Apparatus and method for centrifuging

A centrifuge of the type used to separate a generally flowable mixture of components having differing specific gravities, at least one of said components being a heavy particulate contaminant entrained in said mixture, on a continuous process basis, comprising:

• separation chamber means rotatable about its longitudinal axis for separating said mixture into generally discrete flowing component layers;
• means for rotating said separation chamber means about said longitudinal axis to separate said mixture;
• inlet means for communicating said separation chamber means with a sustained flow of said mixture;
• outlet means for individually communicating said component layers with generally segregated outflow paths;
• and
• means operably associated with said chamber means and responsive to the rotational speed thereof for automatically purging said separation chamber means of dense particulate contaminant buildup in said separation chamber.

A centrifuge of the type used to separate a generally flowable mixture of oil water and particulate contaminants having differing specific gravities, said particulate contaminants being of a denser nature than said oil or water, on a continuous process basis, comprising:

• an axially open-ended drum means rotatable about its longitudinal axis for separating said mixture into generally discrete flowing component layers;
• means for rotating said axially open-ended drum means about said longitudinal axis to separate said mixture into its component elements;
• inlet and outlet end bell means for sealingly mating with said axially opened drum means near said axially open ends to form a fluid tight seal;
• inlet means for communicating said separation chamber means with a sustained flow of said mixture;
• outlet means for individually communicating said separated and generally flowable oil and water layers with segregated outflow paths;
• and
• flexible liner means for forming a generally fluid tight cavity between said drum and said flexible liner means to receive a pressurized and generally compressible fluid therein wherein said fluid permits the flexible liner means to increasingly expand with decreasing rotational speed of the axially open-ended drum means to thereby dislodge dense particulate contaminant buildup on said flexible liner means and into said flowing water layer for wash away and purging of the drum means.

A method for separating flowing mixtures of components having differing specific gravities into generally flowing and segregated components on a continuous process basis comprising the steps of:

• providing a flow of said mixture to a rotatable separation chamber to form a flowing mass therethrough;
• rotating said separation chamber about its axis to separate said flowing mass into discrete generally flowing layers of said components;
• and funneling said components out of said separation chamber and into segregated outflow paths;
• and
• automatically purging said separation chamber of component contaminant buildup in response to the rotational speed of said separation chamber.

A method for mechanically separating flowing oil water and particulate mixtures having differing specific gravities into generally flowing and segregated components on a continuous process basis comprising the steps of providing a flow of said mixture to a rotatable separation chamber to form a flowing mass therethrough;

• rotating said separation chamber about its axis to separate said flowing mass into discrete generally flowing layers of said components;
• and funneling said components out of said separation chamber and into segregated outflow paths;
• and automatically purging said separation chamber of particulate component contaminant buildup in response to the rotational speed of said separation chamber by providing flexible liner means operably associated with said separation chamber to form a fluid tight cavity;
• providing a charge of compressible fluid in said cavity;
• and sufficiently rotating said separation chamber to compress said fluid, reduce the volume of said cavity and separate said mixture into said component layers and reducing the rotational speed of said separation chamber to allow said fluid cavity and flexible liner to expand thereby dislodging said contaminants for wash away by the outer or water layer.

A centrifuge of the type used to separate a generally flowable mixture of oil water and particulate contaminants having different specific gravities, said particulate contaminants being of a denser nature than said oil or water, on a continuous process basis, comprising:

• an axially open ended drum means rotatable about its longitudinal axis for separating said mixture into generally discrete flowing component layers therewithin, said drum means having recess means near its axially open ends and adjacent the inner surface thereof;
• electric motor and belt means operatively associated with said drum means for rotating said axially open ended drum means about said longitudinal axis to separate said mixture into its component elements;
• inlet and outlet end bell means for sealingly mating with said axially open ended drum means near said axially open ends to form a fluid tight seal, said end bell means including ridge means for interacting with said recess means when said inlet and outlet end bell means are mated with said drum means;
• inlet means for communicating said separation chamber means with a sustained flow of said mixture including inlet end bell sleeve means having a corrosive resistant liner;
• outlet means for individually communicating said separated and generally flowable oil and water layers with segregated outflow paths including outer end bell sleeve means having a corrosive resistant liner for communicating said water layer with a first segregated outflow path and an outlet end plate having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the drum means and operably associated with the outlet end bell means and spaced a sufficient distance with respect thereto to form the beginning of said first or water flow path, said outlet end plate including integral inner sleeve means concentrically distributed about said longitudinal axis and extending through said outer sleeve means for aligning with the generally flowable oil layer;
• flexible liner means for forming a generally fluid tight cavity between said drum and said flexible liner means to receive a pressurized and generally compressible fluid therein wherein said fluid permits the flexible liner means to increasingly expand with decreasing rotational speed of the axially open ended drum means to thereby dislodge dense particulate contaminant buildup on said flexible liner means and into said flowing water layer for wash away and purging of the drum means, said flexible liner means including sealing ring means generally near its ends for insertion in said recess means of said axially open ended drum means for retention therein by said lip means of said end bell means when said cylindrical open ended drum means and end bell means are sealingly mated;
• inlet and outlet load bearing yoke assembly means for interaction with said inlet and outlet end bell sleeve means to support said axially open ended drum means for said rotation;
• and
• diffuser plate means having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of said axially open ended drum and operably associated with said inlet end bell means for rotation therewith about said axis for preventing said mixture from entering said outlet means before separation of the mixture into its component elements, said inlet diffuser plate means including ridge means for directing said mixture into said drum means in a direction having a vector component opposed to the direction of rotation of said drum means to prevent dense particulate buildup near said inlet and thereby prevent centrifuge clogging, and for acting as a turbine to capture some of the energy in said flowing mixture and to convert said energy into rotational energy of the axially open ended drum.