Hydrocyclone

Claim 1

A hydrocylcone for the separation of a liquid suspension into accept and reject fractions, comprising a conically converging classification pipe having an apex and a base, with said apex including an outlet opening therein through which the reject fraction of the suspension is discharged and said base having an axial outlet pipe mounted therein in spaced axial alignment with said outlet opening through which the accept fraction of the suspension is discharged; said outlet pipe and classification pipe defining therebetween a circular space; and suspension distribution means on said classification pipe for distributing said suspension into the circular space, said suspension distribution means having at least two generally axially shaped channels formed therein for feeding the liquid suspension into said circular space between the classification pipe and the accept fraction outlet pipe, said feed channels having first and second end portions with said second end portions being located adjacent said accept fraction outlet pipe in arcuately spaced relation to each other on substantially the same plane; said channels being inclined in relation to each other from said first end portion thereof toward said second end portions, which second end portions are located closer to said apex than said first end portions, whereby liquid suspension spray from said feed channels is discharged into said circular space along a separate spiral path from each of said channels respectively directed from said channels towards said apex whereby said spiral spray paths overlap and intermesh without intersecting so that spray from one channel is discharged into and moves in said circular space over the spray from the next adjacent feed channel.