A CONTINUOUS DISCHARGE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
I, JOHN LAIDLAW, of the firm of Watson Laidlaw & Co, of N° 98 Dundas Street,
Kingston, Glasgow, in the Counties of Lanark and Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "A CONTINUOUS
DISCHARGE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE" to be as follows:-
This Invention, which relates to the separation of Solid from Liquid substances,
has for its object to render such separation a continuous process, that is to say to
cause a separate flow of liquid and the separated solid to be discharged continuously
from the basket of centrifugal machines and to be also continuously collected
therefrom.
In the construction of the centrifugal machine an essential point is that the
formation of the basket thereof is such as to allow of the collection within itself
of a sufficient quantity of the solid separated material as will enable that, material
to build up itself by centrifugal action therein so as to produce a hollow whose
section has a curve which is proper to the particular class of separated substances
and corresponding to the velocity with which the basket is driven; the basket
being otherwise so shaped as to prevent the accumulation or building up therein
of such a quantity of solid separated matter as would by centrifugal action either
destroy the mechanism, or require an excess of power for driving it; at the same
time leaving a sufficient quantity of such solid separated matter in the basket for
absorbing liquid from the supply of raw material in the event of that supply
becoming intermittent or irregular.
To effect this the upper part of the centrifugal basket is formed of a conical
shape or with a lip.-Above the basket is a discharge pipe or shoot through which
the liquid mass to be separated flows continuously into the basket, and around the
perforated part of the basket is a receiver into which the liquid is discharged by
centrifugal action through the perforations, and enclosing the whole is a larger
receiver into which the solid substance is discharged also by centrifugal action
causing it to rise upon the curved foundation which is formed by that quantity of
itself collected within the basket. Each receiver is provided with one or more
discharge shoots, and it is to be understood that the centrifugal basket may be.
mounted on its axis so as to be driven above or below vertically, or it may be.
situated horizontally, or at any angle between the horizon and the vertical.
·נית
1004
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Petitioner's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JOHN LAIDLAW, of the firm of Watson, Laidlaw and Company of 98 Dundas
Street, Kingston, Glasgow, in the Counties of Lanark and Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for A CONTINUOUS
DISCHARGE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: -
My Invention, which relates to the separation of solid from liquid substances,
has for its object to render such separation a continuous process, that is to say, to
cause a separate flow of liquid, and the separated solid to be discharged continuously
from the basket of centrifugal machines and to be also continuously collected
therefrom.
In the construction of the centrifugal machine, an essential point is that the
formation of the basket thereof is such as to allow of the collection within itself
of a sufficient quantity of the solid separated material as will enable that material
to build up itself by centrifugal action therein so as to produce a hollow whose
section has a curve which is proper to the particular class of separated substances
and corresponding to the velocity with which the basket is driven; the basket
being otherwise so shaped as to prevent the accumulation or building up therein of
such a quantity of solid separated matter as would by centrifugal action either
destroy the mechanism, or require an excess of power for driving it; at the same
time having a sufficient quantity of such solid separated matter in the basket for
absorbing liquid from the supply of raw material in the event of that supply
becoming intermittent or irregular.
To effect this, the upper part of the centrifugal basket is formed of a conical
shape or with a lip. Above the basket is a discharge pipe or shoot through
which the liquid mass to be separated flows continuously into the basket, and
around the perforated part of the basket is a receiver into which the liquid is
discharged by centrifugal action through the perforations, and enclosing the whole
there is, or may be a larger receiver into which the solid substance is discharged.
The centrifugal action causing the said solid substance to rise upon the curved or
approximately conical foundation which is formed by that quantity of itself
collected within the basket: Each receiver is provided with one or more discharge
shoots, and it is to be understood that the centrifugal basket may be mounted on
its axis so as to be driven above or below vertically, or it may be situated
horizontally, or at any angle between the horizon and the vertical.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 (sheet 1) is a section through a continuous discharge centrifugal
machine provided with a basket having curved sides and at its upper part an
inwardly projecting lip all as bereinafter more particularly described.
Figures 2 and 3 (sheets 2 and 3) are respectively a plan and a side elevation of
the same.
Figure 4 (sheet 4) is a section through a continuous discharge centrifugal
machine the revolving basket of which is of the form of a hollow inverted cone.
Figures 5 to (inclusive) are views of detached portions of the mechanism
common to both the machines represented at Figures 1 to 4.
The upper part a, (Figure 1) of the centrifugal basket is formed as shewn, of
a conical shape or with a lip projecting inwards, and the lower part b, thereof is
perforated with holes of size and number adapted to the nature of the substances to

page_text: be dried or partially dried therein.
The basket b, is connected at its bottom to the
upper part a³, of the hollow revolving shaft p', the inner surface of which is slightly
tapered to fit the shaft q', and which is or may be cast in one piece with the
driving pulley, so that the whole is rotated together. Around the upper flanged
end of the tubular shaft p, the band x¹, is secured so as to prevent any of the
liquid products splashing or otherwise falling down below the plate h. The
revolving basket b, represented at Figure 1, with its lower recess a³, formed by the
tubular shaft p', and shaft q', is of such shape that, when rotating and charged
with produce, the solid portion of the said produce builds itself up against the
perforated sides of the said basket to a depth or thickness.determined by the depth
of the lip a, that is to say, to a depth somewhat approximating to that indicated
in dotted lines at Figure 1. Having built itself up to this depth, the produce, by
centrifugal action, creeps up over. the curved foundation which is so formed, and
which form will vary with the nature of the substance under treatment the liquid
portions being absorbed and separated by passing through the solid portion of the
produce already collected, and thence through the perforations of the basket b.
The solid portions are thrown on to the plate m, from which they are collected and
discharged into suitable receptacles as hereinafter more particularly explained.
The charging shoot c, hangs from the plate d, which rests upon the cover e, of the
machine. This cover e, as represented more particularly at Figure 6, is secured to
the upper ends of the brackets f, which are bolted at their lower ends to the
enclosing casing or receiver g. One of the brackets f, is shewn detached from the
machine in plan at Figure 5, in side elevation at Figure 6, and in front elevation at
Figure 7. The casing g, which is preferably formed of wrought iron plate, has
riveted or otherwise secured within it, the plate h, which forms the bottom of the
receiver whereinto the liquid products are thrown by centrifugal action, and from
which they are drawn off through the outlet i, (Figures 2 and 3) into suitable
receptacles. The central portion of the plate h, curves upwards at j, in the form
of an annular lip. At its upper edge, the casing g, has secured to it the ring k,
which is curved, the inner part projecting over the flanges 1, of the basket b, and lip a,
and the outer part projecting over the circular plate m. A toothed rack n, and an.
annular groove o, are formed at the underside of the plate m, while at its inner part,
the said plate curves upwards and is formed with a series of teeth or cams p, the
formation of which is represented more particularly in the detached portion shewn
at Figure 8. With the rack n, the teeth of the pinion q, engage, the said pinion
being rotated through the medium of the toothed gear wheels r, and 8, respectively,
and the pulley t, to the latter of which motion is imparted from the pulley u,
(Figure 2) by the driving band v. The toothed gearing wheels 9, 7, and 8, and the
pulley, are carried on shafts supported in the bracket v, which is secured at its
lower part to the casing g, and the pulley u, is secured to the driving shaft w,
hereinafter more particularly referred to. The plate m, is, by means of the
mechanism hereinlast described, caused to travel round or rotate horizontally at a
slow rate of motion, the said plate being supported by the rollers x, which are
carried upon the studs y, supported by the brackets f, all as shewn more particularly
at Figures 3 and 6. The upper face of the plate m, is provided with a turned
rim z, so that when the said plate m, travels round, this rim is continuously in
contact with the leather packing a¹, which is inserted in the stationary cover e,
and thus prevents the escape of any fluid or solid matter at the junction of these
parts, excepting at the discharge orifice b¹ thereof. The heavier particles or
products deposited upon the plate m, are thrown continuously thereonto by.
centrifugal action, outward from, and when leaving the upper part or lip a, of the
rotating basket b, and are collected and discharged from the machine through the
outlet 6, and delivered by the shoot c¹, into any required receptacle. The products
are directed to the outlet b', by means of the scraper d', the angular position of
which is represented more particularly at Figure 2, and which scraper removes or
scrapes off the said products from the surface of the plate m, as it travels under
the same.
The discharge shoot c', is supported by the rod e¹, which is laid in the

page_text: hooks f¹. The teeth or cams p, herein before described as formed on the plate m, in
their rotation, impart an up-and-down vertical motion to the rod g', the lower end
of which rests thereon.. This rod g', is guided in the ring k, and cover e, and at its
upper end is connected with the delivery shoot ', either directly as shewn at
Figure 1, or as shewn at Figure 4, through the pivoted lever 1, the latter con-
struction being preferable. The lever i, is supported in the brackets, and at its
end is provided with a transverse head which is capable of sliding between the
surface of the shoot h¹, and the arms k¹. The hopper , is secured to the cover e,
by the legs m¹, in and between which the shoot h, is pivoted, and the vertical
motion imparted to the rod g¹, is transmitted to the said shoot and thereby the
products, to be dried within the machine, are continuously charged through the
shoot c, and into the basket b, the spring n¹, preserving the necessary contact
between the rod g₁, and the teeth or cams . The hopper, is provided with a
slide o', the lower edge of which may be adjusted nearer to or farther from the
bottom of the delivery shoot h¹, so as to regulate the quantity of produce passing
into the machine.
The driving band 81, passes out from the pulley r¹, through an opening in the
lower part of the casing g, to the driving pulley u³, the upper part passing under the
guide pulley t¹, as shewn. The pulley t', as shewn more particularly in dotted lines at
Figure 2, is carried by the shaft v, one end of which is pivoted to the pedestal w¹,
and the free end thereof carrying the said pulley t¹, is capable of motion about
this axis. The driving pulley u¹, as represented upon the annexed drawings, is
fitted with Weston's Patent centrifugal clutch, which, constituting no part of my
present Invention, and being a well-known mechanical device, need not be herein
further referred to. The machine may be provided with a brake y¹, (figure
which may be applied to the driving pulley u³, by means of the lever z¹.
In place of forming the rotating basket in the manner herein before described
and shewn at Figure 1, I may construct the said basket as shewn at Figure 4 of
the annexed drawings, that is to say, of the form of an inverted hollow cone.
Under this construction, the basket 63, which is preferably formed of perforated
sheet metal, is secured to the upper end, of the rotating shaft c³, by means of the
conical plug d, and the screw e³.
For some kinds of produce such for example as sugar, it is sometimes desirable,
after it has left a centrifugal machine, to spread it over a large surface such as a
floor, in order to cool and still further dry it. When 'so using my continuous
discharge centrifugal machine, the cover e, is removed and the charging spout c, is
suspended from any convenient overhead support, when the crystals, in place of
being collected closely together, are by the centrifugal action scattered through a
distance and spread out over a large area of floor space.
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
The continuous feed and continuous discharge centrifugal machines in which the
continuous discharge is obtained by the movement upwards of the solid portion of
the separated substances upon a bed or foundation of the said solid substance
itself built up by centrifugal action within the basket, the said solid substance so
built up acting as an absorbent through which the liquid portion passes outwards
to the perforations of the said basket substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Fifteenth day of July 1885.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Applicant's Agents.