Patents by Inventor Klaus Stroucken

Klaus Stroucken 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: 20070049480
    Abstract: A screw conveyor intended and formed for use in a decanter centrifuge for separation of solid particles from a fluid compound, comprising a central body, at least one conveyor thread and at least one baffle bridging a flow path formed between different parts of the conveyor thread. The screw conveyor has at least two originally separate parts, each of which comprises a portion of said conveyor thread and which are kept together axially. The baffle constitutes a separate member arranged to be kept in place between said parts of the screw conveyor, when these parts are kept together axially, and has a portion which forms a part of the conveyor thread in an area where the conveyor thread intersects with and extends past the baffle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Rolf Ridderstrale, Robert Geiding, Kasper Hoglund
  • Patent number: 6716153
    Abstract: In a decanter centrifuge having a rotor and a screw conveyor the rotor is suspended only at its one end, the rotational axis of the rotor extending vertically. The inlet of the rotor for a sludge containing liquid to be separated as well as the rotor outlet for liquid having been freed from sludge are situated at the upper end of the rotor, whereas a sludge outlet for separated sludge is situated at the lower end of the rotor. The rotor as well as the screw conveyor are adapted to be driven through shafts situated at the upper end of the rotor. By the invention it becomes possible by simple implementation to adapt the decanter centrifuge for different separation duties, since the location of the sludge outlet can be chosen freely without other parts of the decanter centrifuge preventing this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Rolf Riddersträle
  • Patent number: 6712751
    Abstract: In a decanter centrifuge having a rotor and a screw conveyor the rotor is suspended only at its one end, the rotational axis of the rotor extending vertically. The inlet of the rotor for a sludge containing liquid to be separated as well as the rotor outlet for liquid having been freed from sludge are situated at the upper end of the rotor, whereas a sludge outlet for separated sludge is situated at the lower end of the rotor. The rotor as well as the screw conveyor are adapted to be driven through shafts situated at the upper end of the rotor. By the invention it becomes possible by simple implementation to adapt the decanter centrifuge for different separation duties, since the location of the sludge outlet can be chosen freely without other parts of the decanter centrifuge preventing this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Rolf Ridderstråle
  • Patent number: 6537191
    Abstract: In a centrifugal separator for separating solids from a liquid mixture in which the solids in the form particles are suspended in a liquid having a density less than that of the particles the centrifugal separator includes a rotor rotatable at a first speed. A screw conveyor is arranged in and coaxial with the rotor and rotates at a second speed differing from the first speed. A drive device is adapted for rotation of the rotor at the first speed and the screw conveyor at the second speed. The rotor is totally supported at one end only through a rotor shaft that is arranged so that the rotor central axis extends substantially vertically. The rotor includes an inlet for the mixture, in the form of at least one inlet channel which extends into the rotor at one end and a liquid outlet for separated liquid, in the form of at least one outlet channel which extends out of the rotor at one end, and a sludge outlet for separated solids situated at an opposite end of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Rolf Ridderstråle
  • Publication number: 20030032541
    Abstract: In a decanter centrifuge having a rotor (1) and a screw conveyor (2) the rotor is suspended only at its one end, the rotational axis (R) of the rotor extending vertically. The inlet (22) of the rotor (1) for a sludge containing liquid to be separated as well as the rotor outlet (12; 67) for liquid having been freed from sludge are situated at the upper end of the rotor, whereas a sludge outlet (13) for separated sludge is situated at the lower end of the rotor. The rotor (1) as well as the screw conveyor (2) are adapted to be driven through shafts (5, 8) situated at the upper end of the rotor. By the invention it becomes possible by simple means to adapt the decanter centrifuge for different separation duties, since the location of the sludge outlet (13) can be chosen freely without other parts of the decanter centrifuge preventing this.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Rolf Ridderstrale
  • Publication number: 20030032540
    Abstract: In a decanter centrifuge having a rotor (1) and a screw conveyor (2) the rotor is suspended only at its one end, the rotational axis (R) of the rotor extending vertically. The inlet (22) of the rotor (1) for a sludge containing liquid to be separated as well as the rotor outlet (12; 67) for liquid having been freed from sludge are situated at the upper end of the rotor, whereas a sludge outlet (13) for separated sludge is situated at the lower end of the rotor. The rotor (1) as well as the screw conveyor (2) are adapted to be driven through shafts (5, 8) situated at the upper end of the rotor. By the invention it becomes possible by simple means to adapt the decanter centrifuge for different separation duties, since the location of the sludge outlet (13) can be chosen freely without other parts of the decanter centrifuge preventing this.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Rolf Ridderstrale
  • Patent number: 5941811
    Abstract: In a centrifugal rotor having inlet channels (23) which are situated between a stack of axially separated conical separation discs (13) and the rotor end wall (10), against 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. Furthermore, the counter pressure chamber (22), communicates with a radially outer part of the rotor separation chamber (9) through a space (35) situated outside a flow space (36), through which separated liquid is to flow from the interspaces between the separation discs to a number of outlet channels (27) in the vicinity of said rotor end wall (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ridderstr.ang.le, Klaus Stroucken
  • 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: 5186708
    Abstract: The rotor of a centrifugal separator includes two axially separated end walls and one surrounding wall situated between the end walls. The end walls and a stack of separation discs within the rotor are maintained axially together by a central fastener. The surrounding wall, which is separate from the two end walls, is movable axially during rotor operation relative to at least one of the end walls. The surrounding wall has an inner diameter at the areas where it seals with the ends walls that is smaller than the portions between those sealing areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Alfa-Lavel Separation AB
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Rolf Ridderstrale
  • Patent number: 4930412
    Abstract: In a centrifuge rotor for separation of two liquids having different densities from a mixture thereof a stack of conical separation discs (21) is arranged in the separation chamber (13) with the base portions of the separation discs turned towards one end and with the apex portions of the separation discs turned towards the other end of the separation chamber. According to the invention the separation chamber (13) has an inlet for mixture situated at the end, towards which the separation discs turn their apex portions, and an outlet for separated relatively heavy liquid situated at the opposite end. The inlet for liquid mixture as well as both outlets for the separated liquids are situated at the same axial end wall of the centrifuge rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Separation AB
    Inventor: Klaus Stroucken
  • Patent number: 4915682
    Abstract: A liquid separator has a centrifuge rotor (1) with a set of conical separation discs (21) arranged coaxially in the separation chamber (13). The inlet of the separation chamber is formed as inlet passages (20) which extend radially outwards from a central inlet chamber (16) in the rotor, along that end wall of the separation chamber, towards which the apex ends of the separation discs face. The inlet passages (20) are formed between that end wall and a partition member (18, 19) situated between the rotor end wall and the separation discs (21). The outlet of the separation chamber (13) for separated liquid is formed by a number of channels (22) through the partition member (18, 19) and aligned channels through tubular members (23) bridging said inlet passages (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Separation AB
    Inventor: Klaus Stroucken
  • Patent number: 4698053
    Abstract: In a centrifuge rotor, the separation chamber (21) of which contains a set of conical separation discs (10), these are guided radially by means of guiding means (11) extending axially through the discs. At their ends, the guiding means (11) are fixed relative to the rotor body (1,2) in its periphery direction and radially. The rotor body has an upper part (1) and a lower part (2), which are held axially together at their peripheral portions. A distributor has a base portion (7) on which the separation discs (10) rest, and a neck portion (6) which extends centrally up through the disc set. The distributor is radially guided relative to the lower part and the upper part, respectively, of the rotor body. Cylindrical guiding surfaces (9) are present between the neck portion (6) and the upper rotor part (1) and, possibly, also between the base portion (7) and the lower rotor part (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Separation AB
    Inventor: Klaus Stroucken
  • Patent number: 4643708
    Abstract: A centrifugal rotor has (a) an axially movable primary slide (5) for closing or opening peripheral outlets (11) and bordering a closing chamber (14) having inlet (15) and outlet (16) for a closing liquid, and (b) an axially movable secondary slide (20) for allowing or stopping flow through said closing liquid outlet (16), the secondary slide (20) having opposite sides bordering an opening chamber (22) and a closing chamber (21). An axially movable part is located radially outside said closing liquid outlet (16) and forms a partition (12) between the closing chambers (14 and 21) of the primary and secondary slides; the secondary slide's closing chamber (21) is closed radially inwards by an annular seal (24) between the secondary slide (20) and part (12a) of said partition (12); and the secondary slide (20) when opening uncovers an annular opening for passage of a closing liquid from the primary slide's closing chamber (14) to the secondary slide's opening chamber (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Separation AB
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Bengt-Olof Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 4636319
    Abstract: In order to subject a valve within the rotor of a centrifugal separator to a certain liquid pressure, the rotor being supported by a vertical drive shaft (13), a liquid surface is maintained during operation of the rotor very close to the axis of the rotor, this surface being formed within a central channel (12) through said drive shaft (13). The lower end of the drive shaft, in which the channel (12) opens axially through an orifice (31) having its surrounding edge at the desired radial level for the liquid surface, is rotated in a liquid body which is kept in a container (25) below the drive shaft (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Separation AB
    Inventor: Klaus Stroucken
  • Patent number: 4191325
    Abstract: A centrifuge rotor has a first part axially displaceable into and from abutment against a second part of the rotor during operation of the centrifuge, the rotor also having peripheral outlet openings for separated sludge which are formed by and between said rotor parts. One of the rotor parts has grooves forming said outlet openings when the two parts abut each other, said parts forming a continuous opening around the periphery of the rotor when the two parts are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval AB
    Inventors: Klaus Stroucken, Torbjorn Winberg, Kaj Lindfors