Abstract: A continuous-operation centrifuge drum for concentrating suspended solids. The concentrated solids are diverted out of an outer solids space through channels into an inner chamber, whence the concentrated solids are continuously extracted. At least one vortical-outflow space is positioned between the channels and the inner chamber, with the points of which the medium enters the channels distributed around the outer demarcation of the outflow space and with the outlet from the outflow space extending from a radially outward region in the outflow space to the inner chamber. A separate vortical-outflow space is associated with each channel. Each outflow space consists of two demarcating surfaces, preferably extending in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum, and of a surrounding wall that connects them, and extends radially to a multiple of its axial length.

Abstract: An outlet nozzle for centrifuge drums, consisting of a nozzle holder with an axial intake channel and with an orifice that is made of a harder material, that fits into the channel, and that has an axial outlet channel comprising a cylindrical bore downstream of an entry cone. The orifice is positioned in the nozzle holder such that the axis of symmetry of the intake channel is at an angle to that of the outlet channel, diverting the flow of the fluid through the nozzle. The initial section of the entry cone is provided with a semicircular recess on the same axis of symmetry, having the same radius as the intake channel, and immediately adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A method of centrifuging cheese milk that involves skimming it in a self-emptying centrifuge, returning some of the separated cream to the skim milk to adjust it to the desired level of fat, and centrifuging it again to precipitate microorganisms and dirt particles. The method uses only one centrifuge. The raw milk is preliminarily simmed down to a desired fat content in one section of a separation space, the accordingly standardized milk is forwarded to the periphery of another section of the separation space, where it is purified of microorganisms and dirt while flowing radially inward through the section, and the standardized and purified milk is extracted from the processing space inside the centrifuge by w ay of a peeler.

Abstract: A method of dewatering oil mud that occurs on board ships during the processing of heavy, diesel, and lubricating oils and consists of a mixture of water and mineral-oil residue that is intercepted on board and subjected to centrifuging. The liquids contaminated with mineral-oil residue that occur on board are collected in two separate containers. The liquids that contain heavy oil and diesel oil are conveyed to the first container and the liquids that contain lubricating oil are conveyed to the second container along with the water that occurs when the oils are processed. The contents of the containers are then conveyed sequentially to one and the same centrifuging device to concentrate the solids. The resulting liquid phases are subjected to separate further processing with on-board equipment, allowing complete disposal or further use of the liquids.

Abstract: Electrodes for measuring the level of milk flowmeters and positioned together in a holder of a non-conductive material that extends tight through the bottom of the flowmeter with their active surfaces vertically separated. The electrodes are adjacent pins with their cylindrical surfaces inside the milk flowmeter completely surrounded by the holder to the extent that only the faces of the electrodes are active.

Abstract: A continuously operating centrifuge drum for concentrating suspended solids. The solids that precipitate in a stack of disks accumulate in a solids space and are diverted into a receiving chamber through mouthpieces. The mouthpieces contain throttle bores and communicate with the periphery of the solids space. To improve the known centrifuge drum to the extent that an optimal solids concentration can be obtained at low expense with no detriment to the clarified phase, there are secondary mouthpieces that also contain throttle bores, that communicate with a radially inner zone of the solids space, and that another receiving chamber is associated with. Since the volume of solids that can be diverted through the primary mouthpieces is less than the volume of solids separated in the drum, the solids flow out of the primary mouthpieces at the maximum attainable concentration, whereas the excess solids flow out through the secondary mouthpieces.

Abstract: The intake space of a centrifuge drum is divided into a vestibule with ribs and an intake chamber without ribs. The vestibule communicates with the intake chamber through an annular gap between the outside diameter of a disk secured to an intake pipe and the inside diameter of the intake space. The intake chamber communicates with a set of disks through channels. The diameter D.sub.K of the intake chamber at the level of the channels is longer than the diameter D.sub.F that must be maintained at the upper surface of the centrifugate in a skimming chamber during operation. Since the incoming centrifugate does not rotate in the intake chamber and since no rotational pressure is accordingly generated, the intake pressure in the intake pipe is transmitted when the intake chamber is full to the centrifugate in the intake chamber, until the requisite level of centrifugate in the skimming chamber is attained.

Abstract: A method of producing rennet cheese from raw milk, wherein raw milk is standardized, a biological reaction is terminated, a precipitant and cultures are added, cheese mass is separated from whey, and denatured cheese fines are removed from the whey by separation or decantation. The cheese fines are biologically acidified in whey or water, the denatured proteins are removed from the whey or water, the denatured proteins are removed from the whey by separation or decantation, whereby the major proportion of the detrimental calcium is removed along with the separated liquid, the fines are suspended in water or whey, the suspension is warmed for 5 to 10 minutes at 40.degree. to 60.degree. C., the pH is adjusted to form 6.5 to 7.0 and with a 10% neutralization agent, the material is heated to from 80.degree. to 90.degree. C. for 1 to 5 minutes, and the product is returned to the raw milk or added to other dairy products to increase the protein content or the proportion of dry mass.

Abstract: A vacuum-control valve for milking systems, with a valve body that is positioned upright and moves axially inside a housing and has a conical projection extending into an air-intake, with the valve-body cross-section changing as it moves axially, whereby the air-intake communicates with a vacuumized line. An aerodynamic structure is positioned under the valve body and is connected to the valve body by way of a rod such that the air entering the air intake exerts a downward force on the valve body.

Abstract: A throughput centrifuge for the industrial production of proteins from human blood plasma, with a cylindrical centrifuge drum provided with several concentric chambers that communicate at the bottom and with the blood plasma or similar material being supplied to the central zone and a liquid phase continuously extracted from the outer zone. The drum accordingly accommodates plastic containers constituting concentric annular or annular-segmental chambers that communicate through at least one channel at the bottom, wherein the container or containers toward the axis that the drum rotates around have an inlet connection and the container or containers in the outer zone of the drum have an outlet channel at the top, and wherein the outer surfaces of the containers, of the communicating channel or channels, of the outlet channel or channels, and of the inlet connection or connections rest against the inner surfaces of the drum and against structures that can be inserted into and removed from the drum.

Abstract: A method of precipitating cheese fines from whey by using a self-emptying centrifuge, wherein the clarified whey is continuously extracted and the cheese fines are intermittently extracted. The cheese fines are intercepted by a solids collector and rinse is supplied to the solids collector. The rinse will not change the structure of the cheese fines and clarified and heated whey is accordingly employed as a rinse in the centrifuge.

Abstract: The method allows in particular the continuous swelling of granular, starchy raw materials subject to mechanically increased hydraulic pressure. Extraction is very effective because the steep and the raw material flow in opposite directions. The opposed currents are produced because the swelling section is upright, so that gravity forces the heavier raw material down through the rising steep.

Abstract: A centrifuge drum for separating mixtures of liquids, especially for separating refrigerated milk into cream and skim milk, with an intake pipe secured to a stationary housing to supply refrigerated milk to a separation space in the centrifuge drum and a pealing disk for diverting the separated skim milk. The pealing disk is positioned in a pealing chamber that communicates through channels with the periphery of the separation space. A diversion chamber is disposed between the separation space and the pealing chamber that communicates with the center of the separation space and has a diversion channel for diverting the cream into a stationary interception chamber. The pealing chamber is positioned axially between the diversion chamber and the interception chamber and the diversion channel is positioned concentric with the axis of rotation of the drum, whereby the diversion channel extends radially outward from the diversion chamber, through the center of the pealing disk, and into the interception chamber.

Abstract: A device for closing off a liquid-supply channel with an axially moving diaphragm. One face of the diaphragm demarcates a control space that is located in a lid and that can be connected either to the atmosphere or to a source of vacuum through a control valve. The other face of the diaphragm demarcates a product space that is also vacuumized and that accommodates the liquid-supply channel such that the diaphragm can, in one of its limiting positions, close the opening of the channel. To decrease the level of force required for initiating the action and to make the device less expensive, a signal generator is positioned in the lid of the control space and activates the control valve when the diaphragm approaches the lid, thereby connecting the control space with the atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for secondary purification and stabilization of liquids containing polyphenols and/or proteins. The liquid to be treated is first subjected to a centrifuge, or similar apparatus, which performs the primary purification of the liquid. The treated liquid is then mixed with stabilizing means that adsorb the polyphenols and proteins and filter means that retain the fine turbidities contained within the liquid. The liquid mixture is then transferred to an alluvial filter apparatus in laminar flow wherein the filter means and stabilization means along with the adsorbed polyphenols and proteins form a filter cake. The purified liquid is then transported to subsequent treatment while the filter cake is subsequently treated with a solution which dissolves the polyphenols and protein thereby regenerating the stabilization means and the filter means.

Abstract: The operating chambers in a pulsator have axially movable partitions that make it possible to vary their capacities. The primary effect of varying the capacities is to vary the rate of the pulsator in a very simple way. It is also possible, however, to eliminate any wobble that may occur by varying the capacities of the chambers individually.

Abstract: A method of dephospholipidating whey to separate the lipoproteins out of it and/or decrease its residual fat content by adding calcium to the whey, heating it and keeping it hot to aggregate the lipoproteins, and then centrifuging it. The pH of the whey is increased before it is heated by adding sodium-hydroxide solution, and the calcium is not added until after the whey is heated.

Abstract: A centrifuge for separating mixtures of liquids. The drum has an upper diversion chamber and a lower diversion chamber that divert the fractionated constituent of the liquid out of the drum and that are separated by a replaceable lid. At least one of the diversion chambers has a peeling structure that is provided with channels and an intake pipe that supplies the mixture of liquids. The drum can be equipped with another chamber lid and with another peeling structure with channels and an intake pipe. The channels in the second peeling structure open into the intake pipe and the second chamber lid unites the two diversion chambers into a single chamber.

Abstract: Lager-cellar or fermentation-cellar yeast is mixed with an extraction liquid prior to centrifugal processing, increasing the percentage of recovered beer. To keep the contact time brief the extraction liuquid is not mixed with the yeast until just upstream of the intake into the centrifuge. The total requisite volume of extraction liquid is made available in a recirculation tank and circulated through the centrifuge until all the yeast has been processed. The extraction liquid is maintained at a temperature no higher than +2.degree. C. The low temperature and brief contact time prevent the transition of yeast-metabolism products into the extraction liquid.

Abstract: A spreader is provided to avoid impermissibly high pressures in the interior of the inner sheath of a teat cup with a valve. The spreader powerfully decreases the pressure in the interior during the non-suction phase and accordingly compensates for the pressure increase resulting from the prestress of the inner sheath during the suction phase when the valve is closed.