Improvements in Centrifugal Separating Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1898-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
Improvements in Centrifugal Separating Machines.
I, DAVID ALFVÉN, of 14, Flemminggatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden,
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 separating machines of that kind intended for the
separation by centrifugal action of solid or semi-solid matters from liquids and it
comprises the improvements hereinafter indicated.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical central section, and
Figure 2 is a horizontal section, on the line x, x Figure 1, illustrating one form
of my said invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical central sections showing modifications hereinafter
described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring first more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, a is a conical or suitably
shaped bowl or casing provided with angular or A-shaped ribs, projections or
strips 6 placed in rows overlapping or breaking joint with each other on the inner
wall of the said bowl or casing in such a manner as to increase in length from the
top downwards and to form channels o of equal width between the said rows of
strips. These channels serve to carry the solid or semi-solid matter separated by
centrifugal action along the inner wall of the bowl or casing in a downward
direction. The strips 6 may be either secured to a loose casing arranged in the main
bowl or casing a or they may be fitted in grooves formed in the latter; or the said
strips may be cast on, or shaped by, cutting away portions of the said bowl or
casing a, or they may be secured to, or formed thereon, in any other convenient
manner. Above the strips b is a horizontal plate, partition, or diaphragm k which
latter is provided with openings or apertures situated close to the wall of the bowl
or casing a and which apertures are continued in a downward direction by means
of open-ended tubes k¹ as shown in Figure 1. The plate, partition, or diaphragm k
is provided, moreover, with a central conical elevation 2 which serves to effect an
equal distribution of the liquid or material to be separated.
c is the inlet for the liquid to be separated which inlet is formed by a tube
secured in the cover or upper part of the bowl or casing a. The outlet for the
separated particles is formed by openings d near the bottom of the bowl or
casing a. f, f are open-ended tubes the upper ends of which pass through the
upper part of the bowl or casing a and into a receiver in any convenient manner.
The said tubes pass at their lower ends into a box, strainer or casing g¹ perforated
as shown at g2 so as to permit the passage of liquid whilst arresting that of any
solid matter, the better to prevent the passage of which latter either the inner or
outer or both sides of the box or casing g' is or are preferably covered with felt or
other suitable filtering material as shown in the drawing.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-Supposing, by way of example,
that it be desired to employ it for the treatment of yeast, the mixture of the liquid
and the yeast, being fed or delivered into the bowl or casing a through the central
feed tube c, is first forced by centrifugal action during the rotation of the bowl or
casing a to the side or periphery of the horizontal plate or diaphragm k from which
it passes through the tubes ¹, to that part or portion of the bowl or casing a in
which the angular strips b are situated. The solid particles are then gradually
moved or forced toward the side walls of the bowl or casing a and enter between
the strips b where, owing to the centrifugal action, they slide obliquely downwards
over the upper surfaces of the said strips b to the channels o (which as already
mentioned are situated between the rows of strips 6) and through which channels o
they pass direct to the outlet openings d and are forced out through the latter.
It will be seen that the strips & check the otherwise too rapid progress, descent,
or movement of the yeast particles and prevent their becoming packed together in
front of, and stopping up, the outlet openings. The fresh yeast liquid constantly
enters through the feed or inlet tube c, and the liquid portion separated
therefrom, having a less specific gravity, passes through the perforations g² in
the walls of the box g¹ and the coat or coatings of felt or other filtering material
to the upwardly extending liquid discharge pipes f, the yeast particles which
have a specific gravity nearly corresponding to that of the said liquid being
prevented from following the latter by the said filtering material in the strainer.
It will be readily understood that the outlet or outlets for the separated liquid
may be arranged in various ways and that the use of the perforated box or
strainer g¹, g² may be dispensed with.
In the modification shown in Figure 3 the strips b, instead of being "angular as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, are only somewhat inclined, curved
or bent, and arranged to pass in an oblique direction between two adjacent
channels o.
In the modification shown in Figure 4, angular strips b, substantially similar
to those shown in Figures 1 and 2, are provided on the inner wall of the bowl or
casing a. Inside these strips b, however, and situated centrally relatively to the
bowl or casing a, there is a conical shaped body or framing formed of sheet-iron or
other suitable material and provided with arms, vanes or projections enlarged at
their outer ends as shown.
The operation of the apparatus in this case is as follows:-
The liquid flowing in as before from above through the pipe or inlet c is thrown
outwards by the centrifugal action in the direction indicated by the arrows on the
drawing and, passing through apertures in the partition or diaphragm k, reaches
the spaces between the angular strips whereby the more solid particles are separated
and are conducted by the channels o to the outlet openings d. The liquid with the solid
particles of smaller specific gravity then enter in the folds of the central conical
body, whereby an after or second separation will be effected, so that the particles
thereby separated or eliminated will be also forced outwards and pass through the
outlet openings or apertures d.
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. In a centrifugal separator of the character hereinbefore referred to, ribs,
projections, or strips, so arranged on or near the internal surface of the rotating
bowl or casing thereof as, during the separation of solid or semi-solid matter
from a liquid, to check the progress, descent, or movement of the said matter
towards, and prevent the blocking up of, the outlet openings, substantially as set
forth.
2. In a centrifugal separator, the combination, with ribs, projections, or strips
arranged on or near the internal surface of the rotating bowl or chamber thereof,

page_text: of arms, vanes, or projections carried upon a centrally located body or framing
and serving to effect an after or second separation, substantially as set forth.
3. The improved centrifugal separator constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or to Figure 3, or to Figure 4, of the
accompanying drawing and operating in the manner and for the purposes set
forth.
Dated this 1st day of Tannoy 1000
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.