Patent ID: 6984200
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: B04B

Abstract:
1. A centrifugal separation rotor for a centrifugal separator for separating solid contaminants from a liquid, said separator comprising a housing for mounting the rotor for rotation about a rotation axis by a drive, said rotor comprising: a walled separation and containment vessel having an impervious radially outer side wall extending about and along the rotation axis to form radially inwardly from the side wall an annular contaminant separation and containment zone, an outlet passage, disposed radially inwardly with respect to the radially outer side wall and leading externally of the vessel, and, associated with the vessel rotation axis, an inlet for conveying liquid to be cleaned to the contaminant separation and containment zone at a rate less than the liquid can be discharged by the outlet passage, said inlet comprising a liquid collector defining an inlet region about the, and a transfer passage communicating between the inlet region and the contaminant separation and containment zone of the vessel spaced axially from the outlet passage, the outlet passage being disposed to define radially outwardly of the transfer passage during rotation a radial boundary of the contaminant separation and containment zone, wherein the liquid collector comprises a divider wall, extending about and along the rotation axis and defining at least in part at one end thereof the transfer passage, having a liquid collection face, facing towards the rotation axis, arranged to receive liquid introduced into the inlet at a part spaced axially from the transfer passage and operable to support the liquid radially in response to centrifugal force exerted by rotation, permitting it to flow along the wall to the transfer passage, and wherein the divider wall collection face increases in radial distance from the rotation axis along its length from the liquid introduction part to the transfer passage, the increase being arranged to cause, in operation, a component of the centrifugal force to confine axial flow of the contaminated liquid over the collection face in a direction towards the transfer passage.