US3666170A - Centrifugal separator - Google Patents

Abstract

A centrifugal separator which includes a centrifugal pump for pumping the fluid from the separator, the pump being constituted by stationary vanes co-operating with the rotating fluid. This invention relates to centrifugal separators. According to the present invention a centrifugal separator for separating solid particles from fluid includes a centrifugal pump for removing the cleaned fluid from the separator. Thus the pump may include stationary vanes mounted in relation to a rotatable casing and/or a rotatable shaft which is arranged to rotate the fluid so that centrifugal separation can be achieved and the rotary motion of the fluid in relation to the stationary vanes establishes the necessary pressure head for pumping the fluid from the separator. A rotatable casing is conveniently mounted on an over-hanging extension of a shaft so that the casing is capable of being slid off the free end of the shaft, and in this way it becomes an easy matter to remove, clean and replace the casing when it has collected a lot of particles. One application of the invention is to the separation of the byproducts from a magnesium water cell which continually gives off magnesium hydroxide in water. If the magnesium hydroxide can be separated off in the separator the water can be recirculated for continuous use in the cell. The centrifugal separator can be used in a recirculating system for the fluid from a battery for driving an electric motor, and then the separator can be driven from the motor shaft. This is a particularly neat and compact arrangement where, for example, a magnesium water cell is used for driving an electric motor because the magnesium hydroxide can be easily separated before recirculation. This is particularly advantageous for an electric motor for driving a lawn mower or a similar load.

Description

United States Patent Cacciabue et a1.

[451 May 30, 1972 54] CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR 768,751 8/1904 llanson .233 10 779,986 1/1905 Arnberg. ..233/10 [72] Invenmrs Cacciabueg Rdney 2,476,377 7/1949 Le Clair .233/23 R x E i Beazley, Maldstoney Kent, both of 3,052,401 9/1962 Thylefors .233 19 R ng an [73] Assignee: The Glacier Metal Company Limited, Al- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS perton, Wembley, Middlesex, England 154,514 5/1956 Sweden ..233/27 [22] Flled: May 1969 Primary ExaminerJordan Franklin [21 1 Appl. No.: 822,398 Assistant Examiner-George H. Krizmanich AttrneyPierce, Scheffler & Parker [52] US. Cl. ..233/l A, 233/27 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..B01d 21/26, B04b 1/00, B04b 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..233/28, 27, 38, 46, 47, 23, A Centrifugal separator which c es a r ugal pump for 233/24, 10, 19, l A, 4, 7, 13, 20 R, 20 A; 415/89, pumping the fluid from the separator, the pump being con- 90 stituted by stationary vanes co-operating with the rotating fluid. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 729,532 6/1903 Ben-igan ..233/47R 21 22 Y 38 Y I Z 2 ll 29 34 f 33 F me; Q

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PATENTEDMAY30 I912 3,666,170 SHEET 10F 2 FIG.

INVENTORS ANTON) CACC\ABVG- RODNEY T. BEA'LLEY P BY A, P

W Wm? PATENTEDMn 30 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTORS DNEY T. BEAIL x9 J/MW TTORNEYS BY kw a CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR This invention relates to centrifugal separators.

According to the present invention a centrifugal separator for separating solid particles from fluid includes a centrifugal pump for removing the cleaned fluid from the separator.

Thus the pump may include stationary vanes mounted in relation to a rotatable casing and/or a rotatable shaft which is arranged to rotate the fluid so that centrifugal separation can be achieved and the rotary motion of the fluid in relation to the stationary vanes establishes the necessary pressure head for pumping the fluid from the separator.

A rotatable casing is conveniently mounted on an overhanging extension of a shaft so that the casing is capable of being slid off the free end of the shaft, and in this way it becomes an easy matter to remove, clean and replace the casing when it has collected a lot of particles.

One application of the invention is to the separation of the by-products from a magnesium water cell which continually gives of? magnesium hydroxide in water. If the magnesium hydroxide can be separated off in the separator the water can be recirculated for continuous use in the cell.

The centrifugal separator can be used in a recirculating system for the fluid from a battery for driving an electric motor, and then the separator can be driven from the motor shaft. This is a particularly neat and compact arrangement where, for example, a magnesium water cell is used for driving an electric motor because the magnesium hydroxide can be easily separated before recirculation.

This is particularly advantageous for an electric motor for driving a lawn mower or a similar load.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and two embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section through one form of separator,

FIG. 2 is a section on the line IIII in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section through IIIIII of another form of separator, and

FIG. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

In the separator shown in FIG. 1 fluid containing particles which are required to be separated from the fluid is fed to a fluid supply pipe extending through thewall 21 of ahousing 22 which houses both anelectric motor 23 and arotary separator 24, the housing having adetachable end cover 19. Themotor 23 has a shaft 25 journalled inbearings 26 in thehousing 22, ahollow extension 27 of the shaft extending into the region within thecover 19.

Rigidly secured to a radial wall 29 in thecasing 22 is acylinder 28 co-axial with theshaft extension 27 and having at its end remote from the motor adiffuser 30 havingvanes 31 best shown in FIG. 2. Anoutlet pipe 33 communicates with the interior of thecylinder 28. The rotary separator has adetachable cover 34 which defines with anend wall 35 carried on the cylinder 28 afilter chamber 36. Theend wall 35 is provided with a rotary face seal between it and thecylinder 28. Thecover 34 is secured by a screw 37 to the end of theextension shaft 27.Spring clips 38 are pivoted on thewall 35 so that the outer ends can clip over the end of thecover 34.

Fluid to be filtered enters the pipe 20 which leads across the interior of thecylinder 28 to within thehollow extension shaft 27 via radial bores 40.Lip seals 41 and 42 are provided to prevent fluid escaping. The fluid, which is supplied under a slight pressure, passes along the interior ofshaft 27 and leaves it viaradial exit openings 43 to pass into thechamber 36. The fluid and the solid particles are subjected to centrifugal forces and the solids collect on the walls of thecover 34, the cleaned fluid being pumped out of the separator by means of thediffuser 30 and vanes 31 into thecylinder 28 and thence out of thefluid exit pipe 33.

When thecover 34 requires cleaning it can be removed by taking off thecover 19, by releasing abayonet coupling 44, unscrewing the screw 37, and releasing theclips 38.

A rotor driven at about 3,000 rpm. by an electric motor might give the fluid sufficient angular momentum to cooperate with thestationary vanes 31 to give a pressure drop across the diffuser of 5, 6 or 7 lbs./sq. inch.

The diffuser vanes may not be as shown in FIG. 2 but could be in accordance with any known form of diffuser.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, themotor shaft 51 is solid and carries the removable,rotary separator casing 52 on itsfree end 53.

Theend shield 54 of the motor carries an assembly consisting of aradial inlet 55, atube 56 defining an inlet passage with theshaft 51, atube 57 defining an outlet passage with thetube 56, and anoutlet 58.

Diffuser vanes 59 are carried between annular flanges on the free ends of thetubes 56 and 57 for establishing a delivery pressure head in the rotating fluid and for pumping a small fraction of the fluid throughopenings 59 into a chamber 61, whence the fluid is forced throughradial openings 62 to provide hydro-dynamic lubrication to a bearing consisting of cooperating cylindrical surfaces onrespective parts 63 and 64 of the stationary and rotary components. Aseal 65 protects against loss of fluid from the chamber 61.

The stationaryexternal flange 66 on thetube 56 assists the flow of fluid centrifugally outwards and back through the diffuser.

Thecasing 52 can be easily detached at 67 and 53, and removed for cleaning or replacement.

A cover (not shown) releasably fitted to the motor and shield will protect the rotating parts and keep dirt ofi. It will have openings for inlet and outlet fluid lines.

Each embodiment is suitable for filtering off the magnesium hydroxide by-products from the potassium bromide catalyst in a magnesium/water electric cell for driving a motor for a lawn mower. The same motor will of course be the one driving the separator.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A centrifugal separator for separating solid particles from fluid, the separator including a rotatable casing for rotating the fluid and defining a chamber for the fluid, the casing having a first end and a second end, a rotatable shaft passing through the first end of the casing and fixedly attached at one end to the second end of the casing, an inlet for fluid, said inlet being coaxial with said shaft, a centrifugal pump operatively associated with said chamber for removing cleaned fluid from the casing, said pump comprising stationary vanes for cooperation with rotating fluid and an outlet co-axial with said shaft.

2. A separator according to claim 1 wherein said shaft is hollow and has apertures formed adjacent the second end of said casing, said shaft defining said inlet for fluid.

3. A separator according to claim 1 wherein said inlet for fluid is formed between said shaft and said outlet.

4. A separator according to claim 1 wherein said casing includes means sealing the casing from the second end of the shaft.

5. A separator according to claim 1 wherein said pump is situated within said casing.

w' f -T F m F\ 4 I I 5 cilii llrici llfi 0: $.33 @QOA 3, 666, 170 Dated y 3 1972 Invcntoflfii) ANTONIO CACCIABU'E, and RODNEY THOMAS BEAZLEY I: is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and aha said "Letters Patent are hereby, corrected as shown below:

'- Ikie claim f oz tp z iorit y as evidenced by the claiin file March '10, 1972- of B'fiiti'shapplicaiflons 21.88 0/68 and- 51107/68 shquld app'eri n fik if-gt ssu ed patent.

(SEAL) H Attest: l" EDWARD A TCHER, J'R.-ijf 1 fRQBERTQ-GOTT SCHALK- Attesqlng Officer 1 flp rr linilssijipner c513 Patents

Claims (5)

1. A centrifugal separator for separating solid particles from fluid, the separator including a rotatable casing for rotating the fluid and defining a chamber for the fluid, the casing having a first end and a second end, a rotatable shaft passing through the first end of the casing and fixedly attached at one end to the second end of the casing, an inlet for fluid, said inlet being coaxial with said shaft, a centrifugal pump operatively associated with said chamber for removing cleaned fluid from the casing, said pump comprising stationary vanes for co-operation with rotating fluid and an outlet co-axial with said shaft.

2. A separator according to claim 1 wherein said shaft is hollow and has apertures formed adjacent the second end of said casing, said shaft defining said inlet for fluid.

3. A separator according to claim 1 wherein said inlet for fluid is formed between said shaft and said outlet.

4. A separator according to claim 1 wherein said casing includes means sealing the casing froM the second end of the shaft.

5. A separator according to claim 1 wherein said pump is situated within said casing.

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