Improvements in centrifugal machines
Year: 1888

page_text: 1 DAVID MCCOLLEY WESTON of Boston in the County of Suffolk, and State of
Massachusetts one of the United States of America, Inventor 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 certain improvements in that description of centrifugal
machines described in the specification of Letters Patent granted to Charles Aubrey
Day on a communication to him from abroad by David M. Weston and dated
July 12, 1884 No. 10103 for Improvements in centrifugal machines.
This invention has for its object to improve that class of centrifugal machines
wherein the basket revolves upon or about a suspended spindle, the aim of my
invention being to provide that class of centrifugal machines with means whereby the
valve used to stop the bottom of the basket may be quickly removed from the basket
and he suspended in diagonal position with relation to the spindle so that the operator
may have access to the interior of the basket to remove the usual sugar wall or to
clean the basket, the valve standing in a diagonal position enabling its edge to be so
presented as not to be in the way of the head of the operator to injure him when
working rapidly.
My invention consists essentially in the combination with a basket, and a spindle
for supporting it, of a loose valve surrounding the said spindle and having a central
opening of substantially the diameter of the largest portion of the spindle, and an
arm d', a downturned hook or support attached thereto to enter and hook over the
edge of the said central opening of the valve, to suspend the same in diagonal position
about the spindle and between the top of the basket and the usual driving pulley,
substantially as will be described.

page_text: The basket A, and curb B, as herein shown are of the class known as depending,
the hub A of the spider A of the basket being secured to a rotating sleeve or
spindle C supported by and rotating upon a rod D suspended in a yielding manner
from the ceiling, all as in the said specification of Letters Patent No. 10103 of 1884,
to which reference may be had.
The outer or bottom plate b to close the hollow of the basket at the proper or
necessary times, is composed of a plate preferably circular, with a central hole of
substantially the diameter of the lower end of the inclined hub A¹ of the sleeve, the
inclined surface 61 of the hub acting to direct the bottom plate into correct position
and affording as soon as the bottom plate is lifted a free clearance for the bottom plate
so that it may be easily and quickly lifted when it is desired to leave the bottom of
the basket uncovered, the bottom plate at such time being hung up, as shown in
Fig. 1. on a downturned hook d secured to an arm d' attached as shown to the frame
of the bearing &, the said hook being so shaped and located with relation to the
spindle and below the usual driving pulley h of the spindle substantially as represented,
that the valve when lifted by the operator may be readily placed in engagement with
tlie said hook or support d, the latter suspending the said valve in diagonal position
as shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, leaving the machine at that side of the spindle
occupied by the hook free for the operator to enter the basket, the diagonal position
of the bottom plate so placing its edge that it is out of the way of the head of the
operator.
The handle or loop e may be readily reached from outside the basket by a hook and
be lifted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The combination with a basket, and a spindle for supporting it, of a loose valve
surrounding the said spindle and having a central opening of substantially the
diameter of the largest portion of the spindle, and an arm d', a downturned hook or
support attached thereto to enter and hook over the edge of the said central opening
of the valve, to suspend the same in diagonal position about the spindle and between
the top of the basket and the usual driving pulley, substantially as described.
Dated the 10th day of December 1888
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.