Patents Assigned to Alfa Laval AB
  • Patent number: 5921909
    Abstract: Inlet device for a centrifugal separator, which easily can be modified so that the centrifugal separator in a simple way can get a broadened range of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Bengt-Olof Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 5916083
    Abstract: Rotor for a centrifugal separator, which rotor (1) during operation rotates in a space (4) and inside itself forms a chamber (12) and a passage (7), which extends radially outwardly from the chamber (12) to the outside of the rotor (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Rolf Bjorkstrom
  • Patent number: 5913984
    Abstract: The invention relates to equipment for cleaning objects such as tanks, pipeline systems etc. in a food treatment plant. The equipment includes a liquid conveying system which is arranged to convey a variable controlled amount of liquid at a variable controlled flow rate. In series with this means system there is a volume and/or flow rate metering device and a control device connected to the volume and/or flow rate metering device and receiving a signal from the metering device. The control device is arranged to actuate the conveying system in response to this signal so that the desired amount of liquid is conveyed at a desired flow rate. The conveying system and the volume and/or flow rate metering device are arranged in a flow path supplying rinsing or cleaning liquid to one or several objects to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Jan Lofdal
  • Patent number: 5913361
    Abstract: In a plate heat exchanger, having double-walled plate formed heat transfer elements (1, 2), adjacent such heat transfer elements are permanently brazed together by means of three different and spaced brazing joints. A first brazing joint surrounds an area, which covers the heat transfer portions (3, 4) of the heat transfer elements and first inlet openings and outlet openings (8, 9) communicating with a flow passage (6) that is formed between said heat transfer portions. A second joint and a third joint surround respective inlet openings and outlet openings (10, 11), which are closed from communication with said flow passage (6). Leakage areas (16-19; 39), which communicate with the surrounding of the plate heat exchanger, are formed between said first joint and each one of said other joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Anders Engstrom, Ralf Blomgren
  • Patent number: 5897484
    Abstract: In a centrifugal rotor having inlet channels (23) situated between a stack of axially separated conical separation discs (13) and the rotor end wall (10), towards which the separation discs turn their apex ends, there is formed a counter pressure chamber (22) in an area where the inlet channels (23) communicate with one end of several distribution channels (21) extending through the stack of separation discs. The counter pressure chamber (22) is free of entrainment members, so that liquid leaving the inlet channels (23) is allowed to rotate in the counter pressure chamber at a smaller angular speed than the rotor. Further, the counter pressure chamber (22), communicates with a radially outer portion of the rotor separation chamber (9) through a sludge passage (34), which opens in the separation chamber at a level radially outside the stack of separation discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ridderstr.ang.le, Klaus Stroucken
  • Patent number: 5883354
    Abstract: Conical separation discs of thin sheet metal intended for centrifugal separators have, as a rule, spacing members in the form of thin strips welded onto one of their sides. For avoiding local overheating of a separation disc, when a strip is to be welded onto the separation disc by roll welding, the strip is formed with at least one ridge extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip, the width of the ridge being substantially smaller than that of the strip. In this way, the contact area between the strip and the separation disc will become very small in the welding area, and only a limited amount of energy is needed for the welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: John Elofson
  • Patent number: 5864112
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a plate heat exchanger (1) for heat transfer between two fluids, comprising at least a permanently joined module (2) with several, principally rectangular heat transfer plates (3) equally distributed on each side of an imaginary centre plane (M) of the module, which is parallel to the plane of the heat transfer plates (3), the heat transfer plates (3) having inlet and outlet openings (13, 14) for respective fluids in their corner portions (15) and a heat transfer portion (16) located between respective inlet and outlet openings, in which an intermediate heat transfer plate (3B) has a weld (17A) against a first adjacent heat transfer plate (3A), extending at least round said heat transfer portion and round the inlet and outlet openings for one of the fluids and a weld (17B) against a second adjacent heat transfer plate (3C), extending at least round said heat transfer portion and round the inlet and outlet openings for the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Ralf Blomgren, Bo Nilsson, Mats Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5860470
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a plate heat exchanger (1) comprising a frame (2) with two end plates (3,4) and between them a package (5) of heat transfer plates (6) with intermediate gaskets, which delimit flow spaces for at least two heat transfer fluids, and a cover (8) extending round said package (5). The cover (8) abuts closely towards the end plates (3,4) and is arranged on distance from said package (5) so that a sealed space towards the surrounding atmosphere is created between the cover (8) and said package (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Torgny Andersson, Ralf Blomgren, Bernt Tagesson
  • Patent number: 5853782
    Abstract: An arrangement for continuous addition of nitrogen gas to a beverage such as beer, mineral water or still drink comprises a pump (2) arranged to increase the pressure of a flow of beverage to a desired high level. In the arrangement there are also tubes (5) to add a predetermined amount of nitrogen gas under pressure directly to the pressurized flow of beverage and at least one static mixer (4) to mix gas and beverage and disperse the nitrogen gas in the beverage. A holding cell is connected to the static mixer in which holding cell the nitrogen gas is completely dissolved in the still pressurized beverage of the holding cell. Valves (15) are arranged at the outlet of the holding cell to lower the pressure to a level which is suitable for packaging of the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Ebbe Larsson
  • Patent number: 5851794
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new recombinant DNA-molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence from S. aureus coding for a protein, or polypeptide, having collagen binding properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Bengt Guss, Magnus Hook, Hans Jonsson, Martin Lindberg, Joseph Patti, Christer Signas, Lech Switalski
  • Patent number: 5800330
    Abstract: Method and equipment for monitoring a centrifugal separator, with a separation chamber (6), a radially inner outlet (18, 19, 20) connected to the separation chamber (6), which is connected to an outlet conduit (21), a flow sensor (28) in the outlet conduit (21) being arranged to indicate a flow in the outlet conduit, an intermittently operable radially outer outlet (7) connected to the separation chamber (6), the flow of the separated component in the outlet conduit (21) ceasing temporarily until the separation chamber (6) has been refilled. In order to monitor the centrifugal separator in a reliable and easy manner the time for the refilling of the separation chamber (6) is measured and is compared with a shortest allowable time for the refilling of the separation chamber (6) stored and a signal is given if the measured time is shorter than the shortest allowable time stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Bo Modeer
  • Patent number: 5800070
    Abstract: Damping device for a shaft, which supports a centrifugal rotor and is journalled in a bearing in a frame (7) in such a way that an oscillating movement of the shaft relative to the frame (7) is admitted during the rotation of the rotor (5). The damping device comprises a first friction member (8), which is connected to a bearing in such a way that the shaft is rotatable relative to the friction member, and a number of second friction members (10), which are supported by the frame (7) and are distributed around the shaft, each one of the second friction members (10) being arranged to be so kept pressed by a spring force towards the first friction member (8) in a predetermined direction that upon oscillating movement of the shaft (1) perpendicular to this predetermined direction a damping friction arises when the first friction member (8) together with the shaft is moving relative to the second friction member (10) referred to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Sven-.ANG.ke Nilsson, Robert Sandblom
  • Patent number: 5797446
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a plate heat exchanger for heat transfer between two fluids, comprising two frame plates (6) and between these several permanently joined heat transfer plates (3), which have inlet and outlet openings (9) for respective fluids in their corner portions, communicating with connections (8) through at least one of the frame plates (6). The connections (8) are formed of outer extending pipes (10) provided with internal linings (11). The outer pipes (10) are permanently fastened to the frame plate (6) and the internal linings (11) are permanently connected with an adjacent first heat transfer plate (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Ralf Blomgren
  • Patent number: 5792037
    Abstract: In the rotor of a centrifugal separator there is an annular slide (6) for opening and closing of a periphery outlet (12, 13) from a separation chamber (9). The slide (6) at its radially inner edge is connected with and axially fixed relative to the rotor body (1, 2) but has a radially outer edge portion (11) which is axially movable relative to the rotor body (1, 2). This is possible because a portion of the slide, having a substantial radial extension, is flexible. In operation, the flexibility of the slide results in an angular change between portions of the slide situated at different radial distances from the center axis of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Berth Bodelson, Kjell Klintenstedt, Toini Salmi, Nils-Gunnar Ohlson, Jan Setterberg, Staffan Holm
  • Patent number: 5788622
    Abstract: An outlet device for discharging liquid from a chamber (16) in a centrifugal rotor, that is rotatable around a rotational axis (12), comprises an outlet member (29). This outlet member is turnable around a turning axis (26) in parallel with said rotational axis (12) and is held by a spring (31) pressed radially outwardly in the chamber (16) against and partly into a liquid body rotating with the centrifugal rotor. The outlet member (29), which further forms an outlet channel (34) and an inlet opening (30) communicating therewith, is shaped such that the inlet opening (30) is situated downstream of said turning axis (26) during operation of the centrifugal rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval AB
    Inventors: Leonard Borgstrom, Claes-Goran Carlsson, Peter Franzen, Claes Inge, Torgny Lagerstedt, Hans Moberg, Stefan Szepessy, Mikael Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 5779619
    Abstract: Centrifugal separator comprising a rotor, which forms an inlet and an outlet chamber (17) surrounding the rotational axis, in which a liquid present therein rotates around the rotational axis with a radially inwardly directed free cylindrical liquid surface. A stationary discharge device (21) extends in the outlet chamber (17) from the rotating liquid body radially inwardly to a central outlet (25) and forms a flow channel (26) with an inlet opening (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Leonard Borgstrom, Patrik Brehmer, Claes-Goran Carlsson, Peter Franzen, Claes Inge, Torgny Lagerstedt, Hans Moberg
  • Patent number: 5778975
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a plate heat exchanger (1) for heat transfer between two fluids, comprising several permanently joined modules (2), each consisting of two outer heat transfer plates (3) and between these several principally rectangular inner heat transfer plates (4), which have openings (10) for respective fluids in their corner portions, which form flow passages through the plate heat exchanger (1), said outer heat transfer plates (3) showing smaller openings (10) for at least one of the fluids than said inner heat transfer plates (4) and said modules (2) being joined with each other around said openings (10) in respective outer heat transfer plates (3). In the present invention at least one of the fluids is arranged to flow through the plate heat exchanger (1) in several passes, and at least a disc of a pass (13) is introduced in at least one flow passage and is arranged towards two outer heat transfer plates (3) joined with each other to essentially seal said opening (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Mats Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5722486
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a plate heat exchanger (1) for heat transfer between two fluids, comprising several permanently joined modules (2), each consisting of two outer heat transfer plates (3) and between these several principally rectangular inner heat transfer plates (4), which have inlet and outlet openings (12) for respective fluids. The outer heat transfer plates (3) show smaller inlet and outlet openings (12) than the inner heat transfer plates (4), so that the modules (2) can be welded with each other around the inlet and outlet openings (12) of the outer heat transfer plates (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Ralf Blomgren, Bo Nilsson, Mats Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5685984
    Abstract: The present invention introduces a fiber suspension thickener, particularly adapted for thickening cellulose fiber. The thickener comprises a vat; a hollow filter assembly in the form of a horizontal cylindrical drum disposed within the vat, whereby the drum may be rotated by a motor around its horizontal axis, and whereby the cirumferential walls of the drum are made of a filter material; either a spray nozzle or some other supply conduit that furnishes a fiber suspension into the interior of the vat, so that the drum becomes submerged within a pool of the fiber suspension; a discharge outlet for discharging the fiber suspension on the ascending side of the rotating drum; and a turbulence creating device, that can take many forms, for creating turbulence and mixing the fiber suspension on the ascending side of the rotating drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Alfa Laval AB S.A.
    Inventor: Ryan M Smith
  • Patent number: 5571514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new recombinant hybrid-DNA-molecule comprising nucleotide sequence from S. aureus coding for a protein, or polypeptide, having fibronectin binding properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Martin K. Lindberg, Lars C. Signas, Torkel M. Wadstrom, Gunnar Froman