Improvement in Centrifugal Separators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Centrifugal Separators.
I, LAMBERT HERLITSCHKA, Engineer, of Cornelius Strasse, Düsseldorf, Germany,
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 machines for separating liquids of different specific
gravities by means of centrifugal force, and will be explained with the aid of the
accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a centrifugal
separator embodying my invention, while Fig. 2 shows a part of it in detail.
The improved separator chiefly consists of an annular trough or drum containing
a helical guide blade or guide surface for the liquids to be separated. Each
sectional element or thread of the said helical surface ascends from the circum-
ference towards the axis of the drum, and the entire surface may be formed by
causing an inclined generatrix to revolve on the axis of the drum, while passing
through a cylindrical helix situated in the mantle of the drum and intersecting
the axis of the drum at a constant angle. The said helical guiding surface
extends from the outer mantle to the inner surface of the drum or io a separate
cylindrical core, so that when the drum revolves, the whole of the liquid contained
in the drum must flow over at least a portion of the said helical surface.
This motion of the liquid mixture promotes the separation of the heavier from
the lighter particles, because the former tend to fall, while the latter tend to rise.
In the example of construction represented by the drawing, the liquid is
admitted from the top through the hollow axle a, then enters the space b under-
neath the helical guide s, in which space most of the solid impurities suspended
in the liquids will be deposited, while the liquid penetrates through the perfora-
tions c into the separating chamber, where it ascends between the contiguous
blades of the helical guide s.
As the latter extends to the outer wall of the drum, the liquid cannot escape
outward, but ascends along the helical guide, and on its upward course the
heavier constituents of the liquid will gradually separate from the lighter ones,
before the latter reach the cylinder of the drum, which cylinder is perforated
and surrounds the central tube or hollow axle a at a certain distance. The lighter
liquid will therefore flow through the perforations of the cylinder into the
annular space formed between the latter and the hollow axle and will ascend in
the same to the upper collecting chamber e, which is provided with a suitable
outlet.
The heavier liquid ascends on the helical surface along the outer wall t of
the drum, until it reaches the canals k, in which it rises in the outlet, as indicated
by arrows.
The outer wall of the drum may be made conical, instead of cylindrical, the
cylinder d may be omitted, the helical guide blades extending to the hollow
axle a.
The liquid may be admitted to the interior of the drum at the top and guided
downward along the helical guide blade.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a side view of the helical guiding surface shown by Fig. 1 in axial
section.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A centrifugal separator having an annular drum containing a helical guiding
surface each thread or sectional element of which rises from the circumference
towards the axis of the drum, the said guiding surface being so arranged, that
the liquid admitted to the drum must follow the said surface on its way from
the bottom to the top or from the top to the bottom of the darum, substantially
as described and for the purpose specified.
2. A centrifugal separator constructed and adapted to operate substantially as
described and shown.
Dated this 24th day of May 1899.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
Agents, 37 and 39, Essex Street, Strand, London.