US1988612A - Method and apparatus for separating solids from liquids - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1935. F. STINDT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS Filed May 14, 1932 E Q 7 3 \b 2 @Q J .F

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Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPA- RATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS Frederick Stin'dt, Grantwood, N. Application ay 14, 1932, Serial No. 611,251

2 Claims.

Another object of the invention is'toprovidev aplurality of centrifuges arranged so that each discharges into the other in order that a method of continuously separating liquids from solids may be accomplished.

These and many other objects, as willappear from the following disclosure are secured .by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, relative location of parts, steps and series of steps, as will appearin. detail from the following description.

Referring to the drawing, the single figure is a view of the apparatus of this invention shown partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section. v v

This machine will be described in connection However-the apparatus and method are in no sense limited to that industry, but are useful in any industry or for any use where it is desired to separate solids from liquids which are in mixture. As far as I am aware it has been possible to provide a continuous method and apparatus for carrying it out for the separation of solids from liquids, and particularly sugar from its molasses content. In accordance with present practice a single centrifuge is employed the basket of which is charged with wet sugar while rotating at the proper speed until the sugar is thoroughly dry. In accordance with this practice the layer of sugar formed on the inner wall of the basket as it revolves is of the order of several inches thick, so that it is necessary to subject the sugar to a relatively long period of action in the centrifuge in order to thoroughly dry all of it.

When all of the moisture is extracted from the sugar the centrifuge must be stopped and the dried sugar removed from it. Such centrifuges usually employ an open bottom basket through which the sugar is discharged when the machine is stopped. Sometimes it is necessary to employ a mechanical unloader to remove the sugar from with the sugar industry as. will be apparent later.

the basket. Such procedure only permits of inter mittent operation of the centrifuge, resulting in the necessity for constant attendance of an operator who is only able to handle two or three machines. This means that the machines are noti ,5, operated at maximum efiiciency and in addition labor costs are increased. I It has been'proposed to employ a centrifuge having a plurality ofbaskets mounted on the same shaft and driven'simultaneously. In this. l0.-= proposed machine the baskets are partially tele-' scoped'and are of gradually increasingdiameter so that the mixture ispoured into the upper-and smallest basket. and gradually travels into the succeeding lower baskets which are of increas 15, ing diameter. The result is that the mixture is subjected to gradually increasing Y centrifuge forces which is so undesirable that the machine never attainedany commercial use. I I

With the present invention all of thesediffi- 20 culties are eliminated and in addition the advantage of a continuous, process is attained. Referring now to the drawing, there is shown at 1 a suitable support to which are secured at the proper points the hollow standards, 2, 3 and 4., Rigidly secured to the upper endsof the standards 2, 3 and 4 are the outer casings 5,

V 6 and '7 respectively, having the liquid discharge spouts 5, 6 and '7 respectively. .Journaledwit-hin "the standards" 2, 3 and 4 are the vertical rotatable shafts 8, 9 and 10 respectively. Se cured to the lower ends of the shafts are the bevel gears 11, 12 and 13, which mesh with cooperating bevel-gears 14, 15 and 16 respectively. The gears 14, 15 and 16 are, for purposes of illustration, shown mounted upon a single operating shaft 17 which may be driven from any suitable power source. Mounted on the shafts 8, 9 and 10 are the perforated baskets 18, 19 and 20 respectively. These baskets are secured to those shafts for rotation therewith. As shown the baskets are mounted within the casings and are not provided as in the case of the ordinary centrifuge, with inwardly projecting lips. In other words the interior walls of the baskets are smooth. Surrounding the easings 5, 6 and '7 are the outer receptacles 21, 22 and 23 respectively, having the solid discharge spouts 21, 22' and 23. The outer containers 21, 22 and 23 project vertically above the tops of the baskets and are provided with openings as indicated in the drawing. The containers 22 and 23 are provided with removable covers 24 and 25 respectively. If desired, of course, the container 21 may likewise be provided with a cover, but it is desirably left open in order that the interior of the basket may be observed.

At 26 is a delivery spout or nozzle through which the mixture to be centrifuged is delivered to the first basket 18. In the operation of the machine power is applied to shaft 17 with the result that the vertical shafts 8, 9 and 10 are simultaneously driven, causing rotation therewith ofthe baskets 18, 19 and 20. In order to attain a practical structure by means of which a continuous method may be effected it is desirable that the mixture of solid and liquid be subjected to substantially the same centrifuge action throughout its treatment. 'Thismay obviously be attained either by making the baskets of the same diameter and simultaneously revolving all of them at the same and proper .speed.

The same results of course can be secured, as

er amount of material will be continuously de-' livered to the basket. This material under the centrifuge force set up assumes a position on the inner wall of the basket to form a thin layer.

Under centrifugal action the material creeps over the upper edge of the basket and is-thrown into the outer container 21. The liquids pass through the perforations of basket 18 and are collected in the casing 5 and discharged through the spout 5 to a suitable receptacle. The solids move down the inclined bottom wall of the container 21 and pass through spout 21 intothe second basket 19, where they again form a layer on the inner wall thereof, so that further liquids may be separated therefrom. This liquid is collected in casing'6 and discharged through the spout 6. The solids again creep over the upper edge of the basket, collect in container 22 and discharge therefrom through spout 22 into the basket 20 where the action is again repeated. The remaining liquids are discharged from casing 7 through the spout 7' and the com-,

pletely dried solids are collected in container 23 and discharged through spout 23.

As will be apparent with this arrangement the materials may be fed into the first basket continuously from the spout 26 and the finished product continuously removed from the machine through the spout 23. The solids are in continuous motion through the machine and at spaced points in the path of travel are successively subjected to centrifugal action of a uniform and proper amount. It is not necessary to stop the machine at intervals to discharge the finished product from it so that it may be run continuously and a number of these machines can be handled by one attendant who need only occasionally assure himself that the machines are operating properly and are being fed the right quantity of material.

From the above description it will be apparent that this invention resides in certain principles of construction and operation which may be effected in other Ways by those skilled in the art without departure therefrom. I do not therefore desire to be strictly limited to this disclosure. as given for purposes of illustration, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

-What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus as described comprising a support, a plurality of shafts journaled on said support, a centrifuge basket secured to each shaft, all of said baskets being of the same size,

a casing surrounding each basket, each of said baskets being open at the top, an outer casing:

enclosing the open end of each basket and discharging into the next basket, and means for simultaneously rotating said baskets at the same speed.

2. An apparatus as described comprising a support, a plurality of standards mounted on said support in spaced relation, a'vertical shaft journaled in each of said standards, means for simultaneously revolving allof said shafts, a centrifuge basket secured to each shaft for rotation therewith, all of said baskets being of substantially the same diameter, a liquid collecting casing surrounding each basket, and a solid collecting casing surrounding each basket and having -means for discharging the solids collected therein to another basket in series.

FREDERICK STINDT.

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