IM= PROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES, IN THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVING OF THE SAME, AND A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINATION THEREOP WITH OTHER APPARATUS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David McColley Weston, of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America, but at present residing at Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of
66 IM=
PROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES, IN THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVING OF
THE SAME, AND A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINATION THEREOP WITH OTHER
APPARATUS."
Sealed the 14th March 1871, and dated the 23rd September 1870..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David McColley Weston.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd September 1870.
I, DAVID MCCOLLEY WESTON, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States
of America, but at present residing at Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES, IN THE SUSPENSION AND

page_text: DRIVING OF THE SAME, AND
A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINATION THEREOF WITH
OTHER APPARATUS," to be as follows, that is to say :—
The first part of this Invention relates to that class of centrifugal
machines which are suspended from or by elastic bearings in order to
allow the centrifugal basket when in operation to find and revolve in the
axis of equilibrium corresponding to the distribution or position of the
materials in the basket which are being separated.
Centrifugal machines of the class alluded to are set forth in the
Specification of Letters Patent, No. 3041, granted to William Robert
Lake, bearing date the 28th day of October, 1867, the same being a
communication from the said David McColley Weston, and in which
case a caoutchouc or india-rubber tube contained in a rigid bush con-
stitutes the elastic bearing.
The present Invention then relates to other arrangements of elastic
bearings by which the results set forth in the Specification of the said
William Robert Lake are or may be produced.
The first arrangement of elastic bearing comprised under the present
Invention consists in placing springs above and below a flange situated
at the interior of the supporting bracket. The fixed shaft on which the
tubular shaft carrying the centrifugal basket revolves has a flange firmly
fixed on it and leaving a portion of the said shaft on the upper side of
the flange of sufficient length to pass up through or between the said
springs and the flange in the bracket, and at the extremity of this
upper part of the shaft a screw thread to receive a nut is formed, which
on being tightened compresses an upper washer or flange against the
upper springs and the lower flange against the lower springs.
A second arrangement for suspending the centrifugal basket consists
of a framework with arms, into the centre of which the fixed shaft or
axis of the centrifugal machine is secured. At the ends of each of the
arms a hole is formed to pass over studs or bolts in the supporting
bracket. Above and below the holes in the arms springs are placed
which are tightened or compressed to the necessary extent by means of
nuts on the said studs or bolts. The arms are cranked sufficiently to
admit the pulley and belt for driving the centrifugal machine.
A third arrangement of elastic bearing consists in fixing the axis or
shaft in the centre of one or more metallic discs which are tightly held
in the supporting bracket fixed in place by a screwed ring or by screwed

page_text: bolts and studs.
The discs may be used to constitute the elastic
bearing of themselves or they may be combined with india-rubber or
other springs.
The mode of driving centrifugal machines, or that which constitutes
the second part of the Invention, has for its object to avoid the use of
intermediate or counter shafts, and to drive tho said machines from
pulleys situated on the lying or main shaft. This object is effected by
passing out part of the driving belt over an idler or bracket pulley so as
to bring the upper and under portions of the belt in position to run on
the pulley of the centrifugal machine. A friction clutch is also used in
connection with the driving pulley on the main shaft in order to allow
the pulley to slip until the proper speed of revolution of the centrifugal
basket is reached.
The third part of the Invention consists in combining centrifugal
machines with a mixer or tank or vessel containing the substancesto be
separated. This object is effected by suspending centrifugal machines
from a bracket or framing either fixed near to or forming part of the
mixer tank or vessel in which the substances to be separated are con-
tained, and in providing the mixer tank or vessel with a spout situated
above the centrifugal basket and in such position that on opening a
valve or its equivalent the materials will be discharged from the mixer
tank or vessel into the centrifugal basket.
Another part of the Invention relates to the construction of centrifugal
machines for separating exceedingly fine and impalpable substances from
liquid or fluid substances, such for example, as the particles of colouring
matter used in the manufacture of paint from the water or other liquid
with which in the course of manufacture they are mixed. Under this
arrangement the centrifugal basket is made without perforations, and
when set in motion the fine particles of matter are deposited on the
sides of the basket, the water or other liquid remaining separated. In
order to discharge the water or other liquid when so separated without
stopping the centrifugal machine a syphon or curved discharge pipe is
used, one end of which dips inside the mouth of the machine, and by
the centrifugal action of the latter the water or other liquid is thrown
out through the said discharge pipe. As the separated water or other
liquid tends to revolve after the centrifugal machine itself has been
stopped and thereby becomes partly readmixed with the separated

page_text: particles of matter which have been deposited at the interior of the
machine, to prevent such revolution of the liquid one or more divisions
are placed inside the machine, on striking against which the revolution
of the water or other liquid is checked.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David McColley Weston in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd March 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
McCOLLEY WESTON, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
but at present residing at Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, send greeting.
in
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy,
the 34th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said David McColley Weston, Her special
license that I, the said David McColley Weston, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David McColley
Weston, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES, IN THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVING OF THE
SAME, AND A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINATION THEREOF WITH OTHER APPARATUS,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said David McColley
Weston, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David McColley Weston, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
The first part of my said Invention relates to that class of centrifugal
machines which are suspended from or by elastic bearings, in order to
allow the centrifugal basket when in operation to find and revolve in the
axis of equilibrium corresponding to the distribution or position of the
materials in the basket which are being separated.
Centrifugal machines of the class alluded to are set forth in the
Specification of Letters Patent, No. 3041, granted to William Robert
Lake, bearing date the 28th day of October 1867, the same being a com-
munication from the said David McColley Weston, and in which case a
caoutchouc or india-rubber tube contained in a rigid bush constitutes
the elastic bearing.
The present Invention then relates to other arrangements of elastic
bearings by which the results set forth in the Specification of the said
William Robert Lake are or may be produced.
.
The first arrangement of elastic bearing comprised under the present
Invention consists in placing springs above and below a flange situated
at the interior of the supporting bracket. The fixed shaft on which the
tubular shaft carrying the centrifugal basket revolves has a flange firmly
fixed on it, and leaving a portion of the said shaft on the upper side of
the flange of sufficient length to pass up through or between the said
springs and the flange in the bracket; and at the extremity of this upper
part of the shaft a screw thread to receive a nut is formed, which on
being tightened compresses an upper washer or flange against the upper
spring, and the lower flange against the lower spring.
A second arrangement for suspending the centrifugal basket consists
of a framework with arms, into the centre of which the fixed shaft or
axis of the centrifugal machine is secured. At the ends of each of the
arms a hole is formed to pass over studs or bolts in the supporting
bracket. Above and below the holes in the arms springs are placed,
which are tightened or compressed to the necessary extent by means of
nuts on the said studs or bolts. The arms are cranked sufficiently to
admit the pulley and belt for driving the centrifugal machine.
A third arrangement of elastic bearing consists in fixing the axis or
shaft in the centre of one or more metallic discs, which are tightly held.

page_text: in the supporting bracket fixed in place by a screwed ring or by screwed
bolts or studs. The discs may be used to constitute the elastic bearing
of themselves, or they may be combined with india-rubber or other
springs.
The mode of driving centrifugal machines, or that which constitutes
the second part of the Invention, has for its object to avoid the use of
intermediate or counter shafts, and to drive the said machines from
pulleys situated on the lying or main shaft. This object is effected by
passing out part of the driving belt over an idler or bracket pulley so as
to bring the upper and under portions of the belt in position to run on
the pulley of the centrifugal machine. A friction clutch is also used.in
connection with the driving pulley on the main shaft in order to allow
the pulley to slip until the proper speed of revolution of the centrifugal
basket is reached.
The third part of the Invention consists in combining centrifugal
machines with a mixer tank or vessel containing the substances to be
separated. This object. is effected by suspending centrifugal machines
from a bracket or framing either fixed near to or forming part of the
mixer tank or vessel in which the substances to be separated are con-
tained, and in providing the mixer tank or vessel with a spout situated
above the centrifugal basket, and in such position that on opening a
valve or its equivalent the materials will be discharged from the mixer
tank or vessel into the centrifugal basket.
Another part of the Invention relates to the construction of centri-
fugal machines for separating exceedingly fine and impalpable substances
from liquid or fluid substances, such, for example, as the particles of
colouring matter used in the manufacture of paint from the water or
other liquid with which in the course of manufacture they are mixed.
Under this arrangement the centrifugal basket is made without perfora-
tions, and when set in motion the fine particles of matter are deposited
on the sides of the basket, the water or other liquid remaining separated.
In order to discharge the water or other liquid when so separated
without stopping the centrifugal machine a syphon or curved discharge,
pipe is used, one end of which dips inside the mouth of the machine;
and by the centrifugal action of the latter the water or other liquid is
thrown out through the said discharge pipe. As the separated water or
other liquid tends to revolve after the centrifugal machine itself has

page_text: been stopped, and thereby becomes partly readmixed with the separated
particles of matter which have been deposited at the interior of the
machine, to prevent such revolution of the liquid one or more divisions
are placed inside the machine, on striking against which the revolution
of the water or other liquid is checked.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
On Sheet 1 of the Drawings hereunto appended, Figure 1 is a side
elevation, and Figure 2 a vertical section, of a centrifugal machine
suspended in an elastic bearing constructed in accordance with the first
part of
my said Invention.
This arrangement consists in forming the supporting bracket A with a
flanch B in the interior thereof, as shewn at the section Figure 2, above
and below which springs C composed of india-rubber or other elastic
material are situated. The shaft D on which the hollow or tubular
shaft E carrying the centrifugal basket F is supported and revolves has
a flanch a formed or fixed thereon, and which bears against the under
spring C, as shewn, and the portion of the shaft D above the flanch a
is of sufficient length to pass up through the flanch B and spring C, and
to project above the said spring. Over the portion of the shaft D so
projecting a washer 6 is placed, and the end of the shaft D is formed
with a screw thread to receive a nut c, which on being tightened draws
the washer or flanch 6 against the upper spring C and the flanch a
against the lower spring C¹. The driving pulley G by means of a belt
passed round which the revolving parts of the machine are driven, is
so situated as to surround the lower part of the suspending bracket A,
and it is by preference formed in one piece with the convex friction
drum H situated below the pulley G, and in proximity to a corre-
spondingly shaped concave brake block I, as shewn. The block I is
encircled by a band or strap of metal d, which is suspended from the
bracket A at one side by the link e, and at its other side it rests on an
elevator J carried on the stud g, as shewn. The centrifugal basket F is
formed with the usual opening at the top and with perforated sides, and
being otherwise of the same construction and supported in the same

page_text: manner as in the arrangement of basket set forth in the said Speci-
fication of the said William Robert Lake, it need not be herein further
described.
When the centrifugal machine, as shewn at Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1,
is in operation, the basket with its contents is caused to revolve freely,
and at a high velocity on the spindle 'D, carried in the clastic bearings
C and C¹; the elasticity of the bearings C and C' allows the centrifugal
basket F, when in operation to find and revolve in the axis of equilibrium
corresponding to the distribution or position of the materials in the
basket which are to be separated, however unevenly the weight of the
said materials may be distributed, and after the materials contained in
the centrifugal basket F have been acted upon and the fluid matter
separated and discharged through the openings in the sides by the
centrifugal force thus produced, into the outer casing M, from which
the liquid flows through the spout N, the valve 7 is raised on the shaft E
and the remaining contents of the basket F are discharged through the
openings in the bottom into any receptacle placed to receive them, as in
the apparatus included under the Letters Patent of the said William
Robert Lake. The rotary motion of the shaft E and basket F is stopped
or retarded as desired by turning the elevator handle m so that the
inclined portion n of the elevator as it is moved round pushes upwards
the ring o to which the brake block I is attached, and thereby brings
the concave surface of the said block into frictional contact with the
convex surface of the friction drum H.
A second arrangement of elastic bearing for suspending the centrifugal
basket is illustrated in vertical section at Figure 3, Sheet 1, of the
Drawings, and it consists of a framework A, through a hole in the centre
of which the fixed shaft or axis B of the centrifugal machine is passed and
secured at its upper extremity by a nut a, as shewn. The framework A
is provided with arms C, at the end of each of which a hole is formed to
pass over studs or bolts 6 tapped into the suspending bracket D. Above
and below the ends of the arms C india-rubber or other elastic springs c
are placed, and which are tightened or compressed to the require dextent
by nuts d on the lower extremity of the said studs or bolts b. Between
the springs on the under side of the arms C and the nuts & washers or
rings of metal e are placed, as shewn, and the arms of the framework A
are cranked or bent upwards to admit the pulley E and the driving belt.

page_text: Figure 4, Sheet 1, is a vertical section of another arrangement of
elastic bearing, which consists in fixing the axis or shaft A in the centre
of a series of metallic discs or plates B, which are firmly held in the
supporting bracket C, and secured in position by a ring D screwed into
the bracket C immediately above the discs or plates B, as shewn. The
discs may be used so as to constitute the elastic bearing of themselves,
or they may be combined with india-rubber or other elastic springs, and
in lieu of retaining them in position by means of a screwed ring, as
above set forth and shewn at Figure 4, Sheet 1, they may be fixed by
screwed bolts, or studs, or by other similarly suitable means.
Another part of this Invention is illustrated in side clevation at
Figure 5, Sheet 1 of the Drawings, and it relates to a mode of driving
centrifugal machines which has for its object to avoid the use of inter-
mediate or counter shafts, and to actuate the said machines direct from a
pulley A, situated on the lying or main shaft B. To effect this object
the lower part of the driving belt C is passed over an idler pulley D
supported in a bracket E, hung from a beam F, as shewn. By this means
the belt C is brought into position or twisted so as to run on the
pulley G of the centrifugal machine. The flat palm a by which the
pulley D is attached to the bracket E, is formed with a vertical slot b,
and by adjusting the supporting stud therein the pulley may be either
raised or lowered as required, and the end of the bracket E in which the
pulley D is supported is also formed with a slot d at right angles to the
slot b, so that the pulley may likewise be adjusted in a horizontal
direction. A friction clutch is also used in connection with the driving
pulley A to throw the pulley in and out of gear with the shaft B, but
the chief object of which is to allow the pulley to slip on its carrier
until the centrifugal machine is brought up to the required speed. The
said clutch is illustrated at Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 1 of the Drawings,
and consists of a cone I, shewn at Figure 6, which may be moved
horizontally a short distance along a feather on the shaft B, and is
carried round with the said shaft when it revolves. Over the cone I
another and loose cone J, lined with wood, leather, or other similarly
suitable material, is situated and supported on the shaft B by means of
a hub or boss K to arms g, projecting from which this flanch x of the
cone is bolted or otherwise fixed. The arms of the driving pulley A are
also secured to the arms g, and on the hub or boss K. a "shipper " L is

page_text: loosely placed so as to embrace both sides of the hub or boss, as shewn.
At the outer end of the "shipper" La clutch p is formed in which one
end of the lever M for actuating the frictional cone I is situated. On
the opposite end of the " shipper" L a ring is placed, on which
brackets & are screwed, and on each of these brackets one end of each of
the rods t is fixed, whilst their other ends press against lips u formed on
brackets secured to the hub or boss K. by screw bolts as shewn. When
the "shipper" L is drawn back to the position shewn at Figure 6 the
frictional cones I and J are out of contact with each other, and when
it is desired to set the centrifugal machine in motion the " shipper
Lis thrown forward by the lever M into the position shewn at Figure 7,
when the ring " is pressed against the surface V on the end of the
boss of the cone I, and the said cone is thereby pushed into contact
with the cone J and the driving pulley A set in motion, the pulley A
and the outer cone J being allowed to slip upon the inner cone I until
the centrifugal machine reaches the required speed.
"
Another part of this Invention consists in combining centrifugal
machines with and suspending them from a mixer tank or vessel Q, as
shown at Figure 5, Sheet 1 of the Drawings, and which tank contains
the substances to be separated by the machine. The suspending bracket R
of the centrifugal machine is bolted or otherwise fixed to a bracket S
projecting from the side of the mixer tank or vessel Q, and the said
tank or vessel is provided with a spout T situated above the centrifugal
machine in such position that on opening the valve w the material will
be discharged into the centrifugal basket. The mixer tank or vessel
illustrated at Figure 5, Shect 1, is shewn provided with a spout T" by
which the material contained therein may be discharged into another
centrifugal machine situated at the opposite side and suspended from the
bracket S.
Another part of this Invention relating to the construction of centri-
fugal baskets for separating exceedingly fine and impalpable particles of
matter from liquid or fluid substances, such, for example, as the particles
of colouring matter used in the manufacture of paint from the water or
other liquids with which in the course of manufacture they are mixed.
An example of this class of centrifugal machines is illustrated in vertical
section on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings. Under this arrange-
ment the centrifugal basket A is constructed without perforations and

page_text: when set in motion the fine particles of matter are by the centrifugal
action deposited on the sides of the basket whilst the water or other
liquid remains separated, and in order to discharge the latter without
stopping the centrifugal action of the machine a syphon or curved pipe B
is employed. One end of the pipe B dips inside the mouth of the
basket A, as shewn, and by the centrifugal action of the said basket the
water is forced through the open end x and discharged through the
pipe B. The pipe or syphon B is fixed to a lever C centred on a bracket D
by which means the pipe may be elevated or depressed so that the lower
end thereof may be taken out of the basket A when required. As the
separated water or other liquid tends to revolve after the centrifugal
machine itself has been stopped and thereby becomes partly readmixed
with the matter which has been deposited at the interior of the machine
divisions E are arranged in the basket A as shewn, and as the water or
other liquid strikes against these divisions its centrifugal action is stopped.
The water or other liquid remaining in the basket A after its revolution
has been stopped discharges itself through one or more openings b
situated in the bottom of the basket, or the water or other liquid may be
otherwise discharged. A shield c is shewn situated above the openings b,
the object of which is that when the liquid is poured into the basket A
(the basket being at that time in slow revolution), and as it (the liquid)
strikes upon the shield c the liquid is deflected from the central part of
the basket towards its circumferential parts, and thereby prevented from
running through the openings 6 before the speed of the basket is sufficient
by its centrifugal action to throw the liquid from the said central parts,
and by forming the sides of the basket with a gradual curve towards
its upper end as shown, the tendency of the liquid (as the basket revolves)
is to rise towards the opening at the top of the basket, from whence it
discharges itself through the pipe B, as herein-before described.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First. The arrangement and construction of the several clastic
bearings for suspending centrifugal machines, as herein-before described
and shewn at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 1 of the Drawings.

page_text: Second. The system of driving centrifugal machines direct from the
main or lying shaft, as herein-before described and shewn at Figure 5,
Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
Third. The combination of a centrifugal machine or centrifugal
machines with a mixer tank or vessel, as herein-before set forth and
shewn at Figure 5, Sheet 1.
Fourth. The arrangement of centrifugal machine herein-before
described and illustrated on Sheet 2 of the annexed Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said David McColley Weston, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
DAVID MCCOLLY WESTON. (L.S.)