of Different Densities or Specific Gravities.
Year: 1886

page_text: of Different Densities or Specific Gravities.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature.
of my 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 relates to improvements in that class of centrifugal separators'
which are employed for separating compound liquids into their constituent liquids'
of different densities or gravities.
The object of this invention is the construction of a machine by which a liquid
composed of three or more liquids of different gravities can be separated by a
continuous operation into its component parts, each product of the separation being:
discharged separately and continuously from the separator.
In the accompanying drawing;
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the improved separator mounted upon a
vertical spindle.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section in line x, x, figure 1.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sections showing modified constructions of this'
improved separator.
Figure 6 is a vertical section, showing a separator of the construction represented*
in figure 5 mounted upon a horizontal shaft.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of a separator adapted to separate
compound liquid into four component liquids.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
:
"
A represents the separating drum provided with an upwardly tapering outer'
wall a, mounted upon a vertical spindle b, which is rapidly rotated by a belt
running round a pulley B, or other suitable means. 6 represents the stationary!
base of the separator, and 6 the stationary case resting on the base b' and'
enclosing the.drum A. c represents the bottom of the drum, and C its central hub
which is secured to the spindle b.
}

page_text: D is an annular collecting chamber for the heavy material, arranged below the
bottom c and secured to the lower portion of the drum. This chamber com-
municates with the large end of the tapering drum, by openings d.formed in the
bottom c closely to the outer wall of the drum. d' is a skimming pipe which is
secured to the stationary frame or casing of the machine, and which projects with
its bent receiving end into the annular chamber D, so as to remove the material
therefrom. e is an annular flange secured to the upper contracted end of the drum
and projecting inwardly therefrom..
E represents upright wings or blades secured to the interior of the drum and
extending from the bottom c to the top flange e. These wings do not extend to
the outer wall a at the enlarged end of the drum, but leave spaces e¹ between their
outer edges and the wall of the drum at the enlarged end thereof, which spaces
permit the heaviest material to distribute or equalize itself over the inner surface
of the outer wall of the drum in the enlarged portion thereof.
F is an annular collecting chamber, for the liquid of medium gravity, secured to
the upper contracted end of the drum above the top Hange e, and communicating.
with the interior of the drum by openings f formed in the top flange a closely to
the outer wall of the drum.*
is a skimming pipe secured to the stationary frame or case of the machine,
and projecting with its bent receiving end into the annular chamber F to remove
the liquid therefrom. g is a similar skimming pipe projecting, with its bent
receiving end, below the top flange e into the body of the drum, in the proper
position to remove the lightest liquid. The upper ends of the wings E are notched
on their inner sides, as shown at h, to clear the pipe g.
I represents the feed pipe which depends into the body of the drum, and
terminates near the bottom thereof on one side of the central hub.
'
The improved machine constructed as hereinbefore explained is adapted to
separate a compound liquid into three liquids of different densities.. It is adapted
for instance for separating the wool bath or wool scourings into its or their three
component liquids consisting of the wool grease or oil which is the lightest
ingredient, the washing solution which is the next heaviest ingredient, and the
semi-liquid impurities which constitute the heaviest ingredient. The wool bath or
scourings is or are fed into the rapidly rotating drum through the feed pipe I and
driven by the centrifugal force against the outer wall of the drum. Under the
influence of the centrifugal force the constituent parts of the wool bath are
separated and arrange themselves in three distinct concentric layers or strata
against the outer wall of the drum, as indicated in figure 1. The outer layer K is
semi-liquid and is composed of the heavy semi-liquid impurities with an admixture
of the solution. This material is forced by the inclined outer wall of the drum
through the discharge openings d into the lower receiving chamber D, from which
it is removed by the skimming pipe d. The next inner layer L is composed of the
washing solution, and escapes through the discharge openings f into the upper
collecting chamber F from which it is removed by the skimming pipe fl. The
innermost layer m is composed of the wool oil or grease, and is removed from the
drum by the skimming pipe g. The skimming pipe g and the openings f and d
constitute the three passages through which the three products of the separation
escape from the separating drum proper, and these three passages are located at
different distances from the axis of rotation, corresponding with the three concentric,
layers of the separated component liquids, while the mouths of the skimming pipes
constitute the final discharges and are arranged at nearly the same distance from
the axis of rotation. In this manner the compound liquid fed into the drum is
separated by centrifugal force into three component liquids, and the three products.
of the separation are discharged continuously from the drum.
In the same manner the machine may be used for separating crude starch from
the gluten and other impurities, and for various other purposes.

page_text: In the modified construction represented in figure 3, a deflecting plate or false
bottom m is arranged in the drum above the bottom c, and the discharge. openings
for the heaviest material, marked d in this figure, are arranged at the outer edge
of this deflecting plate. The feed pipe I delivers the liquid to be separated upon
this deflecting plate, and the skimming pipe, for the discharge of the heaviest
material, marked d³ in this figure, enters the space D' between the deflecting plate
and. the bottom, which space performs the function of the collecting.chamber D.
in the construction represented in figure 1. In the construction represented in
figure 4, the heavy liquid is discharged from the space between the deflecting
plate m and the bottom c by overflowing through openings n in the bottom.
In the construction represented in figure 5, the drum is enlarged upwardly, and
the collecting chambers for the heaviest material and the material of medium
gravity are both arranged at the upper end of the drum, and marked respec-
tively D' and F in this figure. The chamber D' is arranged above the top flange e,
and the chamber F is formed between the top flange and an annular plate o
secured in the drum below the top flange.
In the construction represented in figure 6, the drum, having both collecting
chambers D and F at its enlarged end, is mounted upon a horizontal shaft.
In the construction represented in figure 7, the drum is provided with four
separate discharges for discharging four separate component liquids continuously,
For this purpose the drum is provided with three annular collecting chambers D³,
F and F which receive the separated liquids at different distances from the axis
of rotation, corresponding with the three outer concentric layers of the separated
component liquids, and from which the liquids are continuously discharged by
suitable skimming pipes d³, ƒ³, f. The lightest liquid is discharged by the
skimming pipe g, which opens in the innermost layer in the body of the drum.
The receiving ends of the skimming pipes may be made. tapering or spoon
shaped, as may be preferred.
When the liquid fed into the separator is variable in its composition, for instance
when it contains more heavy material at one time than another, the discharge of the
heavy material is intermittent and occurs when a sufficient layer of heavy material
has been separated.
It is obvious that the chambers D¹, D' D³ which receive the heaviest material in
the modified constructions, represented in figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, are the equi-
valents of the chamber D, represented in figure 1, and that the chambers F and F
which receive the liquid of medium gravity in the modified constructions, repre-
sented in figures 5 and 6, are the equivalents of the chamber F which receives the
liquid of medium gravity in the constructions represented in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4;
also that the skimming pipes which remove the liquid from equivalent chambers in
the several constructions perforin the same functions in each construction and are
equivalents of each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my Foreign Correspondents I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination with a separating drum, of an annular chamber D
formed in the drum and receiving the heavy material therefrom, an annular
chamber F formed in the drum and receiving the material of medium gravity
therefrom, and stationary discharges through which the three separated liquids are
automatically removed from the drum and its chambers D and F, substantially as
set forth.
Second. The combination with a separating drum, of an annular chamber D
formed in the drum and receiving the heavy material therefrom, and a skim-
ming pipe d entering the chamber D; an annular chamber F formed in the drum
and receiving the material of medium gravity therefrom and a skimming pipe f¹

page_text: entering the chamber F; and a skimming pipe 9 through which the light material
is discharged from the drum, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with the separating drum having a tapering outer wall,
of an annular chamber communicating with the large end of the drum and
receiving the heaviest material therefrom, an annular chamber connecting with the
small end of the drum and receiving the material of medium gravity therefrom,
and a skimming tube whereby the lightest material is removed from the drum,
substantially as set forth.
DL:
1000