IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan Brown, of the Firm of Brandon
and Morgan Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 88, South-
ampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES."
-A communication from abroad by Jonathan Cottle, of Boston,
Massachusetts. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan
Brown at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd May 1872.
I, WILLIAM MORGAN BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan
Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MA-
CHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates particularly to the construction or organization
of that class of centrifugal machines (used for draining sugar and for
other purposes) in which special provision is made for eccentric rotation
of the basket in accordance with the unequal distribution of the material

page_text: contained in it, so that by such special provision the injurious effects
from vibration are obviated. In one class of such machines the basket
is wholly suspended upon a laterally elastic bearing or joint which
permits of the free gyrating movement of the basket. In another class of
such machines the basket is suspended, and is connected to a curb which 5
is also suspended, both basket and curb partaking equally of the vibrating
movements. These constructions, though extensively in use, are to a
greater or less extent objectionable, and the object of this Invention has
been to obtain a simple and strong machine which can be run with
perfect safety, and which shall be free from the faults inseparable from 1
such machines now in use.
In one part of this Invention the foot of the basket shaft is mounted
upon a step bearing on the top of a bearing plate or spider which is
suspended by chains or rods from the curb stand (said stand being sup-
ported directly upon the floor), the upper end of the shaft rotating in 1
an elastic bearing at the top of the standard extending up from the curb
stand, and the lower bearing being made with provision for relative
lateral or tipping movement of the shaft and bearing.
In one part of the Invention it consists in a centrifugal machine in
which the basket is supported (by means of its shaft) upon a swinging 2
bearing plate or spider which is suspended by rods or chains directly
from the stationary curb stand, the Invention also embracing details
more or less adjunctive to such an organization. In this construction no
weight or strain comes upon the upper bearing, as the weight of the
basket is wholly supported upon the curb stand, the advantages of a 2
suspended basket being obtained without suspending it from the shaft.
Another feature of this Invention also relates to the construction of
that class of centrifugal machines used for draining sugar and analogous
purposes, in which the basket is so hung as to be capable of a free
gyratory or vibratory movement, or such gyratory movement as the 3
basket tends to assume in consequence of the inequality of its load or its
want of balance when loaded. In this part of the Invention the foot of
the basket shaft is supported (the basket being fixed to the shaft) upon a
centre bearing, which is connected by radial arms or spokes to the bottom
of the curb cylinder, and the curb cylinder is suspended by rods or 3
chains from bridges or bearings in the upper parts of vertical tubular
pillars forming part of the stationary frame, the upper end of the shaft

page_text: turning in a suitable bearing, which permits the free vibratory move-
ments of the shaft.
It is in this manner of supporting the basket, or in a basket supported
at its foot upon a bearing at the centre of a curb suspended by chains or
> rods, so that the curb and basket thus suspended have a capability in
common of gyratory movement that this part of the Invention consists.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Morgan Brown in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MORGAN BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London, and 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, send greeting.
'
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Morgan Brown, Her special
license that I, the said William Morgan Brown, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Morgan
Brown, my executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES,” a communication to me from
abroad by Jonathan Cottle, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Morgan Brown, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Morgan Brown, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The Invention relates particularly to the construction or organization
of that class of centrifugal machines (used for draining sugar and for
other purposes), in which special provision is made for eccentric rotation
of the basket in accordance with the unequal distribution of the material
contained in it, so that by such special provision the injurious effects
from vibration are obviated. In one class of such machines the basket 1
is wholly suspended upon a laterally elastic bearing or joint, which
permits of the free gyrating movement of the basket. In another class
of such machines the basket is suspended, and is connected to a curb
which is also suspended, both basket and curb partaking equally of the
vibratory movements. These constructions, though extensively in use, 1
are to a greater or less extent objectionable, and the object of this
Invention has been to obtain a simple and strong machine, which can
be run with perfect safety, and which shall be free from the faults
inseparable from such machines now in use.
In one part of this Invention the foot of the basket shaft is mounted 2
upon a step bearing on the top of a bearing plate or spider, which is
suspended by chains or rods from the curb stand (said stand being sup-
ported directly upon the floor), the upper end of the shaft rotating in an
elastic bearing at the top of the standard, extending up from the curb
stand, and the lower bearing being made with provision for relative ?
lateral or tipping movement of the shaft and bearing. This part of the
Invention consists in a centrifugal machine, in which the basket is sup-
ported (by means of its shaft) upon a swinging bearing, plate, or spider,
which is suspended by rods or chains directly from the stationary curb
stand, the Invention also embracing details more or less adjunctive to
such an organization.
The Drawing represents a machine embodying the Invention.
Figure 1 shews the machine in sectional elevation on the line x, x;
Figure 2 is a reversed plan or bottom view of it; Figure 3 is a side
elevation; and Figure 4, a plan; the views 3, 4, being made on a scale
one-half the size of the views 1, 2.

page_text: ♫ denotes a strong metal stand or casing, preferably formed of cast
iron, within and forming part of which casing is the annular trough b
that receives the liquid from the basket, said trough being a ring pro-
jecting inward from the cylindrical curb c that also forms an integral
part of the casing or stand; d denotes the basket, by rapid rotation of
which the syrup or liquid parts of saccharine or other matters placed
within it are separated from the solid parts thereof as in other centri-
fugals. This basket is fixed to the lower part of a vertical axial shaft e,
the foot of which shaft is supported and rotates in a bearing g, which
bearing is mounted in a socket h at the centre of a horizontal plate frame
or spider i. Arms / extend diagonally from this bearing plate, and to
these arms the lower ends of vertical chains or rods are connected, the
upper ends of the chains or rods being connected to bridges or sup-
ports m forming parts of the stand a, the bearing plate and the basket
supported thereupon being thereby suspended from the stand. The upper
end n of the shaft turns in a bearing o, which bearing has a flexible
support (laterally) in a sleeve or socket p at the top of a standard q,
extending up from the curb stand a, there being between the bearing o
and the sleeve p an elastic cnshion or ring r.
The bearing g at the foot of the shaft is preferably made as a spherical
bearing supported in a socket made in the centre of the bearing plate i,
and by a cup-shaped step plate & fastened under the plate i, the bearing
being entered from below, and its lower end then covered by the
plate 8.
* denotes the driving pulley, and a pulley (fast on the spindle), to
which a suitable binder mechanism may be applied to gradually stop the
rotation of the basket. Rotation being imparted to the shaft or spindle
and its basket it will be readily seen that the basket can freely respond
to its tendency to gyrate and vibrate caused by the unequal distribution
of its contents, and that the strain from such movements is not only not
upon the operative mechanism, but is expended upon the flexible con-
nections of the basket to the firm and rigid stationary stand within which
the basket rotates. Furthermore in this construction no weight or
strain comes upon the upper bearing, as the weight of the basket is
wholly supported upon the curb stand, the advantages of a suspended
basket being obtained without suspending it from the shaft.
In suspending the basket chains are preferred to rods for use, each
chain being connected to its bridge or support by an eye bolt c,

page_text: and a nut w, the nut being seated upon an elastic cushion x, and turned
up to bring the bearing and spindle into correct relative position.
Under each arm k of the bearing plate or spider i the plate is
connected to the stand by a strong spring y (preferably a loop spring),
these springs drawing equally upon the basket and tending to centre
it, or to correct or overcome any excessive vibration, the spring being
fastened at one end to the stand, and at the other end to the spider.
It will be readily seen that the machine thus made presents a very
compact organization, that the basket and all parts of the machine are
very accessible, and that the support of the basket is such as to ensure
an entire freedom from danger in running the machine at great velocity.
Of course the curb and trough are circular, but to obtain the requisite
room for suspending the basket supporting plate the curb stand is made
quadrangular, thereby obtaining beyond the cylindrical curb the vertical
spaces for receiving the suspending chains without increasing the
lateral dimensions of the stand, the corner spaces being formed by the
tangential extensions of the opposite vertical sides of the curb cylinder.
The curb is covered by a plate which may be made in two parts for
ease of application and removal.
Another part of this Invention also relates to the construction of that
class of centrifugal machines used for draining sugar and analogous
purposes, in which the basket is so hung as to be capable of a free
gyratory or vibratory movement, or such gyratory movement as the
basket tends to assume in consequence of the inequality of its load or its
want of balance when loaded.
In this part of the Invention the foot of the basket shaft is supported
(the basket being fixed to the shaft) upon a centre bearing which is
connected by radial arms or spokes to the bottom of the curb cylinder,
and the curb cylinder is suspended by rods or chains from bridges
or bearings in the upper parts of vertical tubular pillars forming:
part of the stationary frame, the upper end of the shaft turning in
a suitable bearing which permits the free vibratory movements of the
shaft.
It is in this manner of supporting the basket, or in a basket sup-
ported at its foot upon a bearing at the centre of a curb suspended;
by chains or rods, so that the curb and basket thus suspended have a
capability in common of gyratory movement that this part of the
Invention consists.

page_text: The Drawing represents in Figures 5, 6, and 7, a machine embodying.
the Invention, Figure 5 shewing the machine in side elevation ;
Figure 6 is a central vertical section; Figure 7 is a bottom view. a',
denotes the basket which may be constructed in the usual manner; b'
the rotating shaft to which the basket is fixed, the shaft having
movement imparted to it by any suitable driving mechanism; c³ is the
socket bearing in which the foot of the shaft b' is supported and rotates.
This bearing is connected or united by arms or spokes d', with the
bottom of the curb cylinder e', and from the side of the curb cylinder at
its bottom extend outward four or any other suitable number of short
arms or projections ƒ', by which the basket is suspended by chains or
rods g', from the bearing plates or bridges h', in the upper parts of
tubular pillars or standards i', said pillars standing upon the floor or bed
where the machine is to be used. The pillars ³, cross bars k³, and a
connecting ring ♬ form the stationary framework of the machine, and
uprights m' rise from said frame for supporting a cross bar n³, in which
is the bearing for the upper end of the shaft b'. The support of the '
basket upon the curb suspended as shewn permits the basket to vibrate
without affecting the concentricity of basket and curb, and enables the
machine to be run at a maximum speed without injurious strain upon.
the mechanism or the structure upon which the machine rests.
The suspension chains or rods g' are preferably suspended by means
of nuts and eye bolts, and under the nuts are elastic washers or cushions.
p', by means of which the bearing h¹is made yielding. To centre the,
curb loop springs q' are employed, said springs extending round pins
or projections ³, extending from the bottom of the curb, and pins
8' extending down from the ring F. The curb may be surmounted by a
cap ring, covering the space between the curb and the basket, and the
tubular pillars may be covered by caps ul. By thus suspending the
curb and basket together and at their bottom the machine is rendered
very strong and enduring and can be run at speed with greater safety
than when the curb and basket are suspended at top.
Instead of extending the shaft 6 up through the basket the basket
may be supported upon a short shaft, as seen in Figure 8, the step
bearing c being placed nearer the bottom of the frame, and the driving
pulley being located just above said bearing.
And instead of arranging the loop springs q, as shewn in Figures 5, 6,
and 7. the tubular pillars i may retain their tubular shape to the floor.

page_text: as seen in Figure 8, and the rods g be extended through the ears ƒ, as
seen at v, the curb being connected to eyes w extending directly from
the pillars i, as scen in Figure 8, such disposition of the loop springs
being in many respects better than the arrangement shewn in Figures 5,
6, and 7.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that what
I claim is,-
1st. A centrifugal machine in which the basket shaft is supported
upon a suspended bearing plate, substantially as shewn and described.
2nd. Supporting the foot of the shaft upon the spherical bearing g,
the upper part of the shaft being supported in a laterally yielding
bearing, substantially as shewn and described.
3rd. The stand a made with the corner spaces for receiving the
suspending devices, substantially as shewn and described.
4th. The combined curb and basket, the basket supported and rotating
in the bearing connected with the bottom of the curb, and the bottom
of the curb suspended by the chains or rods, substantially as shewn and
described.
5th. The stationary frame made with the tubular standards or pillars
for receiving the suspending chains or rod, substantially as shewn and
described.
6th. In combination with the basket and curb, suspended as described,
the loon springs of connecting the bottom of the ouch with the
]
WILLIAM MORGAN BROWN. (L.S.)