Particle-from-fluid separator

Claim 1

A centrifugal separating apparatus for removing particles from suspension in fluids, comprising: a. a generally cylindrical separator tube defining a spinning chamber; b. an open-ended discharge tube extending coaxially within one end of said separator tube and defining an axial fluid outlet passage communicating with said spinning chamber for discharging processed fluid therefrom, said discharge tube being concentrically spaced from the wall of said separator tube to form an annular fluid inlet passage concentric with said outlet passage, for passing fluid to be processed to said spinning chamber, c. means in said fluid inlet passage for spinning the fluid admitted to said spinning chamber for the purpose of causing said fluid to flow on concentric and oppositely axially directed peripheral and core vortex flow paths within said spinning chamber, d. means in said separator tube remote from said one end thereof for discharging particles separated from said fluid during its flow along said peripheral vortex flow path, e. flow diverting means disposed within said spinning chamber adjacent the leading end of said discharge tube for intercepting the particle fines entrained in the fluid flowing along said core vortex flow path and for diverting the intercepted fluid into the peripheral vortex flow path, said flow diverting means comprising an annular concavity disposed about the leading end of said discharge tube in facing relation to the direction of flow of said core vortex flow path, said concavity being disposed substantially normal to the axis of said separator tube and having a streamlined, arcuate surface across which fluid can flow in an unbroken, relatively turbulence-free stream between said core vortex flow path and said peripheral vortex flow path, said surface terminating at its inner periphery in an annular skimming edge of a diameter less than the major diameter of said core vortex flow path to render it operative to intercept and radially divert the outer layers of fluid and entrained particle fines flowing along said core vortex flow path and at its outer periphery in an annular flow directing surface inclined in the axial direction of said peripheral vortex flow path for directing said diverted fluid and entrained particle fines toward said peripheral vortex flow path, f. means in Said inlet passage for aspirating the diverted fluid into mixed relation with the fluid flowing along said peripheral vortex flow path, and g. means in said separator tube for forming said core vortex flow path to a diameter greater than that of said annular skimming edge and less than the diameter of the outer periphery of said flow diverting means.