Axial Movement Of One Portion Of Bowl Wall Relative To Another (e.g., For Discharging) Patents (Class 494/48)
  • Patent number: 10894259
    Abstract: A separator with a rotating system includes a drum with a vertical axis of rotation, which drum is rotatable during operation, and a drum inner chamber subdivided into a lower double-conical centrifuging chamber and an upper double-conical centrifuging chamber. Both centrifuging chambers have solids discharge openings that are openable and closable in the lower centrifuging chamber by a piston slide and in the upper centrifuging chamber by an auxiliary slide. The mass moment of inertia JQ of the rotating system about a transverse axis Q extending through the center of gravity S of the rotating system of the drum and which is perpendicular to the vertical axis of rotation D is greater than the mass moment of inertia JD of the rotating system about the vertical axis of rotation D of the rotating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: GEA MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Angelika Voltmann
  • Patent number: 8142342
    Abstract: A device for separating components of a composition according to density. The device includes a rotatable chamber and a plurality of buoys. The rotatable chamber has an axis of rotation. The plurality of buoys are positioned within the rotatable chamber and about the axis of rotation. The buoys are radially movable between an expanded position in which the buoys are at a first location relative to the axis of rotation and a contracted position in which the buoys are at a second location relative to the axis of rotation. The first location is further from the axis of rotation than the second location is. The buoys are movable in response to force generated during rotation of the rotatable chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventor: Jacy C. Hoeppner
  • Patent number: 7998052
    Abstract: A rotor having variable volumes adapted for collecting and centrifuging biological fluids including an impermeable flexible body having a cylindrical shape with stretchable vertical walls and semi pliant base and a rigid circular member seamlessly joined to the top of the flexible body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Jacques Chammas
  • Publication number: 20100261596
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter proposes an apparatus (42) and a method for transferring energy and/or a substance from a non-rotating means of an apparatus to a rotating device (43)—or vice versa—through the intermediary of a suitable means (1, 1?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: MILTENYI BIOTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Winfried Schimmelpfennig, Holger Lantow, Juergen Schulz, Elmar Niklas Neuschaefer
  • Publication number: 20090205161
    Abstract: A cyclone separator useable in a surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having first and second opposed ends and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends. A separated material collection chamber surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is communication therewith via a separated material outlet. The separated material collection chamber is spaced at least about 0.5 inches from the cyclone chamber. In addition, the separated material collection chamber is spaced from the bottom of the cyclone by at least about 0.5 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20090205160
    Abstract: A cyclone separator useable in a surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having first and second opposed ends and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends. A transition member is provided adjacent the end of the cyclone casing distal to the fluid inlet. The transition member has an inner surface the extends inwardly between the sidewall and the distal end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 7223346
    Abstract: A platelet collection device comprising a centrifugal spin-separator container with a cavity having a longitudinal inner surface. A float in the cavity has a base, a platelet collection surface above the base, an outer surface. The float density is below the density of erythrocytes and above the density of plasma. The platelet collection surface has a position on the float which places it below the level of platelets when the float is suspended in separated blood. During centrifugation, a layer of platelets or buffy coat collects closely adjacent the platelet collection surface. Platelets are then removed from the platelet collection surface. Movement of a float having a density greater than whole blood through the sedimenting erythrocytes releases entrapped platelets, increasing the platelet yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Hanuman LLC
    Inventors: Randel Dorian, Scott R. King, Richard Wood Storrs
  • Patent number: 6824506
    Abstract: A shaped diaphragm as a part of a fluid processing disposable set acting as a centrifuge system rotor. The fluid processing disposable set has a variable-volume chamber and a fluid port. The shaped diaphragm defines a wall of the variable-volume chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid port and is defined by a fixed wall and an elastic wall. The elastic wall is formed by the shaped diaphragm. The disposable set may also have a rotary seal coupled to the fluid port and fluidly coupled to the variable-volume chamber. The shaped diaphragm may be convoluted. The convolution may be a single fold and may have a plurality of folds located symmetrically about an axis. The shaped diaphragm may, alternatively, be essentially planar in an unstretched position while varying in thickness along a diaphragm dimension. Centrifuge rotors, systems, and methods for selective harvest of fluid constituents from a whole fluid are detailed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Haemonetics Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Lamphere, Thomas D. Headley
  • Patent number: 6511596
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus comprising a drum drivable in rotation having a conical jacket wall which is mounted on a fixedly arranged core; supply means for carrying the contaminated liquid into the interior of the drum; discharge means for discharging the heavy contaminants from the part of the drum in the proximity of the largest jacket diameter; an at least substantially cylindrical ceramic filter received in the core; and drainage means arranged in the fixed core for draining the cleaned liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Christianus J. Bogers
  • Patent number: 6398706
    Abstract: A centrifugal mud separator includes a base frame, a lower cap, a movable disk, a vane ring, an upper cap, a converging impeller, a soil retention speed reducer and a soil scraping means. Through high speed rotation, a centrifugal force and a stepless rotation speed difference will be generated in the mud that has been fed into the separator to result in the carried object (soil carried by water) suspended outwardly from low speed to high speed thereby to separate soil from water rapidly. By setting different speed variation to control speed difference between the soil and the vanes, the soil will hit the vanes at different times and result in different remaining water content in the soil according to desired specifications until reaching synchronous speed with the vanes. The soil will be spun and collected by the soil retention speed reducer. Water separated from the mud will be sucked into the impeller and discharged out through a water discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Min-Yen Huang
  • Patent number: 6248053
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and process for centrifugal separation of solid particles from a liquid. The device comprises a vessel rotatable around a vertical axis. The vessel has a separation zone with separation surface elements. The separation surface elements are formed by a plurality of adjacent, axially oriented tubular elements or channels open at both ends. The process is characterized in that the liquid is caused to flow with essentially laminar flow through a plurality of axially oriented, parallel channels and is subjected to a g-number, preferably less than 100, in order to centrifugally deposit the particles on the channel walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventors: Lars Ehnström, Hyosong Lee
  • Patent number: 6168715
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the oil treatment of sintered parts consisting of a drum (11, 111) which is mounted so that it can rotate about a vertical axis and which can be driven. It has a drum mantle (11′, 111′) and loading and unloading devices so that it can be loaded and unloaded axially, a floor that tightly closes the opening in the floor (19, 119) against the-drum mantle (11′, 111′), connections (28, 29, 30, 31/128, 129, 130, 131) leading into the drum (11, 111) for liquid and gaseous treatment media for carrying out the treatment phases, and outlets (35, 135) for letting treatment fluids out of the drum (11, 111). The task of the invention is to create a device that not only mechanizes the treatment process but also can be repeated many times, always in the same way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Turbo-Clean GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Schulze-Eyssing
  • Patent number: 6083147
    Abstract: A device and a process for centrifugal separation of solid particles from a liquid is disclosed. The device comprises a vessel rotatable around a vertical axis. The vessel has a separation zone with separation surface elements. The separation surface elements are formed by a plurality of adjacent, axially oriented tubular elements or channels open at both ends. The process is characterized in that the liquid is caused to flow with essentially laminar flow through a plurality of axially oriented, parallel channels and is subjected to a g-number, preferably less than 100, in order to centrifugally deposit the particles on the channel walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Centritech HB
    Inventors: Lars Ehnstrom, Hyosong Lee
  • Patent number: 6068587
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator for separating solid from liquid comprises a stand, a lower cover, a leaf-blade base, an upper cover, a fender wall, and a scrape assembly. The centrifugal force produced by high-speed rotation of the upper and the lower cover enables a plurality of steel beads to create a squeezing force that is used to balance the pressure exerted on the upper cover by the thrown residue B. By foregoing organization, control of the squeezed pressure as well as thrown quantity of the residue which escapes from the gap C between the upper and the lower cover is possible. Moreover, the separated water will be drained via a drainpipe in order to separate the slurry completely for time and labor cost saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Min-Yen Huang
  • Patent number: 6059971
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a process for thickening and conveying waste water sludges, especially with a centrifuge. Here, the centrifuge has at least one lysis device for the breaking down of cells of organisms contained in the waste water sludges. The lysis device of the device of the invention may take the form, for example, of a friction grinder (100; 200) with grinding discs (161, 162) or a milling cone, a shaped rasp, a roller crusher, a passing drum, a cutting unit with rows of rotary cutters or a pin grinder with rows of rotating pins. The device of the invention is capable of the lysis of cells, especially those of bacteria and protozoons so that their cell content discharges into the surrounding medium which then acts as a simulation reagent for the bacteria still present in the sludge, so that on the one hand the total quantity of sludge can be greatly reduced and on the other the bio-gas yield is considerably increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventors: Robert Vit, Michal Dohanyos, Jana Zabranska, Josef Kutil
  • Patent number: 6007472
    Abstract: A variable volume cell saver bowl to centrifuge blood for collection of red blood cells therefrom. The variable volume cell saver bowl is designed to vary the interior processing volume within the bowl to accommodate blood collections of various volumes in order to use the entire recovered volume of blood. The bowl includes generally an outer shell and an inner shell. The inner shell is disposed concentrically within the outer shell and defines a frusto-conical configuration similar to that of the outer shell first side wall. A piston head is secured to the inner shell lower end wall via at least one spacer. Rotation is imparted on the piston shaft or outer shell in order to rotate the bowl to create centrifugal force within the bowl. A linear displacement device is journalled to the distal end of the piston shaft in order to move the inner shell toward either the top or bottom end wall of the outer shell, thus reducing or increasing the interior processing volume within the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Schill Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schill, Joseph G. Schill
  • Patent number: 5944649
    Abstract: Method and device (21) for the supply of control liquid to a rotor of a centrifugal separator, which device (21) includes a cylinder (25), in which a movable wall element (26) is arranged, which axially delimits a storing chamber (29) in the cylinder (25). In the storing chamber (29) a predetermined volume of control liquid is stored. Control liquid is pressed out of the storing chamber (29) into the rotor during axial displacement of the wall element (26). Furthermore, the invention includes a centrifugal separator, which is provided with such a device (21). A portion of the control liquid in the storing chamber (29) is pressed upon displacement of the wall element (26) a first distance out through a first outlet passage (33) in the device with a high flow. The first outlet passage (33) is then closed when the wall element (26) has been displaced this distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Per Gunnar Karlsson
  • Patent number: 5728040
    Abstract: A variable volume cell saver bowl for to centrifuge blood for collection of red blood cells therefrom. The variable volume cell saver bowl is designed to vary the volume within the bowl to accommodate blood collections of various volumes in order to use the entire recovered volume of blood. The bowl includes generally an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell defines integrally formed first and second side walls, the first side wall having a frusto-conical configuration and the second side wall having a cylindrical configuration extending coaxially away from the larger diameter end of the first side wall. The inner shell is disposed concentrically within the outer shell and defines a frusto-conical configuration similar to that of the outer shell first side wall. A centrally disposed hollow core is carried within the inner shell such that the inner shell defines a substantially toroidal configuration having a trapezoidal cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Schill Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schill, Joseph G. Schill
  • Patent number: 5676835
    Abstract: A horizontal screen separator of the present invention includes a base having a housing mounted thereon which contains an horizontal screen basket for receiving product to be dried. The basket is rotatably and vibrationally driven to dry the product. The separator includes two motors, one to impart rotational motion to the basket and the other to impart vibrational motion to the basket. The basket is rotatably fixed to a shaft driven by the rotating motor. The vibratory motor drives a shaft, operative contact with the rotating shaft, having an eccentric mounted thereon. The vibratory motor drives the vibratoy shaft to induce vibration in the basket. The basket also includes a lip or extension formed from screen as a right cylinder to increase the drying time of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventors: Harry E. Derton, Dewey M. Cope
  • Patent number: 5566605
    Abstract: An extraction cell of the centrifugal type for a hot beverage preparation machine, including a grounds collection drum on which is mounted, in a sealed manner by a sealing structure, a cover provided with a liquid delivery orifice, and a filtration structure, wherein the filtration structure and the sealing structure are constituted by at least one deformable joint, or seal, interposed in a groove between the drum and cover, the joint having deformation properties, and being mounted to be compressed by an amount which is in a pre-established compression range with the aid of a compression controlling means, to insure that below a pre-established operating pressure existing in the cell, fluid tightness of the cell is maintained, and beyond that pressure, filtration of the grounds-liquid mixture occurs by deformation of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Erik Lebrun, Jean-Paul Astegno, Alain Macera, Alexandre Rouches, Jean-Michael Dulout
  • Patent number: 5487720
    Abstract: Upper and lower bowl members are mounted on a common linear cylindrical member and a relief valve provides controlled gas pressure within a centrifuge housing in a low speed decanting centrifuge for separating relatively large particulate material (e.g. yeast) from a feedstock. The centrifuge may be clamped to a container and a pressure differential is created between the centrifuge housing and the container to, in turn, force feedstock upwardly into the lower bowl of the centrifuge. A stack of frustonconical discs carry supernatant downwardly and inwardly for vertical transfer to a discharge chamber, Particulate matter is centrifugally discharged continuously between engageable surfaces of the lower bowl member and the upper bowl member. Hydraulic forces generated within the bowl are isolated from a thrust bearing supporting the bowl and transferring drive forces to an intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Occam Marine Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Dan R. Pace
  • Patent number: 5484383
    Abstract: An orbital separator for separating denser and lighter components of a mixture employing a separation container having an inlet end and an outlet end. An inlet tube is secured to the separation container inlet end and communicates between the exterior and interior of the separation container. In like manner, an outlet tube is secured to the separation container outlet end and communicates between the exterior and interior of the separation container. The inlet and outlet tubes are coaxial and each are rotationally supported to thereby rotationally support the separation container. Formed in the outlet end of the separation container and surrounding the outlet tube is an annular denser component discharge opening. Positioned externally of the separation container outlet end is a closure member that can be moved towards and away from the discharge opening to thereby vary the area of the discharge opening, so that thereby the performance characteristics of the separator can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Bardyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest C. Fitch, Jr., Ing T. Hong
  • Patent number: 5441475
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator has a separation chamber housing split into mating, unhinged clamshell sections. One clamshell section includes a pipe extending through the other clamshell section. The separation chamber rotates about the axis of the pipe. A spring secured to the frame of the separator surrounds the pipe, bearing against the second aforementioned clamshell section. This spring yieldingly opposes separation. The pipe and axis of rotation are oriented vertically. The pipe is divided into an upper inlet section and a lower outlet section by a flange or baffle. In alternative embodiments, the inlet pipe is fixed to different components, namely, one clamshell section, the other clamshell section, or to the frame of the machine. A slurry is introduced into the pipe inlet section, falls due to gravity, strikes the baffle, and exits the pipe through holes formed in the wall. The baffle redirects incoming slurry radially, so that when the separator is operated, centrifugal forces immediately act thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Haahjem North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steinar Storruste, Mark A. Preisser
  • Patent number: 5306423
    Abstract: A discontinuously operated filter centrifuge has its noninverting filter bag attached only to the filter bottom which is displaceable out of the filter drum, so that when the filter bag is displaced out of the filter drum, a clearance is provided between the filter bag and drum to enable inspection of the interior of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gunter Hultsch
  • 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: 5180358
    Abstract: Adjustment mechanisms for a low speed decanting centrifuge (10) for separating relatively large particulate material (e.g. yeast) from a feedstock are disclosed. The centrifuge is clamped to a container (12) and the centrifuge housing (18) is pressurized to, in turn, pressurize the container and force feedstock upwardly into the lower bowl (116) of the centrifuge. A stack of inverted frustoconical discs (278, 280, 282) carry supernatant downwardly and inwardly for vertical transfer to a discharge chamber (76). Particulate matter is centrifugally discharged continuously between engageable surfaces (146, 148) of the lower bowl member (116) and the upper bowl member (140). The invention provides for automatic or manual adjustment of the maximum gap available between the bowl members during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Occam Marine Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Dan R. Pace
  • Patent number: 4840612
    Abstract: In a centrifugal separator, the rotor of which has a separation chamber (7) with an inlet (16) for a liquid mixture, a constantly open central outlet (23) for a separated liquid and an intermittently openable peripheral outlet (13) for separated solids, a so-called displacement liquid is supplied to the separation chamber (7) before the peripheral outlet (13) is opened first at a certain flow rate and then at a substantially lesser flow rate. If displacement liquid is sensed in the separated liquid leaving the rotor through the central outlet (23), the peripheral outlet (13) is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Marine and Power Engineering AB
    Inventor: Anders Pallmar
  • Patent number: 4832851
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus and method is disclosed, the apparatus including a container tube for holding a sample to be filtered and a filtering vessel inserted therein. The filtering vessel carries a filter over its lower end and includes a chamber portion for receiving the filtrate. The method includes forcibly immersing the filtration vessel into the container tube, limiting the relative axial position therebetween, and subjecting the apparatus to centrifugation. The apparatus and method is useful for filtering dilute, concentrated and particle-laden samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.
    Inventors: William F. Bowers, Douglas B. Tiffany
  • Patent number: 4820256
    Abstract: In a previously known centrifugal separator the separation chamber (4) of the centrifuge rotor has an inlet (9) for a mixture of two liquids and relatively heavy solids, a central outlet (23a) for separated light liquid and a periphery outlet (12) for separated solids. A third outlet (35) from the separation chamber (4), situated radially between the first said two outlets (23a, 12), communicates with a recirculation channel, which extends partly through a stationary structure and through which liquid may be conducted from the separation chamber (4) through a sensing device (38) and back to said inlet (9) for mixture. The sensing device (38) is arranged to initiate opening of the periphery outlet (12), when a certain amount of heavy liquid has been separated in the separation chamber (4). A throttle is arranged for limiting of the flow through the recirculation channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Separation AB
    Inventor: Torbjorn Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 4813923
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator comprises a rotor having two separate coaxial rotor parts, means for axially interlocking these parts, and means arranged for discharging liquid from the separation chamber of the rotor so that the liquid pressure in the separation chamber varies. The separator is specifically characterized in that one of the rotor parts comprises two separate coaxial walls, an inner wall and an outer wall, that the inner wall is supported axially against the other rotor part, that the axially interlocking means connects the outer wall with the other rotor part, that a space is formed between the two walls, and that means are arranged to provide a force of substantially constant magnitude in the space between the walls during operation of the separator, which force acts to axially separate the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Separation AB
    Inventor: Bo Johansson
  • Patent number: 4781670
    Abstract: A centrifuge drum has a chamber that can accommodate fluid formed by a concentric component inserted into the drum. The concentric component has a sealing ring accommodated in an annular groove at its outer diameter. The base of the annular groove can be supplied with control medium through a channel and emptied again through an outlet device. When the channel is full, the sealing ring is forced against a cylindrical surface and seals off an annular gap. When the channel is empty, the pressure of the fluid in the chamber forces the sealing ring in, releasing the annular gap for the chamber to empty through. In addition to acting as a seal, the sealing ring also acts as a valve, and allows a very simple design for all types of centrifuge-drum chambers that must be filled and emptied again during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventor: Werner Kohlstette
  • Patent number: 4468215
    Abstract: Centrifuge and in particular a tubular conifuge for the purification of liquids and for the concentration of sludge, the centrifuge consists of two drum halves and one axially displaceable tube or shell connecting the drum halves, with axial introduction of the material to be treated. At least part of one of the drum halves is axially displaceable during the run of the centrifuge for the purpose of reducing the inner drum space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Inventor: Otto Wimmer