Year: 1867

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
MCCOLLEY WESTON, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of October One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, No. 3041, did, for Herself, Her
heirs and successors, give and grant unto WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of
the International Patent Office, No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, Her special
license that he, the said William Robert Lake, his executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as he, the said William Robert Lake,
his executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others; from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
D
077

page_text: Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES FOR SEPARATING LIQUID FROM SOLID MATTER," a com-
munication to him from abroad by me, the said David McColley Weston:
And whereas the said William Robert Lake did at the time of applying
for the said Letters Patent file in the Great Seal Patent Office a Specifi-
cation or instrument in writing under his hand and seal, whereby he
particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed: And whereas by an
assignment under the hand and seal of the said William Robert Lake,
bearing date the Ninth day of September One thousand eight hundred
and seventy, and duly registered in the Great Seal Patent Office, the said
Letters Patent and all the rights and privileges thereby granted became
and are now absolutely vested in me, the said David McColley Weston,
my executors, administrators, and assigns: And whereas since the filing
of the said Complete Specification I have been advised that the second
claiming clause might be held to cover parts of the arrangement not
originally intended to be claimed by the said William Robert Lake, and
also that the sixth claiming clause might be considered too general or
unnecessary, and might tend to mislead and conflict with the second
claiming clause; also that the subject matter of the seventh claiming
clause is of doubtful utility and of no practical importance or advantage,
and for these reasons I desire to alter the second claiming clause by
striking out therefrom in the first line of the sixth page of the print of
the said Specification printed by the Queen's Printers, and published at
the Great Seal Patent Office, the words "or other equivalent spring
.connection," and of disclaiming the sixth and seventh claiming clauses
of the said Specification, and of otherwise altering the said Specification
in the manner herein-after shown.
NOW KNOW YE, therefore, that I, the said David McColley Weston,
by and with the leave of Her Majesty's Attorney-General, and for
the reasons aforesaid, do disclaim the sixth and seventh claiming
clauses of the said Specification. I strike out the words "or of other "
at line 21, page 2; and at line 22 of the same page the words "equiva-
lent spring connection;" and at line 25 of the same page the word
prevent," and I insert in lieu of the last-mentioned word the word
" diminish." I further alter the said Specification by striking out at
page 3, line 4, the word "keep," and insert in its place the words
"reduce to a minimum the tendency of." I also strike out at page 3,
66

page_text: line 32, the words "or spring," and at page 4 the whole of the passage
or words from the word "In" in line 36 to the end of that page, and
thence forward from the beginning of the next page 5 to and inclusive
of the word and figure "Figure 2" in line 13 of that page, and also the
whole of the passage or words from the word "It" in line 24 to the
I strike
word "explained" in line 33 of the same page respectively.
out from the second claiming clause in the first line of the sixth page of
the said Specification the words "or other equivalent spring connection."
And I also strike out the whole of the sixth and seventh claiming clauses.
And I declare that this Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration are not, nor le either of them, nor is any part thereof
respectively, intended to extend the exclusive right granted by the sald Lettera Patent, and that these I'resents shall not
extend the said right in any way whatsoover.
And in order that the effect of the said Disclaimer and Memorandum
of Alteration may be better understood I annex hereunto a copy of the
said Specification as it will appear when so altered and amended,
omitting preamble and testing clauses, videlicet :-
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings
forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention in the first place relates to the method of and means'
for avoiding or overcoming the injurious effects which are caused by the
irregular or unequal distribution of the material to be operated upon
within the cylinders or baskets of centrifugal machines while the same
are rotating with great velocity. This result is attained by so suspending
the said cylinder or basket that the revolving mass will most readily and
certainly approximate an axis of revolution in equilibrio, and will
therefore communicate the least practicable amount of injurious motion
or vibration to the fixed parts of the mechanism and to the structure on
which it is suspended. The plan for suspending the cylinder or basket
consists in the use of a flexible elastic bearing or connection, on which
This
the rotating parts of the machine and the contents are carried.
bearing is so applied as to allow the cylinder to revolve eccentrically so
far as is necessary to permit it to find an axis of revolution in equilibrio
even when the weight of the material to be acted upon is not equally,
distributed in the cylinder, while at the same time the elasticity of the
bearing itself is so applied that in aid of and in addition to the force of
gravity it will exert a restraining force, which increases as the eccentricity

page_text: of movement of the cylinder increases, and tends to control or diminish
any unnecessary and injurious gyration of the revolving parts.
This Invention relates. in the second place to the construction of the
bearing by which the cylinder and its attachments are suspended so as
to permit and ensure the action of the centrifugal machine before
mentioned.
In order that the essential character of the bearing may be better
understood the conditions under which is required to operate will now
be briefly stated. When the machine is in motion the cylinder and its
attachments revolve with great velocity, and when they revolve eccen-
trically by reason of an unbalanced load the rapidity with which the
bearing must vibrate will correspond to the rapidity of the revolutions.
To meet this condition of things it is necessary, first, that the bearing
shall have sufficient freedom of motion to allow the revolving mass to.
find and revolve around its centre of gravity; second, that in order to
permit such rapid vibrations the spindle or bearing should have as little.
weight as is consistent with proper strength, and that part by which it
is connected with the fixed support should move through the least
practicable space so that the momentum of the vibrating parts shall be
reduced to a minimum; third, that while the shaft is free to vibrate
when in a vertical position it shall meet with a rapidly increasing
resistance when it leaves that position so as to reduce to a minimum the
tendency of the cylinder to be thrown into gyration about the point of
suspension, and so as to compel it to revolve as nearly as may be about
its centre of gravity; and, fourth, that the bearing should be connected
with its fixed support by means of some flexible or elastic medium
which, by virtue of its elasticity, will permit the necessary movement of
the bearing without making and breaking its contact with its support,
otherwise the rapid succession of such contacts or impacts of their
surfaces would produce a very objectionable noise and vibration and.
would soon derange the machine. This part of my Invention consists in
the employment of a spindle on which rotates the hollow shaft of the
revolving cylinder. The lower end of this spindle is provided with anti-
friction collars or other suitable means to support the weight of the
revolving parts, while the upper end of the spindle is held by a bushing
or cushion of india-rubber or other elastic material, which is itself held in
a socket fixed to the frame which supports the machine. The elasticity
of such connection serves to permit the necessary freedom of vibration

page_text: cynnder whereby the contents of the same may be more readny dis-
charged than by the method usually employed, and consists in forming
openings in the bottom of the said cylinder around the shaft, which
openings are closed by a valve or cover, as will be more particularly
described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the said improved centrifugal
machines; Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the same; Figure 3
is a plan of the top of the cylinder and casing; and Figure 4 is a
horizontal section of the cylinder and casing on the line x, x, Figure 2.
The machine is suspended from a frame or support a; b is a socket
attached firmly to the said frame, and containing the india-rubber,
bushing c in which the upright spindle d is held, and by the elasticity
of which a limited vibration of the spindle in all directions is permitted.
The said spindle is held firmly in the rubber bushing, and is supported
by a flange on its upper end as shown. Upon this spindle the rotary
parts of the machine are hung and revolve. e is an upright hollow shaft
encircling the spindle d, having a driving pulley f attached to its upper
end. The cylinder or basket g in which the materials to be acted upon
by centrifugal force are placed is attached to the lower end of the said
shaft, as shown in Figure 2. This shaft by being made hollow possesses
great stiffness with little weight, and also affords a very compact and
convenient arrangement for the bearing. The cylinder and its con-
nections are supported on the spindle by means of a shoulder upon the
interior of the shaft resting upon the series of antifriction collars m,
which are supported by a screw nut fitted to the lower end of the
spindle. The cylinder may be constructed in any of the common forms,
with the usual opening at the top, and with perforated sides. In the
bottom of the said cylinder are openings around the shaft, which may
be varied in form, and which are closed by the moveable valve or
cover. which surrounds the shaft e and slides loosely up and down
upon it. The part of the valve which embraces the shaft is formed as a
sleeve, and extends upward around. the shaft a sufficient height to keep
any liquid that may be put into the cylinder from escaping between the

page_text: valve and the shaft. It also forms a suitable guide to the movement of
the valve. The pulley f is so formed as to project above the shaft e and
surround the fixed socket b, by which means the vibratory movement of
the shaft produces but little disturbance of the belt, and for greater
.security the pulley is provided with a flange or flanges. h is a casing,
within which the cylinder revolves, forming a receptacle for the liquids
which are separated by centrifugal force from the materials acted upon.
The operation of the machine is as follows: The cylinder or
basket g is filled through the opening in the top, the valve j resting
upon and covering the openings in the bottom; power is applied to
the pulley affixed to the upright shaft e, and the cylinder with its
contents revolves rapidly and freely upon the spindle suspended in the
rubber bushing c, which enables the revolving mass, however unevenly
its weight may be distributed, to find its own centre of gravity, about
which as an axis it revolves without jarring or concussion. After the
materials contained in the revolving cylinder have been acted upon and
the liquids separated, and discharged through the apertures in the sides
by the centrifugal force thus created, the valve j is raised on the shaft 'out
of the way, and the contents of the cylinder are upon the lifting of the
valve discharged through the openings in the bottom. When the
centrifugal machine is first set in rotation it may have an irregular
motion, which will decrease as the velocity increases till the cylinder
and its contents revolve about their centre of gravity.
About the hub of the pulley f and extending from the lower end of
the hub to the lower edge of the pulley is a semi-globular body, which
by preference is cast or otherwise made integral with the pulley and its
.hub. This semi-globular body in connection with a concave cup, which
may be lined with wood, serves as a brake to stop the rotation of the
machine, provision being made, as shown in Figure 1, for bringing the
concave and convex surfaces into contact. The shaft e is provided
at n with a spring catch for holding the valve j in a raised position. In
Figure 2 a bushing for shaft e is shown fixed in place, the end of the
bushing serving as a shoulder upon the interior of the shaft, and resting
upon the series of antifriction collars m, before mentioned.
Having thus fully described the said improvements as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-

page_text: First. Suspending centrifugal machines at the top by flexible con-
nections operating substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the spindle d and its accessories with
the socket 6 and its india-rubber bushing c to form a flexible and elastic
bearing for the shaft e by which the cylinder may be suspended,
substantially as described.
Third. The employment in a centrifugal machine of a hollow shaft
and a spindle or axle to support the cylinder or basket, substantially as
described.
Fourth. So forming and arranging the driving pulley f upon the
shaft e that it shall surround the spring bearing substantially in the
manner and for the purpose described.
Fifth. An opening or openings in the bottom of the cylinder in such
machines in connection with a valve j for the purpose of closing the said
openings, substantially as described.
hand and l this Twenty first day of
I hereby grant my fiat giving leave to the above-named David
McColley Weston to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the
Specification to which it relates, the above-written Disclaimer and
Memorandum of Alteration.
Temple, October 26, 1870.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES FOR SEPARATING LIQUID FROM SOLID MATTER."-
A communication from abroad by David McColley Weston, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 10th December 1867, and dated the 28th October 1867.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 28th October 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES FOR SEPARATING LIQUID FROM SOLID MATTER," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad by David
M'Colley Weston, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming a part
of this Specification:
This Invention in the first place relates to the method of and means for
avoiding or overcoming the injurious effects which are caused by the irregular
or unequal distribution of the material to be operated upon within the cylinders
or baskets of centrifugal machines while the same are rotating with great
velocity. This result is attained by so suspending the said cylinder or basket
that the revolving mass will most readily and certainly approximate an axis of
revolution in equilibrio, and will therefore communicate the least practicable
amount of injurious motion or vibration to the fixed parts of the mechanism
and to the structure on which it is suspended. The plan for suspending the
cylinder or basket consists in the use of a flexible elastic bearing or connection
on which the rotating parts of the machine and the contents are carried. This
bearing is so applied as to allow the cylinder to revolve eccentrically so far as
is necessary to permit it to find an axis of revolution in equilibrio, even when
the weight of the material to be acted upon is not equally distributed in the
cylinder, while at the same time the elasticity of the bearing itself or of other
equivalent spring connection is so applied that in aid of and in addition to the
force of gravity it will exert a restraining force, which increases as the
eccentricity of movement of the cylinder increases, and tends to control or
prevent any unnecessary and injurious gyration of the revolving parts.
This Invention relates in the second place to the construction of the bearing
by which the cylinder and its attachments are suspended, so as to permit and
ensure the action of the centrifugal machine before mentioned.
In order that the essential character of the bearing may be better understood
the conditions under which it is required to operate will now be briefly stated.
When the machine is in motion the cylinder and its attachments revolve with
great velocity, and when they revolve éccentrically by reason of an unbalanced
load the rapidity with which the bearing must vibrate will correspond to the
rapidity of the revolutions. To meet this condition of things it is necessary,
first, that the bearing shall have sufficient freedom of motion to allow the
revolving mass to find and revolve around its centre of gravity; second, that
in order to permit such rapid vibrations the spindle or bearing should have as
little weight as is consistent with proper strength, and that part by which it-is
connected with the fixed support should move through the least practicable

page_text: space, so that the momentum of the vibrating parts shall be reduced to a
minimum; third, that while the shaft is free to vibrate when in a vertical
position it shall meet with a rapidly increasing resistance when it leaves that
position, so as to keep the cylinder from being thrown into gyration about the
point of suspension, and so as to compel it to revolve as nearly as may be
about its centre of gravity; and, fourth, that the bearing should be connected
with its fixed support by means of some flexible or elastic medium, which by
virtue of its elasticity will permit the necessary movement of the bearing
without making and breaking its contact with its support, otherwise the rapid
succession of such contacts or impacts of their surfaces would produce a very
objectionable noise and vibration, and would soon derange the machine. This
part of my Invention consists in the employment of a spindle on which rotates
the hollow shaft of the revolving cylinder. This lower end of the spindle is
provided with antifriction collars or other suitable means to support the weight.
of the revolving parts, while the upper end of the spindle is held by a bushing
or cushion of india-rubber or other elastic material, which is itself held in a
socket fixed to the frame which supports the machine. The elasticity of such
connection serves to permit the necessary freedom of vibration of the shaft,
and also affords the necessary restraint to prevent a too great departure of the
same from a vertical position.
This Invention relates in the third place to the construction of the cylinder,
whereby the contents of the same may be more readily discharged than by the
method usually employed, and consists in forming openings in the bottom of
the said cylinder around the shaft, which openings are closed by a valve or
cover, as will be more particularly described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the said improved centrifugal machines;
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the same; Figure 3 is a plan of the
top of the cylinder and casing; and Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the
cylinder and casing on the line x, &, Figure 2.
The machine is suspended from a frame or support a; b is a socket attached
firmly to the said frame, and containing the india-rubber bushing or spring c
in which the upright spindle d is held, and by the elasticity of which a limited
vibration of the spindle in all directions is permitted. The said spindle is
held firmly in the rubber bushing, and is supported by a flange on its upper
end, as shown. Upon this spindle the rotary parts of the machine are hung
and revolve. eis an upright hollow shaft encircling the spindle d having a
driving pulley attached to its upper end. The cylinder or basket g in which

page_text: the materials to be acted upon by centrifugal force are placed is attached to
the lower end of the said shaft, as shown in Figure 2. This shaft by being
made hollow possesses great stiffness with little weight, and also affords a
very compact and convenient arrangement for the bearing. The cylinder and
its connections are supported on the spindle by means of a shoulder upon the
interior of the shaft resting upon the series of antifriction collars m, which are
supported by a screw nut / fitted to the lower end of the spindle. The cylinder
may be constructed in any of the common forms with the usual opening at
the top and with perforated sides. In the bottom of the said cylinder are
openings around the shaft, which may be varied in form, and which are closed
by the moveable valve or cover j which surrounds the shaft e and slides loosely
up and down upon it. That part of the valve which embraces the shaft is.
formed as a sleeve, and extends upward around the shaft a sufficient height to
keep any liquid that may be put into the cylinder from escaping between the
valve and the shaft. It also forms a suitable guide to the movement of the
valve. The pulley f is so formed as to project above the shaft e and surround
the fixed socket 6, by which means the vibratory movement of the shaft
produces but little disturbance of the belt, and for greater security the pulley
is provided with a flange or flanges. h is a casing within which the cylinder
revolves, forming a receptaclefor the liquids, whichare separated by centrifugal
force from the materials acted upon.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The cylinder or basket g is
filled through the opening in the top, the valve j resting upon and covering]
the openings in the bottom. Power is applied to the pulley f affixed to the
upright shaft e, and the cylinder with its contents revolves rapidly and freely
upon the spindle suspended in the rubber bushing c, which enables the
revolving mass however unevenly its weight may be distributed to find its
own centre of gravity, about which as an axis it revolves without jarring or
concussion. After the materials contained in the revolving cylinder have
been acted upon, and the liquids separated and discharged through the
apertures in the sides by the centrifugal force thus created, the valve j is
raised on the shaft out of theway, and the contents of the cylinder are upon the
lifting of the valve j discharged through the openings in the bottom. When
the centrifugal machine is first set in rotation it may have an irregular motion,
which will decrease as the velocity increases till the cylinder and its contents
revolve about their centre of gravity. In a machine organized as described,
after the cylinder and its contents attain a rotation about their common
centre of gravity, there is a tendency to depart from rotation on the said
centre, which will if unchecked cause the centre of gravity to describe an

page_text: increasing scroll or spiral: A check is employed in combination with a
centrifugal machine.organized to operate substantially as described, and is so
arranged that it may be brought into such a position relative to the revolving
shaft when the cylinder and its contents are rotating about their common
centre of gravity that on the first slight departure from such rotation the
shaft comes into contact with the check, and the irregular motion will be
thereby prevented. This check, however, must be arranged to be removed
from proximity to the shaft, for if then it should be attempted to check the
irregular movement of the cylinder the check would be broken or injured,
and other injuries might also result from the concussion with the check. In
Figure 3 this check kis shewn in full lines with its head in proximity to the
shaft, and in dotted lines as when removed or swung away from the shaft.
The check k is also shewn in Figure 2. About the hub of the pulley f, and
extending from the lower end of the hub to the lower edge of the pulley is a
semi-globular body, which by preference is cast or otherwise made integral
with the pulley and its hub. This semi-globular body in connection with a
.concave cup, which may be lined with wood, serves as a brake to stop the
rotation of the machine, provision being made as shewn in Figure 1 for
bringing the concave and convex surfaces into contact. The shaft e is pro-
vided at n with a spring catch for holding the valvej in a raised position. In
Figure 2 a bushing for shaft e is shewn fixed in place, the end of the bushing
serving as a shoulder upon the interior of the shaft, and resting upon the
series of antifriction collars m before mentioned.
It is not essential to my Invention that the flexible bearings by which the
rotary parts of the machine are allowed to revolve with an eccentric movement
should be made in the form above set forth. Other forms of bearings or
joints or flexible connections may be made to effect this purpose, such as what'
is commonly called "the universal joint." The upright shaft may also be
connected with its support by means of a ball joint, or a thin disc or plate, or
other flexible connections, so arranged as to give the necessary freedom of
movement to the shaft when it is nearly vertical, and also to exert the
restraining force necessary to keep the revolving parts from gyrating from
that position, as has been before explained.
Having thus fully described the said improvements as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. Suspending centrifugal machines at the top by flexible connections
operating substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the spindle d and its accessories with the

page_text: socket b and its india-rubber bushing c, or other equivalent spring connection,
to form a flexible and elastic bearing for the shaft e, by which the cylinder
may be suspended, substantially as described.
Third. The employment in a centrifugal machine of a hollow shaft and a
spindle or axle to support the cylinder. or basket, substantially as described.
Fourth. So forming and arranging the driving pulley f upon the shaft e
that it shall surround the spring bearing, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose described.
Fifth. An opening or openings in the bottom of the cylinder in such
machines in connection with a valve j, for the purpose of closing the said
openings, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of the cylinder g, the hollow shaft e, the driving
pulley f, the spindlè d, its elastic bushing c and socket b to form the operative
part of a centrifugal machine,, substantially as described.
Seventh. The employment with a centrifugal machine organized to operate
as set forth of a check, arranged substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)