predetermined pressure differential;
an alarm coupled with the differential pressure switch,
thereby alerting an operator that the water absorption filter
is becoming saturated with water;
a timer coupled with the alarm; and
a shutdown switch coupled with the timer, such that the
shutdown switch enters shutdown mode a predetermined time
interval after the alarm has been activated by the differential
pressure switch.
5. The Apparatus for filtering water from petroleum
derivatives as defined in Claim 4, in combination with an
engine, the inlet and outlet of the housing being in the flow
path of petroleum derivatives to the engine such that all
petroleum derivatives must pass through the housing prior to

7
reaching the engine, the shutdown switch being connected to and
controlling the operation of the engine, such that when the
shutdown switch enters the shutdown mode the engine is shutdown
to avoid damage occurring to the engine as a result of water
passing through the water absorption filter which has been
rendered ineffective due to water saturation.

Description

CA 022291~6 1998-02-06
TITLE OF THE lNV~N-LION:
apparatus for filtering water from petroleum derivatives
NAME(S) OF lNV~N-LOR(S):
Melvin Howatt
Wayne Howatt
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for
filtering water from petroleum derivatives.
BACKGROUND OF THE lNV~NlION
Petroleum derivatives are used as fuels and lubricants.
The presence of water in the petroleum derivatives destroys
their effectiveness. For example, the presence of water in oil
causes an emulsion to form. This results in a loss of viscosity
which drastically reduces the lubricating properties of the
oil.
Filter medium have been developed which have the ability
to absorb water. When such filter medium is incorporated into
a flow through filtration apparatus, an engine is protected
from water contaminated fuels or lubricants. Eventually the
filter medium becomes saturated with water and, as such, is no
longer effective. Unless the water saturated filter medium is
changed in a timely fashion, catastrophic engine failure will
occur.
SUMMARY OF THE lNV~N-LION
What is required is an apparatus for filtering water from
petroleum derivatives that can alert the operator to change the
filter medium before a catastrophic engine failure occurs.
According to the present: invention there is provided an
apparatus for filtering water from petroleum derivatives which
includes a liquid containing housing. The housing has an
inlet, an outlet and a filter medium retention cavity disposed

CA 022291~6 1998-02-06
between the inlet and the outlet. All liquid flowing through
the housing from the inlet to the outlet must pass through a
filter medium positioned in the filter medium retention cavity.
First pressure sensing means are provided for detecting a first
pressure of petroleum derivatives entering through the inlet
of the housing. Second pressure sensing means are provided for
detecting a second pressure of petroleum derivatives exiting
through the outlet of the housing. Switch means are connected
to the first pressure sensing means and the second pressure
sensing means. The switch means is activated when a
differential in pressure between the first pressure and the
second pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure differential.
The filtration apparatus, as described above, is intended
to avoid catastrophic engine failure. The switch means can
either trigger an auditory or a visual alarm to alert an
operator or can shut down the engine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is perspective view of an apparatus for filtering
water from petroleum derivatives constructed in accordance with
the teaching of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus for
filtering water from petroleum derivatives illustrated in
FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESGRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, an apparatus for filtering water
from petroleum derivatives generally identified by reference
numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1
and 2.

CA 022291~6 1998-02-06
Referring to FIGURE 1, apparatus 10 includes a liquid
containing housing 12 and an adaptor 14. In the illustrated
embodiment, liquid containing housing 12 consists of two
canisters 16 and 18. Two canisters are provided solely for the
purpose of having increased capacity. A single canister would
work equally well. Housing 12 has an inlet 20 and an outlet
22. Canisters 16 and 18 serve as filter medium retention
cavities. All liquid flowing through housing 12 from inlet 20
to outlet 22 must pass through filter medium (not shown)
positioned in filter medium retention cavities 16 and 18.
Filter medium suitable for use in apparatus 10 may be obtained
from a number of suppliers, such as Delaware Manufacturing
Industries Corp. Adaptor 14 is used for coupling housing 12
with an engine (not shown). Adaptor includes an inlet line 24
extending to inlet 20 and an outlet line 26 extending to outlet
22. A differential pressure switch 28 is mounted on housing
12. Differential pressure switch 28 is manufactured by Frank
W. Murphy Manufacturing and sold under the trademark SWICHGAGE.
Referring to FIGURE 2, a first pressure sensor 30 is
provided for detecting a first pressure of petroleum
derivatives flowing through inlet line 24 and entering through
inlet 20 of housing 12. A second pressure sensor 32 is
provided for detecting a second pressure of petroleum
derivatives exiting through outlet 22 of housing and flowing
through outlet line 26. First pressure sensor 30 and second
pressure sensor 32 are both connected to differential pressure
switch 28, which is activated when a differential in pressure
between the first pressure and the second pressure exceeds a
predetermined pressure differential. An auditory alarm 34 is
coupled with differential pressure switch 28. When
differential pressure switch 28 is exposed to the predetermined
pressure differential, auditory alarm 34 sounds to alert an
operator that the filter meclium is becoming saturated with
water. A timer 36 is also coupled with alarm 34 and a shutdown
switch 38 is, in turn, coupled with timer 36. Timer 36
switches shutdown switch 38 to a shutdown mode a predetermined

CA 022291~6 1998-02-06
time interval after the sounding of alarm 34. If there is not
an operator in the vicinity t:o shut down the engine within a
reasonable time after auditory alarm 34 sounds, shutdown switch
38 will ensure that the engine is shutdown before catastrophic
engine failure occurs.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Representative Drawing