Europa,schesP_ MM M II M M M IN I MM I M M Ml

J European Patent Office

CO Publication number: 0 471 768 B1
„ des brevets
Office europeen

© EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

© Date of publication of patent specification: 30.11.94 © Int. CI.5: B04B 3/00

© Application number: 90908078.0

@ Date of filing: 29.03.90

© International application number:

PCT/US90/01651

© International publication number:

WO 90/11833 (18.10.90 90/24)

&) CONTINUOUS FILTER CENTRIFUGE.

® Priority: 13.04.89 US 337417 © Proprietor: GOTLIEB, Itzhak

5 Balsam Court
@ Date of publication of application: Roseland, NJ 07068 (US)
26.02.92 Bulletin 92/09
Proprietor: ZIDON, Aharon
© Publication of the grant of the patent: 27 Hamaalot Street
30.11.94 Bulletin 94/48 Glvatalm 53100 (IL)

© Designated Contracting States: @ Inventor: GOTLIEB, Itzhak

AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB IT LI LU NL SE 5 Balsam Court
Roseland, NJ 07068 (US)
© References cited: Inventor: ZIDON, Aharon
FR-A- 2 156 614 27 Hamaalot Street
FR-A- 2 178 241 Glvatalm 53100 (IL)
US-A- 2 718 309

Patent Abstracts of Japan, volume 9, no. 74 © Representative: KUHNEN, WACKER & PART-
(C-273)(1797), 3 April 1985, & JP, A, 59209666 NER
(OOSAKA HATSUDENKI K.J.) 28 November Alois-Steinecker-Strasse 22
1984 D-85354 Freising (DE)
00
00
CO

Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person
may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition
shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee
has been paid (Art. 99(1) European patent convention).
Rank Xerox (UK) Business Services
(3. 10/3.09/3.3.3)
 1 EP 0 471 768 B1
Description
The present invention is concerned with a cen-
trifugally driven filtration machine with continuous
solids discharge, wherein the filtering surface is
provided as a plurality of spaced filter elements
within a centrifugal force field.
The centrifugally driven filters are commonly
used in the chemical, environmental and other in-
dustries for separating slurries into solid and liquid
fractions. A typical centrifugal filter design is the
so-called basket centrifuge, consisting of a perfo-
rated cylindrical bowl rotating about a vertical shaft.
The inside surface of the bowl is lined with a
replaceable filter cloth upon which the solids are
retained, while the liquid is driven through the cloth
by the centrifugal force. The operation is batch-
wise, i.e., the slurry feed must be periodically inter-
rupted to allow for removal of the solids accu-
mulated on the filter cloth by means of a scraping
knife.
The performance of basket centrifuges has
several drawbacks related to its batchwise opera-
tion, and to the limitations of the scraping knife
action, which tends to compress a residual solids
layer upon the filter cloth and thereby reduces its
permeability.
A different approach to removing the solids
from the filter cloth is to utilize the centrifugal force
itself. For example, by reversing the filter cloth so
the side originally facing the center of rotation
during the filtration subsequently faces outwardly,
i.e., in the direction away from the center. For
example, an apparatus has been proposed in
U.S. Patent 3,875,064 wherein a continuous filter
cloth is mounted on a continuous moving belt trav-
eling on a C- shaped assembly installed at the
circumference of the centrifuge rotor.
A continuous discharge centrifuge for separat-
ing slurry into a solid and liquid portion, compris-
a 40
ing a housing, a rotor mounted in said housing to
spin at a predetermined rate, a spaced plurality of
filter means peripherally mounted on said rotor for
separating said liquid portion by admitting it under
centrifugal force and a spaced plurality of passage
means mounted between adjacent pairs of said
filter means for engaging the outside of said filter
means and conducting said solid portion upon said
filter means between it and said passage means is
disclosed in Saxe, US Patent 2,718,309.
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments
demonstrating features and advantages of the
present invention, there is provided a continuous
discharge centrifuge. This centrifuge can separate
a slurry into a solid and liquid portion. The cen-
trifuge has a housing and a rotor mounted in the
housing to spin at a predetermined rate. The cen-
trifuge has a spaced plurality of filter means pe-
2
ripherally mounted on the rotor for separating the
liquid portion by admitting it under centrifugal
force. Also included is a spaced plurality of pas-
sage means mounted between adjacent pairs of
5 the filter means. The passage means can engage
the outside of filter means and conduct the solid
portion upon the filters between it and the passage
means.
A related method of the same invention em-
io ploys a cylindrically disposed, contiguous plurality
of alternating filters and columns for continuously
separating a slurry into a solid and liquid portion.
The method includes the step of revolving the
filters and the columns at a predetermined rate.
75 Another step is injecting the slurry radially outward
onto the filters. The method also includes the step
of engaging the outside of the filters with the col-
umns to conduct the solid portion upon the filter
between it and the passage columns.
20 Apparatus according the principles of the fore-
going invention can employ a filtering surface as a
plurality of cylindrical elements installed within a
centrifugal rotor assembly. Preferably the filters
and passage columns can be turned about their
25 own central axes. This allows solid fractions held
on the filter to pass between the columns and
filters, thereby reversing the effect of centrifugal
force on the solids.
In a preferred embodiment the centrifugal rotor
30 assembly includes primarily a main shaft, the cylin-
drical filter elements, and rotor plates or brackets
for holding the filter elements in position with their
axes parallel to the main shaft.
In operation, the rotor assembly is rotated
35 about the main shaft at high speeds typical to
centrifugal filters. Simultaneously, the filter ele-
ments are rotated about their respective axes at a
slow speed (relative to the rotor speed) which may
be adjusted to suit the particular application, i.e., to
the properties of the slurry and the filtration perfor-
mance requirements.
The feed slurry is introduced into the rotor
assembly at the space between the main shaft and
the filter elements. At any time during the opera-
45 tion, filtration takes place upon the side of the filter
elements which faces the center of the rotor, and
solids are discharged from the side of the filter
elements which is facing away from the center, by
the action of the centrifugal force.
50 The filter elements of the invention preferably
have perforated surfaces upon which filter cloths of
various porosity may be overlaid so as to provide
for different filtration conditions. Continuous steady-
state operation is provided by maintaining a con-
55 stant feed rate and a constant speed of rotation of
the filter elements about their axes.
The spaces between adjacent filter elements
are sealed against leakage of the slurry by sealing
2
 3 EP 0 471 768 B1
rollers which are pressed against the filter ele-
ments.
Continuous collection of the filtered solids is
provided by enclosing the rotor assembly within a
stationary casing which is designed to direct the
flow of solids to an outlet conveyor. The filtered
liquid collected within each of the filter elements, is
drained into a common stationary trough equipped
with a drain pipe leading out of the casing.
The above brief description as well as other
objects features and advantages of the present
invention will be more fully appreciated by refer-
ence to the following detailed description of pres-
ently preferred but nonetheless illustrative and non-
limiting embodiments in accordance with the
present invention when taken in conjunction with
accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken
along the main shaft of a centrifuge, according
to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the centrifuge
along line ll-ll of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a typical
one of the filter elements of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the filter
element of Fig. 3 taken along line IV-IV;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a typical
one of the sealing rollers of Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing
roller of Fig. 5, taken along line VI-VI; and
Fig. 7 shows a detail of the filter elements and
sealing rollers of Fig. 2 showing their coopera-
tion.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the general arrangement
of a preferred rotor assembly according to the
present invention. The main components associ-
ated with this exemplary rotor assembly are main
shaft 1, upper and lower rotor plates 2 and 3,
respectively, filter elements 4, and sealing rollers 8.
Shaft 1 is journal in housing 5 for spinning at
relatively high speeds. Housing 5 is shown having
a cylindrical wall from which a frustro-conical hop-
per depends.
Main shaft 1 is driven by a suitable motor
driver M and gear (not shown) as required for
providing the rotation of the rotor assembly. For
example, shaft 1 can have a spur gear mounted
around it at its upper end. Drive means M can
operate either directly or through a gear train, al-
though other methods of spinning shaft 1 will work
as well. Shaft 1 is constructed as a pipe, or pro-
vided with an internal channel designed to conduct
a feed slurry into the internal space of the rotor
assembly, i.e., the space between the shaft 1 and
the filter elements 4. An appropriate slurry feeder,
or diffuser, may be provided (not shown) to facili-
tate even distribution of the slurry over the filtering
surface. The diffuser may include a screen or baf-
4
fles positioned to evenly distribute slurry.
The upper and lower rotor plates 2 and 3,
respectively, are circular and rigidly fixed to shaft 1
in parallel planes which are perpendicular to shaft
5 1. Plates 2 and 3 may be constructed of solid
metal plates, or as wheels with radial spokes con-
nected to the shaft. The rims of the rotor plates
may have evenly distributed notches 18 (Fig. 7)
providing for assembly and disassembly of the
io filter elements 4 and their associated bearings.
Filter elements 4 are foraminous tubes covered
with porous filtering sleeves. Filter elements 4 are
arranged along the circumference of the rotor
plates 2 and 3, and attached to the rotor plates by
is means of suitable bearings (not shown) which are
mounted in the rotor plates to allow rotation of the
filter elements 4 about their axes with minimal
friction. The bearings for filter elements 4 are
equipped with suitable gaskets or mechanical seals
20 to prevent slurry particles or fluids from entering
and damaging the bearings.
The rotor assembly may include additional
components (not shown) such as steady bearings,
slurry retaining barriers or weirs, and stiffening rods
25 or rings as required for mechanical stability and
integrity.
Filter elements 4 are evenly spaced along the
circumference of the rotor plates, equidistant from
the main shaft 1. As illustrated, filter elements 4 are
30 driven by drive means M through a gear train G
which may include differential gearing or planetary
gearing designed to slowly rotate filter elements 4
directly and passage columns 8 indirectly (although
in some embodiments the indirect and direct drive
35 may be reversed). Equal spacing is provided be-
tween adjacent filter elements 4, through which the
filtered solids are discharged. These spaces are
sealed against leakage of slurry by passage col-
umns shown herein as sealing rollers 8, which fit in
40 the spaces as shown in Figs. 2 and 7.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the construction of
the sealing rollers 8, and the manner by which they
are assembled. Sealing roller 8 is constructed as a
straight rod or pipe, whose ends are attached to
45 the upper and lower rotor plates 2 and 3, respec-
tively, by means of suitable bearings (not shown).
The bearings of a sealing roller 8 are fixed in the
rotor plates, are designed to allow rotation of the
sealing rollers 8 about their axes with minimal
50 friction and are equipped with suitable gaskets or
mechanical seals to prevent penetration of liquids
or solid particles which may damage the bearings.
Each sealing roller 8 is provided with sleeve-like
overlay 13, made of resilient, splined material such
55 as rubber or latex, covering substantially the length
between the rotor plates. When installed, each
sealing roller 8 is pressed against its two adjacent
filter elements 4.
3
 5 EP 0 471 768 B1
The purpose of the sealing roller overlay 13 is
to provide a flexible seal which prevents leakage of
slurry while allowing the passage of the filtered
solids which are deposited upon the filter surfaces.
The flexible layer 13 on the sealing rollers 8 may
be shaped with longitudinal ridges 14 to facilitate
the conveying of the filtered solids through the
spaces between adjacent filter elements.
The construction of the filter elements 4 is
illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The main part of the
filter element is constructed as a perforated pipe or
hollow cylinder whose length is substantially equal
to the distance between rotor plates 2 and 3. A
replaceable filter cloth 6, constructed as a tight-
fitting sleeve, is fitted upon this section of the filter
element. The provision of replaceable filter cloths
of various materials and porosities is desirable for
adjusting the filter operation to different types of
slurries and performance requirements.
The bottom end of the straight cylinder is con-
nected to an eductor tube 12. The tube 12 serves
both as a shaft of the filter element, and as a drain
pipe for the filtered liquid.
The pipe 12 extends through the bearing pro-
vided in the lower rotor plate to a stationary trough
9 (Fig. 1) located below it. Trough 9 is an open
container having an annular length.
The top end of the filter element 4 has an
extension 10 which is similar to the tube 12 and
likewise serves as a shaft of the filter element. The
extension 10 extends through the bearing (not
shown) provided in the upper rotor plate, then
further to a gear or other common type of drive
mechanism (not shown) which imparts rotary mo-
tion to the filter element.
A modification of the structure of the filter
element 4 is to construct the entire length of the
filter element, including parts 10 and 12, as a
straight cylinder of substantially equal diameter.
Accordingly, the extensions above and below the
main (perforated) section of the cylinder are pro-
vided without perforations.
The interior of filter element 4 is divided into
longitudinal sectors by partition vanes 17. The par-
titions 17 intersect at the axis of the filter element
and extend through its entire length. The partition
vanes 17 serve to collect the incoming filtered
liquid and to direct its flow towards the drain outlet
12.
A stationary trough 9 is provided below the
rotor assembly. The trough is constructed as an
annular trough installed so that the drain pipes 12
from all the filter elements extend into the trough. A
drain pipe 15 is provided to conduct the filtered
liquid out of the trough and the centrifuge housing
5.
In operation, the slurry is fed continuously into
the conduit within shaft 1. The slurry then flows, by
6
gravity or under pressure, through an opening 19
provided in the shaft and distributed over the filter
surfaces by means of a slurry diffuser (not shown).
The slurry is deposited on the filter surface, i.e.,
5 the side of the filter elements 4 facing shaft 1, by
the centrifugal force created by the rotation of the
rotor assembly. The slurry is prevented from leak-
ing through the spaces between filter elements 4
by the sealing rollers 8 which are pressed against
io the filter elements. The centrifugal force drives the
slurry liquid through the filter cloth 6 (Fig. 3), the
perforated wall of the filter elements 4, and into the
sectored spaces between the vanes 17 within the
filter elements 4. The filtered liquid is then guided
is downwards by the partitions 7 to drain into the
trough 9 (Fig. 1) via the eductor tubes 12.
Simultaneously, filter elements 4 are rotating at
slow speed about their axes. The rotation of the
filters is provided by gearing G or other type of
20 drive mechanism which is commonly used in dif-
ferential motion machines. In the preferred embodi-
ment of the present invention, all filter elements 4
are rotated at the same speed and orientation. The
speed of rotation may be adjusted to suit the
25 filtration performance requirements.
As the filter element is rotated, the layer of
filtered solids deposited upon the filter cloth is
pressed between filter elements 4 and the adjacent
sealing roller 8. Rollers 8 are free to rotate and are
30 rotated by filter elements 4. The ridges 14 provided
on the surface of sealing rollers 8 assist in pushing
the filtered solids past the maximum compression
point between filter element 4 and sealing rollers 8,
and into the free space between the adjacent filter
35 elements. Upon further rotation, the filtered solids
orientation changes towards the outside, i.e., away
from the center, at which point they are dislodged
from the filter by the centrifugal force.
Following their discharge from the filter sur-
40 face, the movement of the filtered solids within the
free space between the rotor assembly and the
housing 5 is controlled by gravity and restrained by
the centrifuge casing 5. In general, the solids are
expected to drop down and exit the casing via
45 frustro-conical hopper 16 having a bottom opening
27 which leads to a conveyor (not shown).
In cases where the solids tend to adhere to the
casing wall, their downward motion may be as-
sisted by a scraping knife or air stream (not
50 shown). In some cases, it may be necessary to
connect the bottom opening 27 by a flange to an
air-tight conveyor in order to maintain the filter
operation under elevated pressure.
55 Claims
1. A continuous discharge centrifuge for separat-
ing a slurry into a solid and liquid portion,
4
 7 EP 0 471 768 B1
comprising:
a housing (5);
a rotor (20) mounted in said housing (5) to spin
at a predetermined rate;
a spaced plurality of rotatable filter means (4)
peripherally mounted on said rotor (20)
for separating said liquid portion by admitting it
under centrifugal force; and
a spaced plurality of sealing rollers mounted
(8) between adjacent pairs of said filter means
for engaging the outside of said filter means
and conducting said solid portion upon said
filter means between it and said sealing rollers,
characterized thereby that each of said sealing
rollers (8) is rotatably mounted on said rotor
(20).
2. A continuous discharge centrifuge according to
Claim 1,
wherein said centrifuge further comprising:
drive means for turning said filter means (4)
and said sealing rollers (8) at a non-zero rate
less than said predetermined rate and mea-
sured with said rotor as a frame of reference,
said sealing rollers (8) preferably comprising: a
resilient splined (13,14) column,
said drive means preferably driving said filter
means directly and said sealing rollers indi-
rectly, and
said rotor (20) preferably comprising an upper
(2) and lower plate (3) and a hollow shaft (1)
having a central outlet for conducting said slur-
ry into said housing.
3. A continuous discharge centrifuge according to
claim 2, wherein said filter means (4) are
spaced equiangularly and are radially equidis-
tant, and wherein said sealing rollers (8) are
spaced equiangularly and are radially equidis-
tant, said each of said filter means (4) touching
at least one of said sealing rollers (8).
4. A continuous discharge centrifuge according to
Claim 3, wherein each of said filter means (4)
comprises: a permeable surface (6) facing in-
wardly; and a non-permeable surface (7)
spaced from and outwardly facing said per-
meable surface.
5. A continuous discharge centrifuge according to
Claim 4, wherein said permeable surface (6) is
tubular and wherein said non-permeable sur-
face (7) comprises:
a plurality of radial vanes (17) mounted within
said tubular surface.
6. A continuous discharge centrifuge according to
Claim 5, wherein each of said filter means (4)
8
comprises:
an eductor tube (12) communicating with said
permeable surface for conducting said liquid
portion downward; and
5 an annular trough (9) sized and positioned to
receive the discharge of said eductor tube.
7. A continuous discharge centrifuge according to
Claim 1, wherein said filter means (4) are
io spaced radially outward from said sealing roll-
ers (8).
8. A centrifugal method employing a cylindrically
disposed, contiguous plurality of alternating fil-
15 ters (4) and sealing rollers (8) for continuously
separating a slurry into a solid and liquid por-
tion, comprising the steps of:
revolving said filters (4) and said sealing rollers
(8) at a predetermined rate;
20 injecting said slurry radially outward onto said
filters (4);
engaging the outside of said filters with said
sealing rollers (8) to conduct said solid portion
upon said filter between it and said sealing
25 rollers.
9. A centrifugal method according to Claims 8,
wherein the step of engaging the outside of
said filters comprises the step of:
30 turning said filters (4) and said sealing rollers
(8) at a non-zero rate less than said predeter-
mined rate and measured with a frame of
reference spinning at said predetermined rate.
35 Patentanspruche
1. Eine kontinuierlich arbeitende Ausstromzentri-
fuge zur Trennung einer Aufschlammung in
eine feste und in eine flussige Fraktion, mit:
40 einem Gehause (5);
einem Rotor (20), der in dem Gehause (5)
angeordnet ist, urn mit einer bestimmten Rate
zu drehen;
einer voneinander beabstandeten Mehrzahl
45 von drehbaren Filtereinrichtungen (4), die urn-
fangsseitig an dem Rotor (20) angeordnet sind
zum Abtrennen der flussigen Fraktion, in-
dem eine Zentrifugalkraft aufgebracht wird;
und
50 einer voneinander beabstandeten Mehrzahl
von Abdichtrollen (8) zwischen benachbarten
Paaren der Filtereinrichtungen fur eine Anlage
mit der AuBenseite der Filtereinrichtungen und
zum Fuhren der festen Fraktion auf den Filter-
55 einrichtungen zwischen diesen und den Ab-
dichtrollen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dal3 jede
der Abdichtrollen (8) drehbar an dem Rotor
(20) angeordnet ist.
5
 9 EP 0 471 768 B1
2. Eine kontinuierlich arbeitende Ausstromzentri-
fuge nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Zentrifuge
weiterhin aufweist:
eine Antriebseinrichtung zum Drehen der
Filtereinrichtungen (4) und der Abdichtrollen (8)
mit einer Rate von nicht Null, die kleiner ist als
die bestimmte Rate und die mit dem Rotor als
Referenzrahmen gemessen wird,
wobei die Abdichtrollen (8) bevorzugt auf-
weisen: eine mit nachgiebigen Auskeilungen
(13, 14) versehene Saule,
wobei die Antriebseinrichtung bevorzugt
die Filtereinrichtungen direkt und die Abdicht-
rollen indirekt antreibt, und
wobei der Rotor (20) bevorzugt eine obere
(2) und untere Platte (3) und eine Hohlwelle (1)
aufweist, welche einen mittigen AuslaB zur
Fuhrung der Aufschlammung in das Gehause
aufweist.
3. Eine kontinuierlich arbeitende Ausstromzentri-
fuge nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Filtereinrich-
tungen (4) gleichwinklig voneinander beabstan-
det und radial aquidistant sind und wobei die
Abdichtrollen (8) gleichwinklig voneinander be-
abstandet und radial aquidistant sind, wobei
jede der Filtereinrichtungen (4) wenigstens
eine der Abdichtrollen (8) beruhrt.
4. Eine kontinuierlich arbeitende Ausstromzentri-
fuge nach Anspruch 3, wobei jede der Filter-
einrichtungen (4) aufweist: eine permeable
Oberflache (6), die nach innen weist; und eine
nicht permeable Oberflache (7), die von der
permeablen Oberflache beabstandet ist und
nach auBen weist.
5. Eine kontinuierlich arbeitende Ausstromzentri-
fuge nach Anspruch 4, wobei die permeable
Oberflache (6) rohrformig ist und wobei die
nicht permeable Oberflache (7) aufweist:
eine Mehrzahl von radialen Flugeln (17),
welche innerhalb der rohrformigen Oberflache
angeordnet ist.
6. Eine kontinuierlich arbeitende Ausstromzentri-
fuge nach Anspruch 5, wobei jede der Filter-
einrichtungen (4) aufweist:
eine Ableitrohre (12), die mit der permeab-
len Oberflache in Verbindung steht, urn die
flussige Fraktion nach unten zu leiten; und
eine ringformig umlaufende Trogrinne (9),
die so bemessen und angeordnet ist, daB sie
den AblaB von der Ableitrohre aufnimmt.
7. Eine kontinuierlich arbeitende Ausstromzentri-
fuge nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Filtereinrich-
tungen (4) radial auBerhalb der Abdichtrollen
10
(8) angeordnet sind.
8. Ein Zentrifugierverfahren, das eine zylindrisch
angeordnete Mehrzahl voneinander benachbar-
5 ten, einander abwechselnden Filtern (4) und
Abdichtrollen (8) verwendet zur kontinuierli-
chen Auftrennung einer Aufschlammung in
eine feste und eine flussige Fraktion, mit den
folgenden Schritten:
io Drehen der Filter (4) und der Abdichtrollen
(8) mit einer bestimmten Rate;
Einspritzen der Aufschlammung von radial
auBerhalb auf die Filter (4);
Anlegen der AuBenseite der Filter an die
is Abdichtrollen (8), urn die flussige Fraktion auf
den Filter zwischen diesen und die Abdichtrol-
len zu leiten.
9. Eine Zentrifugierverfahren nach Anspruch 8,
20 wobei der Schritt des Anlegens der AuBenseite
der Filter den folgenden Schritt aufweist:
Drehen der Filter (4) und der Abdichtrollen
(8) mit einer Rate von nicht Null geringer als
die bestimmte Rate gemessen mit einem Re-
25 ferenzrahmen, der mit der bestimmten Rate
dreht.
Revendicatlons
30 1. Centrifugeuse a evacuation continue pour se-
parer une suspension en une partie solide et
une partie liquide, comprenant :
une cuve (5) ;
un rotor (20) monte dans ladite cuve (5) de
35 maniere a tourner rapidement a une vitesse
predetermined ;
une pluralite espacee d'elements filtrants
rotatifs (4) montes peripheriquement sur ledit
rotor (20) afin de separer ladite partie liquide
40 par admission de celle-ci sous I'effet de la
force centrifuge ; et
une pluralite espacee de rouleaux d'etan-
cheite montes (8) entre des paires adjacentes
de dits elements filtrants, de maniere a venir
45 en contact avec la surface exterieure desdits
elements filtrants et a conduire la dite partie
solide, deposee sur lesdits elements filtrants,
entre ces derniers et lesdits rouleaux d'etan-
cheite, caracterisee en ce que chacun desdits
50 rouleaux d'etancheite (8) est monte de fagon
tournante sur ledit rotor (20).
2. Centrifugeuse a evacuation continue suivant la
revendication 1, dans laquelle ladite centrifu-
55 geuse comprend en outre des moyens d'en-
traTnement pour faire tourner lesdits elements
filtrants (4) et lesdits rouleaux d'etancheite (8)
a une vitesse non nulle inferieure a ladite
6
 11 EP 0 471 768 B1 12

vitesse predetermined
predeterminee et mesuree en prenant
prenant ses, pour separer de fagon continue une sus-
ledit rotor comme base de reference ; pension en une partie solide et une partie
lesdits rouleaux d'etancheite (8) compre-
compre- liquide, comprenant les etapes de :
nant de preference un element cylindrique al- al- mise en rotation desdits filtres (4) et des
longe elastique cannele (13,14) ; 5 dits rouleaux d'etancheite (8) a une vitesse
lesdits moyens d'entraTnement entraTnant
entraTnant predetermined ;
de preference lesdits elements filtrants directe-
directe- injection de ladite suspension radialement
ment et lesdits rouleaux d'etancheite indirecte-
indirecte- vers I'exterieur sur lesdits filtres (4) ;
ment ; et mise en contact de I'exterieur desdits fil-
ledit rotor (20) comprenant de preference 10 tres avec lesdits rouleaux d'etancheite (8),
une plaque superieure (2), une plaque inferieu-
inferieu- pour conduire ladite partie solide, deposed sur
re (3) et un arbre creux (1) ayant une sortie
sortie ledit filtre, entre celui-ci et lesdits rouleaux
centrale pour introduire ladite suspension dans
dans d'etancheite.
ladite cuve.
75 9. Methode de centrifugation suivant la revendi-
3. Centrifugeuse a evacuation continue suivant la cation 8, dans laquelle I'etape de mise en
revendication 2, dans laquelle lesdits elements
elements contact de I'exterieur desdits filtres comprend
filtrants (4) sont espaces equiangulairement et I'etape de :
sont radialement equidistants, et dans laquelle
laquelle mise en rotation desdits filtres (4) et des
lesdits rouleaux d'etancheite (8) sont espaces 20 dits rouleaux d'etancheite (8) a une vitesse
equiangulairement et sont radialement equidis-
equidis- non nulle inferieure a ladite vitesse predetermi-
tants, chacun desdits elements filtrants (4) tou-
tou- nee et mesuree par rapport a une base de
chant au moins un desdits rouleaux d'etanchei-
d'etanchei- reference tournant a ladite vitesse predetermi-
te (8).
(8). nee.
25
4. Centrifugeuse a evacuation continue suivant la
revendication 3, dans laquelle chacun desdits
elements filtrants (4) comprend une surface
permeable (6) tournee vers I'interieur et une
surface non permeable (7) espacee de ladite 30
surface permeable et tournee vers I'exterieur.

5. Centrifugeuse a evacuation continue suivant la

revendication 4, dans laquelle ladite surface
permeable (6) est tubulaire et dans laquelle 35
ladite surface non permeable (7) comprend :
une pluralite d'ailettes radiales (17) mon-
tees a I'interieur de ladite surface tubulaire.

6. Centrifugeuse a evacuation continue suivant la 40

revendication 5, dans laquelle chacun desdits
elements filtrants (4) comprend :
un tube d'evacuation (12) en communica-
tion avec ladite surface permeable, pour
conduire ladite partie liquide vers le bas ; et 45
une goulotte annulaire (9) dimensionnee et
positionnee pour recevoir la sortie dudit tube
d'evacuation.

7. Centrifugeuse a evacuation continue suivant la 50

revendication 1, dans laquelle lesdits elements
filtrants (4) sont espaces radialement vers I'ex-
terieur par rapport auxdits rouleaux d'etanchei-
te (8).
55
8. Methode de centrifugation employant une plu-
ralite de filtres (4) et de rouleaux d'etancheite
(8) alternes contigus et cylindriquement dispo-

7
 EP 0 471 768 B1

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EP 0 471 768 B1
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