Claims
- 1. A centrifuge for removing more dense material from a fluid medium, comprising:
a fluid separation wall placed within a sleeve to form a containment zone therebetween, the fluid separation wall having a inner surface, a middle section and an outer surface; the containment zone operable to receive a portion of the fluid medium having a greater concentration of the more dense material; the fluid separation wall aligned generally parallel to an axis of rotation and operable to rotate relative to the axis of rotation; at least one receptacle operable to aid in separation of the more dense material from the fluid medium; the at least one receptacle defined in a part by a respective geometry operably formed on the inner surface and a respective shape operably formed in the middle section to form a void area between the inner and outer surface; at least one opening extending through the fluid separation wall from the void area to the outer surface of the receptacle; the at least one opening operable to transport the more dense material to the containment zone; and an excitation apparatus associated with the receptacle, the excitation apparatus operable to create a vibration within the receptacle to cause the more dense fluid to move along the flow path towards the containment zone.
- 2. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising:
a valve ring forming a part of the fluid separation wall, the valve ring including at least one valve orifice formed in the valve ring; and the valve ring having a first position that blocks the more dense material from exiting the receptacle and a second position that allows the more dense material to exit the fluid separation wall and move into the containment zone.
- 3. The centrifuge of claim 2, further comprising:
a pin operably engaged with the fluid separation wall, the pin extending radially from the fluid separation wall; and a slot formed in the valve ring, the slot operably formed to receive the pin therethrough and to guide the valve ring between the first position and the second position such that a valve orifice aligns with the respective opening in the second position.
- 4. The centrifuge of claim 2, further comprising:
a pin operably engaged with the valve ring, the pin extending radially through the valve ring to engage a slot; and the slot formed in the fluid separation wall, the slot operably formed to receive the pin and to guide the valve ring between the first position and the second position such that a valve orifice aligns with the respective opening in the second position.
- 5. The centrifuge of claim 2, further comprising a detent or stop formed in the valve ring, the detent operable to maintain the valve ring in the first position.
- 6. The centrifuge of claim 2, further comprising;
an upper wedge coupled to the fluid separation wall, the upper wedge operable to restrict the movement of the valve ring; and a lower wedge coupled to the fluid separation wall, the lower wedge operable to restrict the movement of the valve ring.
- 7. The centrifuge of claim 2, further comprising an actuator operable to cause the valve ring to move between the first position and the second position.
- 8. The centrifuge of claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises a brake pad and a solenoid operable to engage a portion of the valve ring to cause the valve ring to move between the first position and the second position.
- 9. The centrifuge of claim 7, further comprising a controller operable to control the actuation of the actuator.
- 10. The centrifuge of claim 2, further comprising at least one vane disposed on the valve ring, the at least one vane operable to interact with compressed air to cause the valve ring to move between the first position and the second position.
- 11. The centrifuge of claim 2, further comprising a spring coupled between an outer section of the fluid separation wall and the valve ring, the spring operable to bias the valve ring toward the first position.
- 12. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor operably coupled to the fluid separation wall, the pressure sensor operable to determine pressures within the fluid separation wall.
- 13. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the fluid separation wall further comprises a plurality of the receptacles forming a honeycomb pattern on the inner surface.
- 14. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising the respective geometry selected from the group consisting of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a diamond, a rhombus, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a circle, an oval, and a multi-walled shape.
- 15. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising a respective shape selected from the group consisting of pyramidal, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, trapezoidal, and multi-walled shape.
- 16. The centrifuge of claim 15, wherein the respective shape further comprises a wall selected from the group consisting of a curved wall, a compound curved wall, a steep sloped wall, a shallow sloped wall, a straight wall, a flat wall, an asymmetric shaped wall, an irregular shaped wall, and any combination thereof.
- 17. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the fluid separation wall comprises:
a modular fluid separation wall defined in part by at least one generally cylindrical disc; and multiple receptacles formed within the discs.
- 18. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the fluid separation wall comprises:
a modular fluid separation wall defined in part by at least one generally longitudinal wedge; and multiple receptacles formed within the wedge.
- 19. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising:
an anti-vorticity projection forming a part of the respective shape and extending into the associated void area of the receptacle; and the anti-vorticity projection operable to create chaos within the void area to prevent the formation of a cyclonic vorticity;
- 20. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising:
an anti-clogging projection formed within the at least one flow path; and the anti-clogging projection operable to disrupt the formation of a clog within the at least one flow path.
- 21. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising an activation switch operable to activate the excitation device causing the vibration.
- 22. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising a flexible middle layer disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface, the flexible middle layer operable to dampen the vibration from the excitation device.
- 23. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the excitation apparatus comprises an electromechanical vibration inducing device.
- 24. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the excitation apparatus comprises an object operable to rotate in a substantially circular pattern to create the vibration.
- 25. The centrifuge of claim 1, the excitation apparatus comprising:
a projection extending from a center core disposed in the centrifuge; and the projection operable to extend into the fluid medium placed in the receptacle to impart a vibration into the fluid medium.
- 26. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the excitation device and the opening are formed in part by a vibration inducing nozzle.
- 27. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the excitation device comprises an ultrasonic excitation device operable to apply ultrasonic vibrations to a portion of the flow path.
- 28. The centrifuge of claim 27, wherein the ultrasonic vibration comprises a frequency greater than approximately 20,000 cycles per second.
- 29. A method of separating more dense material from a fluid medium in a centrifuge, comprising:
rotating a fluid separation wall around an axis of rotation within the centrifuge to produce a centrifugal force that causes the more dense material in the fluid medium to separate from the fluid medium; directing the more dense material along a flow path through a void area towards an opening in the fluid separation wall such that the more dense material exits the fluid separation wall via the opening and deposits into a containment zone formed between the centrifuge core and a non-rotating sleeve; creating an excitation force within the centrifuge such that the excitation force imparts a vibration on the more dense material; and controlling the flow of the more dense material moving along the flow path.
- 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:
compressing the separated more dense material in at least one flow path of a receptacle by blocking at least a portion of the at least one flow path with a portion of a valve ring; and moving the valve ring along an outer surface of the fluid separation wall to release the more dense material compressed within the flow path such that the more dense material exits the fluid separation wall.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein moving the valve ring comprises rotating the valve ring along the axis of rotation to align at least one valve orifice with at least one flow path.
- 32. The method of claim 30, wherein moving the valve ring comprises moving the valve ring generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation such that the portion of the valve ring moves from a first position blocking the flow path to a second position opening the flow path.
- 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the moving the valve ring comprises sliding the valve ring along an outer portion of the fluid separation wall.
- 34. The method of claim 30, wherein moving the valve ring further comprises stopping the movement of the valve ring such that the at least one valve orifice aligns with at least one flow path in the stopped position.
- 35. The method of claim 30, wherein moving the valve ring further comprises stopping the movement of the valve ring at a detent position.
- 36. The method of claim 30, further comprising returning the valve ring to a default position using a spring biased to the default position.
- 37. The method of claim 30, further comprising simultaneously aligning all valve orifice with the flow paths along the valve ring.
- 38. The method of claim 29, wherein controlling the flow further comprises using an intermittent actuator to automatically release the more dense materials to move along the flow path.
- 39. The method of claim 29, wherein controlling the flow further comprises using an intermittent actuator to automatically release the more dense materials to move along the flow path.
- 40. The method of claim 29, further comprises automatically causing the release of more dense material to move along the flow path based on a predetermined condition.
- 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the predetermined condition compromises a condition selected from the group consisting of a pressure level within the fluid separation wall, a particle characteristic of a clarified fluid stream, and a combination of the pressure level within the fluid separation wall and the particle characteristic of the clarified fluid stream.
- 42. The method of claim 29, further comprising manually controlling the release of more dense materials to move along the flow path.
- 43. The method of claim 29, further comprising creating chaos by using an anti-vorticity projection formed within the at least one receptacle to prevent the formation of a cyclonic vorticity.
- 44. The method of claim 29, further comprising associating an anti-clogging projection with the opening to prevent the more dense material from clogging the opening.
- 45. The method of claim 29, wherein creating the excitation force comprises generating an ultrasonic vibration.
- 46. The method of claim 45, further comprising applying the generated ultrasonic vibration to the opening.
- 47. The method of claim 29, wherein creating the excitation force further compromises generating a vibration frequency greater than approximately 20,000 cycles per second.
- 48. The method of claim 29, further comprising compacting the more dense material in the receptacle with the aid of the excitation force.
- 49. The method of claim 29, further comprising partially fluidizing the more dense material using a vibratory device to cause the more dense material to move towards the opening.
- 50. The method of claim 29, wherein controlling the flow further compromises controlling a removal rate of the more dense fluid with the excitation force.
- 51. The method of claim 29, further comprising dampening the excitation force with a flexible middle layer such that the excitation force is substantially limited to the receptacle.
- 52. The method of claim 29, further comprising creating a motion with the excitation force, wherein the motion is selected from the group consisting of axial radial, linear, torsional, and arced.
- 53. The method of claim 29, further comprising creating the excitation force with a frequency in the range of 100 Hertz (Hz) to 40,000 Hz.
- 54. The method of claim 29, further comprising continuously activating the excitation force during the operation of the centrifuge.
- 55. The method of claim 29, further comprising activating the excitation force based on the operating conditions of the centrifuge to maintain a condition responsive activation.
- 56. The method of claim 29, further comprising activating the excitation force at periodic intervals to maintain a cyclical excitation force.
- 57. A centrifuge for removing more dense material from a fluid medium, comprising:
a fluid separation wall placed within a non-rotating sleeve to form a containment zone therebetween; the containment zone operable to receive a portion of the fluid medium having a greater concentration of the more dense material; a fluid separation wall aligned generally parallel to an axis of rotation and operable to rotate around the axis of rotation, the fluid separation wall having an inner surface, middle section, and an outer surface; at least one receptacle formed on the inner surface of the fluid separation wall; a respective geometry formed on the inner surface for each receptacle; a receptacle shape formed in the middle section of the receptacle, the receptacle shape in communication with the fluid medium; the receptacle operable to aid in separation of the more dense material from the fluid medium by forming a void space between the inner surface and the outer surface; at least one flow path extending through the fluid separation wall from the void space to the outer surface of the receptacle; the flow path operable to transport the more dense material to the containment zone; and means for vibrating the receptacle such that the more dense material moves toward the flow path to the containment zone; and means for controlling the flow of more dense material along the flow path towards to containment zone.
- 58. A centrifuge for removing more dense material from a fluid medium, comprising:
a fluid separation wall placed within a non-rotating sleeve to form a containment zone therebetween; the containment zone operable to receive a portion of the fluid medium having a greater concentration of the more dense material; the fluid separation wall aligned generally parallel to an axis of rotation and operable to rotate around the axis of rotation; a plurality of replaceable receptacles forming a part of the fluid separation wall, the plurality of replaceable receptacles to aid in the separation of more dense material from the fluid medium; an inner shell forming a part of the replaceable receptacle, the inner shell including a flanged surface and at least one opening, wherein the inner shell is in communication with the fluid medium; an outer shell segment forming a part of the replaceable receptacle and including a mounting surface, the mounting surface operable to couple to the flanged surface of the inner shell; at least one flow path extending through the fluid separation wall and out the at least one opening of the inner shell to the containment zone, the flow path operable to transport the more dense material to the containment zone; a valve ring having at least one orifice and formed over the opening, the valve ring operable to slide along the outer surface of the wall such that the at least one orifice aligns with the opening to allow the more dense material to exit the fluid separation wall and move into the containment zone; and an excitation apparatus associated with the replaceable receptacles, the excitation apparatus operable to create a vibration within the replaceable receptacle.
- 59. The centrifuge of claim 58 further comprising a shell wall forming a part of the inner shell, the shell wall including a receptacle shape operable to interact with the fluid medium.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/483,275 filed Jun. 25, 2003, and entitled “Density Screen Centrifuges with Multiple Features Combinations.”
[0002] This application is also a co-pending application to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/798,124 filed Mar. 11, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/454,448 filed Mar. 11, 2003;
[0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/294,840 filed Nov. 14, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/217,734 filed on Aug. 13, 2002 and also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/332,238 filed Nov. 15, 2001; and
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/131,102 filed Apr. 24, 2002, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/286,745 filed Apr. 25, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60483275 |
Jun 2003 |
US |