JP3345502B2 - Flow rate compatible bubble separator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bubble separation apparatus for removing bubbles contained in a liquid in a system for handling a liquid such as a lubricating oil, a liquid containing a surfactant or a polymer, and a coating agent. In particular, the present invention relates to a compact bubble separation device having excellent bubble separation capability even when the flow rate of a liquid fluctuates without complicating the structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is well known that when air bubbles are mixed in a lubricating oil or other liquid, the function inherent in the liquid is impaired or the oxidative deterioration of the liquid is accelerated.

[0003] For example, as the engine, turbine, hydraulic equipment and the like have been increased in rotational speed and output, engine oil, turbine oil, hydraulic oil and the like have been subjected to agitation, circulation, rapid flow rate fluctuation, pressure fluctuation, and the like. A large amount of air bubbles are mixed. The entrained air bubbles cause vibration and abnormal noise of the supply pump, wear of the sliding parts, a decrease in operating pressure and operating efficiency due to a decrease in oil pressure, and an increase in the contact area between the liquid and the air bubbles. Therefore, the oxidative deterioration of the liquid is promoted.

[0004] When a large amount of air bubbles are mixed in the coating agent or the like, the coating agent is not coated on the portion where the air bubbles adhere to the surface to be coated in the coating process, causing defects such as uneven application.

As a method for separating bubbles in a liquid, there are a method based on buoyancy of the bubbles themselves, and a method based on centrifugal force generated by a swirling flow to collect and separate bubbles at the center of the swirling flow.

[0006] As a bubble separation device utilizing the difference in centrifugal force acting on a liquid and a bubble, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-34444
There is a number. This device generates a swirling flow in a cylindrical or container whose radius near the inlet is smaller than the radius on the downstream side, provides an air vent tube at the bottom of the container or at a location where bubbles collect and grow, and provides a natural discharge or pump. It sucks air bubbles. However, this device has drawbacks in the shape of the container for generating the swirling flow, the installation position of the air vent tube, the structure, and the like, and does not show sufficient bubble separation performance.

[0007] Therefore, the applicant filed Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-12360.
No. 5 proposes a compact bubble separation device having excellent bubble separation capability. This device is constituted by a swirling flow chamber for separating liquid and bubbles by a swirling flow, and a bubble removing pipe provided along a central axis of the swirling flow chamber. The swirling flow chamber has a substantially truncated conical shape in which the cross section orthogonal to the central axis is circular, and the diameter of the cross section gradually decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side of the swirling flow. Has a number of small holes. Also, a number of small holes are provided on the peripheral wall surface of the bubble removal pipe located in the swirling flow chamber. In this device,
The liquid introduced into the swirling flow chamber becomes a swirling flow. And
Due to the difference in centrifugal force, bubbles collect at the central axis of the swirling flow, and a liquid having a low bubble content collects at the outer edge of the swirling flow.

[0008] The bubble separation ability of the swirling flow due to the centrifugal force is proportional to the square of the velocity of the fluid and inversely proportional to the radius of the swirling flow chamber. That is, at the position of the radius r in the swirl flow chamber, the flow velocity of the swirl flow is set to v, and the liquid (density ρl) and the bubble (density ρ
g) is rotating at an angular velocity (ω). The separation ability (S) between a liquid and a bubble can be expressed by the following equation.

[0009]

S = (ρl−ρg) × ω ² × r

Here, since it is expressed by ω = v / r, the above equation is as follows.

[0011]

S = (ρl−ρg) × v ² / r

The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-123605 is
The cross-sectional radius (r) of the swirl flow chamber is configured to decrease along the swirl flow. Therefore, as the liquid moves from the upstream side to the downstream side, the bubble separation capacity S increases. Further, a bubble removing pipe is provided along the central axis of the swirl flow chamber from the upper end to the lower end of the swirl flow chamber.
For this reason, the bubbles gathering at the central axis portion of the swirling flow easily and smoothly enter the bubble removing tube through the many small holes provided in the bubble removing tube, and are removed outside the apparatus. This device exhibits excellent bubble separation capability when the bubbles are large. However, since the air bubbles are separated only by the force of the swirling flow in the swirling flow chamber, it is difficult to separate and remove fine bubbles. This bubble separation device is preferably used when relatively large bubbles need to be removed.

In view of the above, the applicant has proposed a bubble separation device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-190440 as a device capable of further improving and separating and removing fine bubbles mixed in a liquid. This bubble separation device is disclosed in
No. 123605 is provided with an annular preliminary swirling flow path, and before introducing the liquid into the swirling flow chamber, the fine bubbles are combined into large bubbles, and the liquid is guided to the swirling flow chamber in a laminar flow state. Features. The annular preliminary swirl flow path is formed so as to surround at least one circumference of the outer circumference of the substantially frustoconical swirl flow chamber container. And one end of it
Communicates with the liquid supply port of the case containing the swirling flow chamber container,
The other end communicates with the swirl chamber through a single opening provided in the swirl chamber container. Also, in this opening,
A guide is formed such that the liquid flows tangentially into the swirl chamber from the annular preliminary swirl channel side.

In this bubble separation device, the liquid containing fine bubbles, which is pressure-fed from the liquid supply path, flows tangentially from the liquid supply port into the preliminary swirling flow path, and from one end to the other end. And around the circumference of the swirling flow chamber container. The fine bubbles contained in the inflowing liquid repeat coalescing and merging while flowing in the inner direction of the preliminary swirling flow path while flowing in the preliminary swirling flow path, and gradually become larger bubbles. On the other hand, the liquid containing almost no bubbles gathers in the direction of the outer peripheral portion of the preliminary swirling flow path. These air bubbles and the liquid containing almost no air bubbles form a laminar flow state and, while maintaining this state, flow tangentially into the swirling flow chamber container from the position where the guide and the opening are formed to reduce the swirling speed. Cause strong swirling flow. Then, in the swirl chamber, bubbles and a liquid containing substantially no bubbles are separated.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-12 / 1991
In the bubble separation device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 3605 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-190440, the area of the liquid inlet to the swirl flow chamber and the internal volume of the swirl flow chamber are designed to have an optimum scale depending on the equipment to be installed.
When the flow rate of the liquid flowing into the swirling flow chamber is substantially constant as designed, the liquid exhibits excellent bubble separation capability.

However, if the flow rate is smaller than the design flow rate, the flow velocity and the angular velocity of the liquid flowing into the swirling flow chamber are small, and a sufficient centrifugal force to separate the bubbles from the liquid cannot be obtained. The ability may decrease. When the flow rate is larger than the design flow rate, the residence time of the bubble-containing liquid in the swirl flow chamber becomes short, so that the bubbles are discharged together with the liquid before the bubbles are sufficiently collected at the center of the swirl flow. As a result, the bubble separation ability may be reduced. When the bubble separation capability is reduced, the generated hydraulic pressure is also reduced, and in the case of a hydraulic actuator, the operating efficiency may be reduced.

Since the liquid is pumped by the pump pressure,
The flow rate of the flowing liquid changes variously due to the pressure fluctuation. There is no guarantee that the flowing liquid always flows into the bubble separation device at a constant flow rate as designed. For this reason, even if the flow rate of the flowing liquid fluctuates, it shows excellent bubble separation ability,
Due to its configuration, there is a demand for the development of a small bubble separation device that does not take up installation space.

The present inventors have disclosed the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-12360 which shows an excellent bubble separation capability and has a compact structure.
In the bubble separation device of No. 5 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-190440, if the area of the liquid inlet to the swirl flow chamber and the internal volume of the swirl flow chamber are changed so as to be changed in accordance with the flow rate of the liquid to be sent, We focused on the ability to further improve the bubble separation capability, from large bubbles to fine bubbles, depending on the application. The present invention could be completed by installing a liquid inlet adjusting mechanism in the bubble separator of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-123605 or Japanese Patent Application No. 5-190440.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact bubble separation apparatus which has a high bubble separation ability and can be adapted to the flow rate of the liquid to be fed without complicating the structure.

[0020]

The present invention comprises a case,
The main components are a swirling flow chamber container, a bubble removing pipe, and a liquid inlet adjusting mechanism incorporated in this case. The case has a liquid supply port and a liquid discharge port, and both ends are closed. The liquid supply port is provided so that the flowing liquid flows tangentially into the swirl chamber in the swirl chamber container. The swirling flow chamber container has a circular cross section perpendicular to the central axis, and has a shape in which the diameter of the cross section decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side of the inflowing liquid, and one end thereof is closed, and the maximum diameter portion is formed. The other end is open. The swirling flow chamber container is usually formed in a substantially conical shape or a substantially frusto-conical shape. The swirl chamber is defined as a generally frustoconical space within the swirl chamber container. A number of small holes penetrating the inside and outside of the swirl flow chamber container are provided on the peripheral wall surface of the swirl flow chamber container. The bubble removing pipe is disposed along the central axis of the swirl chamber container, and penetrates one end of the swirl chamber container and the case. A number of small holes penetrating the inside and outside of the bubble removing pipe are provided on the peripheral wall surface located in the swirling flow chamber. The liquid inlet adjusting mechanism adjusts the area of the liquid inlet connected to the swirl flow chamber and the inner volume of the swirl flow chamber, and is provided at the other end of the swirl flow chamber container. Its main configuration is a plunger, a piston, a piston rod that penetrates a partition wall provided between the plunger and the piston, and connects the plunger and the piston, and a bottom wall of the piston and a bottom inner wall of the case. An elastic body provided therebetween, a supply liquid pressure introduction chamber and a swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber partitioned and formed between a partition and an inner wall of a case bottom, and a supply that communicates a liquid supply port with the supply liquid pressure introduction chamber. The swirl flow chamber pressure guide hole communicates the hydraulic pressure hole, the swirl flow chamber, and the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber. The plunger is provided at a position where the other end of the swirl chamber is substantially closed, and the liquid inlet communicating with the swirl chamber is partially closed or fully opened in accordance with expansion and contraction of the elastic body. The plunger defines one end of the swirling flow chamber. The space between the piston and the inner side wall of the case is sealed with packing. The space between the partition wall and the piston rod is also sealed with packing. The ends of the elastic body are fixed to the bottom of the piston and the inner wall of the bottom of the case, respectively. Note that a spring, rubber, diaphragm, or bellows can be used as the elastic body. The supply liquid pressure introduction chamber and the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber are vertically divided by a piston, and the respective chambers are isolated from each other. The supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber may be formed in either the upper part or the lower part of the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber.

In the present invention, an annular preliminary swirl flow path integrated with the swirl flow chamber container can be provided in the above configuration. The annular preliminary swirl flow path is formed in an annular shape so as to surround at least one circumference of the outer circumference of the large diameter portion on one end side of the swirl flow chamber. One end of the swirl flow chamber communicates with the liquid supply port, and the other end communicates with the swirl flow chamber through a single opening formed at a large diameter portion at one end of the swirl flow chamber. . A guide is formed in the opening so that the liquid to be fed flows tangentially into the swirl chamber from the annular preliminary swirl flow path side. The opening is a liquid inlet to the swirl flow chamber whose area is adjusted by the liquid inlet adjusting mechanism. In addition, when the preliminary swirl flow path is not provided at present, the liquid supply port is a liquid inflow port into the swirl flow chamber whose area is adjusted by the liquid inflow adjustment mechanism.

It is also possible to divide the device of the present invention vertically into two parts at the large-diameter portion on one end side of the swirling flow chamber container, and to fasten them with bolts. When the apparatus is constructed in a disassembled manner in this manner, it can be easily disassembled to clean the inside.

[0023]

[Action]

(1) When the annular preliminary swirling flow path is not installed The flowing liquid containing air bubbles is supplied to the liquid supply port (liquid inlet).
Flows tangentially into the swirl flow chamber in the swirl flow chamber container.
At this time, at the beginning of the operation of the apparatus, a part of the inflow liquid is introduced into the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber from the supply hydraulic pressure introduction hole provided in the liquid supply port, and a part of the liquid is introduced from the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction hole. Introduced into the swirl chamber pressure introduction chamber, each chamber is filled with liquid. When the flow rate of the flowing liquid fluctuates, a pressure difference is generated between the pressure applied to the liquid in the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber and the pressure applied to the liquid in the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber. When the flow rate of the flowing liquid is smaller than the design flow rate of the apparatus, the pressure difference between the pressure in the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber and the pressure in the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber decreases. Then, when the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber is formed above the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber, the elastic body expands in accordance with the elastic constant by the force generated by the pressure difference and applied to the piston. As it is pushed up, the plunger serving as the bottom of the lower end of the swirl flow chamber is pushed up into the swirl flow chamber, and the plunger closes a part of the liquid supply port and reduces the volume in the swirl flow chamber. Further, when the flow rate of the liquid to be sent is greater than the design flow rate of the apparatus, the pressure difference between the pressure in the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber and the pressure in the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber increases. Then, as the piston is pushed down, the plunger is pushed down, and the area of the liquid supply port is enlarged by the plunger. When the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber is formed below the pressure introduction chamber of the swirling flow chamber, the operation is opposite to the above.

The liquid containing bubbles, which has flowed into the substantially frustoconical swirl flow chamber, becomes a violent swirl flow, and due to the difference in centrifugal force acting on the liquid and the bubbles, the swirl process causes the center of the swirl flow. Bubbles collect in the shaft portion, and liquid containing almost no bubbles collects in the outer edge portion of the swirling flow. Bubbles enter the inside of the bubble removing tube through a small hole of the bubble removing tube disposed along the central axis of the swirling flow chamber, and are removed to the outside of the apparatus. The bubble removing pipe is provided from the upper end to the lower end of the swirling flow chamber, and the bubble removing pipe has a number of small holes formed from the upper end to the lower end thereof. The bubbles that separate and collect at the center of the swirling flow easily
And it smoothly enters the bubble removal pipe. In addition, the liquid containing almost no air bubbles is led out of a number of small holes provided on the peripheral wall surface of the swirling flow chamber container into the space between the swirling flow chamber container and the inner wall of the case, and is discharged outside the apparatus via the liquid discharge port. It is discharged to the required parts.

(2) When an annular preliminary swirling flow path is provided: The flowing liquid containing fine bubbles flows tangentially from the liquid supply port into the annular preliminary swirling flow path, forms a swirling flow, and has one end thereof. From the part to the other end, the outer circumference of the swirling flow chamber is substantially circled. Due to the centrifugal force generated by this swirling motion, the fine bubbles in the liquid repeatedly join and coalesce while gathering in the direction of the inner peripheral portion of the annular preliminary swirling channel while flowing in the annular preliminary swirling channel, and gradually. Grows into large bubbles. On the other hand, the liquid containing almost no air bubbles gathers in the outer peripheral direction of the annular preliminary swirl flow path. These bubbles and the liquid containing almost no bubbles form a laminar flow state, and while maintaining this state, flow tangentially into the swirling flow chamber from the position where the guide and the opening (liquid inlet) are formed. When the flow becomes laminar, the formation of a swirling flow is promoted, and the strength of the centrifugal force is further increased.

By the way, according to the fluctuation of the flow rate of the flowing liquid,
A pressure difference occurs between the pressure in the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber and the pressure in the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber. In response to this change, a force is applied to the piston, and the piston and the plunger connected thereto move up and down in accordance with the elastic constant of the elastic body, and the liquid inlet area to the swirl flow chamber and the volume in the swirl flow chamber Changes.

The laminar air bubbles and the liquid containing almost no air bubbles, which have flowed into the substantially frustoconical swirl flow chamber,
Intense swirling flow. Bubbles that have grown by repeating coalescence and coalescence in the annular preliminary swirling flow channel gather in the center axis portion of the swirling flow in the process of swirling in the swirling flow chamber, and further coalesce to grow into larger bubbles. In addition, the outer edge of the swirling flow is a flow of a liquid containing almost no bubbles. Bubbles enter the inside of the bubble removing tube through a small hole of the bubble removing tube disposed along the central axis of the swirling flow chamber, and are removed to the outside of the apparatus. The bubble removing pipe is provided from the upper end to the lower end of the swirling flow chamber, and the bubble removing pipe has a number of small holes formed from the upper end to the lower end. For this reason, the bubbles that separate and collect at the center of the swirling flow easily and smoothly enter the bubble removing pipe. In addition, the liquid containing almost no air bubbles is led out of a large number of small holes provided on the peripheral wall surface of the swirling flow chamber container into the space between the swirling flow chamber container and the inner wall of the case, and is discharged outside the apparatus via the liquid discharge port. It is discharged to the required parts.

(3) Improvement of Bubble Separation Ability by Installation of Liquid Inlet Adjustment Mechanism When the liquid inflow adjustment mechanism is installed as described above, the area of the liquid inflow into the swirl flow chamber and the volume in the swirl flow chamber can be reduced. It can be easily changed according to the flow rate of the liquid. When the area of the liquid inlet to the swirl flow chamber and the volume in the swirl flow chamber change in accordance with the flow rate of the flowing liquid, the bubble separation ability is improved. The mechanism is as follows.

A. When the flow rate of the flowing liquid is smaller than the design flow rate In this case, the liquid inlet port to the swirl flow chamber is narrowed by the liquid inlet adjusting mechanism, and the liquid inlet area is reduced. Then, the flow velocity and angular velocity of the swirling flow generated by the liquid inlet become large, and a centrifugal force sufficient to separate bubbles can be obtained. As is clear from the equations (1) and (2), the larger the flow velocity (v) and the angular velocity (ω) of the swirling flow, the higher the bubble separation ability. Further, the volume in the swirl chamber is reduced by the liquid inlet adjusting mechanism. For this reason, the residence time of the swirling flow in the swirling flow chamber becomes appropriate, and the bubbles collected on the central axis of the swirling flow are collected again on the central shaft of the swirling flow without being caught in the liquid again. Enter the removal tube.

B. In the case where the flow rate of the flowing liquid is larger than the design flow rate, in this case, the liquid inlet adjustment mechanism enlarges the liquid inlet area to the swirl flow chamber, and the volume in the swirl flow chamber becomes larger than the design volume. As a result, the residence time of the swirling flow is longer than the time required for the bubble to move to the vicinity of the bubble removing tube, and the bubble enters the bubble removing tube in a short time. Further, the angular velocity of the swirling flow generated by the liquid inlet is kept at an appropriate level, and the pressure loss generated at the liquid inlet is reduced, so that a sufficient centrifugal force for separating bubbles can be obtained.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However,
The present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Embodiment 1 This embodiment is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
No. 605 has a liquid inlet adjustment mechanism installed in the bubble separation apparatus.

A description will be given based on FIG. The swirling flow chamber 2 is formed into a substantially truncated cone shape by the swirling flow chamber container 1 having one end closed, the inner side wall of the case 6, and the plunger 10 forming a part of the liquid inlet adjusting mechanism. .

The swirling flow chamber container 1 is substantially conical. In this embodiment, the swirling flow chamber container 1 is formed vertically inside the cylindrical case 6 with its maximum diameter portion facing down. The upper end of the swirling flow chamber container 1 is closed, and the lower end is open. The largest diameter portion of the swirling flow chamber container 1 is fixed to the inner side wall of the case 6. A large number of small holes 3 penetrating the inside and outside of the swirl flow chamber container 1 are provided on the peripheral wall surface from the center to the upper end of the swirl flow chamber container 1.

A liquid supply port 7 is provided tangentially to the inside of the swirl flow chamber 2 so as to penetrate the side wall of the case 6 located at the maximum diameter portion of the swirl flow chamber container 1. In this embodiment, one liquid supply port is provided. In addition, a liquid outlet 8 is provided at an upper portion of the case 6 so as to penetrate a side wall of the case 6.

The swirling flow chamber 2 is provided with a bubble removing pipe 4 along its central axis. One end of the bubble removing tube 4
It penetrates through the upper end of the swirling flow chamber 2 and the center of the top of the case 6, and its tip is a bubble discharge port 9. A large number of small holes 5 penetrating the inside and outside of the bubble removing tube 4 are provided on the peripheral wall surface of a portion of the bubble removing tube 4 located inside the swirl flow chamber 2.

At the lower end of the swirl chamber 1, a plunger 10, a piston 11, a piston rod 12 connecting the plunger 10 and the piston 11 and a piston 1
, A supply fluid pressure introduction chamber 14, and a swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 1.
5, a supply hydraulic pressure introducing hole 16 that communicates the liquid supply port 7 with the supply hydraulic pressure introducing chamber 14, a swirl flow chamber pressure introducing hole 17 that communicates the swirl flow chamber 2 and the swirl flow chamber pressure introducing chamber 15, and , A liquid inlet adjustment mechanism is provided. The liquid inlet adjustment mechanism is housed in the case 6.

The components of the liquid inlet adjusting mechanism will be further described below.

The plunger 10 has a constant thickness. The lower end of the swirling flow chamber container 1 is substantially closed, and the liquid supply port 7 is provided at a position where the liquid supply port 7 is partially closed or fully opened in accordance with expansion and contraction of the spring 13. The upper end surface of the plunger 10 defines the lower end of the swirling flow chamber 2. A concave portion is formed in a central portion of the plunger 10 below the bubble removing tube 4 so that the bubble removing tube 4 does not hit when the plunger 10 moves up and down. In the periphery of the plunger 10, a swirling flow chamber pressure introducing hole 17 is provided so as to penetrate the plunger 10. Both ends of the spring 13 are fixed to the bottom of the piston 11 and the inner wall of the bottom of the case 6, respectively.

Below the plunger 10, there is provided a space defined by a cylindrical L-shaped partition wall 18 and the inner side wall and bottom of the case 6. This space is divided into an upper supply liquid pressure introduction chamber 14 and a lower swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 15 with the piston 11 as a boundary. In addition,
The supply liquid pressure introduction chamber 14 and the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 15 are isolated from each other by the piston 11.

The partition 18 between the plunger 10 and the piston 11 is penetrated by the piston rod 12. The gap between the partition 18 and the piston rod 12 is sealed with a packing 19. The gap between the partition 18 provided along the inner side wall of the case 6 and the piston 11 and the gap between the inner side wall of the case 6 and the piston 11 are all sealed by the packing 20.

The supply hydraulic pressure introducing hole 16 penetrates through the inside of the side wall of the case 6 to form the bottom of the liquid supply port 7 and the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber 1.
4 has an opening on the side.

The pressure introducing hole 17 of the swirl flow chamber is provided with the plunger 1
0, and is formed between an inner side wall of the case 6 and a partition 18 provided along the inner side wall. The swirl flow chamber pressure introducing hole 17 communicates with the swirl flow chamber 2 and the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 15 through an opening 21 provided in the partition 18.

In the above-described configuration, the flowing liquid containing bubbles flows into the swirling flow chamber 2 from the liquid supply port 7 in a tangential direction. At this time, a part of the inflowing liquid is introduced into the supply liquid pressure introduction chamber 14 from the supply liquid pressure introduction hole 16 via an opening provided at the bottom of the liquid supply port 7, and a part is The chamber is introduced from the swirl chamber pressure introducing hole 17 into the swirl chamber pressure introduction chamber 15, and each chamber is filled with liquid. When the flow rate of the flowing liquid fluctuates, a pressure difference is generated between the pressure in the supply liquid pressure introduction chamber 14 and the pressure in the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 15. As a result, a force corresponding to the pressure difference is applied to the piston 11, and the piston 11 and the plunger 10 connected thereto move up and down according to the spring constant of the spring 13 below the piston 11. Thereby, the liquid supply port 7
And the internal volume of the swirling flow chamber 2 change.

The liquid containing bubbles that has flowed into the substantially frustoconical swirl flow chamber 2 becomes a violent swirl flow,
Due to the difference in centrifugal force acting on the liquid and the bubbles, in the process of swirling, bubbles gather at the central axis of the swirling flow, and liquid containing almost no bubbles gathers at the outer edge of the swirling flow. Bubbles enter the inside of the bubble removing tube 4 through a number of small holes 5 of the bubble removing tube 4 disposed along the central axis of the swirling flow chamber 2 and are removed to the outside of the apparatus. In addition, the liquid containing almost no air bubbles is led out of the small holes 3 provided on the peripheral wall surface of the swirl flow chamber container 1 into the space between the swirl flow chamber container 1 and the inner wall of the case 6, and the liquid outlet 8 Is discharged to the outside of the apparatus via the, and supplied to necessary parts.

Embodiment 2 This embodiment is described in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 5-190 proposed by the applicant.
A liquid inlet adjustment mechanism is installed in the bubble separator of No. 440. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view. FIG. 3 shows FIG.
3 is a plan sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. This will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that components that are the same as or correspond to those of the first embodiment in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1.

The swirling flow chamber 2 is divided into a substantially truncated cone by the swirling flow chamber container 1 having one end closed, the inner side wall of the case 6, and the plunger 10 forming a part of the liquid inlet adjusting mechanism. Is formed.

The swirling flow chamber container 1 has a substantially conical shape. In this embodiment, the swirling flow chamber container 1 is formed vertically inside the cylindrical case 6 with its maximum diameter portion facing down. Swirling flow chamber container 1
Is closed at its upper end and open at its lower end. The largest diameter portion of the swirling flow chamber container 1 is fixed to the inner side wall of the case 6.

An annular preliminary swirl flow path 22 is formed integrally with the swirl flow chamber 2 on the outer periphery of the maximum diameter portion of the swirl flow chamber 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the annular preliminary swirl flow path 22 is formed so as to make substantially one round of the outer circumference of the swirl flow chamber container 1.

The liquid supply port 7 is connected to one end of the annular preliminary swirl channel 22 in a tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the annular preliminary swirl channel 22.

A guide 23 is provided at the other end of the annular preliminary swirl channel 22 near the connection point. A single opening 24 is formed at a position near the guide 23 so as to communicate the other end of the annular preliminary swirl flow path 22 with the swirl flow chamber 2. In addition, the end face of the guide 23 is an almost tangential surface of the inner peripheral surface of the swirling flow chamber 2 via the opening 24.

A large number of small holes 3 penetrating the inside and outside of the swirl flow chamber container 1 are provided on the peripheral wall surface from the center to the upper end of the swirl flow chamber container 1.

The swirling flow chamber 2 is provided with a bubble removing pipe 4 along its central axis. One end of the bubble removing tube 4
It penetrates through the upper end of the swirling flow chamber 2 and the center of the top of the case 6, and its tip is a bubble discharge port 9. A large number of small holes 5 penetrating the inside and outside of the bubble removing tube 4 are provided on the peripheral wall surface of a portion of the bubble removing tube 4 located inside the swirl flow chamber 2.

At the lower end of the swirling flow chamber container 1, a liquid inlet adjusting mechanism built in the case 6 is provided. The liquid inlet adjustment mechanism includes a plunger 10 and a piston 11
A piston rod 12 connecting the plunger 10 and the piston 11, a spring 13 provided between the bottom of the piston 11 and the inner wall of the bottom of the case 6, a supply fluid pressure introduction chamber 14, and a swirling flow chamber pressure. The supply chamber 15, the supply hydraulic pressure guide hole 16 communicating the liquid supply port 7 and the supply hydraulic pressure supply chamber 14, and the swirl flow chamber pressure guide hole communicating the swirl flow chamber 2 and the swirl flow chamber pressure supply chamber 15. 17.

The plunger 10 has a constant thickness. Then, the lower end of the swirling flow chamber container 1 is substantially closed, and the opening 24 is provided at a position where the opening 24 is partially closed or fully opened in accordance with expansion and contraction of the spring 13. The upper end surface of the plunger 10 defines the lower end of the swirling flow chamber 2. A recess is formed in a central portion of the plunger 10 below the bubble removing tube 4 so that the bubble removing tube 4 does not hit the plunger 10 when the plunger 10 moves up and down. In the periphery of the plunger 10, a swirling flow chamber pressure introducing hole 17 is provided so as to penetrate the plunger 10. Both ends of the spring 13 are fixed to the bottom of the piston 11 and the inner wall of the bottom of the case 6, respectively.

Below the plunger 10, there is a space defined by a cylindrical L-shaped partition wall 18 and the inner side wall and bottom of the case 6. This space is separated from the piston 11 by the upper supply liquid. It is divided into a pressure introduction chamber 14 and a pressure introduction chamber 15 below the swirling flow chamber. The supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber 14 and the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 15 are
Are isolated from each other by

The partition 18 between the plunger 10 and the piston 11 is penetrated by the piston rod 12. The gap between the partition 18 and the piston rod 12 is sealed with a packing 19. The gap between the partition 18 provided along the inner side wall of the case 6 and the piston 11 and the gap between the inner side wall of the case 6 and the piston 11 are all sealed by the packing 20.

The supply hydraulic pressure introducing hole 16 penetrates through the inside of the side wall of the case 6 and the bottom of the liquid supply port 7 and the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber 1 are formed.
4 has an opening on the side.

The swirl flow chamber pressure introducing hole 17 is provided in the plunger 1
0, and is formed between an inner side wall of the case 6 and a partition 18 provided along the inner side wall. The swirl flow chamber pressure introducing hole 17 communicates with the swirl flow chamber 2 and the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 15 through an opening 21 provided in the partition 18.

In the above configuration, when a liquid containing fine bubbles is pressure-fed to the liquid supply port 7 by a pump or the like, the liquid flows tangentially into the annular preliminary swirl flow path 22 from the liquid supply port 7. As a result, a swirling flow flows from one end of the annular preliminary swirling flow path 22 to the other end thereof, and the swirling flow chamber 2
Around the circumference of. Due to the centrifugal force generated by the swirling motion, the fine bubbles in the liquid are separated from the annular preliminary swirling flow path 2.
2 are repeatedly united and united while gathering in the direction of the inner peripheral portion, and gradually become larger bubbles. In addition, the liquid containing almost no air bubbles gathers in the outer peripheral direction of the annular preliminary swirl channel 22. The bubbles and the liquid enter a laminar flow state while flowing to the other end of the annular preliminary swirling flow path 22, and flow tangentially into the swirling flow chamber 2 from the opening 24 while maintaining the laminar flow state. I do. At this time, a part of the inflowing liquid is introduced into the supply liquid pressure introduction chamber 14 from the supply liquid pressure introduction hole 16 via the opening provided at the bottom of the liquid supply port 7, and
A part is introduced into the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 15 from the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction hole 17, and each chamber is filled with liquid.

When the flow rate of the flowing liquid fluctuates, a pressure difference is generated between the pressure in the supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber 14 and the pressure in the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 15. As a result, a force corresponding to the pressure difference is applied to the piston 11,
The piston 11 and the plunger 10 connected thereto move up and down according to the spring constant of the spring 13 below the piston 11. Thereby, the area of the opening 24 and the swirl flow chamber 2
Changes its internal volume.

The liquid containing bubbles that has flowed into the substantially frustoconical swirl flow chamber 2 becomes a violent swirl flow,
Due to the difference in centrifugal force acting on the liquid and the bubbles, in the process of swirling, bubbles gather at the central axis of the swirling flow, and liquid containing almost no bubbles gathers at the outer edge of the swirling flow. Bubbles enter the inside of the bubble removing tube 4 through a number of small holes 5 of the bubble removing tube 4 disposed along the central axis of the swirling flow chamber 2 and are removed to the outside of the apparatus. In addition, the liquid containing almost no air bubbles is led out of the small holes 3 provided on the peripheral wall surface of the swirl flow chamber container 1 into the space between the swirl flow chamber container 1 and the inner wall of the case 6, and the liquid outlet 8 Is discharged to the outside of the apparatus via the, and supplied to necessary parts.

[0063]

The present invention is an improvement proposed by the applicant of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-123605 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-190440, which is compact and has excellent bubble separation ability. The bubble separation device of the present invention includes a liquid inlet adjustment mechanism that can appropriately adjust the area of the liquid inlet to the swirl flow chamber that separates bubbles in the liquid by the swirl flow in accordance with the flow rate of the inflowing liquid. I have. This liquid inlet adjustment mechanism can adjust the area of the liquid inlet to the swirl flow chamber and the internal volume of the swirl flow chamber in accordance with the flow rate of the liquid to be sent, so that it is sufficient to separate bubbles. A centrifugal force is obtained, and the residence time of the liquid in the swirl chamber can be made appropriate. Therefore, according to the bubble separating apparatus of the present invention, the bubble separating ability can be further enhanced as compared with the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-123605 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-190440. Since the bubble separation capability is high, the generated hydraulic pressure is also increased, and when installed in a hydraulic actuator, the operation efficiency of the device is also improved. It can be used depending on the use, such as when removal of relatively large bubbles is required or when removal of fine bubbles is also required. Moreover, since the configuration of each of the above proposals is not particularly complicated, it is compact and does not take up installation space in the design and configuration of the device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a bubble separation device according to a first embodiment. This is one in which a liquid inlet adjusting mechanism is installed in the bubble separation device proposed by the applicant in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-123605.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of a bubble separation device according to a second embodiment. In this apparatus, a liquid inlet adjusting mechanism is installed in the bubble separation device proposed by the applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-190440.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 swirl flow chamber container 2 swirl flow chamber 3 small hole (side wall of swirl flow chamber) 4 bubble removal pipe 5 small hole (side wall of bubble removal pipe) 6 case 7 liquid supply port 8 liquid discharge port 9 bubble discharge port 10 plunger 11 piston 12 Piston rod 13 Spring 14 Supply hydraulic pressure introduction chamber 15 Swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber 16 Supply hydraulic pressure guide hole 17 Swirl flow chamber pressure guide hole 18 Partition wall 19, 20 Packing 21 Opening (partition wall) 22 Annular preliminary swirl flow path 23 Guide 24 opening

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B01D 19/00-19/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bubble separation apparatus comprising: a case having a liquid supply port and a liquid discharge port; a swirling flow chamber container, a bubble removal pipe, and a liquid inlet adjustment mechanism incorporated in the case; The supply port is provided so that the liquid flows in a tangential direction into a substantially frustoconical swirl flow chamber inside the swirl flow chamber container, and the swirl flow chamber container has a circular cross section orthogonal to the central axis,
The diameter of the cross section becomes smaller as going from the upstream side to the downstream side of the inflowing liquid, and one end is closed, and a number of small holes penetrating the inside and outside of the swirling flow chamber container are provided on a peripheral wall surface thereof, The bubble removal pipe is disposed along the center axis of the swirl flow chamber container, penetrates each end of the swirl flow chamber container and the case, and has a peripheral wall located in the swirl flow chamber inside and outside the bubble removal pipe. A plurality of small holes penetrating therethrough are provided, and the liquid inlet adjusting mechanism for adjusting the area of the liquid inlet and the internal volume of the swirl flow chamber communicating with the swirl flow chamber is provided at the other end of the swirl flow chamber container. Provided, the main configuration of which is: a. A plunger that substantially closes the other end of the swirling flow chamber container, a piston, a piston rod that penetrates a partition wall provided between the plunger and the piston, and connects the plunger and the piston, and a bottom of the piston. An elastic body provided between the bottom inner wall of the case and b. A supply liquid pressure introduction chamber and a swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber which are defined and separated from each other between the partition wall and the case bottom inner wall; c. A supply fluid pressure guide hole communicating the liquid supply port and the supply fluid pressure introduction chamber; and a swirl flow chamber pressure guide hole communicating the swirl flow chamber and the swirl flow chamber pressure introduction chamber. Compatible bubble separation device. 2. An annular preliminary swirl flow path is formed so as to surround at least one circumference of the large diameter portion at one end of the swirl flow chamber, one end of which is in communication with the liquid supply port of the case, and the other end thereof. The part communicates with the swirl flow chamber through a single opening formed in a portion located at a large diameter portion on one end side of the swirl flow chamber,
The flow rate-compatible bubble separation device according to claim 1, wherein a guide is formed in the opening so that the liquid flows tangentially into the swirl chamber from the annular preliminary swirl flow path side.