Centrifugal separator with internal scraper blades

Claim 1

Centrifugal separator apparatus for separating solid particles from a fluid, said apparatus comprising a bowl of generally inverted cup shape having a top wall and a side wall having an inner surface, a frame disposed in a supporting relation with said bowl, said frame having a portion disposed above and in a closely spaced relation with said bowl top wall, said side wall having an upper end and an open lower end and a portion between said ends which extends radially inWardly and downwardly, blade members positioned within said bowl and having scraping edges disposed in close proximity to said side wall inner surface, a hollow shaft having a vertical axis and secured at the lower end thereof to said bowl, said shaft extending upwardly above said frame portion, motor means drivingly connected to said shaft at a position above and adjacent said frame portion for rotating said shaft about said axis, an upright shaft disposed within said hollow shaft and having the lower end thereof located below the lower end of said hollow shaft, means mounting said blades on the lower end of said upright shaft for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with said vertical axis, means spaced below said top wall for introducing a fluid containing solid particles onto said side wall inner surface so that upon rotation of said bowl about said vertical axis solid particles in said fluid are thrown by centrifugal force onto said bowl inner surface, means forming at least one fluid outlet opening in said top wall spaced radially inwardly from the upper end of said side wall and extending radially outwardly from said axis a distance greater than the spacing of the lower end of said side wall from said axis, and brake means engageable with said upright shaft so as to cause relative rotational movement of said blades and said bowl about said axis so as to move said blade edges along said bowl inner surface to dislodge accumulated particles thereon so that said dislodged particles can drop through the lower open end of said bowl.