US1711533A - Method and apparatus for centrifugal treatment of substances - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1929. D.-JONES 1,711,533

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CENTRIFUGAL TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCES Filed June 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 7, 1929- L. D. JONES 7 1,711,533

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CENTRIFUGAL TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCES Filed June 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 w 6 1521 Z2 0 u SS v 5 4515 a 3 l. 5 -3 .5 4 j;

4 2 e Z4 2 A 2? j 12 Z /1 51 Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,711,533 PATENT OFFICE.

LEO D. JONES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHARPLES SPECIALTY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, IENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD AN D APPARATUS FOR CENTRIFUGAL TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCES.

Application filed June 25,

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for centrifugal treatment of substances.

In the many industrial operations, constantly increasing in number, that are effected by centrifugal treatment, a substance issubjected to centrifugal force to effect a desired change and thereafter the substance or aconstituent thereof is discharged in a highly dispersed state. When the substance or constituent is in such dispersed form it is highly sensitive to the influences of the gas or atmosphere in contact with it, and the substance or a constituent thereof may be evaporated or may be undesirably affected, as by oxidation. In the centrifugal treatment of a solution or suspension, such evaporation may be sutiiciently extensive to cause a deposit of the suspended or dissolved solid at points that may result in clogging of the machine or may result in contact between a rotating part and a body of such deposit on a stationary part, such a result being especially dangerous in the case of inflammable material. Moreover, centrifugal machines ordinarily comprisea rotating bowl and stationary receptacles or covers for collecting substances discharged in dispersed form, and the rotation of the bowl causes air or gas to flow into and out of, and to circulate within, the receiving covers and other parts of the centrifugal machine. If the centrifugal bowl has a necklike portion that is positioned in central openings in the covers, as is frequently the case, air will flow through the spaces between the neck of the bowl and the covers and will flow outof the covers with the constituent collected therein, and it will circulate within the covers. The flow of gas or air into and out of the parts of the machine and the circulation of gas or air within the covers, increases the effect of such gas or air upon the dispersed substance or constituent.

A feature of my invention consists in preventing evaporation of a substance or of a Igonstituent discharged from a centrifugal bowl in dispersed form, or preventing the formation of deposits from solutions of solids or semi-solids so discharged, by maintaining in contact with a dispersed discharge an atmosphere suitable for such purposes. Another feature of my invention consists in pre venting undesirable alteration of such a dispersed substance or constituent, such as oxida- 1927. Serial No. 201,508.

tion thereof, or preventing evaporation thereof or formation of deposits therefrom, by maintaining in contact with the dispersed discharge an atmosphere consisting of, or laden with, or substantially saturated with, vapors of the discharged substance or constituent. Another feature of my invention consists in maintaining such an atmosphere, of the character last described, in contact with such dispersed discharge, by returning into contact with the dispersed discharge gas or vapor previously in contact therewith, as by returning to the space between the bowl and the edge of the central opening of a cover or to any radially inward point of a cover, or to any normal gas-inflow point of the centrifugal machine, gas or vapor from the spout of a cover, or from any radially outward point of a cover, or from any normal gas-outflow point of the centrifugal machine. Another feature of my invention consists in circulating over a similar path any suitable gas or vapor supplied from an external source and thereby maintaining an atmosphere, of the gas or vapor so supplied, in contact with the dispersed discharge to control the condition thereof or to prevent alteration or evaporation thereof, or the formation of deposits. Another feature of my invention consists in maintaining such circulation of gas or vapor by taking advantage of the tendency of gas to flow into and out of centrifugal machines comprising a rotor and collecting covers.

An object of my invention is to provide a method, and apparatus for the practice thereof, which embodies the features above set forth or apparent from the following description. Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic and with parts broken away, of a known centrifugal machine, indicating the probable paths of gas or air circulation therein and possible effects thereof.

Fig, 2.is a vertical sectional view, with parts'broken away, of a centrifugal machine embodying my invention and whereby my process may be practised;

Fig. 3 is a detail view.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown somewhat diagrannnatically a centrifugal machine having features common to known centrifugal machines. The centrifugal bowl 1 is provided with a neck portion 2 of reduced diameter; and while the discharge openings of the bowl may be of any form or number or arrangement suitable to the desired centrifugal treatment, the bowl shown is provided with discharge openings 3 for the discharge of a single substance or constituent and is therefore of the clarifier type. Encirclin the bowl are receptacles or covers 4- and 0 adapted to receive substances or constituents thereof discharged from the bowl. Cover 4 conveniently consists of a frustoconical bottom 4*, and substantially cy1indrical side wall 4", and it is closed at itstop by a frusto-conical member 5 which constitutes the bottom of cover 5 which includes also a cylindrical side wall 5 upon which is placed a top cover member. 5.

The members 4, 5 and 5 are provided with central openings, the edges of which lie in spaced relation to the bowl and the neck thereof. The covers 4 and 5 are respectively provided with discharge spouts 4 and 5. Radial wings 4 carried by member 5 may be located in cover 4. It is common in centrifugal machines to have a cover, such as the cover 4, below covers that are opposite the discharge openings of the bowl such as the cover 5, such a lower cover collecting discharged substances that pass downward through space 14 or corresponding spaces.

While my invention is applicable to centrifugal bowls supported and rotated in any manner, the centrifugal bowl in the construction shown in Fig. 1 is suspended and rotated by a spindle 6 that is in turn suitably supported for rotation and flexure in a bearing support 7 carried by hearing bracket 8 of the frame 9. The spindle 6 may be rotated in any suitable manner, as by pulley 10 driven by belt 11. 4 Y

\Vhile my invention is applicable to other constructions, in the construction shown in' Fig. 1 the frame includes a hollow portion 12 in which the bowl is supported for rotation, and the covers may be supported by the hollow portion 12 over the open top thereof.

In the operation of the construction shown in Fig. 1 air will be drawn into the space 13 between the neck of the bowl and the adjacent edge of the opening in the top-cover member 5, and it will pass out of the centrifugal machine through the spout 5, and also through spout 4 under some conditions of operation. and it will circulate in the covers. The path of gas or air, when nothing is issuing from the discharge openings, is indicated by the lines and arrows shown in Fig. 1. It appears that the discharge of a substance or constituent from the discharge opening 3 increases the movement of air in a radially outward direction along a path intermediate the members 5 and 5 because air usually flows out of all cover-spouts when nothing is discharging apparent that there will be extensive intermiugling and contact between air or gas and a substance or constituent discharged in dispersed form from the centrifugal bowl. In such a construction such contact is sufiicient to produce evaporation of a solvent to such an extent that a dissolved solid substance in the dispersed discharge will be deposited to an objectionable extent and at undesirable points. Thus, in the clarification of lacquer comprising pyroxylin and a solvent, and perhaps a pigment, in a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 1, a sOlid or semi-solid deposit will build up in space 13 at the edge of the central opening in member 5, and at the point A on that member, and in the space 14 at the edge of the central opening of member 4. The deposit appears to build up at the point where the circulating gas or air flows away from the surface upon which the discharged material is flowing.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings there is shown a merely illustrative embodiment of my invention, which embodiment constitutes a centrifugal machine whereby my process may be practiced. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 the centrifugal bowl 1 is supported by a spindle 6 carried by and rotated in a hearing (not shown in detail) which is carried in bearing support 7 and is of usual construction and which substantially closes the space between the spindle 6 and the bearing support 7. The bowl may be of any construction suitable to the desired centrifugal treatment, and provided with a suitable number and arrangement of inlet and discharge openings. While my invention is obviously applicable to bowls of the separator type having separate.

dischargeoutlets for separated constituents the bowl shown is of the clarilier type having outlets 3 for a single constituent. The lower end of the bowl is guided by a so-called dragassembly 14 of common construction and is fed by a supply pipe 15.

In accordance with my invention the space 13 between the bowl or a part thereof and .the edge of the central'opening in the cover member 5 is substantially enclosed by an enclosing member 16 acting in conjunction with the bearing support 7 and the bearing mechanism carried thereby.

The enclosing member 16 has a reasonably gas-tight connection with the cover member 5 as by resting upon a gasket 17 carried in a grooved member 18 that is soldered or otherwise suitably connected to the cover member 5. In the embodiment of my invention shown, a clamping or compressing member 19 engages the upper edge of the enclosing member 16 and is caused to exert a downward pressure thereon as by means of thethreaded connection 20 between the clamping member 19 and the bearing support 7.

The downward pressure exerted upon the enclosing member 16 holds the several parts of the covers in close contact with one another and with the edge of the open top of the hollow frame member 12.

The covers 4 and 5 are respectively proyided with spouts 4 and 5 that extend into receiver 21.

A gas or vapor conduit 22 communicates by a substantially tight connection 23 with the enclosing member 16 and is provided with a portion 24 extending into receiver 21. The connections of the spouts 4, 5* and portion 24 with receiver 21 are made substantially tight as by gaskets 2'5 and 26 respectively upon which rest collars or rings 25 and 26. ;It is desirable that the outlet of receiver 21 be trapped as by trap member 27. As a constructional detailenclosing member 16 consists of two parts hinged together at one side at 16 and drawn to ether at the, other side as by means of mem ers 30 that are pivoted at 31 to one part of the enclosing member and upon which are threaded clamping members 28 acting against lu s 29 on the other part of enclosing member 16. Enclosing member 16 may also be provided with windows 32 to permit observation of the operation of the machine.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, air from the surrounding atmosphere is preventcd from flowing into contact with a substance or constituent discharged in dispersed form, by the means that substantially encloses the space 13 between the neck of the bowl and the adjacent edge of a receiving cover, and, instead, gas or air passing from a normal point of gas out-flow of the machine such as the spout 5 is conducted to .a normal point of gas in-flow of the machine,

, such as the space 13 by a means such as the gas conduit 22. \Vhen a substance is discharging from the bowl gas or vapor will probably flow through spout 1* from receiver 21 to cover 4 and then through space 14 to cover 5. In this manner air or gas passes out of a cover with a discharged substance or constituent and is then conducted back into a cover at a radially inward point and the gas or air coming into contact with the dispersed discharge is saturated with vapors of the discharged substance or of a constituent thereof and evaporation and deposit are prevented.

Any suitable gas or vapor may be supplied to the covers and circulated therethrough and therein, in the practice of my invention, as by means of a gas supply cock 33 which may lead into the receiver 21 or into any other convenient point in the system within which gas or air circulates.

This application is in part a; continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 506,165 filed October 7th, 1921,'for method and mechanism for removing centrifuge effluents, wherein I claim broadly a process and apparatus for controlling the condition of a substance discharged in dispersed form by regulating the conditions of the atmosphere in contact therewith and specifically the regulation of the temperature of such atmosphere; and it is in some respects a continuation of the copending application filed joint- 1y by myself and Arthur U. Ayres, Serial No. 710,388, filed May 1st, 1924, for'centrifugal machines and processes involving the use of the same, wherein we disclose as our broad invention the process of controlling the condition of a substance discharged in dispersed form by regulating the chemical composition or' pressure of the atmosphere acting on the dispersed substance.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In the centrifugal treatment of substances wherein the substahce is subjected to the action of centrifugal force and the substance or a constituent thereof is discharged in dispersed form, the method of preventing undesirable alteration in the substance or a constituent thereof which comprises maintaining in contact with the dispersed discharge an atmosphere substantially saturated with vapors of the substance or such constituent thereof.

2. In the centrifugal treatment of substances wherein the substance is subjected to centrifugal force and the substance or a constituent thereof is discharged in dispersed form, the method of maintaining a desired atmosphere in contact with a substance ora constituent thereof discharged in dispersed form, which comprises returning into contact with the dispersed discharge gas flowing from a normal point of gas out-flow of the machine.

3. In the centrifugal treatment of substances wherein the substance is subjected to centrifugal force to effect a desired change therein and the substance or a constituent thereof is discharged in'dispersed form, the method of maintaining in contact with the dispersed discharge an atmosphere substantially saturated with vapors of the substance or a constituent thereof, which comprises returning into contact with the dispersed discharge vapor-containing gas previously in contact with the dispersed discharge.

at. In the centrifugal treatment of substances wherein the substance is subjected to centrifugal force and the substance or a con stituent thereof is discharged in dispersed form, the method of preventing evaporation of a discharged substance or a constituent thereof which comprises maintaining in contact with the dispersed discharge an atmosphere substantially saturated with vapors of said substance or constituent.

5. In the centrifugal treatment of liquids containing solids in solution or suspension wherein the liquid is discharged in dispersed form, the method of preventing deposit of solids from the dispersed discharge which comprises maintaining in contact with the dispersed discharge an atmosphere substantially saturated with vapor of the liquid.

6. In the centrifugal treatment of substances wherein the substance is subjected to centrifugal force and the substance or a constituent thereof is discharged in dispersed form, the method of preventing evaporation of the substance or a constituent thereof which comprises returning into contact with the dispersed discharge vapor laden gas flowing from a normal point of gas outflow of the machine.

7. In the centrifugal treatment of substances wherein the substance is subjected to centrifugal force and the substance or a constituent thereof is discharged in dispersed form into a collecting receptacle surrounding the centrifugal rotor, the method of preventing evaporation of a substance or a constituent thereof which comprises passing vapor laden gas, flowing from the collecting receptacle with the substance or constituent, into a normal point of gas inflow of the centrifugal machine.

8. In the centrifugal treatment of substances wherein the substance is subjected to centrifugal force and the substance or a constituent thereof is discharged in dispersed form into a collecting receptacle surrounding the centrifugal rotor, the method of preventing evaporation of a substance or a constituent thereof which comprises passing into the receptacle at a radially inward point thereof vapor laden gas flowing from the receptacle at a radially outward point thereof.

9. In the centrifugal treatment of substances wherein the substance is subjected to centrifugal force and the substance or a constituent thereof 1s discharged 1n dispersed form, the method of preventing evaporation of the substance or a constituent thereof which comprises returning vapor laden gas, flowing from a normal point of gas out-flow ofjhe centrifugal machine, to a normal point of gas in-flow thereof.

10. In combination a centrifugal machine including a centrifugal bowl mounted for rotation, and means for returning to a normal place of gas in-flow of the machine the gas passing from a normal place of out-flow of the machine.

11. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl mounted for rotation, a receptacle adapted to receive a substance or a constituent thereof discharged from the rotating bowl, and means for conducting gas from the outflow point of said receptacle to anormal place of gas in-flow of the centrifugal machine.

12. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl suspended for rotation, a receptacle for receiving a substance discharged from the centrifugal bowl and encircling said bowl and means for conducting gas, flowing from a radially outward point of said receptacle, into said receptacle at a radially inward point thereof.

13. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl, a receptacle encircling said bowl and having an edge in spaced relation thereto and adapted to receive a substance discharged from said bowl and having a discharge opening, and means for conducting gas from the discharge opening of said receptacle to the space between said receptacle and said bowl.

14. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl, a receptacle for receiving a substance discharged therefrom, and means supplying to said receptacle vapors substantially saturated with said substance.

15. In acentrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl, a receptacle receiving a substance discharged therefrom and having an outlet for the substance, and means conducting into said receptacle at a radially inward point thereof gas passing out of said outlet of said receptacle.

16. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl, a receptacle encircling said bowl and having an edge in spaced relation thereto and adapted to receive the substance discharged from said bowl and having a discharge opening, a chamber substantially enclosing the space between said bowl and said encircling receptacle and means for conducting gas from the discharge opening of said receptacle to the space between said receptacle and said bowl.

17. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl, a receptacle receiving a substance discharged therefrom, and means for preventing deposit in said receptacle of solids dissolved in a liquid introduced into said machine.

18. In a centrifugal machine, a supporting frame, a spindle mounted therein for rotation, a centrifugal bowl supported on said spindle, a receptacle encircling said bowl and having an edge in spaced relation thereto and adapted to receive a substance discharged from said bowl and having a discharge outlet, an enclosing member between said frame and said receptacle, and means for c0nductbowl mounted for rotation in said frame, a receptacle encircling said bowl in spaced relation and receiving a substance discharged from said bowl and otherwise substantially closing the open top of said frame member and having an outlet for a received substance, and means conducting to the space between said bowl and receptacle gas flowing from said outlet.

20. In a centrifugal machine, a centrifugal bowl mounted for rotation, a receptacle adapted to receive a substance or a constituent thereof discharged from the rotating bowl, a gas conduit exterior of said receptacle and leading from a radially outward point thereof to a radially inward point thereof and forming therewith a gas circulation system, and means for introducing gas to said system.

21. In the centrifugal treatment of substances, the method comprising subjecting the substance to centrifugal force to effect a change therein and discharging the substance or a constituent thereof in dispersed form, and controlling the condition of the substance or constituent by maintaining an atmosphere substantially saturated with vapor therefrom in contact therewith while it exists in the dispersed form in which it is discharged. 7

22. In a device of the class described, a rotatable centrifugal bowl, receptacles for collecting substances discharged in dispersed form from said centrifugal bowl, and means for maintaining at a gas in-fiow point of said receptacles an atmosphere of vapor laden gas flowing from a gas out-flow point thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. v

LEO D. JONES.

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