Patent GB-357988-A (GB)
Title: Centrifuges
IPC: B04B1/06
Filed: 1930-06-30
Abstract: 357,988. Centrifugal machines. FAIRWEATHER, H. G. C., 65, Chancery Lane, London.-(National Acme Co. ; 131st Street, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.) June 30, 1930, No. 19880. [Class 23.] Density separators, casings, discharging, driving.-A centrifuge for clarifying or separating liquids has a bowl subdivided into a number of chambers through which the material passes successively, and discharge ports at the top of the bowl so arranged that their distances from the axis can be varied. By this variation the machine is enabled to run as a separator or as a clarifier without the removal of any of the parts. The machine may be driven by an electric motor 7 through spiral gearing 6, 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or it may be mounted upon a pedestal and be driven by a belt. The bowl wall 23 is threaded into the base 24 and carries a top plate 33, beneath which is arranged a disc 41, with ports 42 on its upper side and ports 42<1> on its lower side. A number of plugs 34 are mounted in the top plate 33 and each plug is provided with an outlet port 35 the distance of which from the axis can be adjusted by rotation .of the plug. The plugs are provided with slots 341 and the plate 33 has scales round the plugs so that each plug can be turned to the same position. The interior of the bowl 23 is divided into chambers by cylindrical walls 43, 44, and suitable ports are arranged in the endplates with which they are fitted. The lower end of the bowl carries a recessed friction clutch member 22 which drops on to, a conical friction member 21 secured to the spindle 4. The bearing 15 between the bowl and the motor is carried by an inturned flange 15<1> on the casing, and spring-pressed plungers 16 ensure a yielding support. The apparatus is enclosed in a casing 2 provided with a window 2<1>, and a clean liquid discharge outlet 2<11>. The upper part of the casing includes a waste collecting chamber 28 with a discharge outlet 29. A brake 26 is arranged in the casing and can be operated to engage the upturned flange of the bottom 24 of the bowl. Front and rear covers 51, 50, Fig. 2, permit access to the motor and gearing. With the ports 35 set at their maximum distance from the axis as shown in Fig. 3 the apparatus functions as a separator. The liquid for treatment is supplied through the pipe 32 at the top of the apparatus, and passes through the ports 40 in the head 39; it enters the innermost chamber formed by the cylinder 43 at approximately the speed of the cylinder. The arrangement of ports is such that only a thin film of liquid can remain on the wall of this chamber. The formation of drops of liquid-say, of oil and water-starts in this chamber and the material passes through the horizontal ports 47 from the bottom of the chamber to the outermost chamber 44<1> enclosed by the bowl wall 23. Here the material is stratified. The dirt and the water pass upwards round the disc 41, through the ports 42, 35 to the chamber 28 and discharge 29. The oil passes inwards through the ports 42<1> to the intermediate chamber 43<1>, where it receives additional purification before it is discharged through the ports 46, 241 to pass to the discharge 2<11>. When the ports 35 are set at their minimum distance from the axis, they are much nearer to it than are the ports 24<1> and the apparatus therefore functions as a clarifier, in which the solids are retained in the bowl and only one liquid is discharged.