Importance

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Abstract

Adjustment mechanisms for a low speed decanting centrifuge (10) for separating relatively large particulate material (e.g. yeast) from a feedstock are disclosed. The centrifuge is clamped to a container (12) and the centrifuge housing (18) is pressurized to, in turn, pressurize the container and force feedstock upwardly into the lower bowl (116) of the centrifuge. A stack of inverted frustoconical discs (278, 280, 282) carry supernatant downwardly and inwardly for vertical transfer to a discharge chamber (76). Particulate matter is centrifugally discharged continuously between engageable surfaces (146, 148) of the lower bowl member (116) and the upper bowl member (140). The invention provides for automatic or manual adjustment of the maximum gap available between the bowl members during operation. In one embodiment the drive motor (422), transfer tube (454), upper bowl members (470) and disc stack (482) are connected together so that the assembly thereof can be vertically adjusted through a gear train (434 to 444). In another embodiment an adjusting nut (512) on the transfer shaft (506) is used to determine the upper limit of the upper bowl member (502). A gear train (516, 536, 540) is used to move the adjusting nut on the transfer tube (506). In each case adjustment can be effected while the centrifuge is running.

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First Claim