US1783357A

US1783357A - Mechanical separator

Info

Publication number: US1783357A
Application number: US416050A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter M Cook
Original assignee: Int Comb Eng Corp
Current assignee: International Combustion Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1929-12-23
Filing date: 1929-12-23
Publication date: 1930-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1947-12-02

Description

Dec. 2, 1930. w. M. cooK 7 5 MECHANICAL SEP-ARATOR Filed Dec. 25. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' JPT gr I a o m a I o v (I v j 2 m 5 0 3/ I; 1 x v 2y r Infleniar;

Dec. 2, 1930. w. M. cOoK MECHANICAL SEPARATQR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23', 1929 orne Dec. 2, 1930. w. M. COOK MECHANICAL SEPARA'I'OR Filed Dec. 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER u. coon or LUDLOW, vmmoNr, AssreNon T0 INTERNATIONAL coMBusrroN ENGINEERING COBPORA'IION, OF NEW-YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MECHANICAL, sErAnA'ron Application filed December as, 1929. Serial No. 416,050.

This inventionrelates to' certain new and useful improvements in mechanical separators, and more particularly to improvements in that type of separator in which the finely dividedmaterial to be graded is projecte, preferably by centrifugal force, across the path of a rising air current which picks up and carries away in suspension only the finer particles, whereas the heavier particles gravltate out of the'air stream into a collecting means.

This invention contemplates an improved means for insuring the separation, from the rising air stream of all of the heavier particles of materia To accomplish this result-a rotary deflecting member or ,whizzer is mounted on a central vertical axis the separation chamber and above the distributor so as to cut across the annular rising air stream. This rotary deflector comprises a multiplicity of substantially radial blades or vanes the central portions of which are connected by an apron or covering plate so the air stream, outwardl that air passages remain only between the outer portions of the vanes.

of he vanes closely abut a conical deflecting member thatext'ends upwardl and inwardly so as to overlap the outer en s of the vanes.

The rotating vanes throw any heavier particles of .the material that may tend to rise in against the inclined lower surface of ti from which they carom do Wardly,at the sides of the chamber and join the heavier material that initially gravitates out when thrown from the-distributor. The onlymae terial that canrise above these cooperating I deflecting members is sufiiciently fine to be r carried in suspension in the rising air stream 40- which finds its way between the rapidly rotating deflector blades.

Above the deflecting members, and lietween them and the fan whichiactuate's the rising air stream, is an inwardly extending annular partition wall which compels the air laden with finely divided material to flow inwardly, or counter to. the outward throw imparted by centrifugal force to the material in the'rotat'ing air. stream before it enters the fan chamber. 'g -This permits acfinalxaction The outer ends of centrifugal force on any relatively heavy partlcles that may find their way up into this inwardly flowing portion of the air stream,

forcing: heavier material particles out of the air stream.

Another object is to provide adjustable means for forcing the air stream to follow a circuitous path in opposition to the path in which material particles areimpelled by centrifugal force.

' Another object is to provide animproved deflecting. means comprising a revolvin member having a close central portion an an outer portion consisting of a multiplicity of radial'vanes with intervening air spaces, in combination witha deflector ring partially overlapping the outer end portions of the vanes in opposition to the pathof air-flow between the vanes. r

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed descript on of one improved ng to form of apparatus constructed accor the'prinq'ples of this invention. I In the accompanying drawings:

f Fig. 1 is an elevation of the improved separator, the right-hand portion being shown in central vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a central verticalsection thrdugh I the upper portion of the separator on a larger scale. V Fig. 3 is aplanview, the lower portion beingbroken away-substantially on the line 3.3 of Fig; 1.

Fig.4 is an inverted horizontal section, taken substantially. on the'line 44"of Fig, 1.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sect-ion showing a modified form of deflector. Y

Fig. 6 is another partial vertical section showing a modified mounting for the stationary deflector.

The separator housing comprises-a suitably supported outer casing consisting of a top wall 1, an upper cylindrical shell 2, and a lower conical shell 3 converging to the bottom discharge opening 4: through which the finely divided material separated out by this air separation process is delivered. An inner casing, positioned symmetrically about the same central vertical axis as the outer casing but spaced inwardly therefrom comprises an upper annular cover plate 5, an upper cylindrical shell 6, and a lower downwardly converging conical portion consisting of the two overlapping conical shells 7 and 8. A discharge spout 9 leads out through one side of the outer conical shell 3 so as to discharge the heavier particles collected by the inner conical shell 8. The inner shell constructidn is spaced from the outer casing by means of a plurality of spaced radial brace members 10 or other suitable struts or supports.

The movable portion of the separator comprises a rotating assembly mounted on the central shaft 11 which is positioned to rotate about the central vertical axis of the separator housing. The upper portion of this shaft 11 has a hearing at 12 in the sleeve 13 formed on the bearing plate 14 mounted centrally in the top wall 1 of the housing. The lower section of a gear casing 15 is formed on bearing sleeve 13, and the upper section 16 of this gear case carries a roller bearing 17 in which the upper end portion 18 of shaft 11 is journaled. A bevel gear 19 is keyed on the upper portion of shaft 11 and meshes with and is driven by the bevel pinion-20 keyed on the inner end of drive shaft 21, supported in bearings 22 and 23 on the top of the housing and driven from any 1 outside source of power in any suitable manner as by means of the gear or pulley indicated at 24. A d-ownwardly projecting hearing sleeve 25 secured to plate 14 carries the roller thrust bearing 26 in which the intermediate portion of shaft 11 is journaled, and a suitable packing means indicated at 27 serves to keep dust or finely divided material from the separator from working its way into the bearings.

A spider 28 secured to the lower portion of shaft 11 serves to support the circular horizontal distributing plate 29, and a hollow rotatable housing consisting of the lower cylindrical member 30 and the upper downwardly converging conical member 31. A spout 32 mounted in cover plate 1 projects downwardly into the'upper rotating conical housing 31, and the ground or pulverized material that is to be separated is poured in through spout 32 from which it passes through the rotating housing members 31 and 30 and is deposited on the rapidly rotating distributing disc 29 from which it is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force through the open radial pas sages 33. A fan consisting of a plurality of radially extending blades 34 carried externally by the upper rotating conical housing 31 serves to keep up a circulation of air within the separator housing as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, there being a rising air current within the upper portion of the inner casing, and an outwardly and downwardly flowing air current in the space between the inner and outer casings, the air current passing back into the inner casing through a plurality of openings 35 between the overlapping upper and lower inner conical casing members 7 and 8.'

As is usual in separatorsof this type, the material introduced through spout 32 and thrown outwardly by the centrifugal distributing plate 29 is diffused across this rising air current within the inner casing. Only the lighter and finer particles are carried upwardly by the rising air current created by fan 34, the heavier materials gravitating downwardly through the inner casing and being collected by the lower cone 8 and discharged through outlet pipe or spout 9. This initial separation process is not sufficient to completely withdraw all of the heavier particles of material and secure the desired grade of fineness in the material eventually discharged by fan 34 into the outer casing 2, and the particular improvements of this in vention relate to novel means, positioned be- .tween the distributing disc 29 and fan 34,

for removing more completely the heavier material particles from the rising air stream.

A rotary deflector or whizzer comprises a multiplicity of rather long narrow blades or vanes 36 anchored at their inner ends as at 37 to the rotary cylindrical casing member 30 and extending outwardly along radial lines toward the cylindrical shell6 of the inner casing. A great number of these vanes 36 maybe used, the number depending upon .several factors such as the speed of rotation of the rotatable assembly, the diameter of the rotatable deflector and somewhat on the degree of fineness required in the separation process. Preferably there will be more than eight of these blades 36, and a great many more may be used. Cooperating with this rotary deflector is an annular stationary deflector carried by the surrounding inner walls of shell 6, this deflector comprising an upwardly and inwardly extending conical shell 38 and an inwardly extending horizontal ring or flange 39 which overlap the outer end portions of the vanes 36. The outer ends of the vanes 36 (in the formshown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive) are beveled inwardly and upwardly as indicated at 40 so as to extend closely adjacent the inner wall of conical deflector 38. The inner ortions of the vanes or blades 36 are covered by and connected by nular partition comprising a plurality ofsimilar overlapping plates 43 adapted to be separately adjusted inwardly or outwardly by means of the rods 44 which may have their outer ends threaded as at 45' and engaged in nuts 46. Fixed guide pins 47 mounted in supporting ring 5 project through guide slots 48 adjacent the edges of each pair of overlapping plates, whereby the plates are held .in place and are permitted individual adjustment inwardly and outwardly.

The purpose of this partition, which comprises an adjustable inward extension of' the cover plate or ring 5, is to cause the air stream after passing through the passages 42 in the rotary deflector to flow inwardly toward the center of the separator before passing upwardly through annular "space 49 into the fan chamber 50. By making the inner diameter of the partition adjustable, the rate of air flow may be regulated.

In operation, the material deposited on the rapidly rotating distributing plate 29 will be thrownoutwardly by centrifugal force, as already described, and the heavier particles will immediately settle out, only the lighter material being carried upwardly I by the rising air stream towards the rapidly rotating deflector 36. As soon as the heavier particles in this rising air stream are caught by the revolving blades 36 they will be carried around by these blades and thrown outwardly by centrifugal force against the under surface of the

stationary deflector

38, 39 from which they will be thrown downwardly to joint the other heavier particles that have already separated out and are collected in the inner cones 7 and 8 and discharged through spout 9. The central apron41 prevents the passage of any materials through the inner portions of the rotating blades which are not traveling at as "great a linear speed, and the only material that is carried above these cooperating deflector members is the very fine material thatimay be carried in the air stream passing through spaces'42 between the outer portions of the vanes 36.

It will be noted thatafter this air stream has passed above the deflector members just described, it is compelled by the annular partition consisting of cover plate 5. and adjust-- able plate 43, to flow inwardly or toward the I center of. the separator, and in opposition to the centrifugal force applied to the suspended material in the whirling air stream, before passing upwardly through. annular space 49 into the fan chamber. The resultis that any relatively heavy particles that may possibly find their Way upwardly throughthe passages 42 in the rotary deflector will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force from thisinwardly flowing air stream and will be deposited as indicated at 51 above the stationary,

deflector

39, 40, from which osition they will gradually dribble or'settle ack through the rotary deflector by means of which they are thrown against the lower surface of the stationary deflector plate 38 and thence are thrown down so as to settle out with the heavier particles, as already described.

In the alternative construction shown in Fig. 6, the deflector "cone 38 is supported from the casing 6 by any suitable type of brackets or struts 54, so that a narrow annular space 55 remains between the outer lower edge of the cone and casing 6. The heavier material thrown above the cone 38 by centrifugal force] will settle down through passage 55 into the inner collecting cone.

The result is that only the very finest ma terial is carried up by the air stream into the fan chamber and thence thrown out by the fan through upper passage 52- and down through annular passage 53 between the inner and outer casings. This fine material will to a large .extent settle out from the slowly moving air stream and will be collected by the lower outer cone 3 and. discharged through opening {at the bottom thereof. The air stream flows Qqack through passage 35 .into the inner caslng and thence upwardly through inner cone 7 to carry more fine material in suspension upwardly throughfithe separating devices.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the

outer conicaldeflector 56 and inwardly extending flange 57 (corresponding to the parts 38', 39 previously described) are carried by the outer end portions of the rotating dflec tor vanes 36, instead of by the fixed casing 6. A small annular clearance space 58 will remain between the lower outer edge of conical deflector 56 and the inner wall ofcasing 6.

The operation of this form of the invention is essentially the same as that of the first described apparatus. The material thrown outwardly by the rotatin vanes 36wil1 be deflected downwardly by t e conical deflector 56, which is also rotating in this form of the invention. Material that is thrown out above the deflecting members will settle back .through the narrow passage 58 between coniouter ends of the rotary deflector blades and in close proximity thereto, so that the material thrown outwardly by the rotary deflector is positively caught and deflected downwardly and absolutely prevented from being carried upwardly by the rising air stream. The only rising air currents in which material may be carried in suspension bers, as already described hereinabove.

I claim:

1. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an-upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and an annular deflector cooperating with and overlapping the outer portion of the rotary deflector for throwing material downwardly within the casing.

2. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and an annular stationary deflector carried by the casing and overlapping the circumferential portion of the rotary deflector.

3. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary di tributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and an annular stationary deflector carried by the casing and overlapping the circumferential portion of the rotary deflector, there being an annular series of passages through the outer portion of the rotary deflector adjacent the stationary deflector.

4. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and an annular stationary deflector carried by the casing and comprising an upwardly and inwardly inclined conical portion overlapping the outer portion of the rotary deflector.

5. In a separator comprising a casing, a'

rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, and an annular conical deflector ex tending inwardly and upwardly over the ends of the vanes and adjacent the inner wall of the casing.

6. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, and an annular stationary deflector carried by the casin and including an inwardly extending flange overlapping the outer ends of the rotary vanes.

7. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes with their outer ends beveled in wardly and upwardly, and an annular conical deflector carried by the casing and projecting inwardly above the beveled end por-- tions of the vanes.

8. In a separator comprising a casing, a ro tary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflectorpositioned above the dis tributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes with their outer ends beveled inwardly w and upwardly, and an annular conical deflector carried by the casing and projecting inwardly above the beveled end portions of the vanes, there being an inwardly extending flange projecting from the smaller end of the cone over the upper outer portions of the vanes. Y

9. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, cooperating closely overlapping relatively movable deflecting members positioned above the distributing member for throwing heavy particles of material outwardly and then deflecting them downwardly within the casing.

10. In a separator comprising a casing, a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, and non-rotary means positioned above and beyond the outer edge portion of the rotary deflector but closely-adjacent thereto for deflecting material downwardly within the casing.

11. In a separator, comprising a casing, a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, a substantially circular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanes so that passages remain only between the outer portions thereof, and an annular conical deflector extending inwardly and upwardly over the distributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extendm ing vanes, a substantially circular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanes so that passages remain only between the outer portions thereof, the outer ends of the vanes being beveled inwardly and upwardly, and an annular conical deflector carried by the casing and projecting inwardly above the beveled end portions of the vanes.

13. In a se arator comprising a casing, a rotary distri uting member therein, and

26 means for causing an upward air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, a substantially circular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanes so that passages remain only between the outer portions thereof, the outer ends of the vanes being beveled inwardly and upwardly, and an annular conical deflector carried by the casing and projecting inwardly above the beveled end portions of the vanes, there being an inwardly extending flange projecting from the smaller end of the cone over the upper outer portions of the vanes.

14, A separator comprising an inner casing having a conical lower collecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding the inner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of the inner-casing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positioned centrally within the casings and comprising a lower distributing disc and an upper fan for causing an air circulation upwardly through the inner casing and downwardly through the outer casing, means for feeding material to be separated to the disc, a rotary deflector mounted on the rotary assembly between the distributing disc and fan and proj ecting outwardly adjacent the wall of the in- 0 ner casing, and an inwardly and upwardly projecting conical deflector carried by the inner casing and overlapping the outer portion of the rotary deflector.

15. A separator comprising an inner casing having a conical lower collecting portion, a

similarly shaped outer casing surrounding the inner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of the inner casing housing a sep- 7 aratin chamber, a rotary assembly positioned 1 centra 1y within the casings and comprisin a lower distributing disc and an up er fan 0 causing an air circulation upwar 1y throu h the inner casing and downwardly through t e outer casing, means for feeding material to be separated 'to the disc,., a rotary deflector mounted on the rotary assembly between the distributing disc andfan and projecting outwardly adjacent the wall of the inner casing, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes the outer ends of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly, and an inwardly and upwardly projectingconical deflector carried by the inner casing and overlapping the beveled ends of the vanes.

16. A separator comprising an inner casing having a conical lower collecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding the inner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of the'inner casing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positioned centrally within the casings and com;- prising a lower distributing disc and an upper fan for causing an air circulation upwardly through the inner casing and downwardly r through the outer casing, means for feeding material to be separated to the disc, a rotary deflector mounted on the rotary assembly between the distributing disc and fan and projecting outwardly adjacent the wall of the inner casing, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes the outer ends of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly, a circular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanes, and an inwardly and upwardly projecting conical deflector carrier by the inner cone and overlapping the beveled ends of the vanes.

17. separator comprising an inner cas ing having a conical lower collecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding the inner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of the inner casing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positioned centrally within the casings and comprising a lower distributing disc and. an upper fan. for causing an air circulation upwardly through the inner casing and downwardly through the outer casing, means for feeding material to be separated to the disc, a rotary deflector mounted on the rotary assembly betweenthedistributing disc and fan and projecting outwardly adjacent the wall of the inner casing, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, the outer ends of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly, a circular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanes, and an inwardly and upwardly projecting conical deflector carried by the inner cone and overlapping the beveled'ends of the vanes, there beingan inwardly extending annular flange at theupper end of the conical deflector close- 1y overlying the vanes in. substantially-the same plane as the apron so as to leave a circular series of air assages between the vanes and between the umer edge of the flange and the outer edge of the apron.

18. A separator comprising an inner casing having. a conical lower collecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding the inner casing in spaced relation thereto, the upper portion of the in ner casing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positioned centrally within the casings and comprising a lower distributing discand an upper fan for causing an air circulation upwardly through the inner casing and downwardly through the outer casing, means for feeding material to be separatedto the disc, a rotary deflector mounted on the rotary assembly between the distributing disc and fan and projecting outwardly adjacent the wall of the inner casing, said deflector comprising a multiplic ity of substantially radially extending vanes, the outer ends of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly, a circular apron connecting the inner portions of the vanes, and an inwardly and upwardly projecting conical deflector carried by the inner cone and overlapping the beveled ends of the vanes. and an annular deflecting partition projecting inwardly over the apron between the deflector and fan to compel an inwardly directed air flow above the deflectors in opposition to the centrifugal force of the rotating parts.

'19. A. separator comprising an inner casing having a conical lower collecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing surrounding the inner casing in spaced relaner casing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positioned centrally within the casings and comprising a lower distributing disc and an upper fan for causing an air circulation upwardly through the inner casing and downwardly through the outer casing, means for feeding material to be separated to the disc, and a plurality of overlapping rotary and stationary deflectors carried by the rotating assembly and inner cone respectively and positioned between the distributing disc and fan for compelling the upwardly flowing air to follow a circuitous path.

21. In a separator comprising a casing. a rotary distributing member therein, and means for causing an upward. air flow in the casing, a rotary deflector positioned above the distributor, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, and an annular conical deflector mounted on the end portions of the vanes and extending inwardly and upwardly over these end portions, the lower outer edge of the conical deflector extending into close proximity to the inner wall of the casing.

WALTER M. COOK.

tion thereto, the upper portion of the inner casing housing a separating chamber, a rotary assembly positioned centrally withinv the casings and comprising a lower distributing disc and an upper fan for causing an air circulation upwardly through the inner casing' and downwardly through the outer casin'g','means for feeding material to be separated to the disc, a rotary deflector mounted on the rotary'assembly between the distributing disc and fan and projecting outwardly adjacent the wall of the inner casmg, said deflector comprising a multiplicity of substantially radially extending vanes, the outer ends of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly, a circular apron connectng the inner portions of the vanes, and an inwardly and upwardly projecting conical deflector carried by the inner cone and overlapping the beveled ends of the vanes, and an annular deflecting partition comprising a plurality of radially adjustable overlapping plates whereby the inner diameter of the partition can be adjusted in size project-.

. in'g inwardly over the apron between the defiectors and fan to compel an inwardly directed air flow above the deflectors in opposition to the centrifugal force of the rotating parts.

. 20. A separator comprising an inner casmg having a conical lower collecting portion, a similarly shaped outer casing sur-.

rounding the inner casing in spaced relat1on thereto, the upper portion of the in