Improvements in Centrifugal Apparatus, the same being Applicable for Filtration.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1838
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
Improvements in Centrifugal Apparatus, the same being Applicable
for Filtration.
I, ROBERT ANDREW ROBERTSON of the firm of Mirrlees, Watson and Company of
45 Scotland Street, Glasgow, in the Counties of Lanark and Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to machines employed for separating liquids and solids by
means of centrifugal force commonly known as centrifugal machines or hydro-
extractors, which, when constructed according to the present improvements, may
be more conveniently employed for making slabs or plates of sugar preparatory to
the production of cubes or blocks thereof or for other manufactures in connection
with which it may be desired that the dried or partially dried material should have
the form of such plates or blocks. The improvements are also applicable to the
filtration, drying and solidification of various substances, such as sewage, sludge,
sturch and other analogous mixtures of liquid and solid material.
In carrying out this Invention a series of discs or trays which may be constructed
of one or more pieces of metal, each of a depth suitable for the substance to be
treated and the purpose for which the apparatus is to be employed and placed one
above the other and secured together so as to form a cylindrical or polygonal
structure. This built-up structure or basket being charged with the substance to he
treated either while stationary or revolving, is caused to revolve rapidly and under
the influence of the centrifugal force thereby induced the liquid associated with the
substance under treatment escapes through the joints or openings at the joints between
the separate discs or trays forming the structure or through perforations made in the
periphery of the trays leaving the retained matter in the form of plates approxi-
mately of a thickness corresponding to the depth of the trays or discs.
The substance retained between the sections of the structure or basket can be
liquored or washed, steamed or otherwise treated as required, and when the operation
is completed, removed by taking the structure or basket to pieces and further dried
if required by stoving it which may be accomplished either while the substance is
still within the trays or after its removal from them.

page_text: When necessary the elasticity of the built-up structure or basket in a vertical
direction may be increased by the insertion of some elastic medium or device, such
as India-rubber or metallic springs when securing the sections of the structure
or basket together, and in some applications of this Invention a sheet or sheets of
wire cloth or other textile or felted material may be inserted between each of the
trays or sections of the basket to form a porous junction between them and thus
increase the filtering powers of the apparatus.
When the structure or basket is charged after having been built up, the trays or
discs will each have a central aperture to allow the material to be treated to have
access to the different trays and also to admit liquor, water or steam according to
the method of treatment adopted, but in some cases it may be preferable to charge
the discs or trays before they are built together and in such cases they may or may
not have the central aperture referred to as found desirable.
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Apparatus, the same being Applicable
for Filtration.
I, ROBERT ANDREW ROBERTSON of the firm of Mirrlees Watson & Company of
45 Scotland Street, Glasgow, in the Counties of Lanark and Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
My Invention relates to machines employed for separating liquids and solids by
means of centrifugal force commonly known as centrifugal machines or hydro-extractors,
which, when constructed according to the present improvements, may be more con-
veniently employed for making slabs or plates of sugar preparatory to the production
of cubes or blocks thereof by sawing or otherwise cutting or breaking the said slabs
or plates. entrifugal machines with the said improvements are also applicable for
other manufactures in connection with which it may be desired that the dried or
partially dried material should have the form of such plates or blocks. The improve-
ments are also applicable to the filtration, drying and solidification of various
substances, such as sewage-sludge, starch, and other analogous mixtures of liquids and
solid material.
In carrying out my Invention a series of dises or trays which may be constructed
of one or more pieces of metal, each of a depth suitable for the substance to be treated
and the purpose for which the apparatus is to be employed, are placed one above
the other and secured together so as to form a cylindrical or polygonal structure or
basket. This built-up structure or basket being charged with the substance to be
treated either while stationary or revolving, is caused to revolve rapidly and under the
influence of the centrifugal force thereby induced the liquid associated with the sub-
stance under treatment escapes through the joints or openings at the joints between
the separate discs or trays forming the structure or through perforations made in the
periphery of the trays leaving the retained solid matter in the form of plates
approximately of a thickness corresponding to the depth of the trays or dises.
The solid substance retained between the sections of the structure or basket can
be liquored or washed, steamed or otherwise treated as required, and when the
operation is completed, removed by taking the structure or basket to pieces and
further dried if required by stoving it which may be accomplished either while the
substance is still within the trays or after its removal from them.
When necessary the elasticity of the built-up structure or basket in a vertical
direction may be increased by the insertion of some elastic medium or device, such
as india-rubber or metallic springs when securing the sections of the structure or
basket together, and in some applications of my Invention a sheet or sheets of wire
cloth or other textile or felted material may be inserted between each of the trays
or sections of the basket to form a porous junction between them and thus increase
the filtering powers of the apparatus.

page_text: When the structure or basket is charged after having been built-up, the trays or
discs will each have a central aperture to allow the material to be treated to have
access to the different trays and also to admit liquor, water or steain according to the
method of treatment adopted but in some cases it may be preferable to charge the discs
or trays before they are built together and in such cases they may or may not have
the central aperture referred to as found desirable.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1, is a vertical section of the receptacle of the machine, composed of
superposed pans or trays suitably secured together and forming the compartments
for moulding disc-like slabs or plates of sugar or other material.
Figure 2, is a horizontal section thereof.
Figures 3 and 4, are detail views.
Figure 5, is a sectional view of the receptacle, mounted upon a charging table,
under a charging spout.
Figure 6, is a sectional detail of a screw clamp.
Figure 7, is a vertical section shewing a slight modification of the bottom plate of
the receptacle.
Figure 8, is a vertical section shewing modifications of construction.
Figure 9, is a sectional detail view.
The receptacle or basket of my improved centrifugal machine which is substituted
for the ordinary basket, is mounted by a recessed central boss A, upon the driving
spindle Y, having the wide flange a, of the boss resting upon a flanged collar yr fixed
on the spindle Y. The bottom plate C, of the receptacle is secured to the flange a,
of the boss and has a circumferential turned up flange c. To this bottom plate C, is
secured the flanged ring 6, encircling the boss and to such ring is secured a central
drum B, the upper head 6, of which is connected to the flanged collar ", fixed
upon the upper end of the boss. At suitable distances apart there are secured to the
outside of the drum B, the T-shaped angle iron columns or posts D, in such manner
that their side flanges are next to the outside surface of the drum, and are attached
thereto by rivets or bolts passed through holes therein. The projecting edges of these
T-shaped posts D, have notches d, formed in them and placed at such distance apart
as is requisite for supporting the inner edges of the plates or trays E, so as to form
a series of shallow, horizontal compartiments wherein the separated solid matter is
collected. The trays E, are composed by preference of thin plates of steel, and when
formed of one piece of metal their outer edges are spun up, so as to form the turned
up flanges or rims e. Instead of the construction now last described, sometimes use
flat annular plates E', and separate them at their outer edges by bands e¹, of less
diameter than the plates and having outwardly extending flanges el, resting upon the
outer edges of the plates as shewn in Figures 8 and 9. Under this construction
the flanges e, may be grooved or recessed on their under sides to facilitate the
escape of liquid between them and the plates by the yielding of the unsupported
circumferences of the plates.
Under another construction I use solid rings e; for separating the elastic steel
plates, as shewn in Figure 8.
To provide for better filtering liquids containing sedimentary matter or particles
in suspension or draining liquid from solid material, I cover the plates on both sides
with textile, felted or other porous fabric , as shewn in Figure S. Such porous
fabric may be applied to both the flanged trays shewn at Figures 1 and 2, and the
plates shewn at Figures 8 and 9. The inner edges of the trays or platescare provided
with notches n, Figure 2, placed at suitable distances apart, and of proper size to fit
over the outer edges of the posts D). One or more notches n', Figure 2, are made
wide as shewn, and one or more columns or posts as D. Figure 2. are made without
the transverse notches which are formed in the other columns or posts as above
described. With this construction, a tray or plate may be adjusted with its notches
to fit over the edges of the posts and with a wide notch n', at the column or post 1)',
and then slid down over the columns or posts until placed in its proper position in

page_text: the structure and at one of the circular lines of notches in the posts, when, by turning
it round horizontally through a distance equal to the length of the wide notch n¹,
the notches n, become moved away from the columns or posts D, and the solid edges
of the trays or plates between the said notches enter the notches d, of the columns,
posts or ribs thereby locking the plates in their respective position. The posts D¹,
without notches serve as stops and drivers for the plates and indicate when the
several trays or plates are properly adjusted and locked in position.
As shewn in the drawings the trays or plates are built up in a vertical series
between the bottom plate C, and the top plate C, and are spaced and supported at
their inner edges by the notched columns or posts D, and at their outer edges by the
flanges, bands or rings, hereinbefore described, so as to constitute a structure composed
of a series of annular, moulding compartiments. The central openings of the trays or
plates aro made of larger diameter than the drum B, so that an annular passage O,
Figure 2, is formed between the said plates and drum B. The bottom plate C, and the top
plate, are connected together and properly adjusted to or from one another by
bolts F, placed at suitable intervals around the circumferential portions of the plates.
These holts may be formed with square lower ends and heads f, and held in place by
a key, or may have screw threaded lower ends taking into screw threaded nuts fi
which are riveted or bolted to the bottom plate C, as shewn in Figures and 4, or
the square lower head of the bolt may fit in a square socket i, upon the underside of
the bottom plate, as shewn at Figure 8. In the socket i, there is fitted between the
square end of the clamping bolt and bottom plate C, a coiled spring r, for forming
an elastic and yielding bearing to permit a slight opening of the joints at the outer
edges of the trays. Instead of a coiled spring a spring of India-rubber may be
used. The upper ends of the rods have either heads or are screw threaded with
nuts, applied to them, for properly connecting and drawing together the top and
bottom plates of the structure. Swinging loops C, are connected by hinge joints to the
picces g,
which are rigidly secured to the top plate C', in such position that the loop
may be dropped over the nuts for locking them in place as shewn in Figures 1
and 3.
The swinging loops also serve for the attachment of hooks, when it is
desired to lift the structure out of its curb or easing W, Figures 1 and 2. or to
replace it therein, A curved annular mouthpiece C, is secured centrally to the
top plate (.
Under a modified construction of the apparatus the drum B, shewn at Figures 1
and 2, may be omitted and the notched supporting posts or ribs secured directly to
the central boss A', or form part of it as shewn in Figures 5 and 7. In such con-
struction, the boss A¹, may be made of greater diameter and the posts or ribs may be
made wider, if desired. In lieu of the notched posts or ribs the plates may
be supported near their inner edges by studs d', as shewn at Figure 8, or by
radial distance pieces and secured from lateral displacement by the ribs on central
drum or boss.
When radial distance pieces are employed and the plates held centrally by the boss
or drum these distance pieces may be secured to the plates and so serve to prevent the
loose rings from moving laterally.
In other cases the plates, trays and rings may be prevented from moving laterally
by the vertical rods F, as shewn in Figure 8.
The bottom plate C, of the receptacle may be inclined downwards all around from
the flange a, of the central boss as shewn in Figure 7, in order that the
elastic pans or plates E, E', may more readily separate at their circumferential
joints for the escape of fluid from the compartments under the action of centrifugal
force.
1 provide a clamping device H, as shewn in Figure 6, which may be applied to a
flanged collar or mouthpiece C, and clamped to the central boss by the screw bolt F¹,
having in its head an eye or ring G, for attaching a hook or other grappling device
for lifting the structure.
In Figure 5, the series of trays are shewn mounted upon the charging table K, in
position und r the charging spout L. This spout is provided with a conical

page_text: spreader L', forming an annular passage k, between it and the charging spout to
which it is connected by the arms l. A slide or rotating valve M, is fitted at the
bottom of the spout L, which serves to control the flow of sugar magma or
cuite into the annular passage O, of the structure.
inasse-
When it is desired to mould sugar in the annular compartments of the structure
in which case the apparatus is preferably charged while stationary, the "masse-cuite"
is supplied to the compartment through the annular passage O, Figure 8, while the
hasket is on the charging table K, until all the compartments are filled, when the
basket is removed and allowed to remain stationary until the "masse-cuite" has set
sufficiently, after which the basket is placed on the spindle Y, or shaft within the curb
or casing and subjected to centrifugal action by means of which the green syrup is
thrown off. This having been accomplished, the annular passage O, will be found
sufficiently open to admit the refined white liquor, employed to complete the cleansing
process, which is now fed in while the basket is being spun, the rate of flow of such
liquor being adjusted by regulating the speed at which the basket is driven, and the
lightness of the circumferential joints. The separating of the green syrup, liquoring
and drying having been completed, the basket may be removed and the trays
detached. The disk-like slabs of sugar may be further dried if required in suitable
stoves either in the trays E, or if found preferable, the slabs may be removed from
the trays or plates before being stoved. In some cases, the sugar or other material
to be treated may be admitted to the basket when mounted on the spindle Y, and
whilst revolving.
When the basket is being charged with material before being mounted upon the
spindle Y, the top and botton plates may be well drawn together by the rods and
nuts, but when mounted and ready to be spun, they may be moderately loosened to
permit the escape of the liquid at the circumferential joints. Alternately, the basket
whilst being charged when stationary may be held together by a clamping device
attached to the charging table K, as shewn by dottted lines in Figure 7, and on being
removed from under the charging spout the circumferential bolts F, or a central
boit F, as shewn in Figure 6, can be inserted to permanently hold together the
parts of the basket. The inclined bottom shewn in Figure 7, and the India-
rubber or coil spring, shewn applied to clamping rod F, in Figure 8,
facilitate the opening of the circumferential joints between the trays E. Both the
inclined bottom and the spring r, may be advantageously used together in the
same machine.
With my improved construction of centrifugal machine, the trays E, are made of
equal diameter, so that they are interchangeable, thereby preventing confusion or
trouble in placing them in position.
The curved top and bottoin plates w, w¹, of the curb, Figures 1 and 2, are preferably
of steel, spun up into shape from flat plates.
My improved machine is applicable to the filtration, drying and solidification of
various substances, such as sowage-sludge, starch, and other analogous mixtures of
liquid and solid. material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The general arrangement and combination constituting the improved centrifugal
machine, constructed and operating, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn upon the annexed drawings.
2. In a centrifugal separating machine, the mould chamber or receptacle for the
material to be treated, composed of a series of compartments or pans formed of
circular or polygonal plates and circumferential flanges, bands or rings, arranged to
form a
series of superposed circular yielding joints between the plates and
bands to permit the escape of fluid from the compartments under the action of
centrifugal force and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn
upon the annexed drawings.

page_text: 3. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with the notched supporting posts
or standards of the circular division plates of the compartments, notched at thei
inner edges, whereby such plates may be readily adjusted in position and held at
the proper distances apart as hereinhefore described and shown on the annexed
drawings.
4. In a centrifugal separating machine of the kind constituting my Invention, the
combination of the circular division plates with a covering of woven or felted fabric,
for facilitating the separation and discharge of liquid from the solid matter in the
material treated, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. In a centrifugal machine the clamping rods and nuts with or without springs or
the central bolt for holding together the top and bottom plates thereof and the
intermediate division trays or plates, substantially as bereinbefore described and
shewn upon the annexed drawings.
JOHN LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agent.