Mann+hummel Gmbh

John Lawrence Mills

Anthony W Fell

Klemens Dworatzek

Nigel Burford

Nicholas Foulkes

Martin Weindorf

Andrew L Samways

Andy Collins

Sebastian Naegelen

Brian Harrison

Martyn Congram

Stuart Percy

Adrian Day

Graham Palmer

Sebastian Nägelen

A separation cone () is mounted into the interior chamber of a centrifugal separator rotor (), which comprises a cover () releasably connected to a base (), in order to provide a frusto-conical wall subdividing the chamber into upper and lower regions. This slows the passage of fluid from the upper to the lower region, which takes place via openings () and/or via a gap between the inner rim () of the cone () and the axial inlet tube (). The separation cone () is connected to the cover () by a releasable snap fit arrangement, such as by deflectable tabs () around the periphery of the separation cone () engaging into a groove () around the interior surface adjacent a lower edge of the cover (). This allows there to be a predetermined sequence of servicing operations and ensures that the separation cone () will reliably stay with the cover () when the cover is removed.

Centrifugal separator with snap fit separation cone

To enable centrifugal filtration of fluids which contain abrasive contaminant particles the rotor bearings () must be isolated from the fluid which passes into and through the rotor chamber (). This is achieved by a design in which the spindle () is connected to the rotor so as to rotate in unison with the rotor () relative to the base (). The bearings () for the spindle () are provided in a bearing housing () which is fixedly mounted to the base () and a sealing arrangement, preferably a spring-loaded axial seal (), is provided between the spindle () and the base () at a location below the bearings () in the bearing housing ().

Centrifugal separator with protected bearing

A shuttle valve () is provided in the axial bore () of a stationary spindle () through which fluid is supplied to a rotor () of a centrifugal separator to close off the fluid outlets () to the rotor () automatically upon removal of the cap () or cover assembly () in the event that fluid supply has not been switched off.

Safety valve for a centrifugal separator

The invention describes a self-powered centrifugal separator comprising a base, a rotor mounted on an operably substantially vertical axis for rotation thereabout by reaction to fluid emission from rotor nozzles therein, a housing mounted on the base and enclosing the rotor, a sump formed in the base below the rotor, a fluid passageway through the base extending from an inlet port to an outlet port and including a diversion port to supply fluid to the interior of the rotor by way of the rotation axis, a drain passage in the base for draining fluid from the sump to the fluid passageway, and a venturi arrangement provided in the fluid passageway in the base to develop suction pressure to draw fluid from the drainage passage into the fluid passageway, whereas a spring loaded valve body is provided in the fluid passageway, said body being configured and arranged to shut off supply of fluid to the interior of the rotor when pressure of fluid entering the inlet port falls below a predetermined minimum pressure value and also to restrict and/or shut off supply of fluid to the interior of the rotor when pressure of fluid entering the inlet port rises above a second predetermined pressure value.

Centrifugal separator with venturi arrangement

A rotor () for a centrifugal separator () for circulated engine lubricant formed by end walls () and radially outer and inner side walls () that define a separation and containment region (). Wall () is defined by a tubular tension member () that surrounds a rotation axis () and extends between and through the end walls to keep them in position. Mounted within first and second ends () of the tubular tension member are respective first and second end closure plugs (). Plug () has a passage () to admit liquid into the tubular member, but otherwise each plug is seated to inhibit passage of liquid from the member end. Each plug comprises a body seated by interference fit and an integral axially extending component () that forms a mounting pin for mounting the rotor within bearing parts () of the housing. Closure plugs may be assembled from separate plug body and fixed or rotatable mounting pin components and may extend along the tubular member and be coupled to each other, or be formed integrally as a unitary body, or share a common mounting pin that extends between discrete plug bodies.

Centrifugal separator and rotor therefor

Centrifuge housing

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Ilminster, United Kingdom

John Lawrence Mills