Improvements in Self-balancing Centrifugal Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-balancing Centrifugal Machines.
We, JOHN LAIDLAW, of the Firm of Watson Laidlaw & Company, 98 Dundas
Street, South, in the County of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, and CHARLES
ALPHONSO MATTHEY, of Russel Rise, Reading, Berkshire, England, Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of centrifugal machines
known as Weston's centrifugal machines or hydro extractors, in which the basket
is carried in such a manner that it is more or less self balancing. These machines
are constructed either to be suspended from above the basket or to rest upon a
pivot which is situated below the basket, and may be driven from above or from
below, as the case may be.
When
In carrying out our invention we rotate the basket by means of a turbine or
motor attached directly to the machine. Water or any elastic or non-elastic fluid
may be employed under suitable pressure to actuate the turbine or motor.
using water or other non-elastic fluid to drive the turbine or motor, suitable screws,
baffles or guards are so arranged in conjunction with the attachment of the motor
that the escaping fluid after it has done its work will be prevented from getting
into the oil chamber, or escaping in any other way except by the opening or outlet
provided for the purpose, and at the same time allow of the necessary free oscillation
of the spindle of the machine.
Our invention also provides an improved method of suspending the basket in
order to render the machine more completely self balancing than has hitherto been
attainable by the arrangement of elastic buffers in the Weston machine.
In carrying out this improvement the spindle to which the basket is attached is
supported by a ball resting in a socket so as to allow the basket to take up a
position of equilibrium. The socket rests in a receptacle in the fixed framework,
and is surrounded by a metal spring or some elastic material, which allows some
freedom of lateral motion to the socket in which the ball rests.
Dated this 12th day of September 1895.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.
Improvements in Self-balancing Centrifugal machines.
We, JOHN LAIDLAW, of the Firm of Watson Laidlaw & Company, 98 Dundas
Street, South, in the County of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, and CHARLES
ALPHONSO MATTHEY, of Russel Rise, Reading, Berkshire, England, Engineers,
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:
This invention relates to that class of centrifugal machines known as Weston's
centrifugal machines or hydro extractors in which the basket is suspended from
above in such a manner that it is more or less self balancing.

page_text: In carrying out our invention we rotate the basket by means of a turbine or
motor attached directly to the spindle of the basket. Water or any elastic or
non-clastic fluid may be employed under suitable pressure to actuate the turbine
or motor. When using water or other non-elastic fluid to drive the turbine or
motor, we provide screens, baffles or guards so as to prevent the fluid from getting
into the basket or oil chamber, or escaping by any other way except by the opening
or outlet provided for the purpose.
Our invention also relates to an improved method of supporting the basket.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect we have hereunto appended four explanatory sheets of drawings in the
several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Figure 2 a horizontal section showing the
turbine applied to the suspended machine as at present constructed.
Figure 3 is a vertical section, and Figure 4 à plan showing the turbine applied
to the machine with improved method of suspension.
A A is the framework of the machine; B B is the shaft carrying the basket,
and supported by the usual clastic suspension C C. We attach to the shaft a
turbine or other motor DD for driving the shaft and basket. The framework
connecting the buckets EE with the shaft B is provided with screens F F, and
the fixed framework has also screens G G attached, which overlap the screens F F
as shown in Figure 1. These screens are provided to prevent the water or other
fluid getting into the basket or oil chambers or escaping by any other way except
the opening H provided for the purpose.
In Figure 3 our improved suspension of the shaft carrying the basket is
illustrated. The shaft B terminates in a portion of a sphere b, and is supported in
a corresponding socket c which is carried on the framework A in a receptacle I.
There is an annular space between the socket and the walls of the receptacle, in
which there is placed a spring or springs d made of metal or other elastic substance.
The socket has thus some freedom of motion. The above described suspension
renders the basket very completely self-balancing.
Under certain conditions of work the springs d surrounding the socket c may be
dispensed with.
Figure 5 is a vertical section and Figure 6 a bhorizontal section of a modification
of our invention in which the turbine case is free to oscillate with the shaft and
basket. In this case the turbine case is supported on gimbals so as to be free to
move with the spindle, or it may be supported by means of a ball and socket
arrangement as shown in Figure 7. In this case the supply pipe must be made
flexible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The method of driving suspended centrifugal self balancing machines by
means of a turbine provided with screens, baffles, or guards to prevent the
liquid escaping except by the outlet provided for the purpose, substantially as
described.
2. The improved method of suspending the basket by means of a ball and socket
arrangement substantially as described.
Doted this out
בד
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.