Improvements in or relating to Centrifugal Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required
by the decision of the Chief Examiner of the 19th day of September 1898.
Date of Application, 24th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Centrifugal Machines.
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 to be as follows;-
This invention has for its object the adaptation, for driving a centrifugal
machine of the Weston type, of a turbine directly attached to the rotating shaft
of the machine, and driven by water, steam or other fluid under pressure.
I employ by preference a turbine of the outward flow type which discharges
into an annular casing around the driving spindle, the inner edge of which casing
is bent or curved to form an inturned lip which prevents the escape of the exhaust
fluid except by the outlet provided. The running vane wheel or disc of the turbine
is keyed on the rotating shaft of the centrifugal machine, preferably overhead,
and the casing or stationary part of the turbine carrying the jet nozzles is formed
on or attached to a bearing bracket above and fixed to the inner stationary spindle
so that when the machine gyrates the relative positions of the running vane
wheel and the outer fixed casing are maintaine!l. The turbine casing is pre-
vented from turning by means of a stud on the stationary bracket the stud being
loosely fitted so as not to interfere with the gyratory motion of the shaft. The
discharge or exhaust is led off by a discharge branch formed on the casing.
The turbine may be fitted to the underdriven type of the Weston centrifugal
machine.
Improvements in or relating to Centrifugal Machines.
I, ROBERT WILLIAMSON, of the Firm of Pott, Cassels and Williamson,
Engineers and Founders, Motherwell, in the County of Lanark, do hereby declare
Price 8d.1

page_text: 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 has for its object the adaptation, for driving a centrifugal
machine of the Weston type, of a turbine directly attached to the rotating shaft
of the machine, and driven by water, steam or other fluid under pressure.
I employ by preference a turbine of the outward flow type which discharges
into an annular casing around the driving spindle, the inner edge of which casing
is bent or curved to form an inturned lip which prevents the escape of the exhaust
fluid except by the outlet provided. The running vane wheel or disc of the turbine
is keyed on the rotating shaft of the centrifugal machine, preferably overhead,
and the casing or stationary part of the turbine carrying the jet nozzles is formed
on or attached to a bearing bracket above and fixed to the inner stationary spindle
so that when the machine gyrates the relative positions of the running vane
wheel and the outer fixed casing are maintained. The turbine casing is pre-
vented from turning by means of a stud on the stationary bracket the stud being
loosely fitted so as not to interfere with the gyratory motion of the shaft. The
discharge or exhaust is led off by a discharge branch formed on the casing.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a centri-
fugal machine of the Weston type showing a turbine attached to the driving
spindle of the machine in accordance with my invention, Figure 2 is an elevation
of the turbine casing and Figure 3 a plan of the same.. Figure 4 is a vertical
section corresponding to Figure 1, but showing a modified form of turbine as
applied for driving a Weston's centrifugal. Figure 5 is an elevation and
Figure 6 a plan of the turbine casing thereof. Figure 7 is a vertical section of
the turbine applied to the driving spindle and showing a modified arrangement
of the brake used for stopping the machine. Figure 8 is a vertical section of an
under driven centrifugal machine showing my invention applied thereto and
Figure 9 is a plan of the turbine casing thereof.
Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the running vane wheel A of the
turbine is secured upon the rotating shaft B of the centrifugal machine C and
the turbine casing D, D¹, or stationary part carrying the fluid inlet E and jet
nozzles is secured to the inner stationary spindle B₁ and is prevented from
turning thereon by means of a stud or studs G secured in the upper plate D of the
turbine casing D, D', and entered into slots or orifices in a flange H on the
stationary bearing bracket I, the orifices being sufficiently large to permit of
free movement of the studs in them so that the gyratory movement of the driving
shaft B, B, is not interfered with.. The actuating fluid is by preference led
into the turbine casing 1 by a flexible tube J as shown and after acting on the
turbine wheel it is discharged into the lower part of the stationary casing D¹
and is led off by a discharge branch 1 formed thereon. The casing D is shown
as formed with an annular upturned flange at for the purpose of preventing
escape of the exhaust fluid excepting by the discharge branch, but that feature
is not claimed as my invention.
The vane wheel A is in this example shown fitted externally with a band
brake K for stopping the rotation of the driving shaft when required.
4
The modification of the invention represented at Figures 4, 5 & 6 differs only
from that above described in details of construction as for example in the form
of the running vane wheel A and casing D, D, and as regards the application
of the brake to a separate pulley keyed on the rotating shaft B instead of
directly to the vane wheel the latter being in this case of the outward flow 5
type whilst the former is shown as of downward flow form. The stationary
part of the casing or upper plate D instead of being fitted directly to the
stationary spindle B₁ is formed with an upward extension D³ fitted to said
spindle and having secured in it the studs G which loosely engage with the
flange H on the bearing bracket I.
Figure 7 shews a construction differing only from that shewn at Figure 4
in so far as the band brake is replaced by a flat brake K¹ bearing on the under
face of the vane wheel A.
5

page_text: In Figures 8 and 9 the invention is shewn as applied to an under-driven centri-
fugal machine the running vane wheel A being secured on the rotating shaft B
whilst the stationary turbine casing D, D', is formed with an annular central
boss which is fixed on the flanged upper end of the foot step bearing L wherein
the shaft B rotates, the bearing being fitted with the usual rubber or other
elastic blocks M which permit of free gyration of the shaft. The turbine casing
is prevented from turning by means of studs G secured in the base plate N of
the machine and entering loosely in orifices in a flange formed on the casing D¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I am aware of Letters Patent No. 17101 of 1895 granted to John Laidlaw
and another and that I claim nothing described and claimed in the specification
of said Letters Patent, but I declare that what I claim is:-
The combination with a centrifugal machine of the Weston or self-balancing
type of a turbine having its running vane wheel directly attached to the rotating
shaft of the machine and the outer casing or stationary part of the turbine secured
to the inner or stationary spindle or its footstep bearing so that whilst the machine
is free to gyrate the relative positions of the running wheel and its fixed casing are
maintained substantially as described.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents, 62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicant.