Short distillation head with integrated cooling spiral

A distillation apparatus has a cooling spiral surrounding at least a part of a vertical extent of a fraction collector in the disclosed technology. Connecting to and/or extending into an interior space of the fraction collector is an end of a vertically-extending passageway. This passageway is functionally connected at an other end to a lower-end entry portal. An outer cover substantially covers the cooling spiral, fraction collector, and a portion of the vertically-extending passageway, excepting for a top portal, a side exit portal, at least one cooling spiral intake, and at least one cooling spiral outtake.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The disclosed technology relates generally to distillation and, more specifically, to a short path distillation head with an integrated cooling spiral.

BACKGROUND

Distillation or fractional distillation is carried out by heating a solid or liquid and removing gaseous vapors that are expelled therefrom. This is typically carried out by raising the temperature and boiling off fractions of the solid or liquid based on their differing boiling points. Separated compounds are removed from a distillation apparatus into an attached condenser in order to be converted from gas into a solid or liquid. Sometimes, however, the condensation process can be slow and/or less than precise when fractions have close boiling points and thus prevent the distillation from functioning at peak efficiency.

Therefore, there is therefore a need for a distillation system which separates fractions more precisely and faster without compromising the efficacy of the distillation.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The disclosed technology is a distillation head and fraction collector with an in-built cooling spiral. This novel combination increases the speed and efficacy of the distillation process by adding a more rigorous step of cooling/condensation before the product exits the fraction collector.

A distillation apparatus of embodiments of the disclosed technology has a cooling spiral surrounded by at least a part of a vertical extent of a fraction collector. Connecting to and/or extending into an interior space of the fraction collector is an end of a vertically-extending passageway. This passageway is functionally connected at an other end to a lower-end entry portal. In this manner, the passageway for vapors can remain hot while a portion of the passageway is cooled. As such, only a portion of the vapors are rejected back down towards a lower entrance to the pathway while the hotter/quicker moving vapors continue onwards through the pathways while a desired fraction condenses and exits the device.

“Functionally connected” is defined as “having a continuous passageway for vapors or liquids to pass through.” “Collector” is defined as “a device which is closed except for portals of entry or exit for gases or liquids, each portal being within a single side of a respective collector.” “Fraction collector” is defined as “a device used to collect individual portions of mixtures separated through distillation, the separated portions being partially, substantially, or fully condensed therein”. “Cooling spiral” is defined as “a spiraled hollow tube through which coolant, such as water or oil, flows such that a temperature of an area which surrounds the tube is lowered”.

A “distillation apparatus” is defined as a device in which vapors of a solid, liquid, or combination solid and liquid product to be distilled move upwards therein before exiting therefrom such as into a distribution adapter or condenser. “Distillate” refers to, and is defined as, the vapor, liquid, or combination thereof which exits, by way of the fraction collector, from the distillation head and is ultimately fractionally distilled into component parts, each component part having different physical properties such as a different boiling point.

In some embodiments, an outer cover surrounds the fraction collector, the cooling spiral, and at least a majority of the vertically extending passageway. An intake and an outtake of the cooling spiral, in embodiments, can pass through the outer cover.

“Intake” is defined as “an area through which a substance or object, e.g. coolant, is brought into an area or part of a device”. “Outtake” is defined as “an area through which a substance or object, e.g. coolant, is expelled from an area or part of a device”.

The fraction collector, in various embodiments of the disclosed technology, has an outer wall with a curvilinear upper portion, a curvilinear lower portion, and a vertical middle portion. The vertical middle wall can form a unitary wall with the curvilinear upper portion and the curvilinear lower portion of the wall. In embodiments, the vertical middle portion may surround the cooling spiral. The intake and outtake of the cooling spiral, in some embodiments, pass through the outer wall of the fraction collector.

“Interior” is defined as “a mostly enclosed space and passageway designed for passage of gas, liquid and/or solid there-through”. “Exterior” is defined as “outside of and relative to a mostly enclosed space.”.

In some embodiments, the cooling spiral further comprises an interior space. This interior space is separate from a continuous passageway formed within the vertically extending passageway, the fraction collector, a side exit portal of the fraction collector, and a top portal of the fraction collector. The cooling spiral passageway is, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, separate from a passageway for gas (vapors) and liquid being distilled from a solid beneath the distillation apparatus.

The cooling spiral has, in some embodiments, an upper end, a spiral, and a lower end. The upper end terminates at a horizontal plane which is inline with the curvilinear upper portion, and the lower end terminates at a horizontal plane which is inline with curvilinear lower portion. The spiral is surrounded by, in embodiments, a majority of the vertical middle portion.

In embodiments, a hollow space exists between the vertical middle portion of the out wall of the fraction collector and between the cooling spiral. A first end of the cooling spiral, in some embodiments, terminates at the intake, while a second end terminates at the outtake.

The outer cover can directly surround an entirety of the vertical middle portion of the wall as well as the upper and the lower portions of the wall of the fraction collector. The vertical middle wall of the fraction collector surrounds the cooling spiral.

At least a majority of the cooling spiral is, in embodiments, above the side exit portal of the fraction collector.

The vertically extending passageway, in some embodiments, further has a top edge which extends into a part of the fraction collector which is surrounded by the lower portions and a portion of the middle portions of the wall of the fraction collector. This top edge may terminate inline with a part of the side exit portal which is below a top part of the side exit portal, and may be situated below a horizontal plane of a lowest edge of the cooling spiral.

“Inline” is defined as “sharing a horizontal or vertical plane therewith”.

In various embodiments, the vertically extending passageway further has a lower collection region and a tube. A largest circumference of the lower collection region can be wider than a largest circumference of the tube, and the largest circumference of the lower collection region can be substantially smaller than a largest horizontally-oriented circumference of the cooling spiral.

“Circumference” is defined as “measure of a length of a circular or ovoid enclosing boundary of a named part of the device described herein”.

The cooling spiral intake is, in some embodiments of the disclosed technology, situated horizontally inline with the cooling spiral outtake. In other embodiments, all horizontal planes passing through the cooling spiral intake are above all horizontal planes passing through the cooling spiral outtake, and the cooling spiral outtake is horizontally inline with the side exit portal.

Described differently, a distillation apparatus of embodiments of the disclosed technology has a first continuous internal region extending from a bottom end of the apparatus to a side exit portal. A cooling spiral with a second continuous internal region, forming a separate interior space than the first continuous internal region, surrounds a portion of a vertical extent of the continuous internal region. In some embodiments, the first internal region may extend below the cooling spiral. The second continuous region lacks portals to the first continuous region, in various embodiments.

“Vertical extent” is defined as “a portion which has a vertical length throughout which its cross-sections are substantially identical”.

The distillation apparatus further has, in various embodiments, an outer cover surrounding each of substantially an entirety of the first continuous internal region and the cooling spiral. The outer cover can have therein a top portal of the first continuous internal region. It can have therein an intake of the cooling spiral and/or an outtake of the cooling spiral. It can also have therein a side exit portal of the first continuous internal region. In some embodiments, a majority of horizontal planes passing through the side exit portal are below all horizontal planes passing through each of the intake and the outtake.

“Surrounding” is defined as “forming a unitary structure and covering and/or being contiguous with at least one point on every vertical or on every horizontal line on a thing being surrounded”.

In various embodiments, the bottom section of the distillation tube has a narrower portion and a wider portion, with the narrower portion extending above a highest horizontal plane of the wider portion. The cooling spiral, in embodiments, has a lowest horizontal plane which is above the wider portion and which is above a majority of the narrower portion.

Put otherwise, a distillation has an internal glass section with a lower intake and a side outtake. A vertically-extending portion of the internal glass section is surrounded by a hollow glass spiral. A majority of the vertically-extending portion which is surrounded by the spiral is vertically above the side outtake, in embodiments.

A hollow distillation key is attached to the structure at a side and extends through a fraction collector and a bottom region of the internal glass section, and is spaced apart therefrom.

The distillation key, in embodiments, has two portals. A first portal extends into a substantially vertical hollow tube disposed within and extending through a majority of a vertical rise of the distillation key. A second portal opens into the hollow internal region of the distillation key.

The substantially vertical hollow tube, in embodiments, has a lowest extent which shares a horizontal plant with a region of the distillation apparatus adapted for placement within a boiling flask while a rest of the distillation apparatus exterior of the boiling flask.

The directional descriptors used in this disclosure, such as “top”, “bottom”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upper”, “lower”, “above”, and “below” are relative to a typical direction of use with a heat source below the portion of the vertically-extending passageway substantially farthest from a top portal of the apparatus.

Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise, or consist of, that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself. Any element or described portion of the devices shown can be “substantially” as such, if used in the claims in this manner. Where used, “substantially” is defined as “within a 5% tolerance level thereof.”

A distillation apparatus has a cooling spiral surrounding at least a part of a vertical extent of a fraction collector in the disclosed technology. Connecting to and/or extending into an interior space of the fraction collector is an end of a vertically-extending passageway. This passageway is functionally connected at an other end to a lower-end entry portal. An outer cover substantially covers the cooling spiral, fraction collector, and a portion of the vertically-extending passageway, excepting for a top portal, a side exit portal, at least one cooling spiral intake, and at least one cooling spiral outtake.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become more clear in view of the following discussion of the figures.

FIG. 1shows a top and right side perspective view of a distillation apparatus of embodiments of the disclosed technology.FIG. 2shows a bottom and left side perspective view of the distillation apparatus ofFIG. 1. Describing from roughly top to bottom for ease of reading, at the top, in some embodiments, a top portal10of the fraction collector22functionally connects/opens into a neck12in which is inserted a distillation key90. In other embodiments, the fraction collector22can be closed at a top side, neck12can be closed, or neck12can be open such that a stopper, thermometer, or other instrument may be inserted therein.

A cooling spiral80is partially or wholly surrounded by the fraction collector22. In other embodiments, the cooling spiral80is surrounded by different or additional segments of fraction collector22such as one or more of the upper curvilinear section24and lower curvilinear section28. In further embodiments, the cooling spiral80surrounds at least a portion of vertical tube42. In further embodiments, the cooling spiral80surrounded a part or substantially all of the fraction collector22. In some embodiments, at least a part of middle vertical extent26or any other part of the fraction collector or vertically extending tubes described herein, is, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, simultaneously a part of the cooling spiral80. In other embodiments, there exists a gap between the walls24,26,28of the fraction collector and between the cooling spiral80. In various embodiments, the interior space of the cooling spiral80is separate from an interior space21of the fraction collector22and the tube42.

In the embodiment shown, an intake tube83of the cooling spiral80connects to a portal82in an outer cover20and to a portal81in the wall of the fraction collector22. An outtake tube87of the cooling spiral80connects to a portal86in the outer cover20and to a portal85in the fraction collector22. In other embodiments, the cooling spiral80may be wholly exterior to the fraction collector22, and the intake tube83and the outtake tube87may connect only to, respectively, portals82and86in the outer cover20.

FIG. 3shows a right side elevation view of the distillation apparatus ofFIG. 1.FIG. 4shows a left side elevation view of the distillation apparatus ofFIG. 1. As shown in these figures, the fraction collector22has a bottom side29which can be a) angled, relative to the bottom of the device, and/or b) flat/horizontal relative to the bottom of the device. The bottom side29of the fraction collector22can have an opening there-in through which a tube42passes therein. The tube42extends vertically in some embodiments of the disclosed technology and has an opening at each of a top edge40and bottom edge60. The top edge40and opening into the fraction collector22is within a space circumscribed by (surrounded by or substantially surrounded by) the fraction collector. In this manner, vapors which extend above the vertical tube must condense before dropping to the bottom side29of the fraction collector which is in line with a side exit portal30which passes between the fraction collector22and condenser entry area32before entering a main body of the condenser34where the liquids are further cooled, such as by way of a cold water flow, or other coolant, around the path of the liquid passing through the condenser. Cold water is defined as water which has a temperature substantially equal to or below ambient room temperature. In other embodiments, the top edge40of vertical tube42terminates at a bottommost part of the lower curvilinear wall28and/or of a wall of fraction collector22rather than extending into fraction collector22.

In the embodiment shown, the fraction collector22has walls comprising an upper curvilinear section24, a middle vertical extent26, and a lower curvilinear section28. In other embodiments, there exist one or more additional wall segments with same or different shapes.

As shown in this embodiment, the condenser entry area32extends outward from the side exit portal30and at a downward angle relative to a horizontal plane. Condenser34is situated at a substantially identical downward angle as that of the condenser entry area32.

Also shown in this embodiment is that the intake tube and portals83,82,81are partially or completely horizontally inline with the upper curvilinear portion24of the walls of the fraction collector22. Further shown, the outtake tube and portals87,86,85are partially or completely horizontally inline with the lower curvilinear portion28of the walls of the fraction collector22.

FIG. 5shows a front elevation view of the distillation apparatus ofFIG. 1.FIG. 6shows a back elevation view of the distillation apparatus ofFIG. 1. As shown in these figures, the outer cover20has a wider region50which extends above and around the fraction collector22, a thinner region52which circumscribes a portion of the undulating region60of the tube42, and a flared region54which circumscribes a portion of the undulating region60of the tube42which, when the distillation apparatus is held in an upright position, is below the portion of the undulating region60of the tube42circumscribed by the thinner region52. The flared edge54can be adapted to cover and substantially or fully create a seal or airtight seal or connection with an upper end of a flask or boiling flask. As such, vapors extending out of a flask situated below the distillation device shown (e.g. inFIG. 5) move substantially or fully upwards into the distillation apparatus by way of passage into the outer cover (between walls52) and/or into the lower portal44of the tube42.

The cover20, as a whole, surrounds the fraction collector22and cooling spiral80such as in an unencumbered manner, at every horizontal cross section in embodiments of the disclosed technology but for where the side portal30, intake tube86, and outtake tube88extend there-through. “Unencumbered” is defined as “at a horizontal cross section, having no other portion of the distillation apparatus surrounding or to the outside of.” An interior space of the cooling spiral80is also unencumbered, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

In some embodiments of the disclosed technology, a tube42extends into the fraction collector22by way of an upper portal40. The tube42has a lower undulating portion60connecting to a lower portal44. The tube42extends through and below and interior circumscribed (substantially surrounded by) the outer cover20. By way of this passage of the tube42into the fraction collector22, a rejection area70is created between the tube42the outer wall20. Vapors then experience turbulent flow or condensation causing movement downwards until passing upwards through the lower portal44of the tube42.

A distillation key90is connected to and/or disposed within the neck12and extends downward through fraction collector22, cooling spiral80, and tube42in an unencumbered manner. A lowest point91of the key90extends to a point within and slightly above the lower portal44of the tube42. In other embodiments, the lowest point91of the key90may extend into a point which is substantially inline with or below the lower portal44of the tube42. A lower portion99of the key90has undulating sidewalls.

The distillation key90has a bulbous upper head on which are disposed two portals92,94. A first portal92is connected to an internal hollow section96of the key90. A second portal94is connected to an internal space of the key90. The internal hollow section96extends through a majority of the internal space of the key90in an unencumbered manner. A majority of the internal hollow section96is substantially straight. The internal hollow section96terminates at a lower portal98.

The undulating side walls of both the undulating region60of the tube42and of the lower region99of the distillation key90move inwards and outwards in a repeating pattern. In the embodiment shown, a portion of the lower region99is above the undulating region60. In other embodiments, the lower region99is entirely surrounded by and/or below the undulating region60. At every point where the lower region99is surrounded by the undulating region60, the undulations of each relative side wall correspond (i.e. the undulations of one move inward and outward at a same respective cross section at the other).

In another embodiment, vapors rise directly into the bottom portal44of vertical tube42. Vertical tube42may have, in various embodiments, a more and/or a less bulbous portion thereof.

In some embodiments, a bottom end of a vertically-extending distillation tube42has a portal open to a bottom side of the device, such as a portal44and bottom end60thereof which are, or can be, inserted into a boiling flask. In such an instance, vapors extending upwards from the boiling flask further continue to extend upwards into the distillation tube, such as in a manner lacking obstruction between a top end of the boiling flask and the bottom portal into the distillation tube.

Vapors which do enter the tube42continue upwards into the fraction collector22before condensing and falling to the bottom29of the fraction collector22. Continued upward moving vapors from the vertical tube, which are often warmer than the condensing vapors, prevent a majority or substantially all of condensed liquid, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, from falling down through the vertical tube42. Rather, the vapors condense into liquid at the bottom29of the fraction collector22, outside of the tube42and then flow out the side portal30which shares a lowest side or floor with the fraction collector, passing then into the condenser34.

While the vapors move upward through the tube42, the undulating sides of the lower region99of the distillation key90as well as the undulation sides of the undulating region60cause the vapors to experience a turbulent flow. This causes heavier particles to fall downwards while the lighter parties rise further upwards.

The distillation key90can further be filled with water as a method of cooling and/or heating the area surrounding the distillation key90. The water may be added through either the first portal92or through the second portal94. In this way, the distillation key may assist in heating a product (through the addition of hot water, defined as water which has a temperature substantially equal to or below ambient room temperature) or in cooling a product (through the addition of cold water).

The outer cover further surrounds the tube40, a part of the tube40being unencumbered by other elements (e.g. fraction collector or lower collection region) in some embodiments of the disclosed technology. The outer cover further surrounds part or a majority of (more than 50%) the lower collector region60and the cooling jacket80covers a majority of the fraction collector22and/or minority of a vertical tube40. Side walls50form a right angle or substantially a right angle or rounded corner with a horizontal seal70in a unitary connection in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

As shown byFIGS. 5-6, the bottom side29of fraction collector22, which is partially formed by the lower curvilinear section28of the walls of fraction collector22, can be flat/horizontal around an opening which a top edge40of tube44extends there-through.

As shown in this embodiment, particularly that ofFIG. 3, the intake tube83and outtake tube87connect to portals82,81and86,85, respectively, and terminate in an area exterior to the outer cover20. In some embodiments, these tubes connect only to portals81and85(respectively) and instead terminate in an area interior to the outer cover20and exterior to the fraction collector22. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an interior space84of the cooling spiral80has a substantially identical height, width, and depth at every parallel horizontal or vertical cross section excepting those of spirals closest to the intake tube83and the outtake tube87. In various other embodiments, some horizontal or vertical cross sections differ from other horizontal or vertical cross sections in at least one dimension.

FIG. 7shows a top plan view of the distillation apparatus ofFIG. 1.FIG. 8shows a bottom plan view of the distillation apparatus ofFIG. 1. In various embodiments, the intake tube83and portals82,81, and the outtake tube87and portals86,85, are located inline (in a same horizontally or vertically-oriented plane) with each other, or are disposed such that intake tube and portals83,82,81are vertically above or below (in a same vertically-oriented plane) outtake tube and portals87,86,85. Intake tube and portals83,82,81may be offset from outtake tube and portals87,86,85by any number of degrees, such as 180 or 90. Intake tube83and outtake tube87may be substantially identical. Intake portals82,81and outtake portals86,85may be substantially identical. Alternatively, intake and outtake portals82and86in the outer cover20may be substantially, while intake and outtake portals81and85in the fraction collector22may be substantially identical. Intake tube and portals83,82,81and/or outtake tube and portals87,86,85may be horizontally inline with and/or vertically inline with side exit portal30and/or condenser entry area32.

In this embodiment, the intake tube83and the outtake tube87are substantially parallel and horizontal. In various embodiments of the disclosed technology, one or both of the intake tube83and the outtake tube87are angled above and/or below a horizontal plane which passes through portals8,81and/or86,85and are angled to a right side and/or a left side of a vertical plane which passes through portals82,81and/or86,85. Furthermore, in other embodiments, each of intake tube83, outtake tube87, intake portals82,81, and/or outtake portals86,85may be a plurality of, respectively, intake tubes, outtake tubes, intake portals, and/or outtake portals. Each individual component of the plurality of intake tubes, outtake tubes, intake portals, and/or outtake portals may be substantially identical or non-identical in size and/or shape.

As shown byFIGS. 7-8, in an embodiment, the flared edge54of the side walls50of the outer cover20have a horizontal circumference which is substantially the largest horizontal circumference of any component of the device shown.

FIG. 9shows a vertical cross section of the distillation apparatus ofFIG. 1. As shown clearly in this figure, the horizontal seal70of the outer cover20is connected to the thinner region52at the bottom of side walls50of the outer cover20. In various embodiments, at least a part of the horizontal seal70may be situated at an angle. The thinner region52may be of any width which is smaller than a greatest width of the flared region54. The horizontal seal70may be connected to a different part of the side walls50of the outer cover20.

While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described herein-above are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology.