Abstract:
An apparatus for countercurrent distribution in a liquid two-phase system or for multiple sedimentation of suspended particles from a liquid has a rotary device (6) for, respectively, distribution and sedimentation, said device consisting of two parts, i.e. an annular housing (7) and a cylindrical body (8) disposed concentrically therein, said parts being rotatable relative to one another and having opposed working faces (30, 31) forming a number of working cells (32) uniformly distributed about the axis of rotation of said device for, respectively, distribution and sedimentation, at least one of said working cells containing, respectively, the substance to be distributed and the particles suspended in the liquid, while the other working cells merely contain the two-phase system and the liquid, respectively. One part (7) is non-rotatably connected with a rotatable shaft (3), and the other part (8) is coupled to a turning device (10) which, during rotation of said device (6) for, respectively, distribution and sedimentation, is adapted to turn the other part (8) relative to said first part (7) through an angle corresponding to the spacing between two working cells (32).
Abstract:
A centrifugal separator (10) for removing particulate contaminants from liquid such as engine lubricants consists of a housing (11) for securing to the engine having a funnel-shaped floor (15) from which oil can drain centrally at (16). The housing is secured to a legged spider or cage (21) carrying a hollow axle (17) by which the apparatus is secured to the engine and oil delivered to a separation rotor canister (41). Liquid ejected tangentially from rotor nozzles (43) to cause it to rotate tends to flow around the inside of the housing as a vortex and to prevent rotation of the canister being interfered with by climbing of the vortex or splashing of the liquid from such vortex, one or more vortex disruption vanes are formed with the legs of the cage to deflect liquid.
Abstract:
A centrifugal fluid cleaning arrangement (100, figure 2(a)) in a fluid circulation system includes a centrifugal cleaner (100') through which only a proportion of the circulated fluid is diverted and drainage assistance means (102) which consists of a venturi arrangement (111) through which non-diverted fluid is passed, the venturi developing locally a significant pressure drop in a region into which opens an induction port (108) connected to the cleaner holding sump (101') so that the cleaned fluid is entrained into the non-diverted fluid and returned to the circulation. Whilst the pressure difference between inlet and induction ports is sufficient to drive the centrifugal cleaner rotor, the absolute pressures of the supply to, and drain from, the cleaner do not depend on the ambient atmospheric pressure and the overall pressure drop of the venturi arrangement is small, permitting it to be included within a closed circulation system. A regulator means (120, figure 2(b)) may by-pass the venturi arrangement to regulate the flow of fluid therethrough. The drainage assistance means may be separate from the centrifugal cleaner (20', figure 1(b)).
Abstract:
Material separating apparatus comprising a rotatable main body (13) and a rotatable rotor (14) disposed within the main body. The rotor (14) comprises first and second end walls (16, 17) spaced apart from one another with a rotor chamber therebetween, with a plurality of generally radially extending blades (18) extending between the first and second end walls thereby separating the rotor chamber into a plurality of sub-chambers. A feed inlet chamber is disposed between the main body and the first end wall. The end walls have a circumferential clearance for permitting the flow of material into and the discharge of the heavier component out of the rotor chamber. A generally centrally disposed discharge is in communication with the rotor chamber for discharging the lighter component from the rotor chamber.
Abstract:
A self-powered centrifugal separator (10), for separating particulate contaminants from a liquid lubricant of an automobile engine, includes a rotor container (24) rotatable about an axle (16) to which it is journalled by bushes (31 and 32). When the engine is running, a film of pressurised liquid between the bushes and axle lubricates them and provides radial stiffness, but when the engine stops and liquid supply ceases, radial stiffness is reduced and the partially emptying container may vibrate and create wind-down noise. At least one bush (31), which normally provides a horizontal thrust bearing to support the weight of the container at low speed, has, with the axle portion (43) it surrounds, a region tapering in diameter to centre the container with respect to the axle and provide both radial and axial support.
Abstract:
A fluid-powered centrifugal cleaner (25) of liquid contaminated with solids, for example, from a back-flush arrangement (23, Fig. 1) associated with a barrier type filter (13) through which liquid is pumped, includes, in addition to the normal shaft mounted rotor (40) through which liquid is passed to separate contaminants centrifugally due to rotor speed, fluid drive means (50) in the form of fluid reaction drive nozzles (53) supplied with pumped liquid from the system as a drive fluid to rotate the rotor at a speed above the minimum to effect centrifugal separation of the contaminants from the back-flushed liquid in the rotor. The spent drive fluid mixes with the cleaned backflushed liquid in a discharge region (29) and both may be reused in the system. Control valve means (80) permits the rotor to be removed whilst liquid flows in the arrangement, interrupting the supply of drive fluid to the drive nozzles and diverting the contaminated liquid directly to the discharge region (29).
Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved rotor for a centrifuge that operates by centrifugal elutriation. The rotor consists of a chamber assembly, a disk assembly, and a quick release mechanism. The chamber assembly is relatively light and it includes one or two separation chambers, tubing and a rotating seal. The disk assembly consists of the relatively heavy support structure. The two piece construction facilitates handling the parts of the rotor that generally need to the autoclaved. The chamber assembly has a novel structure that allows the rotor to easily be configured for operation with one or two chambers. The disk assembly has a unique strain relief that prevents structural cracking. The quick release mechanism is held in the latched position by centrifugal force during operation of the rotor.
Abstract:
A centrifugal separator (15) (Fig. 1) has a base (17) adapted to be mounted to a surface of a machine, such as an engine, with internally communicating high pressure liquid lubricant supply and low pressure drain passages (40 and 22 respectively). The base (17) includes control valve means (45) to inhibit supply to the rotor (30) via spindle (25) so that the cover (35) and rotor can be removed whilst the base is still connected to the source of high liquid pressure. The valve means (45) takes the form of an aperture (46) containing a valve body (50) rotatable by handle (60) to close the supply passage or (Fig. 2) create a diversion passage directly to the drain passage. Interlock (60) may be provided to impede cover removal with the valve open and/or impede accidental closure of the valve.
Abstract:
A centrifugal separator (10) for separating solid particles from a liquid, e.g. engine lubricant, includes a rotor container (20) to which the liquid is supplied at elevated pressure and caused to escape via tangentially directed nozzles (28) to create high speed rotation of the rotor and centrifugal separation forces within the liquid. To avoid problems of noise and vibration when the rotor empties as it spins to rest, a check valve (40) is incorporated between separation and outflow chambers (36, 37) of the rotor which makes use of the normally conical shape of the partition wall (35) between the chambers that defines a central, annular, transfer aperture (39), the check valve including a body (41) disposed to overlie, be biased towards and seat against, the inclined face of the partition wall to form a low flow-resistance valve from parts cheap enough to dispose of with the rotor. Notwithstanding the ability for low cost manufacture, the check valve is able to provide a good seal that retains liquid in the separation chamber, not only reducing wind-down noise but also enabling the centrifugal separator to commence working more quickly after frequent engine stops, and on both counts is particularly suited to passenger car engines.
Abstract:
A liquid cleaning system (10) (Figure 1) [for cleaning a pumped liquid], which includes a barrier type filter (13) having a back-flush arrangement (23) for recovering filter contaminants from the back-flushed liquid which is available only at a low, not necessarily consistent, rate, includes a fluid-powered centrifugal cleaner (25) (Figure 2) which, in addition to the normal shaft-mounted rotor (40) through which liquid is passed to separate contaminants centrifugally due to rotor speed, includes fluid drive means (50) in the form of fluid reaction drive nozzles (53) supplied with pumped liquid from the system as a drive fluid to rotate the rotor at a speed above the minimum to effect centrifugal separation of the contaminants from the back-flushed liquid in the rotor and accumulation at the outlet of the rotor. The spent drive fluid mixes with the cleaned back-flushed liquid in a discharge region (29) and both may be re-used in the system. The intermittently available cleaned liquid may emerge from the rotor by conventional fluid reaction nozzles (44) and supplement the reaction of the drive nozzle means. Control valve means (80) permits the rotor to be removed whilst liquid flows in the system.