US2370353A - Centrifugal separator or clarifier - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1945. A. F. HowE v CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OR CLARIFIER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 19, 1940 Peb. 27, 1945. A. F HOWE 2,370,353

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OR GLARIFIER Filed Sept. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f a a ef IM- lll -'llM 3f ry i v a f2 l 17 i K? if )y Feb. 27, 1945. A F HOWE '2,370,353

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OR CLARIFIER Filed Sept. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb- 27, 1945 l A. F. HowE 2,370,353

V CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR 0R CLARIFIER Filed Sept. 19,v 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. F. HOWE kCEINTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OR CLARIFIER Feb. 27, 1945.

Filed Sept. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 rerenred Fei. 27, i945 cENTmFUGAL sEPAnA'roa. on erhmmm Andrew F. Howe, University City, Mo. Application september 19, 1940, serial No. 357,348

(c1. 21o-o9) 2 Claims.

This invention has reference toa centrifugal separator or clarifier; and relates particulariy to mechanisms for use in detaching solids and the like from fluids in which they are sustained or immersed, and thereby partially drying the solids.

Objects of the invention are to provide a machine comprising differentially rotating parts arranged to receive in a space between them the `materials to be separated or clarified, and for effecting either a continuous or an intermittent now and discharge of the separated and partially dried solids from one end of said space and the fluid from the other end of said space; to provide an improved and highly eflicient mechanism for continuously rotating said parts; to arrange said parts at appropriate angles of inclination from a horizontal plane to control the movement of the solids toward the discharge outlet therefor at one end of said space; to 'provide means for regulating and controlling the movement of the solids toward the discharge outlet therefor; to provide means for' controlling and regulating the velocity of centrifugal movement or'ilow of the solids into said space in order to prevent damage to or cutting of any of the parts by the solids contacting therewith; to provide improved valve means for openingk and closing the space to effect intermittent discharge of the solids therefrom; to provide centrifugalr actuators for said valve means for moving the same to closed position to prevent discharge of the solids from said space; to provide mechanism for intermittently opening said valve means to permit intermittent discharge of the solids from said space automatically and as an incident to operation of the machine; and

an automatic oil lter device embodied in thel machine shown in Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the machine shownein Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the means for controlling and regulating or retardingthe centrifugal feed of sand and other heavy materials into the m9.- chin for processing operations.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the parts of the screen bowl in separated relationship before being attached together.

Fig. 6 is a sectional Viet?7 on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. o

Fig. 'l is a vertical sectional view of a solid bowl machine having a valve and centrifugal mechanism for closing the same.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the machine shown in Fig. 7,

' showing one form of mechanism for controlling the centrifugal devices provided to close the bottom valve.

' Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view showing another form of said centrifugal devices.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a machine having two valves for alternately controlling discharge of solids from the solid bowl machine shown in Figs. l and 8.

The machine shown in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, is oflthe continuous flow type and comprises a tubular shaft I supported in bearings 2 and 3 for rotation about a vertical axis. A pulley 4 attached to the lower end of the shaft I is engaged by belts 5 driven by a pulley 8 constantly rotated by a motor l. I have found that this type of driving mechanism for a continuous centrifugal 4 drier is greatly superior to positive gear driving tially conical canopy 9. This frame 8-9 may be rigidly supported in a rigid frame structure I0.

The upper end of the shaft I is formed withan f An annular disc I2 is integral radial flange II. seated on the flange il and formed with an integral downwardly and outwardly inclined fluted peripheral portion I! surrounding the upper end of the canopy. 9 and functioning as a guard to .4 prevent foreign substances from passing into the of parts. The conical portion II 'of the bottom: plate has a series of integral radial and circumferentially spaced armsor spokes I1 formed integral or rigid at their outer ends with a ring Il. The spaces between the arms or spokes I1 constitute passages for the solids or solid material discharged fromthe centrifugal mechanism in a substantially dry state because of the fact that a very large proportion of water and other liquid is separated from the solids by operation of the machine.

A conical screen basket Il having therethrough a large number of elongated slots 20 extending generally in a circumferential direction has a radial supporting flange 2I seated upon the ring Il and rigidly attached thereto by an annular series of removable and replaceable bolts or fasteners 22. The cone I constitutes a part of the screen basket and supports the remaining elements of said basket. A conical woven wire screen 23 (Fig. 5) is attached to the inner side of the cone I9; a relatively thin perforated plate 24 covers the entire inner surface' of the woven screen 23, the holes 25 through said plate 24 being perpendicular or normal to the surfaces of said screen and, therefore, inclined outwardly and upwardly relative to the vertical axis of the cone and of the shaft I. A relatively thin combined screen element ,and guard plate 25 is seated against the inner surface of the plate 24, and

is formed with numerous horizontally elongated slots 21 through which water and other fluids may pass to the screen plate 24. The smallinclined holes 25 permit the water and other fluids to pass therethrough; but, since the walls of -said holes are inclined, centrifugally impelled solids are stopped by said plate 24 and do not pass in any substantial amounts through the holes 25. Some of the centrifugally impelled solids become lodged and retained temporarily within the slots 21 in the combined screen and guard plate 26. Because of the fact that the basket cone I5 is `rigidly attached to the rotary tubular shaft I,

the entire lscreen basket comprising the cone I9. the screen 23, the plate 24, and the screen and 24 and 23 are rigidly attached to the upper end of the screen basket I8 by a clamp ring 28 and screws 2 9 (Fig. 3).

A rigid housing wall 3| forms a space 3| around the centrifugal screen cone and supports an inlet hopper 32 which extends downwardly into and through an opening in the upper end of the screen basket I9. The mixed liquids and solids are delivered into themachine through said inlet hopper either intermittently or continuously according to the nature'of the materials and the purposes for which the machine 'is used.

A shaft 33 is mounted concentrically within the shaft I forrotation within bearings 34 and 35 mounted in said shaft I and permitting the shafts I and u to be rotated differentially. AA gear li attached to the lower end of the shaft l meshes with ,a gear 3.1 attached to a shaft 38 Ajournalled for rotation in bearings 3l about an' axis parallel with the axis of the shafts "I and 33. LA gear 4I attached to the shaft 3l below the gear 31 meshes withla gear 4I attached to the shaft 33 below the gear tl. The dimensions of these gears Il, 31, and 4I are such as to rotate the shaft 33 'at any desired differential.. speed-either slower or fasteras compared with thespeed ofro'tationof the shaft .I. In some although this differential may be varied as desired.

A rigid leak-proof housing 42 enclos'es the differential gearing and also supports a bearing 43 for the extended end of the shaft 33 below the bearing 34. An oil container 44 is rigidly supported adjacent to the housing 42 and discharges oil through a tube 45 into the lower end of said housing to lubricate the gearing confined therein and the bearings 34 and 43. An oil rpump 46 of known construction and operation is attached to the lower end of the shaft 35 and forces oil through a tube 41. opening into .the cylindrical portion 8 above the bearing s. The oil passing from the tube 41 lubricates the bearing 3 and passes downwardly therefrom to lubricate the bearing 2, and thence passes through a tube 48 into the container 44 and into a fllter 49 in said container. Thus, the used oil is ill tered before passing from the container 44 back into the housing 42 through the tube 45. The cap 50 of the container 44 is removable and re. placeable in order to permit the filter 49 to be removed and replaced or cleaned as desired.

An inner trunco-conical member comprising a lower cone member 5I and an upper continuing cone member 52 is rigidly attached to and rotated by the upper end of the shaft 33 within the screen basket and separated from said basket by a conical space 53. A spiral series of flights 54 is attached to the inner cone within the space 53 and said flights are, in some instances, provided with elastic outer edges or rubbing surfaces 55 which rub or operate against the combined screen element and guard plate 26 because said flights are rotated differentially with respect to the screen basket. This differential movement of the flights rubbing against the plate 26 moves and stirs the solids temporarily lodged and retained within the slots 21, and causes said solids to movedownwardly through the space 53 to ultimate discharge through the spaces between.

the spokes I1. In some instances, a conical or dome-shaped plate 58 is attached to the upper end of the inner cone (Fig. l); or, if desired, a flat plate 51 (Fig. 3) may be attached to the upper end of said cone. Curved retarder flanges 5l (Fig. 4) are formed integral or rigid with the upper surface of the plate 56 or the plate 51, as the case may be, the outer ends of said flanges curving to form pockets 59 in the forward sides thereof to retard and delay speed of centrifugal movement of the materials discharged onto said plates through the inlet 32. The pockets 59 are formed by .continuous rearward and forward curvature of the flanges 58. The materials are discharged slowly and' without great centrifugal force from the pockets 59 into the space 53. By centrifugal -and conduct them to a suitable point of delivery and' prevent them from passing downwardly to thesolids discharged from the lower end of the space`53.

The solids pass from the lower end of the space 53 betweenv the spokes I1.onto a rotary conical instancesjl.' have found it desirable to provide a. differential of approximately 1000 revolutions of the/shaft 1 990 revolutions ofthe shaft.

floor tI. iThe conical floor 6I is supported on rollers 42 and .has its upper portion extending `inwardly toward the stationary conical frame I in order to rccciveand conduct downwardly the solids passing from the space 53. An annular rack I8 is attached to the inner side of the conical door Si and is engaged by a constantly rotating gear 88 attached to the upper end of a shaft l5. The shaft 95 is driven by any appropriate mecha.- nism, and is preferablycoordinated with the motor so that the floor BI will be rotated concurrently with the operation of the centrifugal mechanism.

The solids are discharged from a rotary conical conveyor or :door 6B onto the bottom 66 of a reor flights 68 also tend to separate the solid particles or pieces and prevent cohesion thereof.

The forms of the invention shown in Figs. 7, 8,

9 and l0 are embodied in a continuous centrifugal self-cleaning separator and clarifier of the solid bowl type. One form of solid bowl machine is disclosed in my companion application Serial No. 129,14, led March- 5, 1937, patented October 22, 1940, No. 2,218,532. Said machine comprises a rotary solid bowl 59 rigidly attached by fasteners l@ to a support li. The bowl 59 is above the support il, and said support has numerous passages l2 therethrough for the downward discharge of solids from the bowl 69. The support li is rigidly and detachably secured to and supported by a iiange i3 formed on the upper end of a tubular shaft 'id analogous to the shaft i, already described. The shaft 'id is supported in bearings it and l@ for rotation about a vertical axis. A pulley il attached to the lower end o the shaft 'F45 is engaged by a belt or belts 'it operated by a pulley 'i9 constantly rotated by a motor dt. This driving mechanism for the shaft ld is like that already described for driving the shaft i and possesses the same advantages. The bear ings le and it are mounted in a rigid stationary frame including a cylindrical portion di enclosing and supporting the bearings i5 .and it and formed integral or rigid with a substantially conical i'ranie portion t2. This frame is rigidly mounted in a frame structure t3. By this mechanism the shaft llt and the solid bowl 59 will be constantly rotated when the motor d@ is running.

A shaft d@ is mounted eonoentrically within 'the shaft id for rotation in bearings t5 and tt whichy permit said shafts to be rotated differentially. A gear di attached to the lower end of the shaft lt meshes with a gear ed rigid on a shaft d@ lournalled for rotation in bearings 9@ about'an axis l parallel with the axis of the shafts H13 and td. A gear si attached to the shaft @t below the gear @d engages a gears? secured to the shaft @d below the gear The relative dimensions of these gears are such as to rotate the shaft iid at any desired dierential speed with respect to the speed oi rotation of the shaitlt. The dierential of rotation as between these shafts may be varied as desired. A rigid housing et enoloses the diiferential gearing and supports a bearing 9d for the extended lower end oi the shaft ed.

A'wall 95 is attached to the extended upper end of the shaft tt beyond the upper end of the shaft ld and within the solid bowl 39. A tube @t rigid with the wall 9E constitutes a passage lthrough which the mixed solids and liquids are conducted into the centrifugal mechanism for separation. A number of openings @l in thel lower end of the tube 96 permits the solids and liquids to ow or to be forced by centrifugal action from within the tube 9B to the outside of said tube within the solid bowl 69. A conical series of inclined nights or agitators 98 is attached to the tube 96 and operate close to the inner surface of the solid bowl 89 to assist movement of thesolids downwardly and the liquids upwardly for dis charge fromsaid bowl, substantially in the manner of my said Patent No. 2,218,532.

An annular space 99 is formed between the lower'portion of the wall of the solid bowl 69 and the periphery of the bottom wall 95. The wall 95 is below the openings 91 and, fora short time, supports the solids and liquids until they are thrown outwardly by centrifugal action, assisted by the 'langes lll above the wall 95 and at the lower end of the tube 96. The agitator nights 98 extend downwardly through the annular space 99 and terminate near the lower end'of the continuously rotating solid bowl 89.

Valve means comprisinga plate IDI is provided for intermittently opening and closing the lower to the plate mi.

end of the bowl B9 to effect intermittent discharge of the solids from said bowl through the passages l2. A hub m2 formed integral with the plate IBI is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 86 for longitudinal sliding and relative turning movements. The hub |02 cooperates with the enclosed portion of the shaft 88 to forni an oil chamber its rendered leak-proof at its upper and'lower ends by elastic gaskets or packing devices |04, preferably retained from longitudinal displacement and leaving the shaft 84 free to rotate while the plate Ii remains stationary, and permitting longitudinal sliding movements of said plate along the shaft 8.

L'l'lie plate mi is located between the support 'il and the lower end of the solid bowl 69, and is of greater diameter than the opening from the lower end of .said bowl. An annular valve seat it is attached to the lower end of the bowl 69 for engagement by a sealing ring Bilt attached The plate lili may be moved longitudinally along the shaft 8d to engage the sealing ring it with the valve seat l d5 and thereby close the lower end of the solid bowl to prevent discharge of solids therefrom through the passages 32.

in the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8, an annular series of centrifugal actuator weights is? are mounted on pivots it carried by the support il. The weights l0? are inwardly beyond the passages l2 and have arms |09 engaging against the underside of a bearing ring lid in connection with the underside oi the plate iti. Because of the fact that the support il is continuously rotated when the motor dil is running and the machine operating, the weights itil are impelled outwardly by centrifugal force, as re' quired to support the plate IG! in a position in which the seal IUS engages the valve seat ld Aand thereby completely closes the lower end of to the lower extended end of the saft 84 within thesupport Hl. The 'shaft sa is tubular and its lower end opens into the cylinder H2, and the upper end of said shaft has passages I I3 opening communication from the chamber |03 to a series of cylinders ||5 attached to the support 1|. Pistons ||5 in the cylinders ||5 have stems ||1 engaging arms ||0 extending inwardly from the up r ends of the centrifugal actuator weights i 'Ihe cylinder ||2, shaft 34, passages ||3, tubes ||4, and cylinders contain oil or other hydraulic liquid whereby the lpistons I I5 may be moved and forced in a direction to .move the centrifugal actuator weights |01 inwardly, leaving the valve plate |0| free for downward movement from the valve seat |05 to permit discharge of solids from the lower end of the bowl 53 through the passages 12. Each cylinder ||5 may enclose a spring ||9 to assist in quickly moving the piston i I5 to actuate or disable the centrifugal weight |01 controlled by said piston. By this arrangement the valve plate |0 is caused to rotate with the solid bowl 09 instead of with the shaft 34, the ends 'of the chamber |03 being kept leak-proof by the sealinggaskets |04.

A piston |20 is mounted inthe. lower end of the cylinder ||2, and has a rod |2| projecting downwardy through a packing |22 at the lower end of the support i||. The lower end 'of the cylinder ||2 is rotatively mounted in a bearing |23 in the support iii. The lower end of the piston rod |2| has pin and slot connection |24 with a lever |25 mounted on a fulcrum |25 whereby the piston |20 may be moved upwardly to force the oil or other liquid against the lower ends of the pistons ||6 to cause said pistons to disable the centrifugal actuators |01 and move them inwardly against the impulse of centrifugal force to permit the valve 0| to be opened by the pressure of the solids within the bowl 59. Wh'enthe4 lever |25 is released, the centrifugal weights |01 will swing outwardly, forcing the liquid from the cylinders ||5 through the tubes ||4, chamber |03, and shaft 34,-into the cylinder liz to move the piston |20 downwardly.

The solids passing from the openings 12 are discharged onto a rotaryconical floori21 analogous to the rotary conical iloor 5| and supported on rollers |23 carried by the frame 32 and centered by rollers |29, also carried by said frame. An annular rack |30 attached to the conical floor |21 meshes with a pinion |3| secured to the upper end of a rotary shaft |32. A gear |33 the lever |4|, to pass the roller |43 beyond and out of engagement with the lever 25. When the roller |43 passes out of engagement with the lever |25, the pressure of the materials withinthe bowl 09 opens the valve |3| and permits flow of the solids from said bowl until the valve is again closed. The lever |25 is operated by the lever i4| once during each revolution of the shaft |42, and speed of rotation of the latter may be regu-v lated and timed as desired in order to effect operation of the valve |0| at the desired time intervals.

'I'he oil circulated by the pump |40 to lubricate the bearings 15 and 15 is returned to the housing 93'through a pipe |45. Fromthe housing 93 the oil may pass into the support through a passage |43 to lubricate the bearing |23.

The construction and arrangement of the parts of the machine shown in Fig. 9 are the same asI the construction and arrangement of the parts shown in Figs. 'I and 8, with the exception of the means for operating the centrifugal actuators. In Fig. 9, the centrifugal actuators supported on the pivots |5| have arms |52 engaging the bearing ring ||0 in the manner that the arms |09 engage said bearing ring. 'I'he cylinders |53 enclose pistons |54 having rods |55 engaging levers |59. The levers |55 are supported on pivots |51 and have projections |53 engaging in :frames |59 attached to the centrifugal actuators |50. When the pistons |54 are forced outwardly by the liquid entering the cylinders'i53, the levers |55 are operated .to move the l centrifugal actuators |50 to ineffective positions against centrifugal impulse, leaving the valve |0| free to open. In other particulars, the mechanism shown in. Fig. 9 is the same as that already described, and the same reference numerals are applied to like parte.

\ During operation of the machine, the solids discharged through the openings 12 onto the impeller cone |21 pass to a supporting door |53 along which the solids are moved or swept and agitated by sweeper and stirrer arms |5|. The solids are moved to a discharge outlet (not shown), and the agitation andv movement thereof is attached to the lower end of the shaft |32 and meshes with' a pinion |34 secured to a shaft |35 supported within the Vhousing 93.4 A worm gear |35 attached to the shaft |35 meshes with a worm |31 on a shaft |33 rotatively supported within the housing 93; The shaft |35 is constantly rol tated when the motor 33 is running by a pulley |39 attached to said shaft and engaged by the belts 15. An oil pump 43 is operated by the shaft |33 within the housing 33 to circulate oil Zinn'i the manner explained in the description of The lever .|25 may bemanually operated, or`

mechanically operated` at or after equal time intervals, as desired. As shown generally at the lower portion of Fis. '1. a lever |4| attached to a. rotary shaft |42 may be equipped with a' roller device. |43 to engage and operate the lever |25 to raise the piston. |23. A gear |44 attached to the shaft |42 meshes with'a-pinion |45 secured t0 a rotary shaft |45. The shaft `l|45 may be driven by a motor |41 in order to rotate the lever |4| to engage the roher |43 intermittently with the lever |25 and operate the same to raise the piston |23; and-during continued movement of by the arms |3| effectively prevent cohesion and increase the drying effect of the machine.

The machine shown' in Fig. 10,/like the machines shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is generally designated a solid bowl machine because the bowl 39 is imperfora and does not function as a sieve or strainer to permit passage of liquid therethrough, but requires the liquids to pass from the 'bowl through the upper end thereof, as disclosed in my said Patent No. 2,218,532, dated October 22, 1940. The same reference numerals are applied to like parts in Figs. "I, 8 and l0. The

machine shown in Fig. 10 comprises two valve devices for alternately and intermittently controlling discharge of solids from the bowl 53 instead of the single valve means |3| contained in the machine of Figs. 7 and 8.

As shown in Fig. l0. the agitator flights 33' terminate considerably above the valve seat |35.

and are of less Vlength than their analogs 33, to provide space for an annular valveseat |32 at'- tached to the inner surface of the bowl 39 just below the ends of the agitator flights Valve means comprising a plate |53 is formed rigid or integral with the hub |32' analogous to the hub |02 previously described and arranged in the same relationship to like` elements contained in the precedingform of the invention and having' asvosa guiding member |85 concentric with the hub |82' l and with the shaft Il. A valve plate |88 is formed with aninteZralchub |81 mounted for sliding movements on ythe guide member |88 below the valve |83. A sealing ring |88 is attached to the upper surface ot the valve plate |88 for engagement with the valve-seat |88.

An annular series of rocker levers |88 are mounted for s movements on supports |10 attached to the plate A|'|| constituting a part of the rigid support 1| secured to the bowl 88. The tubes ||4 that form communication from the chamber |03 to the series of cylinders |-|8,'at tached in this instance to the fplate pass through openings' in the valve plate |83 so as to function in the manner before described to operate the centrifugal devices il'l by which the valve Plate |68 is moved to its closed position.

In operation, the shaftsjl and I4 are continuously rotated at dierential speeds by the mechanismshown in Fler?, and the valve |18 is allier-` nately opened and "closed by operation of the centrifugal actuators |81. When the valve lis closed. the valve |83 4is opened and held open -by the contents of the lbowl 88 side thereof. which pressure is increasmil by centrifugal force. -This permitsthe solidsto poss the valve |83 into the space ly above the valve |88. When fluid pressure is admitted into the cylinders llt. thecentrii'ugei actuators |01' are moved to positions to permit the valve |88 to be opened Fb! the prolsllreioif the' solid materials thereon, which is byo'entrits ugal iorce. When valve i is manner operates the rocker'l levers Into raise the valve I toitsclosedpositiomandthiealtsr nate operation of these vaivesis repeatedto dis charge measured quantities ot solids from lbowl Il under control otthe alternately and termittently operated vains- III an .this the solids can pass out the |2.

solids; a substantially asainstthe upper intsandanddistilleryslopsandthelikmabout coal; an about 45 for 'drying 'The angle oi inclination of the screen basketmaybevaxiedfordiiierentpurposesand uses to attain best results as determined by experience. I'he term angle of inclination refers to the inclination with respect to the horizontal f plane. l

The machine may be varied in various other particulars than those specifically described and shown in the drawings without departure from the nature and principle ofthe invention. I contemplate such variations within the scope of eqlivcaegt limits as may be dired.

1.oIn 'a'centrifugal machine having a polifo-rr rated outer conical element provided with a screen and a solid inner conical element forming between them a space for receiving mixed solids and liquids and' having an inlet for supplying said mixed solids an`d liquids into said space and also having a downwardly directed opening for discharging said solids from said space, outer and inner coaxial shafts for rotating said outer and inner elements, respectively, and a housing wall `around said outer conical element forming a space for receiving liquids separated from said annular .trunoo-conical floor concentric, with said shafts located below said. space for receiving said discharged therefrom through said downwardly ldirected opening, connections covered and protected by said door for rotating said outer shaft, searing for rotating said inner shaft by said outs; shaft,- and gearing wholly covered and protected bysaid floor forrotating said iioor by said connections.

2. In a' centrifugal machine having an outer conical element and an inner element coaxial and cooperating with said outer element to form between them a Ispace for receiving mixed solids and liquids and having an inlet for supplying said mixed solids and liquidsinto said space and alsov having a downwardly directed opening -to dis chargesaidsolidsnomsaidspace,ahousingwsll sam gearingiand' connections driven bysaidmotorforrotanssaidshai'ts. V

siuimi'wr'.frown` A around said outer conical elementfoiming a

Images