US962052A - Continuous centrifugal machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. H. ROBERTS.

CONTINUOUS GBNTRIPUGAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. I' Elow P. H. RBERTS.

CONTINUOUS GENTRIPUGAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

mbbi) www STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED H. ROBERTS, -OF STERLING, COLORADO.

' Specification of Letters Patent. i Application led May 1, 1909. Serial No. 49331293.`

CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

Patented June 21, 1910.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED H. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States ofAmeric'a, residing at Sterling, county of Logan, and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Continuous Centrifugal Machine, of which the following is a speciiication. A

My invention relates to. improvements in continuously o erating apparatus for separating liquids rom crystallized sugar, other crystalline and non -crystalline or amorphous materials.

The objects of my invention are: first, to provide a continuously feeding treatment centrifugal separator and drier for separating the liquid solutions from the solid matter of such materials as crystallized sugar, salt or other crystalline material, sugar beet pulp, precipitated solids such as carbonate of lime in sugar beet juice, saccharate in the process of sugar making, ore pulps, or any other liquidpulps in which itis desired to separate the liquid from the solid material of which they may be composed. Second, to provide a continuous feeding and operating apparatus that' is especially adapted to separate the liquid element of sugar magma from its solid element. Third, to provide a continuously feeding and continuously operating centrifugal separator in which the liquid elements are Separated from the solid material elements, and in which the liquid element is divided as desired into solutions of diferent strengths, such as the fullstrength solution and wash water solution, which are separated from each other and from the substantially dry solid material. I attain these objects by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, -is a vertical,v longitudinal, sectional view, partly in elevation, of the improved machlne. Fig. 2, isa transverse, vertical,' sectional View thereof on the line 2 2 0f Fig, l. Fig. 3, is a lon tudinal, sectional view of the vconveyer sha t detached. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views on the s ectively of Fig. 3. Fig. 6, is a'fra'gmentall longitudinal, sec# tional view illustrating a modication in the means for feeding the material tothe Ina-v chine, a conical screen being shown in connection therewith. Fi 7, is 'a front view ofthe ,head vshown in'rigg. Fig. 8, isa

conveyer which is a l1n ounted vertical cured. The opposite end o -feed the material which is to directions or inthe same fragmental, sectional 'view of a modified form of feeding device, illustrating a s iral dapted to be use instead of the feed device shown in Fig. l. F1g. 9, 1s an enlarged, sectional view of a portion of the screen cylinder. Fig. 10, is a transverse, sectional view of the hollow spiral water distributor, shown in Figs. 1 and'3. Fi 11, is an enlarged, transverse sectional view of one of the cking rings used at the water inlet end ofp the conveyer shaft, as shown in Fi 1. And Fig. 12, is a fragmentalsectiona view showin a fabric strip whichvmay -be interposed 2(between the two screensshown in Fig. 9.

Similar figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l, designates a bed plate upon which is pedestals 2, which are vided with journal boxes 3= and 3A. The journal box 3 is provided with a removable' anti-friction bushing 3B. A shaft 4 is mounted in these journal boxes, upon 011e end of which a cone pulley 5 or other d'ifer. ential speed power receivin device is 'sethis shaft 'is provided with an axial feed aperture 6,- which extends into its end far enou h to be subjected to the separating and washin process inside of the adjacent 'portion ofg a cylindrical screen 7, throu h radial aperturesS formed' through the saft. This screen cylinder comprises a perforated casing, which 1s made in two halves and bolted at their ends to heads 9. The-casing sections are also held together at intervals 4by two-part bands 1 0,

'which are bolted together' around the said casing, as shown lmost clearly in Fig. 2. Each head 9 is provided with a hub 11, which is rovided with removable.antij-fri'c'- tion bus ings 11A, ywhich are rotatably mounted on the shaft 4. A belt pulley 12' is keyed or otherwise secured to the hub 11 of the feed end of the cylinder, by which rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder independent of the rotary motion imparted to the shaft by the cone pulley 5.' =The'shaft and the cylinder may be rotated in opposite i direction atdiferent relative revolutions' of speedper minute, if desired, t'o e`ct 'the' best results.

The two Ahalves of the screencylinder' 7' Vico are provided with closely arranged perforations 13, and are lined with screening ma.

erably laid against the coarse screen around terial arranged around the inside o the inside of the cylindrical casing. If de sired, however, the line screen or perforated plate ma be placed between the coarse screen an the inside ofthe casing.

In addition to the wire screens, my invention contemplates the use of screening fabrios, such as asbestos, canvas, cocoa-matting,-

and other suitable screening or filterin mad an against the casing or between the wire screens, and the screens are clam ed at their ends between the screen cylin er and the heads 9, as shown in Fig. 9.

The erforations through the shell of the cylindrical screen are placed close enough together to form a practical screening or filtering surface for the liquids -of materials to be treated, and these perforations are preferably provided with countersunk portions 15A. This cylindrical screen is surrounded by a cylindrical casing 16, which is an imperforate casing that is supported on legs 16A, which rest on the bed p ate l. This casing is divided into compartments 17, 18 and 19, by partitions 20 and 21, and in the bottom of the compartments 17 and 18 enlargements 22 are formed, in the bottoms of which dischar e valves 23 are placed, and the bottom of e compartment 19 terminates in a trough 24A, in which an endless conveyer 24 is placed to convey any material therein outside of the casing, from which it runs to waste or is conveyed to further treatment. This cylindrical casing is made in sections that are bolted together by bolts 24B, These compartments below the cylindrical screen are curved downward far enough below the cylindrical screen to form the tank portion or enlargements 22, of sufficient capacity to hold the screening liquid and the solid product of the material that is fed into the cylindrical screen, and they are formed eccentric to the concentric portion of the casing that surrounds the cylindrical screen. Upon the shaft I mount an. endless spiral screw blade conveyer 25, whichis secured thereto by flange portions .26, that are secured to the shaft. This conveyer is made large enough in diameter to exteld to the screen lining ofthe screen cylinder, and it extends from the feed end ,of the cylinder to its discharge end, Vand is adapted to feed the material through the cylindrical screen.

A circumferential row of discharge apera supplyr of water'under pressure.

tures 27 are formed at the discharge end of the cylinder, which are preferably arranged to overlap each other, so that collectively they will form a continuous row of discharge apertures throughout the circumference of the cylindrical shell. At the feeding in end of the shaft a feed pipe 28 extends loosely into the axial aperture 6 in the shaft 4. This feed pipe is preferably supported by a bracket 29, which extends from the pedestal. A valve 30 is placed in this pipe ad jacent to the bracket, and a feed hopper 30A is secured to the pi e adjacent to the valve. The top end of thls feed hopper is closed by a cover 31, which is preferably removably secured to it in any referred manner.

A valve controlle pipe 33 is threaded to the cover'and extends to a supply of compressed air. A valve controlled pipe 34 is threaded to the side of the hopper adjacent to its cover, which leads to a supply of material to be separated or treated. The shaft is provided at its rear or discharge end portion with water inlet supply passages 35 and 36, two being preferably illustrated, but more may be used`if desired. These water inlet passages extend axially into the rear end of the shaft, and their entrance ends are plugged up by threaded plugs 37. These water apertures connect to circumferential grooves 38 and 39, formed around the shaft, which are ypositioned to come underneath the two opposite side edges of the journal box 3A, and each of these circumferential grooves is provided with radial apertures 40 and 41 respectively. The radial apertures 40 extend from the groove 39 to the axial passage 36, and the apertures 41 extend from the groove 38 to the axial assage 35. The two grooves 38 and 39 reglster with two water chamber spaces 42 and 43, which are formed in the opposite ends of the journal box, which are each arranged to receive apertured packing rings 44 and 45, which lie between the inner ends of water chambers 42 and 43, and glands 48 and 49, which are loosely mounted on the shaft and are secured to the -ends of the boxes by screws 50.

The packing rings are of the form shown in Fig. 11, and comprise parallel rings 46, which are connected by an integral perforated band 47, which permits the water to circulate in the water chambers 42 and 43. These water chamber spaces are connected to pipes 51 and 52, which are threaded to apertures in the journal boxes that connectwith the chambers, and that are 'connected to a general supply pipe 53, which leads to The in- 'nerl ends of the axial water passages discharge through radial nipples 54 and 55,

into compartments 56 and 57, which are formed in a spiral drum 58 that surrounds the lsha-ft Vat a short distance from its discharging end to give awash water treatt ment to the separated material during the last part of its feeding movement through the cylindrical screen. This drum consists of a flat spirally `formed casing that is divided into the two or more compartments 56 v ward the interior screen surface of the cylindrical screen.

In Fig. 6, I illustrate a tapering cylindrical screen, and also a tapering spiral screw shaped flange conveyer, both of which are similar in other respects to the straight cylindrical screen and the screw flange of Fig. 1 except that the feeding in end of the cylindrical screen is provided with a conical head 60, which is provided with apertures 61. In this form of cylindrical screen head theA material to be separated is fed through an independent pipe 62,k instead of throu h the shaft 4. This pipe 62 is supporte by the bracket which projects from the pedestal. This pulp feeding pipe is arranged to extend close to the apertures in the conical head and discharge into and through them as the head and cylinder are rotated on the shaft 4 by the pulley 12. This arrangement allows a little of the material to fall on the head between the apertures. An introverted flanged ridge 64 is vformed around the entrance peripheral edge of the head, which catches this discharged material to be separated, and it flows down or isthrown by centrifugal force into and through the apertures in the head.

In Fig. 8, isillustrated a modified form of feeder, which 'consistsof a spiral conveyer 65, that is supported in .the chamber 6 of the shaft 4f. This conveyer receivesA the material from the hopper 30A, and forces it to the inner end of the chamber 6, where itl discharges into the screen through the openings 8. The conveyer is operated by a driven pulley 66.

The operation of myeimproved centrifugal separator is as follows: A supply of material, which may be and preferably is sugar magma-,but may be precipitated solids, such as salt, sugar beet pulp, paper, ore or other pulps, is fed i-nto the hopper 30A through 'the feed pipe 34. A supply of'- compressed air is also fed into the hopper through the pipe 33. The valve 30r is then opened and y the shaft and cylindrical screen are rotated preferably at different speeds in the same directions, but may be operated in the opposite direction if necessary, and a supply ofwash water is admitted to the interior of the discharge end portion of the cylindrical screen,,through the perforated drum and the water supply pipes land passages.l The.

or other suitable.;conveyer,24 an material, to

pulp through the several screens and through the apertures in the shell of the cylinder, as

the sugar or other pulp is fed along through the cylinder by the spiral flange screw. The liquid syrup from the'material to be treated falls into the compartment 17 of the outer cylindrical casing, and is drawn off vfrom time to time or continuously through the valve 23 in its bottom.` When` the material to be treated reaches the perforated drum portion its syrup or wateryfliquid has been mostly separated from it by the centrifugal feeding movement action through the cylinder, and the solid material is subjected .to l

a washingftreatment by means of the numerous jets of water flowing from4 the perforated drum, which separates from it practically all ofthe remaining liquid. syrup or watery fluid in the pulp as -it 1s moved I through the screen cylinder from the perforated drum to the discharge aperture 27 at the end 'of the cylinder, and this liquid product flows through the screens and drops into the bottom portion of the compartment 18 of the outer casing, and is drawn off when desired through the valve 23, and the solid material when the spiral flange screw has fed it to the dischargeend of the screen cylinder, has had its liquid portion separated from it by the centrifugal action of the rotating cylindrical screen and the feeding movement of the material throughthe cylinder, and the semi-dry material is discharged through the apertures 27 Ainto the trough 24A of the c0mpartment19, as a substantially damp or moistbody-of. the material under treatmentn 'The compartment 18 of the casing 16, may be .madeas long as the conditions may require, in order that the wash'water treatment of the `material may be of suliicientduration to thoroughly this point. From the trough 24A' thevseparat-ed solid material is conveyed b thescrew ing trough towaste or tofurther treatment. My invention is simple and enablessugar,

salt, or other 'crystallinemateriah sugarl beet pulp, precipitated solids such as 4carbonate of lime in sugar beet juices, saccharate in the process of su ar maklng, or'any other liquid e separatedy `from their; solid material'in a continuously operating treatsurroundl separateY from the, material all syrup which is not removed when the material reaches ment that makes a separation.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred construction of my invention, I do not wish to be confined to the detailed arrangement of the same, as many changes might be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention', what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. 'A continuous feeding, Washin liquid separating and pulp drying and ischarging centrifugal separator, comprising a shaft rotatably mounted, a screening cylinder rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for feeding any fluid material containing suspended solids to said cylindrical screen, means including a hopper and a pipe, provided with a supply of compressed air, for feeding such material through said cylindrical screen, means for discharging semidry material from said screen, meansin cluding a perforated drum surrounding said shaft for supplying Wash Water to a predetermined part of said cylindrical screen, and means for rotating said shaft and screen.

2. A continuously feeding, Washing, and discharging separator for sugar, other crystalline, non-crystalline, and amorphous materials, comprising a rotatably journaled shaft, a cylindrical screen comprising a perforated cylinder lined With screening material mounted rotatably on said shaft, means including a feed hopper and a pipe attached to said hopper and leading to a supply of compressed air for forcing material into said screen, means including a perforated drum surrounding said shaft for conveying Water to the discharging end portion of said screen, a circumferential row of overlapping discharge apertures at the discharge end of said perfectly satisfactory screen, a flange shaped screviT conveyor mounted on said shaft and arranged to convey the material to be separated :through said cylindrical screen, and means for rotating said shaft and screen independently of each other.

3. `In a continuously feeding separator for separating solids from liquids, the combination of the base plate, the standards and the screens, with the shaft rotatably mounted in said standards, a feed chamber in one end of said shaft opening into said cylinder, a valve controlled feed pipe supported by one of said standards, extending loosely into said shafts feed aperture, a hopper secured to said feed pipe provided with a cover, a feeding supply pipe connected to said hopper at one end, and a valve controlled pipe connect-l ed to said cover at one end and extending to a supply of compressed air.

4. In a continuously feeding centrifugal separator for separating solids from liquids,

the combination of the rotatably journaled shaft, the .cylindrical screen rotatably mounted on said shaft, means including atrolled discharge aperture in tWo of said compartments, and a conveyer in the third compartment.

5. In a continuously feeding centrifugal separator for separating solids from liquids, the combination of the multiple compartment casing, the cylindrical screen, and means including a hopper for feeding the material to be separated to said cylindrical screen, with journal bearings adjacent to said cylindrical screen, a shaft journaled in said journal bearings and supporting said cylindrical screen, Water supply passages in said shaft opening into said screen at a predetermined part of its length, radial apertures in said shaft connecting With said Water passages, circumferential grooves in said shaft connecting With said radial apertures, stuffing boxes arranged in the opposite ends of one of said journal boxes, arranged to inclose said grooves, and valve controlled Water supply ipes connected to said journal bearings an registering With said grooves.

6. In a machine as specified, a shaft; a cylindrical screen surrounding said shaft and mounted upon the same, and means for rotating said shaft and screen independently of each other; a spiral conveyer secured upon said shaft; a casing surround ing the screen, having separate annular' compartments; outlet valves 1n the compartments preceding the last one; a conveyer in the bottom of said last compartment; means for supplying Water to the interior of the screen; and means. for feeding material to the interior of the screen through a chamber in one end of the shaft.

7. In a device as specified, the combination with a rotatable shaft, having a chamber in one end and openings extending through saidshaft to the inner end of the chamber; longitudinal Water passages inthe opposite end of said shaft; annular grooves in said shaft; radial apertures connecting each of said grooves with one or the other of said passages; a bearing surrounding the shaft having annular Water channels surrounding the said annular grooves; skeleton packing rings in said channels which permit free circulation of the Water lin said channels, and glandsfor holding said rings in said channels; Water supply pipes connected With the channels; a splral distributer surrounding the shaft and connected with the Water passages in the shaft; a conveyer on said shaft; a screen surroundin chamber and its openings to the interior of'10 said conveyer and mounted on said sha t the screen.v

and ada ted to be rotated independently of In testimony whereof I aix my signature thei slaft); a casing sulrroundng the scren in presence 'of tWo Witnesses.

an ivded into annu a1' compartments or l receiving the screened material; a conveyer FRED H' ROBERTS" in the last compartment and valved outlets Witnesses:

in the other compartments; and Imeans for G. SARGENT ELLIOTT,

forcing vmateriel through the said shaft ADELLA M. FOWLE.

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