Apparatus for separating crystals from sugar syrup

Claim 1

A CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE FOR SEPARATING CRYSTALS FROM SUGAR SYRUP, COMPRISING A ROTARY VESSEL INCLUDING A PERFORATED BASKET HAVING AN OPEN END; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID VESSEL; MEANS FOR ADMITTING INTO SAID BASKET A CONTINUOUS STREAM OF SYRUP WHEREBY THE LIQUID FRACTION OF SUCH SYRUP PASSES THROUGH SAID BASKET AND THE REMAINING SOLID CRYSTALLINE FRACTION FORMS A STREAM OF CRYSTALS WHICH OVERFLOW AND ARE DISCHARGED SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY FROM THE OPEN END OF SAID BASKET; A COLLECTOR HAVING WALLS SURROUNDING SAID OPEN END SO THAT THE CRYSTALS TRAVEL IN A DIRECTION TOWARD AND ACCUMULATE ALONG SAID WALLS; AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING DISINTEGRATION OF CRYSTALS ON CONTACT WITH SAID WALLS, INCLUDING A HOLLOW ROTARY DISTRIBUTOR CONNECTED FOR ROTATION WITH SAID VESSEL AND HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED ANNULAR FLANGES AND A WEB CONNECTING THE PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID FLANGES AND PROVIDED WITH OPENINGS DISPOSED IN THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID OPEN END AND MEANS FOR ADMITTING HIGH-PURITY SUGAR SYRUP INTO SAID DISTRIBUTOR SO THAT SUCH HIGH-PURITY SYRUP FORMS A STREAM OF LIQUID MATERIAL ISSUING FROM SAID OPENINGS AND, IN ADMIXTURE TO THE STREAM OF CRYSTALS, FORMING A CUSHION WHICH COATS SAID WALLS TO PREVENT DIRECT IMPACT OF CRYSTALS AGAINST SAID COLLECTOR.