US1422852A

US1422852A - Centrifugal machine

Info

Publication number: US1422852A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1922-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1939-07-18

Description

S. H. HALL.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-,6 1921.

Patented July 18, 1922.

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S. H. HALL.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.,G1921.

Patnted July 18, 1922.

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S. H. HALL.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG..6 1921.

1,422,852, Patenteci July 18, 1922.

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ble centrifuge may be put are of such varied UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SELDEN H. HALL, OF lQUGI-IKEEPSIE. NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DE L-AVAL SEPARATOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GENTRIFUGAL MAEHINE.

Application filed August 6, 1921.

.iiorm a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a centrifuge which can be used as a separator for separating two liquids of: different specific gravities or as a purifier for sepaating one liquid from another liquid and a solid, and which can be readily altered to adapt it for use as a clarifier for separating from a liquid a solid or a heavier liquid admixed therewith in very small proportions.

The uses to which my improved converticharacter that it is impossible to specify them all even in general terms. In certain cases the centrifuge may be used for carrying out wholly dissimilar processes that have heretofore been carried out in differently constructed machines. In other cases the centrifuge may be used for carrying out, in the same process. dissimilar steps that have required, or would require, differently constructed machines. One of the uses to which the centrifuge may be put is to carry out a process which comprises subjectinga mixture of a relatively light liquid and a relatively heavy liquid to centrifugal force to separate them. continuously infiowing the fresh mixture while continuously separately drawing oi'f the lighter liquid and the heavier liquid, thereby recovering most of the lighter liquid (which. even in the most eilicient separat 1, will contain a small proportion oi? the heavier liquid as an impurity) and then subjecting the thus imperfectly purified lighter liquid to centrifugal Force. to separate outthe remaining fraction of the heavier liquid while continuously inflowing fresh quantities of the partially purified lighter liquid and confining or restricting; the heavier liquid from escape so as to build up a surrounding and gradually thickening envelope of the heavier liquid.

While the execution of this process would normally require the use of two bowlsa separator or purifier bowl and. a clarifier Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1922.

Serial No. seems.

lgiowl. I have herein provided means whereby. ".vithout substitution of another bowl. shell. the centrifuge may be easily converted from one type oi? bowl to the other. There by the foregoing process, as well as other processes. may be carried out in the same centrifuge.

As an example of another process that can he carried out in my improved centrifuge may be mentioned the dehydration of used switch oil, wherein a saponifying agent is added to the oil. the mixture of oil, soap. carbon. dirt and water is subjected to centrifugal force to separate out the oil largely ireed m": impurities, and the thus separated oil again subjected to centrifugal force to effect its complete dehydration and purification. Such process forms the subjcct-matter of a pending application filed May 3, 1921 by Cyrus Howard Hapgood, Serial No. 466,496.

In either of the foregoing processes it would be impracticable to carry out the second step of the process in a centrifugal separator the term separator being used in the art to designate that type of centrifuge wherein both the heavier liquid and the lighter liquid are continuously drawn off as they are separated). because a separator is not eiiicieut it the heavier liquid is present in the mixture in a very small proportion. In other words, it is necessary to carry out the second step oi each of said processes in a clarifier. By providing means whereby a single bowl is readily transformable. it is clear that one machine may be made to do the work which would otherwise require two machines.

While I have particularly specified two processes. each comprising two steps, as eX- amples of the use to which my improved machine can be put, it is clear that it may also be used in carrying out two separate processes. one of which involves separation or purification and the other of which in volves clarification. In industries wherein any two such independent processes are carried out. it is a material economic advantage to be able to carry out both of them by the use of a single machine.

While in order to secure the convertibility desired. it is only necessary to provide readily insertable and removable means whereby the outlet heavier fluid from the bowl. may substantially be prevented (such a iica ti on and clarification.

the point at which it is intended to block the outflow of heavier liquid and even in some cases purposely arrange for a very restricted outflow of liquid at this point In my improvement, I provide removable means whereby the discharge weirs will be prop erly arranged whether the machine be adjusted for one operation or the other and whereby leakage or seepage past the obstruction to outflow of liquid from the periphery will not aflfect the thoroughness of clarification. I insure the latter result first by providing for thorough separation of any such escaping liquid and either the subsequent return of the separated lighter liquid to the main body of liquid in the bowl or its discharge in a perfectly purified condition.

The nature of my invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a sectional view through one form of bowl when used as a separator.

Fig. 2 shows the bowl when adapted for use as a clari'lier; and

Fig. 3 is a comparative view in which tl'ie right half shows the bowl adapted for use as a separatonwhile the left half shows the bowl adapted for use as a clarifier.

In all figures a is the supporting rotary spindle, i) the bowl bot y. (r the bowl top, (Z the ring by which the bowl top is securer to the bowl body, 0 the central feed tube, f radial channels leading from the central feed tube to the separating space of the bowl, 9 the liner composed, as usual. oi a.

number of superposed discs, and 71, and i vanes or wings for compelling the liquid near the periphery to rotate with the bowl.

In each bowl, there is a top disc above the liner, aiiording a space between it and the bowl to or cover. in the separator or purifier (Fig. l) the top disc m-is provided with a neck at having an internal discharge weir 0, while a weir 72 having a diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the neck is secured, by means of the flanged ring '1', to the upper end of the bowl top. The lower end of the top disc extends substantially outside the liner 7, overhanging the free space between the liner and the bowl perlpheryn and terminates a relatively .short distance iii-om the bowls periphery;

leaving a spare s outside and above its edge the conduit between the top disc and the bowl top.

To convert the centrifuge into a clarifier, the top disc on and weir p are removed and a top disc u and weir o are substituted, as shown in Fig. 2'and the left hand side of Fig. 3. The weir '0 is of a diameter not greater than, and preferably the same as, the diameter oi? the weir 0 of the neck 01 of top disc m. The top disc u is unprovided with a neck and its central opening is of somewhat greater diameter than that of weir o. The lower end of the top disc is provided with a ring or enlargement t which. rests against, or closely approximates, the cover of the bowl, thereby blocking or obstructing the outflow 0]": liquid from the peripheral part of the bowl into the space above the top disc.

When the bowl operates as a separator or purifier, the heavier liquid (carrying with it any solids of intermediate specific gravity, if such solids be present in the mixture) flows around the outer edge of the top disc in. {ills the conduit above the top disc and discharges over the edge of weir p and thence over the neck of the bowl. The lighter liquid is displaced inwardly, flows upward insidethe neck n of the top disc m and is discharged over the neck.

When the bowl operates as a clarifier, the relatively small proportion of heavier liquid with any solids of intermediate specific gravity), or the solids alone if no relatively heavy liquid is present as an impurity, are thrown'to the periphery, where they accumulate and form an envelope of gradually increasing thickness. The lighter liquid is discharged over the weir o.

if the weir 1' were omitted from the 0131i".

fier, there would be a difference in pressure between the lighter liquid below the top disc and that above it of about thirty-five pounds per square inch. The central hole in the top disc at is purposely cut somewhat larger than the diameter of the weir 1) so that after the'space between the top disc and the bowl top lill.ed,the How of the lighter liquid is controlled entirely by the weir o and the pressures on the two sides of the top disc are equal. Any leak of liquid past the outer rim of the top disc u and the ring 25 will not he. therefore. more than the quantity which can be clarified in the space between aroun whichithe heavier liquid escapes into ,around the rim of the top,I mean to include a case where the flow is restricted as well as a case where the flow is stopped.

As an example of a specific process which may be carried out effectively in my convertible bowl may be mentioned the resolution of an emulsion of oil and water. The emulsion is first run through the machine adjusted for separation, the water being discharged from the periphery and the oil (with a small proportion of water) being displaced toward the center and discharging through the neck of the top disc. The incompletely purified oil is then run through the bowl adjusted for clarification and the water entirely eliminated. The effectiveness of the bowl will be the same whether or not dirt is present in the emulsion.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A convertible centrifuge comprising a bowl shell, a top disc above the separating space of the bowl, and alternative means one affording a free flow for heavy liquid from the peripheral part of said separating space to the space above the top disc and the other obstructing the fiow to said space above the top disc.

2. A convertible centrifuge comprising a bowl shell and two exchangeable top discs each of which spaces the separating chamber of the bowl from the bowl top and within which the relatively light liquid is adapted to flow upward to its discharge, one of said top discs affordin a free escape around its outer rim for relatively heavy liquid and the other obstructing said escape, thereby permitt-ing the bowl to operate respectively as a separator or purifier and as a clarifier.

3. A convertible centrifuge comprising two exchangeable top discs one having a neck, and two exchangeable weirs one of which is of larger diameter than the neck of the necked disc and is adapted to be asso ciated therewith to adapt the centrifuge to act as a separator or purifier, while the second weir is of smaller diameter than the first weir and is adapted to be associated with the second top disc to adapt the centrifuge to act as a clarifier.

4. A convertible centrifuge comprising a bowl shell, two exchangeable top discs one having a neck, two exchangeable weirs of different diameters, the weir of larger diameter adapted to be associated with the necked disc and the weir of smaller diameter adapted to be associated with the second top disc, and means adapted to be associated with the second top disc and second weir and acting to obstruct the flow of liquid from the peripheral part of the bowl into the space above the top disc.

5. A convertible centrifuge comprising two exchangeable top discs one having a neck and an interior weir, and two exchangeable weirs one of which is of greater diameter than the neck of the necked disc and is adapted to be associated therewith and the other of a diameter not greater than that of the disc weir and adapted to be associated with the second disc.

6. A convertible centrifuge comprising a bowl shell, two interchangeable top discs, one having a neck and an interior weir, and two exchangeable weirs one of which is of greater diameter than the neck of the necked disc and is adapted to be associated therewith and the other of which is of a diameter not greater than that of the disc weir and is adapted to be associated with the second disc, and means adapted to be associated with the second disc and second weir to obstruct the flow of liquid from the peripheral part of the bowl into the space above the top disc.

7. A convertible centrifuge comprising two exchangeable top discs one having a neck and an interior weir and the other havinga central hole, and two exchangeable weirs one of which is of greater diameter than the neck of the necked disc and is adapted to be associated therewith and the other of which is of a diameter not greater than that of the disc weir and less than that of the hole in the second disc and adapted to be associated therewith.

8. A convertible centrifuge comprising a bowl shell, two interchangeable top discs, one having a neck and an interior weir and the other havin no neck and a central hole, two exchangeab e weirs one of which is of greater internal diameter than the outside diameter of the neck of the first disc and is adapted to be associated therewith and the other of which is of an internal diameter not greater than that of the disc weir and less than that of the hole in the second disc and adapted to be associated therewith, and means adapted to be associated with the second disc and second weir to obstruct the flow of liquid from the peripheral part of the bowl into the space above the top disc.

9. In a centrifugal bowl, the combination with a bowl shell, a central feeding tube and a set of liner discs, of means to adapt said bowl to act as a separator or a clarifier, said means including two interchangeable top discs, one with a neck and one without a neck, a larger diameter discharge ring for use coincident with the disc having a neck and, for use coincident with the disc having no neck, a discharge ring with the same digrneter as the discharge weir of the necked isc.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., on this 28th day of July, 1921.

SELDEN H, HALL