Claims
- 1. A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising
- a bowl rotatable about an axis,
- a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within the rotating bowl, the conveyor hub having an inside surface and an outside surface,
- at least one feed slurry passageway between the inside surface of the conveyor hub and the outside surface of the conveyor hub, and
- at least one feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus associated with the passageway, the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus including a generally U-shaped channel having a substantially planar base and two side walls such that the U-shaped channel is open in the direction of rotation of the conveyor hub, and extending outwardly from the outside surface of the conveyor hub.
- 2. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus has an outermost radius moving at a fixed circumferential speed for a given rate of rotation of the conveyor hub and includes a flow directing and overspeeding member so as to direct the feed slurry exiting the nozzle apparatus in the direction of rotation of the conveyor hub at a circumferential speed greater than the circumferential speed of the accelerating nozzle apparatus at its outermost radius.
- 3. The feed accelerator system of claim 2 wherein the flow deflecting and overspeeding member is removable.
- 4. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus includes a baffle which extends radially inward into a slurry pool formed on the inside surface of the conveyor or hub.
- 5. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped channel is removable.
- 6. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the passageway includes a cross-sectional area having a longer dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation.
- 7. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus includes a cross-sectional area having a longer dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation.
- 8. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 further comprising a slurry separation pool located in a zone formed between the conveyor hub and the bowl, the pool having a pool surface, wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus extends from the outside surface of the conveyor hub proximately to the surface of the slurry separation pool.
- 9. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus extends from the outside surface of the conveyor hub into a slurry separation pool located in a zone formed between the conveyor hub and the bowl.
- 10. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus is removably secured to the passageway by a fastener assembly.
- 11. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the passageway includes at least one wear resistant insert.
- 12. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus includes at least one wear resistant insert.
- 13. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the passageway is generally rectangular shaped, and includes a cross-sectional area having a longer dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation.
- 14. The feed slurry accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus is generally rectangular shaped, and includes a cross-sectional area having a longer dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation.
- 15. A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising
- a bowl rotatable about an axis,
- a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within the rotating bowl, the conveyor hub having an inside surface and an outside surface,
- at least one feed slurry passageway between the inside surface of the conveyor hub and the outside surface of the conveyor hub, and
- at least one feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus associated with the passageway, the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus including a generally oval shaped channel having a base that extends straight in a generally radial direction from the axis of rotation.
- 16. The feed accelerator system of claim 15 wherein the passageway is generally oval-shaped and includes a cross-sectional area having a longer maximum dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a maximum dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation.
- 17. The feed accelerator system of claim 15 wherein the feed accelerating nozzle apparatus includes a cross-sectional area having a longer maximum dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a maximum dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation.
- 18. A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising
- a bowl rotatable about an axis,
- a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within the rotating bowl for rotation in a selected direction, the conveyor hub having an inside surface and an outside surface,
- at least one feed slurry passageway between the inside surface of the conveyor hub and the outside surface of the conveyor hub, and
- at least one feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus associated with the passageway and extending outwardly from the outside surface of the conveyor hub, the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus including a generally U-shaped channel having a flow directing and overspeeding member and an outermost radius moving at a fixed circumferential speed for a given rate of rotation of the conveyor hub, wherein the feed slurry exiting the nozzle apparatus is directed in the direction of rotation of the conveyor hub at a circumferential speed greater than the circumferential speed of the accelerating nozzle apparatus at its outermost radius.
- 19. The feed accelerator system of claim 18 wherein the flow directing and overspeeding member is removable.
- 20. The feed accelerator system of claim 18 wherein the U-shaped channel is removable.
- 21. A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising
- a bowl rotatable about an axis,
- a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within the rotating bowl for rotation in a selected direction, the conveyor hub having an inside surface and an outside surface,
- at least one feed slurry passageway between the inside surface of the conveyor hub and the outside surface of the conveyor hub, and
- at least one feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus associated with the passageway, the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus including a generally U-shaped channel extending outwardly from the conveyor hub and a baffle which extends radially inward into a slurry pool formed on the inside surface of the conveyor hub.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/182,686 filed on Jan. 18, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,734, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/799,371 filed on Nov. 27, 1991.
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
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182686 |
Jan 1994 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
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Country |
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799371 |
Nov 1991 |
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