Improvements in Centrifugal Separators for Liquids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Separators for Liquids.
I, DANIEL JOB DAVIS, of 240 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, United
States of America, Gentleman, 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 more especially to improvements in that class of machines
used in the art of mechanically creaming milk by centrifugal forces.
The object of this invention is to provide certain improved features for use in
connection with a centrifugal creaming-vessel whereby the process of separation is
much finer, as all, or nearly all, of the creain or butter-fat is separated from and
taken out of the milk, thereby obtaining a better result than has been possible
heretofore.
The arrangements are such that the milk and cream, when once separated from
each other in the vessel, cannot unite in the least percentage; the line of separation
being clearly maintained until discharged from the vessel.
It has been a difficult matter heretofore to skim or separate without leaving a
profitable percentage of cream in the milk. Another difficulty met with was that
after the cream had been once separated from the milk a certain percentage of
cream would again mingle with the milk before the point of final discharge was
reached. These objections have been obviated by the arrangement herein set forth.
Referring to the drawings
Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section of a centrifugal separator-vessel and
parts embodying my improved features.
Figure 2, a plan; the cover of the milk-pan (shown in Fig. 1.) being removed.
Figure 3, a sectional elevation of a conical diaphragm.
Figure 4, a plan of the same, on line 4, Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated
by the arrow; and
Figure 5, an enlarged, broken-away sectional detail of a tubular screw-plug
through which the skimmed milk is discharged.
A is a separator-vessel or bowl, preferably of the cylindrical form shown, A' a
casing adapted to inclose the separator-vessel, but is broken away in the illustration;
the driving-spindle A being also broken away.
The upper end of the separator or creaming-vessel A is closed by a removable
cap B having a screw-threaded engagement therewith, as shown at a, Fig. 1.
The cap B is of a conical contour, presenting the inclined surface a' from the
point where it joins the vessel up to the contracted neck-part a terminating in a
vertical wall, as shown in Fig. 1.
On the inside of the cap B is located a hollow conical diaphragm C, which is of
a form corresponding to that of the vessel-cap B. This diaphragm is shown in its
working position in Fig. 1; the upper end projecting out through the terminal
neck-end of cap B.
This diaphragm is of a conical or bell-shape at its lower end and gradually
contracts up to the elongated vertical neck-part a³. The neck-part of the
diaphragm is provided exteriorly with the screw-threaded portion a', which is
adapted to engage with the correspondingly threaded interior surface of the neck-
part of the cap B, as shown at a', in removably securing the diaphragm in its
working position.
By this means the diaphragm is removably secured in place and may be con-
veniently disengaged froin the retaining-cap for cleaning or other purposes.
Another very important feature of this structural arrangement is, that the

page_text: diaphragın will always assume a positive center and may be removed and replaced
by the most ordinary operator without the slightest possibility of throwing the
separator-vessel or bowl out of balance, and a perfect separation is always assured.
It is well-known fact that under the ordinary arrangement of bent tubes and
similar devices, rigidly secured to the vessel or bowl, it is a very difficult matter
to bring the same to a true balance and maintain it. The centrifugal strain is so
great that the tubes are often torn from their fixed positions, and the bowl thrown
out of balance, thus necessitating a return to the factory for repairs.
The lower end of the conical diaphragm terminates approximately on a line with
the upper end of the separator-vessel, and provides for an annular space between
the edge of the diaphragm and the inclosing sides, for the upward passage of the
skimmed milk, which continues to flow up the space between the exterior surface
of the diaphragm and the adjacent surface of the cap B, passing into the annular
chamber from which it escapes into the receiving-pan or chamber D through the
passage in screw-plug (Figs. 1 and 5.) adjustably inserted in the neck-part of
cap 1, and is finally discharged through spout b'.
The screw-plug, being adjustable, may be turned inwardly or outwardly so as
to enlarge or diminish the space between the inner end and the adjacent surface
and thereby regulate the outgoing volume.
The cream, as it is separated from the milk, is carried to the center of the vessel
and passes upwardly on the inside of the conical diaphragm into the throat in the
neck-part and escapes through an aperture d in the side wall thereof into the cream-
receiving pan E, and is finally discharged through the spout d
The neck-part of the diaphragm is provided, near its longitudinal center, with an
interior annular flange d, bevelled on the underside, and which contracts or
narrows the cream-passage at this point; the cream passing up through the
elongated slot d³, (Fig. 4.) in the edge of the flange d, on its way to the outlet-
aperture d.
The flange and the elongated slot, in the edge thereof, serve the purpose of
regulating the flow of cream at this point and preserve a proper equilibrium with
reference to the incoming volume of milk when the same is increased or diminished.
Thus it will be seen and readily understood that the milk and cream once separated
cannot again in the least degree mingle together, as each product is completely
isulated and conducted into separate chambers before being discharged from the
separator-vessel.
The discharge end of the milk-spont & is provided with a cup-like trap d', which
keeps the opening into the spout submerged for the purpose of preventing the
entrance of air into the separator-vessel, thereby causing the milk to foam and
create a spasmodic action.
The milk and cream-pans are locked in place by a flanged nut d³, having a
screw-threaded engagement with the upper exterior end of the cap B, as shown
at do, Fig. 1.
The lower end of a milk-receiving tube G terminates in an annular recess g
formed in the interior bottom of the separator-vessel, and is supported up out of
actual contact with the bottom of said recess by a number of feet y', so that the
milk can escape into the vessel from the open end. It will be noted that the lower
end of this receiving-tube delivers the uncreamed or full milk into the vessel below
the line of the interior bottom proper. Thus the force of the incoming volume is
broken and prevented from breaking up the milk and cream-walls already formed
in the process of separation. The feature of delivering the milk in the vessel at
the lowest point greatly facilitates the operation, as the process of separation begins
at once.
The receiving-tube is arranged vertically in the center of the vessel; the upper
end passing up through and terminating just above the top end of the elongated
neck-part of the diaphragm, which is provided with an aperture g³ fitting closely
to the tube. This tube is tapering, gradually increasing in diameter from the
upper to the lower end.

page_text: G' represents a milk-receptacle from which the milk flows into the receiving-tube.
A wing attachment H, for imparting motion to the liquid contents, consisting of
a number of blades h, arranged at intervals and connected at the upper ends by a
ring and at the lower ends by a ring, is placed loosely in the separating
vessel, and is not fastened in any manner. This form of wing is easily balanced,
and being loose is easily taken out for cleaning and other purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim, is :-
1. A centrifugal separator-vessel, provided internally with a diaphragm adapted
to permanently divide the milk and cream-walls on the out-flow, substantially as
described.
2. In centrifugal separators, a removable diaphragm, located on the inside of
the separator-vessel and adapted to permanently divide the out-going volume of
milk and cream before the discharge-apertures are reached, substantially as
described.
3. In centrifugal separators, the combination with a separator or creaming-
vessel, of a removable diaphragm, located in the upper part thereof and permanently
dividing the milk and cream-wall before either volume reaches the point of
discharge from said vessel, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a centrifugal separator-vessel, provided with a
removable cap, of a diaphragm, detachably secured to the inside of said cap,
substantially as described.
5. The combination with a centrifugal separator-vessel, of a removable cap,
provided with a milk-outlet therefrom, and a diaphragm, detachably secured to the
inside of said cap and learing an annular space between said cap and diaphragm,
the latter being provided with a cream outlet, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a centrifugal separator-vessel, of a removable cap,
having the lower part of a conical form and terminating in an elongated neck-part
having a milk outlet, and a conical diaphragm, secured to the removable cap and
terminating in an elongated neck-part having a cream outlet therefrom, the
contour of said diaphragm corresponding to that of the vessel-cap, substantially as
described.
7. In centrifugal separators, a separating diaphragm, the lower part whereof is
of a conical form, and the upper part terminating in an elongated neck extension
having a flange on the interior thereof which is provided with a slot-opening
for the upward flow of the cream to the discharge outlet, substantially as described.
8. In centrifugal separators, the combination with the milk-spout, of a trapping
device, secured to the discharge end thereof, substantially as described.
9. In centrifugal-separators, the combination with a separator-vessel, provided
in the interior bottom with a recess, of a milk-receiving tube, having its lower
delivering-end terminate in said recess, substantially as described.
10. In centrifugal-separators, the combination with a separator-vessel, of a wing
attachment, loosely inserted therein, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th dor of Lun 1801
Witnesses―
L. B. COUPLAND.
W. H. ROSE.
DANIEL JOB DAVIS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, Loudon, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.