Abstract: A control valve for a self-emptying centrifuge drum for draining closure fluid out of a closure chamber positioned below an axially movable piston slide with a valve piston that closes the closure-fluid runoff bores by means of centrifugal force and opens them by supplying control fluid to an initial control chamber that has an inlet and an outlet. To improve the known control valve to the extent that it will close more rapidly, making the amount of solids extracted at each emptying more constant, another control chamber, also having an inlet and an outlet, but in which the active face of the piston is larger than that of the piston in the initial control chamber, is provided, with the volumes of the control chambers and the cross-sections of the inlets and outlet ensuring that the initial control chamber is filled first and the second control chamber only after a delay.

Abstract: A pulsator for milking machines has two diaphragms connected by a rod with each diaphragm dividing a pressure chamber into a processing space and a damping space. The damping spaces communicate through a channel that is provided with a throttle. The processing spaces are connected either to a source of vacuum or to the atmosphere. A switchover is attached to the rod and connects lines leading to the pulsation spaces of milking containers either to the atmosphere or to a source of vacuum. A main line is provided with a throttle. The throttles in the communicating channel and in the main line are detoured by bypasses provided with chokes that can be vacuum-activated through control channels.

Abstract: A centrifuge for clarifying or separating suspensions has a centrifuge drum with a bottom, a lid, an annular seal that unites them, a chamber that provides access for the suspension, and a distributor. The suspension can be supplied past the distributor to a package of conical plates provided with inner ascending channels.

Abstract: A device for separating solids from liquids by means of a screen that inclines at an angle to the horizontal and is accommodated in a prescribed position within a screen housing. There is a product-delivery component with a feed pipe at the higher end of the screen and a receiving chamber with a drain pipe for the separated liquid below the screen. To ensure that the screen is uniformly loaded over its total effective width and that the quality of the separated solids will accordingly remain constant as the product and feed conditions vary, the screen housing is mounted in such a way that it can be pivoted around a horizontal axis in order to vary its angle of inclination to the horizontal.

Abstract: Centrifugal separator drum (FIG. 1) for the clarification and separation of liquids, having one or more paring systems 12, 13 for the removal of the clarified or separated liquids, a stationary inlet tube 11 which communicates with a smooth, cylindrical inlet chamber 18, which rotates with the drum and is affixed to the latter, via an opening that is slightly larger than the inlet tube. Outlets ports 20 lead out of the inlet chamber into a forechamber 21 which communicates on the one hand with an annular chamber 24 situated ahead of the inlet chamber and on the other hand with the riser passages 23 of the plate insert 4.

Abstract: A rinser has a partial-vacuum chamber that constantly communicates with a partial-vacuum line during the rinsing process. The partial-vacuum chamber is separated from the operating space by a diaphragm with an aperture. A spring forces the diaphragm into a position in which is closes off an air inlet into the operating space. Inside the operating space is a float with a shift rod that has a seal at the top that closes off the aperture in the diaphragm as the float rises, interrupting the communication between the operating space and the partial-vacuum line. The breakdown of partial vacuum in the operating space produces a differential pressure on diaphragm, which lifts and releases the air inlet. The seal does not release from the diaphragm until it is forced against a thrust pin loaded by another diaphragm that communicates with the partial-vacuum chamber through one aperture and with the atmosphere through another aperture.

Abstract: The partial-vacuum regulating valve consists of a main valve and an auxiliary valve. The auxiliary-valve body is adjusted in accordance with the partial vacuum prevailing in the milking system and affects the amount of air drawn out of the main-valve control chamber, which communicates with the atmosphere through a calibrated bore, through a certain channel. The partial vacuum that adjusts in the control chamber in accordance with the amount of air drawn out determines the position of the auxiliary-valve body and hence the amount of air flowing into a certain line through the air-inlet opening, which affects the partial pressure in the line. The main-valve control chamber has an additional calibrated air inlet that is closed off with a cap. When the cap is removed, atmospheric air also flows through the additional inlet into the main-valve control chamber and reduces the partial vacuum therein.

Abstract: In a support and withdrawal mechanism for milking clusters, a support pipe is positioned inside a main column in such a way that it can be rotated and moved up and down inside it. At the bottom of the support pipe is an articulated extension arm with its free end connected to the milking cluster. A clamping component that surrounds the support pipe and in the horizontal position does not impede its free motion is positioned below the main column. The clamping component is secured on one side by a spring and a sloping chain and on the other side by the piston rod of an operating cylinder. The spring, chain, and cylinder are attached to points of suspension on the main column. When the piston rod moves out, the clamping component is tilted and clamps onto the support pipe, carrying the pipe down as it moves. The sloping chain, however, allows a downward motion only if the clamping component simultaneously rotates.

Abstract: A device for rinsing milk pails automatically allows the use of a known rinser that rinse is suctioned into subject to partial vacuum and leaves again subject to atmospheric pressure. Prior to cleaning, a check valve is mounted over the milk-inlet connection and a cap over the air-suction connection to the upside-down milk-pail lid and the milk pail positioned on it with an annular spacer in between. The milk-inlet connection and the air-suction connection are connected to the rinser with hoses. During the initial suctioning stage, rinse is suctioned out of a rinsing tub through the teat cups, which are also connected up, and the pail simultaneously evacuated. When air is allowed into the rinser, part of the rinse flows back into the rinsing tube through the teat cups and the rest is sprayed into the milk pail, which is subject to partial vacuum, through the milk-inlet connection, the check valve, and a spray nozzle.

Abstract: A sampler for a milking-system volumeter that can measure fractional volumes and that has both a partial-vacuumized separation chamber with an outlet that can be closed off by means of a valve piston and a measuring chamber. The valve piston associated with the outlet has a nozzle bore that opens into the separation chamber. It is followed by a nozzle channel with a runoff opening at the end facing away from the nozzle bore. The channel is closed when the valve piston is closed and opens into a line leading to the sampler's milk-collecting space when the valve piston is open. When milk flows out of the volumeter through the outlet, part of it flows into the nozzle channel through the nozzle bore and thence into the collecting space through the line. A sample is accordingly taken upon the completion of every fractional-volume measurement by the volumeter.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing must and still and sparkling wines with respect to crystalline precipitation. Seed crystals of potassium hydrogentartrate are added to the products during processing to accelerate crystal growth. Since any calcium ions in the wine affect the crystallization of potassium hydrogentartrate, dipotassium DL-tartrate is also added to precipitate the calcium ions. The wine is cooled in a cooler and the colloids filtered out in a filter before the seed crystals are added and is finally stored at a low temperature in a tank. The precipitated crystals are removed in a hydrocyclone and 80% of them added along with dipotassium DL-tartrate to fresh wine that is to be stabilized. The added crystals are finely milled in colloid mills if necessary. The wine from the hydrocyclone is highly clarified in a centrifugal separator to eliminate any crystals not removed in the hydrocyclone.

Abstract: In an oil-flow regulator for vacuum pumps in milking systems, the amount of oil to be introduced is determined by the dimensions of an annular gap between a valve cone and a restrictor. The valve cone is attached to a diaphragm between the oil chamber and a partial-vacuum chamber that communicates with the suction line to the vacuum pump. When the vacuum pump is turned on, a partial vacuum builds up in the partial-vacuum chamber, forcing the diaphragm and the valve cone upward until the valve cone impacts against an axially adjustable stop. This establishes the oil flow. When the pump is turned off, the partial vacuum in the partial-vacuum chamber cancels out again, the valve cone blocks off the restrictor, an oil flow is interrupted. No oil can flow into the catch chamber when the pump is turned off and lead to an excessive rate of flow and excess oil consumption.

Abstract: A self-emptying centrifuge drum has at its periphery an annular gap between its cover and bottom. The gap can be opened and closed with a piston slide. The cover and bottom of the drum are connected by a strainer basket. The basket is rigid enough to ensure unexceptionable concentricity of the parts of the drum under all operating conditions. The position of the strainer basket in the immediate vicinity of the plate insert divides the centrifugation space into a separation space and a solids space in such a way that the sedimentation in the solids space is unaffected by the flow of liquid in the channels.

Abstract: A centrifuge with a self-emptying drum is provided with expulsion openings in its jacket that lead from the solids space and that can be closed off by a piston slide. The piston slide is associated with a closure chamber, which can be supplied with a closure fluid and which has outlet channels around it that can be closed off by a valve body and that open into a blocking chamber. The blocking chamber can accommodate part of the closure fluid taken in by the closure chamber. The valve body and the piston slide are moved into the opening position for partial emptying. The valve body remains in the open position during partial emptying. The outlet channels are blocked by closure fluid taken in by the blocking chamber. This blocking fluid initiates the closing motion of the piston slide while closure fluid continues to be supplied to the closure chamber.

Abstract: A fully jacketed centrifuge with a helical conveyor for separating mixtures of solids and liquid has apertures below the surface of the liquid in the jacket of the drum. Some of the centrifuges solids are let off through the apertures. Inside the helical conveyor is, in addition to one inlet space for the mixture of solids and liquids, another inlet space that has an access and that communicates with channels that extend in the vicinity of the apertures into the vicinity of the jacket. The apertures are positioned in interchangeable mouthpieces. The concentration of solids flowing off out of the apertures is controlled by constantly returning part of the solids that emerge from the flowoff through the access, the second inlet space, and the channels into the vicinity of the apertures.

Abstract: A centrifuge has ejection openings in the jacket of the drum to which channels extending from the solids space lead. The flow through the channels can be blocked off by an annular valve body. A closure compartment is associated with the valve body. Closure fluid is supplied to the closure compartment through a line from a catch gutter. The line consists of two connected components. The components can be separated by a piston with a flowthrough channel. When the piston is in the separating position, in which it blocks off an opening in the first line component, the flowthrough channel connects the second line component with an off-flow channel that is open to the atmosphere. In this position the second line component and the closure compartment are depressurized so that the valve body can move into an opening position. This opening motion is reinforced with opening water conveyed through three channels to an opening chamber.

Abstract: A centrifuge with a self-emptying drum including drum jacket having ejection openings for the solids that collect in the solids space. The openings can be blocked off with a piston valve with which is associated a closure compartment that can be charged with closure liquid. The closure compartment has outlet channels around it that can be blocked off with a hydraulically controlled valve body. When the valve is open, the closure liquid flows into a compartment with choked run-off bores. The compartment has sufficient capacity for part of the closure liquid. The compartment has at least one run-off channel that has a valve with a piston that can be shifted hydraulically in it. When the solids space is to be completely emptied, the closure liquid flowing into the compartment moves the valve piston into the opening position so that the closure liquid can flow off through a channel.

Abstract: A device for removing air from hermetically sealed, automatically emptying centrifuge drums and consisting of an air-removal valve atop a reservoir with a manometric switch and a level-sensitive switch and connected to controls. The controls open the valve when the pressure in the reservoir exceeds a predetermined level and close it when the pressure drops below that level. The valve closes however, as soon as the level of the liquid in the reservoir reaches the level-sensitive switch. The device, which is preferably mounted in the product intake of a hermetically sealed, automatically emptying centrifuge, allows air to be removed automatically without allowing product to escape, foam to form, or oxygen to enter. The reservoir can be thoroughly cleaned automatically.

Abstract: A device that regulates an outlet valve on a self-discharging centrifugal drum which diverts the closure fluid from a closure compartment that moves the piston valve from a closure position while the solids space is being partly or completely emptied, has, in addition to a supply line that supplies closure fluid to the closure compartment, an operating-fluid line in which a compressed air-controlled operating-fluid meter is positioned downstream of one shut-off and upstream of another shut-off. The meter consists of a housing divided by a tightly stretched and flexible diaphragm into two compartments, one that can be altered in capacity and that accepts operating fluid and a second that can be pressurized. This system ensures that a precise volume of operating fluid will be supplied to the outlet valve and determines the amount of solids to be removed.

Abstract: A method for directly measuring the quantity of milk obtained from a cow being milked by a mechanical milking apparatus, including vacuum separating milk from a milk-air mixture from a cow, continuously freely feeding the separated milk to a measuring chamber, sensing the level of the milk to the measuring chamber at a first level from the bottom thereof, discharging the milk from the measuring chamber through a valved outlet by opening same when the level of the milk in the measuring chamber reaches said first level and determining the quantity (Q) of milk from partial volumes during a plurality of measurement intervals (b.sub.i) during the flow of milk into and out of the measuring chamber. The improvement comprises sensing the level of the milk in the measuring chamber at a second level below said first level, measuring the time (c.sub.