초록

Froth is directed through a flow passage bounded by a filter and a non-porous surface, and liquid is drawn from the froth through the filter as the froth flows through the flow passage.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A froth-liquid/gas separator comprising: a housing; a flow passage defined between first and second bounding surfaces within the housing, wherein the first bounding surface is a non-porous surface formed by a plate located within the housing, and at least a portion of the sec

What is claimed is: 1. A froth-liquid/gas separator comprising: a housing; a flow passage defined between first and second bounding surfaces within the housing, wherein the first bounding surface is a non-porous surface formed by a plate located within the housing, and at least a portion of the second bounding surface is formed by a filter located within the housing; wherein a separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces produces a flow of liquid regions interspersed between gaseous regions within the flow passage during operation, with each of the liquid and gaseous regions spanning the separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces. 2. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 1, wherein a first pressure exists at an inlet of the flow passage and a second pressure exists at an outer surface of the filter so as to establish a pressure differential across the filter. 3. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 1, wherein an exit of the flow passage is vented to atmosphere. 4. A froth-liquid/gas separator comprising: a flow passage defined between first and second bounding surfaces, wherein the first bounding surface is a non-porous surface and at least a portion of the second bounding surface is a filter; wherein a separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces produces a flow of liquid regions interspersed between gaseous regions within the flow passage during operation, with each of the liquid and gaseous regions spanning the separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces; and wherein the flow passage is serpentine or helical. 5. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 1, wherein the separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces is less than or equal to a size of gas bubbles in the froth before the froth enters the flow passage. 6. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 5, wherein the liquid from the liquid regions is substantially removed from the flow of liquid regions interspersed between gaseous regions as the liquid is drawn through the filter. 7. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 1, wherein the froth-liquid/gas separator is disposed in a reservoir. 8. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 1 further comprising a first check valve coupled to an inlet of the flow passage and a second check valve fluidly coupled to an outer surface of the filter exteriorly of the flow passage. 9. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 8, wherein the first and second check valves are configured to at least temporarily maintain a pressure differential across the filter during operation of the froth-liquid/gas separator. 10. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 1, wherein the separation distance is about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm. 11. A froth-liquid/gas separator comprising: a housing; a filter that divides an interior of the housing into first and second portions; and a flow passage located within the housing and defined between a non-porous surface formed by a plate located in the first portion of the interior of the housing and at least a portion of the filter; wherein the non-porous surface and the at least a portion of the filter form first and second bounding surfaces; wherein a separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces produces a flow of liquid regions interspersed between gaseous regions within the flow passage during operation, with each of the liquid and gaseous regions spanning the separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces; and wherein liquid from the liquid regions is substantially removed from the flow of liquid regions interspersed between gaseous regions by drawing the liquid through the filter. 12. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 11, wherein a first pressure exists at an inlet of the flow passage and a second pressure exists at an outer surface of the filter so as to establish a pressure differential across the filter. 13. A froth-liquid/gas separator comprising: a housing; a filter that divides an interior of the housing into first and second portions; and a flow passage located within the housing and defined between a non-porous surface in the first portion of the interior of the housing and at least a portion of the filter; wherein the non-porous surface and the at least a portion of the filter form first and second bounding surfaces; wherein a separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces produces a flow of liquid regions interspersed between gaseous regions within the flow passage during operation, with each of the liquid and gaseous regions spanning the separation distance between the first and second bounding surfaces; wherein liquid from the liquid regions is substantially removed from the flow of liquid regions interspersed between gaseous regions by drawing the liquid through the filter; and wherein the flow passage is serpentine or helical. 14. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 11 further comprising a first check valve fluidly coupled to an inlet of the flow passage and a second check valve fluidly coupled to the second portion of the interior of the housing. 15. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 14, wherein the first and second check valves are configured to at least temporarily maintain a pressure differential across the filter during operation of the froth-liquid/gas separator. 16. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 14, wherein the separation distance between the non-porous surface and the filter is at most equal to a size of gas bubbles in the froth before the froth enters the flow passage. 17. A froth-liquid/gas separator comprising: a cylindrical core; a helical rib disposed on an outer curved surface of the cylindrical core; a filter disposed around the cylindrical core in contact with the helical rib to form a helical flow passage between the core and the filter; and a housing disposed around the filter. 18. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 17, wherein an inlet of the flow passage is coupleable to a first pressure and an outlet of the housing is coupleable to a second pressure for establishing a pressure differential across the filter. 19. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 17, wherein froth is configured to flow through the helical flow passage as a liquid component of the froth is drawn through the filter. 20. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 17, wherein the core has a hollow center that is fluidly coupled to an exit of the helical flow passage. 21. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 17 further comprising a first check valve coupled to an inlet of the helical flow passage and a second check valve coupled to an exit of the housing. 22. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 21, wherein the first and second check valves are configured to establish a pressure differential across the filter. 23. The froth-liquid/gas separator of claim 17, wherein the froth-liquid/gas separator is disposed in a reservoir. 24. A fluid handling system comprising: a froth-liquid/gas separator comprising: a flow passage defined between a non-porous surface and at least a portion of a filter, wherein the flow passage is configured to direct froth therethrough as a liquid component of the froth is drawn through the filter; a reservoir fluidly coupled to the froth-liquid/gas separator; and a first check valve fluidly coupled between an inlet of the flow passage and the reservoir and a second check valve fluidly coupled between the reservoir and an outer surface of the filter exteriorly of the flow passage, wherein the reservoir is coupled to a fluid-ejection device by a two-way pump. 25. The fluid handling system of claim 24, wherein the first and second check valves are configured to at least temporarily maintain a pressure differential across the filter. 26. The fluid handling system of claim 24, wherein the fluid ejection device is a print head. 27. The fluid handling system of claim 24, wherein the fluid handling system is a portion of an imaging device. 28. A print cartridge comprising: a first housing having a cover; a froth-liquid/gas separator disposed within the first housing, the froth-liquid/gas separator, comprising: a cylindrical core; a helical rib disposed on an outer curved surface of the cylindrical core; a filter disposed around the cylindrical core in contact with the helical rib to form a helical flow passage between the core and the filter; and a second housing disposed around the filter, wherein the second housing is secured to the cover. 29. The print cartridge of claim 28, wherein the cylindrical core is received in a vent hole passing through the cover so that the helical flow passage is fluidly coupled to the vent hole. 30. The print cartridge of claim 28, wherein the froth-liquid/gas separator further comprises an inlet check valve located at an end of the second housing opposite the cover of the first housing. 31. The print cartridge of claim 28, wherein the second housing is secured to the cover of the first housing by laser welding. 32. A method of extracting liquid from froth, comprising: directing the froth through a flow passage bounded by a filter and a non-porous surface; producing a flow of liquid regions interspersed between gaseous regions within the flow passage, with each of the liquid and gaseous regions spanning the separation distance between the filter and the non-porous surface; and drawing the liquid from the liquid regions through the filter. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein drawing the liquid through the filter is in response to creating a pressure differential across the filter. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the pressure differential is created by a pump operating in a suction mode. 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the pressure differential is created by a first check valve at the inlet of the flow passage and a second check valve fluidly coupled to the filter exteriorly of the flow passage and a two-way pump that when operating in a first direction, causes froth to flow through the first check valve while the second check valve is closed and produces suction when operating in a second direction opposite the first direction to open the second check valve while the first check valve is closed. 36. The method of claim 32 further comprises directing gas from the gaseous regions through an end of the flow passage. 37. The method of claim 32, wherein the flow passage is helical or serpentine. 38. A method of extracting liquid from froth, comprising: directing the froth through a helical flow passage bounded by a filter and a non-porous cylindrical surface; and drawing liquid from the froth through the filter as the froth flows through the helical flow passage. 39. The method of claim 38 further comprises directing gas from the froth through an end of the helical flow passage.