Improvements in Centrifugal Extractors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Extractors.
We, WILLIAM EVERETT JOHNSON, residing at No. 120, East 82nd Street, in
the City County and State of New York, Clergyman, and ROBERT CHAMBERLAIN
MITCHELL, residing at No. 50 West 51st Street in the City, County and State of
New York, Patent Solicitor, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved centrifugal extractor and consists in
constructing the machine in the novel manner herein set forth.
The object of our invention is to facilitate the easy starting of the machine, and
to reduce almost, if not entirely, when starting, the vibration of the shaft which
carries at its upper end the basket.
Our invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing in which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical part sectional elevation, on the line 1-1 Fig. 2, of our
improved centrifugal extractor.
Fig. 2 is a part sectional plan view of Fig. 1 on the line 2-2.
A is an exterior casing having a suitable opening C at the top. The centre of
the lower part of the casing is preferably slightly raised so as to form around it
the gutter B. The casing A. is supported on hollow posts D D which are
preferably fitted to the casing at a point where the gutter B is formed. (See
Fig. 1.) Perforations are made in the hollow part of the casing A directly over
the hollow posts so that any liquid contained in the casing will follow the gutter B
and run down through the posts DD and out. Near the centre of the raised
portion in the bottom of the casing a hole E is formed. Through this hole a
shaft F passes. This shaft has suitable bearings G G¹. At the upper end of this
shaft F which extends slightly into the casing A is fastened a supporting frame
preferably consisting of arms I I which curve upward and support a ring, or
gimbal K, which moves freely on its pivot bearings L L, said bearings being
supported at or near the top of two opposite arms II or at any suitable point in
the arms I I. Within the ring K is a perforated basket turning freely on its pivot
bearings M M, hung at right angles to the bearings of the ring K. The
bearings M M of the basket N is preferably slightly above the centre of gravity
so that it will hang in an upright position. The basket N is preferably about
spherical in shape with an opening at the top. To the shaft F is fastened a
pulley O around which runs a belt P.
In operation, wet wool, clothes or the like, are thrown into the basket N through
the opening C in the outer casing A and the hole in the top of the basket. The
weight of these wet clothes immediately finds a centre directly over the axis of
rotation of the shaft F by means of the gimbal bearings M M, L L, balancing
perfectly and equalizing the centrifugal forces when rotated. The shaft is then
rotated by means of the belt P running round the pulley O, until such a speed is
attained as will, by centrifugal force, throw the liquid contained in the clothes out
through the perforations in the basket into the casing A from whence it runs down
and out through the pipes D D. The value of this invention can be appreciated
by reference to the centrifugal extractors, or drying-machines (as they are
sometimes called) now in use. All sorts of yielding bearings for the shaft F have
been contrived so that if the weight of the load carried by the basket N is off the
centre, the shaft will take any position to allow the unusual weight to approach a
centre, and facilitate starting the machine.
Experience demonstrates that it is almost impossible to start an unevenly loaded
basket to revolving if it is supported and turned by a shaft having non-yielding

page_text: bearings even if the weight be no more than a wet sheet thrown into one side of the
basket.
Our invention does away with the necessity of a yielding bearing for the shaft F,
for the instant any weight is placed within the basket it seeks a centre directly over
the centre of the shaft F and the mechanism may be easily and quickly rotated
without any perceptible vibration or yielding of the shaft. It is obvious that this
self-adjusting principle may be applied to cream separating machine and other
centrifugal machines used for drying purposes or for separating bodies of different
specific gravity by revolving them rapidly in a suitable holder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
Claim 1. In a centrifugal machine a basket pivotally suspended in a ring from
which said basket depends, the said ring being pivotally supported in a frame
carried by a shaft, substantially as described.
Claim 2. The combination in a centrifugal extractor of a basket A, mounted
upon suitable pivots within the ring K, said ring being pivotally mounted at right
angles to the axis of the basket, in support I with a vertical shaft F, substantially
as described.
Claim 3. The combination in a centrifugal extractor of the basket A, its pivot
bearing M M, supported in the ring K, said ring being supported by its pivots LL
which bear in the arms I I, with the shaft F and mechanism for rotating the same,
substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.
Claim 4. The combination in a centrifugal extractor of a perforated basket A,
having the pivoted bearing M M, above the centre, and supported in the ring K
which is supported by the bearing L L at right angles. to the axis of M M, said
bearing L L supported by the arms II with the vertical shaft F, and means for
rotating the same, substantially as described.
Dated the 21st day of October 1892.
WILLIAM EVERETT JOHNSON.
ROBERT CHAMBERLAIN MITCHELL.
Witnesses:
H. B. BROWNELL.
JOHN P. BARTLETT.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.