Abstract: A magnetic bearing assembly for a rotary machine having a rotor shaft, comprising a stator magnetic circuit secured to a stationary support element and comprising at least one body of ferromagnetic material and at least one coil, both being fitted in a protective annular housing leaving uncovered a surface of revolution of said ferromagnetic body and a surface of revolution of said one coil, the magnetic bearing assembly comprising an annular thrust collar secured to the rotor shaft and radially extending towards the stator magnetic circuit by a radial portion, said radial portion facing the uncovered surfaces of said ferromagnetic body and said one coil. The annular thrust collar comprises at least one flow channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating components and a method of separating components using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a main chamber which contains a sample that is separated into a plurality of layers by a centrifugal force; a component separating chamber which is connected to the main chamber, and receives a specific layer including specific components among the plurality of layers; a first channel which connects the component separating chamber to the main chamber; and a first channel valve which is disposed in the first channel to control a liquid flowing through the first channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating components and a method of separating components using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a main chamber which contains a sample that is separated into a plurality of layers by a centrifugal force; a component separating chamber which is connected to the main chamber, and receives a specific layer including specific components among the plurality of layers; a first channel which connects the component separating chamber to the main chamber; and a first channel valve which is disposed in the first channel to control a liquid flowing through the first channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating joined components, purifying liquid, promoting interaction between two or more components and improving combustion. The apparatus has a housing, a rotor inside of the housing, a plurality of protrusions extending from the rotor, a shaft coupled with the rotor and a prime mover for rotating the shaft. Fluid within the housing cavitates as the rotor rotates and the protrusions move through the fluid. Cavitation causes joined components within the fluid to separate, kills undesirable organisms within the fluid, promotes interaction of components within the fluid and improves combustion of a liquid fuel. The fluid and components may also be subjected to abrasion and centrifugal and impact forces for separating the components, purifying the fluid, promoting interaction of the components and improving combustion.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating components and a method of separating components using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a main chamber which contains a sample that is separated into a plurality of layers by a centrifugal force; a component separating chamber which is connected to the main chamber, and receives a specific layer including specific components among the plurality of layers; a first channel which connects the component separating chamber to the main chamber; and a first channel valve which is disposed in the first channel to control a liquid flowing through the first channel.

Abstract: A cyclone used in a separator apparatus includes a body and a vortex finder. The body includes an inlet passageway, a cylindrical passageway connected to the inlet passageway, and a conical passageway connected to the cylindrical passageway. The cylindrical passageway has an upper end through which first particles in a fluid are exhausted, and a lower end. The conical passageway has an upper end connected to the lower end of the cylindrical passageway, and an opened lower end through which second particles having a specific gravity greater than that of the first particle are exhausted. The vortex finder is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical passageway. A first exhaust passageway is vertically formed in the vortex finder so that the first particles spirally ascend through the first exhaust passageway from the cylindrical passageway.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating components and a method of separating components using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a main chamber which contains a sample that is separated into a plurality of layers by a centrifugal force; a component separating chamber which is connected to the main chamber, and receives a specific layer including specific components among the plurality of layers; a first channel which connects the component separating chamber to the main chamber; and a first channel valve which is disposed in the first channel to control a liquid flowing through the first channel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an equipment for combining in one single apparatus, the functions for filtering, decontaminating, and thickening paper pulp from used paper, while providing the complementary function of clarifying the filtrates. The apparatus (1) rotates at high speed. The paper pulp is introduced through the center of the apparatus (2) and driven at its angular speed. The pulp is then brought along a grate (6) with small size holes for separating the fibers from the greater part of the water. The thickened pulp is evacuated through extraction nozzles (8). The water is clarified in the clarification zone (12) and recycled or eliminated depending on uses. More complete embodiments of the apparatus include the functions of fractionating, de-inking and purifying the pulp with slots or holes.

Abstract: A centrifugal extractor of non-contact journaled construction is provided in which, even under the environments of corrosive gase and mist-like liquid such as nitric acid mist generated in the reprocessing of a spent nuclear fuel, no problem in corrosion or deterioration of parts occurs and high reliability is obtained, and operation is enabled for a long period of time free from maintenance. A rotor 12 housed in a rotor housing 10 is journaled by a main shaft 14 and rotated and driven by a motor 16. The main shaft is surrounded by a drive-portion housing 30, and has a thrust magnetic disk 36 on the upper end and radial magnetic disks 46, 48 and a motor-rotor portion 54 in the circumference thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of reclaiming and recycling the polymer-contaminated solvent that was used in the developing process for the preparation of relief plates crosslinked by photopolymerization. The solvent of the present system contains alkyl esters, alone or in combination with co-solvents and/or non-solvents, as washout solvents for the unpolymerized material in the printing plates to develop a relief image and a method for developing printing plates. The process comprises transferring the contaminated solvent, from a plate processor or a dirty holding tank, to a centrifuge, and centrifuging the contaminated solvent to remove the polymer. The reclaimed solvent can be transfer directly back to the plate processor or to a clean holding tank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing liquids from biological waste by the employment of centrifugal force to separate the liquid from the biological waste particulate and into a container separate from a biological waste container, permitting the dried biological waste and removed liquid to be separately and conveniently disposed of. Preferably, a rotatable drum can be rotatably supported within an outer liquid-tight drum, and a disposable porous container, such as a bag made of porous material, can be placed within the rotatable foraminous drum. Biological waste can be placed within the porous, disposable container within the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum can be rotated at a rate of rotation sufficient to substantially transfer unabsorbed liquid from the biological waste through the disposable porous container and the openings in the foraminous inner drum to the outer liquid-tight collection drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing liquids from biological waste by the employment of centrifugal force to separate the liquid from the biological waste particulate and into a container separate from a biological waste container, permitting the dried biological waste and removed liquid to be separately and conveniently disposed of. Preferably, a rotatable drum can be rotatably supported within an outer liquid-tight drum, and a disposable porous container, such as a bag made of porous material, can be placed within the rotatable foraminous drum. Biological waste can be placed within the porous, disposable container within the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum can be rotated at a rate of rotation sufficient to substantially transfer unabsorbed liquid from the biological waste through the disposable porous container and the openings in the foraminous inner drum to the outer liquid-tight collection drum. The collected liquids may be disposed of by pumping them into a sanitary sewer.

Abstract: A method for isolating and enriching rare cells, including fetal nucleated erythrocytes from a peripheral blood sample is described. The method includes two centrifugation steps, the first a bulk separation step to enrich erythrocytes from other blood components. The second centrifugation comprises a colloidal density gradient medium dispersed in a hypertonic meltable gel. In one aspect of the invention, maternal erythrocytes may be hemolyzed prior to the second density gradient centrifugation to provide additional enrichment for fetal nucleated erythrocytes.

Abstract: A decanting vessel for separation of liquid phases of different densities. The decanter vessel is provided with several conically-shaped separation levels disposed one on top of the other and provided with openings connecting the passages, alternately at the outer periphery and at the center of the separation levels. The liquid phases are thereby caused to flow from one passage to the next, consecutively, in a generally serpentine path. Pipes are disposed in the uppermost portion of each of the separation levels to carry the lighter phase to the top of the vessel.

Abstract: A method of separating lighter and heavier particles in a solids mixture includes entraining the mixture in a liquid of a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the lighter and heavier particles, and feeding the liquid through a first opening into one end of a rotating vessel. The vessel is designed so that the liquid attains a dynamic equilibrium at which an annular, centrifugally-induced, substantially static, revolving volume of the liquid of stable internal surface is confined by the vessel about the axis of rotation, while further liquid flows on within the stable internal surface. Heavier particles are centrifugally directed into the annular volume, while lighter particles remain entrained in on-flowing liquid which flows out a second opening in the other end of the vessel.

Abstract: A method for selective separation of fine metal particles from a mixture of fine particles, including the rotating of a bowl to generate a centrifugal force, building a wall of mercury media inside the bowl so that the outer surface of the mercury contacts the inner surface of the bowl when the bowl is rotating, and injecting a slurry comprising a mixture of water and fine particles of metal and sand, clay and the like, to propel the slurry against the mercury wall, so that the heavier metal particles as compared with the mercury contact, penetrate and pass through the mercury, and the particles lighter than the mercury are blocked from entry into the mercury and discharged from the bowl with the water. The injecting of additional slurry into the bowl increases the metal particle penetration to cause the formation of a layer of metal particles between the mercury and the inner surface of the bowl.

Abstract: Vortex apparatus for the continuous production of a precipitate by reacting together at least two reactants wherein it comprises a rotary bowl, having a vertical axis a fixed cylinder arranged coaxially within the bowl in order to define with the latter an annular raising chamber, thus providing a fluid flow connection with a reaction chamber defined within the fixed cylinder, reactant inlet pipes issuing into the upper part of the reaction chamber in the vicinity of the axis of the bowl, at least one weir fixed to the rotary bowl at the upper end of the raising chamber and a turbine fixed to the rotary bowl in the lower part of the reaction chamber, so as to produce a vortex in the latter and ensure the raising of part of the precipitate into the raising chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of extracting gold from placer gravel. Whereas conventional techniques are relatively effective in the processing of coarse gold particles, i.e. plus ten mesh tyler, the present invention finds application in recovery of gold particles of all sizes from submicroscopic through coarse nuggets larger than ten mesh tyler. A rotating sluice box uses centrifugal force to enhance the sluicing process, and a centrifugal amalgamator then extracts gold from the concentrate thus produced, under centrifugal force. Gold is removed from the mercury by conventional techniques.

Abstract: A centrifuge is disclosed for prefoaming liquid polyurethane-foam generating reactants prior to introducing the reactants into a continuous slab mold. A preferred embodiment of the invention is adapted to produce continuously slabs of polyurethane foam of substantially rectangular cross section.