Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for clearing product, e.g., sugar, from the inside of a centrifuge basket of a discontinues centrifuge. A scraper blade, which is attached to a clearing rod, is pivoted toward the spun-off layer of product. The scraper blade scrapes off the product with a cutting edge, which is directed in a direction that is opposite to the direction of rotation of the basket. To optimize the product removal, it is preferable if the scraper blade, after it has been pivoted inward, contacts the product over virtually the entire height of the basket and at the same time scrapes off the product from the layer of product which is rotating at the clearing rotational speed in layers over the entire height of the basket. Once the product has been substantially completely removed from the basket, the scraper blade is pivoted back away from the basket wall.

Abstract: In a process for solid-liquid extraction, in particular of sucrose from beet cossettes, countercurrent extraction in an extraction tower is employed. The tower juice is drawn off together with the small-sized solid constituents obtained in the process, such as sand, essentially exclusively via side screens.

Abstract: An extraction tower for the extraction of slices includes an outer tower casing having an inside wall and a bottom region; arresters disposed along the inside wall; a sieve disposed in the bottom region; a tubular shaft centrally disposed in the casing and having a toothed rim at a top end thereof and conveyor vanes disposed over its length; a bearing which holds a bottom end of the tubular shaft; a rotary drive including a plurality of drive units which are distributed around a periphery of the tubular shaft and which are connected to the tower casing, each of the drive units including a drive pinion which engages the toothed rim; a plain bearing; a guide for guiding the bottom end in the bottom region near the sieve, the guide including a central journal which is disposed in the plain bearing as far as the sieve extends and wherein a clearance exists between the plain bearing and the central journal.

Abstract: The present drying drum includes a roller supported drum jacket which is connected at one end thereof to a drive shaft by means of radially extending arms whereby the drive shaft extends coaxially with the rotational axis of the drum jacket. The drive means proper are guided relative to said drive shaft by guide means forming part of the drive shaft itself or either by a bearing surface forming part of a spur gear connected to the drive shaft. The drive means are further connected through a guide rod with an abutment means for taking up the drive reaction.

Abstract: A continuously operating centrifuge for producing a high purity sugar or sugar syrup, has an acceleration bell or cone which acts as a preliminary separator, and a centrifugal basket, the lower portion of which acts as a washing stage. A damming ring is spaced from the upper edge of the basket to form with said upper edge a sugar exit gap. A discharge ring is arranged to cooperate with the damming ring. The discharge ring rotates with the basket, but about an axis extending at an angle relative to the rotational axis of the basket, whereby the actual sugar exit is confined to a predetermined zone along said sugar exit gap. A flow channel cooperates with said zone to receive the sugar without damage to the sugar crystals.

Abstract: A counter-current leaching or extraction tower for comminuted vegetable matter such as sugar beet cossettes, or crushed sugar cane, is provided with conveying elements, the longitudinal dimension of which may be altered in response to the operating condition in the material or matter being leached. Especially, the baffle members in the tower and, if desired, also the conveyor screw wings which are arranged to cooperate with the baffle members, are adjustable in their length in response to control signals derived from sensors, such as strain gauges, attached to the conveying elements. The angular position of the conveying elements in a plane parallel to the motion of the screw wings and relative to a radial direction may also be adjustable in response to the same type of control signals. The conveying elements may be constructed to include telescoping members which are longitudinally and thus radially extendable and retractable relative to the volume of the extraction tower.

Abstract: The present pulp catcher is provided with a rotating brush roller for cleaning the sieve or straining drum in a container. The shaft ends of the rotating brush roller are movably supported in bearings which are pressed by biasing means radially inwardly relative to the rotational axis of the straining drum. The shaft ends of the rotation brush roller are sealed by stuffing box means which are connected to the container by means of compensating corrugated tubings. The movable support of the shaft ends makes it possible to maintain the rotating brush roller at a most efficient spacing relative to the straining drum even when the bristles of the brush roller become shorter due to wear and tear.

Abstract: A high concentration sugar solution is produced by contacting sugar crystals as they emerge from a centrifuging basket, with pressurized solvent liquid sprayed from a plurality of nozzles to form a turbulent mist of solvent and to envelope the sugar crystals which are forced to travel through said turbulent mist of solvent to impinge upon a baffle guide ring. The turbulent flow of solvent mist and solvent enveloped sugar crystals is guided along said baffle guide ring to a back-up location, where sugar solution, air, and liquid mist are forced through a gap and over a damming ring wall surrounding the gap. The centrifuge for performing the foregoing process includes a centrifuging basket with an upper rim over which the sugar crystals emerge. A solvent supply ring with nozzles facing toward the rim is arranged above the upper basket rim. The baffle guide ring curves downwardly and surrounds an inner housing which in turn surrounds the basket.

Abstract: A drum for a centrifuge has a shell with a radially outer layer of plastic resin free of fibrous material, a radially inner layer of a fine mesh metal fabric embedded in a plastic resin material, and a plurality of intermediate layers of fibers, such as glass fibers embedded in plastic resin material, with the fibers of adjacent layers extending in different directions. The ends of the drum are thickened, and secured to flanges of end plates by screws having axially extending holes. Radially extending holes at the center of the shell are provided with tubular inserts. The holes axially extending through the screws also extend substantially radially relative to the drum.

Abstract: An extraction tower for leaching sugar beet cossettes or comminuted sugar cane. A central shaft is rotatably supported in a tower housing. Feed advance wings for the material to be leached are secured to the central shaft with spacings between the wings. Baffle elements are secured to the inside of the tower housing so as to extend into the spacings between adjacent wings. The baffle elements are elongated plates which are secured to the housing wall at a plurality of points, preferably three points so as to simultaneously form a reinforcement of the tower housing. The baffle plates are twisted relative to a longitudinal axis so that one end of a plate has an inwardly and upwardly facing edge, while the opposite edge faces downwardly and vice versa.

Abstract: An extraction tower for the counter-current leaching of sugar beets cossettes or crushed sugar cane. The elements which convey the material to be leached through the tower, especially the conveyor screw means and/or the baffle means which are arranged for cooperating with the conveyor screw means are provided with load sensor means, such as strain gauge elements which through control amplifier means control the drive means for the conveying elements to adapt the through-put and thus the conveying to the loads occurring throughout the tower. Even the pump and valve means may be controlled in response to such strain gauge means.