Patent ID: 6350299
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
In an oil recirculation system for a vacuum pump, a method for separating oil particulate from oil discharge (2) created by the vacuum pump, where the oil discharge includes both liquid oil (4) and gaseous oil smoke (6), using an air/oil separator (10), which includes a reservoir tank defining an interior thereof for receiving the oil discharge from the pump and accumulating liquid oil separated from the oil discharge therein and having an inlet port for introducing the oil discharge into the interior and an outlet port for returning liquid oil collected within the tank interior to the oil circulation system, first and second baffle plates disposed vertically within the tank interior, an elongated tubular filter housing positioned beneath the inlet means having one end positioned horizontally within the tank interior and extending through the first and second baffle plates and the other end protruding from the tank, a filter element supported within the filter housing inside the tank interior, and a splash plate mounted within the tank interior directly beneath the filter housing, wherein the tank interior is divided by the filter housing, first baffle plate and second baffle plate into an inlet chamber, a first collection chamber and a second collection chamber, such that the inlet chamber is defined and separated from the first and second collection chambers by the upper surface of the filter housing and first baffle plate, and the first collection chamber is separated from the second collection chamber by the filter housing and the second baffle plate,the method comprising the following steps: a. depositing the oil discharge into the inlet chamber of the reservoir tank directly over the filter housing means. b. venting the oil discharge from the inlet chamber into the primary collection chamber over the filter housing to slow and restrict the flow of the oil discharge. c. separating liquid oil and the gaseous oil smoke from the oil discharge within the first collection chamber using gravitational force; d. separating a portion of the oil particulate from the oil smoke within the first collection chamber via condensation; e. venting the oil smoke from the first collection chamber into the second collection chamber around the filter housing over the second baffle plate. f. separating a portion of the oil particulate from the oil smoke within the second collection chamber by condensation; g. drawing the oil smoke from the second collection chamber through the filter element to coalesce the remaining portion of oil particulate contained in the oil smoke.