Patent ID: 7901343

Claim:
A centrifuge apparatus for extracting solids from an incoming particle-laden fluid, the apparatus comprising: a centrifuge bowl, wherein the bowl includes a cylindrical inner-wall surface and an open bottom, and wherein the bowl is configured to rotate around an axis of rotation, and wherein the bowl includes a bowl cover connected to a top of the centrifuge bowl; a particle-laden-fluid catcher fastened to an upper surface of the bowl cover, the fluid catcher having a smaller upper opening and a larger lower portion, the fluid catcher centered around the axis of rotation of the bowl and configured to receive the incoming particle-laden fluid; a plurality of outward-directed passages each having an inner end and an outer end, each one of the plurality of outward-directed passages configured to receive the particle-laden-fluid from the catcher at its inner end, and to extend outward such that the incoming particle-laden-fluid as it travels through the plurality of outward-directed passages is rotationally accelerated to a first rotational speed and is distributed substantially uniformly around an upper portion of the inner-wall surface of the bowl at the first rotational speed, and wherein the first rotational speed is close to a second rotational speed of the inner-wall surface, wherein a layer of solids from the particle-laden-fluid collects on the inner-wall surface of the bowl during operation of the apparatus; one or more peeler blades located inside the centrifuge bowl, wherein the one or more blades are configured to be moved relative to the bowl to peel a layer of solids from the inner-wall surface of the bowl; and a slowing device operatively coupled to the centrifuge bowl, wherein the slowing device is configured to slow the bowl from its centrifugal motion and hold the bowl in a substantially stopped position while the blades peel the layer of solids from the bowl.