Improvements in Centrifugal Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Centrifugal Machines.
We, JOHN LAIDLAW, of the Firm of Watson, Laidlaw and Company, of 98,
Dundas Street South, in the County of the City of Glasgow, North Britain,
Engineers, and JAMES WRIGHT MACFARLANE, Manager of the said l'irm, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal machines for separating
fluids of different densities, and is particularly applicable for separating cream
from milk.
According to one modification we construct the bottom and centre part in one
piece. The bottom has a number of holes bored at the largest possible diameter
and grooves are milled down the outside of the centre piece. The bottom has also
an annular groove to take a rubber ring which makes the joint between the bottom
and conical side. The conical side and bottom are held together by a sleeve which
is screwed on to centre. The centre part has 4 vanes fitted on the top and also
fitting into the sleeve forming an upper chamber. Inside the drum there are 3
conical shells each with channel vanes fixed on outside of each shell and in each
channel there are holes communicating with the conical chamber. The first or
inner conical shell has vanes fixed on the inside to prevent the whole milk swirling.
The whole milk enters the upper chamber and is discharged through the grooves
in the centre piece into the first or inner conical shell chamber. The cream in
this chamber rises to the top and is discharged through the slots into the second
couical shell chamber, while the milk which has thus been partly skimmed passes
through the holes into the channel vanes and over the short vanes into the second
conical shell chamber. The cream in the second conical shell chamber floats or
slides up the outer surface of the first conical shell and joins the cream out of the
first chamber. The partly skimmed milk in the second conical shell chamber then
passes through the holes into the channel vanes and over the short lip or vane
into the third conical shell chamber.
The same operation takes place in the third chamber and also in the chamber
formed between the third shell and drum wall. The cream thus collected is passed
out of a groove or slot into a suitable receiver and the skimmed milk passes through
the holes in the bottom into a chamber below the drum and over the lip into a
suitable receiver.
According to another modification the conical side, the centre part and spindle
are all in one piece. The end of centre part is screwed to take a nut. The bottom
plate and internal parts are held in position by a nut. The bottom plate has an
annular groove to take the rubber ring, which makes the joint between cone and
bottom plate. The bottom plate has a number of grooves milled from the circum-
ference to the centre and a circular plate is placed on top of bottom plate and thus
forms holes or grooves to convey the skim milk from wall chamber to the slots in

page_text: the bottom plate and out into a suitable receiver. The cream is discharged
through a hole at top of drum.
Dated this 30th day of March 1897.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Patent Agents.
Improvements in Centrifugal Machines.
We, JOHN LAIDLAW, of the Firm of Watson Laidlaw, and Company, of 98,
Dundas Street South, in the County of the City of Glasgow, North Britain,
Engineers, and JAMES WRIGHT MACFARLANE, Manager of the said Firm, 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 machines for separating
liquids of different densities and is more particularly applicable for separating
cream from milk.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect we have hereunto appended two sheets of drawings of which
Figure 1 is a vertical section.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section.
Figure 3 is a plan of the separating machine.
Figure 4 is an end view of the channels hereinafter referred to.
Figure 5 is vertical section of a modified form of drum.
According to one modification shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, we construct the
bottom A and centre part A of the drum in one piece. The bottom has a number
of holes B bored at the largest possible diameter and grooves C are milled down the
outside of centre piece A. The bottom has also an annular groove 1) to take a
rubber ring which makes the joint between bottom A' and conical side E. The
conical side E and bottom A¹ are held together by a sleeve F which is screwed
on to centre A. The sleeve F has flats G Figure 3 on edge of flange at top to
take a spanner and the bottom A' has 2 holes H to take small pins in special
spanner. The centre part A has 4 vanes I fitted on top and also fitting into the
sleeve F forming the upper chamber J. Inside the drum are 3 conical shells K
with channel vanes L fixed on outside of each shell and in oach channel there are
holes M communicating from one conical chamber to the adjoining one. The
first or inner conical shell K has vanes N fixed on the inside to prevent the whole
milk swirling. The whole milk enters the upper chamber J and is discharged
through the grooves C in the centre piece into the first or inner conical shell cham-
ber K, the cream in, this chamber rises to the top and is discharged through the slots Q
into the second conical shell chamber, while the milk which has been thus partly
skimmed passes through the holes M into the channel vanes L and over the short
vanes into the second conical shell chamber. The arrows shew the direction in
which the partially skimmed milk flows. The cream in the second conical shell
chamber floats or slides up the outer surface of the first conical shell and joins the
cream out of the first chamber. The partly skimmed milk in the second conical
shell chamber then passes through the holes M into the channel vanes L and over
the short lip or vane into the third conical shell chamber.
The same operation takes place in the third chamber and also in the chamber
formed between the third shell K and drum wall. The cream thus collected is
passed out of the groove or slot Q into a suitable receiver and the skimmed milk

page_text: passes through the holes B into a chamber P below the drum and over the lip into
a suitable receiver.
According to another modification as shown in Figure 4, the conical side A, the
centre part B, and spindle C are all in one piece. The end of centre part B is
sorewed to take a nut D. The bottom plate E and internal parts I and K, K are
held in position by the nut D. The bottom plate E has an annular groove G to
take the rubber ring which makes the joint between conical side A and bottom
plate E. The bottom plate E has a number of grooves milled from the circum-
ference to the centre and a circular plate F is placed on top of bottom plate E and
thus forms holes or grooves I to convey the skim milk from wall chamber to the
slots J in the bottom plate and out into a suitable receiver. The cream is discharged
through the hole O at top of drum.
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. The improved machine for separating cream from milk, substantially as
described and illustrated.
2. In centrifugal machines the use of conical plates with channels attached and
holes in the channels for the purpose of allowing the partially skimmed milk to
pass from one chamber to another, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In centrifugal machines the construction of the drum with the bottom and
centre part in one piece attached to the conical side by means of a sleeve, substan-
tially as described and illustrated at Figure 1.
4. In centrifugal machines the construction of the drum with the conical side
centre part and spindle all in one piece attached to the bottom by means of a nut
screwing on to the centre part, substantially as described and illustrated at.
Figure 5.
Dat 004 daw of Dannual... 100%
d the 20th day
Decembe- 1907
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Patent Agents.