Patents by Inventor Wilfried Mackel

Wilfried Mackel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140200128
    Abstract: A centrifuge, in particular a separator, includes a rotatable centrifuge drum with a vertical axis of rotation and a non-rotatable fixed housing with a hood and preferably a solids collector. In the centrifuge, the housing, in particular the fixed hood and/or at least one other part of the housing, have at least one first inner wall and a first outer wall which delimit a first cavity. The cavity is at least partly filled with damping/insulation agents that are solid at a process or ambient temperature. A coolant that has a fluid form at a process and/or ambient temperature can be introduced into the first cavity filled with the solid damping/insulation agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Andreas Penkl, Thomas Bathelt, Reinhard Moss
  • Patent number: 8758209
    Abstract: A separator including a rotatable centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and an inflow line for a material to be processed by the separator. Also included is a drive spindle for the drum rotatably mounted via a mounting to a housing supported elastically on a machine stand section. A drive device includes an electric drive motor having a stator and a rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle. A lubricant system is configured to lubricate the mounting and the lubricant system includes a lubricant circuit to convey lubricant and has a lubricant collecting container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Penkl, Andreas Schulz, Marie-Theres Sedler
  • Patent number: 8734311
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a drum having a vertical rotational axis, a single or double conical inner jacket, an inlet pipe, a distributor into which the inlet pipe opens, the distributor having at least two distributor channels distributed about a circumference of the distributor, and a disk package including separator disks. Further included are tubular elements distributed on an outside circumference of the disk package, the tubular elements being fastened externally to the separator disk package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GEA Westfalia Separator GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Helga Tietz
  • Publication number: 20140083954
    Abstract: A method for processing a free-flowing product. The method steps include: providing at least one separator having a vertical axis of rotation, a rotatable centrifugal drum, and a plate assembly arranged in the drum; supplying the free-flowing product into the drum; separating one or more of a solid phase and at least two liquid phases from the free-flowing product; and discharging one or more of the liquid phases and the solid phase out of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GEA Mechanical Equipment GMBH
    Inventors: Julian König, Bernd Terwey, Wilfried Mackel, Andreas Penkl, Thomas Dathelt, Kathrin Quiter
  • Publication number: 20140057772
    Abstract: A method for the continuous processing of a product such as a vegetable or animal oil or fat. The processing occurs via a separation into two liquid phases and a solid phase. The method step includes processing the product, the processing occurring in a centrifuge arranged as a separator, the separator including a rotatable drum, a disk stack having risers arranged in the drum, a product feed having a feed tube, a first separator disk to discharge a lighter liquid phase from the drum, a second separator disk to discharge a heavier liquid phase from the drum, and a solids discharge opening to discharge a solids phase from the drum. A separation zone is formed between the lighter phase and the heavier phase in the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Klaus-Peter Erickhoff
  • Publication number: 20140051563
    Abstract: A method for processing a product by phase separation into two liquid phases and a solids phase. The method step includes processing the product, the processing occurring in a continuously operating centrifuge arranged as a separator, the separator including a rotatable drum having a vertical rotational axis, a disk stack having risers arranged in the drum, a product feed tube, a first separation disk for discharging a lighter liquid phase, a second separator disk for discharging a heavier liquid phase, solids discharge openings for discharging a solids phase from the drum, and a separation zone formed between the lighter liquid phase and the heavier liquid phase in the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Klaus-Perer Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 8585566
    Abstract: A rotatable separator drum includes a vertical rotating axis of rotation and at least one flow channel having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Also included is at least one retaining dam arranged in the at least one flow channel in a region between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The at least one retaining dam is configured to allow an overflow of liquid over the at least one dam and to provide for an accumulation of solids in front of the at least one dam. The at least one dam includes at least one rib arranged in a transitional region between opposing wall sections and a distributor base cover and the at least one rib includes portions having differing heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Thomas Bathelt, Ludger Thiemann, Kathrin Quiter, Andreas Penkl, Jürgen Linnemann, Thomas Kleimann, Jürgen Starke, Bärbel Helling, Stephan Helling, Tobias Helling
  • Patent number: 8419607
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a centrifugal drum rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation. The centrifugal drum includes one or more solids discharge orifices located at an area of the largest inside diameter of the drum. The solids discharge orifices include bores having discharge openings. The bores are arranged at least partially on an exterior of the centrifugal drum in a vertical direction Z at selected vertical heights along the exterior of the centrifugal drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Andreas Penkl, Thomas Bathelt, Kathrin Quiter, Klaus Baalmann
  • Publication number: 20120108413
    Abstract: A separator in which a product such as milk is to be processed, the separator includes: a centrifugal drum; an admission tube; a distributor including an admission chamber located downstream of the admission tube and distribution channels leading into a centrifugal chamber of the centrifugal drum. A rib body is located in the admission chamber and the rib body provides an outlet to the distributor channels. The rib body includes a plurality of ribs and a base section connecting the plurality of ribs along a periphery of the base section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GEA MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT GMBH
    Inventor: Wilfried Mackel
  • Publication number: 20120071313
    Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifuge including a rotatable centrifugal drum and a drive spindle to drive the centrifugal drum. The drive spindle is rotatably mounted via a bearing in a housing supported elastically on a machine framework. Further included is a drive device including a drive motor to rotate the drive spindle and a lubricant system to lubricate the bearing. The lubricant system is configured to deliver lubricant from a lubricant supply tank through a lubricant channel into a region of the bearing. An injection device is arranged downstream of the lubricant-supply tank and is configured to deliver the lubricant into the region of the bearing by dispensing quantities of lubricant in temporally discrete pulses with a limited-time air stream. A method is disclosed of directing lubricant into a region of a bearing of the centrifuge as noted above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: GEA WESTFALIA SEPARATOR GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Marie-Theres Sedler, Thomas Bathelt, Thomas Kleimann, Andreas Penkl, Bernd Terwey
  • Publication number: 20110215044
    Abstract: A rotatable separator drum includes a vertical rotating axis of rotation and at least one flow channel having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Also included is at least one retaining dam arranged in the at least one flow channel in a region between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Wilfried MacKel, Thomas Bathelt, Ludger Thiemann, Kathrin Quiter, Andreas Penkl, Jürgen Linnemann, Thomas Kleimann, Jürgen Starke, Wilhelm Helling, Bärbel Helling, Stephan Helling, Tobias Helling
  • Publication number: 20110212821
    Abstract: A centrifuge, such as a continuously working separator, includes a drum having a vertical rotational axis, a single or double conical inner jacket, an inlet pipe, and a distributor into which the inlet pipe opens. The distributor includes at least two distributor channels distributed about a circumference of the distributor. The centrifuge further includes a disk package including separator disks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: GEA WESTFALIA SEPARATOR GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Helga Tietz
  • Patent number: 7850590
    Abstract: A separator includes a centrifuge drum having a vertical rotational axis and a feed line to feed a product to be centrifugally processed. Further included is a drive spindle having an impeller to drive the centrifugal drum, which drive spindle is rotatably mounted in a housing by a bearing device and which is supported on a machine frame by an elastic support. Also included is a lubrication arrangement and a drive device including an electric drive motor having a stator and a motor rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Gea Westfalia Separator GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Helga Tietz
  • Publication number: 20100273625
    Abstract: A separator including a rotatable centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and an inflow line for a material to be processed by the separator. Also included is a drive spindle for the drum rotatably mounted via a mounting to a housing supported elastically on a machine stand section. A drive device includes an electric drive motor having a stator and a rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle. A lubricant system is configured to lubricate the mounting and the lubricant system includes a lubricant circuit to convey lubricant and has a lubricant collecting container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Wilfried MacKel, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Penkl, Andreas Schulz, Marie-Theres Sedler
  • Publication number: 20100255976
    Abstract: A separator includes a centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and a feed line for material to be centrifuged. A drive spindle for the centrifugal drum is rotatably mounted on a housing via a bearing, the housing being supported elastically on a machine frame. A drive device includes a motor housing and an electric motor having a stator and an armature which is aligned with the drive spindle. The drive device and the motor housing move with the drive spindle as co-vibrating units during an operation of the separator. The drive device is connected to the machine frame below the bearing at a lower axial end of the bearing via one or more joint elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: GEA WESTFALIA SEPARATOR GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Penki, Thomas Kleimann, Marie-Theres Sedler
  • Patent number: 7763172
    Abstract: A filtering device includes a container having an inlet and two or more spindles arranged in the device. Further included are at least two mutually axially offset diaphragm plates mounted on each of the two or more spindles. The two or more spindles are distributed in the container and rotatable relative to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Tietz Helga
  • Publication number: 20100062923
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a centrifugal drum rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation. The centrifugal drum includes one or more solids discharge orifices located at an area of the largest inside diameter of the drum. The solids discharge orifices include bores having discharge openings. The bores are arranged at least partially on an exterior of the centrifugal drum in a vertical direction Z at selected vertical heights along the exterior of the centrifugal drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: GEA Westfalia Separator GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Andreas Penkl, Thomas Bathelt, Kathrin Quiter, Klaus Baalmann
  • Publication number: 20090233780
    Abstract: A separator includes a centrifuge drum having a vertical rotational axis and a feed line to feed a product to be centrifugally processed. Further included is a drive spindle to drive the centrifugal drum, which drive spindle is rotatably mounted in a housing by a bearing device and which is supported on a machine frame by an elastic support. Also included is a drive device including an electric drive motor having a stator and a motor rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GEA WESTFALIA SEPARATOR GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Helga Tietz
  • Patent number: 7416523
    Abstract: A separator for the clarification or separation of liquids includes a double-cone drum having a metal conical drum top part and a metal conical drum bottom part. The drum top part and the drum bottom part are made as metal plates and the double-cone drum has a largest inside diameter greater than 1000 mm. A disk stack including a stack of conical separating disks is arranged in the double-cone drum. The drum bottom part has at least two drum shell sections with different outer angles of taper with respect to an axis of rotation of the double-cone drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Angelika Voltmann
  • Patent number: D633119
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Gea Westfalia Separator GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Mackel