Abstract:
A separator in which a product such as milk is to be processed, the separator includes: a centrifugal drum; an admission tube; a distributor including an admission chamber located downstream of the admission tube and distribution channels leading into a centrifugal chamber of the centrifugal drum. A rib body is located in the admission chamber and the rib body provides an outlet to the distributor channels. The rib body includes a plurality of ribs and a base section connecting the plurality of ribs along a periphery of the base section.

Description:
This application is a national stage of International Application PCT/EP2010/059912, filed Jul. 9, 2010, and claims benefit of and priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2009 032 617.0, filed Jul. 10, 2009, the content of which Application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a separator in which a product such as milk is to be processed. The separator has a vertical axis of rotation and includes: a centrifugal drum; an admission tube; a distributor including an admission chamber located downstream of the admission tube and distribution channels leading into a centrifugal chamber of the centrifugal drum. A rib body is located in the admission chamber and the rib body provides an outlet to the distributor channels. 
     Such a separator is known from DE 10 2004 038 613 A1. As described in this document, when separators are used to sterilize milk, short-term deteriorations in the sterilization efficiency possibly occur as a result of pressure rises in the admission system caused, for example, by partial emptying, switching tanks or by an increased air content in the product. Another problem is the transport, shaft run, of bacteria to the skimming disk. 
     In order to solve this problem, it is proposed in DE 10 2004 038 613 A1 that connecting bores are provided to a ring-shaped cavity which is formed above the free end of the admission tube in the distributor, that the connecting bores extend between a preferably conical feed region and the ring-shaped cavity and that respectively one rib is assigned to the outlet openings from the feed region into the feed bores of the distributor and the connecting bores to the ring-shaped cavity. By this means a particularly uniform acceptance and acceleration and a particularly uniform ventilation of the product is achieved, relatively constant ventilation values can be achieved even when the air content in the product is elevated. 
     This solution has proved successful but can be further optimized again particularly in the constructive aspect and preferably with regard to its efficiency. 
     The solution is the subject of the present disclosure discussed below. 
     The present disclosure relates to a separator in which a product such as milk is to be processed. The separator includes: a centrifugal drum; an admission tube; a distributor including an admission chamber located downstream of the admission tube and distribution channels leading into a centrifugal chamber of the centrifugal drum. A rib body is located in the admission chamber and the rib body provides an outlet to the distributor channels. The rib body includes a plurality of ribs and a base section connecting the plurality of ribs along a periphery of the base section. 
     The rib body is easy to mount. In addition, the admission pressure can be reduced and the admission capacity increased. This results in a gentle product supply in the distributor. In addition, the risk of deposits forming in the admission region is reduced. 
     According to the present disclosure, one or several of the rotational axes are aligned, which means a strong acceleration of the material to be centrifuged in the circumferential direction. However, it is within the scope of the present disclosure to adjust this relative to the respective radials, for example between 1° and 80°. The ribs can be configured to be straight but also curved. A shovel-like design with curvatures in all spatial directions is within the scope of the present disclosure as long as an acceleration effect is given in the circumferential direction. 
     Embodiments according to the present disclosure are further discussed herein including the claims. 
     Other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following descriptions when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a sectional view of a centrifugal drum of a separator according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  shows a sectional view through a partial region of an embodiment of a centrifugal drum, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  each show perspective views of rib bodies, according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a view of a partial region of a centrifugal drum  1 , which is rotatable about a rotational axis D, of a continuously operable separator. The drum  1  includes a plate package  2  that includes a plurality of plates  3 . The drum  1  is disposed concentrically to the machine axis or rotational axis D. The centrifugal drum shown in  FIG. 1  is configured to be internally double-conical. 
     The plates  3  have a conical shape, are stacked axially one above the other, and are spaced apart from one another by spacers, for example, tabs (not shown). 
     The plate package  2  is held on a distributor shaft  4  of a distributor  5  which is provided on its external circumference with radially outwardly projecting webs (not shown) which on the internal circumference of the plates  3  engage therein. The plate package  2  has rising channels  6  which include holes in the plates  3  located directly above one another and extending over the entire height of the plate package  2 . 
     An admission tube  7  located concentrically to the machine axis D allows the admission of material to be centrifuged, for example, from above into the centrifugal drum  1  and there through the distributor shaft  4  and distributor channels  8  formed below the plate package  2  in the distributor  5  into the plate package  2 , for example, in the area of the rising channel  6  or at another point. 
     The actual clarification of the product to be processed from solids, for example, for sterilization and/or a separation of the product into different liquid phases which are then led off from the centrifugal drum  1  through one or more discharge lines  9 , possibly to different diameters, for example, through skimming disks (not shown) and solid removal openings  10 , then takes place continuously in the centrifugal drum  1 . A piston slider  11  is located upstream of the solid removal openings  10 , which slider  11  is movable vertically and by which slider  11  the solid removal openings  10  can be opened and closed. 
     Of particular interest is the structure of the admission region from the admission tube  7 , which is stationary in operation, into the distributor  5 , which rotates during operation, for example, from the system which does not rotate during operation into the system which rotates during operation. 
     A product supplied through the admission tube  7  initially enters from the admission tube  7  into an admission chamber  12  at the center of the distributor shaft  4 , where the free lower outlet of the admission tube  7  extends as far as below the upper edge of the admission chamber  12 . 
     The distributor channels  8  begin in the peripheral wall  13  of the admission tube  7 . 
     The admission chamber  12  is configured, as shown in  FIG. 1 , in such a manner that a rib body  14 , including one or more ribs  15 , can be inserted therein. The rib body  14  is connected in a torque-proof manner to the centrifugal drum  1 , or, in accordance with the present disclosure, may be connected to the distributor  5 . 
     As an example, two different rib bodes  14  are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The rib bodies  14  each include a base section  16 . This base section  16  is, for example, configured as a circumferentially closed ring section. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the annular base sections  16  are configured to be flat so that in the built-in state they extend perpendicularly to the rotational axis D. In  FIG. 1 , the base section  16  extends vertically. In  FIG. 2 , on the other hand, the base section  16  is configured to be conical. 
     The base sections  16  are connected to the rotating system, for example, to the distributor  5  in a torque-proof manner. 
     The shape of the base section  16 , for example, corresponds to the shaping of the distributor  5  in a corresponding abutment or contact area. 
     From the annular base section  16 , the ribs  15  project vertically upright and in the built-in state, they are also aligned vertically upright. 
     The base sections  16  shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4  are, for example, aligned vertically downwards so that the ribs  15  project vertically upwards into the admission chamber  12 . 
     The ribs  15  of the embodiments, according to the present disclosure, are formed in one piece with the base section  16  and project vertically from the one axial side thereof. The ribs  15  are configured to be distributed circumferentially on the base body  16 . The radial length of the ribs  15 , for example, corresponds at least to the vertical height of the inlet openings  17  into the distributor channels  8 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the ribs  15  are aligned radially to the rotational axis D (see  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ). However, —the ribs  15  may be aligned at an angle to the radial direction (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The rib body  14  is inserted or built into the annular chamber  12 . 
     A bore-like inlet opening  17 , from the admission chamber  12  into the admission boreholes or channels  8 , is formed in the direction of rotation, for example, clockwise, directly behind each of the ribs  15  and radially outside the ribs  15 . The ribs  15  are located radially on the inside with respect to the inlet openings  17 . 
     It is advantageous, according to the present disclosure, that the rib body  14  as a whole or as a single element may be set extremely simply in the admission chamber  12  when assembling the centrifugal drum  1 , where it is fixed in a torque-proof manner on the distributor  5 , which can be accomplished, for example, by fastening with, for example, screws, in a bayonet-like manner, welding or the like. 
     As a result of the vertical and radial alignment or inclined alignment of the ribs  15  in an angular range between ±50° to a radial running from a center of base body  16  radially outwards, the product emerging from the admission tube  7  is accelerated to the rotational speed of the centrifugal drum  1  and fed in a gentle manner into the admission channels  8  of the distributor  5 . 
     In addition, the admission chamber  12  is configured in such a manner that, during operation, a pressure increase is established in the admission chamber  12 , as compared with an embodiment of the present disclosure without the rib body  14 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , this is achieved by the admission tube  7  having a disk section  18 , for example, a hydrodisk, which may be formed at the vertically lower end of the admission tube  7  where it extends from the admission tube  7  perpendicular to the rotational axis D or at right angles to the axial direction of the admission tube  7  outwards as far as in front of the inner peripheral wall of the distributor  5 . A remaining gap may be smaller than 10 mm, or, may be smaller than 7 mm. A radially inward projecting attachment  24  on the upper end of the distributor  5  forms an additional closure radially upwards during operation. 
     In tests it has been shown that the admission pressure can be reduced, by installing the rib body  14 , for example, by 0.5 bar at 80 000 l/h admission capacity. The admission capacity can be increased accordingly. 
     A structure similar to  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 2 , but the ribs  15  shown in  FIG. 2  are not aligned radially but inclined obliquely to the radial so that the ribs  15  enclose an angle with the respective radials. 
     In addition, in  FIG. 2  the base section  16  is conically shaped so that it can be placed on a corresponding conical section  19  of the distributor  5 , where the ribs  15  extending vertically upwards from the base section  16  and also follow the conical shape of the base section  16 . 
     The admission chamber  12 , according to  FIG. 2 , is also formed conically, at least in the region in which the ribs  15  are formed. 
     An axial tube section  20  of the distributor  5  extends above the admission chamber  12 . In an embodiment according to the present disclosure, tube section  20  is configured to be slightly conical in its upper vertical region in which the admission tube  7  ends and cylindrical in the adjoining lower region where the diameter in this region may correspond to the diameter of the admission tube  7 . In the conical region, the inside diameter may not be more than 10 mm, or not more than 7 mm, larger than the outside diameter of the admission tube  7 . 
     The admission tube  7  in turn extends axially into an intake region of the distributor  5 . 
     The admission tube  7  is surrounded by a disk section  18 . This disk section  18  may however, not be formed at the free axial end of the admission tube  7  but at a little distance from its axial end. 
     The disk section  18  extends radially into an annular chamber  21  which extends vertically above and below the disk section  18  and radially inwards over the outer circumference of the disk section  18 . The annular chamber  21  vertically adjoins the tube section  20  of the distributor  5 . In a further embodiment according to the present disclosure, ribs  23 , which may be aligned partially radially, are formed on the upper edge of the annular chamber  21  on a ring  25  connected to the distributor  5  in a torque-proof manner during operation or connected to another machine part which rotates during operation. The ribs  23  entrain the material to be centrifuged in the annular chamber  21  in the circumferential direction during operation and thereby contribute to the fact that a radial liquid level can form in the annular chamber  21 . 
     In turn, vertical ribs  22  may be formed on the disk section  18 . 
     During operation, a liquid ring is formed outside in the annular chamber  18  which closes the admission region or tube  7  vertically towards the bottom. 
     In combination with rib body  14  in the admission region or tube  7 , the admission pressure can in turn be reduced and the admission capacity increased. 
     In addition, the risk of contamination of the admission region or tube  7  of the centrifugal drum  1  is particularly low. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is done by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The scope of the present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.