US3193194A

US3193194A - Centrifugal separator bowl with periodically operated sludge discharge means

Info

Publication number: US3193194A
Application number: US205011A
Authority: US
Inventors: Steinacker Peter
Original assignee: Westfalia Separator GmbH
Current assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
Priority date: 1961-06-26
Filing date: 1962-06-25
Publication date: 1965-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-06
Also published as: NL278491A; GB938324A; DE1157154B

Description

y 6, 1965 P. STEINACKER 3,193,194

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BOWL WITH PERIODICALLY OPERATED SLUDGE DISCHARGE MEANS Filed June 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Shet l IN \I/ENTOR. P6 re 3 rZ-INA CKEQ w /14 m. HfRlovoLoLl/ AGEIW July 6, 1965 P. STEINACKER 3,193,194

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BOWL WITH PERIODICALLY OPERATED SLUDGE DISCHARGE MEANS Filed June 25, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 9 b& .9 Z u =55 I 'Z'\ 20 z/3o X 1 w i/ 1 31 29 INVENTOR.

iwmwm y 6, 1965 P. STEINACKER 3,193,194

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BOWL WITH PERIODICALLY OPERATED SLUDGE DISCHARGE MEANS Filed June 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VE N TOR. P6725 SI'INAC/(fQ WA m HKRAMA/ United States Patent Oflice 3,193,194 Patented July 6, 1965 3,193,194 CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BQWL WITH PERI- ODICALLY OPERATED SLUDGE DISQHARGE MEANS Peter Steinaclcer, Gelde, Westphalia, Germany, assignor to Westfalia Separator A.G., Oelde, Westphalia, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No. 205,011 Claims priority, application Germany, June 26, 1961, W 30,245 1 Claim. (ill. 23320) The present invention relates to centrifugal separators, and more particularly to the type of automatic, selfcleaning bowl separators wherein solids or sludge accumulating inside the bowl is periodically discharged from the sludge space in the bowl while the unit continues to run at full speed. It is directed more specifically to improvements in separator bowls which have peripherally arranged sludge discharge port means and a pressure fluidoperated sliding piston which is slidable in the direction of the bowl axis under the control of a pressure fluid to open and close the discharge port means.

In apparatus of this kind, it has been proposed to mount the sliding piston in a cylinder formed between the bottom wall of the sludge space and the bottom wall of the bowl, the piston defining a pressure fluid port means opening chamber with the bottom wall of the sludge space and a port means closing chamber with the bottom wall of the bowl.

The speed with which the sliding piston moves between its opening position to its closing position depends not only on the pressure differential between the fluid in the opening and closing chambers of the cylinder but also on the pressure exerted upon the piston by the discharging contents of the bowl escaping through the port means. The vertical component of the latter pressure adds to the opening pressure exerted upon the piston. Thus, equal performance with goods of varying weights can be attained only if the closing pressure exerted upon the piston is larger when the charge of the bowl is heavier.

Heretofore, the radial distance of the overflow port from the axis of the bowl in the opening and closing chambers have been selected in reference to an average specific weight of the expected charges of the bowl. The level of pressure fluid in the chambers depends on the radial position of the overflow ports. In cases where the specific weights of the bowl charges diifered too widely, it became necessary to close off the overflow ports and make new ports at different locations. Basically, there fore, the conventional bowls of this type assured most favorable sludge discharge operations only for one specific weight of the charge, particularly where it was desired to de-sludge only partially and leave residual sludge in the bowl.

It is the primary object of the present invention to overcome these difiiculties and make the overflow port in one of the sliding piston cylinder chambers adjustable so that a single bowl may be readily used for charges of different specific weight.

In accordance with this invention, the pressure differential between the cylinder chambers may be adjusted to the specific weight of the charge by a radially movable element which determines the level of the pressure fluid in one of the chambers, i.e. either the closing chamber or the opening chamber.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent when the same is considered in the following detailed description of three specific embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a separator bowl incorporating one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar vertical section showing the portion of the bowl incorporating another embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 and shows a third embodiment.

The bowl consists of a bottom wall 1 and a conical upper wall 2, the peripheral cylindrical portion of the bottom wall being connected to the upper wall by sealing ring 3 which threadedly engages one or both walls. A peripheral sludge space 2 is defined in the interior of the bowl by the upper wall 2 and a separating wall 5, a liquid charge distributor 4 being fixedly connected to the separating wall'S, and the liquid charge entering the bowl through inlet pipe 4. An axially slidable, pressure fluid operated, annular piston 6 is mounted in a pressure fluid cylinder defined by the bottom wall 1 of the bowl and the separator wall 5, an annular skirt 6a extending upwardly from the piston and sliding in an annular space between the periphery of the separator wall 5 and the bottom Wall 1 of the bowl.

The separator wall 5 has a first wall portion 5' which is generally parallel to the conical upper wall 2 of the bowl and, ascending therefrom, a second wall portion 5" extending towards upper bowl wall 2 but defining therewith an annular gap 71. The cylindrical periphery of the bowl Wall 1 defines several ports 7 in alignment with gap 71. The sliding skirt 5a is designed to open and close communication between the gap '71 and ports 7 upon axial movement of the piston 6, the gap and ports constituting a sludge discharge means in the periphery of the bowl upon opening of communication between the gap and the ports by the pressure fluid operation of piston 6. The pressure fluid cylinder is divided by the piston into a discharge means opening chamber 11 and a closing chamber 3.

As shown, the bowl has a hub 12 fixedly mounted on a shaft constituting the axis of rotation of the bowl, the shaft being coupled to a source or power (not shown) for rotation at any desired speed required for centrifug ing a liquid charge placed into the bowl.

The bowl has suitable discharge means (not shown) for the liquid clarified in the bowl. Such discharge means is well know per se and may take any suitable form. Since it forms no part of the present invention, it has not been shown.

Conventional conical disc means 16 is mounted concentrically about the bowl axis in the interior of the bowl, as is also conventional. Pressure fluid, such as water, is supplied to the cylinder chambers 8 and 11 through main conduit 18,

branch conduits

19 and 29 directing the pressure fluid into the opening and closing chambers, respectively. As is conventional and described, for instance, in US. Patent No. 2,840,302, of which I am a joint inventor, after the discharge of the sludge is completed, i.e. when it is desired to close ports '7, the pressure fluid passing through conduit 18 is throttled down so that the pressure fluid is centrifugally forced through branch conduit 20 only, or primarily, into the closing chamber 8 while the amount of pressure fluid entering into opening chamber 11 through radially inwardly positioned branch conduit 19 is reduced to less than the amount passing out of it through outlet port means 26 in communication with bore 27 in the piston, or no pressure fluid at all enters conduit 19. When the head of the operating pressure fluid is increased in main conduit 18, an increased amount of pressure fluid is supplied to chamber 11 through radially inwardly located branch conduit 19, the piston will be forced downwardly by the increasing fluid pressure in this chamber and the discharge port means 7, 71 will thus be opened, permitting sludge to be discharged through these port means by centrifugal force, as the bowl continues to rotate.

3 The amount of closing pressure depends on the amount of fluid in the closing chamber 8 and is adjustably controlled in accordance with the present invention. In

the embodiment of FIG. 1, this is accomplished by connectingthe closing. chamber 8 with a pressure fluid overflow. chamber 9 through boreZ' which constitutes an overflow port for fluid in closing chamber'S. A stationary fluid discharge pipe 10 extends radially into the overflow chamber 9 and constitutes a fluid removal element. The paring pipe 10 is radially adjustably mounted in relation to the bowl axis so that the pipe intake lfla may be positioned at different radial distances from the axis, which will change the pressure fluid level in closing chamber 8 and thus the closing pressure on'the sliding piston in accordance with the specific weight of the charge. In this manner, the bowl may be readily adapted to charges of greatly varying specific weight without impairing the eificiency of the de-sluding cycle.

Except for the adjustable means for regulating the closing pressure on the sliding piston, the separator bowl of FIG. 2 is the same as that of FIG. 1 and like reference numerals indicate like parts therein to avoid duplication of description. In this embodiment; the piston closing chamber 8 is connected with a fluid overflow chamber 28 through bore 2, the overflow chamber being formed by a radial bore in the bottom wall of the bowl. Threadedly mounted in the overflow chamber is a plug 30 having a central bore in communication with the overflow pipe 31 extending radially into the overflow chamher 28. A gasket 32 circumferentially mounted on the plug prevents leakage from the overflow chamber and when the plug is moved along threads 29 for radial adjustment of the overflow pipe, the amount of fluid land the corresponding pressure in closing chamber 8 is adjusted to any desired amount.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, which again generally shows the same separator bowl, like reference numerals being applied to like parts, the pressure differential between the opening and closing chambersare adjustable by regulating the pressure in the opening chamber 11 As shown, the opening chamber 11 is connected with an overflow chamber 34 through bore 33 which constitutes an overflow port for fluid in the opening chamber. A stationary fluiddischarge or paring. pipe 35 similar to pipe '10 of FIG. 1 extends radially into the overflow chamber and constitutes an element withdrawing fluid from the chamber and thus from opening chamber 11, the output of pipe 35 depending on the radial position of its intake 34a in relation to the bowl axis. radially adjustably mounted in a suitable bracket so that its adjustment may readily adapt the bowl to charges of The pipe is 4 varying specific weight without impairing the efficiency of the de-sludging cycle. I

Variations and modifications of the specifically described structures may readily have occurred to the skilled in the art, such as the p lacement of the radially adjustable overflow means directly in the closing or .open

ing chamber, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim: V a

A separator bowl comprising in combination, an end wall, a bottom wall, a separating wall between the end and bottom walls, the separating wall forming a sludge space with the end wall and a pressure fluid cylinder with the bottom Wall, peripheral sludge discharge port means in said bowl adjacent said sludge space, a sliding piston mounted in said pressure fluid cylinder for axial reciprocation in relation to the discharge port means for opening and closing said port means, said piston separating said cylinder into two pressure fluid chambers, separate pressure fluid supply means leading into each of' said chambers for eflecting said axial reciprocation,

the force of the reciprocation depending on the level of the pressure fluid in the chambers, pressure fluid overflow means for one of said chambers for determining the fluid level therein, said overflow means comprising on overflow port, a housing adjacent the overflow, port and defining an overflow chamber, and a pressure fluid removal element radially adjustably mounted in said overflow chamber to receive pressure fluid from said overflow means for adjusting the fluid level in said one pres sure fluid chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES German printed application No. 1,003,650, 2/57.

HARRY THORNTON, Primary Examiner. ROBERT'F. BURNETT, Examiner.