Abstract: A continuously operating sugar centrifuge has a centrifugal basket with three stages including a preseparating stage, an intermediate meshing-in and washing stage, and a separating stage proper. The intermediate stage has three zones, namely a first zone without any perforations or screens and with a cylindrical or somewhat inwardly inclined wall, adjacent to the preseparating stage, a second cylindrical or slightly outwardly inclined intermediate zone with a screening area in which the openings take up 2% maximum and a third zone having a wall with a 10.degree. outward inclination at the most which merges into said separating stage and which carries a screen having the largest possible screen openings. A liquid supply device is arranged to feed liquid into the intermediate stage.

Abstract: A diffusion tower for sugar beet cossettes is provided with a cossettes feed-in mechanism which includes at least one, preferably a plurality, of slots in the bottom of the tower housing. Each slot extends at an angle to the radial direction and is connected to a feed device or supply conduit for supplying a mixture of sugar beet cossettes and juice into the lower end of the tower housing. A screening feed screw may be arranged to return sugar beet cossettes into the tower to thereby facilitate the juice extraction.

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: In a centrifuge, the centrifuge baskets may be conical or cylindrical, and the inner surface of the basket is provided with grooves or a mesh for forming flow-off paths. A screen is supported inside of a centrifugal drum, basket, or cage. The screen may rest on the inner surface of the drum, cage, or basket, or support members may be interposed between the screen, and the drum, basket or cage. In any event, passageways are provided between the screen and the rotating centrifugal member such as a drum, basket or cage. The radially outer surfaces of the screen are at least partially roughened, and corresponding contact areas of the supporting surface are also roughened, in order to increase the friction at said contact areas.

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: 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 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.