Patent US2763151A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3773253A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3773253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Centrifugal basket bottom valve machanism
Assignee: Western States Machine Co
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Filing: 1972-05-25
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1992-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A cyclical basket having openings in its bottom structure for the removal of centrifuged solids is provided with bottom valve means which are opened and closed by positioning means driven by slow rotation of the basket. The valve means comprise leaves hinged to the spokes of the basket for downward swinging movement to a hanging, open position, with the hinges so disposed that during high speed rotation of the basket the leaves are urged toward closed position both by the pressure of ambient air and by centrifugal force. The positioning means rotate with and are displaceable in a limited path relative to the basket bottom; for example, a spider turnable on the basket hub is connected with the leaves through rigid links and universal joints. Suitable actuating means, for example, a non-rotary slip clutch member engageable axially with a mating rotary clutch member on the spider, cause the leaves to be closed by rotation of the basket in the centrifuging direction and to be swung open by rotation of the basket in the reverse direction. The links can form toggle joints locking the leaves closed against pressure applied to their upper side.
Inventors
- 👤 T Laven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:01
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04B; B04B11/00; B04B11/04; B04B11/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A bottom valve mechanism for a cyclical centrifugal basket having in its bottom openings for the delivery of centrifuged solids from the basket, comprising valve means for closing said openings and movable away from them to an open position, means connected with said valve means and mounted for rotation with said basket yet displaceable angularly relative thereto about the axis thereof for positioning said valve means, and actuating means for causing said positioning means to be displaced angularly relative to said basket so as to dispose said valve means in open position by rotation of said basket in one direction, and to be displaced angularly relative to said basket so as to dispose said valve means in closed position by rotation of said basket in the other direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A bottom valve mechanism for a cyclical centrifugal basket having in its bottom openings for the delivery of centrifuged solids from the basket, comprising valve means for closing said openings and movable away from them to an open position, means connected with said valve means and mounted for rotation with said basket yet displaceable angularly relative thereto about the axis thereof for positioning said valve means, and actuating means for causing said positioning means to be displaced angularly relative to said basket so as to dispose said valve means in open position by rotation of said basket in one direction, and to be displaced angularly relative to said basket so as to dispose said valve means in closed position by rotation of said basket in the other direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, said actuating means including a rotary connecting member on said positioning means, a mating connecting member normally disengaged from the structures rotated with said basket, and means for moving said mating member into clutching engagement with said rotary member so as to restrain the latter against rotation with said basket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, said positioning means being turnable in a limited angular path about the axis of said basket, said actuating means comprising a rotary clutch member on said positioning means, a non-rotary clutch member normally disengaged from the structures rotated with said basket, and means for moving said non-rotary clutch member into clutching engagement with said rotary clutch member so as to restrain the latter against rotation with the basket, thereby causing said positioning means to be displaced angularly in one direction relative to said basket so as to move said valve means to closed position by rotation of the basket in the centrifuging direction and to be displaced angularly in the opposite direction so as to move the valve means to open position by rotation of the basket in the reverse direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
A mechanism according to claim 3, said clutch members being mating slip clutch members and said means for moving said non-rotary clutch member being operative to engage the same with said rotary clutch member under a limited pressure sufficient to prevent rotation of said rotary clutch member during displacement of said positioning means yet enabling rotation of said rotary clutch member by slipping thereof relative to said non-rotary clutch member when said positioning means is displaced to either limit of said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
A mechamism according to claim 1, Said basket bottom having a bottom ring, a central hub and spokes between said hub and said ring, said openings being spaces between said spokes, said valve means comprising for each of said openings a sector-shaped valve leaf and means hinging each said leaf to one of said spokes for swinging movement of the leaf from closed position to an open position in which it hangs downward from the related spoke, the hinge means of each leaf being disposed along a lateral edge of the leaf from which the leaf trails in the direction of the centrifuging rotation of the basket and said positioning means being responsive centrifugally to rotation of said basket in said direction so that upon such rotation said leaves are urged toward closed position both by the pressure of ambient air and by centrifugal force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A mechanism according to claim 5, each said hinging means being secured to and along the top of the related spoke so as to hinge the related valve leaf on an axis substantially parallel to the center line of the spoke.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, said basket bottom having a central hub, said valve means comprising a sector-shaped valve leaf for closing each of said openings, said positioning means comprising a rotary spider secured to said hub yet rotatable to and fro in a limited path relative thereto and a series of circumferentially spaced link means respectively connecting said spider to said leaves, and said actuating means comprising a rotary clutch member on said spider, a non-rotary clutch member that mates with said rotary clutch member but normally is disengaged from the structures rotated with said basket and means for moving said nonrotary clutch member into and out of clutching engagement with said rotary clutch member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A mechanism according to claim 7, said clutch members respectively having mating conical surfaces, said surface of said rotary clutch member being coaxial with said basket, and said means for moving said non-rotary clutch member including fluid pressure responsive means for moving the same upward to bring said surfaces into frictional engagement under a predetermined pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mechanism according to claim 8, said means for moving said non-rotary clutch member further including means for retracting the latter away from said rotary clutch member when said valve means have been moved to closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mechanism according to claim 7, each said link means comprising rigid arms respectively on the related valve leaf and said spider, a rigid link, and universal joints respectively connecting the opposite ends of said link to said arms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
A mechanism according to claim 10, the center of the one of said joints that connects said link to the arm on said leaf lying slightly beyond the radial plane containing the center of the other of said joints when said spider is at its valve closing position, so that said leaf is not displaceable from closed position by pressure upon its upper side.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |