Improvements in Centrifugal Separators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Separators.
I, JOHN JOSEPH BERRIGAN, of 14 Flemminggatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom of
Sweden, 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 relates to centrifugal separators for cream and the like of the
character described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Clement,
Baron of Bechtolsheim No. 2837 dated February 18, 1889, that is to say wherein
the liquid is divided into thin layers in a radial direction by conical plates or their
equivalent arranged in the liquid spaces of the receptacle and caused to rotate at a
high velocity. My improvements are, however, also applicable to other separators
of the same character.
According to my invention I provide means whereby the liquid to be subjected
to the separating process is caused to distribute itself more equally amongst the
spaces between the conical plates or the like and a very complete separation effected.
By so doing I increase the separating capacity of the apparatus and render it more
efficient than heretofore.
or
In the accompanying drawing I have shown in vertical central section two forms
or modifications of my improvements applied to a centrifugal separator
such as that described in the said prior specification, the one form
modification being shown on the left hand side and the other on the
right hand side of the said figure and the above mentioned conical plates being
shown diagrammatically.
a is the centrifugal bowl, receptacle or casing; b is the central feed pipe through
which the milk or other liquid is introduced and which falls to the bottom of the
said bowl; and c, c are the conical plates which are arranged one above the other
and are substantially similar in construction to those described in the said prior
specification so as to divide the liquid to be separated into thin layers in a radial
direction.
According to my present invention I divide the separation chamber into two or
more compartments as hereinafter more fully described. For this purpose I may,
insert one or more discs or pieces each of which consists of an upper conical part
or portion, corresponding to that of the plates c, and a lower part d' which latter
may be either cylindrical and parallel to the inner wall of the bowl as shown on
the left hand side of the drawing, or formed slightly conical as shown on the right
hand side of the said drawing. Either one of these dividing discs d, d' or two or
more of them may be employed. In the latter case I arrange them one above
the other in the manner shown in the drawing. The said discs d, d¹ are each so
formed that a free passage will be left between them and the inner wall of the
bowl or receptacle a, and so that a small space or clearance will be left between
the outer edges of the conical plates c and the said discs d, d. Moreover, when
two or more dividing discs d, dare employed I provide a small space or clearance
between the adjacent discs as shown in the drawing. f is a cup or receptacle into
which the milk or other liquid from the feed pipe b falls and from which it passes
to the separating or conical plates c for separation as hereinafter described."
.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus when employed for the separation of cream is as
follows: The milk entering through the feed pipe b falls into the feed-cup f and
being ejected over the edges of the latter, is, in the common way, subjected to
separation in the spaces formed between the first conical plates c, the cream being
collected towards the centre and passing upwards, whilst the blue or skim milk on
the contrary passes out towards the periphery and is forced to follow the vertical
or almost vertical side wall of the first dividing disc d, d, to the lower edge thereof,
over which it passes and enters into the passage between the said disc and the inner
wall of the bowl casing or receptacle a. It will be seen that the result of this action
will be to restrain or to keep back to a certain degree the outflow of the blue or
skim milk in the said passage, and to give rise to a certain amount of back pressure
at the lower part of the dividing disc d, d, which causes the unseparated milk to
find its way to, and entirely fill up, those spaces between the upper or remaining
conical separating plates that are beyond the dividing disc d, d.
C
By the provision of two or more discs d, d to restrain or regulate the flow of
the milk a very effective separation of the cream will take place in the upper spaces
between the conical separating plates c, which is not found in practice to be the case
when the blue or skim milk is permitted to pass freely to the outflow passage.
It will be readily understood that I may further modify the construction of the
dividing discs d, d, without departing from the nature of my said invention. For
instance, instead of inserting dividing dises as above described and illustrated,
vertical, or slightly conical plates may be soldered or otherwise secured to the
outer edge of one or more of the plates c or their equivalent.
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. In a centrifugal separator of the character herein before referred to, one or
more dividing discs or plates for the purpose of regulating or controlling the flow
of the liquid through the apparatus, substantially as set forth.
2. In a centrifugal separator, the combination, with means for dividing into thin
layers in a radial direction the liquid to be separated, of one or more discs or plates
or their equivalents serving to divide the separation chamber into two or more
compartments substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The improved centrifugal separator constructed substantially as described
with reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing.
Dated this 31st day of December 1897
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.