Patent Publication Number: US-11660616-B2

Title: Separator having stackable intermediate members

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a separator having a preassembled drive and rotation system unit with an outer annular flange portion, a drive frame with an inner annular flange, the outer annular flange portion of the preassembled drive and rotation system unit is vertically connected to the inner annular flange of the drive frame, a rotatable drum placed on the preassembled drive and rotation system unit, and at least one paring disk arranged in the drum in a paring chamber that is connected rigidly and axially to the drive frame, and a method for the assembly thereof. 
     Separators of this kind which are also suitable for industrial use and can preferably be used in continuous operation are known per se from the prior art. 
     Power transmission from the electric motor to the rotor frequently takes place via a drive belt or by means of a helical gear. Moreover, the systems known in the art also include designs in which the drum, the drive spindle, and the electric drive motor are rigidly connected to a structural unit, which is then flexibly supported as a whole on a machine frame. Examples of this kind of prior art are disclosed by the generic GB 368 247, FR 1.287.551, DE 1 057 979 and DE 43 14 440 C1. 
     WO 2004/089550 discloses a drum, drive spindle, and electric drive motor also rigidly connected to a structural unit, which can then be supported as a whole on a machine frame. 
     The overall structural design of the known structures described above is relatively complex. In addition, the cooling of the aforementioned drive devices would appear to be in need of improvement. The more modern designs in DE 10 2006 011 895 and DE 10 2006 020 467 A1 and the generic WO 2014/072318 A2 represent a development to this extent. 
     In generic designs, the one or more liquid phases are discharged via one or more paring disks that are stationary relative to the drum during operation and are designed as centripetal pumps. The one or more paring disks do not rotate with the drum during operation. They are, however, arranged in paring chambers of the system that rotates during operation. For this reason, the one or more paring disks must be arranged in the paring chamber(s) that rotate(s) during operation in such a manner that a distance of this kind between the parts that rotate during operation and the parts that do not rotate during operation is always retained in such a manner that the members that rotate during operation and the members that do not rotate during operation do not touch one another. 
     Exemplary embodiments are directed to the problem of setting the relative axial distance between members of the system which rotates during operation and members of the system which does not rotate during operation of a separator in a simple manner. 
     According to an embodiment, a separator comprises: a pre-assembled drive and rotation system unit having an outer annular flange portion, a drive frame with an inner annular flange, wherein the outer annular flange portion of the preassembled drive and rotation system unit is vertically connected to the inner annular flange of the drive frame, wherein a rotatable drum is placed on the preassembled drive and rotation system unit, and wherein at least one paring disk is arranged in the drum in a paring chamber connected as a whole rigidly and axially to the drive frame, and wherein between the inner annular flange and the outer annular flange portion one or more stacks is/are arranged made up of one or more stackable intermediate members in each case for setting an axial relative position at least between the drive frame, on the one hand, and the drive and rotation system unit, on the other, and wherein or by virtue of which the axial relative position between the drum and the at least one paring disk is also adjustable using the intermediate members. 
     According to an advantageous development, a hood structure fastened to the drive frame and surrounding the drum can be placed on the drive frame, wherein the paring disk is fastened to the hood structure so that the paring disk is connected to the drive frame axially and rigidly in this manner. 
     According to another advantageous development, the drive frame with the inner annular flange is configured in the manner of an outer housing and assumes the function of a machine frame. 
     According to one variant, the outer annular flange portion of the preassembled drive and rotation system unit lies on the inner annular flange of the drive frame. 
     According to an alternative variant, the outer annular flange portion of the preassembled drive and rotation system unit may be arranged beneath the inner annular flange of the drive frame. The intermediate members are each arranged between the inner annular flange and the outer annular flange portion. 
     It is particularly advantageous that, by virtue of the stackable intermediate members, the vertical distance between the drive frame and preferably also the one paring disk connected axially and rigidly thereto and the drive and rotation system unit and a drum arranged thereupon can also be set or is set in a surprisingly simple manner. In this way, a setting of the relative axial distance between members of the system that rotates during operation and members of the non-rotating system of a separator is easily possible. 
     It is advantageous that before or after the preassembled unit has been mounted on the drive frame, the drum is placed or remains placed on this unit, that at least one paring disk is arranged in a paring chamber in the drum, and that by means of the intermediate members the axial relative position between the drum and the at least one paring disk is also adjustable and can be set to a required dimension. If there are multiple paring disks available, these are rigidly connected to one another so that their axial position relative to the paring chambers can also be jointly set. 
     According to an embodiment, a method for assembling a separator comprises at least the following steps: 
     A) providing a preassembled drive and rotation system unit having an outer annular flange portion and providing of a drive frame having an inner annular flange, 
     B) vertically placing the outer annular flange portion of the preassembled drive and rotation system unit on the inner annular flange of the drive frame, and 
     C) distributing one or more stackable intermediate members between the inner annular flange and the outer annular flange portion for setting the axial relative position between the paring disk and the drive and rotation system unit. 
     According to a preferred variant, which makes assembly particularly simply, the preassembled drive and rotation system unit advantageously comprises at least the following: a drive spindle mounted rotatably with a bearing arrangement comprising a neck bearing and a base bearing, wherein the neck bearing is mounted in a bearing housing and wherein the bearing housing is placed directly or via at least one intermediate member such as an intermediate ring on a one-part or multipart motor housing, and wherein the bearing housing, the intermediate ring where appropriate, and the motor housing each have a annular flange portion on their outer periphery, which together form the annular flange portion of the preassembled drive and rotation system unit. In addition, it may be advantageously provided that the pre-assembled drive and rotation system unit also comprises a drive motor and a lubrication system. 
     So that the desired axial relative position can be set easily using the intermediate members, it is advantageous according to one variant for threaded bolts to pass through the axial bores in the annular flanges and also, where appropriate, the intermediate members that are firmly screwed into or onto axial bores of the inner annular flange of the drive frame. 
     Consequently, it is advantageously provided according to a further particularly simple variant in design terms for the axially stackable intermediate members to be configured as rings or annular disks. In this case, the axially stackable annular disks may exhibit the same or a different axial extent. In order to set the distance, two or three annular disks with the same axial extent can be stacked one above the other, for example. If, however, an annular disk with the overall desired axial extent is present in a supplied set of members, for example annular disks, this axially thicker annular disk can also replace the two or three axially thinner annular disks. 
     In order to further simplify assembly, it is advantageous for the axially stackable annular disks to be configured as rings having holes, in particular slots, distributed around their circumference, which holes have threaded bolts passing through them. 
     The rings may be configured with a closed circumference or without a closed circumference. It may therefore be advantageously provided that the axially stackable annular disks are configured as rings arranged circumferentially on the flange portions, which have threaded bolts passing through them. Instead of rotating rings, however, ring segments can also be provided as annular disks, so, for example, three ring segments which then each comprise one or two bores, for example, and each have one or two threaded bolts passing through them, so that in their interaction they act virtually as a closed-circumference ring in any event. An outer contour of the ring segments that corresponds to the inner radius of the drive frame preferably prevents an unwanted relative movement of these ring segments. 
     To this extent, the axially stackable intermediate members may not have a rotating design and multiple stacks made up of intermediate members may be distributed about the circumference between the annular flanges of the drive frame and the preassembled drive and rotation system unit. 
     In order to provide a structurally compact and easy-to-handle separator, it is further advantageous for air cooling to be provided as the cooling system (preferably exclusively), which comprises cooling ribs on the outer circumference of the drive frame. 
     The design according to the invention can therefore be advantageously added to in that the preassembled drive and rotation system unit has a closed lubricating system circuit. This is contrary to the layout as a preassembled unit but is not obligatory. 
     According to a further structurally advantageous variant of the invention, which further simplifies the setting of the position of the paring disk in the paring chamber of the drum, the paring disk has an axially lower disk or annular portion with a conveying member and also a paring disk shaft attached axially thereto with a discharge in the paring disk shaft, and the paring disk shaft is fixed to a hood structure that is rigidly connected to the drive frame. In this case, it may be further advantageously provided that the disk portion is arranged in the paring chamber of a drum head of the drum. 
     Finally, it may be advantageously—but not necessarily—provided that the rotating system with the drum and the drive spindle is supported substantially axially in the drive frame via the base bearing. To this extent, however, other variants with a support on the neck bearing can also be advantageously realized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 
       The invention is described in greater detail below with the help of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: 
         FIG.  1    shows a sectional view of a separator according to the invention depicted schematically. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    shows a separator  1  comprising a system that does not rotate or is at a standstill during operation and a system that turns or rotates relative to the stationary system during operation. In this case, the rotating system and the stationary system each have a plurality of members. 
     As the first substantial member, the rotating system of the separator has a drum  2  with a vertical axis of rotation D. This drum  2  is only schematically depicted in this case. It may be differently configured. It is preferably designed for continuous operation for the continuous clarification and/or separation of a flowable product into one or two liquid phases and possibly a solid phase—in particular in the industrial process. For this purpose, its interior is preferably provided with a separating plate stack made up of separating plates (which cannot be identified or are not depicted here). The preferably single or double conical drum  2  is placed on the vertical upper end of a rotatable drive spindle  3  in this case. This drive spindle  3  is mounted rotatably with a bearing arrangement having a neck bearing  4  and a base bearing  5  in this case. The neck bearing  4  in this case is mounted in a bearing housing  6 —preferably supported in a radially elastic manner. For this purpose, an elastic member  36  such as an elastic ring may be arranged between the inner circumference of the bearing housing  6  and the outer circumference of the neck bearing  4 . This bearing housing use  6  does not rotate and is therefore part of the system that is stationary during operation. 
     The bearing housing  6  is placed directly or via at least one intermediate member, such as an intermediate ring  7 , on a one-part or multipart motor housing  8 . The bearing housing  6 , where appropriate the intermediate ring  7  and the motor housing  8 , each have an annular flange portion  6   a ,  7   a  or  8   a  on their outer circumference. These annular flange portions  6   a ,  7   a ,  8   a  are each axially stacked above one another. They can be assembled or are assembled with one another using axial screws  9  into a modular-like unit. Together they form an annular flange portion  100   a  of a drive and rotation system unit  100  that can be preassembled and is also preassembled in this case. 
     A drive motor  10  and the base bearing  5  are preferably also configured or arranged in the one-part or multipart motor housing  8 . In this way, the rotating system with the bearing housing  6 , possibly the intermediate ring  7 , and the one-part or multipart motor housing  8  forms the drive and rotation system unit  100  that can be preassembled, and is preassembled, in the manner of a replaceable cassette that can be assembled as a whole. This preassembled drive and rotation system unit  100  is also briefly referred to below as a preassembled unit  100 . This preassembled unit  100  may also comprise the drum  2 . 
     The motor housing  8  is inserted into a drive frame  11 . This drive frame  11  is configured in the manner of an outer housing surrounding the motor housing  8 . In this case it assumes the function of a machine frame. For this purpose it may be fastened to a base such as a warehouse floor, for example. 
     Cooling ribs  12  may be configured on the outer circumference of the drive frame  11 , so that in this way waste heat from the drive system can easily radiate into the surrounding space. 
     The drive frame  11  has an annular flange  11   a  on its inner circumference. The preassembled drive and rotation system unit  100  is fastened to this annular flange  11   a , so that this unit  100 , in this case the annular flange  8   a  of the motor housing  8 , is connected directly or indirectly in a manner yet to be described to the annular flange portion  100   a . In this case, the outer annular flange portion  100   a  of the preassembled drive and rotation system unit  100  may lie, as depicted, on the inner annular flange  11   a  of the drive frame  11  or, in an alternative embodiment, it may be suspended thereunder. 
     The preassembled unit  100  and its annular flange portion  100   a  are preferably fastened, in particular tightly screwed, using at least one or more fastening means, in particular one or more threaded bolts  13 , to the annular flange  11   a  of the drive frame  11 . 
     For this purpose, the outer annular flange portion  100   a  of the preassembled unit formed in this case by the annular flange portions  6   a ,  7   a  and  8   a  of the bearing housing  6 , where appropriate of the intermediate ring  7 , and of the motor housing  8  (flush in each case), contains axial bores  14  that are oriented flush with further axial bores  15  or blind holes—threaded where appropriate—in the annular flange  11   a  of the drive frame  11 . 
     It is possible in this case for one or more stackable intermediate members  16 , in particular annular disks  16   a, b , . . . , possibly each in the manner of an annular disk stack, to be arranged between the annular flange portion  8   a  and the annular flange  11   a  of the drive frame  11 . Consequently, the preassembled drive and rotation system unit  100  with the bearing housing  6 , where appropriate the intermediate ring  7  and the motor housing  8 , and also the preferably entire rotating system are used and threaded bolts  13  are distributed that pass through the axial bores  14  of the annular flanges  6   a ,  7   a ,  8   a  and  11  and possibly the intermediate members and which are therefore tightly screwed in the axial bores  15  provided with a thread in the inner annular flange  11   a  of the drive frame  11 . 
     With the help of the axially stackable intermediate members  16 , in particular the one or more stackable annular disks  16   a, b . c, the relative distance between the drum  2  and the drive frame  11  with the hood can be changed in the axial direction using simple means by selecting the number of intermediate members  16  in such a manner that the desired dimension is set. The annular disks  16   a, b , . . . may exhibit the same or a different axial extent. 
     This is particularly advantageous since at least one paring disk  17 , which does not rotate during operation and is fixed to a hood construction  23 , projects into the drum  2 , which rotates during operation. The relative axial position of the drum  2  and paring disk  17  must be exactly set to this extent during assembly of the separator  1 . This was very time-consuming according to the prior art and is substantially simplified by the design described above. This is because adjusting this axial relative position simply requires the height of the intermediate member stack made up of intermediate members  16 , in particular annular disks  16   a, b , . . . , to be changed by none, one or more of these intermediate members  16  being arranged between the inner annular flange  11   a  of the drive frame  11  and the preassembled, in particular cassette-like, drive and rotation system unit  100 . 
     The paring disk  17  in this case has an axially lower disk or ring portion  18  with a conveying member and also a paring disk shaft  19  attached axially thereto. The conveying member may be configured as an opening formed on the outer circumference of the disk portion  18 , which opening opens out into a discharge in the paring disk shaft  19 , through which a product phase being discharged can be conducted axially from the drum  2  into a downstream discharge (not depicted in detail here). 
     The paring disk shaft  19  coaxially surrounds a feed pipe  20 . The feed pipe projects freely into the drum. Alternatively, the entrance region of the feed pipe  20  into the drum  2  may also be hermetically sealed. The disk portion  18  is formed in a paring chamber  21  of a drum head  22  of the drum  2  at the upper axial end above the drum  2 . The drum head  22  of the drum  2  co-rotates with the drum during operation. It is part of the rotating system. 
     Conversely, the paring disk  17  with the disk portion  18  and its paring disk shaft  19  do not rotate during operation. Likewise, the feed pipe  20  does not rotate with the drum  2 . There is therefore a relative rotation between the drum head  22 , which delimits the paring chambers  21  outwardly, and the paring disk  17  inserted therein. It must therefore be ensured that the paring disk  17  is arranged axially roughly in the middle of the paring chamber  21 , so that it cannot come into contact with the inner wall thereof during rotations of the drum  2 . 
     This axial orientation may take place according to the invention through the arrangement of one or more intermediate members  16  between the inner annular flange  11   a  of the drive frame  11  and the annular flange portion  8   a  of the preassembled drive unit, in particular of the motor housing  8 . 
     A hood structure  23  is placed on the drive frame. This is fastened to the drive frame  11 . The hood structure  23  surrounds the drum  2 . 
     The paring disk  17 —in this case the paring disk shaft  19 —is fastened to the hood structure  23  and preferably also passes through this. The paring disk  17  is connected to the drive frame  11  as a whole axially and rigidly. 
     In order to cool the drive, an air cooling system is used in this case, which is realized by the cooling ribs  12 . This is advantageous and simple. However, liquid cooling may also be used in addition or as an alternative. 
     The supply of lubricant to the bearings  4 ,  5  may likewise take place in different ways. In this case, the drive spindle  3  has a bore  29  passing through it axially, wherein the drive spindle  3  is immersed in an oil sump  30  at the bottom in the drive frame  11 . Oil is conveyed through the bore  29  in the drive spindle  3  to below the neck bearing  4  in a suction tube manner. Here it is conveyed radially through one or more transverse bores  31  and inwardly to the neck bearing  4  through an annular channel  32  in a ring or a sleeve  24 , wherein the neck bearing  4  is lubricated and then runs axially downwards in a vertical channel  37 . The ring  24  is supported vertically on a graduation of the drive spindle  3 . The neck bearing  4  is preferably configured as a roller bearing and is designed as a floating bearing in this case. An inspection glass  38  may be provided for this purpose, in order to allow a visual inspection of the oil level. A drain screw  39  allows the oil to be changed. 
     The base bearing  5  is configured as an axial fixed bearing and arranged on the drive spindle  3 . In addition, it is inserted via its outer ring in a bearing housing pot  25 . The bearing housing pot  25  is inserted in an inner ring of a joint bearing  26 , wherein the joint bearing has spherical bearing surfaces. The joint bearing  26  also has an outer ring which is axially fixed in the motor housing  8 . 
     The joint bearing  26  makes the drive spindle  3  universally movable or tiltable, so that the drive spindle  5  with the drum  2  is able to follow the precision movements of the drum  2  during operation. 
     In this case, the weight of the drum  2  with all the drive parts that are connected to the drive spindle  3  is substantially supported via the lower base bearing  5  in the motor housing  8 . Accordingly, a roller bearing that is able to absorb the axial forces that occur in a suitable manner is preferably used in this case. Grooved ball bearings or angular ball bearings are suitable for this purpose, for example. Where necessary, these bearings may also be arranged in pairs when the forces to be absorbed require this. 
     The joint bearing  26  is responsible for the universal tiltability and support in this case. 
     Where small forces are to be absorbed, particularly axial forces, the unit as a whole comprising the joint bearing  26  and base bearing  5  may be replaced by a self-aligning ball bearing or a self-aligning roller bearing. 
     The base bearing  5  in this case lies upwardly with its inner ring adjacent to a ring  33  which, for its part, is adjacent to a shoulder  34  exhibiting the drive spindle  3 . The outer ring of the base bearing  5  is supported downwardly based on the bearing housing pot  25 . The outer ring of the joint bearing  26  is downwardly supported by a ring  35  which is fastened to the motor housing  8  on the inside. 
     This arrangement has a compact design and allows the weight of the drum  2  to be supported easily and reliably on the drive frame  8  via the base bearing  5 . 
     The drive motor  10  is arranged in the axial region between the bearings as the drive mechanism. The drive motor preferably works according to an electrical operating principle and has a rotor  27  and a stator  28 . This drive motor  10  lies completely between the neck bearing  4  and the base bearing  5 . The electrical drive motor  10  may be an asynchronous motor or a synchronous motor—e.g., a reluctance motor. The rotor  27  is formed directly on the outer circumference of the drive spindle. The stator  28  is fastened to the motor housing  8  on the inside. Since the drive—except for the neck and base bearings  4 ,  5 —runs in a low-wear manner, a large part of the customary maintenance work can be dispensed with, which lowers operating costs. 
     Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           1  Separator 
           2  Drum 
           3  Drive spindle 
           4  Neck bearing 
           5  Base bearing 
           6  Bearing housing 
           6   a  Annular flange portion 
           7  Intermediate ring 
           7   a  Annular flange portion 
           8  Motor housing 
           8   a  Annular flange portion 
           9  Axial screw 
           10  Drive motor 
           11  Drive frame 
           11   a  Annular flange 
           12  Cooling rib 
           13  Threaded bolt 
           14  Axial bore 
           15  Axial bore 
           16  Intermediate member 
           16   a, b , . . . Annular disk 
           17  Paring disk 
           18  Disk portion 
           19  Paring disk shaft 
           20  Feed pipe 
           21  Paring chamber 
           22  Drum head 
           23  Hood structure 
           24  Ring 
           25  Bearing housing pot 
           26  Joint bearing 
           27  Rotor 
           28  Stator 
           29  Bore 
           30  Oil sump 
           31  Transverse bores 
           32  Annular channel 
           33  Ring 
           34  Shoulder 
           35  Ring 
           36  Elastic member 
           37  Vertical channel 
           38  Inspection glass 
           39  Drain screw 
           100  Drive and rotation system unit 
           100   a  Annular flange portion 
         D Axis of rotation