Improvements in Centrifugal Machines or Hydro Extractors.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Machines or Hydro Extractors.
I, ROBERT WILLIAMSON, of the Firm of Pott, Cassels and Williamson,
Engineers and Founders, Motherwell, in the County of Lanark, 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, which relates to centrifugal machines or hydro extractors of the
Weston type, has for its object to simplify and improve such machines generally
and especially the construction of their supporting frames, the friction driving gear
and the belt shifting devices.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 a plan of the improved centrifugal
machine,
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a side elevation and vertical section of the belt
pulley and friction clutch driver,
Figure 5 is a cross section on the line x-x in Figure 4, and
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a side and an end elevation of the belt forks
for shifting the driving belt on the fast and loose pulleys on the main driving shaft
of the machine.
The machine framing is composed of a base piece A having bearing blocks B in
which the main driving shaft C is journalled and a bow frame A' in which is
journalled the driving spindle D of the centrifugal E. The bow frame A' is of
approximately channel section the belt F which transmits motion from the belt
pulley G on the main driving shaft C to the pulley H on the centrifugal spindle
being led over the channel between the side flanges of the frame A₁ so that any
foreign matter carried along by the belt may drop on to the frame and not into the
basket of the centrifugal.
The head of the frame A¹ instead of terminating as usual at the centre line of
the spindle is carried beyond the centre of the centrifugal E so that without
alteration the block Z carrying the spindle D and centrifugal E can be turned
round and the brake Y worked from the opposite side as shewn in dotted lines,
Fig. 2, a hole X being left in the frame A for that purpose. The brake shewn is
a band brake surrounding part of the pulley H below the central flange.
The belt pulley G is as usual loose on the driving shaft C and is connected to
In lieu of the
rotate therewith by means of friction clutch blocks or pads I.
usual mode of attachment of these friction pads which does not lend itself to ready
adjustment radial arms I' formed on them are entered into sockets I on a driving
arm J at one side of the pulley which is fixed to and rotates with the shaft, a
screw-threaded stud or link i on each being extended inwards through the socket
and fitted with adjustable jam nuts between which and the socket piece a helical
spring surrounding the stud is fitted. Adjustment of the nuts serves to draw
the friction pads 1 more or less from contact with the inner periphery of the belt
pulley and counteracts to any extent desired the outward movement of the friction
pads I upon the rotation of the shaft so as to regulate the degree of frictional grip
exerted on the pulley in transmitting to it the motion of the shaft C.
The inner end of each stud or link i is engaged by the end of a lever K centred
on the driving arm J and whose other end is forked and engages a toggle link L

page_text: centred on and adapted to be moved by a clutch sleeve M fitted to slide on the
shaft C. The sliding movement of this sleeve which is operated by a clutch
lever N acting through the toggle links L tilts the levers K and serves to draw
the friction pads out of engagement with the belt pulley G the normal position
being that in which the friction pads are free to move outwards into contact by
centrifugal force.
In order to provide for the belt which drives the main shaft C being led, on to
the fast and loose pulleys O, O', at any inclination the belt fork P which serves to
shift the belt from one pulley to the other is carried on a bracket Q which is
adapted to be swung around a centre in line with the axis of the driving shaft.
The centre stud R is on a stationary bracket S having formed on its face at T
radial serrations which correspond to and engage with serrations on the boss
the bracket Q. When set to any desired position as indicated by full and dotted
lines at Figure 7 the brackets Q and S are drawn together with the serrated faces
in engagement by means of a screwed stud or bolt s so as to secure the belt shifter
in place.
of
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved centrifugal machine
framing and accessories substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a centrifugal machine the construction and arrangement of the head of the
frame A so that the head block may be turned and the brake worked from either
side of the machine substantially as described.
3. In a centrifugal machine the arrangement of frictional driving devices
connecting the main driving shaft and belt pulley thereon substantially as
described.
4. In a centrifugal machine a belt shifter adapted to swing around the axis of
the belt pulleys substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of October 1895.
T
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.