Patent GB-233327-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to centrifugal machines and processes involving use of same
IPC: B04B15/08
Filed: 1925-04-15
Abstract: 233,327. Sharples Specialty Co., (Assignees of Jones, L. D., and Ayres, A. U.). May 1, 1924, [Convention date]. Density separators; discharging; driving; casings.-A substance treated in a centrifugal separator is discharged in dispersed form, and the conditions of the atmosphere within which the substance is discharged are regulated to control the condition of the substance. The discharge may take place, in a rarefied atmosphere, or one under pressure or of a constitution to assist chemical action. The bowl 1 is supported inside the casing 10 and has outlets 3, 4 which discharge into chambers 8, 7. Spouts from these chambers lead to external discharge pipes. A cover 11 on the casing can be removed to enable adjustments to be made. An inlet member 12 is arranged at the bottom of the bowl and is in communication with the supply pipe 14. The centring mechanism 15 is supplied with lubricant through the pipe 16. The motor is located outside the casing and operates the pulley 22 which is connected by the belt 23 to the pulley 25 of the machine. The pulley 25 is provided with an extended hollow shaft 26 supported in a ball bearing 27 in a support 28 mounted on the casing 10. A seal is provided around the shaft 26. In the form shown in Fig. 4, the enlarged space between the shaft 26 and the support 28 is occupied by packings 31, 32 with a ring 33 between them providing a chamber 34 round the shaft. Passages 36 communicate between the chamber 34 and a groove 35 on the ring connected by a passage 38 to a pipe 39, whereby the pressure in the chamber may be regulated or the chamber may be supplied with liquid in accordance with the working of the machine. In a modification, a seal of the labyrinth type is used, and in another a liquid seal, as shown in Fig. 7, is employed. A sleeve on the shaft carries a disc 52 provided with impeller vanes 54 on its upper or lower face to propel fluid in the chamber 53 in a direction opposite to that in which the leakage pressure would tend to move it. The head 9 of the bowl is connected to the driving shaft 60 from the pulley 25 so that the shaft 60 is free to vibrate with the bowl during its rapid rotation while the hollow shaft 26 is firmly supported in the bearing. The closed casing of the machine is connected bv a pipe 64, Fig. 5, with a valve 75 to a header 70 which can be connected to a vacuum pump V or a pressure pump P. The supply tanks S, S<1> are connected to the inlet member 12. and the discharge pipes 21, 21<1> from the centrifugal machine are connected to discharge tanks D which have valves 79 opened by floats F when the liquid reaches a predetermined level. In an alternate method of emptying a discharge tank. the float F actuates the controlling device T of a motor M which drives the exhausting pump E. The connecting pipes of the apparatus are provided with the necessary valves to enable the separator to be exhausted by the vacuum pump V, or to be placed under pressure by the pump P, or a gas may be supplied by the pump P and partly withdrawn by the pump V.