GB1399444A - Centrifugal separating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1399444 Centrifugal separators R LOISON 11 April 1973 [21 April 1972] 17480/73 Heading B2P A centrifuge for separating a liquid and a solid or two different liquids has a rotatable drum comprising at least two axially-spaced annular parts 1, 2 with their adjacent portions 7, 8 shaped, e.g. frusto-conically, to define a chamber 15 in the peripheral portion of the drum for receiving a component separated in the drum, the parts 1,2 being axially spaced to define an outlet 19 from the chamber and each being provided with a lip, the lips 22, 23 lying on opposite sides of the outlet and being formed from a deformable material and means being associated with the lips to selectively close or open the outlet. The material to be separated is fed at 13, the light component discharging at 14 and the heavy component accumulating in the chamber 15. The'parts 1, 2 may be made wholly of deformable material, e.g. plastics, with their end portions provided with metal rings 5, 6 rotatably supported by ball bearings 9, 10. Both or, as shown, one of the pars are/is reinforced exernally by bands 3, 4. The drum may be driven by a linear motor 53 which drives a rotor in the form of a metal disc 54 rigid with the ring 5, or by a motor through transmission means. The lips 22, 23 having grooves 24 are moulded integrally with the spaced edges 20, 21 of the parts 1, 2 and are fast with soft iron annular members 25, 26 capable of being attracted in the direction of arrows F, F' by cores 27, 28 of annular coils 29, 30 when the latter are energised by the passage of an electric current thereby causing the lips 23, 24 to come into contact and cause the outlet 29 to be dosed. In another arrangement Fig 2 (not shown), the lips are located in metal housings (31, 32) which are urged towards each other by electromagnets (35, 36) to close the outlet 19. In a further arrangement, Fig 3, one of the lips, 27, is fixed and located in a rigid housing 37 whilst the other lip 23 located in a housing 23 has a deformable portion 38 enabling the lip to be displaced towards the closure position by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 39, by cams or by electro-magnets. In a still further arangement. Fig 4, the lips are mounted in fixed housings 46, 47 and their outer edges contact a slidable annular member 44 having apertures 45 adapted to permit discharge of the heavy component when they are aligned with the drum outlet. An embodiment having a number of peripheral chambers associated with corresponding lips is described, Fig 5 (not shown). In a further embodiment, Fig 6 (not shown), the drum is rota table about a vertical axis and is closed at its bottom. The material is fed through an upper inlet through a vertical duct that lead's to the bottom of the drum. The light component is evacuated through orifices provided in the wall of the drum above the heavy component lipped outlet.