Centrifuge with open conveyor and methods of use
First Claim
1. A conveyor for a centrifuge, the centrifuge having a beach area, the conveyor having a length and comprisinga plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, 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, the plurality of spaced-apart flight members and the plurality of spaced-apart support members defining an interior of the conveyor, a hollow feed tube with a fluid exit end within the conveyor through which fluid to be treated enters a space within the conveyor, the spaced-apart flight members and plurality of support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated is flowable out from within the conveyor, the conveyor having a distal end smaller in diameter than an entry end at which fluid enters the conveyor, and a plurality of the plurality of open areas at the distal end, the distal end of the conveyor positionable adjacent the beach area of the centrifuge, a plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers within the distal end of the conveyor for accelerating the fluid to be treated, each impeller of the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers adjacent and spanning multiple opening areas of the plurality of open areas so that fluid accelerated by the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers is flowable from the impellers out through the multiple open areas to the beach area of the centrifuge.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conveyor for a centrifuge and a centrifuge with such a conveyor, the conveyor having a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along its length, a plurality of support members extending between, and connected to the flight members, the support members spaced-apart around the flight members, the members and support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated by the centrifuge is flowable from within the conveyor out into the bowl. In one aspect, a fluid velocity decreasing chamber is provided between an exit tube end and impeller apparatus for radially accelerating the fluid with the conveyor. In certain aspects the open “caged” conveyor structures diffuses fluid flow from the conveyor so that a dispersed unfocused flow of fluid exits the conveyor into the bowl, and, in one particular aspect with feed from within the conveyor to space adjacent a beach area of the bowl.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A conveyor for a centrifuge, the centrifuge having a beach area, the conveyor having a length and comprising
a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, 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, the plurality of spaced-apart flight members and the plurality of spaced-apart support members defining an interior of the conveyor, a hollow feed tube with a fluid exit end within the conveyor through which fluid to be treated enters a space within the conveyor, the spaced-apart flight members and plurality of support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated is flowable out from within the conveyor, the conveyor having a distal end smaller in diameter than an entry end at which fluid enters the conveyor, and a plurality of the plurality of open areas at the distal end, the distal end of the conveyor positionable adjacent the beach area of the centrifuge, a plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers within the distal end of the conveyor for accelerating the fluid to be treated, each impeller of the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers adjacent and spanning multiple opening areas of the plurality of open areas so that fluid accelerated by the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers is flowable from the impellers out through the multiple open areas to the beach area of the centrifuge.
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11. A centrifuge comprising
a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end and a beach area, apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl, a conveyor rotatably, mounted in the bowl, the conveyor having a length and comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, 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, the plurality of spaced-apart flight members and the plurality of spaced-apart support members defining an interior of the conveyor, a hollow feed tube with a fluid exit end within the conveyor through which fluid to be treated enters a space within the conveyor, the spaced-apart flight members and plurality of support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated is flowable out from within the conveyor into the bowl, the conveyor having a distal end smaller in diameter than an entry end at which fluid enters the conveyor, and a plurality of the plurality of open areas at the distal end, the distal end of the conveyor adjacent the beach area of the bowl, a plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers within the distal end of the conveyor for accelerating the fluid to be treated, each impeller of the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers adjacent and spanning multiple opening areas of the plurality of open areas so that fluid accelerated by the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers is flowable from the impellers out through the multiple open areas to the beach area, and apparatus for rotating the conveyor.
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24. 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 and a beach area, apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl, a conveyor rotatably mounted in the bowl, the conveyor having a length and comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, 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, the plurality of spaced-apart flight members and the plurality of spaced-apart support members defining an interior of the conveyor, a hollow feed tube with a fluid exit end within the conveyor through which fluid to be treated enters a space within the conveyor, the spaced-apart flight members and plurality of support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated is flowable out from within the conveyor into the bowl, the conveyor having a distal end smaller in diameter than an entry end at which fluid enters the conveyor, and a plurality of the plurality of open areas at the distal end, the distal end of the conveyor positionable adjacent the beach area of the centrifuge, a plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers within the distal end of the conveyor for accelerating the fluid to be treated, each impeller of the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers adjacent and spanning multiple opening areas of the plurality of open areas so that fluid accelerated by the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers is flowable from the impellers out through the multiple open areas to the bench area, apparatus for rotating the conveyor, rotating the bowl and the centrifuge to separate components of the feed material within the centrifuge, and discharging from the bowl separated components of the feed material.
Specification