100,317. Brown, T. E. April 16, 1915, [Convention date]. Strainer separator.-In apparatus for the centrifugal separation of solids and liquids, the various steps in the process, such as filtration, drying and washing, and the final discharge of the concentrates, are performed without stopping the rotation of the machine bv employing separating - vessels adapted to be periodically reversed in position to permit the centrifugal discharge of the solids after separation, automatic or other timing-devices being provided to control the duration of the successive steps in the process. In one construction, four separating- vessels A, B, C, D and a cylinder 7 are mounted to rotate with a shaft 9 driven by a belt 12 and pulley 13. When the vessels A, B, C, D, which are mounted on individual spindles 1, are in the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the piston 16 is at the top of the cylinder 7, and a pressure fluid is admitted through a pipe 28, the shaft 9, holes 38 in the sleeve 17, and ducts 39 in the piston 16 to the upper side of the piston, where, by its centrifugal pressure, it forces down the piston and by means of the sleeve 17 and head 18 presses down the rollers 19 and turns the vessels A, B, C, D into the position shown in full lines. The materials to be separated are then admitted by the valve 26 and pipe 25 into the spouts 21 and the separating-vessels, the liquid passing through the strainer and filter 22 on to shields 24 and trough 50. The valve 26 is then shut off, and after,a lapse of time sufficient to dry the solids accumulated on the filter 22, the operating-fluid is again admitted from the pipe 28 with such rapidity as to exceed the amount which can flow out through the leakage holes 41. The cylinder of liquid above the piston then extends inwardly until it passes through the holes 42 to the underside, balancing the pressure above, so that the centrifugal forces of the vessels A, 13, C, D are unbalanced, and the vessels turn on their spindles to the position shown in dotted lines, the contained solids being discharged centrifugally into a revolving trough 52. The vessels A, B, C, D are then restored to their original position by reducing the supply of operating-fluid, and the process is recommenced. The timing of the successive steps may be controlled automatically by a. contact-arm 43 rotating at a uniform speed over contact plates 45, 46, 47 connected with solenoids actuating valves. 33, 27, 34. In a modification, the separating-vessels are arranged to be turned on axes parallel to the spindle 9 by an oscillating- vane motor, and hydraulic instead of electric operation of the valves is employed, the timing being effected by a uniformly rotating valve controlling the distribution of the hydraulic pressure. One cr more washing stages may be introduced into the process. Upper and lower bearings 10, 11 are provided for the shaft 9, the weight of the machine being carried on a thrust bearing 14 supported on an oscillating frame 2, which, with the balls 3 and base-plate 4, forms a self-balancing device. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) states that imperforate vessels may be used with the apparatus described, the process being one of decantation instead of filtration. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.