GB1257110A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,257,110. Discharging arrangements for centrifuges. R. F. GARBATY. 16 May, 1969 [17 May, 1968], No. 25045/69. Heading B2P. In a centrifugal separator having separate radially spaced outlets for different separated components of centrifuged material, valve means are provided for controlling the flow of separated components through the outlets and control means are arranged to actuate the valve means, e.g. to open an outlet as another is closed, in automatic response to proportional changes in the quantities of the components of the material being centrifuged. The outlets 5, 8 for light and heavy components respectively are provided in the cover 1 of the separator drum 10, Fig. 11, and communicate respectively with passages 3, 6 which in turn communicate respectively with outlets 4, 7 circumferentially spaced on the drum cover. In Figs. 3 and 4, a bellows 40 through an adjustably counterweighted lever 43 controls the pivotal movement of a disc 21 having peripheral flow slots 23. The change in pressure brought about by a variation in the quantities of the components being centrifuged produces a more or less intense compression of the bellows 40 which in turn causes the disc 21 to pivot in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction so as to open, throttle or close the outlets 5, 8. In Fig. 5, the bellows 41 carries a pin 42 which according to the pressure transmitted to the bellows closes or opens spring contacts 47 and so switches on or off a servomotor 52 fed from a battery 51 and actuating the disc 21 through gearing 54, 55. In Fig. 6, when treating mixtures of electrically conductive and non-conductive constituents, e.g. water and oil, two or more radially separated contacts 39a-39d are adapted to be electrically bridged, according to the position of the boundary surface 17/19 between the constituents, by the electrically conductive separated constituent. An amplifier 53 amplifies the switching current up to the magnitude required to operate the servomotor 52. In Fig. 8, rotary movement of the disc 21 is caused by electromagnets 57, 57a. When one or the other of the electromagnets is energized by switching caused by a diaphragm (Fig. 5) or contacts (Fig. 6), it acts on a pivot arm 58 to rotate the control disc 21. In a modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), the magnets act on a lever pivoting about a horizontal axis and connected to a reciprocable slide which covers or uncovers the outlets for the separated constituents. In Fig. 11, a float 25 having a specific gravity intermediate between those of the separated components is slidingly guided in guide elements 32, 33 associated with the outlets 5, 8 and closes or opens these outlets according to its position which varies with the position of the interface 17/19 between the separated components. In a modification, Fig. 20, the float 25 is slidingly guided on a horizontal rod 31 and carries a pin 29 which engages in a closed slot in the disc 21 to pivot the latter to or away from the outlets 5, 8. In a further modification, Figs. 16 and 17 (not shown), the float which is guided on a horizontal rod, has an upper flat surface which slidingly engages the drum cover and on reciprocation opens or closes the outlets for the separated constituents.