Spin control for centrifugal extractor

Claim 2

In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable container operable at extraction speeds for removing liquid from articles contained therein; drive means for rotating said container; control means controlling said drive means to selectively effect rotation of said container; a housing defining a chamber for receiving said container and defining an opening for access to said container; a movable lid disposed in said opening; brake means disposed at least partially within said chamber for engagement with a wall of said container; biasing means for effecting engagement of said brake means with said container wall; and means operably connecting said lid to said control means and said brake means and responsive to movement of said lid to a predetermined access-closing position for overcoming said biasing means to disengage said brake means from said container wall and for actuating said control means to effect operation of said drive means whereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of said container.

Claim 3

In an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes switch means for controlling energization of said drive means and responsive to movement of said lid to said predetermined access-closing position for actuating said switch means to energize said drive means.

Claim 4

In an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said brake means is spaced from said lid and is juxtaposed to the bottom wall of said container for engagement therewith.

Claim 5

In an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said brake means is generally annular and is associated with said housing through a splined connection for axial movement relative thereto between positions of engagement and disengagement with said container wall.

Claim 6

In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable container operable at extraction speeds for removing liquiD from articles contained therein; drive means for rotating said container; switch means controlling energization of said drive means; a housing defining a chamber for receiving said container and defining an opening for access to said container; a movable lid disposed in said opening; actuating means operatively disposed between said lid and said switch means and operable for actuating said switch means responsive to movement of said lid; brake means engageable with a wall of said container, said brake means including an annular member axially movable relative to said housing between positions of engagement and disengagement with said container wall; biasing means for effecting engagement of said brake means with said container wall; and means associated with said actuating means for operably connecting said lid to said brake means, movement of said lid to a predetermined access-closing position being operable for actuating said switch means to energize said drive means and for overcoming said biasing means to disengage said brake means from said container wall whereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of said container.

Claim 7

In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable container operable at extraction speeds for removing liquiD from articles contained therein; drive means for rotating said container; switch means controlling energization of said drive means; a housing defining a chamber for receiving said container and defining an opening for access to said container; a movable lid disposed in said opening; actuating means operatively disposed between said lid and said switch means and operable for actuating said switch means responsive to movement of said lid; brake means engageable with a wall of said container, said brake means including an annular member axially movable relative to said housing between positions of engagement and disengagement with said container wall; biasing means for effecting engagement of said brake means with said container wall; and means associated with said actuating means for operably connecting said lid to said brake means, movement of said lid to a predetermined access-closing position being operable for actuating said switch means to energize said drive means and for overcoming said biasing means to disengage said brake means from said container wall whereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of said container.

Claim 8

In an extractor as defined in claim 5 and further including means responsive to generally rotational movement of said lid with said lid in the predetermined access-closing position for effectively latching said lid to said housing while said extractor is operating.

Claim 9

In an extractor as defined in claim 5 and wherein said annular brake means is splined to a portion of said housing for axial movement relative thereto between positions of engagement and disengagement with the bottom wall of said container.

Claim 10

In an extractor as defined in claim 5 wherein said connecting means disposed within said chamber is operable for effecting disengagement of said brake means from said container wall responsive to an axial movement of said lid to said access-closing position and wherein said actuating means is operable for effecting actuation of said switch means responsive to the same axial movement of said lid.

Claim 11

In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable container operable at extraction speeds for removing liquid from articles contained therein; drive means for rotating said container; switch means controlling energization of said drive means; a housing generally enclosing said container and defining an opening for access to said container; a removable lid disposed in said opening and axially movable relative to said housing to an access-closing position; brake means for stopping rotation of said container; biasing means for effecting operative engagement of said brake means; means operably connecting said lid to said switch means and said brake means and responsive to axial movement of said lid to said access-closing position for actuating said switch means to energize said drive means and for overcoming said biasing means to operatively disengage said brake means whereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of said container; and interlocking means operatively engageable upon rotational movement of said lid in said access-closing position for effectively latching said lid to said housing while disengagement of said brake means and actuation of said switch means effect rotation of said container.

Claim 12

In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable container operable at extraction speeds for removing liquid from articles contained therein; drive means for rotating said container; switch means controlling energization of said drive means; a housing generally enclosing said container and defining an opening for access to said container; a removable lid disposed in said opening and axially movable relative to said housing to an access-closing position; brake means for stopping rotation of said container; biasing means for effecting operative engagement of said brake means; means operably connecting said lid to said switch means and said brake means and responsive to axial movement of said lid to said access-closing position for actuating said switch means to energize said drive means and for overcoming said biasing means to operatively disengage said brake means whereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of said container; and interlocking means operatively engageable upon rotational movement of said lid in said access-closing position for effectively latching said lid to said housing while disengagement of said brake means and actuation of said switch means effect rotation of said container.

Claim 13

In an extractor as defined in claim 9 wherein said lid and said brake means are generally annular and wherein an axially applied force of said lid is transmitted to the brake means for effecting said operative disengagement thereof.

Claim 14

In an extractor as defined in claim 9 wherein said brake means is directly engageable with a wall of said container for stopping rotation of said container.

Claim 15

In an extractor as defined in claim 11 wherein said brake means is generally annular and splined to a portion of said housing and wherein biasing means is disposed between said brake means and said housing to normally maintain said brake means in braking engagement witH said container.