US1160635A - Centrifugal machine. - Google Patents

Description

G- TER MEER CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION mso MAR. 24. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Nov. 16, 915.

G. TER MEER.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 19144 Patenmd Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- GUSTAV TER MEER, 0F HANOVER, GERNY.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

Jl 160L635.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1%,1915.

Original application filed December 10, 1913, Serial No. 805,694. Divided and this application filed March 24,1914. Serial No. 826,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV TER MEER, a subject ofthe Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Hanover, in the Province of Hanover, Prussia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in centrifugal machines adapted for use in separating bodies of different specific gravity and more particularly to that type in which solid or heavier particles in a liquid are forced outward radially by centrifugal force and accumulate adjacent to the outer wall of a drum or other separation chamber rotating at high speed while the liquid and lighter portions form a layer nearer to the center of rotation and overflow from the chamber. In such machines it is customary to intermittently interrupt the delivery of material to be treated when a desired quantity of solid material has accumulated and during such interruptions to effect a discharge of these solid or heavier accumulations.

One of the main features of my invention resides in the means employed for effecting this periodical discharge of the solid or heavier material. A

In its simplest form my improved separating chamber or drum includes a peripheral wall and an end wall which are relatively movable axially, preferably while the parts are rotating at high speed. Thus the solid material will be thrown out radially from the separation chamber as the end wall scrapes it from the inner surface of the peripheral wall during their relative axial movement. In its preferred embodiment the separation chamber has top and bottom walls rigidly connected together and the peripheral wall is axially movable endwise to permit the free radial discharge of the material between the said end walls. By means of this construction the material may be very quickly and completely discharged; one end wall forms a scraper for the inner surface of the peripheral wall; the interior of the separation chamber is substantially free and unobstructed and comprises only one single chamber, free to clean or inspect; and the only points which it is necessary to pack force. Where movable gates, valves or other movable members are employed for controlling the discharge of solid material from the separation chamber, it is extremely diflicult to obtain a tight joint between the relatively movable parts, as the material exerts a pressure not only on the peripheral Wall, but also on the packings and this pressure often amounts to many atmospheres.

An important feature of my invention relates to the means employed whereby I secure the necessary tightness at the joint between the peripheral wall and the end walls and positively prevent the penetration of the liquid through these joints. One of the end walls for instance the lid or top wall, preferably presents a gasket lined seat against which the end of thesdrum casing normally is held by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure. This endwise pressure of the easing and lid may be as great as is necessary to effect the desired tightness and is independent of the pressure exerted by the liquid within the separation chamber. For efiecting a tight joint between the other end wall which serves as a scraper and the peripheral wall of the drum, this end wall, which is preferably the bottom, is made slightly smaller than the drum so that it may move endwise through the latter. If the two parts be made to fit friction tight a thin film or layer of the material may get between the periphery of the bottom and the casing and may there accumulate and harden to such an extent that it is diflicult to secure the desired relative movement of the parts axially to eject the material. If a stuffing box or packing be employed and held against the inner surface of the, drum casing, by mechanical means, great pressure must be employed to overcome the tendency of the liquid to escape when the latter is pressed against the stufiing box by centrifugal force. Furthermore, such high pressure of the packing gland or stutfing material against the peripheral wall will seriously interfere with the axial movement of the parts, and the scraping off of the material from the peripheral wall.

As an important feature of my invention I provide the end wall which serves as a scraper, with packing material held in place against the peripheral wall by centrifugal force. By suitably calculating the weight of the packing material or by mounting in the rear of the packing material the proper radially movable weights, the pressure of the packing material against the inner surface of the drum may at all times be kept slightlv greater than the pressure of the liquid tending to escape past the packing and slightly in excess of the adhesive power of the dried material to the casing. Leak.- age is thus elfectively prevented at. the joint, the material is properly scraped from the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the friction at all times is proportioned to that required to secure the desired results.

My invention involves various other features of more or less importance which will be pointed out hereinafter in connection with a description of one specific form of the machine as a whole and in which my invention is embodied.

It is of course understood that the specific-machine about to be described constitutes only one form which my invention may assume and that various changes, rearrangements, additions and removals may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without departing from the spirit of my invention. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which,

Figure 1 is a central, vertical section through-such a machine; Fig. 2 is a vertical.

central, longitudinal section of a portion of the drum on a somewhat larger scale; and showing certain features differing somewhat in detail of construction from that shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional details showing the packing between the bottom and peripheral wall; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

In the specific form illustrated the main rotating parts of the machine are carried by a centralvertically disposed shaft 10, supported at its lower end in any suitable form of step bearing 11, and having adjacent its lower end suitable driving connections such for instance as a pulley 12, whereby the machine may be driven at high speed. Intermediate of its ends the shaft is supported in a suitable bearing 13, and at its upper end it carries a head 14 secured. thereto in any suitable manner. As shown the head has a central aperture with a conical seat receiving the conical upper end of the shaft and locked in place by a nut on the upper end of the shaft. The head forms the inner or central core of the separation chamber or drum, and is encircled by the peripheral wall 15of the drum, which latter is spaced from the head the required distance to leave the annular separation'chamber. The head adjacent its lower end has integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto an annular wall 16 constituting the bottom of the separation chamber or drum, and presenting a peripheral. face contacting with the inner surface of the peripheral wall. At the upper end of the peripheral wall 15 is a top wall or lid 17 held rigid in respect to the bottom 16 in any suitable manner, as for instance by vertically extending posts 18.

The top wall or lid 17 has a large central opening, through which extends the supply pipe 19 for the material'tobe treated. At the lower end of the supply pipe are spaced guiding plates 20 and 21 extending outwardly over the head 14 and carrying at their peripheries two cylindrical spaced plates or Walls 22 and 23 which latter terminate at their lower ends adjacent to the bottom wall 16. Thus the material to be treated and which enters through the supply pipe 19 is delivered to the drum closely adjacent the bottom of the latter and in a thin annular stream, but ordinarily not until after the drum or separation chamber including the peripheral wall and the bottom and top walls 16 and 17, have reached the desired high speed of rotation. As the mixed liquid and solid material is admitted the solid or heavier material will be thrown by centrifugal force against the wall 15, while the lighter or liquid portions will collect as an inner or more centrally disposed layer. As the material continues to flow into the drum and the latter continues to rotate at high speed, the drum will eventually become filled to such an extent that for each additional quantity of material entering the machine a corresponding amount will flow over the upper, inner edge of the top wall 17. As this edge is nearer the center of rotation than is the peripheral wall 15, it is evident that it will be the lighter .or more liquid portions which will overflow,

and that the heavier or solider materials will remain in the drum. Thus there will be a continuous circulation through the machine, but the heavier particles will be retained. The proper rate of flow of the fluid through the machine determines the capacity of the machine, and is regulated in ac cordance with the composition of the material to be operated upon and by the completeness with which it is desired to separate the solids from the liquid. The slower the circulation the longer the material will stay in the machine and the longer it will be exmeoeaa posed to centrifugal force, thus more solid substance will be deposited and the liquid thrown out over the edge of the top wall will be purer or clearer. The solid material separated by centrifugal force, will settle on the outer or peripheral wall and the resulting layer of the solid material will grow by degrees until the desired thickness has been reached at which time the supply will be shut off. The machine will now contain an outer layer of compact solid material and an inner layer of liquid or semi-liquid material. The innermost layer which extends to the overflow edge may be comparatively clear liquid and ejecting the solid material at this time would result in a simultaneous discharge of the liquid and semi-liquid portions remaining in the drum. In order to remove this liquid and the semi-liquid portions before ejecting the solid or well-dried material ll provide a siphon pipe 24 mounted in the top or frame 25 of the machine and extending into the drum with a pivotal support so that its lower end may be swung inwardly to inoperative position adjacent the top of the plate 20, or may be swung outwardly about a Vertical axis to the point illustrated in Fig. 1. The open end of the pipe when in the latter position will project into the liquid or semi-liquid layers in the drum and due to the high speed of rotation of the latter this portion will be forced into and up the siphon pipe and will be ejected from the machine through a discharge ,pipe- 26.

After the withdrawal of the'liquid and semi-liquid portions from the drum by the siphon pipe 24, there remains in the drum only the solid well-dried material packed against the peripheral wall 15. As previously indicated one important feature of my invention resides in the simple means which I employ to permit the rapid and complete discharge of this solid material. This means operates to effect a relative axial movement of the peripheral wall and the top and bottom walls of the drum. As a simple and eflicient means for producing this movement I provide the head 14 with an annular vertically disposed cylinder 27, containing a piston 28, the piston rods 29 of which extend down through a stufiing box at the lower end of the cylinder. All of the piston rods at their lower ends are connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall 15 by means of an annular plate 30 or a plurality of separate arms disposed below the bottom 16 of the drum. Extending lengthwise through the main shaft 10 are two liquid passages 31 and 32, one of which is connected by suitable branch passages to the upper end of the cylinder while the other is connected by suitable branch passages to the lower end of the cylinder. Adjacent its lower end the shaft is provided with a sleeve 33 having two annular grooves or passages on the inner surface, one of which communicates with one passage of the shaft and the other communicates with the other passage. The sleeve is non-rotatable and has two fluid supply pipes eral wall 15, will at the same time be raised or lowered. It will thus be noted that the peripheral wall is raised or lowered by fluid pressure, and that its raising or lowering may be accomplished entirely independently of its rotation.

The fluid for effecting the movement may be either liquid or gaseous but is preferably a liquid such for instance as oil delivered from a suitable source under pressure, wherebythe peripheral wall may be forced up against the top wall with any desired de gree of pressure. This pressing of the peripheral wall and the top wall together by means of fluid pressure is an important feature of my invention, inasmuch as it permits the effective sealing of the joint between the lid and the peripheral wall. As shown in Fig. 1 and more clearly in Fig. 2, the top wall is of larger diameter than the peripheraliwall and presents on its under surface a seat adapted to receive a gasket 36 against which the peripheral wall may be pressed by the application of fluid pressure to the under sides of the pistons 28. This pressure will of course be proportioned to the centrifugal force exerted on the material in the drum and the resulting tendency of the latter to escape through the joint.

With the bottom wall and the peripheral wall axially movable so as to effect a dis charge of the material I secure a tight joint between these walls preferably by means of a packing the operative pressure of which is directly dependent upon centrifugal force.

This may be in addition to a suitable gasket to which pressure is applied by the axial movement of the casing. As shown particularly in Fig. 3 the peripheral wall presents a shoulder 37 adjacent its lower end upon which is seated a gasket 38, the shoulder and gasket being so positioned that when the pe ripheral wall is forced upwardly to bring its upper edge against the gasket 36, the

gasket 38 will be pressed against the under surface of the bottom 16.

The bottom wall'on its peripheral edge is preferably provided with an annular recess within which is placed-a packing engaging with the inner surface of the peripheral &

wall. This packing is so constructed andso i mounted that it is acted upon by centrifugal force and is pressed outwardly against the peripheral wall with a pressure directly dependent upon centrifugal force. Thls packing may be either of elastic material or of metal or both may be employed if desired. In order that they may be subjected to the action of centrifugal force the packing should not be a single ring, but should be made of sections or should be in the form of divided rings or spirals. As shown in Fig. 2 the bottom wall at its periphery carries two superposed packing rings 39, 39. In Fig. 3 I have shown two similar rings 39, 39,

but both preferably of metaland operating to press outwardly against a packing 40 which may be either metal or elastic material. In Fig. 4 I have shown a very similar construction in which a packing 40 of metal or elastic material is pressed out against the peripheral wall by the action of centrifugal force or a heavy spiral 41, in the rear of the packing. In each instance-the packing or the loose weight in the rear thereof has such specific weight that when the machine isin operation the packing will be pressed against the peripheral wall more firmly than is the material within the drum, so that the latter can not escape past the packing.

In the treatment of certain classes of material in my machine the throwing of the liquid against the peripheral wall or casing of the machine, often results in the formation of undesirable amount of froth. This is particularly true in treating sewage, in which considerable quantities of soap or soapy compounds may be in solution in the liquid. In order to prevent this froth formationI deliver the liquid to an annular upwardly inclined stationary wall over which liquid must pass before escaping. The frictional resistance encountered, the upward direction of the movement of the liquid and the thinning out of the liquid as it covers the larger area toward the periphery, all retard the flow of the liquid, so that when the liquid escapes from the upper free edge of this stationary wall it has lost to a large extent its velocity and may drop into the receiving chamber or conduit without the formation of froth to any objectionable extent.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the top wall 17 provided with a lip 42 from the free edge of which the liquid is discharged during the operation of the machine. The outer stationary casing 43 of the machine carries an annular inclined wall 44, the lower inner edge of which is slightly below the free edge of the lip 42. Around the outer edge of the wall 44 is an annular trough 45, into which the liquid is eventually deposited and from which it may flow through the conduit 46. It will be noted that this wall 44 is station- 1,1eo,asa

upper, inner edge of the lid is bent outwardly to form the lip 42 and the trough 45 is curved in cross-section, but operates in substantially the same manner as the construction shown in Fig. 1.

As previously indicated the material is discharged from the drum by lowering the peripheral wall and permitting material to be thrown out by centrifugal action. The casing 43 is preferably spaced from the peripheral wall a short distance so that the material may strike this casing and drop down into an annular channel 49 adjacent the base of the machine. An inner wall 50 may be carried by the casing 43, concentric therewith, so as to prevent material from falling into the space beneath the drum and thus interfere with the downward movement of the wall 15. Various mechanisms may be employed for removing the material from the trough 49 but preferably I provide a scraper 51 connected to a worm wheel 53, concentric with the shaft but unattached thereto. The connection may be a plate 54' which will prevent-any material from dropping onto the worm wheel. A worm 55 driven in any suitable manner may mesh with the worm wheel and effect the slow rotation of the latter and the scraper so as to deliver the dried material to an outlet conduit 56. This conduit may have a slide valve 57 or any other suitable means for controlling it.

In the operation of my improved machine the successive steps preferably take place substantially aS follows: Suitable power is applied to the shaft 10 to rotate the latter at very high speed, and the inlet valve 58 in the supply conduit is opened to permit the admission of the mixed liquid and solid material to be treated. As previously indicated this solid material accumulates against the inner surface of the wall 15 while the liquid overflows from the lip 42 and eventually reaches the discharge conduit 46 while froth nal source of supply to be retreated rather than disposed of with the liquid flowing out through the outlet 46. The pressure below the piston 48 is now released and pressure is applied to the upper side of the piston to force the casing downwardly axially. The solid material will be thrown out by centrifugal force against the stationary casing 43 and dropped down into the trough 49 from which it is removed by the scraper 51. The peripheral wall is then returned to the position shown in the drawing, the siphon pipe is moved to inoperative position and a fresh supply of material to be treated is ad mitted by opening of the inlet valve 58. It is of course evident that the timing and controlling of these operations may be done entirely by hand, but I preferably accomlish them automatically. In my co-pendmg application Serial No. 805,693, filed December 10th, 1913, I have illustrated a mechanism which is particularly useful in controlling a machine of the charactershown in the present application. The inlet valve 58 may be operated by a piston mounted in a cylinder 59 and the siphon pipe 24 may be moved to operative and inoperative positions by the reciprocation of a piston in a cylinder 60. The mechanism illustrated in my copending application above referred to may operate to control'the flow of liquid to and from the cylinders 27, 59 and 60, so that the successive operations may be performed in the desired sequence after the desired amount of solid material has accumulated. The length of time required for this to accumulate may be automatically controlled as disclosed in my co-pending application above referred to or may be accomplished manually.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 805,694, filed December 10th, 1913, which eventuated in Patent No. 1,094,230 granted April 21, 1914. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is:

l. A centrifugal machine including a separation chamber having end walls substantially rigid in respect to each other, and a .peripheral wall and means for moving said peripheral wall axially to permit the radial discharge of material from said chamber.

2. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including a peripheral wall, means for moving said peripheral wall axially and a scraper for removing material from the inner surface of said wall during said axial movement.

3. A centrifugal machine including a separation chamber having a peripheral wall, and an end wall encircled thereby, said walls being relatively movable axially to permit a radial discharge of the material from said chamber and said end wall having a packing member in engagement with said peripheral wall and normally held in operative position by centrifugal force.

' 4. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including a peripheral wall, against the inner surface of which solid material may accumulate, and an annular scraper for removing the material from the inner surface of said wall, said scraper having a peripheral packing member held in operative position by centrifugal force.

5. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber mcluding a peripheral wall and bottom and top walls, said top wall havmg an annular overflow lip over which liquid may be discharged from said chamber by centrifugal force, means for moving said peripheral wall axially in respect to sald top wall for permitting an axial discharge of the material remaining within said separation chamber, and an annular trough receiving chamber, an annular trough receiving the.

liquid thrown out over said lip, and an annular upwardly inclined wall serving to conduct liquid from said lip to said trough and reduce the tendency toward the production of froth by said liquid.

7. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including a peripheral wall, and a top wall having an annular overflow edge for liquid, and a conduit movable into operative position within said chamber to remove liquid at greater radial distances from the center than said overflow edge, said conduit being normally disposed in inoperative position but movable to present an open end in the path of the rotating liquid within said chamber.

8. A centrifugal machine including a vertically disposed shaft, a head carried thereby and having an annular cylinder therein, a bottom wall carried by said head, a peripheral wall, a piston within said cylinder, and operative connection between said piston and said peripheral wall for effecting an axial movement of said wall.

9. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including an imperforate peripheral wall'and bottom and top walls, said top wall having an annular overflow lip of smaller diameter than said peripheral wall and over which liquid may be discharged from said chamber by centrifugal force, and

axial discharge beneath said top wall of the material remaining within said separation chamber.

10. A centrifugal machine including a separation chamber having a peripheral wall, and a bottom wall encircled thereby,

. a packing member in engagement with said peripheral Wall and normally held in operative position by centrifugal force.

. 11. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including a peripheral wall against the inner surface of which solid material may accumulate, and a scraper for removing the material from the inner surface of said wall, said scraper having a packing member held at its outer edge in operative position against said peripheral wall by centrifugal force.

12. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including a peripheral wall, against the inner surface of which solid material may accumulate, and a scraper having an annular scraping surface for removing the material from the inner surface of said wall, said scraper having a peripheral packing member held in operative position by v centrifugal force, and said scraper and said peri heral wall being relatively movable axia ly.

13. A centrifugal machine including a vertically disposed shaft, a head carried thereby and having a cylinder therein, .,a

bottom wall carried by said head, a peripheral wall, a piston Within saidcylinder and operative connection between said piston and said peripheral wall for effecting an axial movement of said wall.

14. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including a peripheral wall and bottom and top walls, said top wall having an annular overflow lip over which -liquid may be discharged from said chamber by centrifugal force, means for moving said peripheral wall axially in respect to said top Wall for permitting an axial discharge be- 50 neath said over-flow lip of the material remaining within said separation chamber.

15. A centrifugal machine, including a vertically disposed shaft having a head, a separation chamber including a bottom Wall carried by said head and a peripheral wall axially movable in respect to the bottom wall, and means for effecting said axial movement, said means including a piston member and a cylinder member, one of said members being operatively connected to said peripheral wall and the other of said members being operatively connected to said head.

16. A centrifugal machine, including a vertically disposed shaft having a head, a

separation chamber including a bottom wall carried by said head, and a peripheral wall axially movable in respect to the bottom wall, means for effecting said axial movement, said means including a piston member and a cylinder member, one of said members being operatively connected to said peripheral wall and the other of said members being operatively connected to said head, and passages through said shaft for delivering fluid to said cylinder independently of the rotative movement of the shaft and chamber.

17. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including an imperforate peripheral wall and bottom and top walls, said top wall having an annular overflow lip of smaller diameter than said peripheral wall and over which liquid may be discharged from said chamber by centrifugal force, an annular gasket on the under surface of said top wall, and means for effecting a relative axial movement of said top wall and said peripheral wall to permit an axial discharge from said chamber beneath said top wall or to seat said peripheral wall against said gasket and effect a substantially watertight joint.

18. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including an imperforatc peripheral wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said top wall having a gasket in its under surface against which the end of said peripheral wall may seat and said bottom wall having an annular gasket in its periphery seating against the inner surface of said peripheral wall, and means for effecting a relative axial movement of said peripheral wall and said top and bottom walls.

19. A centrifugal machine including a separation chamber having a top Wall presenting an annular seat in the under surface thereof, a peripheral wall having its upper edge normally engaging with said seat to effect a substantially watertight joint, and means for effecting a relative axial movement of said top wall and said peripheral wall to permit the discharge of material from said chamber between said walls.

20. -A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including an imperforate peripheral wall and top and bottom walls, said top wall having an overflow opening disposed nearer to the axis of said chamber than said peripheral wall and through which liquid may be discharged from said chamber by centrifugal force when a predetermined amount of material accumulates against the inner surface of the peripheral wall, an annular chamber encircling said rial within said separation chamber may annular chamber.

21. A centrifugal machine having a separation chamber including an imperforate peripheral wall and bottom and top walls,

be discharged into' said. second mentioned said top wall having an annular overflow I, lip of smaller diameter than said peripheral wall and over which liquid may be discharged-from said chamber by centrifugal force, an annular trough encircling said separation chamber for receiving said liquid so discrged, and means for efi'ecting a relative ial movement of said peripheral wall and said top wall to permit the axial discharge beneath said top wall and beneath said trough of the material remaining within said separation chamber.

22. A centrifugal machine having a sep-' aration chamber including an imperforate peripheral wall and bottom and top walls, said top wall having an annular overflow lip of smaller diameter than said peripheral wall and over which liquid may be discharged from said chamber by centrifugall.

force, an annular trough encircling said separatlon chamber for receiving said liquid so discharged, and means for mov- Signed at- Hanover, Germany, this seventh day of March, A. D. 1914.

GUSTAV ATER MEER.

Witnesses:

T. HENBY REED, 1R; Enrme.

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