High pressure centrifuge lubrication system

Claim 1

An improved centrifuge for separating liquid and solids from feed comprising a liquid-solids mixture, said centrifuge comprising an enclosed stationarily mounted casing, an elongated hollow bowl of circular-cross section disposed within and spaced from said casing to define a first zone therebetween, the latter being adapted for pressurization, said bowl being mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, said bowl having at least a portion of its inner annular surface decreasing in diameter approaching one end of said bowl, said bowl having a solids discharge opening at said one end of said bowl and a liquid discharge opening at the other end of said bowl, a helical screw conveyor disposed within said bowl, said conveyor including an axially elongated hub spaced from said inner annular surface of said bowl to define an annular separating chamber therewith, said hub having flights mounted thereon for movement therewith, the distal edges of said flights generally complementing the inner annular contour of said bowl, bearing means disposed between said bowl and said conveyor for permitting rotation of said conveyor about said axis relative to said bowl, each of said openings communicating said separation chamber with said first zone, means defining a pressure zone, the latter comprising said first zone and said separation chamber, feed means having an outlet for introducing feed into said separation chamber, said centrifuge being constructed and arranged such that feed, upon being introduced into said separating chamber during rotation of said bowl, separates into liquid and solids, the solids adapted to accumulate against said inner annular surface and adapted to be conveyed toward said solids discharge opening by said conveyor while the liquid is adapted to be simultaneously discharged through said liquid discharge opening, the improvement comprising: a. annular sealing means disposed between said bowl and said conveyor on each side of said bearing means so as to define an annular bearing cavity, a surface of each of said sealing means being in communication with said pressure zone; b. means, including a movably mounted wall, defining a reservoir chamber for containing a supply of lubricant, the exterior surface of said wall being in communication with said pressure zone, and said reservoir chamber being mounted for rotation about said axis; c. means defining a lubricant passageway extending between said reservoir chamber and said bearing cavity, said lubricant passageway being disposed so that lubricant flow from said reservoir chamber into said bearing cavity will be effected by centrifugal force during rotation of said reservoir chamber.