Device for regulating the concentration of cream in a centrifuge for separating milk

• US 4,781,208 A
• Filed: 07/29/1987
• Issued: 11/01/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG (GEA Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Zettier, Karl-Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/079,310
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 137/110, 137/487.5, 137/492.5, 137/488, 251/30.01, 251/25, 251/26
• US Class Current: 137/110
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 11/10 Separating milk from cream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2562 Dividing and recombining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

The device has one valve body that can be set at a constant minimum cross-section and another valve body that is not activated until the pressure in a supply connection becomes too high. The valve bodies are accommodated in separate and parallel-streamed valve housings. Since the design allows free selection of the cross-section in the valve housings, extremely wide fluctuations in the concentration of cream can be mastered in accordance with controls technology by means of the second valve body.

Claims

1. In a device for regulating the concentration of cream in a centrifuge for separating milk, having an inlet, an outlet, choke means between the inlet and outlet and including a manually activatable first valve body for setting the choke at a constant minimum cross-section, and a second valve body for expanding the cross section when a prescribed outflow pressure is exceeded, the improvement wherein the choke means includes one seat associated with the first valve body and another seat associated with the second valve body, wherein the valve bodies and the seats associated with them are accommodated in separate housings and further comprising a contact manometer with two switching contacts located at the inlet upstream of both valve housings and means for activating the second valve body only after the second switching contact is exceeded, wherein the activating means comprises a source of compressed air and a remotely controlled valve connecting the second valve body housing and the source of compressed air and a pressure converter controlled by the pressure in the device and positioned between the remotely controlled valve and the second valve body.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein the valve housings are streamed in parallel between the inlet and outlet.