Appeal No. 1997-1598
Application 08/456,699
claims 27-33 and 38-44, which are all of the claims remaining
in the application.
THE INVENTION
Appellants claim an apparatus for separating gas from a
liquid or a cellulose fiber suspension, wherein the initial
gas separation takes place in a spiral flow path of the liquid
or cellulose fiber suspension in the inlet channel. Claim 27
is illustrative and reads as follows:
27. A closed system in which gas is separated from a
liquid, or a cellulose fiber suspension, comprising:
a first conduit and a second conduit;
a spiral housing having a central axis, a substantially
axial liquid or suspension inlet channel with an inner wall, a
liquid or suspension outlet, and a separated gas outlet, said
separated gas outlet adjacent said central axis;
a shaft disposed within said spiral housing and
connectable to means for rotating said shaft about said
central axis;
a flange extending generally perpendicular to said shaft
within said spiral housing for rotation about said central
axis, at least one opening extending through said flange
generally parallel to said axis of rotation;
a plurality of blades mounted to said flange on a face of
said flange opposite said liquid suspension inlet;
path defining means disposed within said inlet channel
for effecting spiral rotational movement of the liquid or
suspension as it moves in said inlet channel toward said
-2-2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007