Sealing arrangement for a centrifuge

Claim 2

A centrifuge comprising a shaft member having an annular flange protruding radially therefrom, said flange member having a first surface region which faces outwardly, a shell member encircling said shaft member having one end sealed, said shell member having a second surface region in the end thereof opposite to said sealed end, a plate member having an opening therein for receiving therethrough said shaft member, said plate member having a third surface region adjacent said opening for mating with said first surface region, said plate member having a fourth surface region adjacent its periphery for mating with said second surface portion, said first or said third surface regions having therein a first annular channel, said second or said fourth surface regions having therein a second annular channel, two transversely deformable cords respectively in said channels and having portions Protruding therefrom, said plate member being positioned to place said protruding portions respectively in contact with the ones of said surface regions which do not have channels therein, means drawing said end plate toward said shell member and toward said flange member to flatten said cords to thicknesses no greater than about 0.065 inch, thereby effectively to seal the junction of said shell member and said plate member and the junction of said flange member and said plate member despite the existence of pressures of 10,000 pounds per square inch in said centrifuge.

Claim 3

The centrifuge set forth in claim 1, wherein said first annular channel is formed in said third surface region and said second annular channel is formed in said fourth surface region.

Claim 4

A centrifuge comprising a shaft member having a pair of axially spaced apart annular flanges protruding radially therefrom, each of said flange members having a first surface region which faces outwardly, a shell member encircling said shaft member, said shell member having a second surface region in each of the ends thereof, a pair of plate members each having an opening therein for receiving therethrough said shaft member, each of said plate members having a third surface region adjacent said openings for mating with said first surface portion, each of said plate members having a fourth surface region adjacent its periphery for mating with said second surface portion, said first or said third surface regions each having therein a first annular channel, said second or said fourth surface regions each having therein a second annular channel, four transversely deformable cords respectively in said channels and having portions protruding therefrom, said plate members being positioned to place said protruding portions respectively in contact with the ones of said surface regions which do not have channels therein, means drawing said end plate toward said shell member and toward said flange member to flatten said cords to thicknesses no greater than about 0.065 inch, thereby effectively to seal the junction of said shell member and said plate member and the junction of said flange member and said plate member despite the existence of pressures of 10,000 pounds per square inch in said centrifuge.

Claim 5

A centrifuge comprising a shaft member having a pair of axially spaced apart annular flanges protruding radially therefrom, each of said flange members having a first surface region which faces outwardly, a shell member encircling said shaft member, said shell member having a second surface region in each of the ends thereof, a pair of plate members each having an opening therein for receiving therethrough said shaft member, each of said plate members having a third surface region adjacent said openings for mating with said first surface portion, each of said plate members having a fourth surface region adjacent its periphery for mating with said second surface portion, said first or said third surface regions each having therein a first annular channel, said second or said fourth surface regions each having therein a second annular channel, four transversely deformable cords respectively in said channels and having portions protruding therefrom, said plate members being positioned to place said protruding portions respectively in contact with the ones of said surface regions which do not have channels therein, means drawing said end plate toward said shell member and toward said flange member to flatten said cords to thicknesses no greater than about 0.065 inch, thereby effectively to seal the junction of said shell member and said plate member and the junction of said flange member and said plate member despite the existence of pressures of 10,000 pounds per square inch in said centrifuge.

Claim 6

The centrifuge set forth in claim 3, wherein said first annular channels are respectively formed in said third surface regions and said second annular channels are respectively formed in said fourth surface regions.

Claim 7

A centrifuge comprising a cylindrical shell member having one end thereof sealed, a plate member, one of said members having therein an annular groove with a first sealing surface, the other of said members having therein an annular tongue with a second sealing surface thereon, one of said sealing surfaces having therein an annular channel, an elongated transversely deformable cord in said channel and having a portion protruding therefrom, said one member being positioned to place said tongue in said groove and said protruding portion in contact with the other of said sealing surfaces, means drawing said members together to flatten said cord to a thickness no greater than about 0.065 inch, thereby effectively to seal the junction of said shell member and said plate member despite the existence of pressures of 10,000 pounds per square inch in said centrifuge.

Claim 8

A centrifuge comprising a cylindrical shell member having one end thereof sealed, a plate member, one of said members having therein an annular groove with a first sealing surface, the other of said members having therein an annular tongue with a second sealing surface thereon, one of said sealing surfaces having therein an annular channel, an elongated transversely deformable cord in said channel and having a portion protruding therefrom, said one member being positioned to place said tongue in said groove and said protruding portion in contact with the other of said sealing surfaces, means drawing said members together to flatten said cord to a thickness no greater than about 0.065 inch, thereby effectively to seal the junction of said shell member and said plate member despite the existence of pressures of 10,000 pounds per square inch in said centrifuge.

Claim 9

The centrifuge set forth in claim 5, wherein said annular tongue is formed on said plate member.

Claim 10

The centrifuge set forth in claim 5, wherein said annular groove is formed in said shell member.

Claim 11

The centrifuge set forth in claim 5, wherein the inner surface of said groove and the outer surface of said tongue are substantially flat, whereby said cord when flattened is rectangular in cross section.

Claim 12

The centrifuge set forth in claim 5, wherein said plate member has a diameter exceeding the diameter of said shell member and is secured to the outer end thereof.

Claim 13

The centrifuge set forth in claim 5, wHerein said annular channel is formed in the sealing surface of said plate member.

Claim 14

A centrifugal countercurrent exchange device comprising a cylindrical shell and a pair of end plates, said end plates respectively having pluralities of axially-aligned grooves formed therein, a plurality of elongated transversely deformable cords having diameters less than the depths of said grooves and being disposed respectively therein, a plurality of cylindrical apertured separator bands respectively in axially aligned pairs of said grooves, means drawing said end plates toward each other to deform said cords substantially to fill the space in the grooves, thereby to prevent liquids from flowing around the ends of said separator bands, and means securing said end plates to the ends of said shell to retain said cords in the deformed condition thereof.

Claim 15

A centrifugal countercurrent exchange device comprising a cylindrical shell and a pair of end plates, said end plates respectively having pluralities of axially-aligned grooves formed therein, a plurality of elongated transversely deformable cords having diameters less than the depths of said grooves and being disposed respectively therein, a plurality of cylindrical apertured separator bands respectively in axially aligned pairs of said grooves, means drawing said end plates toward each other to deform said cords substantially to fill the space in the grooves, thereby to prevent liquids from flowing around the ends of said separator bands, and means securing said end plates to the ends of said shell to retain said cords in the deformed condition thereof.

Claim 16

The centrifugal countercurrent exchange device set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said cords is circular in transverse cross section.

Claim 17

The centrifugal countercurrent exchange device set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said grooves has a funnel-shaped entry portion to facilitate insertion of the end of the associated separator band.

Claim 18

The centrifugal countercurrent exchange device set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said cords is fabricated of polytetrafluoroethylene.