Liquid purification or separation – Filter – Movable medium
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-12-25
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Filter
Movable medium
C210S407000, C210S488000, C210S497010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332545
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-liquid separating apparatus for separating solid matter, raw contaminants, etc. from liquid of a solid-liquid mix.
2. Prior Art
One of the conventionally known solid-liquid separating apparatuses is the one that is used in a raw contaminant dehydration treatment device.
This solid-liquid separating apparatus processes water-containing raw contaminants in the form of a solid-liquid mixture generated by mixing raw contaminants discharged from the kitchen with water and pulverizing this mixture. Such water-containing raw contaminants are introduced in the inside of the lower portion of a strainer and then conveyed to the upper portion of the strainer by the rotating vanes of a screw installed in the strainer. While the raw contaminants are being moved to the upper portion of the strainer, the water flows out of the strainer through countless number of small apertures (liquid flow passages) formed in the strainer. The raw contaminants are thus separated and discharged from the upper portion of the strainer in a dehydrated state.
In the above-described structure, solid matter such as pulverized raw contaminants, etc. and a liquid such as water, etc. that are contained in a mixture are separated by the strainer that has countless small apertures. However, this structure has problems. Though the solid matter adhering to the inner circumferential surface of the strainer can be constantly scraped off by the vanes, small particles of solid matter adhering to the inside wall surfaces of the small apertures that act as flow passages for the separated liquid cannot be scraped by the vanes. As a result, the small apertures tend to be clogged, and drainage of the liquid becomes insufficient. Also, the efficiency of solid-liquid separation drops, and frequent cleaning or replacement of the strainer becomes necessary. Such a clogging may be alleviated by way of using a thinner strainer so as to shorten the length of the liquid flow passages or by increasing the diameter of the small apertures. However, these measures cause an increase in the ratio of solid matter remaining in the separated liquid, leading to drainage contamination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above problems.
The object of the present invention is to provide a solid-liquid separating apparatus that can efficiently separate solid matter and liquids while preventing clogging of the strainer.
The above-object is accomplished by a unique structure for a solid-liquid separating apparatus of the present invention that comprises:
a strainer which is formed into a cylindrical body by disposing a plurality of flat plate-form circular ring members side by side with gaps in between;
a casing which has an accommodating section for setting the strainer therein, the casing being divided by the strainer into a strainer inner region and a strainer outer region so that an intake port for introducing a mixture of solid matter and a liquid is formed in the strainer outer region and an outlet port for discharging to the outside the liquid that flows between the circular ring members and enters into the strainer inner region is formed in the strainer inner region; and
a scraper comprising plate-form protruding elements whose tip ends advance into the gaps between the circular ring members, the scraper being movable along the outer circumferential surfaces of the circular ring members so as to remove the solid matter adhering to the flat surfaces of the circular ring members.
With the structure above, the liquid contained in the mixture that is introduced into the outer region of the strainer is moved into the inner region of the strainer by passing through the gaps between the flat surface of the respective circular ring members that make up the strainer and discharged from the outlet port. On the other hand, since the solid matter cannot pass through the gaps between the circular ring members, it remains in the outer region of the strainer. Solid-liquid separation is thus accomplished.
Furthermore, unlike the small apertures used in conventional strainer structures in which the length of the liquid flow passages is equal to the thickness of the strainer, the liquid flow passages formed by the circular ring members in the present invention have at least the length that is the difference between the internal diameters and the external diameters of the circular ring members. Thus, the length of the liquid flow passage of the present invention is considerably longer compared to the conventional liquid flow passage that is formed by small apertures. Accordingly, the amount of solid matter that enters into the gaps between the circular ring members and adheres to the flat surfaces of the circular ring members increases, and the amount of solid matter that enters into the inner region of the strainer is reduced. As a result, the separating apparatus of the present invention provides an improved solid-liquid separation efficiency.
Furthermore, the solid matter that adheres to the flat surfaces of the circular ring members is constantly scraped away by the plate-form protruding elements of the scraper that are moved in relative terms along the outer circumferential surface of the strainer. Accordingly, clogging is prevented.
It is preferable that the strainer is installed in the accommodating section of the casing so as to be rotated with its rotating axis in a horizontal direction, and the intake port and outlet port are opened so that at least the outer circumferential surface of the upper portion of the strainer is above the liquid level of the mixture in the casing. In the present invention, it is also preferable that the scraper scrapes away the solid matter adhering to the flat surface of the strainer that is exposed above the liquid level of the mixture. With the structures described above, solid matter adhering to the strainer that is above the liquid level of the mixture is removed, and the solid matter that has thus been scraped away is prevented from re-mixing with the mixture. Thus, efficient solid-liquid separation is performed.
The scraper is disposed on the downstream side of the top area of the strainer with respect to the direction of rotation of the strainer. With this location of the scraper, solid matter adhering to the strainer and carried out of the liquid surface of the mixture travels a greater distance before being scraped away by the scraper. Accordingly, there is an increased opportunity for the liquid to be oozed out of the solid material, and the solid-liquid separation efficiency is greatly improved compared to cases in which the solid matter is scraped away immediately after leaving the liquid surface.
Furthermore, since the solid matter adhering to the strainer is scraped away by the scraper while the solid matter is being moved downward form the top area of the strainer, the solid matter that is scraped away can easily be removed from the strainer. Efficient scraping of the solid matter can thus be accomplished.
One or more projections are formed on the outer circumferential surface of at least one of the plurality of circular ring members so as to carry the solid matter contained in the mixture out of the liquid level of the mixture. More specifically, two types of circular ring members are employed: flat plate-form first circular ring members and flat plate-form second circular ring members. The second circular ring members have the same external diameter as the first circular ring members and have a plurality of projections formed on the outer circumferences at specified angular intervals. Using these circular ring members, the strainer is formed by disposing a plurality of the circular ring members side by side with specified gaps in between with the first circular ring members interposed between the second circular ring members, so that the strainer is of a cylindrical shape and has a plurality of ribs, that are formed by the projections of the second circular ring members, on
Izumi Products Company
Koda & Androlia
Prince Fred
Simmons David A.
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