IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederik Wolff, of Copenhagen, Denmark, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTING
MACHINES' A communication from Ole Christian Pedersen and Gottfried
Eickhoff, both of Copenhagen, Denmark.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederik Wolff at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th December 1879.
FREDERIK WOLFF, of Copenhagen, Denmark, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTING MACHINES." (A communication from Ole Christian
Pedersen and Gottfried Eickhoff, both of Copenhagen, Denmark.)
The object with centrifugal extracting machines constructed according to this
Invention is from combined fluids automatically to separate parts having definite
specific gravities in such a manner that the fluids are treated and carried off
without being beaten up into foam; they thus become as little as possible exposed
to the outer air.
The machine consists of a spherical vessel with vertical axis of rotation, and with
close fitting lid; this latter has a central inlet pipe, close against which are arranged
two outlet pipes also passing through the lid; one of these only just enters the
vessel, the other is carried down to the greatest periphery of the vessel. The lid
can, by being turned round a little, be removed, and with it the pipes, so that the
plain smooth inside of the vessel can then be conveniently and effectually cleaned.
At the lower end of each of the outlet pipes is arranged a valve with float.
The valve and float for the short outlet pipe has its fulcrum on the side furthest
from the axis of rotation, and is situated where the lightest part of the fluid will
tend to. As long as the fluid under the said lower end of the short outlet pipe has
less specific gravity than the float, the greater effect of the centrifugal force thereon
will throw the float out from the centre, and thereby keep that outlet open, but the
latter will be closed as soon as the specific gravity of the fluid becomes greater than
that of the float.
The valve and float at the lower end of the other outlet pipe is at the greatest

page_text: periphery of the vessel where the heaviest part of the fluid will tend to. As the
float has its fulcrum on that side of the outlet which is towards the axis of rotation,
it will act in the opposite sense to that of the first described float, and hence open
for the escape of fluids of larger specific gravity, and close against the escape of
fluids of a smaller specific gravity than that of its own.
By adjusting the floats to suitable specific gravities the minimum specific gravity
of the fluid which is to pass out by the first named outlet is determined, and also
the maximum specific gravity of the fluid which is to pass off by the last named
outlet.
An outlet pipe may be arranged with two floats of different specific gravity, so
that fluids of intermediate specific gravity only escape
The outlet pipes may be arranged to pass out through any other suitable part of
the vessel if desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederik Wolff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th June
1880.
FREDERIK WOLFF, of Copenhagen, Denmark, Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTING MACHINES." (A communication from Ole Christian
Pedersen and Gottfried Eickhoff, both of Copenhagen, Denmark.)
The object with centrifugal extracting machines constructed according to this
Invention is from combined fluids automatically to separate parts having definite
specific gravities in such a manner that the fluids are treated and carried off
without being beaten up into foam; they thus become as little as possible exposed
to the outer air.
And in order that this Invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus constructed according to this
Invention, and Figs. 2 to 5 details of same.
The machine consists of a spherical vessel a with vertical axis of rotation A, A,
and with close fitting lid b; this latter has a central inlet pipe c, close against
which are arranged two outlet pipes d and e also passing through the lid 6 and
fixed therein; one of these d only just enters the vessel a, the other pipe e is
carried down to the greatest periphery of the vessel a. The lid b is provided with
bayonet joint," and can thus, by being turned round a little, be removed, and with
it the pipes d and e, so that the plain smooth inside of the vessel a can then be
conveniently and effectually cleaned. At the lower end of each of the outlet
pipes d, e, is arranged a valve ƒ and g with float.
"
The valve and float for the short outlet pipe has its fulcrum on the side
furthest from the axis of rotation, and is situated where the lightest part of the
fluid will tend to. As long as the fluid under the said lower end of the short
outlet pipe & has less specific gravity than the float connected thereto, the greater
effect of the centrifugal force thereon will throw the float out from the centre, and
thereby keep that outlet open, but the latter will be closed again as soon as the
specific gravity of the fluid becomes greater than that of the float.
The valve g and float at the lower end of the other outlet pipo e is at the
greatest periphery of the vessel where the heaviest part of the fluid will tend to.
As the float has its fulcrum on that side of the outlet which is towards the axis of
rotation, it will act in the opposite sense to that of the first described float (f),
and hence open for the escape of fluids of larger specific gravity, and close against
the escape of fluids of a smaller specific gravity than that of its own.
By adjusting the floats to suitable specific gravities the minimum specific gravity
of the fluid which is to pass out by the first named outlet (d) is determined, and
also the maximum specific gravity of the fluid which is to pass off by the last
named outlet (6).
In Figures 2 and 3 are shown two other constructions of float valves, but which
act in the same manner as the valves d and a
In Figure 2 the valve h is in the form of a curved slide with the stem i and
float k attached thereto, and having the fulcrum at l. The dotted curved line
shows the direction of travel of valve when opening. In Figure 3 the fulcrum is
on the valve itself.
Figures 4 and 5 show two constructions of valves with floats causing at the same
time a separation of a certain minimums and maximums specific gravity of a
fluid carried to the outlet also according to the same principle as the one
described.
Fig. 4 is a curved sliding valve similar in action to Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a double
float valve, the floats being hinged at 1 and P, and the valve h being fitted with a

page_text: guide stem h¹, and free to move vertically therewith as the floats go apart and rise.
When the floats k, k', are together, as here shown, the valve h is kept up in
the closed position by the horns m, m', which are rigidly connected to the float
stems i, i¹.
The valve in Figure 4 closes within certain limits for fluids of the same specific
gravity as that of its float.
The valve Figure 5, the two floats of which may be adapted for two different
specific gravities, only let such fluids escape the specific gravity of which is
intermediate.
The outlet pipes may be arranged to pass out through any other suitable part of
the vessel if desired
As the centrifugal force greatly increases the delicacy of action of the float valves,
these latter will act with increased precision.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, and
modes in which it is or may be carried into effect, I declare that I claim as tho
Invention communicated to me,―
Firstly. In centrifugal extracting machines the application of valves, flaps, or
cocks connected to floats or forming floats turning in a direction perpendicular or
nearly so to the axis of rotation, and by the action of the centrifugal force causing
the opening or closing of the outlet according to the relation between the specific
gravity of the float and that of the liquid at the outlet aperture, all substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Constructing centrifugal extracting apparatus with a lid having the
inlet and outlet pipes fixed theroin, so that on the lid being removed the entiro
interior of the apparatus can be conveniently cleaned, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederik Wolff, havo hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
DanDDIE WALon