Importance

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Abstract

A centrifuge for separating first and second liquids having different specific gravities includes a container supported for rotation about an axis, a drive arrangement for rotating the container, a supply arrangement for introducing a mixture of the liquids into the container, a valve arrangement supported on the container and in fluid communication with and responsive to fluid pressure in a radially outermost portion of the container for discharging quantities of the first liquid from such portion of the container to the region external to the container during rotation of the container, and an arrangement for removing from the container during rotation thereof quantities of the second liquid. A valve of the valve arrangement includes a housing having a cylindrical bore which opens into a chamber, a flexible diaphragm extending across the chamber perpendicular to the bore, an elongate tube slidably supported in the bore and being sealingly received in a central opening in the diaphragm, a resilient arrangement yieldably urging axial movement of the tube, a passageway in the valve housing providing fluid communication between opposite sides of the container wall, and a valve member fixedly supported on the tube and movable between positions obstructing and permitting fluid flow through the passageway.

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First Claim