Centrifuge with feed tube adapter

A centrifuge comprising

• a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end,
• apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl,
• conveyor apparatus rotatably mounted in the bowl, the conveyor apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor apparatus, a plurality of support members extending between, and connected to the spaced-apart flight members, the support members spaced-apart around the plurality of spaced-apart flight members, a nose member with a target end within the plurality of support members, and a feed tube for feeding fluid having a fluid exit end within the conveyor apparatus, fluid exiting the fluid exit end flowable to the target end of the nose member,
• wherein the feed tube has a first feed tube portion with a fluid exit end and the conveyor apparatus further comprising
• adapter apparatus with a bore therethrough, the first feed tube portion passing through the bore, the first feed tube portion positioned so that fluid is flowable from the fluid exit end into the conveyor apparatus,
• the adapter apparatus having an inner chamber therein and an inner wall, the first feed tube portion having an outer surface with a space between said inner wall and said outer surface so that fluid from the fluid exit end of the first feed tube portion is flowable into the space and from the space into the inner chamber, and
• drain apparatus for draining fluid from said inner chamber.

A feed apparatus for feeding and accelerating fluid in a centrifuge, the feed apparatus comprising

• feed tube apparatus for feeding fluid to be treated into a centrifuge, the feed tube having a fluid exit end,
• a plurality of accelerating impellers for accelerating the fluid to be treated,
• the feed tube exit end adjacent the accelerating impellers, a nose member with a target end positioned within the accelerating impellers,
• the feed tube exit end positioned so that fluid is flowable therefrom to impact the target end of the nose member,
• the feed tube having a first feed tube portion with a fluid exit end,
• adapter apparatus with a bore therethrough, the first feed tube portion passing through the bore, the first feed tube portion positioned so that fluid is flowable from the fluid exit end,
• the adapter apparatus having an inner chamber therein and an inner wall, the first feed tube portion having an outer surface with a space between said inner wall and said outer surface so that fluid from the fluid exit end of the first feed tube portion is flowable into the space and from the space into the inner chamber, and
• drain apparatus for draining fluid from said inner chamber.

A centrifuge comprising

• a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end,
• apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl, and
• feed apparatus with feed tube apparatus for feeding fluid to be treated into a centrifuge, the feed tube having a fluid exit end, a plurality of accelerating impellers for accelerating the fluid to be treated, the feed tube exit end adjacent the accelerating impellers, a nose member with a target end positioned within the accelerating impellers, and the feed tube exit end positioned so that fluid is flowable therefrom to impact the target end of the nose member,
• the feed tube having a first feed tube portion with a fluid exit end,
• adapter apparatus with a bore therethrough, the first feed tube portion passing through the bore, the first feed tube portion positioned so that fluid is flowable from the fluid exit end,
• the adapter apparatus having an inner chamber therein and an inner wall, the first feed tube portion having an outer surface with a space between said inner wall and said outer surface so that fluid from the fluid exit end of the first feed tube portion is flowable into the space and from the space into the inner chamber, and
• drain apparatus for draining fluid from said inner chamber.

A method for separating components of a feed material, the method comprising

• introducing feed material into a centrifuge, the centrifuge comprising a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end, apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl, conveyor apparatus rotatably mounted in the bowl, the conveyor apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor apparatus, a plurality of support members extending between, and connected to the spaced-apart flight members, the support members spaced-apart around the plurality of spaced-apart flight members, a nose member with a target end within the plurality of support members, and a feed tube for feeding fluid having a fluid exit end within the conveyor apparatus, fluid exiting the fluid exit end flowable to the target end of the nose member, wherein the feed tube has a first feed tube portion with a fluid exit end and the conveyor apparatus further comprising adapter apparatus with a bore therethrough, the first feed tube portion passing through the bore, the first feed tube portion positioned so that fluid is flowable from the fluid exit end into the conveyor apparatus, the adapter apparatus having an inner chamber therein and an inner wall, the first feed tube portion having an outer surface with space between said inner wall and said outer surface so that fluid from the fluid exit end of the first feed tube portion is flowable into the space and from the space into the inner chamber, and drain apparatus for draining fluid from said inner chamber, and
• separating components of the material with the centrifuge.