Liquid cyclone or centrifugal cleaner

Claim 1

A cleaner for treating a liquid suspension of mixed relatively heavy and light particles to separate said relatively heavy and light particles from each other, comprising: (a) a top plate, (b) a bottom plate having a substantially centrally located outlet port therein, (c) a spiral wall including an outer portion cooperating with said plates to form the outer wall of said cleaner and also including a plurality of turns within said outer wall portion and cooperating therewith to define a spiral passage having a corresponding plurality of turns with the inner end thereof communicating directly with said outlet port, (d) means defining an inlet port leading into the outer end of said spiral passage for receiving the suspension to be treated, (e) whereby said suspension is caused to travel through said spiral passage to said inner end thereof and thereby to develop centrifugal force causing heavy particles therein to follow the radially outer wall of said passage to said outlet port, (f) means forming a second substantially centrally located outlet port through one of said plates for receiving the balance of said suspension including the relatively light particles therein, and (g) said portion of said spiral wall within said outer portion being of lesser height than said outer portion to provide space between the top thereof and said top plate through which said balance of the suspension can flow to said second outlet port.