IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES FOR THE SEPARATION OF LIQUID FROM SOLID MATTER
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES FOR THE SEPARATION OF LIQUID
FROM SOLID MATTER." A communication from abroad by Samuel Shaw
Hepworth, of Yonkers, New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES
A communication from
FOR THE SEPARATION OF LIQUID FROM SOLID MATTER"
abroad by Samuel Shaw Hepworth, of Yonkers, New York, United States of
America.
These improvements relate to machines in which contrifugal force is used for the
separation of liquids from solids, and more particularly to those centrifugal
machines which are employed for the separation of the crystals of sugar from the
syrup, the basket of which machines is attached to the spindle upon which it turns
above its bearings, and which is driven from below in the usual manner.
The chief object of the said improvements is to provide means for entirely
preventing the jarring of the machine when in revolution, which means can be
arranged under the basket of the machine without interfering in the least with
the discharge of the sugar through the bottom of the basket, or allowing it to come
in contact with any of the working parts. Also to provide a better valve for
discharging the sugar through the bottom of the basket, and better means for
operating the same than have heretofore been employed.
The said Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several
devices as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of one form of my improved machine.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the parts, to which the elastic disc hereinafter

page_text: Figure 4 is a vertical cross section of a portion of the frame of the machine
forming the outer attachment for the elastic disc.
Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section of a portion of the upper bearing of the spindle
forming the inner attachment for the elastic disc.
. Figure 6 is a horizontal section drawn to an enlarged scale through the brake,
and illustrates the mode of its operation.
Figure 7 is a vertical section through the basket of a centrifugal machine
embodying a modification of my improvements.
Figure 8 is an underside view of the parts above the line 2, 2, Figure 7.
Figure 9 is an underside view of a basket of a centrifugal machine embodying
a further modification of my improvements.
Figure 10 is a vertical cross section of the basket on the line 3, 3, Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a vertical cross-section through the working parts of the valve upon
the line 4, 4, Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a vertical cross section through the middle of a centrifugal machine
embodying a further modification of my improvements.
Figure 13 is a plan of part of the bottom of the basket with the top part of the
basket and the central parts for operating the valve removed so as to show the parts
beneath.
Figures 14 to 22 shew details which will be readily understood.
A is the pedestal or base of the machine, to which all the stationary parts are
attached; B is a hollow arm through which the driving belt and the connecting
rod for operating the brake pass to the interior of the machine. This arm extends
upwards to a sharp ridge at its top so as not to impede the descent of any sugar
that may chance to fall upon it from the valve-opening in the basket above it;
C is a cylindrical case or shell for containing and supporting the interior working
parts of the machine. It is firmly connected to the base A by means of the arm B;
D is the curb or part which contains the revolving basket. It is connected with
and supported by the base A; E is a revolving basket for containing the magma
from which the sugar is to bo extracted; F is the anuular channel into which the
liquid is thrown from the revolving basket; G is the outlet from the channel F
for conveying the liquid to some suitable receptacle; H is the column for supporting
the brake lever. a is the spindle which supports the basket, in the manner herein-
after described, and from which it receives its motion; b is the valve which is
fixed to the spindle, and moves with it; c is a sleeve and flange forming the centre
of the basket; d is an interior sleeve for lifting the basket. It has a flange at its
lower end which extends under a part of the sleeve c; c is a screw for lifting the
sleeve d. It enters a hollow thread in the top of the spindle, and is provided with
a circular rim which engages under the top flange of the sleeve d, so that by turning
the screw the basket is lifted from the valve b; f is a hand-wheel for turning the
screw e; g is an oil-cup for oiling the spindle. This cup is provided with an
interior circular groove near the top, into which a small quantity of oil is thrown
by the centrifugal force cach time the basket is charged and revolved, and this oil
is conducted to the central pipe, so that a few drops of oil descend to oil the
bearings of the spindle each time the machine stops. The oil passes down through
a vertical opening in the centre of the screw and spindle, shewn at a', in Figure 1,
and runs through the transverse hole 6' to the circular chamber c¹, and thence
downwards, oiling the bearings j, into the chamber of the pulley m. From this it
passes through the hole y in the pulley to the chamber in the socket Z, oiling the
bearings in the ball and socket joint k, l. In case the oil overflows from the
chamber c' it falls into the annular space f', and passes through the holes into
the cup-shaped flange v, through the holo w, and into the chamber ; from this
chamber it is intended to overflow through the pipe g¹; h is a copper cone covering
the interior parts in the centre of the basket; i is one of the openings in the
bottom of the basket, of which there are usually three, covered by the valve b; j is
a sleeve, in which is formed the upper bearings of the spindle; k is a ball which
contains the lower bearing of the spindle, so that the whole bearing can have a
2

page_text: rocking motion in the socket ; m is a pulley, around which passes the belt.d' to
transmit motion to the machine. This pulley is firmly attached to the spindle
above the ball and socket joint, but extends downward so that the belt can pass
over the centre of motion; n is a flange attached to the sleeve j. It is provided
with projections or lugs n¹ (see Figure 5) which enter holes in the elastic disc p
shewn in Figure 3; o is a ring attached to the frame of the machine, and which is
likewise provided with projections or lugs for entering the holes in the elastic
disc p; p is an elastic disc having a series of holes around its circumference, as
shewn in Figure 3, and which is placed upon the lugs on the parts n and o, in the
position shewn in section in Figure 1. This serves as an elastic connection between
the bearing of the spindle in the sleeve j and the fixed frame of the machine. This
elastic disc is preferably made of india-rubber, and operates in the same manner as
a series of loops placed over the opposite lugs upon the parts n and o. A better and
more equal effect is, however, obtained by making them all in one piece in the form
of a disc, as shown in the Drawings. In my improved bearing the india-rubber
operates by tension and not by compression, as has heretofore been the case. When
the indin-rubber is used as a bushing sufficient play cannot be obtained to allow
the bearing of the spindle to perfectly accommodate itself to the variation in tho
axis of motion caused by unequally balanced charges in the basket.
By means of
my improved elastic bearing the basket is allowed to assume its proper axis of
rotation, and revolve without jar, even when very unequally loaded.
The ball and socket support at the bottom of the spindle allows the lower bearing
of the spindle to conform to the motion of the upper bearing, and permits of a
lateral as well as an end bearing in the journal.
g is the brake for the purpose of rapidly stopping the revolution of the basket
when the operation of purging the sugar has been completed. One end of each
side of the brake is hinged to lugs upon the inside of the part C, and the other ends
are connected to the arms of the triple lever 7, which serves to draw them together
and clamp them upon the pulley m, upon which they act by friction in the usual
manner; u is a hand-lever for operating the brake by means of the crank s and
the connecting rod t.
The operation of this part of my Invention is as follows:-
Before starting the oil-cup g is filled with oil, and a few drops are placed in the
vertical hole a' in the top of the spindle so as to oil the bearings before the
commencement of the automatic oiling before described.
The basket is then filled. with the semi-fluid syrup containing the crystals of
sugar, and is set in motion and rapidly revolved by means of the belt d'. When
the sugar is sufficiently drained the machine is stopped by means of the brake q.
The hand-wheelf then receives a quarter turn to the left, which raises the basket
slightly from the valve, thus relieving the friction, so that the basket can easily be
turned by means of its rim until the openings in the bottom are over the spaces
between the leaves of the valve, thus leaving a free discharge for the sugar, which
is removed in the usual manner. The openings in the bottom of the basket are
then returned over the leaves of the valve, the hand-wheel is turned back to its
first position, and the basket re-charged.
In filling the basket there is sometimes a greater weight upon one side than the
other. In this case the centre of gravity does not coincide with the exact centre
of figure, and if the basket is firmly held in fixed bearings a great vibration and
jar is produced. By means of my improved elastic bearings, and the play allowed
at the footstep of the spindle, this jar is entirely avoided, the basket assumes an
axis of rotation accommodated to the unequal load, the bearing yielding sufficiently
to permit of its so doing.
In the part of my Invention illustrated by Figures 7 and 8, J is the basket for
containing the sugar to be drained; K is the spindle upon which it is supported,
and from which it receives its rotary motion; L is a cast metal centre to which the
bottom plate of the basket is firmly attached. This centre is keyed or otherwise
secured to the spindle K. In this centre are the bearings. L' for the shafts of the

page_text: pinions, as will be herein-after described; M is a valve having a number of leaves
(usually three) covering openings in the bottom of the basket, and so arranged as
to uncover them by rotating upon its central axis. This valve is provided with a
collar M¹, which turns upon a central bearing, shewn in the Drawings as being
formed upon the centro piece L; N is a collet upon the spindle K for supporting
the valve in its proper position; O, O, are bolts passing through slots in the valve,
and which limit its throw in either direction and screw into the cast centro L.
These slots, shewn at V, V, in Figure 8, in connection with the bolts O, serve as
checks for the valve in opening and closing; P, P, are internal racks upon the
valve for opening and closing it; R, R, are pinions working in these racks, and
arranged upon the lower end of a short shaft passing through the bearings L'; S, S,
are wheels upon the tops of the pinion-shafts both gearing into the central pinion T,
at the lower end of a sleeve surrounding the upper part of the central spindle K.
At the upper end of this sleeve is placed the hand-wheel U for turning the pinion T
and operating the valve.
The operation of this part of the said Invention is as follows, that is to say :—
The machine is supposed to be filled with the semi-liquid sugar and operated in
the usual manner. When it is desired to open the valve to discharge the drained
sugar, the hand-wheel U is turned, which operates through the pinion T, the
wheels S, and the pinions R upon the racks P to open the valve and uncover the
apertures W in the bottom of the basket. When it is desired to close the valves
again the hand wheel is turned back in the opposite direction.
In the part of my Invention illustrated in Figures 9, 10, and 11, 2A is the
basket of a centrifugal machine; 2 B is the spindle by which it is supported, and
from which it receives its motion; 2 C is a yoke keyed or otherwise attached to
the spindle 2B and extending upward upon each side of the valve to the bottom
of the basket which it serves to support; 2D and 2D are sliding valves, which
cover the openings 2 E and 2 E' in the bottom of the basket. They slide in and
out from the centre, and when they are drawn inward they uncover the
openings 2 E and 2 E', so that the sugar contained in the basket can be discharged;
2F, 2F, are channels or grooves formed by longitudinal pieces bolted upon the
bottom of the basket in which the outer edges of the valves move, and which
retain them in their proper positions; 2G, 2 G¹, are arms in the form of loops,
extending back from the valves. Upon one side of the interior edge they are
furnished with racks 2 H, 2 H³, which engage upon opposite sides of a central
pinion 2 I. The opposite side of the interior edge of the arm is made smooth, and
runs upon the points of the leaves of the pinion so as to hold the rack and pinion
together. The end of the arm is made of such a form as to strike against the
pinion and stop the valve at the proper point to close the opening in the bottom
of the basket. The arms 2 G and 2 G¹, run one above the other, and are guided
above by the bottom of the basket, and below by a stop or collar upon the central
spindle. The pinion 21 is fixed upon a sleeve 2J which turns upon the central
spindle, and which is operated by the hand-wheel 2 K at its upper end.
The operation of this part of my Invention is as follows, that is to say :—
The basket of the machine is supposed to be charged and operated in the usual
manner. When it is desired to discharge the contained sugar the hand-wheel 2 K
is turned so as to draw the valves inward until the motion is stopped by the
valves coming in contact with the pinion or any other suitable stop to limit the
motion of the valve. The sugar is then discharged in the usual manner.
To again
close the valves the hand-wheel 2K is turned back in the opposite direction to
that of opening the valves until the motion is stopped by the loops of the arms
coming in contact with the pinion. The machine is then ready to be again charged
with sugar to be drained.
In the part of my Invention illustrated in Figure 12, and following Figures, 1 is
the basket of a centrifugal machine constructed in the customary manner and
suspended upon a spindle, so that it can be rapidly revolved; 2 is the spindle upon
which the basket is keyed or otherwise fixed; 3 is the valve turning under the

page_text: bottom of the basket, and provided with wings which cover the openings + in the
bottom when the valve is closed. When the valve is open these wings lie under
the solid parts of the bottom between the openings, so that the sugar or other
substanco discharges freely through the openings without touching the valve. The
wings of the valve are connected by an annular plate, which lies inside of the
openings in the bottom of the basket, and turns in suitable bearings, as will be
described.
5 is an annular plate attached to the bottom of a basket to form a bearing for
the valve 3 which it supports. It is provided also with a downward projecting
rim or flange for the purpose of protecting the central bearing of the spindle. The
top of the plate 5 is made to fit the bottom and inner edge of the valve plate, and
it may be provided with springs under the valve or upon its inner edge to give the
proper amount of friction upon the valve and prevent it from turning too freely.
6 is a hollow cone turning upon a central bearing in the basket, and which is
provided with a hand-wheel 7 for operating it to open or close the valve. 8 is a
pin which is screwed firmly into the lower edge of the hollow cone G. There may
be two or more of these pins, the number shewn in the Drawings being three, the
same as the valve openings. These pins move in slots through the bottom of the
basket concentric with the axis of the valve, and enter into holes in the valve-plate.
By this arrangement, whenever the hand-wheel 7 is turned the valve turns with it,
the pins moving in the slots shown at 9 in Figure 13. 10 is a collar upon the
spindle for the purpose of holding the cone 6 down to its place. This collar is
fastened by a set-screw. By removing the collar the hollow cone 6 together with
the pins can be lifted up for cleaning or inspection. The slots are so formed in the
bottom of the basket that the valve opens by turning in the same direction that
the basket revolves. By this arrangement the inertia of the valve operates to open
it when the brake is put on to stop the revolution of the basket, and to close the
valve when the basket is started. The slots are also enclosed upon the top by the
bottom flange of the hollow cone 6, and upon the bottom by the top of the valve-
plate so as to prevent all clogging by the entrance of the syrup.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The basket E loose upon the spindle in combination with the valve b
rigidly attached to the spindle and placed under the bottom of the basket, the said
valve and basket rotating relatively to each other to open the valve, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The basket E capable of turning upon the spindle, and the valve
underneath the same fixed to the spindle, in combination with the screw and hand-
wheel whereby the basket may be raised to open the valve, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Third. The elastic disc in combination with the rings n and o provided with
projections which enter loops in the disc, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. In a centrifugal machine the valve M rotating upon the spindle
underneath the baket and provided with one or more racks in combination with the
intermediate gearing and the hand-wheel U, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. In a centrifugal machine, radially-sliding valves under the bottom of the
basket, in combination with mechanism for operating them, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Sixth. In a centrifugal machine one or more valves placed below the basket,
provided with the rack 2 H in combination with the pinion 2 I, the sleeve, and the
hand-wheel 2 K, whereby the valve is operated radially, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Seventh. The combination of the cone provided with the haud-wheel 7, the pins

page_text: passing through slots in the bottom of the basket and the circular oscillating valve 3
under the basket, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. In a centrifugal machine the pins moving in enclosed slots in the bottom
of the basket whereby movement is communicated from the interior of the basket
to an oscillating valve below the bottom, substantially as and for the purpose 5
specified.
Ninth. The supporting plate in combination with the valve 3, and removable
operating mechanism acting through the bottom of the basket, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The combination of the collar with the removable cone, the basket 1, and 1
the valve 3, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
11TH DANT TAVE