Short Distillation Head With Integrated Cooling Jacket

Abstract

A distillation apparatus has a cooling jacket, in the shape of a halo, 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 jacket, fraction collector, and a portion of the vertically-extending passageway, excepting for a top portal, a side exit portal, at least one cooling jacket intake, and at least one cooling jacket outtake.

Claims

1. A distillation apparatus comprising: a lower end entry portal; a vertically extending passageway from said lower end entry portal to, or into, an interior space of a fraction collector; and a cooling jacket surrounding at least a part of a vertical extent of said fraction collector.

2. The distillation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cooling jacket is in a shape of a halo.

3. The distillation apparatus of claim 2, wherein a outer cover surrounds said fraction collector, said cooling jacket, and at least a majority of said vertically extending passageway; and wherein an intake and an outtake of said cooling jacket pass through said outer cover.

4. The distillation apparatus of claim 3, wherein said fraction collector comprises an outer wall with: a curvilinear upper portion; a curvilinear lower portion; a vertical middle portion forming a unitary structure between said curvilinear upper portion and said curvilinear lower portion; wherein said vertical middle portion is simultaneously an interior wall of said cooling jacket.

5. The distillation apparatus of claim 4, wherein said cooling jacket further comprises an interior space which is separate from a continuous passageway formed within said vertically extending passageway, said fraction collector, a side exit portal of said fraction collector, and a top portal of said fraction collector.

6. The distillation apparatus of claim 3, wherein an entirety of a vertical extent of said interior wall of said cooling jacket is simultaneously a part of an exterior wall of said fraction collector.

7. The distillation apparatus of claim 6, wherein said exterior wall of said cooling jacket is unbroken but for said intake and said outtake.

8. The distillation apparatus of claim 7, wherein said outer cover directly surrounds an entirety of a vertical extent of said exterior wall of said cooling jacket and said upper and said lower portions of said wall of said fraction collector; and said vertical middle wall of said fraction collector is surrounded by both said outer cover and said cooling jacket.

9. The distillation apparatus of claim 8, wherein an entirety of said cooling jacket is above said side exit portal of said fraction collector.

10. The distillation apparatus of claim 9, wherein said vertically extending passageway further comprises a top edge which extends into a part of said fraction collector surrounded by said lower portions of said wall of said fraction collector and which terminates inline with a part of said side exit portal which is below a top part of said side exit portal, said top edge situated below a horizontal plane of a lowest edge of said cooling jacket.

11. The distillation apparatus of claim 10, wherein said vertically extending passageway further comprises a lower collection region and a tube; wherein a largest horizontally-oriented circumference of said lower collection region is wider than a largest horizontally-oriented circumference of said tube; and wherein said largest horizontally-oriented circumference of said lower collection region is substantially equal to a horizontally-oriented circumference of said interior wall of said cooling jacket.

12. The distillation apparatus of claim 11, wherein said cooling jacket intake is situated horizontally inline with said cooling jacket outtake.

13. The distillation apparatus of claim 11, wherein all horizontal planes passing through said cooling jacket intake are below all horizontal planes passing through said cooling jacket outtake and said cooling jacket outtake is vertically inline with said side exit portal.

14. A distillation apparatus comprising: a first continuous internal region with vertical extent from a bottom section of said apparatus to a side exit portal; a cooling jacket with a second continuous internal region surrounding a portion of said vertical extent of said first continuous internal region, wherein said second continuous internal region is separate from, and lacking portals to, said first continuous internal region; wherein at least a part of an interior wall of said cooling jacket is simultaneously a part of an exterior wall of said vertical extent of said first continuous internal region.

15. The distillation apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first continuous internal region extends below said cooling jacket.

16. The distillation apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an outer cover surrounding each of substantially an entirety of said first continuous internal region and said cooling jacket.

17. The distillation apparatus of claim 16, wherein said outer cover comprises the following portals: an intake of said cooling jacket which passes through said exterior wall of said cooling jacket; an outtake of said cooling jacket which further passes through said exterior wall of said cooling jacket; and a side exit portal of said first continuous internal region which passes through an exterior wall of said vertical extent of said vertical extent.

18. The distillation apparatus of claim 17, wherein all horizontal planes passing through said side exit portal are below all horizontal planes passing through each of said intake and said outtake.

19. The distillation apparatus of claim 18, wherein said bottom section includes a narrower portion and a wider portion, said narrower portion extending above a lowest horizontal plane of said wider portion; and wherein said cooling jacket has a lowest horizontal plane above each of said narrower portion and said wider portion.

20. The distillation apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first internal region further comprises a fraction collector having a horizontally-aligned circumferences greater than a portion of a rest of said first internal region there-below; wherein said cooling jacket surrounds said fraction collector portion of said first continuous internal region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a top and side perspective view of a distillation apparatus of embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a reverse bottom and side perspective view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a side elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a bottom plan view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0037] FIG. 8 shows a vertical cross section of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0038] FIG. 9 shows a side elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1 with an attached condenser unit.

[0039] FIG. 10 shows a top and side perspective view of a distillation apparatus of other embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[0040] FIG. 11 shows a front elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

[0041] The distillation apparatus of the disclosed technology has a cooling jacket, in the shape of a halo, surrounding 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. An outer cover substantially covers the cooling jacket, fraction collector, and a portion of the vertically-extending passageway, excepting for a top portal, a side exit portal, at least one cooling jacket intake, and at least one cooling jacket outtake.

[0042] Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become more clear in view of the following discussion of the figures.

[0043] Discussing FIGS. 1 and 2 simultaneously, FIG. 1 shows a top and side perspective view of a distillation apparatus of embodiments of the disclosed technology. FIG. 2 shows a reverse bottom and side perspective view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1. Describing from roughly top to bottom for ease of reading, at the top, in some embodiments, a top portal 10 functionally connects/opens into a neck 12 where one can insert a thermometer, stopper, distillation key, or the like to close the portal 10. In other embodiments, the fraction collector 22 can be closed at a top side. Here, the fraction collector 22 has a top portal 14 which is a width of the neck 12 through which vapors/gasses can escape upwards.

[0044] The fraction collector 22 has a bottom side 29 which 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 side 29 of the fraction collector 22 can have an opening there-in through which a tube 42 passes therein. The tube 42 extends vertically in some embodiments of the disclosed technology and has openings at each of a top edge 40 and bottom edge 44. The top edge 40 and opening into the fraction collector 22 is 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 side 29 of the fraction collector which is in line with a side exit portal 30 which passes between the fraction collector 22 and condenser entry area 32 before entering a main body of the condenser 34 where 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 edge 40 of vertical tube 42 terminates at a bottommost part of the lower curvilinear wall 28 and/or of a wall of fraction collector 22 rather than extending into fraction collector 22.

[0045] In the embodiment shown, the fraction collector 22 has walls comprising an upper curvilinear section 24, a middle vertical extent 26, and a lower curvilinear section 28. In other embodiments, there exist one or more additional wall segments with same or different shapes.

[0046] Partially or wholly surrounding the middle vertical extent 26 is a cooling jacket 80. In other embodiments, the cooling jacket 80 surrounds different or additional segments of fraction collector 22 such as one or more of the upper curvilinear section 24 and lower curvilinear section 28. In further embodiments, the cooling jacket 80 further surrounds at least a portion of vertical tube 42. At least a part of middle vertical extent 26 or any other part of the fraction collector or vertically extending tubes described herein, is, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, simultaneously an interior wall of the cooling jacket 80. In other embodiments, there exists an interior wall of cooling jacket 80 which is distinct and/or separate from the middle vertical extent 26 and/or a part of the walls of fraction collector 22. The cooling jacket 80 has an exterior wall 84 which defines an interior space 82. In various embodiments, the interior space 82 is substantially halo-shaped and is separate from an interior space 21 of the fraction collector 22, tube 42, and lower collection area 60.

[0047] An intake tube 86 and an outtake tube 88 of the cooling jacket 80 connect, respectively, to portals 85 and 87 in the exterior wall 84 of cooling jacket 80. In various embodiments, the intake tube 86 and portal 85, and the outtake tube 88 and portal 87, are located inline (in a same horizontally or vertically-oriented plane) with each other, or are disposed such that intake tube and portal 86, 85 are vertically above or below (in a same vertically-oriented plane) outtake tube and portal 88, 87. Intake tube and portal 86, 85 may be offset from outtake tube and portal 88, 87 by any number of degrees, such as 180 or 90. Intake tube 86 and outtake tube 88 may be substantially identical. Intake portal 85 and outtake portal 87 may be substantially identical. Intake tube and portal 86, 85 and/or outtake tube and portal 88, 87 may be horizontally inline with and/or vertically inline with side exit portal 30 and/or condenser entry area 32.

[0048] In some embodiments of the disclosed technology, a lower collector region 60 is functionally connected (opens into) the (vertical) tube 42 by way of the lower portal 44 of the tube. The tube 42 extends below and into an interior circumscribed (substantially surrounded by) the lower collector region 60. By way of this passage of the tube 42 into the lower collector region 60, a rejection area is created between the tube 42, top side of the lower collector region 60, and side wall of the lower collector region 60 (e.g. at each horizontal plane which crosses between the tube and lower collector region beneath of the upper wall of the lower collector region). Vapors then experience turbulent flow or condensation causing movement downwards until passing upwards through the lower portal 44 of the tube 42.

[0049] In another embodiment, vapors rise directly into at least one portal 62 of vertical tube 42. Vertical tube 42 may have, in various embodiments, a more and/or a less bulbous portion thereof.

[0050] Describing the lower collector region 60 in more detail, in some embodiments this region has a flat upper side at, or substantially at, a height which is through a halfway point of the vertical tube 42. The flat (horizontal) upper side has rounded corners which curve into vertical sidewalls which then extend vertically until reaching a spheroid lower end with a semi-spherical bottom in some embodiments of the disclosed technology. In other embodiments, the lower end and bottom of the (bulbous) lower collection region may be sharply angled and/or open. A row of portals 62 are found in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The portals are an entry point into the lower collection region 60 for vapors rising up from a flask or item being heated below the distillation apparatus shown (not shown). The portals 62 can be one, two, four, or more portals row and can each be a same size and each or some have circular openings. As such, vapors extend around the lower collector region 60 and pass indirectly (must change directions during movement) into the side portals 62.

[0051] In some embodiments, a bottom end of a vertically-extending distillation tube and/or the lower collection region 60 has a portal open to a bottom side of the device, such as a portal and bottom end thereof 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.

[0052] Vapors which continue past the side portals become rejected between the outer cover 20 and lower collector region 60, more specifically, at a horizontal seal 70. Thus, vapors move upwards around the lower collector region 60 into the outer cover 20 at the bottom entry portal 72 and upwards in the space between the outer cover 20 and lower collector region 60 until either hitting the horizontal seal 70 or entering into a side portal 62 of the lower collector region 60. Vapors which enter into the lower collector region 60 by way of a portal 62 can continue to move upwards through the tube 42 if not rejected by extending past the lowest edge 44 of the tube 42 without entering-therein. Vapors which do enter the tube 42 continue upwards into the fraction collector 22 before condensing and falling to the bottom 29 of the fraction collector 22. 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 tube 42. Rather, the vapors condense into liquid at the bottom 29 of the fraction collector 22, outside of the tube 42 and then flow out the side portal 30 which shares a lowest side or floor with the fraction collector, passing then into the condenser 34.

[0053] FIGS. 3-5 show various front and side elevation views of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1. FIGS. 4 and 5 show, respectively a side and a reverse side elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0054] Discussing now the outer cover 20, this cover surrounds the fraction collector 22 and cooling jacket 80, such as in an unencumbered manner, at every horizontal cross section in embodiments of the disclosed technology but for where the side portal 30, intake tube 86, and outtake tube 88 extend 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 jacket 80 is also unencumbered, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[0055] The outer cover further surrounds the tube 40, a part of the tube 40 being 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 region 60 and the cooling jacket 80 covers a majority of the fraction collector 22 and/or minority of a vertical tube 40. Side walls 50 form a right angle or substantially a right angle or rounded corner with a horizontal seal 70 in a unitary connection in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[0056] At bottom ends of the side walls 50, the side walls can have a wider region 52 and a flared edge 54 which are 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. in FIG. 3) move substantially or fully upwards into the distillation apparatus by way of passage into the outer cover (between walls 50) and/or into the lower collector region 60.

[0057] As shown by FIGS. 3-5, the bottom side 29 of fraction collector 22, which is partially formed by the lower curvilinear section 28 of the walls of fraction collector 22, can be flat/horizontal around an opening which a top edge 40 of tube 44 extends there-through.

[0058] Additionally, in some embodiments, a portion of the tube 42 extends through an area in between the top part of the lower collection area 60 and the bottom part 29 of the fraction collector 22. That is, the tube 42 extends into an area which is primarily and/or mostly an encapsulated part of the fraction collector 22 in these embodiments.

[0059] Also shown more clearly in FIGS. 3-5 are a rejection area 66 at a top of lower collection area 60 and a product collection area 68 at a bottom of fraction collector 22.

[0060] As shown in this embodiment, particularly that of FIG. 3, the intake tube 86 and outtake tube 88 terminate at portals 85 and 87, respectively. In some embodiments, these tubes extend past these portals and instead terminate within the cooling jacket interior space 82. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the interior space 82 of the cooling jacket 80 has a substantially identical height, width, and depth at every parallel horizontal or vertical cross section. In various other embodiments, some horizontal or vertical cross sections differ from other horizontal or vertical cross sections in at least one dimension.

[0061] In this embodiment, the intake tube 86 and the outtake tube 88 are substantially parallel and horizontal. In various embodiments of the disclosed technology, one or both of the intake tube 86 and the outtake tube 88 are angled above and/or below a horizontal plane which passes through portals 85 and/or 87 and are angled to a right side and/or a left side of a vertical plane which assesses through portals 85 and/or 87. Furthermore, in other embodiments, each of intake tube 86, outtake tube 88, intake portal 85, and/or outtake portal 87 may 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.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 shows a bottom plan view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1. As shown by these figures, in an embodiment, the flared edge 54 of the side walls 50 of the outer cover 20 have a horizontal circumference which is substantially the largest horizontal circumference of any component of the device shown.

[0063] FIG. 8 shows a vertical cross section of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1. As shown clearly in this embodiment, the horizontal seal 70 of the outer cover 20 is connected to the wider region 52 at the bottom of side walls 50 of the outer cover 20. In various embodiments, at least a part of the horizontal seal 70 may be situated at an angle. It may also, in embodiments, be connected to a different part of the side walls 50 of the outer cover 20.

[0064] FIG. 9 shows a side elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 1 with an attached condenser unit. As shown in this embodiment, the collection area 68 at the bottom of the fraction collector 22 is wholly below and/or inline with side exit portal 30. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the condenser entry area 32 has an outward edge 36 which extends outward from and at a downward angle relative to a horizontal plane. Condenser 34 is situated at a substantially identical downward angle as that of the outward edge 36 of condenser 34.

[0065] FIG. 10 shows a top and side perspective view of a distillation apparatus of other embodiments of the disclosed technology. FIG. 11 shows a front elevation view of the distillation apparatus of FIG. 10. As shown in these figures, in another embodiment, the intake tube and portal 86, 85 are substantially or completely horizontally inline with the outtake tube and portal 88, 87, rather than substantially vertically below outtake tube and portal 88, 87.

[0066] 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.