FLUID CIRCULATION CENTRIFUGAL CLEANER

Abstract: A centrifugal fluid cleaning arrangement (100, figure 2(a)) in a fluid circulation system includes a centrifugal cleaner (100') through which only a proportion of the circulated fluid is diverted and drainage assistance means (102) which consists of a venturi arrangement (111) through which non-diverted fluid is passed, the venturi developing locally a significant pressure drop in a region into which opens an induction port (108) connected to the cleaner holding sump (101') so that the cleaned fluid is entrained into the non-diverted fluid and returned to the circulation. Whilst the pressure difference between inlet and induction ports is sufficient to drive the centrifugal cleaner rotor, the absolute pressures of the supply to, and drain from, the cleaner do not depend on the ambient atmospheric pressure and the overall pressure drop of the venturi arrangement is small, permitting it to be included within a closed circulation system. A regulator means (120, figure 2(b)) may by-pass the venturi arrangement to regulate the flow of fluid therethrough. The drainage assistance means may be separate from the centrifugal cleaner (20', figure 1(b)).

Description: ILF 2451 - 1 - Fluid circulation centrifugal cleaner This invention relates to fluid circulation systems including centrifugal cleaning devices and particularly relates to drainage of cleaned fluid from such devices. Self-powered centrifugal fluid cleaning devices are well known for cleaning lubricating fluids of solid contaminants in engines and like mechanisms. Such centrifugal cleaning devices are described for example in US-A-4557831, US-A-4498898, GB-A-2160796 and EP-A- 0193020. In particular, such devices are employed with fluids in the form of liquids, and in this specification the term fluid should be construed accordingly. It will be appreciated that notwithstanding the simplicity and efficiency with which such devices separate solids from the fluid passing therethrough, there are a number of limitations attached to their usage which have hitherto served to limit their widespread use. A typical form of such a self-powered centrifugal cleaner is shown in part sectional elevation at 10 in Figure 1(a), comprising base 11, rotor 12 mounted on a substantially vertical axis 13 fo rotation thereabout, a housing 14 mounted on the base an enclosing the rotor and a drain or holding sump 15 formed in th base below the rotor. A fluid inlet passage 16 is arranged t supply fluid at elevated pressure to the interior of the rotor b way of the rotation axis and a fluid drain passage 17 in the bas receives fluid from the drain sump for return to a flui reservoir. The rotor has side walls arranged to retain soli contaminants, contained in the supplied fluid, which are force outwardly by rapid rotation of the rotor due to reaction t ejection of the supplied fluid to the drain sump by way of roto nozzles 18, 19 in the base thereof. In respect of use of such a cleaner in a lubrication system fo an engine or a fluid operated device, the quantity of fluid whic can be passed through it in a given time is limited and the flui emerging from the rotor nozzles 18 and 19 is in a low energy stat and suited only for returning by gravity flow to a syste reservoir or sump. To this end it is usual to mount the cleaner above the level o the reservoir, and indeed other parts of the circulation syste whereby the static head of the fluid in the holding sump provide adequate pressure for the fluid to drain, provided of course tha the gaseous atmosphere of the cleaner housing (itself a pre requisite for rotor rotation) is not at a negative pressure wit respect to ambient atmospheric pressure. Usually this is achieve by having a short downwardly directed drain duct of large cross sectional area which provide also a vent by which the housing i exposed to ambient pressure. It has been suggested, where such a dual purpose drainage duct i not practicable, that the housing be provided with a ventilatio or breather valve, such as illustrated at 14', arranged to ope when the housing atmospheric pressure becomes negative to predetermined, but finite, extent, but to ensure that the holdin sump drains until the valve does open it must be sited with suc that the static head provides an effective drainage pressure thus further constraining its freedom of usage. It has also been proposed to avoid draining limitations consequent upon a sub-ambient housing atmosphere pressure by exposing the housing to an above-ambient pressure, possibly from an engine crank case, although this then requires either a corresponding increase in supply pressure to maintain the pressure drop across the rotor nozzles or acceptance of a reduced rotation efficiency, or by using a suction pump driven by way of a power take off from the engine or machine being lubricated by the circulated fluid. Notwithstanding the added complexity of providing such externally powered drainage facilities which detract from the self-powered nature of the cleaner, such systems have still functioned on the basis that the cleaned and ejected fluid, whose energy has been expended in driving the rotor, is returned to the reservoir at ambient atmospheric pressure from a housing whose atmosphere is not significantly different from such pressure. It is also known to have a fluid driven centrifugal cleaner in which the separation rotor is driven by reaction to ejection of a fluid supplied thereto at substantially constant pressure solely for that purpose whilst a fluid of indeterminate, and possibly intermittent, supply pressure is passed through, and cleaned in, the separation rotor before ejection also to join the drive fluid in the holding sump. In this case all of the fluid ejected from the rotor, that is cleaned fluid and drive fluid, is at low pressure for return to the sump and by-passes any utilisation means of the circulation system. Such a centrifugal cleaner type is described in US-A-3791576. Therefore it has been accepted that such a centrifugal fluid cleaning device has to be operated in a so-called by-pass mode in which the fluid that is diverted to flow through the cleaner by¬ passes the main fluid circulation and the use to which it is put. Although such centrifugal cleaners are employed primarily to separate out contaminants from lubricating oil, these are equally valid in respect of cleaning other circulated fluids in fluid powered systems. It is an object of the present invention to provide, for a fluid circulation system, a centrifugal cleaning system of simple construction which is free of many of the constraints of known arrangements and permits immediate use of the cleaned fluid in the circulation system. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a fluid circulation system including such centrifugal cleaning arrangement. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a closed circuit fluid circulation system including such centrifugal cleaning arrangement. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a centrifugal fluid cleaning arrangement for circulated fluid comprises a centrifugal cleaner through which a proportion of the circulated fluid is diverted, the cleaner including a rotor spun by reaction to fluid ejected therefrom through rotor nozzles and a holding sump for ejected fluid from which it is drained, and cleaner drainage assistance means comprising a primary input port arranged to receive circulated fluid and an output port to emit said fluid and, between the ports, a fluid induction arrangement including an induction port operably connected to the holding sump of the cleaner, the drainage assistance means being operable in response to the flow of non-diverted fluid through the flow induction arrangement to induce ejected fluid to be entrained into the non-diverted fluid flow. According to a second aspect of the present invention a fluid circulation system includes a fluid reservoir, a fluid circulator and a fluid cleaning arrangement as defined in the preceding paragraph. According to a third aspect of the present invention a closed circuit fluid circulation system comprises a fluid circulator, operable to cause the fluid to circulate through the system and a centrifugal fluid cleaning arrangement as defined in the last but one paragraph, arranged to divert a proportion of the circulated fluid to the centrifugal cleaner and provide therein cleaned fluid and pass non-diverted fluid through the cleaner drainage assistance means by way of a said fluid induction arrangement thereof and induce cleaned fluid to be entrained into the non-diverted fluid flow. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1(a) is a partly sectional elevation of a self-powered centrifugal cleaner as described hereinbefore, Figure 1(b) is a sectional elevation through a first form of drainage assistance means used with the centrifugal cleaner of Figure 1(a) to provide a centrifugal drainage arrangement in accordance with the present invention, Figure 1(c) is a schematic representation of a fluid circulation system incorporating the cleaner of Figure 1(a) and drainage assistance means of Figure 1(b), Figure 2(a) is a sectional elevation through a second form of centrifugal cleaning arrangement in accordance with the present invention comprising a self-powered centrifugal fluid cleaner of similar form to that of Figure 1(a) but incorporating a second form of drainage assistance means in the base thereof, Figure 2(b) is a cross-sectional elevation through the base of the cleaner of Figure 2(a) along the line X-X showing the drainage assistance means additionally including pressure regulation means, and Figure 2(c) is a schematic representation of a closed fluid circulation system incorporating the cleaner of Figures 2(a) and 2(b). Referring to Figure 1(c) a first form of centrifugal cleaning arrangement 20 comprises the above described centrifugal cleaner 10, which requires no further description, and cleaner drainage assistance means indicated at 20' and initially described in overview. The centrifugal cleaning arrangement 20 is used in conjunction in a fluid circulation system 50. Referring to Figures 1(a) and 1(b) the cleaner drainage assistance means 20' comprises an input port 21 arranged to receive fluid being circulated in the circulation system 50 and an output port 22 to emit said fluid and, between the ports, a fluid induction arrangement 23 including an induction port 24 operably connected to the holding sump 15 of the cleaner 10 by way of drain passage 17. Between the inlet port and fluid induction arrangement 23 is a diversion port 25 by way of which some of the circulated fluid supplied to inlet port 21 is diverted to supply the cleaner by way of supply passage 16. In operation the cleaner drainage assistance means 20' responds to the flow of non-diverted fluid through the flow induction arrangement 23 to induce cleaned fluid to be entrained into the non-diverted fluid flow. Considering the drainage assistance means 20' in greater detail, it comprises a body 27 having a through-aperture 28 therein extending from the inlet port 21 at one end and in the region 29 the other end is of greater cross-sectional area and internally threaded. The aperture 28 defines a body passage 30. The body includes a blind aperture 31 defining an induction passage extending between the body passage and adapted for connection to the cleaner draining passage 17. The body also includes a blind aperture 32 which extends from the body passage 30, at the aforementioned diversion port, and is adapted to connection to the cleaner supply passage 16. The flow induction means 23 comprises a venturi arrangement, indicated generally at 35, comprising a venturi body 36 containing a through-passage 37 and in the side wall thereof one or more transverse through-apertures 24' defining the induction port 24. The venturi body is disposed in the body passage 30 with the apertures 24' in fluid alignment with the induction passage 31 and is located and held by threaded engagement with the end region 29 of the body passage. The venturi body through-passage 37 contracts to a neck of minimal cross-sectional area upstream of the induction port and downstream progressively increases in cross-sectional area. As shown, along a first part 38 of the through-passage 37 it contracts substantially uniformly as a function of distance to the neck portion 39 which is of substantially uniform cross-section extending along a second part 40, of the through-passage. Downstream of the neck 39, the through-passage increases in cross- sectional area rapidly in a first expansion region 41 which extends of substantially uniform cross-section along a third part 42 of the through-passage to the end 43 of the venturi body. The induction port 24, comprising aperture(s) 24', is disposed immediately downstream of the neck portion 39 where the passage opens to said first expansion region. In use, when an outlet pipe is secured to the end 43 of the body and surrounding it, the increase in cross-sectional area defined thereby (or indeed if the body passage opens directly to the atmosphere) represents a second expansion region for the venturi arrangement that defines the outlet port 22. The parts of the passage in the venturi body are dimensioned, having regard to a predetermined flow rate and pressure drop through the rotor jet nozzles required for rotation, such that the venturi arrangement can develop a pressure drop between the inlet port at least as great as that required for the rotor and the flow of non-diverted fluid can entrain fluid from the housing at a rate in excess of that at which diverted fluid is supplied to the rotor in the housing. Considering the fluid circulation system 50 in greater detail, it comprises a fluid reservoir 51 which is open to atmospheric pressure, a feed pipe 52 extending from the reservoir and a circulating pump 53. The pump supplies fluid at elevated pressure to a junction 54, one branch 55 of which supplies the fluid t some utilisation means, and possibly by way of a full flow filte (not shown) , whereas the other branch 56 supplies the fluid to th centrifugal cleaning arrangement 20, to inlet port 21 of th drainage assistance means 20'. A return pipe 57 extends betwee the outlet port at 22 to the reservoir 51. The cleaner drainag assistance means 20' is coupled to the self-powered centrifuga cleaner 10 of the arrangement by pipe 58, extending between th diversion passage 32 (diversion port 25) and the supply passag of the cleaner, and by pipe 59 extending between the inductio passage 31 (induction port 24) and the drain passage 17 of th cleaner. The centrifugal cleaner is shown disposed in accordance wit conventional practice at the highest part of the circuit an assumed, prior to operation, to contain a gaseous atmospher substantially at ambient atmospheric pressure. In operation of the fluid circulation system, as fluid is pumpe from the circulating pump 53 to the reservoir by way of th drainage assistance means 20, a proportion thereof is diverted t pass through the centrifugal cleaner; the non-diverted flui passes through the venturi arrangement where it experiences slight pressure drop between inlet and outlet ports before retur to the reservoir. However, in passing through the neck 39 of th venturi device and then expanding into said first expansion regio 41, a significant reduction in pressure occurs across the neck an fluid from the cleaner holding sump in drawn into the firs expansion region and entrained in the fluid flow. Because the cleaned fluid is entrained at a greater rate than i is supplied to the housing by way of the rotor nozzles, th holding sump is readily emptied by the venturi device and proportion of the housing atmosphere may also be entrained (albei inefficiently) until the atmospheric pressure within the housin stabilises substantially at the same pressure as the ventur induction port. Thus the pressure drop across the rotor nozzle becomes substantially equal to the pressure difference between th inlet and induction ports of the venturi device. It will be appreciated that if the fluid contains a significant amount of dissolved gas which is liberated into the housing by the passage through the nozzles, such gas may tend to create a pressure rise in the housing atmosphere, as is experienced with known cleaners and a positive pressure difference with respect to the induction port. As mentioned hereinbefore, proper operation of such a centrifugal cleaner is dependent upon pressure and flow rates within relatively narrowly defined limits; it is found for example that a pressure drop in the range 3.5 to 7 bars is typical for the rotor nozzle of such a cleaner to effect rotation at suitable speed. A drainage assistance device can readily be provided with a pressure difference between inlet and induction ports corresponding to this whilst exhibiting an overall pressure drop between inlet and outlet ports of less than 2 bars. It will be seen therefore that such a drainage assistance means permits a centrifugal cleaner to be operated with a supply pressure as low as 2 bars when the outlet port is substantially at ambient atmospheric pressure or, for the centrifugal cleaner and drainage assistance means to be disposed at any part of a fluid circulation system in which an overall pressure drop of about 2 bars can be tolerated irrespective of the actual values of the inlet and outlet pressures with respect to ambient atmospheric pressure. The centrifugal cleaner by virtue of the drainage assistance means is thus no longer constrained to disposition with respect to a particular supply pressure and drainage at reservoir pressure nor disposition above the reservoir to effect drainage by gravity. The fluid circulation system 50 may therefore have the centrifugal cleaner mounted below the reservoir 51, provided the pressure at the output of the drainage assistance means 20' is sufficient to return the fluid to the reservoir. It will be appreciated that in an arrangement wherein the centrifugal cleaner is operated below the level of the reservoir, when there is no circulation the housing may tend to fill with the fluid, compressing the gaseous atmosphere to a small pocket and from which pocket, over a period of time, gas may dissolve into the fluid. Upon commencement of circulation, the drainage assistance means drains fluid from the housing to the extent that the pressure of the atmosphere therein is not less than at the induction port. In practice this will result in simple passage of fluid, supplied by way of the nozzles, to the induction port without drainage of the excess fluid unless gas is added to the atmosphere to permit its displacement. It is found within fluids which have gas dissolved therein that such gas separates upon passage through the rotor nozzles so that over a period of several minutes fluid circulation a gaseous atmosphere in the housing is restored to the extent that the fluid level falls below that required for the rotor to rotate and normal operation ensues. If it is necessary for rotor rotation to commence immediately with fluid circulation, and/or it is not possible to rely upon gas dissolved in the fluid, a low atmospheric pressure in the housing at start up caused by the tendency for the venturi induction to create a vacuum in the housing in draining fluid may be relieved by providing a breather valve in the housing wall, similar to that shown at 14', or by providing a charge of gas from a source, possibly above ambient pressure and before circulation to displace the fluid even before operation of the drainage assistance means. It will be appreciated that whereas such atmosphere augmentation is able to provide operation as, or shortly after, circulation commences, if the gas is capable of dissolving in the fluid, a build up in the quantity of gas dissolved may occur if operation is stopped and started frequently. If the fluid does not dissolve gas then a single charge of gas may provide a sustainable atmosphere within the housing. It will be understood from the above description that the supply pressure to the centrifugal cleaner that is, across the rotor nozzles is substantially equal to the pressure difference between the inlet and induction ports of the drainage assistance means, and thus dependent upon the rate at which fluid flows through the induction arrangement rather than actual value of the pressure at the inlet port, but that to maintain such supply pressure within a useful range it may be necessary to regulate the flow of fluid through the induction arrangement in accordance with such actual pressure and/or the position of the drainage assistance means in a fluid circulation system. Whereas the centrifugal cleaning arrangement 20 described above employs a conventional centrifugal cleaner 10 and discrete cleaner drainage assistance means 20', the drainage assistance means may be integrated into the centrifugal cleaner, this and other variations included in a second embodiment being shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(c) . Referring to Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the centrifugal cleaning arrangement 100 comprises a self-powered centrifugal fluid cleaner 100' similar to cleaner 10 described above except that the base 101 in addition to defining a holding sump 101' for cleaned fluid also contains cleaner drainage assistance means 102. A through- aperture 103 defining a body passage 104 extends from inlet port 105 and includes a diversion port 106 communicating with passage 107 and a drainage passage 108 opening to the holding sump. The through-aperture 103 is of greater cross section, and internally threaded, at the other end 109. The fluid induction arrangement, shown generally at 110 comprises a venturi arrangement 111 in the form of a venturi body 112 which is an interference fit in the narrower part of the through- aperture 103. In a similar manner to that described above in relation to venturi arrangement 35, the arrangement comprises a body 112 having a through passage 113 comprising a contracting first region 114, a neck region 115 and a first expansion region 116 at the junction of which, aligned with drainage passage 108, an array of transverse through-apertures 108' connect with passage 108 to define an induction port 108". However the body 112 i somewhat shorter and terminates within the enlarged end region 10 of the through-aperture, which aperture region therefore comprise a second expansion region 117. A connector 118, which is adapte to connect to a pipe of the same, or preferably greater, cross sectional dimensions as the input port, is screw threaded int said enlarged end of the body and defines outlet port 119; furthermore, the bore 118' of the connector 118, which defines th expansion region 117, is flared. Additionally, pressure regulator means 120 is provided in the for of a by-pass passage 121 (defined by two intersecting cros drillings) extending from 122 upstream of the fluid inductio arrangement 110 to downstream of the induction port, and indee downstream of the whole venturi body 112, opening at 123 into th enlarged end region of the body through-aperture 109 so that flui from both the venturi body and by-pass passage can merge smoothly, assisted by the flared bore 118' of the connector 118. The by-pass passage contains a relief valve 125 comprising sprin 126 and valve body 127 arranged to seat against a shoulder 128 i the by-pass passage, the valve normally being biased closed t inhibit flow of fluid but to opened in response to a predetermine pressure difference between inlet and outlet ports 105 and 119. It will be appreciated that operation is substantially the sam as described hereinbefore for the discrete centrifugal cleaner 1 and cleaner drainage assistance means 20', with the exception tha there is less flow resistance between the drainage assistanc means and the cleaner, the regulator means 120 controls th pressure drop across the venturi device and thus the suctio imparted thereby to the cleaner housing, and the second expansio region of the venturi is fully contained within the body and i effective irrespective of connection to a region of greate effective cross sectional area. The cleaning arrangement 100, comprising centrifugal cleaner 100 incorporating this form of drainage assistance means may b employed in a fluid circulation system as described in Figure 1(c) in which the cleaned fluid is returned to an open sump or reservoir that defines a pressure datum. Both forms, but particularly the cleaning arrangement 100, may be employed in a closed fluid circulation system shown schematically at 150 in Figure 2(c). The system comprises a closed reservoir 151, such as an accumulator, a fluid circulator 152, fluid utilisation means 153, such as a fluid powered actuator or bearing set, and in series therewith the centrifugal fluid cleaning arrangement 100. As illustrated, the cleaning arrangement is disposed upstream of the circulator 152 to minimise any back pressure on the venturi that may compromise its efficiency. It will be seen that all of the fluid circulated is passed through the drainage assistance means of the cleaning arrangement, there being only the aforementioned tolerable pressure drop across the venturi arrangement as a whole. A proportion only of the fluid passing through the arrangement at any one time is cleaned centrifugally the remainder by-passing the cleaner, but the cleaned fluid is returned to the circulated fluid without any diminution in circulated fluid volume and immediately circulated through the next component in the system. Thus because the cleaned fluid is entrained directly into the circulating fluid that by-passes the cleaner and does not have to return by gravity to an open reservoir, the arrangement permits a self-powered centrifugal fluid cleaner to be employed in a closed fluid circulation system (which can accommodate the small pressure drop due to the venturi arrangement and cleaner) and to be positioned substantially anywhere in such a system that does not inhibit production of the venturi induction pressure. It will be appreciated that although the above description has concentrated upon a self-powered centrifugal cleaner, a centrifugal cleaner (not shown) may be employed which is driven by circulated fluid that is simply ejected from rotor nozzles to effect rotation without being cleaned, whilst the rotor cleans and ejects fluid from a different part of the circulation system so that both fluid mix in a common holding sump. Such a cleanin arrangement functions substantially as described above except fo an additional diversion of the drive fluid to the centrifuga cleaner. It will be appreciated that many other modifications may be made, combining features of both embodiments of drainage assistanc means, such as regulator means within the body 27 of means 20 o as a separate item coupled to the through-aperture in bot embodiments. It will also be appreciated that the venturi arrangement may tak any other form that provides the desired function, such a comprising changes in cross sectional area which vary continuousl with axial distance unlike the stepped regions described above. Likewise if stepped, the various regions may be of different axial length and/or different in number. Also, notwithstanding the for taken by the venturi through-passage, it and the regions may be defined by forming them integrally with the body as part of the wall of the through-aperture. It will be appreciated also that the fluid induction means may be implemented by means other than a venturi arrangement, that causes an efficiently negative pressure with respect to the cleaner and the pressure drop already suffered by the cleaned fluid therein, relying for instance upon the jet effect of the circulating fluid by-passing the cleaner in passing the ends of suitably arrayed induction ports to entrain the cleaned fluid.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A centrifugal fluid cleaning arrangement (20, 100) for circulated fluid comprising a centrifugal cleaner (10, 100') through which a proportion of the circulated fluid is diverted, the cleaner including a rotor (12) spun by reaction to fluid ejected therefrom through rotor nozzles (18, 19) and a holding sump (15, 101') for ejected fluid from which it is drained, and characterised by cleaner drainage assistance means (20', 102) comprising a primary input port (21, 105) arranged to receive circulated fluid and an output port ( 22, 119) to emit said fluid and, between the ports, a fluid induction arrangement (23, 110) including an induction port (24, 108") operably connected to the holding sump of the cleaner, the drainage assistance means being operable in response to the flow of non-diverted fluid through the flow induction arrangement to induce ejected fluid to be entrained into the non-diverted fluid flow. 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the fluid induction arrangement (23, 110) comprises a venturi arrangement (35, 111) including a through-passage (37, 113) for said non-diverted fluid contracting to a (39, 115) neck of minimal cross-sectional area and downstream of said neck said induction port (24, 108") and a progressive increase in cross-sectional area of said passage (40, 41; 116, 117), said venturi arrangement being responsive to the rate of flow of the non-diverted fluid therethrough to develop between said inlet and outlet ports a pressure which is negative with respect to the inlet port by at least the pressure drop across the rotor nozzles requisite for rotation. 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that the venturi arrangement (35, 111) comprises a contracting region (38, 114) upstream of said neck contracting substantially uniformly as a function of distance along a first part (38) of the through-passage (37, 113), a neck (39, 115) of substantially uniform cross-section extending along a second part (40) of the through-passage, downstream of sai neck a first expansion region (41, 116) of substantiall uniform cross-sectional area, greater than the neck, extending along a third part (42) of the through-passage an downstream of said first expansion region, a second expansio region (22, 117) of greater cross-sectional area. 4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claim characterised in that the cleaner drainage assistance mean (20', 101) comprises a body (23, 101) having a through aperture (28, 103) therein defining a body passage (30, 104) extending from said inlet port (21, 105) at one end and blind induction aperture (31, 108') defining an inductio passage extending between said through-aperture (28, 103) an connection with the cleaner drain (17, 108). 5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 when dependent on clai 3 characterised in that the venturi arrangement (35, 11) comprises a venturi body (36, 112) containing said bod passage and induction port (24', 108") disposed within th body passage with said induction port in fluid alignment wit the blind induction aperture (31, 108'). 6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 characterised in tha the through-aperture (28, 103) is of increased cross- sectional area in an end region (29, 109) between a par thereof containing the venturi body (36, 112) and an end of the through-aperture and comprises said second expansio region of the venturi arrangement. 7. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the drainage assistance means (102) includes pressure regulator means (120) comprising a by-pass passage (121) extending from upstream (122) of said flui induction arrangement (110) to downstream (123) of the induction port and including a relief valve (125) biased t close the passage and respond to a predetermined pressur difference between inlet and outlet ports (105, 109) to ope the passage and permit fluid to by-pass the fluid induction arrangement. 8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 when dependant on claim 4 characterised in that the by-pass passage (121) and relief valve (135) are contained in said body (101) . 9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 when dependent on claim 6 characterised in that the by-pass passage (121) opens into said end region (123) of the through-aperture. 10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 or any claim dependent thereon characterised in that the body (27) of the cleaner drainage assistance means (20') includes a blind diversion aperture (32) extending from intersection with said through- aperture (28) at a diversion port (25) located between said inlet port (21) and fluid induction arrangement (23) to supply said proportion of circulated fluid to the centrifugal cleaner (10) . 11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10 or any claim dependant thereon characterised in that a (101) base of the centrifugal cleaner (100') comprises the body of the drainage assistance means (102) and said diversion and induction apertures (106, 108') comprise supply and drain passages respectively of the cleaner. 12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11 characterised in that the centrifugal cleaner (100') comprises a self-powered centrifugal cleaner for fluid comprising a base (101) , a rotor (12) mounted on an operably substantially vertically orientated axis (13) for rotation thereabout by reaction to fluid emission from rotor nozzles therein, a housing (14) mounted on the base and enclosing the rotor, a drain holding sump (101') formed in the base below said rotor, a fluid inlet passage (107) arranged to supply fluid to the interior of the rotor by way of the rotation axis and a fluid drain passage (108) in said base for receiving fluid from said holding sump. 13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12 characterised by means to connect the housing (14) to a source of gas operable to limit the level of pressure of the housing atmosphere with respect to the pressure at the induction port. 14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13 characterised by including a breather valve (14') in the housing (14) and connected to the atmosphere to limit the level of pressure drop below atmospheric pressure in the housing. 15. A fluid circulation system (50) including a fluid reservoir (51) , a fluid circulator (53) , and characterised by a fluid cleaning arrangement (20, 100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14. 16. A closed circuit fluid circulation system (150) comprising a fluid circulator (152), operable to cause the fluid to circulate through the system and characterised by a centrifugal fluid cleaning arrangement (20, 100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 arranged to divert a proportion of the circulated fluid to the centrifugal cleaner (10, 100') and provide therein cleaned fluid and pass non-diverted fluid through the cleaner drainage assistance means (20', 102) by way of a said fluid induction arrangement (23, 110) thereof and induce cleaned fluid to be entrained into the non- diverted fluid flow.

Inventors: PENNY STEVEN CHARLES, PENNY, STEVEN, CHARLES
Applicants: GLACIER METAL CO LTD, PENNY STEVEN CHARLES, PENNY, STEVEN, CHARLES, THE GLACIER METAL COMPANY LIMITED
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B04B5
IPC codes: B04B5