Centrifugal separator for separating solid contaminants from a liquid, rotor for use therein and method of separating contaminants from liquids

Abstract

A centrifugal separator(FIG.) for removing contaminants from a pumped liquid such as engine lubricant, having a separation rotorrotatable about axisat high speed by a jetof the liquid impinging upon impulse turbine blades. The rotor includes a separation and containment vesselhaving impervious side wallspaced from the rotation axis and at least one end wallopen atpermit liquid to leave the vessel as fast as it can enter, so that a zoneis defined adjacent side wallthat holds a volume of liquid much less than the whole volume encompassed by the vessel walls and filled in conventional high speed separators. Lower inertia and reduced pressure gradients in the liquid permit it to be spaced further from the axis than is conventional, with improved separation efficiency. Liquid may be supplied to zonein any convenient manner but as shown spent turbine liquid' is collected on a rotating surfaceof a divider wallthat spreads and/or directs the liquid to transfer passagesfrom which it is flung centrifugally to the separation zone. The outer side wallof the vessel which collects contaminants may be a replaceable attachment to the divider wall/turbine part. The rotor may alternatively comprise such a vessel surrounding a conventional, filled canister to effect a radial increase in such rotor without comparable increase in the volume of liquid contained.