Centrifuging apparatus

Claim 1

A CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL BASKET MEMBER HAVING A PERFORATE ANNULAR WALL; A GENEALLY CYLINDRICAL SCROLL MEMBER HAVING HELICAL FLIGHTS THEREON; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SCROLL MEMBER WITHIN SAID BASKET MEMBER FOR ROTATIVE AND AXIAL MOVEMENTS RELATIVE THERETO AND WITH SAID HELICAL FLIGHTS IN SCRAPING RELATION THEREWITH OVER THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID FLIGHTS; MEANS FOR INTRODUCING TO SAID BASKET MEMBER A SLURRY CONTAINING SOLID AND LIQUID COMPONENTS; DRIVING MEANS CONNECTED AT LEAST TO ONE OF SAID MEMBERS FOR EFFECTING RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN IN SUCH DIRECTION AS TO ENABLE SAID FLIGHTS TO ENGAGE AND APPLY A FORCE ON SOLID COMPOENNTS OF SAID SLURRY TENDING TO MOVE THEM TOWARD ONE END OF SAID BASKET MEMBER, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS ENABLING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SCROLL MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID BASKET MEMBER TOWARD THE OTHER END OF SAID BASKET MEMBER IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF REACTIVE FORCE OF PREDETERMINED MANGITUDE ON SAID FLIGHTS BY SAID SOLID COMPONENTS; AND POWER MEANS CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO SAID RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS TO EFFECT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SCROLL MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID BASKET MEMBER TOWARD SAID ONE END OF SAID BASKET MEMBER, WHEREBY SIAD FLIGHTS MAY FORCIBLY ENGAGE SAID SOLID COMPONENTS AND SHIFT THEM AXIALLY OF SAID BASKET MEMBER TOWARD SAID ONE END THEREOF.