Variable flexure-based fluid filter

US7188731B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Steve Brown · Livermore, US
• Billy Colston · Livermore, US
• Graham Marshall · Shoreham, US
• Duane K. Wolcott · Baton Rouge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 25, 2003
• Grant date: Mar 13, 2007
• Expiry date: Oct 4, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N1/4077
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for filtering particles from a fluid comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a variable size passage between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and means for adjusting the size of the variable size passage for filtering the particles from the fluid. An inlet fluid flow stream is introduced to a fixture with a variable size passage. The size of the variable size passage is set so that the fluid passes through the variable size passage but the particles do not pass through the variable size passage.