Improvements in the Construction of Weston's Centrifugal Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Weston's Centrifugal Machines.
I, JOHN LAIDLAW, of 98 Dundas Street, Kingston, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer 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 :-
My Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction of Weston's
Centrifugal machines, relates to that class of such machines as are driven from above,
and wherein the dried material is discharged through an annular opening in the
bottom of the revolving basket. It is desirable that the said opening in the bottom of
the revolving basket should be of as large a diameter as possible.
This is carried out as described in the specification of my Patent No. 16794
A.D. 1888, but it has been found that in the case of centrifugal machines of large
diameter the valve covering the opening in the bottom of the revolving basket
becomes too heavy to be readily lifted up by the operator. The object of my
Invention is to make provision in such a manner as will dispense with the necessity of
lifting the valve out of the revolving basket. To enable this to be carried into effect
I make the opening in the bottom of the revolving basket, with the valve covering
the same, equal or almost equal to the diameter of the opening in the mouth of the
basket as described in the specification of my said Patent No. 16794 A.D. 1888, but
I provide a hook, or its substitute, attached to the spindle or to the projection of the
boss attached to the spindle in such a position that after the valve which covers the
opening in the bottom of the basket is lifted upwards six inches or thereby, the afore-
said hook shall engage with the upper part of the aforesaid valve and cause it to be
suspended at that position in the interior of the revolving basket.
In order that my Invention may be proporly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended one explanatory sheet of drawing which is a vertical
section of part of a Weston's centrifugal machine.
The central boss B, B, forming part of the bottom of revolving basket E, E, and to
which the spindle A, is attached, is prolonged upwards upon the spindle so as to form
an enlargement to secure the pivotted suspending hook H. The hook H, may be
attached to the spindle itself and the prolongation of the central boss dispensed with.
The upper part of the valve is formed with a curved lip as shown at D.
When it is desired to discharge the contents of the basket the valve is lifted
upwards until the curved lip of the upper part engages with the hook H, as shewn in
dotted lines. The hook working freely on its pivot will fall into position of itself to
suspend the valve; and when it is desired to lower the valve, a slight upward move-
ment will enable the hook to be freed by hand.
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
In the Weston suspended centrifugal machine where the dried contents of the
revolving basket are discharged through an opening in the bottom thereof; the
suspension of the valve in the interior of the revolving basket in the position and in
the manner and for the purpose set forth and shewn on the annexed drawing.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1889.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.