Improvements in Centrifugal Machinery or Apparatus for Separating Cream from Milk.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Machinery or Apparatus for Separating
Cream from Milk.
1, WALTER COLE of 40 Colby Road, Gypsy Hill, in the County of Surrey,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal machinery or apparatus for
separating cream from milk and has for objects to effect the separation in a
continuous manner without admission of air, and so as to obviate the churning or
agitation of the milk and consequent formation of froth as in milk separators as
heretofore usually constructed.
The separation of the cream from the milk in a continuous manner I effect in one
or more vessels such as hereinafter described forming part of or carried by a rotary
structure hereinafter called the rotary support mounted in bearings and provided
with any suitable arrangement of driving mechanism. The vessel, (or each of
them) which may be of glass, is made of a cross sectional area gradually increasing
towards one end and is provided with an inlet pipe for milk to be treated, and with
two outlet pipes, one for cream, and the other for skim milk. The inlet pipe com-
municates at one of its ends with the interior of the vessel at a point between the
two ends thereof; and may with advantage be made of gradually increasing cross-
sectional area near its junction with the vessel. The other end of the inlet pipe
communicates, when the vessel is in use, with a milk supply pipe arranged at the
centre of the rotary support and extending either above or below the same.
outlet pipes for cream and milk communicate with the smaller and larger ends
respectively of the vessel, the outer end of that for cream terminating at a point
between the two ends of the vessel.
The
The arrangement is such that when the vessel, or each vessel if there be more
than one, is fixed to the rotary support with its smaller end towards the centre and
with its inlet pipe in communication through the supply pipe with a reservoir of
milk to be treated, and the rotary support is rapidly rotated, milk will enter the
vessel, or each vessel, in a continuous manner without admission of air and will be
thercin subjected to centrifugal action whereby the cream will be separated from
the milk without agitation or frothing, and both will be caused by centrifugal
action to flow in a continuous manner through their respective outlet pipes into
concentric, annular troughs or gutters arranged below the rotary support and
in communication, with suitable receptacles for the cream and skim milk
respectively.
In order that the forces tending to withdraw the cream and skim milk
respectively from the vessel may be equal or approximately so and thus enable
the one to be efficiently separated from the other, the outer ends of the outlet pipes
are provided with means whereby the area thereof can be varied to suit require-
men!s. Or the outlet pipes can be so constructed that the distance of their outer
ends from the centre of motion can be varied relatively to each other with a like
object.
According to one arrangement the outer end of the outlet pipe is provided with
a conical mouth pipe fitted with a ball that can be moved inward more or less to
vary the outlet area by lever or other suitable mechanism. This mechanism can
be so arranged that the outlet areas of the two outlet pipes of the vessel, or of each
vessel, can be simultaneously varied whilst the apparatus is in motion by a rod that
extends through a pipe secured at the centre of the rotary support and is provided
at its outer end with a hand lever or wheel.
When the milk supply pipe is arranged below the rotary support, it can be

page_text: arranged to simply dip into the milk to be treated which will, when the apparatus
is in action, be drawn in a continuous manner and unmixed with air through the
pipe and into the vessel or vessels by centrifugal action.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1890.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Machinery or Apparatus for Separating
Cream from Milk.
I, WALTER COLE formerly of 40 Colby Road, Gypsy Hill, in the County of
Surrey, but now of 39 Coleman Street, in the City of London Architect, 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 improvements in centrifugal machinery or apparatus for
separating cream from milk and has for object to effect the separation in a con-
tinuous manner without admission of air, and so as to obviate the churning or
agitation of the milk and consequent formation of froth as in milk separators as
heretofore usually constructed.
The separation of the cream from the milk in a continuous manner, I effect in
one or more vessels such as hereinafter described forming part of or carried by a
rotary structure hereinafter called the rotary support mounted in bearings and
provided with any suitable arrangement of driving mechanism. The vessel, (or
each of them) which may be of glass, or of metal for example, aluminium, is made
of a cross sectional area gradually increasing towards one side or end, and is
provided with an inlet pipe for milk to be treated, and with two outlet pipes, one
for cream, and the other for skim milk. The inlet pipe communicates at one of its
ends with the interior of the vessel at a point between the two sides or ends thereof;.
and may with advantage be made of gradually increasing cross-sectional area near
its junction with the vessel. The other end of the inlet pipe communicates, when
the vessel is in use, with a milk supply pipe arranged at the centre of the rotary
support and extending either above or below the same. The outlet pipes for cream
and milk communicate with the smaller and larger sides or ends respectively of the
vessel. The arrangement is such that when the vessel, or each vessel if there be
more than one, is fixed to the rotary support with its smaller end towards the
centre and with its inlet pipe in communication through the supply pipe with a
reservoir of milk to be treated, and the rotary support is rapidly rotated, milk will
enter the vessel, or each vessel, in a continuous manner and will be therein sub-
jected to centrifugal action whereby the cream will be separated from the milk
without agitation or frothing, and both will be caused by centrifugal action to
flow in a continuous manner through their respective outlet pipes into annular
troughs or gutters in communication with suitable receptacles for the cream and
skim milk respectively.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shews partly in vertical section and partly in elevation; and
Fig. 2 shews partly in plan and partly in "horizontal section, a centrifugal
machine or apparatus constructed according to this invention for separating cream
from milk.
1 is a hollow rotary support made in two parts and provided with radial
divisions 2 that serve to divide its interior into a number of compartiments 3, which
in the example shewn are eight in number. The two parts are provided each with
a horizontal flange 4 by which they can be readily connected together by fastenings
such as bolts and nuts,

page_text: The lower part of the rotary support is fixed to the upper end of a vertical
shaft 5 by which it can be rotated at a high speed by any suitable driving
mechanism as in ordinary centrifugal cream separators The upper part of the
rotary support is formed with a milk chamber 6 to which mülk to be treated is fed
through a supply pipe 7 and a nozzle 8 carried by a pivoted arm 9. This arm
normally holds the nozzle 8 in the position shewn so as to close the top of the milk
chamber and prevent entrance of air thereto, but it is so arranged that it can be
moved upward and into a vertical position when desired, against the action of a
spring 10. Each compartment 3 is fitted with a vessel 11 of suitable material, for
example aluminium, the cross sectional area of which gradually increases from the
inner to the outer end as shown.
::
Each vessel is provided with an inlet pipe 12 for new milk; an outlet pipe 13
for skim milk; and an outlet pipe 14 for cream. The inlet pipe 12 communicates
at one end with the vessel at a point between the two sides or ends thereof,
preferably at about the position shown, and at the other end is connected by a
coupling 15, as for example a piece of india rubber tubing with a nozzle or pipe 16
that communicates with the milk chamber 6. The outlet pipe 13 communicates
with the outer side or end of the vessel; and the outlet pipe 14, which is much
smaller in diameter than pipe 13, is in communication at its inner end with the
inner or smaller side or end of the vessel. 17 is an annular pipe secured to the
outer ends of the several pipes 13. 18 is a similar but smaller annular pipe secured
to the outer ends of the several pipes 14. Each of these pipes 17 and 18 is divided
at one part so that it can be sprung into place over the projecting ends of the
corresponding outlet pipes 13 or 14 which enter suitably arranged holes in the
pipe 17 or 18, after which the ends of that pipe are connected together by a screw
coupling 19. The outer ends of the pipes 13 and 14 are coned, and the holes in
the pipes 17 and 18 are correspondingly formed to receive them. 20 and 21 are
annular troughs arranged to surround the annular pipes 17 and 18, respectively,
and each provided with an outlet 22. 23 is an annular fence surrounding the
rotary support 1 and the parts carried thereby, and also the troughs 20 and 21.
In the example shown, it simply rests upon the radial arms 23 of the standard or
frame 24, and serves also to carry the troughs. By this construction the fence and
troughs can be readily lifted upward and away from the rotary support when
necessary for cleaning or other purposes.
With the arrangement described, when the rotary support 1 is rapidly rotated,
the nozzle 8 brought into the position shewn, the pipe 7 placed in communication
with a reservoir of milk to be treated, milk will be caused to pass continuously
from the reservoir to the chamber 6 and thence into each of the vessels 11 and will
be therein subjected to centrifugal action so that the cream will be separated from
the milk without agitation or frothing. The skim milk will flow through the outlet
pipes 13 into the annular pipe 17 whence it will be discharged through the outlet
at 17 into the trough 20 by centrifugal action, whilst the cream which passes to
the inner side or end of the vessel will be drawn through the pipes 14 into the
annular pipe 18 whence it will be discharged through the outlet pipe 18* into the
trough 21.
In order that the forces tending to withdraw the cream and skim milk
respectively from the vessel may be equal or approximately so, and thus enable the
one to be efficiently separated from the other, the outer ends of the outlet pipes
are or may be provided with means such as removable tubular parts whereby the
area thereof can be varied to suit requirements. Or the outlet pipes, or one of
them, namely that for conveying away the cream from each vessel, can be con-
structed in parts connected together by a screw coupling so that the distance of
the outer ends of the pipes from the centre of motion can be varied relatively to
each other with a like object.
Satisfactory results can be obtained for a machine having about the proportions
shown in the drawings the diameter of the rotary support 1 being about 10 inches,
outlet area of each pipe 13 be made about th of an inch in diameter, and the

page_text: outlet area of each pipe, 14 be made about th of an inch in diameter, the speed of
the rotary support:1 being about 1000 revolutions per minute.
Fig. 3 shews partly incelevation and partly in vertical section, a centrifugal
machine constructed according to this invention, in which the rotary support 1 with
the vessels 11 is suspended from the driving shaft 5, and the milk supply pipe 7 is
arranged below it, so that the lower end of this pipe can simply dip into the milk
to be treated which will, when the machine is in action, be drawn by centrifugal
action in a continuous manner and practically without admixture of air, through
the pipe 7, chamber 6 and pipes 12 into the vessels 11 wherein it will be subjected
to centrifugal action and the cream separated therefrom as in 'the arrangement
hereinbefore described. The fence 23 is in this case shewn secured to the standard
or frame 24 by screws 25 by removing which the fence, as well as the troughs 20
and 21 can be lowered away from the rotary support 1, which can afterwards
be easily removed from the driving shaft if desired. The annular pipes 17
and 18 can be dispensed with if desired, the pipes 13 and 14 then discharging
directly into the troughs 20 and 21, but I consider the use of these annular pipes
advantageous.
Fig. 4 shews in central section a separating vessel having an outlet pipe' 14' for
cream connected to or formed in one with the inner end of the vessel 11. This
outlet pipe is shewn as passing through the bottom of the rotary support 1'and
provided with a screw coupling 14" for varying the distance of the outer end of the
pipe from the centre of motion for the purpose herein before mentioned.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a centrifugal machine or apparatus for separating cream from milk wherein
the separation is effected in a vessel or vessels carried round an axis admitting the
milk to be treated to such vessel or to each vessel) at a point between the part
nearest said axis and the part furthest therefrom and drawing off the separated
milk and cream by centrifugal action through separate outlet pipes one of which
communicates with the outer side of the vessel and the other with the inner
side thereof substantially in the manner hereinbefore described for the purpose
specified.
2. A centrifugal machine or apparatus for separating cream from milk con-
structed with a series of separating vessels each provided with an inlet pipe in
communication with a receptacle for milk to be treated and with the interior of the
respective separating vessel at a point between the inner and outer sides or end
thereof, an outlet pipe in communication with the outer side of the separating
vessel and a second outlet pipe terminating at its inner end at or near the inner
side of the separating vessel these outlet pipes being in communication with
annular discharge pipes substantially as herein before described for the purpose
specified.
3. My improved centrifugal machine or apparatus for separating cream from
milk substantially as described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings
annexed.
4. My improved centrifugal machine or apparatus for separating cream from
milk substantially as described and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 21st day of March 1891.
W. Lloyd Wise,
WALTER COLE.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.