Improvements in Centrifugal Separators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th May,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Separators.
I, SOREN C. ROCKMAN, of 2337 North Thirty-second Street, Philadelphia,
County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Mechanical 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 has for its object the production of a centrifugal machine for the
separation of liquids from solids, or the separation of liquids of different densities,
and the construction of which will enable the machine to operate continuously,
discharging the constituent parts separately from the machine and enabling a
continuous feeding and discharge to take place.
My improved machine consists generally in using a rotating vessel formed of
one or more ducts or conduits, and forming these conduits so that from the
receiving end they shall preferably have a pitch vertically in a spiral form of
gradually increasing radius from the center of rotation, and securing said conduits
or ducts at the bottom to a receptacle which as shown is a plate into which said
ducts or conduits open, said plate being adapted to receive the material to be
separated, and the upper end of said conduits secured to a ring and opening into
a trough or hopper provided with outlets. As shown, one of the walls of the
conduit is perforated. Surrounding the conduits is a vessel which does not rotate,
and which receives one of the constituents of the material to be separated after
separation, said constituent passing through the perforated sides of the conduits,
and in which there is an outlet to enable the constituent to be drawn off the
machine.
The machine further comprises mechanism to regulate the quantity of discharge
of the material from the discharge end of the conduits, thereby determining the
extent of time the material is held under the centrifugal action.
The machine further shows combining with the ducts or conduits a simple and
effective receiving hopper into which the conduits can discharge and from which
the discharged material may be continuously conducted from the machine. This
is a general statement of the machine embodying my inventions, and the particular
features and combinations I desire specifically to hold are set out in the claims.
I will first describe my improved separator as shown in the accompanying
drawings, which illustrate a machine especially adapted for the separation of solids
from liquids.
In the drawings―
Fig. 1 is a side front elevation of my machine.
Fig. 2 is a section on the line w―w, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line x-x, Fig. 1, with rotative vessel removed.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation view of rotating vessel.
Fig. 5 is a top plan view of my machine.
Fio 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of modified form.

page_text: sides a', and inverted cone-like sides a² extending to the bottom a³. is an orifice
in the bottom, a³, in which a pipe b is secured.
The bottom a³ has a central orifice, and projecting downward from said orifice is
a cylindrical pipe-like portion, 62, which has a flange portion, 63, to which is
connected or bolted a ring, 6. This portion, 62, projects slightly above the
bottom, a³, forming a cylindrical rim, 6³.
The vessel A is strongly ribbed on its outside by ribs, c, c', ³, &c., which extend
downwardly to flanges, c, which can be bolted to the floor or beams, as may be
desired, to keep the vessel in a fixed position.
The vessel A is preferably made of cast iron, and in the pipe-like portion, b,
is placed a suitable step-bearing of the well known kind which supports a vertical
shaft, D, at its bottom by means of a pindle, d, resting on the step. At the
upper end this shaft is guided in a vertical bearing depending from a bracket, d',
which bracket is rigidly secured. d is a pulley which is secured to the shaft, D,
and by means of which the shaft D is rotated. The lower end of the shaft D,
above this pindle, is made tapering and has secured to it a disc, d³, which is made
of cast steel strengthened with radial ribs, d, and has the rim, d, the rim being
secured to the shaft by means of a nut, d³, working on the threaded portion d' of
the shaft. I secure to the bottom plate or disc, d³, a series of enclosed conduits
which are formed of vertical plates, E, which are provided with perforations, e,
and solid bottom plates denoted by the letter, f, and an inner shield or cover
forming the inner side and top, f2, 13, the parts just above described forming an
enclosed conduit, one wall of which is perforated, that is, the outer wall or wall
nearest the enclosing vessel A.; the other wall or inner wall, the top and bottom
are solid. The shield or cover is made in sections, parts or divisions, four being
shown in the drawings (see points designated 15, 16 and 17 upon Figs. 5, 9 and 10)
so that it can be readily removed from any part of the channel for inspection or
cleaning the channel, or for the purpose of placing sieves of any desired mesh in
the vertical perforated separating wall. As before described, the bottom of this
conduit is secured to the plate, d³, and the conduits are curved to form a spiral,
making a three-quarters of a circumference in its turn.
The perforated plates and the bottom plates may be secured together or may be
cast in one piece, and the perforations put in the plates, E, after the casting; and
the side and bottom are secured to the opposite vertical side in any desired
manner.
As shown in the drawings, Figs. 1-5, I use four of these conduits, noted 1, 2, 3
and 4, and as each one of the four makes three-quarters of a turn circumferentially
and starts from the bottom plates at points ninety degrees from each other and run
substantially parallel in their convolution, the bottom plate of one duct, as shown
in Figure 2, will form a connection or be in alignment with the top plate of the
next lower conduit, so that the whole combined forms, so far as the interior is
concerned, a closed passage with the bottom plate, d, and what may be called the
basket, B. I do not intend to limit myself to four conduits, as I may use one or a
plurality. As is also clearly shown in the construction, the diameter of the vessel
or the diameter of the spiral increases as the spiral progresses vertically. Thus,
the position of the discharge of a conduit at the top is considerably further from
the center than it is at the bottom. I do not intend to limit myself to the exact
pitch or curvature shown, or to whether the conduits make an entire convolution
(360 degrees) or a plurality of convolutions, or less than a complete convolution, as
the same may be varied as is considered necessary for the material for which it is
to be used; and, if desired, the conduits need not be in the form of curves, but the
walls may extend in straight lines from the receiving end to the discharge end, as
shown in Figures 67 and 8, the purpose of the invention being to provide a conduit
or plurality of conduits which shall have a pitch extending outwardly from the
receiving end to the discharging end, and providing means to regulate the quantity
of discharge from the discharge end of the conduit, the conical spiral conduit being
.however the preferable form.

page_text: C is a cover in the shape of an annular ring, having a strong curb, f*, which
overlaps the top rim of the conduits and is securely bolted to it. The cover is
provided with four raised outlets, H, which cover the outlets of the conduits, and
these outlets, H, are provided with gates, h, which slide between the wall of the
outlets, H, and the flange, f, and regulate the outlet for the orifice of discharge
from the conduit, set screws, k, passing through the frame or outlet H, and pressing
upon the gate, enabling the gate to be opened the desired extent, so that the
desired orifice of discharge from the conduits may be gauged.
As may be seen from this construction, as before set out, the portion of the
cylindrical separator which acts upon the material to separate it into its constituent
parts is formed of a series of enclosed conduits having perforated walls which have
a pitch extending outwardly from the receiving end to the discharge end and, as
shown in Figs. 1-5, are bent so as to form conical spirals, from the bottom to the
top, making in the machine shown, a turn of three-quarters of the circumference,
and each one of these conduits is secured to corresponding conduits in the same
plane, so as to form, as far as the interior, of the vessel is concerned, a closed vessel,
and each conduit at its lower portion opens into and is secured to the bottom plate, d³,
and at its top portion is secured to the annular ring cover C. L is an annular cover
of sheet iron riveted to an angle-iron, 1, on its inuer edge, and to the angle iron, 1,
on its outer edge. To this ring a circular hopper made in four parts bolted and
secured fixedly together, which forms a continuous circular hopper into which,
through the outlets, H, regulated by the gate h, the material from the conduits pass,
the hopper being made in four parts and of the same size as the separating vessel, A,
at its top. The edge of the inside wall, g, of the hopper, is bent inwardly as at, gl,
so as to overlap the flange, a, of the vessel A, on which fixed vessel the hopper is
thus carried. The outer wall, 92, of the hopper is of similar shape, but of larger
diameter. Plates, g³, are riveted between the vertical sides, g, and g2, at the four
points, and hold the two walls at proper distance. The end walls, 9, extend
sloping downward and with the walls, 9 and g², is contracted at the bottom, and
pipes 9, of rectangular shape, one for each of the four divisions of the hopper
connect with the divisions of the hopper and slope down to
hopper, 9, the central hopper 9 being common to the four hopper spouts, g³, and
from this hopper g, through the open bottom, the material may be passed to any
desired point.
a central
When the vessel formed of the conduits before described is rotated by means of
the pulley, d², the material to be separated is passed in through the spout, S, to the
interior of the vessel, B, falling upon the plate, d³, and in the rotation of the vessel
will be received and will follow the conduit from the bottom to the top, the centri-
fugal force being gradually increased as the spiral advances, being further from the
center. The liquid will pass through the perforations in the side plates and pass
into the vessel A, from which it passes out through the pipe. The solid matter
which will not pass through the perforations in the plates E, is discharged through
the outlet at the top of the conduit, passing through the gate opening, and will be
thrown over by the centrifugal force into the receiving hopper, and falling by
gravity into the pipe, 9', and through it to the hopper, 9.
By this operation, a progressive action is given to the material, gradually
increasing the centrifugal force upon it, and at the same time bringing it from the
bottom of the vessel to the top, and discharging the solid matter continuously.
By adjusting the orifices of discharge formed by the gate, which is done by
regulating the position of the gate, thus regulating the size of the orifice, I can
cause the material to remain longer under the action of centrifugal force by causing
it to be discharged more slowly and thus making the separation more.complete, if
the same be necessary.
Depending upon the fineness or completeness of the separation desired, I vary
the size of the orifice in the perforated plate E, which can be readily done by
inserting a wire-cloth of any desired fineness and mesh, and securing it to the
perforated sides, e.

page_text: I do not intend to limit my invention to a construction where the outer wall of
the conduit is perforated. If the separation is solid from liquid, both wails may
be perforated or only the outer wall. If it be the separation of liquids, if a
perforated wall be used, I make one or the other of the walls perforated,
dependent upon which liquid I desire to have pass out the mouth of the
conduit. Thus, if it be separation of cream from milk, I make the outer wall
perforated; but, in the case of liquids, neither wall need necessarily be perforated.
When in the claims I use the words "one of said walls being perforated," I
intend to cover a construction in which at least one wall is perforated, whether
the other be perforated or not, and the expression is used to point out that at least
one wall must be perforated.
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. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable conically spirally formed unobstructed
conduit having an inuer and outer wall connected and rotating together, one of
said walls being perforated, substantially as specified.
2. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable conically spirally formed unobstructed
conduit, having an inner and outer wall connected and rotating together, the
material being received at one end of the conduit and discharged at the other,
and means to regulate the quantity of discharge, substantially as specified.
3. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable conically spirally formed unobstructed
conduit, the material being received at one end of the conduit and discharged at
the other, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge, substantially as
specified.
4. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable, conically spirally formed conduit,
having an inner and outer wall connected and rotating together, the outer wall of
which is perforated.
5. In a
centrifugal separator, a rotatable conically spirally formed conduit
having an inner and outer wall, one of said walls being perforated, the material
being received at one end of the conduit and discharged at the other, and means
to regulate the quantity of discharge.
6. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable conically spirally formed unobstructed
conduit having an inner and outer wall, the material being received at one end of
the conduit and discharged at the other, a fixed trough or hopper adjacent to the
outlet of said conduit, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge,
substantially as specified.
7. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of conically spirally formed conduits, one
of the walls of each being perforated, each conduit starting at the same horizontal
plane and terminating at the same horizontal plane as the other, said conduits
being secured to each other so as to form a continuous outer wall, the whole
forming a vessel, a surrounding imperforate vessel, a plate at the receiving end of
the said conduits, a ring at the other end of said conduits, a fixed trough or hopper
adjacent to the outlet of said conduits, and adapted to receive the material from
said conduits, means to regulate the discharge from said conduits, and means to
rotate said vessel.
8. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of conically spirally formed conduits,
one of the walls of each being perforated, each conduit starting at the same
horizontal plane and terminating at the same horizontal plane with the other, said
conduits being secured to each other so as to form a continuous, outer wall, the
whole forming a vessel, a surrounding imperforate vessel, a plate at one end of
said conduits, a ring at the other end of said conduits, said ring being provided
with raised outlets equal in number to the conduits aud in line with the discharge
end of said conduits, and provided with adjustable gates, and means to rotate said
vessel.
9. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of conically spirally formed conduits

page_text: one of the walls of each being perforated, each conduit starting at the same
horizontal plane and terminating at the same horizontal plane with the other,
said conduits being secured to each other so as to form a continuous outer wall,
the whole forming a vessel, a surrounding imperforate vessel, a plate at one end of
said conduits, a ring at the other end of said conduits, said ring being provided
with raised outlets equal in number to the conduits and in line with the discharge
end of said conduits, and provided with adjustable gates, a fixed trough or hopper
adjacent to the outlet of said conduits, and adapted to receive the material from
said conduits, and means to rotate said vessel.
10. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of conically spirally formed conduits,
one of the walls of each being perforated, each conduit starting at the same
horizontal plane and terminating at the same horizontal plane with the other,
said conduits being secured to each other so as to form a continuous outer wall,
the whole forming a vessel, a surrounding imperforate vessel, a plate at one end of
said conduits, a ring at the other end of said conduits, said ring being provided
with raised outlets equal in number to the conduits and in line with the discharge
end of said conduits and provided with adjustable gates, and means to rotate said
vessel.
11. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of conically spirally formed conduits,
each conduit starting at the same horizontal plane and terminating at the same
horizontal plane with the other, said conduits being secured to each other so as to
form a continuous outer wall, the whole forming a vessel, a surrounding imperforate
vessel, a plate at one end of said conduits, a ring at the other end of said conduits,
said ring being provided with raised outlets equal in number to the conduits and
in line with the discharge end of said conduits, and provided with adjustable gates,
and means to rotate said vessel, substantially as specified.
12. In a centrifugal separator, a conically spirally formed conduit, one of the
walls of which is perforated, a plate at one end of said conduit, and a ring at the
other end of said conduit, said ring being provided with a raised outlet in line with
the discharge end of said conduit and provided with adjustable gates, means to
rotate said conduit, a fixed trough or hopper adjacent to the outlet of said conduit
and adapted to receive the product from said conduit.
13. In a centrifugal separator, a conically spirally formed conduit, one of the
walls of which is perforated, a plate at one end of said conduit, and a ring at the
other end of said conduit, said ring being provided with a raised outlet in line with
the discharge end of said conduit and provided with adjustable gates, and means to
rotate said conduit.
14. In a centrifugal separator, a conically spirally formed conduit, a plate at one
end of said conduit, and a ring at the other end of said conduit, said ring being
provided with a raised outlet in line with the discharge end of said conduit and
provided with adjustable gates, means to rotate said conduit, substantially as
specified.
15. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel, provided with a conically
spirally formed conduit, one of the walls of which is perforated, a part of the walls
of said conduit being removable in sections from the remainder of the conduit for
admission into the interior of the conduit at different parts.
16. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel provided with a conically
spirally formed conduit, a part of the walls of said conduit being removable in sections
from the remainder of the conduit for admission into the interior of the conduit at
different parts, substantially as specified.
17. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of perforated
walls connected one to another by plates, said perforated walls and plates forming
a series of conduits, said conduits extending outwardly toward the periphery and
upwardly in the form of a spiral.
18. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of walls con-
nected one to another by plates, said walls and plates forming a series of conduits,

page_text: said conduits extending outwardly towards the periphery, and upwardly in the form
of a spiral, substantially as specified.
19. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of perforated
walls connected one to another by plates, said perforated walls and plates forming
a series of conduits, covers for said conduits, said conduits and covers extending
outwardly toward the periphery and upwardly in the form of a spiral.
20. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of walls con-
nected one to another by plates, said walls and plates forming a series of conduits,
covers for said conduits, said conduits and covers extending outwardly towards the
periphery and upwardly in the form of a spiral, substantially as specified.
21. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of perforated
walls connected one to another by plates, said perforated walls and plates forming
a series of conduits, covers for said conduits formed in two or more sections, said
conduits and covers extending upwardly and outwardly in a spiral form.
22. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of walls con-
nected one to another by plates, said walls and plates forming a series of conduits,
covers for said conduits formed in two or more sections, said conduits and covers
extending upwardly and outwardly in a spiral form, substantially as specified.
23. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of perforated
walls connected one to another by plates, said perforated walls and plates forming
a series of spirally conically formed conduits, the material being received at one
end and discharged at the other end of said conduits, and means to regulate the
quantity of discharge from said conduits.
24. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of walls con-
nected one to another by plates, said walls and plates forming a series of spirally
conically formed conduits, the material being received at one end and discharged at
the other end of said conduits, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge
from said conduits, substantially as specified.
25. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of perforated
walls connected one to another by plates said perforated walls and plates forming a
series of conduits, covers for said conduits, said conduits and covers extending in
the form of a conical spiral, the material being received at one end and discharged
at the other end of said conduits, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge
from said conduits.
26. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of walls con-
nected one to another by plates, said walls and plates forming a series of conduits,
covers for said conduits, said conduits and covers extending in the form of a conical
spiral, the material being received at one end and discharged at the other end of
said conduits, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge from said conduits,
substantially as specified.
27. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of perforated
walls connected one to another by plates, said perforated walls and plates forming a
series of conduits, covers for said conduits formed in two or more sections, said
conduits and covers extending in the form of a conical spiral the material being
received at one end and discharged at the other end of said conduits, and means to
regulate the quantity of discharge from said conduits.
28. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable vessel having a series of walls
connected one to another by plates, said walls and plates forming a series of
conduits, covers for said conduits formed in two or more sections, said conduits and
covers extending in the form of a conical spiral, the material being received at one
end and discharged at the other end of said conduits, and means to regulate the
quantity of discharge from said conduits substantially as specified.
29. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable unobstructed conduit having a
receiving end, and a discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly
from the receiving to the discharge end, and means to regulate the quantity of
discharge, said conduit having an inner and outer wall, one of said walls being
perforated.

page_text: 30. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable unobstructed conduit having a
receiving end and a discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly
from the receiving to the discharge end, said conduit having an inner and outer
wall, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge, substantially as specified.
31. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable unobstructed conduit, having a
receiving end and a discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly
from the receiving to the discharge end, said conduit having an inner and outer
wall, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge, a fixed trough or hopper
adjacent to the outlet of said conduit, substantially as specified.
32. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of rotatable conduits each having a
receiving end and a discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly from
the receiving to the discharge end, and each having an inner and outer wall, one
of said walls being perforated, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge of
each conduit independent of the other.
33. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of rotatable conduits each having a
receiving end and a discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly fro.n
the receiving to the discharge end and each having an inner and outer wall, one of
said walls being perforated, a plate at one end of said conduits, a ring at the other
end, said ring being provided with raised outlets equal in number to the conduits
and in line with the discharge end of said conduits, and provided with adjustable
gates.
34. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable conduit, having a receiving end and a
discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly from the receiving to
the discharge end, said conduit having an inner and outer wall, one of said walls
being perforated, a plate at one end of said conduit, and a ring at the other end
of said conduit, said ring being provided with a raised outlet in line with the
discharge end of said conduit, and provided with adjustable gates, and means to
rotate said conduit.
35. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable unobstructed conduit having a
receiving and a discharge end, and means to regulate the quantity of discharge,
substantially as specified.
36. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of rotatable conduits each having a
receiving end and a discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly from
the receiving to the discharge end, a plate at one end of said conduits, a ring at
the other end, said ring being provided with raised outlets equal in number to the
conduits and in line with the discharge end of said conduits, and provided with
adjustable gates._
37. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable conduit having a receiving end and a
discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly from the receiving to the
discharge end, one of said walls being perforated, a plate at one end of said
conduit, and a ring at the other end of said conduit, said ring being provided with
a raised outlet in line with the discharge end of said conduit, and provided with
adjustable gates, and means to rotate said conduit.
38. In a centrifugal separator, a plurality of rotatable conduits each having a
receiving end and a discharging end, and having a pitch extending outwardly from
the receiving to the discharge end, and each having an inner and outer wall, and
means to regulate the quantity of discharge of each conduit independent of the
other.
Dated this Fourth day of February 1895
SOREN C. ROCKMAN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.