Other

The French Oil Mill Machinery Co.

Arthur J Hunt

Kenneth F Uffenheimer

Arthur J Hunt, Jr

An automated fluid handling system configured to prepare fluid samples and to introduce them into an analytical instrument, such as a particle analyzer, flow cytometer or sorter flow cell, and that is capable of analyzing both accurately and quickly.

Automated fluid handling system and method

A cylindrically-shaped horizontal rotating unit which separates liquids from liquid-bearing materials, such as sludge or sewage, is the subject of this invention. After the liquid-bearing material is fed from a pipe onto a tray or head box located at the bottom of the feed end near the circumference of the unit, the material flows from onto the interior of the cylinder which contains bar screens around its circumference. The cylinder is rotated at variable speeds while the material is fed into it. When the cylinder is rotated liquids are drained from the material through bar screens contained around the circumference of the cylinder and into a drain pan below the cylinder thereby leaving the remaining material more solid. Additional features of this invention include interrupted pitched flights or blades protruding from the inside of the cylinder, which not only push the materials toward the discharge end of the cylinder but also roll the material end over end to remove even more liquid from the material. Also, a dam located at the discharge end of the cylinder can be adjusted to hold back the accumulated solids until the desired size and density are obtained. Finally, the solid material flows over the dam and onto a lip at the back of the cylinder ready for final disposal. Air and water spray systems are also provided to keep the bar screens on the interior of the cylinder clean from becoming clogged with particles of material being treated. A further optional feature is a heating chamber inside the cylinder which can be used to dry even further the material being treated.

Rotary liquid separation unit

A predrainer type screw press for dewatering highly liquid materials having a feed and pressing screw in which the body of a portion of the feed section of the press is cylindrical and the body of a portion in the pressing section of the press is frusto conical having its small diameter end contiguous with the cylindrical body and of a smaller diameter. The feed portion of the screw is partially surrounded by a bar screen for permitting draining of free run liquids from a material to be dewatered. A pressure assisted overflow in the input hopper is provided to limit the material head in the hopper to prevent slippage and ensure positive feed. Baffles are provided to absorb energy from input material having a high velocity to prevent sticking of material to the screw. Pressing section filter screens are hinged to open out for easy access for cleaning and have a liquid tight seal at the ends when closed.

Screw press improvements

A method of extracting clear juice from apples and similar fruit involving the use of a screw press having a feed screw with a very gradual continuous slope of the body of the feed screw such that the fruit is gently compressed as it passes through the screw press. The fruit is introduced into the input of a first of such presses and the juices and solids expressed from such gradual compressing are filtered and the juice separated from the remaining solids which are then reintroduced into the input for additional compressing. A second press of the same type may receive the pressed fruit pulp from the output of the first screw press and additional juice extracted therefrom.

Method of extraction of juice from fruit

A screw press for extracting liquids from materials such as fruits, vegetables, or the like having a cylindrical barrel and a rotatable shaft and helical feed and compression screw concentric with the barrel and having the shaft extending through the barrel. A portion of the barrel rearward from the feed and compression screw forms a cylindrical pressing chamber having screen walls for passing extracted liquids therethrough. The outlet end of the cylindrical pressing chamber is closed by a circular door slidably mounted on the drive shaft. Hydraulic actuators apply adjustable pressure to the outside surface of the door closing the chamber when in a non-operating condition. When material is being pressed in the pressing chamber, the internal pressure will overcome the external pressure causing the door to open for ejection of the dried material. The inner surface of the door includes projecting cutter bars. A clutch coupled to the door and the rotating drive shaft automatically engages when the door opens to cause the door to rotate and the cutting bars to pare away a cake of dried material which forms in the pressing chamber. The hydraulic pressure is adjustable to control the door opening pressure and therefore the percentage of liquid extracted from the materials being pressed. The feed and compression screw is driven by an adjustable drive system to permit control for optimum throughput of the press.

Screw press with controllable rear door

A screw press for extracting liquids from materials such as fruits, vegetables, or the like having a cylindrical barrel having a concentric variable-speed helical feed and compression screw. The rearward portion of the cylindrical barrel comprises a cage section having perforate filter screens for passing extracted liquids and filtering out undesired solids from the material being pressed. The cage section is formed by at least one pair of open semicircular frames having a plurality of spaced apart ribs which support replaceable filter screens. The repair of frames is attached along its bottom edge to a set of interleaved hinge blocks which are hingedly attached to the frame of the press. The pair of frames is removably joined along the upper edges of the frame. When the press is nonoperating, the frames are separated at the upper edges and the hinged blocks permit the frames to open in a book-like manner and swing downward and outward completely clear of the feed and compression screw. The wide open position permits cleaning of the screens and screw, or replacement of the screens. A feed portion of the press barrel has an opening limited to 11/2 times the feed screw pitch and an inlet chamber enclosing 50% to 75% of the circumference of the feed and compression screw. The feed and compression screw is driven by an adjustable hydraulic drive system to permit control for optimum throughput of the press.

Screw press with positive feed and accessible screens

A screw press for extraction of liquids from solids or semi-solids having a feed screw disposed in a cylindrical cage formed from filter screens. The feed screw has a body portion that increases in diameter over the full length of the screw in a linear fashion forming a gradual slope providing a gentle pressing action on the materials being pressed. A variable speed drive is used to optimize the rotational speed of the feed screw for maximum liquid extraction versus material throughput. The cylindrical cage comprises at least one pair of semi-circular sections connected along a lower edge by a set of offset hinges and bolted together along an upper edge. For cleaning of the press or changing of filter screens, the sections open with the offset hinges causing the sections to move downward and outward, completely clear of the feed screw. The screw press is especially suitable for predraining of grape must prior to final pressing, dejuicing fragile fruits such as apples, and dewatering of materials having a high liquid content.

Screw press with continuous slope feed screw

A system for extracting liquids from fruit, vegetables, or other similar materials with particular application to dejuicing grapes. The system provides a destemmer for receiving picked grapes and for removing stems and leaves therefrom. The destemmer partially crushes the grapes during the destemming operation producing free run juice in the resulting grape must. The must is transferred to a predrainer screw press which separates and collects the free run juice and a preselected portion of the residual juice by means of a gentle pressing action augmented by centrifugal force. The partially dewatered must is then transferred to one or more final screw presses which apply heavy compression to extract the remainder of usable juice from the predrained must. The predrainer press and final presses have throughput control means to provide a continuous feed of grapes through the system for maximum efficiency of juice extraction. The control system may be manually operated, or must volume sensors and must moisture sensors added with control circuits for automatically adjusting the system as the input of grapes to the destemmer varies. The system is adaptable to a wide variety of grapes and other produce for materials by preselection of the variable and controllable operating parameters.

System for extracting liquids from fruit and the like

A screw press for extracting liquid from materials, such as juice from fruits and vegetables, has a compressing section for expressing the liquid from the liquid containing material with a screw member and a holding section receiving the compressed pulp. The pulp holding chamber has an auger mounted therein for driving compressed material therefrom through a choke controlled discharge which opens in response to material pushed thereagainst. The choke has scraper blades mounted thereon to break apart the discharging pulp, and is clutched to rotate with the auger upon being pushed a predetermined amount. The cage forming the chamber can be separated for cleaning, and the auger is retractable from the chamber for cleaning by actuation of a motor drive retraction member. The screw member and auger each have variable speed drives to achieve a wide range of expressing conditions in both sections. The base of the press is separable between the sections such that the holding section can be used with different compressing sections.

Screw press apparatus

Continuously flowing cooking oil is recovered by passing the oil through a series of filters, one of which contains a carbonaceous material, such as bone char. The oil may be simultaneously heated during each filtering step, and the acidity of the oil may be reduced to avoid rancity.

Growing community of inventors

Ormond Beach, FL, United States of America

Arthur J Hunt