April 26, 1966 PRINS 3,248,045

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Filed Jan. 24, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 4 a INVENTOR.

KLAAS PRINS BYWI. ,V.

BY MAHONEY MILLER& RAMBO ATTYs.

April 26, 1966 K. PRINS 3,248,045

OENTRIFUGAL SEPARA'IOR OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Filed Jun. 24, 1964 9 Shun-Shut B In K FW FE m Q L 5 h m y m f a a 4 N N 2 N 53 N mmvron. KLAAS PRINS 2 8y LL MAHONEY MILLER& RAMBO ATTYS K. PRINS April 26, 1966 CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Filed Jan. 24, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.

INVENTOR.

KLAAS PRINS BY MAHONEY MILLER8RAMBO ATTYS BY ;r M

April 26, 1966 K. PRINS 3,248,045

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Filed Jan. 24, 1964 9Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. KLAAS PRINS BY MAHgQIEflMILLER 8 RAMBO ATTORNEYS.

April 26, 1966 K. PRINS 3,248,045

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Filed Jan. 24, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 I 2/0 E INVENTOR.

KLAAS PR/NS :H BY I l l E MAHONEY,MILLER&RAMBO g q 8% y M ATTORNEYS.

April 26, 1966 K. PRINS 3,248,045

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Filed Jan. 24, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEYS.

A ril 26, 1966 K. PRlNS 3,248,045

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Filed Jan. 24, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. KLAAS PR/NS BY MAHONEY,MI LER & R E0 m4. 1 M

ATTORNEYS.

April 26, 1966 K. PRINS 3,248,045

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Filed Jan. 24, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. KL AAS PRINS BY MAHgQ/EY, MILLER 8 RAMBO ATTORNEYS.

ging the filter member.

herent disadvantage of the usual centrifuges of this type,

3,248,045 CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR 'OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS TYPE Kiaas Prins, 194 E. D St, Wellstou, Ohio Filed Jan. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 341,481 19 Claims. (Cl. 233 2) trifuge in extracting the water from a fluid containing solid matter and, for example, a centrifuge application for this purpose is in the ore processing industries where the ore is often subjected to a washing process and purification of the resultant waste water is required before it enters a disposal system. In the usual apparatus of this type, the fluid to be processed is directed into a rotary shell or drum and centrifugally thrown against the periphery thereof which is fabricated as a filter member permitting the water to be extracted from the fluid and retaining the solid matter within the rotary drum. The extracted water is collected by an enclosure extending circumferentially around the rotary drum where it may be withdrawn and disposed of in any convenient manner. It is, of course, necessary to also provide means for removing the solid matter from within the rotary drum to permit its continued use. In this respect, an obvious disadvantage of previously devised centrifuges is readily apparent as the retained solid matter or sludge will tend to remain packed against the peripheral filter member and clog the openings or passages through which the water is extracted, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the centrifuge. Prolonged operation under this condition therefore necessitates a means for removal of the solid matter from the filter member and the centrifuge. The usual methods of solid matter removal generally require stopping of the centrifugal separating process and replacement of the filter member or the cleaning thereof by, for example, backflushing. Scraper members revolving within the rotary drum adjacent the filter member have also been utilized in an attempt to continuously remove the solid matter during the operation of continuous-process apparatus, however, they are not effective in removing material clog- As a consequence of this intheir effectiveness in extracting the water is substantially lowered as the solid matter accumulates on the filter member thereby reducing the efliciency of the apparatus and increasing the cost of operation.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a centrifugal separator having a rotary drum with a substantially liquid impervious, solids collecting, peripheral wall member to extract the solid matter from a fluid contained within the rotary drum.

.It is also an object of this invention to provide a centrifugal separator having a rotary drum with the peripheral wall thereof comprising a plurality of annularly disposed, adjacently contacting rollers that are continuously rotated about their axes as the drum is revolved, thereby continuously extracting the solid matter from the fluid centrifugally thrown against the inner peripheral wall and retaining the separated liquid within the drum wherein it is permitted to flow freely downward by gravitational force.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a can trifugal separator having a rotary drum with the periphby the circumferentially enclosing collector is also con- 3,248,645 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 eral wall thereof comprising a plurality of rollers in contacting engagement continuously rotated about their axes as the drum is revolved acting as a substantially liquid impervious, solids collecting member in extracting solid matter from a fluid that is inherently self-cleaning as the extracted solid matter carried to the outer peripheral wall of the drum by the rollers is dislodged therefrom by centrifugal force and deposited in a collector enclosing the rotary drum. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide a centrifugal separator having a rotary drum wherein the solid matter extracted from the fluid and deposited'in a collector enclosing the rotary drum is removed therefrom by a scraper for subsequent disposal in any convenient manner.

A centrifuge constructed in accordance with this invention is provided with a rotary drum having a substantially liquid impervious, solids collecting peripheral wall mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within a circumferentially enclosing collector. The peripheral wall of the rotary drum comprises a plurality of vertically disposed rollers circumferentially arranged therein. Each roller is in contacting engagement with the adjacent rollers forming a continuous peripheral wall impervious to the flow of a fluid with entrained solid matter introduced within the drum. Revolving the drum by a suitable driving means causes the fluid to be centrifugally thrown against the rollers where the solid matter will be separated and accumulated on the inwardly facing portions. A driving means is also provided for rotating the rollers about their axes as they revolve about the vertical drum axis. The rollers are constructed with resilient surfaces permitting the solid matter to deform the roller surfaces sutficiently to be drawn between a pair of cooperatively rotating rollers and extracted from within the rotary drum, and subsequently deposited by centrifugal force in the enclosing collector. Liquid retained within the drum will flow downwardly by gravitational force to the bottom of the drum where openings are provided for its escape into a suitable collecting chamber. Solid matter accumulated tinuously removed by a revolving scraper and deposited in a suitable receptacle.

The various objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof and the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a centrifugal separator embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is an enlarged detail of a section of FIG. 4 showing the extracting action of the rollers;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of a roller and its mounting structure;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of centrifugal separator embodying the present invention;

FIG'. 8 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 and FIGURE 10;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIGURE 10;

FIG'. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111,of FIGURE 9; and

a closed lower end supported in an appropriately elevated position on four vertically extending standards 11 secured to the lower end thereof. -An inverted frusto-conical shaped liquid accumulator 12 extending downwardly from the lower end of the housing terminates in a cylindrical discharge pipe 13 at the lower end thereof for connection to an appropriate disposal system. A cylindrical sludge outlet pipe 14 also extends downwardly from the lower end of the housing 10 for connection to an associated disposal system. Such disposal systems are not pertinent to this invention and, therefore, are not illustrated. The

open upper end of the housing 10 is provided with a cover 15 removably secured to the outwardly extending annular flanged rim 16 of the housing by the bolts 17. A cylindrical fluid inlet pipe 18 enters the, housing 10 through a hollow centriguge drum shaft 19 journaled in the upper bearing 20 which is secured to the cover 15 by the bolts 21. The fluid inlet pipe 18 is, of course, connected to the apparatus of a process producing a fluid containing solid matter that must be separated before disposal. The source of the fluid is not illustrated as it may be any type of process such as, for example, coal washing. Rotative power required by the centrifuge may may-be supplied by any suitable power means. In this instance, an electric motor 22 is conveniently adaptable for this purpose and is mounted on the housing 10 by means of an appropriate motor base 23.

The primary internal structure of the centrifuge, as is bestshown by FIG. 2, consists of a rotary drum 2'4, mounted on the vertically disposed drum shaft 19 for rotation in a horizontal plane within the housing 10. In addition to the upper bearing 20, a lower bearing 25, in which the shaft19 is also journalled, is secured to the horizontal bottom plate 26 of the housing by the bolts 27. Antifriction bearings are utilized which are adapted to carry an axially directed load as well as the usual radial load. For convenience of manufacture, the drum shaft 19 is constructed in two sections, a lower secti0n28 and an upper section 29. The lower section 28 is an elongated cylindrical shaft extending upwardly through the bearing and terminating at an intermediate point within the drum 24. Two retaining collars, 30 and 31, are fixed to the lower section 28 at either side of the bearing 25 for maintaining the section in the proper vertical position. That portion of the section 28 extending upwardly from the retaining collar 31 is of a reduced diameter forming an annular shoulder 28a parallel to the upper horizontal surface of the collar 31. The upper section 29 is an elongated cylindrical tube extending downwardly through the bearing 20 having an internal diameter of appropriate sizeto coaxial-1y receive the reduced diameter portion of the lower section 28 inserted therein. Section 29 extends through the drum 24 with the lower end thereof in contacting engagement with the annular shoulder 280. Although the drum shaft is fabricated in two sections for convenience of manufacture, the sections are rigidly secured together by, for example, a press fit to provide a unitary shaft construction. Two retaining collars, 3-2 and 33,'are also fixed to the upper end of the section 29 at either side of the bearing 20 to further aid in maintaining the vertical position of the drum shaft 19. As previously indicated, the non-rotating inlet pipe 18 enters the centrifuge through the upper section 29 of the drum shaft with which it is co'axially aligned but has sufficient clearance relative to the inner wall of the section to avoid interfering with the rotation thereof. The pipe 18 tenninates a distance above the .upper enclosed end of the lower section 28 but within the rotary drum 24. A plurality of fluid discharge orifices 34 are formed in the cylindrical wall of upper section 29 between the opposed ends of the pipe 18 and the lower section 28 permitting communication of the entering fluid with the drum 24. j

Two circular rotor plates 35 and 36 form the lower. 1' and upper ends, respectively, of the rotary drum 24. The 1 rotor plate 35 is secured by the bolts 37 to a central hub 38 fixed on the lower marginalend of the drum shaft section 29. by means of the keys 39 (FIG. 5). The rotor 'plate 36 of a larger diameter than the rotor plate 1 is similarly fixed on the shaft section 29 by a central hub 40 keyed thereto and secured to the plate 36 by the bolts 41 but is spaced upwardlyon the shaft section 29 from the rotor plate 35 to accommodate the rollers42i vertically disposed therebetween.. An annular ring43,

herein termed a weir plate, is secured to the periphery of the rotor plate 35 and extendsoutwardly to'the same radius as the rotor plate 36.-and also extends inwardly over the rotor plate with the inner circumferential edge 44 1 thereof tapered downwardly and outwardly (FIG. 6). In-

termediate' the inner and outer circumferential edges of the weir plate 43, an integrally formed, depending annular flange 45 spaces the weir plate upwardly from the. rotor plate 35.. A plurality of cap screws 46 extending through the rotor plate 35 engage cooperatively threaded holes appropriately spaced in the annular flange 45. A l

plurality of liquid discharge orifices 47 are spaced in the periphery of the rotor plate 35 within the annular area of the rotor plate coextensive with the inwardly extending portion of the weir plate 43. The orifices 47 are 1 circular openings in the rotor plate 35 with short cylin1 drical tubes 48 secured therein extending a given distance.

downwardly from the rotor plate 35. To facilitate as: sembly of the rotary drum 24, a plurality of circular hand holes 49 in the rotor plate 35- are spaced in an.

plate 43 and the upper rotor plate 36. The tubes 50 spaced around the periphery of the drum are interposed between the rotor plate 36 and weir plate 43 with the opposite ends in contacting engagement with the respective plates.

The tie rods 51 extend through the tubes 50 and the,

rotor plate 36 and the weir plate 43 and by means of the associatednuts 52 threaded on the outer ends thereof rigidly clamp the rotor and weir plates to the spacer tubes 50.

The solids collecting peripheral wall of the rotary drum- 24 consists of a plurality of vertically disposed rollers 42 rotatably mounted in the periphery of the drum. Each roller 42 (FIG. 6) is fixed on a tubular shaft 53 journalled at either end in bearings 54 having nylon bushings 55 secured to the rotor plate 36' and the Weir plate 43.

by the cap screws 56. Each bearing 54 is an elongated cylinder extending through coaxial openings in the rotor plate and weir plate with an annular mounting flange 57 integrally formed intermediate the ends thereof. The

bearings 54 are positioned on their respective plates with turn fixed to the shaft 53. The annular flanges 61 disposed at the ends of the hubs 60 are positioned adjacent I the inwardly facing ends of the bearings 54 forming an nular cavities with the cylindrical surfaces of the bearings and the parallel surfaces of the flanges 57. The surfaces of the cylindrical tubes 59 are covered with a resilient material, such as rubber, that is securely bonded thereto forming a cylindrical roller casing 62. The roller casing 62 extends axially outward from the ends of the tube 59 to the weir plate 43 and the rotor plate 36 and is in contacting engagement therewith. The inner surface of the axially extending end portions of the casing 62 are formed to cooperatively engage the surfaces of the associated portions of the bearings 54 and the mounting flanges 57. For this purpose, the marginal ends of the inner wall surface of the casing 62 associated with the mounting flanges 57 is tapered similarly to the peripheral edges 58 thereof providing a contacting surface. Inwardly of the tapered surface, an annular flange 62a integrally formed with the inner Wall surface of the casing 62 extends radially inwardly to fill the cavity defined by the hub flange 61, the outer cylindrical surface of the bearing 54 and the flange 57 providing a contacting surface therewith. The casing 62, although in contacting engagement with the surfaces of the rotor plate 36, weir plate 43, flanges 57 and bearings 54, is not secured thereto permitting rotation of the rollers While forming .a fluid impervious seal. The tubular shafts 53 extend upwardly from the bearings 54 in the rotor plate 36 sufficiently far enough to accommodate the pinion gears 63 fixed thereto, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The lower ends of shafts 53 are held by the retaining collars 64. As adjacently disposed rollers are contra-rotating, driving one roller through the pinion gear 63 is effective in driving the adjacent rollers in frictional contact therewith requiring that pinion gears be fixed to every other shaft 53 only. The retaining collars 64 are secured to the remaining shafts 53. At the lower end of each shaft 53 extending downwardly from the bearings 54 in the weir plate 43, a re taining collar 64 is fixed completing the securing of the roller assembly to the rotary drum 24. Lubrication of the roller shafts 53 is facilitated by the insertion of a lubricating fitting 65 in the upper end of the tubular shaft permitting communication of lubricant with the interior of the shaft. A plug 66 inserted in the lower end of the shafts completes the sealing of the shaft. Radially drilled holes 67 in the shafts and opening to the surfaces thereof in the region of the bearings 54 permits lubricant to communicate therewith.

Within the interior of the drum 24 is a horizontally disposed, circular partition plate 68 secured by the bolts 69 to a cent-rail hub 70 keyed to the drum shaft section 29. The plate 68 is positioned on the shaft section 29 immediately below the lowermost orifices 34 located therein. The plate 68 extends outwardly substantially to the rollers 42 but has suflicient clearance therebetween to permit the fluid thrown centn'fugally outward over the upper surface of the plate to flow downwardly along the inwardly facing roller surfaces.

A pulley 771 of the multiple V-belt type is keyed to the shaft section 29 and spaced a distance upwardly from the hub 40. An associated drive pulley 72 keyed to the upwardly extending shaft 22a of the vertically disposed motor 22 is aligned with the pulley 71. Flexible coupling of the pulleys 71 and 72 is completed by a set of V-belts 73 encircling them and passing through an opening a appropriately located in the vertical wall of the housing 10. The respective sizes of the pulleys'71 and 72 are of course determined by the required speed of the rotary drum 24 relative to the motor speed.' Rotatably mounted on the shaft section 29 between the hub 40 and the pulley 71 is an elongated cylindrical sleeve 74. A cylindrical nylon bushing 75 coaxially inserted within the sleeve 74 and a nylon thrust washer 76 encircling the shaft section 29 between the hub '40 and the sleeve 74 provide the necessary antifriction bearing surfaces. A pulley 77 of the multiple V-belt type and of the same pitch diameter as the pulley 71 is keyed to the upper end of the sleeve 74 adjacent the pulley 71. A gear 78 fixed to the lower end of.the sleeve 74 by the keys 78a (FIG. 3) is aligned with the pinion gears 63 for the proper intermeshing of their respective teeth. The diameter of the gear 78 is substantially larger than that of the pinion gears 63 with the respective diameters determined by the required rota? tional speed of the rollers 42. As previously indicated, the pinion gears 63 are secured only to every other roller shaft 53 with the remaining rollers 42 rotatedin the opposite direction through the frictional contact between adjacent rollers. A second drive pulley 79 associated with pulley 77 of the roller drive train is also keyed to the shaft 22a of the motor but has a slightly smaller diameter relative to the other drive pulley 72. A second set of V-belts 80 extending through the opening 10a in the housing 10 and encircling the pulleys 79 and 77 completes the flexible coupling of the motor 22 to the rollers 42 through the roller drive train.

Within the housing 10 and concentrically mounted on the bottom plate 26 relative to the rotary drum 24 is a V frusto-conical' shaped liquid collector ring 81. The conical wall thereof tapers inwardly and upwardly terminating adjacent the lower horizontal surface of the rotor plate 35 with the lower marginal edge rigidly secured to the bottom plate 26 by, as for example, welding. The diameter of the open top of the ring 81 is slightly larger than that of the circle described by the revolving liquid discharge tubes 48 extending downwardly from the rotor plate 35 and terminating within the ring 81 below the upper marginal edge thereof. An annular ring of circular openings 82 provided in the bottom plate 26 intermediate the bearing 25 and the collector ring 81 permits the water collected therein to flow freely downward into the externallyv mounted, inverted frusto-conical liquid accumulator 12 and thence outward through the discharge pipe 13 into a disposal system. The diameter of the upper peripheral edge of the accumulator 12 disposed adjacent the bottom plate 26 is snfliciently large to enclose the opening 82. An outwardly extending annular flange 83 integrally formed around the upper periphery of the accumulator '12 and in contacting engagement with the bottom plate 26 secures the accumulator to the base plate by a plurality of bolts 84 extending therethrough.

Solid matter deposited on the inner wall of the cylindrical housing 10 is dislodged by a revolving scraper 85 which also aids in the removal of the solid matter from the housing. The scraper 85 comprises a plurality of vertically disposed blades 86 spaced radially in an annular ring between the rotary drum 24 and the housing 10 with annular members 87, 88 and 89 interconnecting the upper and lower ends 90 and 91 thereof. The blades 86 are plates of a generally rectangular shape with the outer edges 92 thereof disposed adjacent the inner wall of the housing 10 and extend upwardly from the bottom plate 26 terminating above the upper rotor plate 36. Interconnecting the upper ends 90 is the annular member 87 comprising a horizontally disposed web 87a rigidly secured to the blades 86 and a vertical flange 87b integrally formed therewith extending upwardly from the outer pe riphery of the web 87a. The width of the upper end 90 is, of course, limited by the annular space between the rotary drum 24 and the housing 10 with the inner vertical I member 88 and interconnecting the blades 86 comprising a vertically disposed web 88a rigidly secured to the blade 86 and two integrally formed, horizontally disposed flanges 88b and 880 extending inwardly from the marginal edges of the web 88a. The lower flange 88b spaced upwardly from the horizontal edge 94 is also secured to the portion of the blade 86 extending inwardly to the collector ring 81 terminating in a correspondingly tapered edge. The inwardly facing edge of the lower end 91 tapers upwardly from the junction of the web 88a and the upper flange 88c intersecting the vertical edge 93 of the upper end 90 at a point slightly below the weir plate 43. A plurality of frusto-conical horizontally disposed 7 rollers 95 spaced around the outer periphery of the collector ring 81 extend outwardly therefrom into the channel member 88 and support the revolving scraper 85. The rollers 95 tapered downwardly and outwardly for contacting engagement with the cooperatively tapered inner surface of the upper flange 880 are journalled on shafts 96 secured to the outer surface of the ring 81. The annular channel member 89 extending around the periphery of the scraper 85 opening outwardly is rigidly secured in appropriately sized notches located in the vertically disposed edges 92 interconnecting the lower ends 91 of the blades 86. A belt 97 extending substantially around the periphcry of the scraper 85 in the channel member 89 and outwardly through a pair of openings 1% in the housing flexibly couples the scraper 85-to the pulley 98 fixed on the downwardly extending shaft 22b of the motor by the key 99. The area of contact of the belt 97 with the channel member 89 and the pulley 98 is increased by two idler pulleys 100 journalled in brackets 101 externally mounted on the housing 10 to displace the belt 97 inwardly of the normal tangential position.

A circular opening 102 is formed in the bottom plate 26 with a diameter substantially equal to the distance between the housing 10 and the collector ring 81. The solid matter discharge pipe 14 encircles the opening 102 and is secured to the bottom plate 26.

Ina centrifugal separator constructed in accordance with this invention, a quantity of fluid with entrained solid matter contained within a rotary drum is revolved, thereby creating centrifugal forces causing the solid matter to separate from the fluid leaving a clean liquid which, as an example, may be water. The fluid is thrown against the periphery of the rotary drum where the solid matter accumulates displacing the liquid inwardly permitting the separated solid matter and liquid to be separately with- .drawn from the centrifuge for the subsequent disposal thereof. The fluid to undergo the separating process enters the rotary drum 24 through the inlet pipe 18 c0- axially inserted in the hollow upper end of the drum shaft 19 and the orifices 34 in the upper shaft section 29 communicating with the interior of the drum as is indicated by the flow directional arrows in FIG. 2. The drum 24 is revolved at a high speed, preferably about 1000 r.p.m., by the motor 22 and the drive pulley 72 con-' nected by the belts 73 to the pulley 71 causing the fluid to be centrifugally thrown outwardly over the partition plate 68 toward the inwardly facing surfaces of the rollers 42. The partition plate 68 assures that fluid entering the upper portion of the drum through the orifices 34 will be thrown outwardly to the rollers 42 before it has an opportunity to drop to the bottom rotor plate 35. Liquid is prevented from flowing outward through the peripheral wall of the drum as the resilient surfaces of adjacently disposed, contacting rollers 42 form a liquid impervious continuous peripheral wall as is best shown by FIG. 4. The liquid impervious sealing of the rollers 42 to the rotors of the drum is completed by the axially extended ends of the casing 62 contacting the bearings 54, the flanges 57, the tapered peripheral surfaces 58 of the flanges, the rotor plate 36 and the weir plate 43. Centrifugal force causes the solid matter to accumulate on the surfaces of the rollers 42 displacing the liquid inwardly where it may flow downwardly over the inwardly facing roller surfaces through the space between the partition plate and the rollers Where further separation occurs. The separation process is diagrammatically illustrated by FIG. 4a where the dotted portions A represent the solid matter. The relatively clean liquid flows downwardly to the inwardly extending portion of the weir plate 43 where it will accumulate and flow over the tapered edge 44 and enter the space between the weir plate 43 and the lower rotor plate (FIGS. 2 and 6). Communication of the downwardly flowing fluid directly with the liquid discharge orifices is prevented by the inwardly extending portion of the weir plate 43 permitting further sepsmaller diameter of the pulley79.

8 1 aration of the solid matter as the liquid must flow inwardly before flowing over the edge 44 of the Weir plate. Solid matter also reaching the weir plate 43.would be prevented from entering the orifice 47 by the inwardly projecting portion of the weir plate as the centrifugal force will prevent the inward movement thereof. The

liquid accumulatedbetween the rotor plate 35 and the weir plate 43 flows downwardly through the liquid discharge orifices 47 and associated tubes 48 into the collector ring 81. The inwardly tapered wall of the collector ring 81 prevents the centrifugally thrown:liquid from being forced upwardly and will direct it ,down- Wardly to the plate 26 where it may freely flow through the openings 82 therein to the accumulator 12 and thence through the discharge pipe 13 into a disposal system.

Removal of the separated solid matter that has accumulated on the inwardly facing surfaces of the rollers 44.. from within the drum is accomplished by rotating the,

The motor 22 through the pulley 79 and the rollers. belts drives the pulley 77 at a slower speed due to the The gear 78 intermeshed with the pinion gears 63 is therefore rotated at a slower speed than the rotary drum 24 although in the same direction. Revolving the drum 24 causes the gears 63 to be turned by the slower rotating gear 78. It has been found preferable to rotate the rollers 42 at about 10 rpm. and, therefore, the respective sizes of the gears and pulleys in the roller drive train are determined accordingly. Only every other roller 42 is driven through the gear train.

and the intermediately positioned rollers are driven by frictional contact with the adjacent driven rollers. As two adjacent contacting rollers 42a and 42b, as shown by FIG. 4a, rotate in an outward direction, the next pair of rollers 42b and 42c rotate in an inward direction. Solid matter accumulated on the inwardly facing surfaces of the rollers is carried toward the converging surfaces of a pair of outwardly turning rollers, 42a and 42b, and

drawn therebetween to the outer periphery of the drum 24 where the extracted solid matter is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and deposited on the inner wall of the housing 10. Solid matter accumulated between the diverging surfaces of a pair of inwardly turning rollers,

42b and 420, is embedded in the resilient casing 62 by centrifugal force thereby providing adequate frictional contact to permit the solid matter collected therebetween to be carried inwardly by the rollers against the outward-:

ly directed centrifugal forces to the converging surfaces of an outwardly turning pair of rollers, 42a and 42b. The resilient casings 62 of the rollers 42 facilitate the extrac-.

clarity. As the roller surfaces carrying the embedded I solid matter are rotated to auoutwardly facing position,

the resilient casings return to their normally annularshape thereby releasing the solid matter, further aided by centrifugal force. The pairs of inwardly turning rollers 42b and 420 of course always remain in a contacting relationship preventing the outflow of liquid or solid matter.

The moist solid matter deposited on the inner surface of the housing 10 tends to remain in position.

volving scraper. 85 is therefore utilized to dislodge the solid matter allowing it to drop to the bottom plate 26 t where it is pushed around the periphery of the housing:

10 by the lower ends 91 of the blades 86 to the opening 102 and is removed through the discharge pipe 14. the illustrated embodiment, the scraper 85 is revolved by the motor 22 through the belt 97 flexibly coupling' the drive pulley 98 thereof to the annular channelrnem- 7 her 89, however, a separate driving motor may be advan t tageously utilized.

The re-.

- illustrated best in FIGURES 7-10.

In FIGURES 7-12, inclusive, there is illustrated a modified form of centrifuge embodying the principles of this invention. In this embodiment, the centrifuge machine is shown as being disposed so that its axis is horizontal but it is to be understood that it could function equally as well if the axis were disposed vertically. This form of the centrifuge also employs as the outer peripheral annular solid-collecting wall a plurality of rollers disposed in yieldable sealing contact relationship.

The general arrangement of this modified centrifuge is It comprises a horizontally disposed centrifuge cylinder or drum200 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). This drum 200 is keyed on a shaft 201 which is supported in a horizontal position in suitable bearings 202 on the upper ends of the opposed upright standards or supports 203. The shaft 201 projects from each end of the drum 200 and isrotatably mounted in the bearings 202, the opposite ends of the shaft projecting from these hearings. The standards 203 are carried on a base structure 204 and it will be noted from FIGURE 9 that located along the side edges of this base structure are the upstanding supports 205 which carry a drum-like casing or housing 206. This casing 206 is concentric with the drum 200, it being understood that the drum will rotate within the casing which is stationary since it is fixed to the supports 205 in a suitable manner. The casing 206 (FIGURE 10) is of greater axial extent, as well as diameter, as compared to the drum 200 and it will be noted that the shaft 201 projects through the central openings 207 in the ends of the casing, the bearings 202 and associated standards 203 being located just outside the ends of the drum-like casing. Each end of the drum-like casing 206 is partially closed by the inwardly v extending, peripheral flange 208 within which the openings 207 are formed.

As will be explained more in detail later, the solids removed by the centrifuge action of the drum 200' are collected in the casing 206 and are removed therefrom through a radially extending discharge spout or outlet 210 which extends the full length of-the casing at the lower side thereof. These solids or sludge may be carried to a suitable location away from the centrifuge by any suitable type of conveying means. i

The shaft 201 may be driven by any suitable driving arrangement but in the example shown in FIGURE 7, there is illustrated a multiple V -belt pulley 211 keyed on the one end thereof which is driven by means of the multiple V-belt 212 from a second multiple pulley 213 that is driven by a suitable electric motor 214 carried by the base 204. The drum 200 is keyed on the shaft 201 so that it will be driven with the shaft.

The detailed structure. of the drum 200 is illustrated best in FIGURES 9-12. The outer solid-collecting annular or peripheral wall of the drum 200 is formed by a roller arrangement, as previously indicated, which embodies a plurality of rollers disposed in yieldable sealing.

contact relationship. The solid-collecting wall formed by this roller arrangement is designated generally by the reference character 215 and will be described in detail hereinafter. The substantially closed ends of the drum 200 are formed by the rotor plates or end plates 216 and 217 (FIGURE 10) which are disposed transversely of the shaft 201 and at right angles thereto. Each plate 216 or 217 is carried by a hub 218 which is keyed to the shaft201 for rotating therewith. The plate 216 is provided with a plurality of inlet openings 219 disposed in an annular row of angularly spaced openings just radially inwardly of the solid collecting roller wall 215. Through these inlets 219, the mixture of solid and liquid to be separated is adapted to enter into the drum 200. Surrounding this annular row of inlet openings 219 is a directing bafile 220 which is attached to the outer surface of the ard 203 and terminates in an elbow 222a which will direct the mixture into the annular frusto-conical baffle 220. The directing elbow 222a will be stationary, during operation of the machine, but the baffle 220 will be rotating with the drum 200 at this time. Consequently, the mixture to be separated will be directed by centrifugal force outwardly along the outwardly flared bafile and through the inlet openings 219 into the drum 200.

The plate 217 at the opposite end of the drum 200 (FIGURES 9 and 10) is provided with a skimmer lip which is on a ring 225 that is secured to the inner surface of the plate 217, just radially inwardly of the solid collecting roller Wall 215. Located just inwardly of the skimmer 225 is an annular row of angularly spaced liquid outlet openings 226. Connected to these outlets 226 are conducting pipes 227 which lead radially outwardly so that centrifugal force of the rotating drum 200 will aid in directing cleaned liquid outwardly from the drum. These pipes 227 have outlet nozzles 228 which extend outwardly parallel to the drum axis through ring 229 that rotates with the drum. This ring 229 overlaps an annular slot 230 provided between the flanges 231 and 232 which are attached to the adjacent inwardly directed flange 208 and the outer peripheral wall respectively of the casing or housing 206. With this arrangement, there is provided a stationary annular collecting trough or chamber 235 in which the cleaned liquid is collected as it is discharged from the separating drum 200. Leading substantially tangentially from this annular collecting chamber 235 (FIGURE 8) is a liquid outlet spout 236 that extends from one side of the base 204 and which may be connected to a conduit to conduct the cleaned liquid to a suitable location.

' The solid matter that passes through the solid-collecting peripheral ro-ller -wall 215 deposits on the annular wall of the surrounding casing 206. It is dislodged from this wall by means of a revolving scraper unit 240, shown best in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, which surrounds the centrifuge drum 200 and is disposed radially outwardly of the wall 215 and in direct association with the annular :wall of the casing 206. The scraper 240 comprises a plurality of angularly spaced scraper blades 24 1 which extend longitudiend wall 216 and which is of frusto-conical form having nally along the wall of the casing 206. The opposed ends of these blades are fixed to the mounting rings 2 42. These rings are of angular cross section and are supported for revolving movement by means of the rollers 243 which are mounted in angularly spaced relationship on the inwardly extending annular end flanges 208 of the casing 205. Thus, there is provided an annular revolving scraper and conveyor which will scrape the solid material from the annular inner surface of the casing 206 and will carry it around the annular casing wall until it is discharged through the radial bottom Outlet 210.

The scraper unit is revolved by means of a pair of endless chains 244 which cooperate with the respective rings 242. Each of these chains extends around the outwardly directed horizontal flange of the ring and passes around a driving sprocket 245 which is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The pair of sprockets .245 are keyed on a longitudinal shaft 246 Which is mounted in bearings in longitudinal spaced extensions or guards 247 projecting from the annular casing 206 (FIGURES 7 and 8). It will be apparent that each chain 244 will enter and leave the associated extension 247 through a suitable slot in the annular wall of the casing 206. The shaft 246 is driven by a sprocket and chain drive 248 (FIGURE 7) from an electric motor 249 mounted on the casing 206 adjacent the housing extensions 247. Associated with each chain 244, within each housing extension 247, is an idler sprocket 250 and an adjustably mounted take-up sprocket 251 but the details of these latter structures are not illustrated as they are not mportant to this invention. Any other suitable driving extending radial flanges of the rings 24-2.. It will also be noted that these latter flanges overlap radially inwardly extending rings or flanges 252 which are mounted on the inner surface of the outer annular wall of the casing 206. Thus, with this arrangement, the end plates 216 and 217, the rings 242 and the rings 252 will be relatively revoluble but they will provide a substantially tight annular joint which, in conjunction with centrifugal force, will prevent the solids from leaving the annular space or chamber 255 except at the discharge outlet 210.

As previously indicated, the solid-collecting peripheral wall 215 is in its basic arrangement similar to that previously described. However, in its specific roller structure, it is somewhat different from the roller structure previously described. This particular roller structure is illustrated best in FIGURES 942, inclusive. It is made up of a plurality of large positively-driven rollers 256 which are disposed in annularly spaced relationship and which are fixed radially in the drum 200 and a plurality of radially floating rollers 257 which are disposed for cooperation with the spaces 256a between pairs of adjacent rollers 256. All of these rollers are disposed for rotation about horizontal axes between the end plates 216 and 2.17, the axes being in parallel relationship with each other and with the axis of the shaft 201. The positively-driven rollers 256 are all driven in the same direction and, upon rotation of the drum 200, will frictionally engage the rollers 257 therebetween to drive them in an opposite direction.

Each of the rollers 256, as shown in FIGURES 11 and 12, is of a structure somewhat similar to the rollers previously described and comprises a cylindrical metal tube 258 which is covered by a tubular covering 259 of deformable resilient material, such as rubber, that is securely bonded thereto. The end of the roller adjacent each end plate 216 or 217 is renewable and therefore is made as a separate ring consisting of a metal sleeve extension 258a and the resilient cover extension 259a, the members 258a and 259:: being formed as separate rings. The metal sleeve 258 is carried by an inner bearing disc 260 and an axially spaced outer bearing member 261 on a stub shaft 262 coaxial with the roller. The bearing 260 is fixed to the sleeve 258 and is rotatable on the shaft 262. The bearing 261 is also fixed to the sleeve 258 but is keyed to the shaft 262. The sleeve extension 258a is slidable axially off and on the bearing 261 and the rubber covering 259a carried thereby carries a thrust bearing ring or collar 263 at its outer edge which is of ny lon'or other suitable material to decrease friction between the rubber ring 259a and an associated tubular bearing housing 264. It will be apparent that the ring structure at the end of the roller which comprises rings (258a and 259a and ring 263 can be replaced, if necessary, because of wear. The bearing sleeve 264 is fixed in the associated end plate 216 or 2 17, the plate 217 being shown in FJGURES 11 and 12, and supports rotatably the outer end of the shaft 262. This sleeve housing 264 may be the housing for a suitable antifriction bearing which may include the needles or rollers 265, the ends of the housing being closed by suitable sealing rings and plates 266. The shaft 262 extends outwardly through the housing 264 and has a driven gear 267 keyed on its outer projecting end.

Each of the rollers 257 (FIGURE 11) is of smaller diameter than the rollers 256 but is of similar construction in that it includes an inner rigid metal sleeve or core 270 and an outer deformable covering 271. An outer renewable end structure 272 of ring form is provided on the roller adjacent the end plate and this is provided with a thrust collar or ring 273 which is attached to the end of the roller. Instead of the roller being carried by a shaft, it is carried by an axle pin 274 provided at each end thereof. Each pin is mounted in a sleeve or hub 275 on which the sleeve 270 is fixed and the renewable ring 272 is carried by a metal collar 272a which is slidable on and off the outer end of the hub 275. The pins 274 at 1a. f the opposed ends of the rollers 257 extend outwardly through radial slots 279 in the respective rotor end plates 216 and 217 and are provided with heads 276. The radially extending slots 279 are located in angular positions. midway between the axes of the roller shafts 262. As previously indicated, the rollers 257 are not positively driven but since they are located with their axes inwardly of and between the axes of the pairs of adjacent cooperating rollers 256, as shown in FIGURE 9, and since the axles 274 are free to float radially outwardly in the slots 279, upon rotation of the drum 200, the rollers 257 will move outwardly into the radial spaces 256a between the rollers 256. Each of these spaces 256a will be of a width at its narrowest extent, which is less than the diameter of the associated roller 257. Therefore, centrifugal force will, upon rotation of the drum 200, move each roller 257 radially outwardly into the space 256a between the coop crating pair of rollers 256, the deformable sleeves 271 I and 2590f the respective rollers deforming to permit a tight squeezing action between these three cooperating rollers.

As a safety factor to prevent any possibility of the rollers 257 working radially outwardly through the spaces 256, stop rollers 280 are providedin cooperation with these spaces.

end plates 216 and 217. Each rod 281 has its axis (FIG- URE 9) spaced radially outwardly of the axis of the coroperating roller 257 being located parallel to the axes of the adjacent pair of rollers 256 and outwardly of such axes.

adjacent end plate. The openings 282 are in radial align: ment with the slots 279. The extreme outer end of the rod receives a threaded cap 283 and the nuts 284 are provided on the threaded end within the end plate. Thus,

with this arrangement the plates 216 and 217 may be spaced axially accurately and retained in such spaced relationship so as to provide adequate sealing at the ends of the respective rollers 256 and 257 without undue friction and wear. One of the end plates, preferably the plate 216, is splined to the shaft 201 for limited axial movement relative to the other plate to permit this adjustment.

The stop roller 280 (FIGURE 11) comprises an outer cylindrical sleeve 285 of metal which is fixed on a bearing member 286 at each end and is rotatably mounted on the rod 281. Thus, the sleeve 285 can rotate on the pin 281. The rollers 285 are shorter than the other rollers with limited spaces at their ends to permit the limited relative adjustment of the end plates 216 and 217. If the associated roller 257 moves radially outwardly through ithe space 256a into engagement with the roller 280, its radial movement will be stopped by contact therewith but the roller 257 will still be free to rotate resulting insimultaneous rotation of the stop roller 280.

As previously indicated, the spur gears or pinions 267 are driven to rotate the respective rollers 256. These gears are provided at one end only of the rollers 256,

being shown at the end adjacent the end plate217. At the other end, the mounting shaft is similar to the shaft 262 but does not extend from the bearing housing-264 as indicated to the left of FIGURE 10. All of these gears 267 are driven simultaneously in the same direction about their axes as they revolve with the drum 200. Consequently, while the rollers 256 orbit about the central axis of the drum 200 (also the axis of rotation of the shaft or axle 201) upon rotation of the drum 200 about said central axis, each of the rollers 256 will be rotated simultaneously in the same direction about its axes, as illus trated in FIGURE 9.

The drive for accomplishing this is illustrated best in Each of these'rollers 280 is carried by a spacer rod 281 which also serves as spacing means for the Each end of the rod 281 is threaded and extends outwardly through an opening 282 (FIGURE 11) in the This spur gear 290 i ried on a stub shaft 292 that has its axis parallel to the axis of the main drive shaft 201. This shaft 292 is carried by a bearing 293 on the standard 203. The inner end of the shaft 292 has keyed thereto a spur gear 294 which meshes with a spur gear 295 that is fixed to a sleeve 296 (FIGURE which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 201. The gear train comprising the gears 290, 291, 294, and 295 is such that there will be a differential action which will cause the sleeve 296 to advance and rotate relative to the main drive shaft 201 whenever the shaft 201 is driven. This will result in the rollers 256 being driven about their axes whenever the shaft 201 is rotated to revolve the drum 200. The drive for the rollers 256 continues through the sleeve 296 and through a plurality of double planetary pinion units 297 angularly spaced on the end plate 217. Each double pinion unit 297 is rotatably supported by a pin 298 between the end plate 217 and a supporting disc 299 which is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 296. The sleeve 296 has teeth 296a on its inner end which engage with the inner section 300 of the planetary pinion unit. The outer section 301 of each planetary pinion unit engages with the inner teeth of a ring gear 302. This ring gear 302 is carried by a support 304 which is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 296 between the member 299 and the gear 295. The teeth on the outer surface of the ring gear 302 are in engagement with and drive all the spur gears 267 keyed on the outer ends of the roller shafts 262.

As previously indicated, during driving of the shaft 201 to revolve the drum 200, the sleeve 296will be advanced on the shaft, by the differential action of the gear train and this relative rotation of the sleeve 296 on the shaft 201 will drive the pinions 297 about their own axes as they revolve with the drum 200 and travel around the sleeve 296. Rotation of the pinion units 297 about their own axes produces rotation of the ring gear 302 about the axis of the shaft 201. Rotation of the ring gear will produce rotation of the gears 267 carried by the'roller shafts of the rollers 256 and will produce rotation of these rollers about their own axes. Thus, as the drum 200 is revolved, the rollers 256 are rotated about their own axes.

As the drum 200 revolves about the axis of the shaft 201 and the rollers 256 are driven about their own axes, centrifugal force will, as previously indicated, move the floating rollers 257 out into firm engagement with the cooperating pairs of rollers 256. Consequently, each roller 257 will be driven by frictional contact with a pair of cooperating rollers 256 and rotation of the roller 257 will be in a direction opposite to that of the direction of rotation of the cooperating rollers 256.

It will be apparent that with this form of centrifuge, the separating action will be similar to that of the first form described and illustrated in FIGURES 1-6. A quantity of liquid with entrained solid matter will be introduced into the drum through the frusto-conical baffle 220 and theinlets 219 and'as the drum 200 is rotated, the'liquid is thrown against the periphery of the drum. The solid matter accumulates on the outer peripheral wall 215 as the drum is revolved at high speed. Liquid is prevented from flowing outwardly through the peripheral wall of the drum as the deformable resilient structures of adjacently disposed contacting rollers 256 and 257 form a substantially liquid-impervious, continuous peripheral wall 215. Furthermore, the sealing against the substantial escape of liquid is also accomplished at the ends of the rollers by their described cooperation with the end plates 216 and 217. Centrifugal force causes the solid matter to accumulate on the inwardly presented surfaces of the cooperating rollers 256 and 257, the cleaned liquid flowing to the outlets 226. The skimmer 225 will serve to skim off the liquid and tend to prevent solids from reaching the liquid outlets 226.

Removal of the separated solid matter that has ac- .cumulated on the inwardly facing surfaces of the rollers 256 and 257 is accomplished by rotating these rollers outwardly about their own axes as previously indicated.

rollers 256 and 257 is embedded in the resilient casing thereof thereby providing adequate frictional contact to permit the solid matter collected therebetween to be carried inwardly by the rollers against the outwardly directed centrifugal forces to the converging surfaces of an outwardly turning pair of rollers. The resilient coverings of the rollers facilitate the extraction of the solid matter without permitting the liquid to escape, the solid matter deforming the casings and being embedded therein, leaving the adjacent roller surfaces in a contacting relationship substantially impervious to the outward flow of the liquid. As the roller surfaces carrying the embedded solid matter are rotated to an outwardly facing position, the resilient coverings spring back to their normally annular shape thereby releasing the solid matter, further aided by the centrifugal force created by the rotating drum. The pairs of inwardly turning rollers 256 and 257 always remain in contacting relationship preventing the outflow of liquid or solid matter between these rollers.

The moist solid matter deposited on the inner surface of the casing 206 willbe scraped therefrom by the scraper unit 240 and will be moved to the outlet 210.

The floating action of the rollers 257 will compensate automatically for any wear on the surfaces of the rollers 256 or 257. Also, this floating action provides a means for compensating for the diiferent'amounts of solids in various liquids separated by the machine. The rollers 257 will adjust themselves automatically in accordance with the build-up of greater or lesser amounts of solids on the cooperating rollers. Furthermore, this automatic adjustment maintains the liquid-impervious nature of the peripheral roller wall. The ends of all these rollers are renewable when necessary.

It is readily apparent from the preceding detailed description that a centrifuge constructed in accordance with both embodiments of this invention effectively extracts the solid matter from the fluid and conveniently removes the separated liquid and solid matter from the centrifuge. This centrifuge greatly improves the performance of centrifugal separators utilized in industry to eliminate the solid matter entrained in waste fluids such as that resulting from a coal washing process as is generally required for the proper disposal thereof. Improved performance results from the separation of the solid matter from the liquid in the natural sequence, that is, the centrifugal force causes the solid matter to accumulate on the periphery of a rotary drum displacing the liquid inwardly. The solid matter is then conveniently extracted from the rotary drum through the peripheral wall which remains impervious to the flow of the liquid. The liquid which is then relative free of the solid matter-and retained within the rotary drum will easily flow out of the rotary drum and into a disposal system. Utilization of a plurality of rollers disposed in yieldable sealing contacting relationship as the solids collecting, peripheral wall member is extremely effective in extracting the solid matter from the rotary drum without a concurrent leakage of liquid. Performance is further enhanced by the elimination of turbulence in the liquid at the inwardly facing wall surface that occurs with prior art separators when mechanisms such as scrapers or helical screws are utilized to remove the separated solid matter collected on the peripheral wall of the drum which will return some of the previously separated solid matter to suspension. Turbulence is substantially eliminated in this device as the rollers do not remove the solid matter adjacent the sepa- 1 5 rated body of liquid but remove it from the regions where the liquid is not present, thatis, the confined converging spaces between the outwardly turning rollers. Into these converging spaces, the solid matter is thrown by centrifugal force and is carried by the adjacent outwardly turning pairs of rollers so that it is gradually compacted and squeezed between the converging surfaces and is finally moved through and discharged outwardly of the roller wall. Expansion of the yieldable surfaces of the rollers after they move out of contact dislodges any solid matter tending to adhere thereto. These confined spaces are, in effect, substantially equivalent to the closed tubes used in laboratory type centrifugal separators where the separating action is most efficient but the spaces are provided in a commercial type separator where the solids are removed continuously.

Another highly important advantage of a centrifuge constructed in accordance with this invention is that the solids collecting, peripheral wall member is continuously self-cleaning during operation avoiding the necessity of an intermittent cleaning operation, reduced effectiveness between cleaning operations or loss of efiiciency resulting from operation of partially clogged filters.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal separator for extracting and separating solids from mixtures of solids and liquids of the type wherein there is provided:

a stationary housing;

a drum member mounted for rotation about its axis within said housing and for receiving a mixture of solids and liquids; said drum member having substantially liquid impervious end walls, having a substantially liquid impervious peripheral wall which comprises an annular series of a plurality of contiguous rotary rollers journalled in and connecting both of said end walls, and having a rotatable shaft positioned at the central axis of rotation of the drum;

an inlet means connected to said drum member to supply a mixture of solids and liquids to said drum member; I

outlet means connected to said drum for removing and discharging the separated liquid from the interior of saiddrum member;

drive mechanism connected to said shaft and through it to said end walls and said peripheral wall for rotating said drum member including said shaft, said end walls and said peripheral wall;

means for rotating said rotary rollers each about its own axis;

wherein said-plurality of contiguous rotary rollers are journalled in and connect both of said end walls on axes substantially parallel with said central axis and each roller has a resilient deformable surface;

the improvements wherein:

said drum member forms a substantially unobstructed chamber mounted for rotation about its axis within said housing;

said end walls comprise a pair of essentially circular plate members each connected .to and parallel with but spaced from the other plate member and both secured to said shaft and with it mounted for rotation of said central axis;

said substantially liquid impervious peripheral wall of said drum member comprises an annular series of said rotary rollers contiguous to each other, extending completely around the periphery of said wall and thus forming the entire peripheral wall of said drum, the roller axes being spaced angularly in a continuous endless path about the drum and there is provided openings,

means for sealing the junctions between said rotary,

rollers and said circular plate members;

said drive mechanism connected to said shaft and through it to said spaced parallel plate member comprising means for rotating at high speed said drum including said unobstructed chamber, sa-id shaft, said' spaced parallel plate members and said continuous annular impervious peripheral wall to apply centrifugal force to cause the entire mixture of solids and liquids to be thrown by centrifugal force outwardly toward the inwardly facing surfaces of said annular series of the plurality of contiguous rotary rollers to said resilient deformable surfaces of the contiguous.

rotary rollers of said substantially liquid impervious peripheral wall collect thesolids which are forced outward by centrifugal force to the inner face of the wall and of said plurality of contiguous rotary rollers and comprise means to engage the solids, to convey the solids under pressure through said continuous annular liquid impervious rotary Wall to forcibly release the solids from the rollers by the reflex action,

of the deformable surfaces, and supplemented by centrifugal force to discharge the solids from the chamber, and each roller closely contacting the two next adjacent rollers substantially throughout their length and thus forming said substantially cylindrical peripheral wall around the circumference of said closed drum; and

there is provided means comprising an independently driven scraper for continuously removing the solids from the housing.

2 A centrifugal separator according to claim 1 in which said peripheral wall comprises groups of three rollers with two rollers of each group being relatively radiallyfixed between said plate means during rotation of said drum and spaced apart angularly to provide a radial space therebetween and with a third roller of each group being mounted for radial outward movement between said plate means upon rotation thereof, to cover saidradial space i by contact with said first two rollers, the said converging space between each pair of rollers being provided by said 1 radially movable roller and an adjacent radially fixed,

roller.

3. A centrifugal separator according to claim 2 in which said means for driving the rollers comprises means for positively driving the two radially fixed rollers of each pair in the same direction, said radially movable roller of each group being driven by contact with the two radially fixed rollers.

4. A centrifugal separator according to claim 2 in which a radially fixed stop roller is provided radially outward from said third roller and substantially within the space between said first two rollers.

5. A centrifugal separator according to claim 4 in which each stop roller is carried by spacer rods connected to said plate means for axial spacing thereof.

6. A centrifugal according to claim 1 in which said.

drum has plates at each end between which said rollers are mounted and one of said plates is provided with inlet and is provided with a liquid inlet means comprising an exterior annular overlying said inlet openings, and the other of said plates is provided with outlet openings and is provided with a skimmer lip adjacent said outlet openings at the inner surface of said plate.

7. A centrifuge according to claim 1 in which said scraper is positioned within said housing and is revoluble around said drum member and around said drum axis and the housing has a radial outlet for solids through the wall of said. housing.

bafile of frusto-conical form:

8. The centrifugal separator of claim 1 wherein said drive means for said rotary rollers is connected to alternate rollers to rotate said alternate rollers positively in the same direction.

9. The centrifugal separator of claim 1 wherein said drive means connected to the rotary rollers includes a planet gear connected to each of alternate rollers, and a rotary sun gear connected to said planet gears to rotate all of said planet gears in thesame direction and to eflect the rotation of all of said alternate rollers in the same direction.

10.'The centrifugal separator of claim 1 wherein the rotary axes of said annular series of rotary rollers lie in two concentric circles each having a different radius, the first circle of rollers each having its rotary axis floatable radially of the circle, and the second circle'of rollers each having its rotary axis radially fixed and each being intermediate and in surface contact with two of the rollers of said first circle and each being positively driven and driving the'rollersof the first circle through surface contact.

'11. The centrifugal separator of claim 1 wherein the rotary axes of said annular series of rotary rollers lie in two concentric circles each having a dilferent radius, the first circle of rollers having their rotary axes floatable radially of the circle, and the second circle of rollers each having its rotary axis radially fixed and each being intermediate and in surface contact with two of the rollers of said first circle and each being positively driven and driving the rollers of the first circle through surface contact, and there being a third circle of rollers which are smaller than the rollers of the second circle, lying intermediate the rollers of the second circle, and being spaced from the rollers of the second circle to each function as a back up stop for a corresponding roller of said first circle of rollers as it is moved outwardly by centrifugal force.

12. The centrifugal separator of claim 1 in which there is also provided;

the independently driven scraper is a scraping structure surrounding said rotary peripheral wall and including a series of transverse blades each extending generally parallel to the axis of said rollers and a plurality of annular members interconnecting the ends of the blades and; i

in which the stationary housing surrounding said scraper structure is formed with a discharge; and

in which there-is provided means for independently driving said scraper structure to move the solid material through the discharge.

13. A centrifuge comprising:

a chamber member rotatable about a central axis, having end walls, and having a substantially liquid impervious axially parallel annular wall formed by a plurality of successively contiguous resiliently deformable rollers,'every other of said rollers lying spaced from each other in an outer circle and the balance of said rollers lying in an inner circle concentric with the outer circle in a manner to close the spaces between said outer rollers; said rollers forming the impervious annular wall enclosing a substantially unobstructed space for radially containing a mixture of solids and liquid against the centrifugal force due to the rotation of said chamber member;

- means for sealing the ends of said rollers against said end walls;

means connected to said chamber member for rotating said chamber member;

means connected to" each of said outer rollers for rotating each of said outer rollers on its axis, each of said inner rollers being rotated on its axis by contact with an outer roller;

a housing surrounding said chamber member; andmeans comprising a scraper for removing the solids from the housing.

14. A centrifuge according to claim 13 wherein said rollers of the inner circle are floatingly mounted for radial movement outwardly from said axis inoutward radial movement of said inner rollers, each said stop roller being mounted radially outward of an inner roller and substantially within the space between two successive outer rollers.

17. In a centrifugal separator for extracting and separating solids from mixtures of solids and liquids of the type wherein there is provided:

a stationary housing;

a closed drum member forming a chamber mounted for rotation about its axis. within said housing and for receiving a mixture of solids and liquids: said drum member having substantially liquid impervious end Walls formed by plate members each connected to and parallel with but spaced from the other plate member; having a substantially liquid impervious peripheral wall which comprises an annular series of a plurality of rotary rollers contiguous to each other, each closely contacting the two next adjacent rollers substantially throughout their length extending completely around the periphery of said wall and thus forming said entire substantially cylindrical peripheral wall around the circumference of said closed drum, the roller axes being spaced angularly in a continuous endless path about the drum, the rollers being journalled in and connecting both of said end walls and having inwardly turning convergence between each of the alternate pairs of rollers, and each roller having a resilient deformable surface; and having a rotatable shaft positioned at the central axis of rotation of the drum and having both the plate members secured thereto and with them mounted for rotation about said central axes;

an inlet means connected to said drum member to supply a mixture of solids and liquids to said drum member;

liquid outlet means connected to said drum for removing and discharging the separated liquid from the interior of said drum member;

drive mechanism connected to said shaft and through it to said end walls and said peripheral wall for rotating said drum member including said shaft, said end walls and said peripheral wall; and

means for rotating said rotary rollers each about its own axis;

the improvements wherein:

said chamber is substantially unobstructed;

there is provided means for sealing thejunctions between said rotary rollers and said plate members;

said drive mechanism comprises means for rotating said drum at high speed to apply centrifugal force to cause the entire mixture of solids and liquids to be thrown by centrifugal force outwardly toward the inwardly facing surfaces of said annular series of the plurality of contiguous rotary rollers to deliver all of said solids to impinge upon said peripheral wall formed by said rollers and into said converging spaces;

said means for rotating said rotary rollers comprises drive means connected to at least every other roller for rotating all of said rotary rollers each about its own axis;

said resilient deformable surfaces collect the solids which are forced outward by centrifugal force to the inner face of and into the converging spaces of said plurality of contiguous rotary rollers and comprise means to convey the solids under pressure through 19 said continuous annular liquid impervious rotary wall, and, supplemented by centrifugal force, to discharge the solids from the chamber into the space between the housing and the rotating drum member; and I there is provided means comprising an independently driven scraper for continuously removing the solids from the housing.

18. In a centrifugal separator for extracting and separating solids from mixtures of solidsand liquids of the type wherein there is provided:

a stationary housing;

a drum member mounted for rotation about its axis within said housing forming a substantially 'unobstructed chamber for receiving a mixture of solids and liquids, said drum member having substantially liquid impervious end wa1ls;'having a substantially liquid impervious peripheral wall whichcomprises an annular series of a plurality of contiguous resiliently deformable rotary rollers journalled in and connecting both of said end walls'on axes parallel with each other;

an inlet means connected to the drum member to supply a mixture of solids and liquids tofsaid chamber;

outletmeans connected to said drum for removing and discharging the separated liquid from the interior of said chamber;

drive mechanism connected'to said shaft and through it to said end walls and said peripheral wall for rotating said drum member including said chamber, said shaft, said end walls and said peripheral wall; means for rotating said rotary rollers each about its own axis; the improvements wherein:

said drive mechanism is connected to said'spaced parallel plate members and comprises means for rotating at high speed said drum including said unobstructed chamber, said spaced parallel plate members and said continuous annular liquid impervious peripheral wall to apply centrifugal force to cause the entire mixture of incoming solids and liquids to be thrown radially by centrifugal force directly outwardly through said unobstructed space toward the inwardly facing surfaces of said annular series of the plurality of contiguous rotary rollers to deliver all of said solids to impinge upon and enter into the converging surfaces. of the rotary rollers and said peripheral wall formed by said rollers;

sealing means are positioned at the junctions'bet'ween said rotary rollers and said circular plate members;

said resilient deformable surfaces of the contiguous rotary rollers of said substantially liquid impervious peripheral wall collect the solids which are thrown directly outward by centrifugal force to the inner face of the Wall and of said plurality of contiguous rotary rollers and comprise means to engage the solids, to convey the solids under pressure through said continuous annular liquid impervious rotary wall to forcibly release the solids from the rollers by the reflex action of the deformable surfaces, and supplemented by centrifugal force to discharge the solids from the chamber, and each roller closely contacting the two next adjacent rollers substantially throughout their length and thus forming the closed drum around the circumference of said peripheral wall;

said means for rotating said rotary rollers comprises gears connected to alternate rotary rollers'for rotating said alternate rotary rollers each about its own axis and all in the same direction ofrotation and rotating the. intervening rollers through the surface contact of said driven alternate rollers with said intervening. rollers thus rotating said intervening rollers in the oppositedirection about their own axes for conveying'the solids between the'rollers and from exterior thereof into the space between the peripheral;

wall and the casing; the outlet means connectedto said chamber is aided by centrifugal force to discharge the separated liquid from the chamber at points within the circumference of the peripheral wall but closely adjacentthereto; and there is provided means for continuously removing the solids from the housing. i

19. In a centrifugal separator for extracting and separatt ing solids from mixtures of solids and liquids of the type wherein there is provided:

a stationary housing;

impervious peripheral wall which comprises an annular series of a plurality of contiguous resiliently deformable rotary rollers journalled in and connecting both of said end walls on axes parallel with each other, and having a rotatable shaft positioned at the central axis' of rotation of the drum formed with an axial bore and having an opening from the radial bore into said unobstructed chamber;

an inlet means connectedtto the bore of said rotatable shaft to supply a mixtureof solids and liquids to said L bore and to said chamber; outlet means connected to said drum for removing and discharging the separated liquid from the interior of] said chamber; drive mechanism connected to said shaft and through it to said end walls and said peripheral wall for rotat- I ing said drum member including said chamber, said shaft, said end walls, and said peripheral Wall;

means for rotating said rotary rollers each about its own axis;

the improvementswherein:

said annular series of said rotary rollers are contiguous to each other, extend completely around the periphery, of said wall and thus form the entire peripheral wall of said drum, form converging surfaces, the roller axes being spaced angularly in a continuous endless path about the drum, and there'is provided means for sealing the junctions between said rotary rollers and said circular plate members;

said drive mechanism is connected to said axle and through it to said spaced parallel plate member and comprises means for rotating at high speed said drum including said unobstructed chamber, said shaft, said,

spaced parallel plate members and said continuous annular liquid impervious peripheral wall to apply centrifugal force to cause the'entire mixture of in-,

coming solids and liquids to be thrown radially by centrifugal force directly outwardly through said un-:

said means for rotating said rotary rollers comprises drlve means connected to at least every other roller for rotating all of said rotary rollers each about its,

own axis;

said resilient deformable surfaces of the contiguous rotary rollers of said substantially liquid impervious peripheral wall collect the solids which are thrown directly outward by centrifugal force to the inner face of the wall and of said plurality of contiguous rotary rollers and comprises means to engage the solids, to

convey the solids under pressure through said continuous annular liquid impervious rotary wall to forcibly release the solids from the rollers by the reflex action of the deformable surfaces, and supplemented by centrifugal force to discharge the solids from the chamber, and each roller closely contacting the two next adjacent rollers substantially throughout their length and thus forming the closed drum around the circumference of said peripheral wall;

the outlet means connected to said chamber is aided by centrifugal force to discharge the separated liquid from the chamber at points within the circumference of the peripheral wall but closely adjacent thereto; and

there is provided means for continuously removing the solids from the housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 994,631 6/ 191-1 Berrigan 100-121 X 1,187,5-85 6/ 1916 Wendell 210-370 1,321,353 11/1919 Bacon 233-20 1,321,354 11/1919 Bacon 2-33-20 2,136,540 11/1938 Brock 233-32 X Jacoby 233-20 Link' 233-4 X Strezynski 233-4 Komline 233-46 X Denman 233-4 Peck 210-370 Ketchum et a1 68-22 X Brown et al 68-22 X References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS Searle. Munro.

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany.

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. 2 ROBERT F. BURNETT, Examiner.

H. KLINKSIEK, Assistant Examiner.