IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES FOR SEPARATING SUBSTANCES FROM EACH OTHER
Year: 1878

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL
MACHINES FOR SEPARATING SUBSTANCES FROM EACH OTHER. A com-
munication from abroad by Eugen Langen, of Cologne, in the German
Empire.
Sealed the 31st January 1879, and dated the 18th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th November 1878.
_CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES FOR SEPARATING SUBSTANCES FROM
EACH OTHER.' [A communication from abroad by Eugen Langen, of Cologne, in
the German Empire.]
נ$
The present Invention has reference to improved constructions of centrifugal
machines for effecting the separation either of solid substances suspended in a liquid,
or of two liquids of different specific gravities. According to the present Invention
the separation of a solid from a. liquid is effected in a periodically continuous manner
by the following arrangement:-
Centrally within the centrifugal drum is a tube, into the upper end of which the
liquid to be acted upon is delivered, and from the lower end of which it issues
through adjustable orifices into the drum close to the bottom surface thereof.
The tube is by preference of slightly increased diameter at the lower end, and the.
adjustment of the outlet orifices may be conveniently effected by mounting the tube
on a central screw spindle on which it can be raised or lowered by means of screw.
nuts so that a greater or less annular space shall intervene between its lower end
and the bottom surface of the drum. Round the periphery of the drum are placed
[Price RdI
'

page_text: a series of removeable frame like receptacles for receiving the separated solid matter,
and the top of the drum is closed by a removeable cover having a central opening
and secured watertight to the upper edge of the drum by screws and caoutchouc
packing. The liquid with the solid matter suspended therein being introduced at
the upper end of the central tube issues through the small annular orifice at bottom
into the drum, where by the action of the centrifugal force the solid matter accumu-
lates in the receptacles at the circumference, while the clear liquid remains in the
centre, and in ascending in the drum as fresh liquid enters below, is eventually
discharged through the central opening of the cover, the supply being in such
regulated quantity that the solid matter is entirely separated from the liquid before
this has ascended to the top.
This operation is continued until the receptacles are filled with the solid matter,
when the cover is removed and the receptacles are taken out and replaced by empty
ones.
In adapting the above described apparatus for separating two liquids of different
gravities, such as milk and cream, the receptacles are dispensed with. As the cream
is the lighter liquid it rises in the centre of the drum and is thrown out through
the contral opening of the cover, holes being provided in the sides of the drum just
below the cover for the escape of the skim-milk, which as the heavier liquid
accumulates at the circumference.
The said holes are so regulated in size that the quantity of liquid thrown out
through them together with the cream or lighter liquid that is discharged through
the cover shall be equal to the quantity of the mixed liquids continuously
introduced, and thus it will be seen that the operation can in this case take place
continuously so long as the supply is kept up.
In order to effect an automatic regulation of the discharge of the heavier liquid
the beforementioned side holes may be provided with valves or plugs connected to
levers that are acted upon by a float. This float is so weighted that it will sink in
the lighter liquid, but rises in the heavier one, so that when the proportion of the
heavy liquid in the drum increases, the float will rise and effect the opening of the
escape apertures to a greater extent, and vice-versa.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
May 1879.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES FOR SEPARATING SUBSTANCES FROM
EACH OTHER." A communication from abroad by Eugen Langen, of Cologne, in
the German Empire.
The present Invention has reference to improved constructions of centrifugal
machines for effecting the separation cither of solid substances suspended in a liquid,
or of two liquids of different specific gravities. According to the present Invention
the separation of a solid from a liquid is effected in a periodically continuous manner
by the following arrangement :-
Centrally within the centrifugal drum is a tube, into the upper end of which the

page_text: liquid to be acted upon is delivered, and from the lower end of which it issues
through adjustible orifices into the drum close to the bottom surface thereof. The
tube is by preference of slightly increased diameter at the lower end, and the
adjustment of the outlet orifices may be conveniently effected by mounting the tube
on a central screw spindle on which it can be raised or lowered by means of screw
nuts so that a greater or less annular space shall intervene between its lower end
and the bottom surface of the drum. Round the periphery of the drum are placed
a series of removeable frame like receptacles for receiving the separated solid
matter, and the top of the drum is closed by a removeable cover having a central
opening and secured watertight to the upper edge of the druin by screws and
caoutchouc packing. The liquid, with the solid matter suspended therein; being
introduced at the upper end of the central tube issues through the small annular
orifice at bottom into the drum, where by the action of the centrifugal force the
solid matter accumulates in the receptacles at the circumference while the clear
liquid remains in the centre, and in ascending in the drum as fresh liquid enters
below, is eventually discharged through the central opening of the cover, the supply
being in such regulated quantity that the solid matter is entirely separated from
the liquid before this has ascended to the top. This operation is continued until
the receptacles are filled with the solid matter, when the cover is removed and the
receptacles are taken out and replaced by empty ones.
h
In adapting the above described apparatus for separating two liquids of different
gravities, such as milk and cream, the receptacles are dispensed with. As the cream
is the lighter liquid it rises in the centre of the drum and is thrown out through
the central opening of the cover, holes being provided in the sides of the drum just
below the cover for the escape of the skim milk, which as the heavier liquid
accumulates at the circumference. The said holes are so regulated in size that the
quantity of liquid thrown out through them, together with the cream or lighter
liquid that is discharged through the cover, shall be equal to the quantity of the
mixed liquids continuously introduced, and thus it will be seen that the operation
can in this case take place continuously so long as the supply is kept up.
In order to effect an automatic regulation of the discharge of the heavier liquid;
the before mentioned side holes may be provided with valves or plugs connected to
levers that are acted upon by a float. This float is so weighted that it will sink in
the lighter liquid but rises in the heavier one, so that when the proportion of the
heavy liquid in the drum increases the float will rise and effect the opening of the
escape apertures to a greater extent, and vice-versa.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a centrifugal machine, arranged according
to this Invention, for the separation of liquid from solid matter suspended in it, and
the collection of the solid matter in compartments or moulds of segmental form, as
shewn in plan at Fig. 2. The revolving drum L has a number of the receptacles F
placed in it so as to fill up an annulus next its periphery, these being covered by a
removeable cover D held down by bolts S with the jointing of the cover to the drum
made watertight by a caoutchouc ring R. In the middle of the drum is the slightly
tapered feeding tube T which can be adjusted in height by the nuts M, M, so as to
leave a more or less narrow slit s between its lower end and the bottom of the drum.
The fluid or semifluid material to be operated on supplied by a pipe r issues from
the tube T by the slit s. The heavier solid particles collect in the receptacles F,
while the light liquid overflows at the rounded inner lip of the cover D; when the
receptacles F are filled the cover D is removed and they are taken out, the
receptacles being emptied; or fresh receptacles can be replaced in the drum, and the
operation repeated. By means of the nuts M, M, the area of the slits can be
adjusted so as to regulate the inflow of material and the outflow of separated liquid
over the lip of the cover D in accordance with the separating power of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus, arranged according to this Invention,

page_text: for the separation of the denser and lighter ingredients of a liquid mixture, as, for
instance, for separating skimmed milk from cream. In this case there are no
moulds F employed, but a cover with a rounded inner lip R is permanently fixed
on the drum, the lip being curved outwards, as shewn, nearly over the edge of an
angle ring. A frame A having its boss N free to slide over the exterior of the
tube T carries a float ring S so loaded that it will sink in cream but float in the
denser skimmed milk. Two or more apertures through the periphery of
the drum are fitted with plug valves J adjustable on arms E of bellcrank levers,
the other arms W of which reach over the float ring S. The feed tube T is
adjustable in height by nuts M, M, as already described, so as to give a greater or
less opening by the slit 8 at the bottom. Milk containing its cream being supplied
to the tube T, the mixture issues by the slit s; the denser fluid milk gathers at the
periphery and lower part of the drum, whilst the lighter cream gathers at the upper
level within it. The cream flows over the lip R into the annular space above the
drum, whence it runs off by a spout U. The milk when it rises to a certain level
within the drum raises the float S sufficiently to open the valves J so that a portion
of it escapes to the space outside the drum, whence it runs off by the spout V. In
this form of the apparatus, as in that described with reference to Fig. 1, the area of
the slit s is adjustable so as to suit the inflow of the mixed liquid to the separating
power of the apparatus, and this being properly adjusted the separating operation
can be carried on continuously by feeding the tube T with quantity sufficient to
keep it more or less charged so that there is always an outflow from it by the slit s
into the drum of the machine, maintaining a constant discharge of the lighter
ingredient by the spout U, and of the heavier ingredient by the spout V. By pro-
portioning the areas of the apertures O to the production of the heavier liquid so as
to permit the issue of no more than is separated in a given time, the valves J, float S,
and levers E, W, may be dispensed with.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
hereby declare that I make no general claim to the use of centrifugal machines for
the separation of the heavier and the lighter ingredients of fluid or semifluid mixtures,
but I claim in respect of centrifugal machines operating for this purpose,-
First. Introducing continuously at the bottom of the drum the material to be
operated on in quantities adjusted to the separating power of the machine so that
there may be no outflow. at the upper lips of the drum of any but the lighter
ingredient of the mixture, substantially as herein described.
Second. The use of a central feeding tube having adjustable orifices at the bottom,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third. The use of removeable frame like receptacles for the collection of the solid
ingredients separated by the centrifugal action, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. Making the drum with orifices O through the upper part of its periphery
of such area as to permit the issue of only the quantity of denser liquid separated
during the continuous operation of the machine.
Fifth. The use of a float operating in combination with valves for regulating the
outflow of the heavier liquid, substantially as herein described with reference to
Fig. 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
CHAB. D. ABEL. (L.S.)