Patent ID: 6632166
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: B04B

Abstract:
A centrifugal separator for separating components of a fluid comprising:an elongated separator bowl for receiving the fluid, said separator bowl being rotatable about an axis; an elongated shaft spindle disposed along said axis and partially extending into said separator bowl, said shaft spindle disposed for selective rotation and axial translation relative to said separator bowl; a variable speed motor coupled to said separator bowl for selectively rotating said separator bowl at a high separating speed and at a lower scraping speed; a clutch, disposed external to said separator bowl and proximate said shaft spindle, operative to enable rotation of said shaft spindle with said separator bowl at said separating speed when disengaged from said shaft spindle and to prevent rotation of said shaft spindle with said separator bowl at said scraping speed when engaged against said shaft spindle; a scraper assembly positioned within said separator bowl and coupled to an end of said shaft spindle, said scraper assembly including a plurality of scraper blades extending substantially to an interior surface of said separator bowl, said scraper blades having a scraping width in the direction of said axis substantially less than the length of said separator bowl in the direction of said axis; and a scraper actuator in communication with said clutch and said shaft spindle for selectively moving said clutch, said shaft spindle and said scraper assembly along said axis while said separator bowl is being rotated by said variable speed motor at said scraping speed for removing solids from the interior surface of said separator bowl.