Improvements in Centrifugal Separators.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
Improvements in Centrifugal Separators.
I, JULES FRANSOIS PERSOONS, of Thildonck, near Louvain, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Mechanic, 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 relates to the construction of a centrifugal apparatus especially
designed for cream separators. It has for its object to produce an apparatus of
this kind which will be very compact, easy of operation, and perfectly safe. The
whole system forms a complete practical apparatus consisting of the milk reservoir,
the regulator of the distribution, the turbine and its axle, as well as of the driving
mechanism.
The apparatus can be actuated either by manual power or by any other motive
force.
In order more fully to set forth my invention I will now describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a front view of the combination in longitudinal section.
Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a longitudinal section of the turbine, and
Figure 4 is a transverse section of Figure 3.
e
The frame A supports the driving mechanism which is enclosed in a protective
envelope h formed upon the frame. This driving mechanism consists of a crank
shaft a upon which is mounted a toothed wheel 6 transmitting motion to a pinion
by means of the chain c. The shaft of the pinion e has attached a worm wheel e¹
which communicates motion by means of the worm g to the vertical shaft f upon
which is mounted the cream separator proper, that is the turbine r. The main
motor pinion 6 is mounted on an axle which can slide in the frame, and be drawn
up or down to compensate for expansion or contraction of the chain c.
Besides the bearings for the axles of the wheels be e¹ the frame also supports
two arms A1 A2 which project from its outside. Of these arms the one A¹ serves
to support the head of the vertical shaft f, and the other A² serves to support the
vessel containing the milk to be separated.
The frame A also possesses a piece A³ parallel to the projection A2 and in which
is supported the lower part of the vertical shaft f in a suitable bearing. The
shaft passes through this projection so that its lower end bearing the worm g
can engage with the teeth of the worm wheel e¹ in the interior of the frame A.
The lower part of the cover h of the frame forms a basin, and the said basin
contains a quantity of oil into which dips the periphery of the wheel e¹ which is
thus lubricated as it revolves.
The bearings for the shaft are preferably furnished with balls l,. the said balls
being supported in the races i and the lower race rests upon an india-rubber
washer placed in a cavity arranged in the projection or socket A³ of the
frame A. The projection A³ has screwed upon it a metal ring j fixed by means

page_text: .
of two or three bolts, so as to hold the bearing in place. The upper bearing of the
shaft is supported by the arm A¹.
U.
It will be noticed that the shaft f is shewn as surrounded by a tube k. This
tube rests with its lower end upon the edge of the lower bearing of the shaft,
whilst its upper part is surrounded by four springs o placed in a recess constructed
for this purpose in the support A¹. The arrangement of these springs is shewn
in detail in Figure 1. These springs are held in place by means of a metal
plate attached to the projection by a bolt..
The cylindrical casing of the turbine or separator is indicated by the letter 7.
The two parts, and U of the turbine casing are connected by a metal ring s.
The upper portion r of the casing of the turbine rests upon the lower part U
with an interposed rubber washer t which forms the joint.
The cream which always collects in the centre of the turbine is discharged
through the circular funnel and the apertures V (Figure 3). The said funnel is
in one piece with that part of the turbine which is connected to the spindle of
the shaft f.
12.
W marks the outlet for th
for the separated milk which has flowed into 'V' after
having been propelled' by" centrifugal force against the side walls of the turbine.
The letters represent the separator basins. The letter 'y indicates a distributor
with paddles formed of three or four metal blades attached to the fourth basin.
These blades serve to control the motion to be given to the contents placed in the
interior of the basin xx. All the basins are connected together by the three.metal
blades z. arranged in the interior periphery of the casing. of the..turbine (see
Figure 3). The turbine is further provided with collecting. vessels, the one z¹
receiving the skimmed milk, and the other 2 the cream. The milk to be separated
is delivered to the turbine by means of a counterweighted bucket B provided with
an outlet D the opening whereof is controlled by the screw. E. This bucket has
above it the reservoir F carried by the arm A³ fixed to the frame A. This re-
servoir contains the whole milk which flows. through the cock.L.. As soon as the
counterweighted bucket B is filled it loses, -its-equilibrium, and moves from.its
original or almost horizontal position turning on its-pivot at: B... This bucket
forms a regulator of the distribution, its bottom is inclined slightly towards, the
side opposite to the counterweight, and as long as it contains a given quantity of
milk it keeps its balance, but if this quantity exceeds that for which it is regulated
it swings on its pivot at B', and its bottom is pressed against the outlet of L,
thus checking the flow of the milk. As soon as the milk which continues to run
into the turbine has resumed its normal level, the bucket will-again take its first
position, and the milk from the reservoir F will flow again.
In operating the apparatus above described the crank a is caused to revolve,
and this by means of the gearing, the chain and the endless worm sets the shaft.f
and the cream separator attached thereto in rapid rotation.
i
Although this system only contains two pairs of gear wheels, it is nevertheless
possible to communicate to the shaft f various speeds according to the object in
view, thus for instance there can be given 6,500 up to 7,000 revolutions to the
shaft bearing the turbine. by causing the crank-shaft to revolve at a speed of about
45 revolutions per minute.
The improved cream separator will separate at least 400 litres per hour with a
turbine of a diameter of six inches, the movement is,-moreover easy, and especially
in consequence of the arrangement that the main shaft has only two points of
roller, friction which nevertheless give the turbine the requisite mobility.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combination of parts forming the improved cream separator consisting
essentially of a frame in which the driving gear is mounted with means for trans-
mission and multiplication, the said gearing actuating the shaft upon which the

page_text: turbine is mounted, said shaft resting in bearings supported by projections
or brackets fixed to the frame, which contains the motor mechanism, substantially
as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. In combination with the apparatus set forth in Claim 1 the use of a shaft
mounted in ball bearings and surrounded by a sheath, the upper part of said
sheath being supported in a piece whose sides are formed of springs against
which the outer wall of the said sheath rests for the purpose of diminishing the
vibrations occasioned by the rotation of the shaft, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a cream separator the special combination of parts comprising the motor
mechanism, the shaft supported in ball bearings with its sheath, the upper end of
which is held between springs, the turbine mounted upon the spindle of the said
shaft, and the regulating bucket or tumbler with counterpoise to control the.
supply of the milk, and the storage reservoir for the said milk, all in combination,
substantially as above described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved centrifugal apparatus substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.