Imperforate bowl: centrifugal separators – Rotatable bowl – Including driven material-moving means therein
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-01
2001-06-26
Cooley, Charles E. (Department: 1723)
Imperforate bowl: centrifugal separators
Rotatable bowl
Including driven material-moving means therein
Reexamination Certificate
active
06251056
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally, to the design and construction of a centrifugal separator apparatus for separating a composition into a substantially solid portion and a substantially fluid portion. More specifically, the present invention has one form wherein a pivoting plow motor assembly is moveable to engage a plow gear to drive a plow blade assembly. A bumper assembly allows the plow motor to reach a substantial torque before the plowing of the solid portion occurs. Although the present invention was developed for use in centrifugal separator systems, certain applications may be outside this field.
It is well known that in a centrifugal separator the separation of the solids and liquids in a contaminated fluid is accomplished by delivering the contaminated fluid to a high-speed rotating bowl. The high-speed rotation of the bowl creates centrifugal gravitational forces that cause the contaminated fluid to be displaced radially outward against the wall of the bowl. Since the bowl is rotating at a high rotational speed the solids tend to adhere to the bowl wall, while the substantially purified liquid exits through a discharge opening.
The centrifugal separator bowl must be periodically cleansed to remove the solids adhered to the bowl wall during the separation process. Failure to maintain the bowl in a dynamically balanced state and/or overloading with solid deposits can result in various problems. Such problems, for example, include: premature wear and failure of bushings, bearings, and seals; inefficient solid and liquid separation; overloading of the bowl motor drive; and, overloading the plow blade assembly drive motor. Prior designers of centrifugal separators have incorporated a mechanical plow blade within the bowl to remove accumulated deposits in an attempt to minimize problems associated with an over-load/unbalanced bowl.
One limitation associated with many prior centrifugal separator designs relates to the operation and configuration of the plow blade assembly. The plow blades extend generally radially from a center shaft, and therefore provide the same plow-action in either direction of rotation. The solids scraped from the bowl wall had a tendency to stick to the blades of the plow. Thus, it was often necessary to extend the clean cycle time in order to remove the solids from the blades. The extension of the clean cycle time is generally unacceptable because it increases the overall time required to process the liquid.
Even with a variety of earlier designs, there remains a need for an improved centrifugal separator apparatus. The present invention satisfies these needs, among others, in a novel and unobvious way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One form of the present invention contemplates a centrifugal separator, comprising: a bowl for receiving a combination of liquid and solid therein; a drive spindle coupled to the bowl; a member rotatable within the bowl during a cleaning mode for dislodging at least a portion of the solid accumulated therein; a first motor coupled to the drive spindle for rotating the bowl during a separation mode to substantially separate the combination of liquid and solid; and a second motor moveable relative to the member so as to couple the second motor with the member and cause rotation of the member during the cleaning mode.
Another form of the present invention contemplates a centrifugal separator comprising: a bowl adapted for receiving liquids and solids, the bowl having a wall member; and a plow blade assembly disposed within the bowl, the plow blade assembly being rotatable relative to the wall member during a cleaning mode to remove solids accumulated on the wall member during a separation mode, the plow blade assembly including at least one plow blade that forms an angle of less than 90 degrees with the wall member.
Another form of the present invention contemplates a centrifugal separator, comprising: a bowl for receiving a composition of liquids and solids therein; a drive spindle coupled to the bowl for rotating the bowl during a high speed separation mode, the drive spindle having a first passageway formed therethrough; a drive member having a first end and an opposite other second end with a second passageway formed therethrough, the drive member disposed within the first passageway and rotatably coupled to the drive spindle; and a feed tube assembly including a mechanical housing rotatably mounted on an outer surface of the first end of the drive member, and a feed tube fixedly coupled to the mechanical housing and extending into the second passageway for delivering the combination of liquids and solids to the bowl.
Another embodiment of the present invention contemplates a centrifugal separator, comprising: a bowl for receiving a combination of liquid and solid therein; a drive spindle coupled to the bowl for rotating the bowl during a separation mode to substantially separate the combination of liquid and solid; a member disposed within and rotatable relative to the bowl during a cleaning mode for dislodging at least a portion of the solid accumulated therein; a bumper ring coupled to the drive spindle; and a bumper ring engaging member for engaging a portion of the bumper ring during the cleaning mode to prevent substantial rotation of the drive spindle and bowl.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved centrifugal separator apparatus.
These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.
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Brochure entitled “Basket Centrifuges Built for Tough Separation Applications”, U.S. Centrifuge, Indianapolis, Indiana, 6 pages.
Spec Sheet entitled “Model A262”, U.S. Centrifuge, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2 pages.
Spec Sheet entitled “Model A242”, U.S. Centrifuge, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2 pages.
Behrens Scott
Berger Jeffrey L.
Cooley Charles E.
U.S. Centrifuge
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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