US2747793A - Multiple angular, energy compensating centrifuge - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 1956 A. M. CADDELL.

MULTIPLE ANGULAR, ENERGY COMPENSATING CENTRIFUGE} Filed Dec. 18, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 1 N m L E w E I MW 0 0 N D {M E6 DE MUM? 00 w GSWCF TOR.

IN VEN May 29, 1956 A. M. CADDELL 2,747,793

MULTIPLE ANGULAR, ENERGY COMPENSATING CENTRIFUGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1952 1 IIIII,

y 9, 1956 A. M. CADDELL 2,747,793

MULTIPLE ANGULAR, ENERGY COMPENSATING CENTRIFUGE Filed Dec. 18, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent MULTIPLE ANGULAR, ENERGY COMPENSATING CENTRIFUGE Alfred M. Caddell, Philadelphia, Pa. Application December 18, 1952, Serial No. 326,715

23 Claims. (Cl. 233 -18) This application is in part a continuation of application Serial No. 147,200, filed March 2, 1950, under the title Large Capacity, Two-Stage Centrifuge, and now abancloned.

While retaining all the features and advantages described in the foregoing application, the present application includes, among other new features, a contaminant, or high specific gravity, liquid separating and discharging system, thus permitting the herein described centrifuge to be a more serviceable device than that described in the aforesaid application, Serial No. 147,200.

The objects of the present invention are:

1. To employ the kinetic energy within a fluid given pressure at an outside source and carrying substances having specific gravities higher than that of said fluid to drive the rotor at a speed required to effect by centrifugal means separation of such substances from said fluid.

2. To obtain work from the energy in said fluid upon its being discharged from the centrifuge by causing it to impinge against stator means in a direction opposite to that of rotation, thus developing a powerful leverage reactive driving force which, when coordinated with the fluid input drive, will minimize back pressure against the pump employed to force the fluid into the centrifuge. Obviously, such coordination will contribute toward economical operation. In this connection, interchangeable reactive drive assemblies having different radii, including the complementary stator assembly and housing therefor, are available for achieving an optimum coordinating operating effect.

3. To assure by means external to but associated with the centrifuge the introduction of foam-free, and therefore air-free, fluid within the centrifuge, and to prevent the tendency of a hot viscous fluid to foam upon its being discharged against static surfaces.

4. To make available a centrifuge wherein the kinetic energy within a composite substance-laden fluid driving the rotor is converted into constantly increasing centrifugal force within said fluid as soon as it strikes an increasingly radial turbine type of construction, thereby facilitating greatly the movement of said fluid through the centrifuge and providing instantaneous separation of the relatively heavy substances from said' fluid upon its initial contact with said turbine construction.

5. To provide separation stages within the rotor whereby several degrees of separation may be had.

6. To provide adequate contaminant and heavy liquid accumulating capacity in the primary separation stage, and means for continually discharging said heavy liquid therefrom.

7. To permit quick accessibility to the primary separation stage for removal of hard-packed contaminants without having to take the centrifuge apart.

8. To provide multiple positive drain constructions whereby contaminants precipitated within the centrifuge may be flushed out of every part thereof by solvent means if the removal of said contaminants has not been too long delayed.

2,747,793 Patented May 29, .1956

9. To promote uninterrupted distribution of the fluid by means of radii differential constructions, thus preventing clogging of entrance apertures or parts.

10. To provide windows and access doors in the centrifuge casing to facilitate interior observation and the removal of drainage covers and other parts.

11. To preclude the necessity for installing an oil cooler on an internal combustion engine, passage of the oil through the centrifuge effecting a sufficient reduction in temperature before re-introduction into the engine.

12. To promote economy in engine operation, as one example, by promoting better lubrication and, by making it unnecessary to replenish the entire oil supply in order to rid the engine of sludge, reduce the lubricationcosts to a minimum. 7

Other objects and advantages made possible by this invention will become apparent as the herein description proceeds.

This invention has application in many industrial fields, but for present purposes, attention is invited to separation and discharge of contaminants from the lubricating oil of an engine between the sump and the oil-in connection as the oil flows through the oil return line.

When oil is being circulated in an engine it absorbs heat from the hot interior, thereby cooling it. In many engines this oil is passed through an oil cooler to dissipate at least 50 degrees F. of heat before being returned to the oil reservoir. But in the process of cooling the engine, the oil undergoes a number of chemical changes; for one, the liberation of sulphur therefrom. (Sulphur is present in all petroleum productsbetween 2 to 4 pounds per 1000 lbs. of oil or fuel.) As one of the chemical by-products, water is formed in the cylinders during the process of combustion and, in the presence of oxygen of the intake air, and also air in the crankcase, it unites with sulphur and oxygen to form a strong sulphuric acid solution (H2804) which has a specific gravity of 1.87- more than twice that of oil or gasoline. Oil in the circulatory system is subjected to similar chemical changes, the heat and action of the engine serving as an additional refinery process to precipitate the weaker components of the lubricating oil. This sulphuric acid combines with carbon molecules of hydrocarbon compounds (petroleum) and with silica dust, metallic particles, etc., to form sludge which has a specific gravity much higher thanthat of water (1.0) and which packs hard against surfaces and oil channels that are affected by the combination of heat and centrifugal force, such as in the crankarm. Once an oil channel block is set up sludge accumulatio mounts rapidly, ruining the engine.

Oftentimes, in water-cooled engines, gasket leaks occur, allowing water to find its way into the crankcase, there to form emulsion sludges of different specific gravities, all of which prevent adequate lubrication. Water also forms in air-cooled engines that operate under contrasting atmospheric temperatures, the water in air condensing in the crankcase.

In addition to such sludges, the oil picks up dirt that enters via the intake air, and also metallic particles caused by engine wear. Carbon residuals, the products of incomplete combustion, multiply rapidly and when mixed with sludges, silica dust, etc., fuse into jagged particles that have the hardness of a diamond. When such dangerous particles get in the oil stream, severe walland bearing scratching occurs, thereby causing great friction and ultimate seizure of the hot working partsyfor during engine operation temperatures mount quite high andthe metals lose their strength and enduring qualities in inverse proportion to such temperature rise. The continuous removal of such unwanted matter from the lubricating oil therefore becomes -a must if the life of the engine and operating safety are to be preserved.

Obviously, the most logical time to accomplish the removal'o'f contaminants from the 'oil stream is" as soon as possible after the lubricant leaves the engine sump, at which time it has a temperature of approximately 250 degrees F. and is, therefore, very fluid. High fluidity, as contrasted to high viscosity, facilitates practically instantaneous separation of the substances having specific gravities higher than that of the oil. Hence, continuousnot simply periodicremoval of such matter brings about many advantages, such as longer time between engine overhauls, a better functioning engine, a higher power output per pound of fuel consumed and a lower lubricant cost due to the need of adding only small quantities of fresh oil to maintain the crankcase level and the proper viscosity.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the described centrifuge, in which view is also shown an exterior schematic outline of the associated fluid introductory and fluid by-pass means, and a sectional view of a complementary, or assisting, energyrecovering assembly via reactive drive.

Fig. 2 is, compared to Fig. 1, an approximate half-size external view of the centrifuge, the controlled-flow introductory and by-pass schematic system and the compensating reactive drive means.

Fig. 3 is a half-size, partially cutaway top view of the centrifuge rotor taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1. In this view is also shown outlets for the discharge therethrough of liquid having a higher specific gravity than that of the fluid carrying such liquid.

Fig. 4 is a half-size side view of the rotor looking toward center, the fluid contaminant discharge passageways being shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 5 is an exposed view, looking downward, Fig. l, of the frusto-conical disc assembly identified as 47, the series of concentric, sectioned ringsindicating the contaminant-catching protuberances on the under-sides of the discs, that comprise a separating-retaining means employed in. that stage.

Fig. 6 is a top view, taken on line 6- 6, Fig. 1, showing (A) the. fluid dispersal means employed to convey the fluid under pressure. to the rotor; (B) the compartmented, double-walled, ribbed structure, (C) the outer side-wall showing the equi-spaced passageways for conveying a liquidcontaminanttoward the areaofits discharge and. (D) the over-hanging flange of the top cap plate.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the frustoconical disc assembly of the secondary separation stage, wherein is shown its angular mounting relative to the hollow shaft.

Fig. 8 is a three-quarter view of a fluid-passing spacer ring employed in the frusto-conical disc assembly.

Fig. 9 is a half-size partial view, looking downward, of the bottom radial plate of the secondary separation stage, taken on line 9-9, Fig. 1, the fluid entrance holes thereof being identified as 51A, Figs. 1 and 9.

Fig. 10 is a half-size view, looking downward, of the removable twin-half top plate cover of the contaminant accumulating chamber, separately identified as 27, Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a half-size view, looking upward, of the multipurpose plate, identified as 43, Fig. 1, showing therein fluid entrance apertures, identified as 45.

Fig. 12 shows a front and a side view of the liquid discharge fixtures located innerwise on the rotors top cap plate.

"Fig. 13 is a half-size view, looking upward of the removable drainage sections on the bottom of the rotor, separately identified as 34, Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a half-size view, looking upward, of the removable twin-half access sections in the bottom of the stationary. casing, identified as 74,'Fig. 1. Multiple tubular outlets, identified as 71, for conveying water or other comparatively heavy liquid from the inside of the casing to an annular collecting tube, are also shown.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of a single curved stator blade of the reactive drive assembly, identified as 84, Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a half-size partially exposed view, looking downward, of the associated reactive drive assembly mounted on the lower extremity of the hollow shaft beneath the centrifuge casing.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view taken on the line 1717 of Fig. 6, showing in a side view the circumferential aperture on the inner wall of the compartmented wall structure and the edges of the ribs positioned therein.

Fig. 18 is a partial view, looking downward, of the foam nullifying screen of the reactive drive assembly, identified as 85, Fig. 1.

Fig. 19 is a half-size partial view of the top of the casing showing removable windows in said top.

By referring to Fig. 1, the entry and travel through the centrifuge of the fluid to be freed of contaminants may be followed. The contaminated fluid-in the present instance lubricating oil-is indicated by arrows having forked tails. It comes from the sump of an engine, not shown, wherein it receives pressure from the pump therein for return, as per conventional engines, to the oil tank. However, it is proposed that the centrifuge described herein shall be installed in the line between the engine sump and the oil tank as. closely to and at a lower level than the sump outlet as is possible so that separation advantages made possible by high heat may be best employed.

Coming from an engine, the contaminated oil travels, as per forked arrows 1, into a flow-regulating device 2, not part of this invention except associatively, wherein there are valves which may be actuated via manual, pressure-relief orv thermostatic control. For example, were this centrifuge installed in an airplane, it would be most desirable for quick warm-up purposes to by-pass the oil directly to the engine oil inlet via conduit 3, in which case no oil would enter the centrifuge. But as soon as a sufficiently high oil temperature had been attained, the oil then would be permitted by any of the above-mentioned controls to enter conduit 4, traveling as per indieating-arrows 5 into stationary, though detachable, fluid conveying tube 6.

A valve, not shown, is also incorporated in the flowregulating device 2 to make certain that a high enough oil level'is maintained in the engine sump, thereby precluding the possibility of air entering the oil stream via the sump pump and thus getting into the centrifuge, in which event it would cause erratic operation with resulting poor contaminant separation. This valve would permit sufiicient oil to be by-passed to the engine sump via conduit 7 to maintain a high level of oil, or a drowned condition, in the sump at all times. This by-pass facility is especially desirable should the centrifuge be installed in an airplane for under the reduced atmospheric pressure conditions prevailing at high altitudes foaming or frothing of the oil occurs, which condition, in turn, causes irregular pump action and consequently insuflicient flow of oil which serves both as a lubricant and as a fluid means whereby excessive heat is removed from an engine.

Reference to 6, Figs. 1 and 6, shows that the stationary fluid introductory system is comprised of a number of dispersal tubes 8 which have open-end connection with the interior of introductory tube 6 which, in turn, is disengageably connected to conduit 4 by means of tubular nut 9. Tubes 8 are removably afiixed to radial supporting plate 10, which encompasses tube 6,- by means of clamp bolts 11, thelatter supporting and holding said dispersal tubes in prescribed radial alignment.

Tubes 8 turn at approximate right angles at their extremities and have angularly shaped nozzles 12 with restrictive orifices removably afiixed thereto. These nozzles, which may be of any desired cross-section or have any desired foeussing angle, direct forcibly the fluid being discharged therefrom against the inner surface of the outer wall and the ribs of the compartmented structure, thereby causing, in conjunction with the reactive drive hereinafter described, maximum peripheral speed of the rotor and development of a powerful centrifugal force within the fluid at a minimum cost of power.

This compartmented wall structure contributes several major operating as well as structural advantages to this centrifuge. As shown, it is of parallel spaced-Wall, increasingly radial construction from top to bottom, invaluably stressed by integrated equi-spaced ribs that extend therein throughout its entire depth.

As one advantage, the contaminated fluid impinges via the nozzles at the near-maximum radius of the rotor, thus contributing to the rotor a high-leverage hydraulic drive.

Second, in the precipitation of semi or whole solids or a high specific gravity liquid from a fluid, such as oil, the best efliciency is attained by breaking up the fluid into innumerable fine streams under high-heat operating conditions. Such a result occurs when the contaminated fiuid comes from an engine, or a hot vessel, and is directed under pressure against a large number of compartmented areas, such as is afforded by the presently described construction. The discharge of the fluid as it leaves nozzles 12 is partly outward, and after imparting its energy against the ribs and wall structure the heaviest contaminants within the fluid, now under the influence of centrifugal force, remain as far radially distant as the confines of the structure allow.

Third, this compartmented structure, having a downwardly increasing radial construction, operates under the influence of progressively increasing centrifugal force throughout its outwardly disposed depth. (In constructing centrifuges of this invention, the radii differential may be increased to any desired extent.) Hence, in conjunction with the centrifugal pump effect induced by the high-leverage reactive drive assembly, the pressure within the fluid becomes such that the receiving end of the construction-the top-is constantly relieved of the fluid as fast as it impinges thereagainst. Moreover, the resistance inherent in centripetal flow from the contaminant accumulating chamber is sufficiently overcome, via this centrifugal suction means, to permit fluid to flow centripetally through apertures in the more centrally positioned frusto-conical disc assembly, which comprises the secondary separation stage.

Fourth, aside from the favorable operating elfects made possible by this nearmaximurn leverage impingement position, and also by the progressively increasing centrifugal force brought into being by means of this construction, the parallel walled, internally ribbed design, constituting as it does a multi-trussed wall, ofifers the best form of structure for withstanding the high centrifugal and fluid pressure stresses that build up within a rotor.

Fifth, inasmuch as the fluid carrying its higher specific gravity substarces is conveyed at the commencement of the separating process to the near-maximum radial position in the rotor, an excessive centrifugal force, or pe ripheral speed, is not required to maintain separation of matter from a fluid, the governing factor, of course, being the relative specific gravities of the substances and the carrying fluid. Therefore, in comparison with other centrifuges wherein great centrifugal force of 10,000 Gs, or more, is employed to force contaminants through a fluid, particularly during the relative short period of time that a fluid is under the influence of centrifugal force within a centrifuge, no such force is required in the herein described multiple separation means. Therefore, by means of the externally mounted fluid-flow regulatory means associated with this centrifuge, the volume and pressure in the fluid being subjected to treatment may be kept under close observation in order to obtain the most satisfactory results.

6 The viscosity of a fluid undergoing centrifugal treatment, its temperature and consequent fluidity and the time allowed for centrifugal force to do its separation work constitute the major requirements of a centrifuge. Therefore, by conveying the fiuid under high introductory temperature conditions made possible by the proposed installation of this centrifuge, to a favorable leverage application position at the periphery of the rotor and subjecting it to ever-increasing centrifugal pressures throughout the depth of the compartmented structure, and thereafter requiring it to flow centripetally and through the secondary separation stage before passing into the hollow shaft, thence out of the centrifuge under centrifugal suction-creating means, provide the best set of operating conditions under which maximum separation of contaminants, or substances, from a fluid may be had.

in addition to the safety afforded by its stressed construction, compartmented structure 13 is strengthened by its abutment against and fabrication with outer side-wall 14, later more fully described, and is also further strengthened by its engagement with slanting top plate 18 at recesses 18A, into which compartmented structure 13 extends, and by flange 18B which encompasses sidewall 14 a short distance from its top and is made removably secure thereto by means of screw bolts 24. In turn, joining outer side-wall to compartmented structure 13 lends added strength to the combination primary stage construction.

Outer sidewall 14 houses internal liquid-flow channels 15 commencing from its contact with contaminant accumulating chamber 16 and extending upwardly inward throughout its depth. Arrows 17, which have a small circle on their ends, represent the flow of water, as one of the possible liquid substances, from this chamber into the aforesaid channels, or passageways. At the top of this inwardly inclining wall the passageways therein merge with passageways 19 Within plate 18 which extend inwardly like spokes of a wheel to any series of outlet fixtures 2% that may be selected through which discharge of the liquid contaminant may be had. Passageways 15 are shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4 and in circular formation in Fig. 6, and passageways 19 in dotted outline, Fig. 3.

These outlets, which are also shown in Fig. 3, and in enlarged form in Fig. 12, are comprised of a plurality of outwardly pointing right-angled fixtures, which may be made integral with plate 18 or removably aflixed thereto at any desired radius in order to accommodate the specific gravity of any liquid substance that may be separated from a lighter fluid which, obviously, would thereafter become the contaminant-freed-fluid for conveyance out of the centrifuge via the hollow shaft. In the present illustrations the fixtures are shown as being plugged, plugs 20A having small safety wire holes for operating security reasons. Certain of the fixtures may be left that way or the plugs may be removed therefrom, all according to the relative specific gravities of the fluids involved. conceivably, of course, there are fluids whose only contaminant, or substance, may be a solid, in which event there would be no liquid discharge via these outlet fixtures and they would, therefore, remain closed.

Plate 18 also serves the important function of maintaining positive alignment of the rotor at its top end. As will be noted, this plate has a heavy flange on its inner end, which flange spatially encompasses and parallels the sides of introductory tube 6, while the outer surface of this flange has intimate contact with anti-frictional hearing assembly 21, centrally positioned in casing 22, to which it is removably secured by means of a plurality of screw bolts 23.

Side-wall 14 is removably afiixed to the peripheral flanges of radial supporting plate 25 by means of a plurality of screw bolts 26 which pass through compartmented structure 13 to engage said flanges. Plate 25 is of strong construction to otfset centrifugal stresses that build up in the central part of a wall. At its inner end a comparatively heavy right angled flange turns upward to contrathreadably engage the top of hollow shaft 30 on its inner side while its outer side intimately contacts bearing assembly 64 which is held rigidly in position by means of stationary supporting plate 10 which encompasses introductory tube 6. Plate 10 also supports dispersal tubes 8 via clamp means 11.

Inaddition to serving as a means for conveying a fluid upwardly inward from contaminant accumulating chamber 16, the outer wall of side-wall 14 terminates a distance above its base to form a radially extending flange which affords a means whereby circumferential twinhalf top plate 27 may be secured to said side-wall.

Contaminant accumulating chamber 16 is bounded by the aforesaid top plate 27, the flange on side-wall 14, the inner leg portion of side-wall 14 and by the uprising outwardly extending side 28A of bottom plate 28 to form a bowl-like construction. Sidewall 28A is, in fact, a flanged continuation of the bottom plate 28. At its inner end plate 28 encompasses and is removably secured to hollow shaft 30 via bolts 29. Thereafter, while the bottom part of this plate is of horizontal construction relative to shaft 30, the top part thereof slopes outwardly downward to provide a drainage surface leading to the drainage openings covered by removable plates 34. Removable plates 34 are shown more clearly in Fig. 13, while the top twin-half cover plate 27 is shown separately in Fig. 10. A plurality of screw bolts 32 aflix cover plate 27 to the flange on side-wall 14 and the top of bowl-like wall 28. O-ring gaskets 33 are provided for sealing purposes between cover plate 2'7 and the surfaces to which said plate is affixed.

A cross sectional view of cover plate 27 resembles a T, the lower part of the T serving as combination plug and aligning member for said cover, while the wings of the T span the space represented by 31 occupied by cover plate 27, Fig. 1, but shown in dotted outline, Fig. 10. This space is very important from the standpoint of gaining access to the contaminant chamber. As complementary access or drainage means, drain cover plates 34 are provided at the peripheral radius of plate 28. The practically perpendicular relation between space 31, when cover plates 27 are removed, and the openings in bottomv plate 28 provide a means for loosening hard-packed substances which build up under heavy centrifugal precipitation, said substances thereafter being flushed out of the chamber. This construction therefore permits ready access to one of the most vital parts of the rotor, without the necessity of dismantling the centrifuge to remove said contaminants.

Sectional drain covers 34 are affixed to bottom plate 23 via a plurality of screw bolts 35, and leak-proof gaskets 36 are provided therebetween, bolts 35 passing therethrough.

In chamber 16 the probable extent of contaminant build-up is indicated by double-dotted rows 37 while the probable extent of water accumulation is indicated by the symbol for water as indicated by 38.

Chamber 16, which has a comparatively large circumferential area, provides an offset means whereby contaminants precipitated from the fluid stream may accumulate and thus prevent clogging of the fluid stream at the base of compartmented structure 13.

In connection with the aforesaid contaminant removal facilities removable access doors 39 are provided in the side of casing 22' adjacent its bottom, and removable cover plates 74 are provided in the base section of the casing. A side view of the side doors is shown in Fig. 2, and cover plates 74 are shown installed in the bottom of casing 22 in Fig. 14.

Besides serving as the axis of the rotor, hollow shaft 30" (encircled) serves as a conduit for conveying cleansed fluid out of the centrifuge to a reactive drive assembly,

or turbine, mounted in housing 86 beneath centrifuge casing 2 2. At itsextreme top, shaft 30 is'spaced from plate 10, the separation therebetwe'en constituting the dividing line' between inwardly positioned stationary introduetory tube 6 which extends through plate 10, and rotatable shaft 30. The top of this shaft may be closed by means of a tight-fitting plug inserted therein, such as indicated by 41, in order that the cleansed fluid will flow downward only.

Reverting to the flow of the contaminated fluid through the centrifuge, after impinging against ribs 13, it travels radially downward as per forked arrows 5. Upon passing out of the base of compartmented structure 13 the substances in the fluid that have specific gravities higher than that of the fluid itself are centrifugally precipitated into chamber 16, while the fluid freed of its heavy contamiriants is forced by internal pressure to travel inwardly toward the hollow shaft. The eounterwise travel of this carrying fluid is indicated by arrows 42.

Mold-purpose plate 43 serves in a dual capacity in that it lends radial stress support to compartmented structure 13 at its base, bolts 44 passing through the inner leg of side-wall 14, through said compartmented structure and thread'ably engaging a peripheral circumferential flange of plate 43. Examination of this plate will also reveal that after the carrying fluid passes through apertures 45 therein, it again flows outwardly and up the inclined surface of said plate to the radial extremity permitted by the dimensions of the inner frusto-conical disc assembly. Plate 43 is removably secured to hollow shaft 39 by a ring of Allen screw bolts 46. Apertures 45 constitute the dividing line between the primary and secondary separation stages.

Granted that the bulk of the contaminantssolid matter, sludges and wateris centrifugally precipitated into chamber 16 at the beginning of the separation process, due to constantly decreasing temperature as the oil passes through the centrifuge it is possible that some lighter forms of contaminants may still remain in the residual carrying fluid. To accomplish certain removal of such residuals frusto-conical disc assembly 47 is incorporated in the centrifuge structure to trap and retain such lighter contaminants from the now nearly-cleansed oil stream.

Assembly 47 comprises an angular arrangement of cone-shaped discs 48, Figs. 1 and 7, which are mounted within twin-half wall 49. This wall, in turn, is held securely in position by means of spacer element 50 which encompasses shaft 30 and is tapered on its outer side to conform to the angular shape of wall 49. Further support for this angularly constructed wall is provided by radial plate 51 which encompasses shaft 30 via flange means and is made removably secure thereto by Allen screw bolts 52. Apertures 51A, also shown in Fig. 9, permit passage of the residual carrying fluid through plate 51 for its constantly increasing radial travel through apertures in the outer extremities of the discs, as shown in Fig. 5. An annular stop spacer 53 is provided between plate 51 and multi-purpose plate 43. A plurality of bolts 54 pass through plate 43 and spacer 53 to make engagement with plate 51.

In building up this cone assembly a collar 55 is mounted concentrically around shaft 30 and affixed thereto by means of set screws 56. Thereupon, radial plate 57, which has a contour similar to that of the discs, is mounted upon collar 55, after which annular spacers 58, shown in Figs. l and 7 and in a three-quarter view in Fig. 8, are mounted against wall 49 at the innermost edges of the discs and also at their outermost edges against the outer section of said wall 49. These annular spacers are installed to provide prescribed separation of the discs and permit flow of the residual carrying fluid therethrough, said spacers having equally spaced, notched sections in their bottoms for that purpose.

Cone-shaped discs 48, as will be seen in Figs. 1 and 7, have tapering protuberances on their undersides, one purpose of which is to provide contaminant-retaining areas betweenthe discs and the inner sides of said protuberances. A second advantage is to provide strength to the discs to enable them to withstand effectively the centrifugal stresses that build up in a rotor. Such reinforcements enable the discs to maintain their conformity under high-speed rotation and hence preserve the minutely prescribed fluid-flow passageways therebetween. These protuberances are tapered on their outer sides to permit the oil, or other fluid, flowing centripetally between the discs to squeeze past without restriction, while on the inner side these protuberances constitute part of the above-mentioned contaminant retaining areas. The contaminant that may possibly be precipitated in these areas is indicated by dots 59 in Fig. 7.

There are at present many centrifuges that have disc assemblies in their separating bowls. While these discs do accomplish separation, one of faults that plague such centrifuges lies in uneven distribution of contaminants that occurs within such bowls. Generally, these bowls are of perpendicular construction, the fluid to be cleansed entering the disc assembly at the bottom. There being no radii differential in such constructions, it will be found that the entrance apertures between the discs speedily become clogged, especially the bottom-most aperture, which clogging renders all the other discs useless and which condition makes it imperative that the centrifuge so afflicted be dismantled for removal of such clogging contaminants.

In the herein disclosed invention the functioning thereof is in marked contrast to that above described. All oil, or other fluid, entering the disc-assembly area must travel outwardly and upwardly to the extreme radius of the assembly before it is forced inwardly by internal pressure. Consequently, any unwanted matter that may still reside in the fluid will be conveyed from the bottom entrance apertures and retained, first, at the extreme upper radial position in the bowl; after which, should any contaminant crowd between the upper discs it will be trapped thereat; and, henceforth, should any clogging occur, the spaces and discs next beneath will be available to trap contaminants. Hence, any clogging that may occur would commence from the top down and not from the bottom up, as at present. The complete capacity of the cone assembly is thus made available for separation purposes. For practical and economical centrifuge operation, clog-free distribution of the fluid therein is a must.

The twin-half construction of wall 49 is indicated by 60, Figs. 1 and 5, the sections thereof being removably affixed to each other by a plurality of screw bolts 61. The top section of this wall has, throughout most of its area, an angular contour similar to that of discs 48. At its extreme top it abuts and occupies a recessed position within radial supporting plate 25.

Upon being freed of the last traces of foreign matter by said angularly positioned and, therefore, radii differential means, the now-cleansed oil is forced to flow from said disc area through multiple small passageways 62, said passageway continuing through wall 49, through tapering spacer element 50 and through the wall of hollow shaft 30 to the interior thereof. This oil flow entering the shaft is indicated by arrows 63 which also indicate that the cleansed oil flows downward into the reactive fluid drive assembly positioned in a casing beneath the centrifuge casing.

Near its bottom, shaft 30 is supported via a shoulder of reduced cross section, as indicated at 30A, which shoulder rests upon radial thrust ball bearing assembly 65. This assembly is removably secured to the twin-half bottom of casing 22 by means of a ring of screw bolts 66.

As a means for maintaining thrust alignment of shaft 30 and the centrifuge components assembled therearound, collar 67 is removably secured to said shaft by means of set screws 68. interposed between this collar and the bearings is a spacer type washer 69 which has a curved raceway contoured therein to receive the travel of the ball bearings therearound.

Stationary casing 22 is of twin-half construction throughout its entire area and each half thereof is secured to each other by means of bolts 70. It may be mounted on any desired supporting frame or engine by conventional mounting means, none of which is shown.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the side-wall of this casing inclines inwardly from top to bottom, and that the lowest internal area bounded by said side-wall and bottom is at the farthermost merger thereof. Hence, when a liquid contaminant is discharged from outlets 2% in the top plate of the rotor it will be thrown radially, as per'arrows 17, against the inner surface of the casing wall. Thereafter, it will flow downwardly inside the wall and, due to the angular construction thereof and also the outwardly sloping bottom wall, converge at the lowest point of the wall merger, whereupon it will pass into drainage tubes 71, thence into collector ring 72, for conveyance to any desired destination.

Removable cover plates 74 are aflixed to the bottom of casing 22 by means of screw bolts 75, which also secure gasket 76 interposed between plates 74 and casing 22.

Window sections 77 are provided in the top of casing 22 so that visual observation of the rotor may be had. These window sections are removably secured to casing 22 by means of screw bolts 78. These window sections also serve the purpose of access doors in order to reach outlet fixtures 20.

Reactive drive assembly 80 is disengageably affixed to the lower terminus of hollow shaft 30 by means of contra-thread engagement therewith, as indicated by dotted outline in the hub of said assembly. Hence this assembly is self-tightening, and will remain secured throughout operation of the centrifuge.

This assembly is shown partially in Fig. 16. It is comprised of hub 84 a plurality of dispersal tubes 81, which extend through said hub to the interior of hollow shaft 30, and a radial supporting plate 82 which encompases the hub and to which said tubes are affixed by means of hold-down aligning clamps 83. A substantial right angle is formed at the termini of these tubes, to which termini are fitted nozzles 87 which extend to within close proximity of stator blades 84 for focussing the discharge of fluid in a direction opposite to that of rotation.

Obviously, the greater the radii of these tubes the greater the centrifugal pump effect thereby provided, and according to the strength of this centrifugal effect a suction pull will be exerted upon the fluid flowing downwardly through hollow shaft 39 which, in turn, will help overcome, through said suction pull, the contrafiow influence exerted by centripetal force upon the fluid flowing inwardly from the contaminant receiving chamber 16 to the disc assembly 47, and through the disc passageways to the interior of the shaft. As stated in the objects of this invention, in order to make available the most appropriate reactive drive assembly for any prescribed fluid input pressure and rotor radius, assemblies of different radii are made available for engagement with said hollow shaft, as are of course the housings which contain the complementary stator blade assembly required for the fluid impingement turbine effect.

As previously mentioned also, the suction pull induced upon the fluid being discharged translates into energy compensation in that less pump effort will be required to obtain a stated rotor peripheral speed.

Upon striking the stator blades the cleansed residual fluid, which may still contain considerable heat, may cause said fluid to foam within the stator blade assembly. This foaming condition, however, may be prevented by obliging the fluid, after it leaves the stator blade surfaces, to flow through a screen 85 which extends circumferentially around the inner periphery of housing 86 and which is located immediately beneath the stator blades. A separate partial top view of this screen is shown in Fig. 18.

Top plate 88 of housing 86 is of divided construction which, when joined together by a plurality of bolts 89,

spatially encompasses shaft 30. At its periphery there is a right angled flange turning downwardly to engage the side walls of housing 86 and to which it is removably secured by a plurality of bolts 91. Vent holes 99 are provided in this top for releasing any gases which may be caused by turbulence within the hot fluid being rapidly dispersed within housing 86.

This latter housing is of one-piece bowl-like construction, the sides thereof rising from the bottom as a perpendicular flange to accommodate the stator blade assembly, and the bottom sloping toward a central aperture 92. The cleansed oil discharged from the dispersal tubes flows down this slope, through this aperture into tubular conduit 93 and thence when the fluid is lubricating oil to the engines oil tank or any other desired receptacle. Bolts 94 secure this conduit to a flat area at the bottom of the sloping wall.

This centrifuge harbors no inaccessible or non-drainage pockets whatever. By removing nut-cap 95 in the introductory system and closing valves in the flow regulating device 2, a solvent may be introduced to flush the centrifuge, cover sections 34 at the bottom of the rotor being removed to provide drainage therethrough.

Special attention is called to the construction of the frusto-conical disc assembly. it is designed of sloping construction so that it is self-drainable and may easily be kept clean by means of periodic flushings. This, of course, is true of every phase of the centrifuge, a factor which makes for longevity in service.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a centrifuge, a stationary casing and a rotor mounted therein between longitudinally spaced bearings and secured to a hollow shaft having a closed top and a bottom opening into fluid discharge means, said rotor having a cone-shaped side-wall and an inwardly abutting parallel-walled structure having equi-spaced ribs integrated angularly therebetween and extending longitudinally thcrethrough, said side-wall and structure being capped at its lesser diametered end by an outwardly and downwardly sloping radial plate spatially encompassing a centrally positioned fluid introductory tube and the spaces formed by said ribs and walls opening at said structures greater diametered end into a peripherally disposed contaminant receiving chamber formed by a horizontal plate encompassing said hollow shaft and extending radially to a distance beyond the bottom of said parallelwalled structure, said plate thereafter assuming the form of a side wall rising outwardly and upwardly beyond said structures bottom, the top of said wall having engagement with an outwardly extending flange of said coneshaped side-wall, an aperture in the inner wall of said parallel-walled structure adjacent its top and extending therearound, said introductory tube having axial alignment with but spaced from said hollow shaft and having connection with a source distant from said centrifuge for conveying under pressure thereto a fluid carrying in suspension solid and liquid contaminants having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, a plurality of tubes having communication with the interior of said introductory tube and extending radially to within close proximity of said aperture, each of said tubes having an angular bend at its extremity and being fitted with a converging nozzle for delivering through said aperture said fluid against the ribs and the inner surface of the outer wall of said parallel-walled structure, a space of increasing radial extent formed within said chamber by said outwardly rising wall, the bottom horizontal plate and the top flange sections for retaining said solid contaminants, a plurality of longitudinally disposed passageways in said cone-shaped side-wall having communication with said chamber and communicating passageways in said radial plate for conveying upwardly and inwardly to discharge fixtures mounted thereupon liquid contamin'an-ts having higher specific gravities than that of said carrying fluid, and means for conveying contaminantfreed fluid 'into said hollow shaft for discharge from the rotor via connecting means at the bottom of said shaft.

2. In a centrifuge, a stationary casing having arotor mounted therein, a centrally positioned inlet tube for delivering through the top of said casing a fluid under pressure from an outside source and carrying in suspension liquid and solid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, means external to said casing for regulating the volume and pressure of the fluid entering said rotor, said rotor being assembled around a closed-top, open-bottom hollow shaft and being comprised of a top plate encompassing said shaft and extending radially to cap an outer side-Wall and a parallelwalled, internally-ribbed, open-bottom structure inwardly abutting said outer wall, said side wall and ribbed structure having increasing radii from top to bottom, an aperture in the inner wall of said structure adjacent its top and extending therearound, a plurality of tubes having communication with the interior of said inlet tube, extending radially to within close proximity of said-aperture and having converging nozzles secured angularly at their tips for focussing said fluid against the ribs within said structure; a large capacity circumferential chamber formed by walls partially comprising said rotor, said walls being spaced radially distant from and above and beneath the extreme radius of .said ribbed structure for retaining solid contaminants, a plurality of passageways commencing at the base-of said outer side-wall, having communication with said chamber and extending upwardly and inwardly through said wall, a plurality of passageways in said top plate having communication with said side-wall passageways and terminating in inwardly located fixture-s mounted thereupon for discharging from the rotor said higher specific gravity liquid contaminants, passageways extending inwardly from said chamber to the interior of said hollow shaft and means connected to the bottom thereof for discharging contaminant-freed fluid from said rotor.

3. A centrifuge, the combination comprising a casing having positioned therein a rotor comprised of structures mounted at diverse angles relative to each other and relative to a longitudinally disposed hollow shaft, a stationary introductory tube and a plurality of right-angled tubes connected therewith for conveying to within close proximity of said rotor a fluid given pressure at an outside source and carrying in suspension solid and liquid-substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, a primary separation stage of said rotor formed by a combination outer side-wall and an inwardly abutting parallel-walled, internally-ribbed structure having increasing nadii from top to bottom, the spaces between said ribs providing open passageways throughout the depth of said structure, a radially disposed plai'te spatially encompassing said introductory tube and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom to provide a top for said structures, a chamber formed by walls spaced outwardly from and above and beneath the lower open end of said structure and being secured to other structural components of said rotor, means having open-end communication with said chamber for the discharge from said rotor at a lesser radius than that at which it was received said higher specific gravity liquid substance, a secondary separation stage comprised of a structure mounted within the area defined by the walls comprising said primary stage, fluid communicating means between the structure comprising said primary stage and the structure comprising said secondary stage, said latter structure having, relative to saiddownwardly disposed primary stage structure, an upwardly disposed, increasingly radial construction; means within said latter structure for retaining substances having higher specific gravities than that of the said carrying fluid, and passageways leading from said secondary stage structure to the interior of said shaft for the conveyance therethrough of contami- 13 nant-freed fluid to turbine means having communication with said shaft at its bottom.

4. In a centrifuge, a stationary casing having positioned therein a rotor assembled around a hollow shaft and having a parallel-walled, open-bottom structure with an aperture in its inner wall extending circumferentially therearound, a stationary fluid-introductory tube having axial alignment with but spaced from said shaft and a plurality of fluid-distributing tubes having communication with the interiorof said introductory tube, extending radially therefrom and turning angularly at their tips to discharge through converging nozzles within close proximity of said aperture a fluid given pressure at an outside source and carrying in suspension solid and liquid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, said structure having a plurality of equi-spaced, longitudinally disposed, integrally-formed ribs separating said walls and comprising in conjunction therewith a drivable turbine construction having increasing radii from top to bottom, a radial cap plate having recesses therein for engaging said structures walls and serving as a top therefor, an ofiset contaminant chamber formed by walls partially comprising said rotor, said walls being distantly spaced from said structures open bottom for retaining said higher specific gravity solid substances, means for discharging from said chamber said higher specific gravity liquid substances, an interiorally positioned twin-half walled structure mounted divergently angular relative to said parallel-walled structure and relative to said hollow shaft for housing a frusto-conical disc assembly positioned therearound, means for passing said carrying fluid into said disc assembly, means for retaining therein substances having higher specific gravities than that of said carrying fluid and means for passing contaminant-freed fluid therefrom to the interior of said shaft for the conveyance therethrough of said fluid to turbine means having communication with said shaft at its bottom.

5. In association with regulatory means for controlling the flow of a fluid given pressure at an outside source and carrying in suspension liquid and solid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, a centrifuging rotor having diverse angular structures assembled around a hollow shaft positioned between bearings in a casing and made operatively rotatable by said fluid, a centrally positioned inlet tube connected to said regulatory'means and having radial distributing tubes connected to the inlet tubes interior for conveying said pressured fluid to within close proximity of a parallelwalled, internally-ribbed, open-bottom structure inwardly abutting and being made secure to an outer side-wall, said combined structures having increasing radii from top to bottom throughout their depth, a top plate spatially encompassing said inlet tube and extending radially and slopingly downward to encompass the lesser diametered end of said combined structures, several rings of equispaced, fluid-flow fixtures, each ring being mounted at a different radius relative to the axis of said rotor and each fixture having the shape of an outwardly-facing elbow and having an orifice in its radial end, a removable plug fitted in each of said orifices, a peripherally disposed contaminant chamber positioned outwardly adjacent the open endof said parallel-walled structure, said chamber being formed by walls partially comprising said rotor and extending circumferentially therearound, a plurality of upwardly and inwardly disposed passageways in said side-wall having open-end communication with said chamber, a plurality of passageways in said top plate having communication with said side-Wall passageways and extending inwardly to establish communication with said fixtures for the discharge therethrough of said higher specific gravity liquid substances, an area constituting a circumferential pocket Within said chamber against its lower, its side and its upper walls for the retention of said higher specific gravity solid substances, and open 1'4 communication means leading from said chamber to the interior of said hollow shaft for the discharge therefrom of contaminant-freed fluid via turbine means connected to said shafts open bottom.

6. In a centrifuge, a rotor assembled around a hollow shaft and mounted in a casing between longitudinally spaced bearing assemblies, a stationary inlet tube for conveying under pressure from an outside source a fluid carrying in suspension solid and liquid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, said rotor being capped by a radial top plate having a flange spatially encompassing on its inner side said inlet tube and abutting the top-most of said bearing assemblies on its outer side, the sides of said rotor being comprised of an outer side-wall encompassing a parallel-walled, internallyribbed, open-bottom structure having increasing radii from top to bottom, a shoulder formed in said shafts Wall for making radial thrust contact with the lowermost of said bearing assemblies, a plurality of distributing tubes having open-end communication with the interior of said inlet tube and extending radially to within close proximity of a circumferential aperture in said structures inner wall, said tubes having nozzle means for focussing under maximum impingement pressure said fluid against the ribs and walls of said structure, a plate comprising the bottom of said inlet tube and extending radially to support said distributing tubes, said plate housing a bearing assembly to provide intermediary radial aligning support to said rotor, structural means comprising a chamber positioned outwardly from the lower terminus of said side-wall for retaining said higher specific gravity solid substances, outwardly facing fixtures installed in said radial top plate having connection with passageways therein, said passageways communicating with passageways in said outer side-wall and said latter passageways communicating with said chamber for discharging from said rotor said higher specific gravity liquid substances, and means for conveying the carrying fluid from said chamber into said hollow shaft for discharge therefrom via turbine means having connection with said shaft;

7. in a centrifuge, a casing for housing a rotor having a primary and a secondary separating means assembled around a closed-top, open-bottom hollow shaft, a stationary inlet tube having axial alignment with but spaced from said rotors shaft, a plate secured to the bottom of said inlet tube and extending radially to support a plurality of fluid-dispersing tubes having communication with the interior of said inlet tube for conveying to within close proximity of an apertured wall of said rotor a fluid given pressure at an outside source and carrying in suspension liquid and solid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, said primary means being comprised .of an outer side-wall and a parallel-walled structure having increasing radii from top to bottom and having equi-spaced ribs between the walls thereof, the spaces between said ribs providing open passageways throughout the structures length, a bearing assembly housed in said radial plate, a horizontal stress-supporting plate encompassing and being removably secured to said hollow shaft and having an inner flange for making aligning contact with said bearing assembly, said plate extending radially, terminating in a double-ended flange against the inner side of said structure and having removable engagement therewith, said secondary separation means comprising a centrally positioned housing abutting said horizontal plate and being mounted divergently angular relative to the mounting of said primary structure, said housing encompassing an assembly of frustoconical discs mounted around said hollow shaft at an angle conforming to that of said housing, a chamber formed by walls extending distantly from said structure but having connection therewith for retaining said higher specific gravity solid substances, means for discharging from said chamber said higher specific gravity liquid substances, means for conveying said carrying fluid from said primary separating means to said secondary separating means and passageways leading therefrom through the wall of said hollow shaft, means within said secondary means for retaining substances having higher specific gravities than that of said carrying fluid prior to its-discharge into said hollow shaft and means connected to the bottom of said shaft for discharging contaminantfreed fluid from said rotor.

8. A centrifuge, the combination comprising a centrally positioned introductory tube for conveying under pressure from an outside source a fluid carrying in suspension liquid and solid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, a rotor comprising an apertured hollow shaft, a fabricated side-wall and compartrnented structure having increasing radii from top to bottom and means for receiving against ribs within said structure the impingement of said fluid and for discharging said fluid through its greater diametered end, a chamber formed by walls located radially distant from and extending above and beneath the bottom of said compartmented structure for retaining said higher specific gravity solid substances, means communicating with said chamber for discharging therefrom said higher specific gravity liquid substances, a multi-purpose plate encompassing and being removably aflixed to said shaft and extending substantially radial therefrom and 'being removably affixetl' to said compartmented structure, inwardly positioned apertures in said plate for passing the carrying fluid into thetconfines of a frusto-conical disc assembly mounted within a twin-half walled housing having angular spaced relation with said shaft, commencing from the periphery of a radial plate comprising thebottom of said housing the side walls thereof extending outwardly upward, a plurality of intercommunicating fluid-flow holes in the bottom plate of said housing and in said discs adjacent their outer edges, said holes paralleling said side wall for furthering within said assembly the upward distribution of said fluid, and means within saidassembly for retaining contaminantscarried by said fluid prior to it passage into said apertured shaft for discharge via radial means connected to its bottom.

9. In a centrifuge, a casing supporting an inverted coneshaped rotor mounted upon a hollow shaft and given rotation by a fluid introduced under pressure from an outside source, said fluid carrying in suspension liquid and solid contaminants having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, fluid-flow regulating means mounted externally to and operatively associated with said centrifuge, a stationary centrally positioned inlet tube connected to said regulating means and extending longitudinally inward through said casing, radially disposed distributing tubes having communication with the interior of said inlet tube and converging nozzles fitted angularly at said distributing tubes termini for directing said fluid into said cone-shaped rotor at its lesser diametered end, said rotor having a combination structure comprised of parallel walls spaced by ribs made integrally therewith and forming longitudinally disposed spaces therebetween, an outer side wall having a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally therethrough, a radial plate spatially encompassing said inlet tube and extending slopingly radial to encompass via a circumferential flange said sidewall and combination structure, a plurality of passagecircular wall divergently disposed relative to said combination structure and being removably secured to a circumferentially extending side-wall flange, said circular wall being a flanged continuation of a horizontal plate encompassing said hollow shaft, means for retaining within said chamber said solid contaminants and means for discharging therefrom through said side-wall and radial plate passageways and through said fixtures said liquid contaminants,

an inwardly positioned frusto-conical disc assembly mounted angularly around said hollow shaft and occupying the area described by said inverted rotor construction, means for conveying the carrying fluid through said disc assembly into said hollow shaft and turbine means connecting with the bottom of said shaft f r discharging contaminant-freed fluid from the rotor in a direction opposite to that of rotation.

10. In a centrifuge, a rotatable assembly secured to a hollow shaft closed at its top and open at its bottom, said assembly partially comprising a combined side wall and parallel-walled structure having increasing radii from top to bottom, said walls being spaced by longitudinally disposed ribs mounted angularly therebetween, a centrally positioned inlet tube and a plurality of distributing tubes integrated therewith for conveying to within close proximity of an aperture in the inner wall of said structure a fluid given pressure at an outside source and carrying in suspension liquid and solid substances having specific gravities higher than that of said fluid, a chamber formed by walls partially comprising said rotor, said walls being spaced outwardly from and above and beneath the extreme radius of said side wall and extending circumferentially therearound at an elevation from its base for retaining said solid substances therein, means having communication with said chamber for discharging higher specific gravity liquid contaminants from said rotor, a multipurpose plate encompassing said hollow shaft and extending radially to abut and be made secure to said parallel-walled structure, an assembly of frusto-conical discs positioned within a twin-half wall housing, centrally located apertures through said multi-purpose plate and peripherally located apertures in the base of said housing for admitting into said disc assembly adjacent its maximum radius carrying fluid forced inwardly from said chamber, a tapered member interposed between the inner wall of said housing and said shaft for spacing said housing at an angle therefrom, said angular mounting increasing radially outward and upward from said housings base, intercommunicating passageways adjacent the peripheries of said discs and spaces between said discs for providing fluid passageways therebetween, passageways through said tapered member having communication with said disc passageways and extending into the interior of said shaft for conveyance therethrough of contaminant-freed fluid to a turbine connected to said shaft at its bottom.

11. In a certifuge, a stationary casing for housing a rotor longitudinally positioned between bearings around a hollow shaft, said rotor having a primary and a secondary stage for separating solid and liquid conatminants having specific gravities higher than that of a fluid carrying them in suspension from said fluid, said fluid being given pressure at a source external to said centrifuge, a centrally positioned inlet tube for conveying said pressured fluid to the rotors interior and distribution means having communication with said tube and extending radially therefrom for focussing said fluid against the interior surfaces of a parallel-walled ribbed structure comprising a closed-top, open-bottom inverted cone structure partially constituting the primary stage of said centrifuge, a chamber formed by walls offset outwardly from the bottom of said structure and partially comprising the rotor for retaining therein said solid contaminants, and means having communication with said chamber for discharging therefrom said liquid contaminants, said secondary stage comprising a twin-half walled housing spaced from said hollow shaft by a tapered element for carrying an assembly of frusto-conical discs, said housing being mounted at an angle divergent from that of said inverted cone structure and at a radius lesser than that of said primary stage structure, a multi-purpose plate encompassing said hollow shaft and extending radially to removably engage said cone structure, apertures within the inner area of said plate for passing therethrough carrying fluid received from said chamber, means for introducing said carrying 17 fluid into said disc assembly at the outer edges thereof, solid. ring spacers positioned between said discs at their outermost edges for maintaining a prescribed distance,

Itherebetween and notched ring spacers located inwardly from said first-mentioned spacers and also adjacent the: innermost edges of said discs, a plurality of holes in eacli of said discs adjacent the edges thereof, said holes conforming in alignment to the angular mounting of said housing, each of said discs having a smooth upper surface, an indentured lower surface having downwardly projecting protuberances extending therefrom to within close proximity of the top of an adjacent disc positioned immediately beneath, said notched spacers and said spaced relationship between the discs establishing fluid passageways therebetween, and said indentations in conjunction with said protuberances forming on the inner sides thereof circumferential contaminant retaining pockets, intercommunicating passageways extending from said disc passageways through the innermost wall of said housing, through said tapered element and through the wall of said shaft for the passage of contaminant-freed fluid tothe interior thereof, and means having communication with said shaft atits bottom for the discharge of said fluid therefrom.

12. In a centrifuge, structures forming a primary and a secondary stage of contaminant separation from a fluid, said structures being mounted in a casing and comprised of an inverted cone enshrouding a housing for a frustoconical disc assembly, said structures being assembled as a rotatable unit around a hollow shaft and given rotation by a contaminant-laden fluid receiving pressure from an outside source and by pressure within contaminantfreed fluid being discharged from said rotatable unit in a direction opposite to that of rotation, a centrally positioned inlet tube and a plurality of radially disposed tubes having communication with the interior of said inlet tube and having converging nozzles at their discharge ends for focussing said contaminated fluid against the tops of equi-spaced ribs made integral with an open-bottom, parallel-walled structure, said ribs being angularly positioned between said walls throughout their entire depth, through-flow spaces Within said primary structure opening into a contaminant chamber formed by walls partially comprising said rotatable unit and positioned outwardly from, above and beneath the bottom terminal of said structure, means for retaining within said chamber said solid contaminants, means for discharging from said chamber said liquid contaminants,'said rotatable unit including a frusto-conical disc assembly mounted around the units shaft, means for conveying said fluid from said chamber into the interior of said assembly, means for retaining contaminants therein and means for passing contaminant-freed fluid to the interior of said hollow shaft and for conveying it to a turbine connected to the bottom thereof for discharge from said rotatable unit.

13. A centrifuge having a stationary casing, a rotor integrated around an axial tube rotatably mounted within said casing; means for introducing a contaminated fluid at a given pressure from an outside source into said rotor and co-acting fluid-impingement-turbine means for employing said pressurized fluid to effect rotation of said rotor; means for delivering cleansed fluid from said rotor to said axial tube, said tube protruding through the bottom of said casing and into a housing exteriorally disposed therebeneath; said housing being comprised of a structure having annular sides; a reactive drive assembly mounted on the lower extremity of said tube and secured thereto by contra screw engagement; said assembly being comprised of a hub and a plurality of fluid-dispersing tubes having inner open-end connection with the interior of said axial tube, said dispersing tubes being supported by a plate encompassing said hub extending radially a distance approximating that of said dispersing tubes and being removably aflixed thereto by hold-down aligning clamps; said tubes having a right-angled bend at their exhousing separate and apart from said centrifuge casing,

said housing having positioned therein around its inner periphery a stator blade assembly; means for receiving Within said centrifuge casing a contaminated fluid under pressure from an outside source and means within said rotor to receive continuous impingement of said pressured fluid thereagainst; means for delivering cleansed fluid to said axial tube and conveying it to its lower extremity, said reactive drive assembly being affixed thereto thereat; means for dispersing said fluid against said stator blade assembly in a direction opposite to that of rotation.

15. In a centrifuge, the combination of a rotor secured to an apertured axial tube and having an increasingly radial compartrnented side-wall structure having fluid impingement receiving means therein; means for rotating said combination via contaminated fluid under pressure from an outside source and directed by fluid dispersal means into said rotor structure; a circumferential contaminant chamber bounded by a distantly spaced angular wall and capped by a twin-half section extending around said side-wall and being removably secured thereto; a plate encompassing said axial tube and extending radially with the outer edge thereof terminating at and being rernovably secured to said side-wall structure; apertures within said plate for the passage therethrough of fluid forced inwardly from said contaminant chamber; a frustoconical disc assembly housed within a twin-half walled structure having an interior surface extending angularly outwardly from bottom to top adjacent said axial tube; circular spacing means for effecting clog-free distribution of said fluid within said assembly and means dependently carried by said disc assembly for retaining therein contaminants precipitated from said fluid before its delivery to said axial tube. V 4

16. In association with means for regulating the flow of a fluid to be cleansed and an introductory tube therefor, 'a centrifuge supported by an axial tube, made directly operable by pressure applied to said fluid at an outside source and assisted by means for contributing a reactive drive effect induced by the reactive discharge of said fluid therefrom; said centrifuge having primary and secondary stages of separation and incorporating an assembled rotor closed at its top by a radial aligning cap plate and bounded circumferentially on its sides by an integrated structure comprised of a pair of parallel side-Walls spaced by a plurality of longitudinally disposed, equi -spaced ribs positioned substantially at right angles therebetween, said spaced walls and ribs forming compartmented areas that remain open at their bottoms; commencing at its juncture with-said cap plate said wall structure having progressively increasing radii through its full depth, an aperture in the inner wall adjacent its top and extending circumferentially therearound; fluid input means comprising an assembly of stationary fluid-conveying tubes having open-end connection with said introductory tube and right-angled extremities with nozzles fitted thereto and extending to Within close proximity of said side-walls and adapted to direct a discharge of fluid therebetween; contaminant retaining means within said rotor concluding the primary stage of separation; an angularly mounted assembly of discs constituting the secondary stage of separation and having fluid communication with said primary stage of separation and fluid communication with the interior of said axial tube; a reaction turbine having fluid communica- 19 tion with the discharge end of said axial tube, said turbine having radially extending discharge openings formed therein and complementary stator means for coordinating .the discharge of said fluid therefrom at a radius greater than that of said fluid input and in a direction opposite to that of the rotors rotation.

17. A centrifuge comprising a stationary casing, a rotor assembled around a hollow shaft having horizontal apertures in its wall, means for receiving externally pressured fluid carrying substances of higher specific gravities than that of said fluid and means within said rotor for receiving the impingement of said fluid thereagainst and for discharging said fluid therefrom at a radius greater than that at which it was received, a chamber positioned adjacent said greater radius for accumulating substances having said higher specific gravities, means for conveying fluid freed of said substances through said apertures into the interior of said shaft, a housing centrally located and spaced beneath said casing, said housing having an annular side, a twin-half radial plate for encompassing said top via flange means and a funnel-shaped bottom leading to a central aperture, said hollow shaft extending downwardly through the bottom of said casing and becoming contra-threadably engaged to a fluid-dispersing rotor mounted within said housing, an annular curved blade stator assembly removably affixed at the inner periphery of said housing, said assembly being closed at its top and farthest side, open at its inner side and at its bot- .tom, a circumferentially positioned screen extending beneath and partially surrounding said stator blades on their inner edges, vent holes in the top of said housing for the passage of vapors therethrough and a conduit leading from said bottom aperture for conveying fluid from said housing.

18. A centrifuge, the combination comprising a stationary casing, an introductory tube connected to an external source for supplying to a rotor mounted on a hollow shaft supported by bearings within said casing a fluid under pressure and carrying substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, means for focussing said fluid in a direction of rotation at a substantial radius from center against impingement receiving means within said rotor and for discharging said fluid at the maximum diameter of said impingement receiving means, a contaminant receiving chamber offset from the flow of the fluid stream and formed by a substantially horizontal wall encompassing said hollow shaft and extending radially to engage a wall spaced distantly from said maximum diametered impingement receiving means, said latter wall rising at an angle increasing in radii from bottom to top and being secured at its top by removable means securing an apertured flange extending from said rotors side-Wall, means for conveying said fluid minus certain of said substances into the interior of and through a frusto-conical disc assembly and means for delivering to the interior of said shaft fluid freed of said substances, a circular housing centrally positioned beneath said casing, said fluid-conveying shaft projecting through the base of said centrifuge casing and extending into said housing, a turbine assembly comprised of a hub mounted on the lower extremity of said shaft and a plurality of fluid dispersing means having fluid engagement with said hollow shaft, each of said tubes having a substantial angle at its extremity and a converging nozzle secured thereto, a stator blade assembly positioned circumferentially around the inner periphery of said housing in close proximity to said tubes and said nozzle being focussed at an angle to deliver said fluid against said blades in a direction opposite to that of rotation, means for coordinating the radius of said turbine assembly and its complementary stator assembly relative to the radius of said first-mentioned fluidfocussing means.

19. A centrifuge, the combination comprising a casing of angularly formed twin-half construction, a rotor having means comprising contaminant separation stages assembled around a hollow shaft, an inlet tube for conveying an externally pressured fluid carrying in suspension liquid and solid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, a combined side-wall and parallel-walled, open-bottom structure having therewithin spaced longitudinally disposed ribs and having increasing radii from top to bottom, fluid-dispersing means having connection with said inlet tube for focussing said fluid against said ribs through an aperture in the inner wall of said structure, a contaminant chamber formed by walls secured to other components of said rotor and extending outwardly from and above and beneath said open-bottom structure, a radial top plate spatially encompassing said inlet tube and extending slopingly downward to cap said combined side-wall and parallel-walled structures, a plurality of outwardly facing fixtures mounted in the inner area of said top plate, multi-passageways in said side-wall having open communication with said contaminant chamber, multi-passageways in said top plate communicating with said side-wall passageways, extending centerwise and communicating with said fixtures for the discharge therethrough of liquid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, the top of said casing rounding into an annular side wall that inclines inwardly from top to bottom, a radial bottom section encompassing said shaft and extending outwardly and downwardly to make removable contact at its periphery with said inwardly inclining side wall, liquid collecting pipes protruding downwardly and outwardly from the lowest circumferential inner area of said bottom section, said pipes merging into a collector ring for the conveyance of said liquid substances from said casing.

20. In a centrifuge, a stationary casing for housing a rotor made operable by externally pressured fluid conveyed inwardly by a centrally positioned tube having a plurality of distributing tubes extending radially therefrom, said fluid carrying in suspension liquid and solid substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, said rotor comprising a combination side-wall and parallel-walled, open-bottom, internally-ribbed structure having increasing radii from top to bottom, means for receiving within said structure the impingement of said pressured fluid thereagainst, a contaminant chamber formed by walls spaced radially from and above and beneath the bottom of said combination structures, said walls comprising part of said rotor structure, a radial top plate encompassing said inlet tube and extending slopingly downward to cap said combination structures, a plurality of outwardly facing fixtures installed in the inner area of said top plate, multiple passageways within said sidewall having open communication with said contaminant chamber and multiple passageways within said top plate communicating with said side-wall passageways and with said fixtures for the discharge therethrough of liquid contaminants having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, said casing being of twin-half construction and having a plurality of removable window sections in the top thereof for permitting observation of the substances being discharged through said fixtures.

21. In a centrifuge, a rotor assembled around a hollow shaft, a fixed inlet tube having axial alignment with but spaced from said hollow shaft for conveying to the interior of said rotor 21 fluid given pressure externally and carrying in suspension liquid and solid substances having specific gravities higher than that of said fluid, a combination side-wall and parallel-walled, internally-ribbed structure having increasing radii from top to bottom and being open thereat, the outer wall of said side-wall terminating in an outwardly turned flange, nozzle fitted distributing tubes extending from the interior of said inlet tube for directing said pressured fluid against the ribs of said parallel-walled structure, a circular contaminant chamber formed by a base plate encompassing said hollow shaft and extending slopingly radial beneath the base of said combination structure, a distantly spaced side wall comprised of a section of said base plate turned to extend outwardly and upwardly therefrom, a flange extending outwardly as a continuation of the outer wall of said rotors side-wall and making contact with the top of said upwardly turned side wall, a number of apertured access spaces formed in said flange, a number of openings in the bottom section of said base plate, gasket-sealing covers for effecting the closure of said openings and means for removably affixing said covers to said plate, a number of gasket-sealed T-shaped cap plates for covering said apertured access spaces and means for removably aflixing said cap plates to said upwardly turned side wall and to the flange of said rotors side-wall, the lower section of said T-shaped plates serving as aligning members between said side walls and the wing sections thereof bridging said access spaces, said spaces at the top of said chamber and said openings at the bottom of said chamber being substantially perpendicular relative to each other.

22. A centrifuge, the combination comprising a stationary casing for housing a rotor assembled around a hollow shaft, a stationary inlet tube for supplying to said rotor an externally pressured fluid carrying in suspension substances having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, a combination side-Wall and parallel-walled, internally ribbed structure having increasing radii from top to bottom, means for focussing said pressured fluid against said ribs, said structure opening at its bottom into a contaminant chamber located outwardly adjacent the greatest diametered end of said structure, said chamber being comprised of a plate encompassing and being secured to said hollow shaft, the top of said plate sloping downwardly toward drain openings in the base thereof, said plate thereafter rising outwardly and upwardly to form the side of a bowl-like construction, the top of said latter wall being secured to said rotors side-wall by apertured flange means, said apertures providing access spaces therebetween, re-

movable cover plates for bridging said spaces, a plurality of removable doors in the side of said casing positioned adjacent said cover plates and adjacent said removable base sections for providing access to the interior of said contaminant chamber.

23. In a centrifuge having a stationary casing, a rotor mounted anti-frictionally around a longitudinally disposed hollow shaft, said rotor being comprised of structures and mountings disposed angularly relative to each other and relative to said hollow shaft, a centrally positioned, inwardly projecting tube and an associated assembly of tubes for conveying to said rotor contaminated fluid given pressure at an outside source and means for retaining within said structures contaminants having higher specific gravities than that of said fluid, means at the bottom of said rotor for uncovering drainage openings therein and means at the bottom of said casing for providing access to said openings, means connected to said inlet tube for introducing to said rotor fluids for flushing said contaminants therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 981,758 Goehler Jan. 17, 1911 1,235,945 Tuggle Aug. 7, 1917 1,423,169 Thayer July 18, 1922 1,583,048 Karpinsky May 4, 1926 1,714,658 Carter May 28, 1929 1,811,157 Schwerdtfeger June 23, 1931 1,882,390 Maclsaac Oct. 11, 1932 2,321,144 Jones June 8, 1943 2,335,420 Jones Nov. 30, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,181 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1912 823,296 France Oct. 11, 1937

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