US4640770A — Apparatus for extracting water from solid fines o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 235 words

In a centrifuge including an evelope for collecting fluid extracted thereby, means for introducing wet particulate solids into said centrifuge and means for removing dried solids from said centrifuge, the improvement comprising: (a) a bowl mounted for rotation within said envelope and having an unobstructed opening at one end thereof for receiving said wet particulate solids, a base support closing the other end of said bowl and a plurality of outlet ports for discharging fluid into said envelope; (b) a filter media liner proximal the inner surface of said bowl; (c) means between said filter media liner and said bowl for allowing extracted fluid to move outwardly of said filter media liner; (d) a continuous shaft fixed to said base support at one end and rotatably mounted at a second end on a gimbal-like system to maintain a vertex of precession of said shaft and bowl at said second end in a substantially well defined locus; (e) variable speed drive means connected to said shaft adjacent said vertex to effectively rotate said bowl for centrifugally extracting fluids from said wet particulate solids; and (f) resilient means supporting said shaft and bowl on bearings, located intermediate said vertex and said base support, with said resilient means for supporting said shaft being variable in resiliency and constructed to vary the natural radial frequency of said bowl and shaft in accordance with the speed of said drive means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 235 words

In a centrifuge including an evelope for collecting fluid extracted thereby, means for introducing wet particulate solids into said centrifuge and means for removing dried solids from said centrifuge, the improvement comprising: (a) a bowl mounted for rotation within said envelope and having an unobstructed opening at one end thereof for receiving said wet particulate solids, a base support closing the other end of said bowl and a plurality of outlet ports for discharging fluid into said envelope; (b) a filter media liner proximal the inner surface of said bowl; (c) means between said filter media liner and said bowl for allowing extracted fluid to move outwardly of said filter media liner; (d) a continuous shaft fixed to said base support at one end and rotatably mounted at a second end on a gimbal-like system to maintain a vertex of precession of said shaft and bowl at said second end in a substantially well defined locus; (e) variable speed drive means connected to said shaft adjacent said vertex to effectively rotate said bowl for centrifugally extracting fluids from said wet particulate solids; and (f) resilient means supporting said shaft and bowl on bearings, located intermediate said vertex and said base support, with said resilient means for supporting said shaft being variable in resiliency and constructed to vary the natural radial frequency of said bowl and shaft in accordance with the speed of said drive means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said bowl is a composite fiber reinforced unit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said bowl is a metal drum with an expandable outer shell.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said variable speed drive means is connected to said shaft by at least one drive belt.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means is adapted to provide a high natural radial frequency when said shaft is rotating at cut-out speeds to remove dried solids and a low natural radial frequency when said shaft is rotating at drying speeds.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 58 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises: (a) a plurality of air bags mounted about said bearings; and (b) a plurality of movable support members having a resiliency less than said air bags mounted about said bearings in cooperation with said air bags, whereby said support members may be urged against said bearings.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said variable speed drive means is operably connected to said shaft by a flexible coupling.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 77 words

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises: (a) a plurality of air bags mounted about said bearings, with the inflation of each bag being independently controlled; and (b) a plurality of support members having a resiliency less than said air bags mounted about said bearings in cooperation with said air bags, whereby said bearing may be urged against selected ones of said support members by varying the inflation of selected cooperative air bags.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

The improvement defined in claim 8 further comprising energy adsorption means operatively connected to said bearing intermediate said bowl and said gimbal-like system for absorbing energy from said shaft and bowl when said shaft is rotating near the natural radial frequency to stabilize said bowl at cut-out speeds.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The improvement defined in claim 9 wherein said energy absorption means is a plurality of shock absorbers extending radially of said bearing and attached thereto.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 44 words

The improvement defined in claim 9 wherein said energy absorption means comprises shock absorbers of variable energy absorption capability adapted to absorb more energy at cut-out speeds whereby said bowl is stabilized from excessive radial vibration and to absorb minimal energy at drying speeds.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The improvement as defined in claim 9 wherein said variable speed drive means is connected to said shaft proximal said vertex by at least one drive belt.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The improvement as defined in claim 9 wherein said resilient means is adapted to provide a high natural radial frequency when said shaft is rotating at cut-out speeds to remove dried solids and a low natural radial frequency when said shaft is rotating at drying speeds.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

The improvement of claim 13 wherein said resilient means includes a plurality of air bags mounted symetrically about said bearing, with the inflation of each bag independently controlled.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 41 words

The improvement defined in claim 8 wherein said plurality of air bags and said plurality of support members are cooperatively and symetrically positioned about said bearing whereby said bearing is supported by said support members upon deflation of said air bags.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

The improvement defined in claim 15 further comprising energy absorption means operatively connected to said bearing intermediate said bowl and said second end of said shaft for absorbing energy from said shaft when said shaft is rotating at cut-out speeds to stabilize said bowl against excessive vibration.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The improvement defined in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of shock absorbers mounted radially of said bearing and attached thereto.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 74 words

The improvement defined in claim 15 further comprising shock absorbers of variable energy absorption capability adapted to absorb more energy when said shaft is rotating at cut-out speeds to remove dried solids and to absorb minimal energy when said shaft is rotating at drying speeds, with said shock absorbers being connected radially about said bearing intermediate said bowl and said second end whereby said bowl is stabilized against excessive radial movement at cut-out speeds.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 47 words

The improvement defined in claim 1 further comprising energy absorption means operatively connected to said bearing intermediate said bowl and said second end, for stabilizing said bowl against excessive radial motion by absorbing energy from said shaft and bowl when said shaft is rotating at cut-out speeds.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The improvement defined in claim 1 further comprising shock absorbers mounted radially of said bearing intermediate said bowl and said second end.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 54 words

The improvement defined in claim 1 further comprising shock absorbers of variable energy absorption capability, radially attached to said bearing intermediate said bowl and said second end and adapted to absorb more energy when said shaft is rotating at cut-out speeds and to absorb minimal energy when said shaft is rotating at drying speeds.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 214 words

An apparatus for centrifugally extracting fluids from wet particles including ore slurries, industrial wastes, or coal, including a main frame and an envelope carried thereby for collecting said fluids, comprising, in combination: (a) a bowl within said envelope and having an opening at one end, a base support at the other end, a filter media liner proximal the inner surface of said bowl for fluid to be centrifugally extracted from the wet particulate in said bowl, and a plurality of angularly spaced ports through which extracted fluid may move outwardly of said bowl into said envelope; (b) a continuous shaft affixed at one end to said base support; (c) a gimbal-like system rotatably supporting a second end of said shaft to maintain a vertex of precession of said shaft and bowl at said second end when rotating; (d) variable speed drive means operatively coupled to said shaft adjacent said vertex to effectively rotate said bowl for centrifugally extracting fluid from said wet particles; and (e) resilient means for supporting said shaft on bearings, said resilient means being located intermediate said bowl and said vertex, with said resilient means being variable in resiliency and constructed to vary the natural radial frequency of said bowl and shaft in accordance with the speed of said drive means.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 214 words

An apparatus for centrifugally extracting fluids from wet particles including ore slurries, industrial wastes, or coal, including a main frame and an envelope carried thereby for collecting said fluids, comprising, in combination: (a) a bowl within said envelope and having an opening at one end, a base support at the other end, a filter media liner proximal the inner surface of said bowl for fluid to be centrifugally extracted from the wet particulate in said bowl, and a plurality of angularly spaced ports through which extracted fluid may move outwardly of said bowl into said envelope; (b) a continuous shaft affixed at one end to said base support; (c) a gimbal-like system rotatably supporting a second end of said shaft to maintain a vertex of precession of said shaft and bowl at said second end when rotating; (d) variable speed drive means operatively coupled to said shaft adjacent said vertex to effectively rotate said bowl for centrifugally extracting fluid from said wet particles; and (e) resilient means for supporting said shaft on bearings, said resilient means being located intermediate said bowl and said vertex, with said resilient means being variable in resiliency and constructed to vary the natural radial frequency of said bowl and shaft in accordance with the speed of said drive means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said resilient means provides a high natural radial frequency when said shaft is rotating at cut-out speeds to remove dried solids and a low natural radial frequency when said shaft is rotating at drying speeds.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 79 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said resilient means comprises: (a) a plurality of air bags mounted about said bearing, with the inflation of each bag being independently controlled; and (b) a plurality of support members having a fixed resiliency less than said air bags, with said support members mounted about said bearing in cooperation with said air bags, whereby said bearing may be urged against said support members by varying the inflation of selected cooperative air bags.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 22 further comprising energy absorption means operatively connected to said bearing intermediate said bowl and said gimbal-like system for absorbing energy from said shaft and bowl when said shaft is rotating near the natural radial frequency, to stabilize said bowl.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said energy absorption means comprises shock absorbers of variable energy absorption capability adapted to absorb more energy from said shaft when said shaft rotates at speeds near the natural radial frequency thereof whereby said bowl is stabilized from excessive radial vibration and to absorb minimal energy from said shaft at drying speeds.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 72 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said resilient means comprises: a plurality of air bags mounted about said bearings, with the inflation of each bag independently controlled; and a plurality of support members having fixed resiliency less than said air bags, wherein said airbags and said supports are cooperatively and symetrically positioned about said bearings whereby said bearings are supported by said support members upon deflation of said air bags.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus defined in claim 22 wherein said resilient means for supporting said shaft provides support to said bearing at an area proximal said bowl.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 65 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said bowl is metallic and further comprises an imperforate expandable outer shell with said plurality of angularly spaced ports extending axially at each end of said bowl; and a support for said filter media forming a radially inwardly extending peak intermediate the ends of said outer shell with said support flaring outwardly toward each end of said bowl.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 271 words

An apparatus for centrifugally extracting fluids from wet particulate including ore slurries, industrial wastes, or coal, including a main frame and an envelope carried thereby for collecting said fluids, comprising, in combination: (a) a bowl mounted for rotation within said envelope and configured to receive said particulate at one end through an opening defined by an inwardly extending annular lip of a radial dimension substantially equal to the thickness of the particulate deposited within said bowl adjacent said annular lip, said bowl having a base support at another end, a filter media liner proximal the inner surface of said bowl for fluid to be centrifugally extracted from the wet particulate in said bowl, and a plurality of angularly spaced ports through which extracted fluid may move outwardly of said bowl into said envelope; (b) a continuous shaft affixed at one end to said base support; (c) a gimbal-like unit rotatably supporting a second end of said shaft to maintain a vertex of precession of said shaft and bowl at said second end when said shaft is rotating; (d) variable speed drive means coupled to said shaft adjacent said vertex to effectively rotate said bowl for centrifugally extracting fluid from said wet particulate; (e) resilient means for supporting said shaft on bearings, said resilient means being located intermediate said bowl and said vertex, with said resilient means being variable in resiliency and constructed to vary the natural radial frequency of said bowl and shaft in accordance with the speed of said drive means; and (f) means adapted to extend through said opening for introducing particulate into and removing particulate from said bowl.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 271 words

An apparatus for centrifugally extracting fluids from wet particulate including ore slurries, industrial wastes, or coal, including a main frame and an envelope carried thereby for collecting said fluids, comprising, in combination: (a) a bowl mounted for rotation within said envelope and configured to receive said particulate at one end through an opening defined by an inwardly extending annular lip of a radial dimension substantially equal to the thickness of the particulate deposited within said bowl adjacent said annular lip, said bowl having a base support at another end, a filter media liner proximal the inner surface of said bowl for fluid to be centrifugally extracted from the wet particulate in said bowl, and a plurality of angularly spaced ports through which extracted fluid may move outwardly of said bowl into said envelope; (b) a continuous shaft affixed at one end to said base support; (c) a gimbal-like unit rotatably supporting a second end of said shaft to maintain a vertex of precession of said shaft and bowl at said second end when said shaft is rotating; (d) variable speed drive means coupled to said shaft adjacent said vertex to effectively rotate said bowl for centrifugally extracting fluid from said wet particulate; (e) resilient means for supporting said shaft on bearings, said resilient means being located intermediate said bowl and said vertex, with said resilient means being variable in resiliency and constructed to vary the natural radial frequency of said bowl and shaft in accordance with the speed of said drive means; and (f) means adapted to extend through said opening for introducing particulate into and removing particulate from said bowl.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-02-02	1990-08-04	1991-02-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-02-02	1994-08-04	1995-02-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-02-02	1998-08-04	1999-02-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for extracting water from solid fines or the like

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