Centrifugal Machines whilst in Motion.
Year: 1885

page_text: Centrifugal Machines whilst in Motion.
'
I EDWARD FURNESS Consulting Engineer 66 Finsbury Pavement London E.C.
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS OF CENTRIFUGAL
MACHINES WHILST IN MOTION to be as follows:-
When it is desired to discharge or remove the contents of the revolving basket of
centrifugal machines, after the operation of the centrifugal force acting on the
material in it, is completed, instead of stopping the basket revolving, I bring into
contact with the circumference inside the basket whilst revolving, a long circular
brush which can revolve freely on a spindle; This brush is not applied with its
axis in a line parallel to the axis of the centrifugal basket, but at an angle thereto,
and the brush is made lengthways barrel shape, or of such a shape curved and
tapering smaller in diameter to each end, so that it is in contact throughout its
length with the inside of the basket at this angle. The brush when it is brought
in contact with the material in the basket or the basket itself is caused to revolve
by the friction against it, and as its axis is at an angle, its plane of rotation is also
at an angle with that of the basket, thus it has a sliding as well as a rolling contact
with the basket, and so sweeps the material, the contents of the basket are by this
means swept into a receiver which I attach to the spindle upon which the brush
revolves, and I remove it with the brush when the basket of the centrifugal is
wholly or partly discharged; or the contents may be swept into a shoot and
discharged over the top outside the casing of the centrifugal into a receptacle or in
any other convenient way.
I operate the brush to bring it into contact with the basket, as described, or to
remove it from, and out clear from the inside of the basket by a lever, levers, or
other mechanical device.

page_text: An Improvement in the Means and Apparatus for Discharging
Centrifugal Machines whilst in Motion.
I EDWARD FURNESS Consulting Engineer of 66 Finsbury Pavement London E.C.
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS OF CENTRIFUGAL
MACHINES WHILST IN MOTION and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
When it is desired to discharge the contents of the basket of a Centrifugal
machine I allow it to continue revolving and bring into contact with its inside
circumference a circular brush which sweeps up the contents directly out of the
basket or into a receiver. This brush is applied with its axis at an angle to that
of the Centrifugal basket-It revolves freely on its axis and is made barrel-shaped
so that when applied it will be in contact throughout its entire length with the
inside circumference of the basket, When the brush comes in contact with the
side of the revolving basket, or the material on its surface, it is caused to revolve by
the friction thereby set up and as its plane of rotation is at an angle to that of the
basket it has a sliding or sweeping as well as a rolling contact, and so sweeps the
material out of the basket over the casing to the outside of the machine where it
may be caught in any convenient way or it may be swept into a suitable receiver
or a shoot attached to the rod upon which the brush ravolves. This rod is carried
by a universal joint turning on a bracket attached to the casing of centrifugal
machine and extends past this joint forming a handle or lever by which the
apparatus is manipulated.
I make the receiver preferably of sheet metal curved to form a shield or guide
and a cylindrical box inside of which is fitted a helical worm attached to a rod by
means of which it can be pushed out of the cylindrical box of receiver to discharge
its contents. This Worm serves also to distribute the material so as to do away
with the risk of its all falling to the bottom or clogging at any place which would
binder the entrance of more material. This cylindrical box and helical worm may
be dispensed with and a detachable receiver of any suitable shape substituted
which may be lifted out of the basket to be discharged independtly of the brush,
or, the shield or guide of receiver may be continued to form a shoot up which the
material is driven and discharged over the casing of centrifugal machine by the
action of the brush.

page_text: A is the outer casing of centrifugal machine, & the revolving basket b the brush
and c the receiver containing the helical worm H.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a centrifugal machine shewing the apparatus
removed out of the basket and the worm pressed out of the cylindrical box of
receiver to discharge its contents. Figure 4 is a plan of a centrifugal machine
shewing apparatus removed out of the basket as at Figure 3 but with the helical
worm drawn back again into receiver ready for being reintroduced into basket as
shewn in dotted lines. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a centrifugal machine
taken at right angles to Figures 1 and 3 and Figure 6 is a plan shewing a
modification of the apparatus in which the box and helical worm of receiver are
dispensed with and the shield or guide of receiver continued to form a shoot
extending up and over the top of basket and casing of the centrifugal machine.
Figures 7 to 12 are enlarged views of the apparatus in the form in which I prefer
to construct it. Figure 8 is an elevation of the side of apparatus which is applied
to the inside circumference of basket and Figure 7 is an elevation of the reverse
side. Figure 9 is a cross section taken along the line O. P. Figs. 1 and 8. Figure 10
is an elevation at right angles to Figures 7 and 8 with brush and rods removed.
Figure 11 is a plan of top of receiver, and Figure 12 a sectional plan shewing
bottom of receiver. Figure 13 shews as an alternative a rod with discs instead of
the helical worm. Figures 14, 15, 16 & 17 show the same views of the centrifugal
machine as Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4 but with the revolving brush sweeping the material
directly out of the basket over to the outside of the centrifugal machine.
In the aforementioned Figures, b is the circular brush Its contour is such that
when in position for discharging it will come in contact with the entire depth of
the side of basket and also the top and bottom corners which are rounded to suit
its ends when in this position. It revolves freely on the rod, s. f is the shield or
guide of receiver terminating in the cylindrical box c. This cylindrical box c. has
an opening O¹ Figures 9 10 and 12 throughout its entire length through which the
material is driven by the brush. It is closed at the top by a plate q, fitted with a
boss m, and set-screw t for securely fixing the receiver to the rod 8, 1, in the desired
position, and is provided with a hole through which passes the rod R working
helical worm H. Its bottom end is left open but has a plate or bracket v extending
to the rod 8 and resting on a head y formed thereon. The carrying rod 8, 7 passes
through a hole e in the plate at bottom of receiver, and the centre of the brush and
through the plate q and boss m at top of receiver to which it is secured by the
set-screw t It is fixed to a universal joint k by which it is carried and beyond
which it extends to a convenient length to form a lever / by which the apparatus
is manipulated A hook W. Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and 14, 15, 16, & 17 serves to
secure the apparatus when out of operation and a stop is provided against which
the carrying rod / rests when in operation. The universal joint k and its bracket n
are shewn in Figures 5 and 6.
H. Figures 7 and 8 is the helical worm formed preferably of sheet metal and
fixed to a rod R which extends up through the hole in top plate of receiver and
is provided at the bottom with a circular plate X to close the bottom of cylindrical
A catch Figure 8 is provided to keep the helical worm in the cylinder
and released to allow the rod R to be pushed out. Figure 13 shews a modification
in which the helical worm is replaced by thin discs of metal round the rod R.
box c.
MODE OF OPERATION.
Suppose the receiver to be empty and the apparatus held clear by the hook W.
When it is desirable to discharge the contents of the centrifugal machine the lever
is disengaged from the hook and moved horizontally into the position shewn in
dotted lines in figures 4 & 17 to enable the brush and receiver to clear top flange
of basket when depressed. The lever is then raised lowering the brush and

page_text: which the lever comes in contact with a stop which prevents it from making any
further upward movement.
"
The lever is now pressed horizontally moving the brush away from centre of
machine and so sweeping up to the side any material, which may be at the bottom
of basket, When the brush comes into contact with the side of the revolving
basket, or the material, on its surface, it is caused to revolve. by the friction thereby
set up and as its plane of rotation is at an angle to that of the basket it sweeps the
material from the side of basket directly out, of the basket to the outside of the
machine as in Figs. 14, 15, 16 & 17 or if a receiver is used as in figs. 1, 2, 3.& 4 into the
shield or guide of receiver which directs its motion into the cylindrical.box-When
the contents of basket have been either wholly or partly discharged as may be most
desired or when the receiver is filled, the lever is moved back horizontally causing
the brush and receiver to move away from side of basket-When they are moved
sufficiently in this direction so as to clear the top flange of basket when raised up,
the lever is depressed raising the brush and receiver. into a horizontal position.
The lever is now moved horizontally until the bottom end of receiver projects over
the outside edge of casing of the centrifugal machine the helical worm is then
'pushed out of the receiver. by means of the rod. attached thereto and discharges the
..contents on to the floor or into a suitable receptacle as may be desired. If the
receiver is filled and the basket not wholly discharged the operation can be
repeated.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details of the construction or to the exact method of working the same but
what I do declare is that I claim
•
1st The method of discharging the basket of centrifugal machines whilst revolving
with a circular brush which being brought into contact with the inside circumference
of the basket or the material on its surface is caused to revolve by the friction set
up, the axis of the Brush being at an. angle to the axis of the centrifugal Basket
causes a sweeping as well as a rolling contact and so sweeps the contents out of the
basket to the outside of the centrifugal machine or into a receiver or through a
shoot substantially as described.
2nd The construction and arrangement of the receiver with the helical worm or
a series of discs on a central rod for the purposes as set forth and substantially as
described.