WO2003043742A1

WO2003043742A1 - Centrifuge

Info

Publication number: WO2003043742A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/012790
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klaus Braun
Original assignee: Hks Technology Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-11-20
Filing date: 2002-11-15
Publication date: 2003-05-30
Also published as: EP1448308A1; DE10156589A1; AU2002356604A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a centrifuge for treating fluids, which are mixed with solid substances, in particular for purifying coolants or similar emulsions from industrial manufacturing environments. Said centrifuge comprises a conical double drum (10, 12, 14, 16), which can be driven to rotate by a drive unit and into which the solid-substance-containing fluid, which is to be treated, can be charged through an inlet (18, 30). According to said invention, the multi-part drum comprises first discharge means (50), for discharging the treated fluid from a drum interior as said drum rotates, as well as second discharge means (52) for discharging the separated solid substances as the drum rotates. Said first and second discharge means can be sequentially opened by the movement of one drum part (12, 14) in relation to another drum part (10).

Description

The present invention relates to a centrifuge according to the preamble of the main claim. Centrifuges of this type are particularly widespread in an industrial context and are used, for example, to clean coolants or comparable emulsions, such as those used in machining centers, for example in machining processes. Coolants that are contaminated with solids, particularly when machining workpieces, often justify a cleaning system for processing the coolant emulsions even when fewer production machines are used. In addition, since conventional, known filter systems for cleaning coolants or the like. contaminated emulsions due to the often large amounts of liquid to be cleaned and comparatively small particle sizes must have large filter surfaces and tend to clog due to small pore sizes, centrifuges have proven particularly useful for this purpose.

Thus, in particular, the applicant also markets a centrifuge, which is used as a generic, and which has a double-conical full-shell drum as a rotor, which is driven in an otherwise known manner by an electric motor. The contaminated coolant is cleaned in a known manner by centrifugal forces acting on the solids in the emulsion which, when the drum rotates, lead to an accumulation (separation) of the solids on the peripheral inner walls of the drum. After a centrifuge run has ended and the fluid largely freed of solids has been drained off, the solids can then be discharged from the rotor inner walls by spinning or mechanical removal or peeling, the device, which the applicant presumes to be known, additionally automates this step by using special means for ejecting the Solid discharge blades in the centrifuge provided and driven for discharge purposes (and to replace the previous manual cleaning) opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotor.

Even if this known technology already reduces manual handling steps to a minimum, there is still a need for further improvement, particularly with regard to the downtime and dead time of the centrifuge resulting from this (automatic) cleaning or discharge of the solid. In particular, the rotary operation of the drum causing the separation or processing in the centrifuge must be interrupted at this cleaning time and can only be resumed after the solid has been completely emptied and discharged. Furthermore, the known device has the disadvantage that the discharge blades and the associated actuating mechanism have to be constructed and driven in a comparatively complex manner and, moreover, are susceptible to wear, so that additional maintenance is required.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve a generic centrifuge, in particular for processing liquids containing solids, with regard to their usable operating time and to simplify their construction and in terms of susceptibility to faults; In addition, the need for maintenance of such a device during operation should be reduced.

The object is achieved by the centrifuge for solid / liquid separation with the features of the main claim and the operating method with the features of the independent method claim 12; advantageous developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

In an advantageous manner according to the invention, the multi-part drum is preferably adjustable by external adjusting means so that axial relative movement between a nem first, axially fixed drum part and a second, axially movable drum part (while the drum rotates) different outlet openings in the form of the outlet means can be selectively and sequentially opened. In particular, it is achieved by the present invention that a discharge and cleaning operation (the cleaned liquid or the settled solids) can take place while the centrifuge is rotating, in the original direction of rotation, which also applies to the actual centrifuging operation , By actuating the first and the second outlet means sequentially in the manner according to the invention, it is thus possible to first remove the cleaned liquid on the edge side by centrifugal action and then then remove the separated solids.

In an advantageous manner according to the invention, all that is required for this is a comparatively simple, and thus also interference- and contamination-insensitive, axial adjustment of drum parts or drum elements, which, according to further training, is advantageously used to directly open or close the circumference corresponding to the first or second outlet means effect openings provided on the drum; designing a drum part as a filter also advantageously reduces the required actuating or closing force.

It is particularly useful to use the sieve (or filter element) provided according to the further development, which is further preferably implemented in the manner of a planar, rotationally symmetrical surface or cone element that extends through the interior of the drum. This sieve or filter element advantageously has the effect that, during the rotation of the drum, liquid passes through pores or openings of this sieve and collects in the first drum region; According to the invention, this is assigned to the first outlet, so that by corresponding Actuation and opening of this outlet allows the centrifugal force to apply the fluid.

At the same time, this sieve or filter element retains the solids which are deposited on the inside of the drum and thus also determines the second drum area according to the invention. This is assigned to the second outlet, so that by opening this second outlet the solids content, possibly supported by flushing fluids or the like, can also be discharged. In particular, as provided by the invention according to a preferred embodiment, liquid has already been drawn off before the second outlet for the solids is opened, a clear and efficient separation of the fractions can be achieved in this way. Irrespective of this, new liquid to be cleaned constantly enters during centrifugation and exits the drum in a cleaned form via an outlet on the top.

In a particularly simple and elegant manner, the sequential actuation of the first and second outlet means (for opening the first and second outlet in each case) can be achieved by the interaction of the movable drum part as a movable wall element of the drum with the sieve and / or filter means, in such a way that that according to the further development, the adjusting means first drive and adjust the movable drum part to close or open the first outlet means, and that by further driving the movable drum part via the mechanical driver unit according to the invention, the sieving and / or filter means and in turn the second outlet means are moved Expose (or close when moving back). This sequential sequence of adjusting steps can be achieved in a particularly simple manner by the axial offset between the units involved, which is provided according to the further development. The centrifuge according to the present invention is preferably controlled by an electronic operating mode control unit, which in particular also controls the interaction between the units involved in opening the first and second outlet means, the time sequences and a subsequent reclosing.

As a result, the present invention succeeds in a surprisingly simple and elegant manner in realizing a centrifuge suitable for automatically discharging separate fractions, which minimizes operating and dead times and, due to the simple and elegant mechanical implementation, only combines a minimum of wear with little maintenance ,

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings; these show in

1 shows a sectional, perspective view of the essential components of the centrifuge according to the invention according to a first preferred embodiment, with the position of the movable drum part for a centrifuging operation;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section analogous to the illustration according to FIG. 1 for the centrifuging operation;

Fig. 3: a view analogous to Fig. 2, but with the opening of the first outlet means relative to an axially fixed Tro melteil axially moved (offset) drum part and

4: a sectional view analogous to the representations of FIG. 2, FIG. 3, with a movable drum part which is axially displaced further than the depiction of FIG. 3 and additionally axially displaced sieve or filter means for additionally opening the second outlet means.

The partially cut perspective view of FIG. 1 and the sectional view of FIG. 2 illustrate the initial and operating state of the centrifuge according to the invention in accordance with the described embodiment. A double cone-shaped centrifuge drum consists of a conical drum upper part 10, a slightly conical drum part 12 as a valve disk, a conical sieve plate insert 14 between see drum upper part and valve plate and a drum lower part as a rotor housing bottom shell 16 and is rotatably supported with an associated drive shaft 18, which is designed in sections as a hollow shaft, in an otherwise known manner between a centrifuge housing cover plate 20 and a centrifuge bottom plate 22 and by one not shown in the figures Electric motor, typically driven by a plastic belt.

A drum interior 24 that is effective for the centrifuge is bounded liquid-tight by the upper drum part 10 and the lower drum part 16; The sieve plate 14, which is typically implemented as a metal sieve and is adapted to the particle size of solids in the coolant to be treated with regard to its filter action with suitable pore diameters, is permeable to the liquid component of the coolant to be treated and thus separates the drum interior 24 into a lower first drum region 26 between the lower drum part 16 and the sieve plate 14 and a second, overhead drum area 28 between the screen plate 14 and the upper drum part 10. The drive shaft 18, which is designed as a hollow shaft up to the transition point with the screen plate 14 and offers an outlet 30 for contaminated liquid to be supplied at the transition point, serves at the same time for supplying or loading the centrifuge drum with a reprocessing device liquid containing solids; independently of this and in addition, an annular outlet 32 is provided in the upper, narrow-side end region of the drum upper part 10, which outlet is connected to a drain line 34 shown schematically in FIG. 1; in the case of continuous loading by means of the inlet 30, treated fluid exits the interior of the drum in a cleaned manner via openings 36 formed in the upper flat side of the upper drum part 10. The slightly conical sieve plate 14 forms a hollow shaft section 38 in its central area, which is slidable and axially displaceable on the drive shaft 18 (which is designed as a solid shaft in this area), the hollow shaft section having an annular shoulder 40 in its end area pointing downward in the figures forms; on the other hand, the hollow shaft section 38 is delimited by the conical sieve surface of the sieve plate 14 provided with a small step.

As the figures also illustrate, a correspondingly adapted hollow shaft section 42 of the drum part 12 slidably sits on the outer circumference of the hollow shaft section 38, in such a way that the hollow shaft section 42, which is shorter than the hollow shaft section 38, slides on the hollow shaft section 38, limited at one end by the ring shoulder 40 , limited at the other end by the conical part of the screen plate 14, can execute.

Drum part 12 and screen plate 14 are axially displaceable on the drive shaft 18, but are firmly connected to the shaft 18 by suitable measures in the direction of rotation.

An axial movement or displacement of the drum part 12 is brought about by a pair of pneumatic cylinders 46, which are only shown schematically and interact with an adjusting ring or adjusting element 44 and which, depending on the state of movement of an actuator engaging in the element (roller bearing) 44 (direction of movement is in the vertical direction) 2), move the element 44 up and down and thus cause the conical drum part 12 firmly seated thereon to move between the end positions described above along the underlying hollow shaft section 38 of the screen plate 14.

If the drum part 12 moved by the pneumatic cylinders 46 abuts the lower ring shoulder 40 of the hollow shaft section 38, this also leads to another Moving downward through the pneumatic cylinders 46 entrains the nested arrangement of drum part 12 and sieve plate 14, so that, with the vertical offset 48 determined by the difference between the effective height of the hollow shaft section 42 and the hollow shaft section 38, the pneumatic cylinders 46 actually both units - drum part 12 and screen plate 14 - can move up and down, the offset 48, however, ensures a sequential sequence of the respective movements.

As can also be seen from the figures, the drum part 12 is assigned a partially interrupted ring slot 50 formed in the rotor lower part 16 as the first outlet, and likewise the sieve plate 14 has a ring-shaped circumferential circumference formed in the transition region between the rotor lower part 16 and the drum upper part 10 and interrupted ring slot 52 assigned as a second outlet. In the position of FIG. 2, which corresponds to a centrifuging operation, the drum part 12 is positioned in such a way that it closes the ring slot 50 with its radial peripheral edge, and likewise the position of the screen plate 14 shown in FIG. 2 ensures that its outer, Circumferential edge 54 stepped in cross section closes the ring slot 52. It also follows from the above explanation that the ring slot 50 is assigned to the first drum region 26, provided by the sieving action of the sieve plate 14 for collecting liquid without solid components, while the ring slot 52 is on the radially largest possible circumferential side of the second, for the collection of the solid particles provided drum area is arranged and, see. the further position representations of FIGS. 3 and 4, as well as the ring slot 50 can be exposed by successive displacement movements of the units 12 and 14 for discharging the components collected therein.

The functionality of the centrifuge especially in the discharge mode for the separated components as well as the assembly effect of the components described will be discussed below with reference to the sequence of FIGS. 2 to 4.

As already explained above, the actual centrifuging operation takes place in the shift position according to FIG. when the drum rotates, liquid containing solids, for example with coolant emulsion provided with manufacturing residues, is introduced from above via the partially hollow drive shaft 18 and its bottom outlet 30. The screen plate 14 closes the ring slot 52 on the drive shaft 18 in the upper displacement position shown in FIG. 2, and the drum part 12 closes the ring slot 50 with its radial peripheral region in its upwardly advanced position.

The resulting centrifugal forces, which act differently on the contaminated liquid, cause the solids contained in the liquid to be separated to separate radially and accumulate in the radially outward region of the drum interior, in particular between the outer wall of the upper drum part 12 and the sieve plate 14 , Cleaned liquid exits continuously through the upper outlet 36.

For the purpose of automated discharge, as shown in FIG. 3, further liquid discharge is brought about in that, by moving the drum part 12 down by means of the pneumatic cylinders 46, the hollow shaft section 42 of the drum part 12 moves a predetermined distance corresponding to the vertical offset 48 on the underlying hollow shaft section 38 without the hollow shaft section 38 changing in its axial position relative to the drive shaft 18. This movement of the drum part 12 leads to the ring slot 50 and thus the first drum region 26 being opened to the outside and, since the centrifuge drum is still in a (suitably adapted) rotation, the liquid component via the ring slot due to the centrifugal force 50 off worn and collected in a surrounding receptacle (not shown) for later use. In this operating state shown in FIG. 3, the ring slot 52 is still closed, since the screen plate 14 has not shifted relative to the starting position according to FIG. 2.

However, this is done by moving the drum part 12 further down by means of the pneumatic cylinders 46, namely as soon as the liquid component has largely been completely discharged (see FIG. 4 for this further operating state). Because the hollow shaft section 42 of the drum part 12 is already seated on the ring shoulder 40 of the hollow shaft section 38, this, together with the conical sieve region of the sieve plate 14, is now also pulled downward in the bottom direction on the drive shaft 18, so that the peripheral edge 54 of the sieve plate 14 also thereby the ring slot 52 releases. Due to the continuous rotation of the drum, the solid component (which still has residual moisture) now emerges through centrifugal action and can be appropriately collected and further processed. In particular, this can now also be followed by a rinsing process with a suitable cleaning fluid.

By moving the adjusting element 44 and thus the drum part 12, which in turn takes along the hollow shaft section 38 of the screen plate 14 after a distance corresponding to the offset 48, the centrifuge arrangement is again guided into the starting position according to FIG. 1, FIG. 2.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described, so it is not only possible to implement the described movement of the movable drum components in a different way and, for example, by means of electrical actuators, but also the shape of the drum or the slots, sealing options, etc. can be designed almost arbitrarily and are preferred to the respective The purpose of the centrifuge, which is particularly suitable for cleaning coolant emulsions after industrial use, is by no means restricted to this.

Claims

PATENT ANS PRfΪP.HF.

Centrifuge for processing liquids containing solids, in particular for cleaning coolants or the like. Emulsions from industrial manufacturing environments, with a double cone-shaped drum (10, 12, 14, 16) which can be rotated by a drive unit and which can be charged with liquid to be prepared and containing solids via an inlet, characterized in that the multi-part construction Drum has first outlet means (50) designed for the discharge of prepared liquid from a drum interior when the drum rotates, and second outlet means (52) designed for the discharge of separated solids when the drum rotates, and the first and the second outlet means by movement of a drum part (12 , 14) can be opened sequentially relative to another drum part (10).

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that sieve and / or filter means (14) are provided in the interior of the drum (24), which separate the interior of the drum into a first drum area (26) provided for collecting the treated liquid without the solids, and a second, separate the drum area provided to collect the separated solids (28).

Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sieving and / or filtering means (14) extend from a central axis region (18) of the drum to an outer peripheral region of the drum interior. stretch and are preferably rotationally symmetrical to a central axis of the drum.

Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first outlet means (50) are assigned to the first drum region (26) and the second outlet means (52) to the second drum region (28), the first and second outlet means being radial in the respective drum regions are provided on the edge or circumference.

Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the movable drum part (12) in an axial direction of the drum by means of externally acting adjusting means (44, 46) is movable relative to an axially fixed drum part (10) that in a first drum part displacement position, the first outlet means (50) are closed for a centrifuging operation and are opened in a second drum part displacement position for the prepared liquid to emerge from the interior of the drum.

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that in the first and the second drum part displacement position, the second outlet means (52) close the second drum region (28).

Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the sieve and / or filter means (14) in an axial direction of the drum are so externally drivable and movable that the second outlet means (52) for a in a first sieve displacement position Centrifuging operation is closed and opened in a second sieve shift position for the separated solids to emerge from the interior of the drum.

8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the screening and / or filter means (14) and a movable drum part (12) are mechanically connected by a driver unit (38, 40, 42) so that one one of these partners attacking actuating force is transferred to the other partner, in particular the actuating force acting on the movable drum part (12) by the actuating means is transmitted to the sieve and / or filter means (14).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the driver unit has an offset (48) and is designed such that only after a preferred axial movement of one partner over a distance corresponding to the offset, the actuating force is transmitted to the other partner ,

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the driver unit is realized by a predetermined distance of sliding axially mounted axial shaft sections (38, 42) of the sieve and / or filter means (14) and the movable drum part (12).

11. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the adjusting means are realized as an electric motor, pneumatically or hydraulically operated actuating unit (46) and are connected to an external operating mode control unit.

12. A method for operating a centrifuge provided for processing liquid containing solids, in particular a method for operating the centrifuge according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the steps: continuous introduction of a liquid to be prepared and containing the solids into a drum interior (24) of a centrifuge drum,

Rotating the centrifuge drum and separating the liquid from the solids by separation and by means of a filter and / or sieve unit (14);

Withdrawing the treated liquid by opening first outlet means (50) during a rotation of the centrifuge drum by axially moving a movable drum part (12) relative to an axially stationary drum part (10) and

Removal of the separated solids by opening second outlet means (52) during a rotation of the centrifuge drum after opening the first outlet means (50).