A separator for removing contaminants from a circulating liquid, preferably a contaminated oil, by use of centrifugal motion wherein a cylindrical chamber is mounted about a spindle serving as an axis of rotation. In-flowing contaminated liquid to be treated enters the cylindrical chamber and the base of said chamber and is directed onto distribution disk wherein it impacts a plurality of drive surfaces that impart a first source of rotational motion to said chamber. The in-flowing oil to be treated is directed against the inner wall of the cylindrical chamber, thus causing contaminant to adhere to the inner wall. As the thickness of contaminant increases on the inner wall of the chamber, the rotational speed of the chamber is reduced until it reaches a predetermined threshold speed causing a sensor to activate a signal indicating that the separator needs to be cleaned of contaminant. There is also provided a porous material at the exit where treated liquid exits and which, after a period of time, will become blocked and thus also acting to slow the rotational speed of the chamber.

A rotor of a centrifugal separator, including a central shaft, a plurality of identical discs arranged in a stack on the central shaft, the central shaft having on an outer circumference an engagement contour for a rotationally fixed, axially slidable engagement with a corresponding contour on an inner circumference of the discs, the engagement and corresponding contours engageable with one another in multiple rotational positions at a circumferential distance from one another, and each disc having spacing elements situated at a disc circumferential distance from one another, which spacing elements hold each two adjacent discs at an axial distance from one another, forming an intermediate flow gap having a gap dimension. The spacing elements are formed and configured such that, via different rotational positions relative to one another of adjacent discs, at least two different axial dimensions of the flow gap between adjacent discs may be set.

A centrifuge has a mechanical drive coupled to a capsule rotatable simultaneously about mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes. A stationary base has a first motor driving a centrally located hub in rotation about the Z axis. The hub has a pair of colinear arms and a pair of struts extending from the arms to support an outer ring. An inner ring is positioned concentric with the outer ring and a second motor is engaged with both the outer ring and inner ring so that it is enabled for rotating the inner ring relative to the outer ring. A third motor is engaged with both the inner ring and the capsule for rotating said capsule relative to the inner ring. The simultaneous rotation of the capsule about all three axes is therefore possible.

A centrifuge has a mechanical drive coupled to a capsule rotatable simultaneously about mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes. A stationary base has a first motor driving a centrally located hub in rotation about the Z axis. The hub has a pair of colinear arms and a pair of struts extending from the arms to support an outer ring. An inner ring is positioned concentric with the outer ring and a second motor is engaged with both the outer ring and inner ring so that it is enabled for rotating the inner ring relative to the outer ring. A third motor is engaged with both the inner ring and the capsule for rotating said capsule relative to the inner ring. The simultaneous rotation of the capsule about all three axes is therefore possible.

Various example embodiments relate to rotating coalescers. One embodiment includes a housing comprising a first housing section having a blowby gas inlet structured to receive crankcase blowby gases from a crankcase. The housing further comprises an oil outlet. The rotating coalescer includes an endcap and filter media. The filter media is arranged in a cylindrical shape and is coupled to and positioned between the crankcase blowby gases passing through the filter media by coalescing and separating oils and aerosols contained in the crankcase blowby gases. The rotating coalescer includes a hollow shaft extending through the housing and positioned radially inside of the filter media. The hollow shaft forms a blowby gas outlet structured to route filtered crankcase blowby gases out of the housing. The rotating coalescer further includes a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the hollow shaft.

A spherical centrifuge has a sinusoidal track engaged on its surface, the track circling the surface following a great circle of said centrifuge. A mechanical drive engages the track enabling rotation of the centrifuge. The track may have a constant sinusoidal amplitude and a constant sinusoidal period. The centrifuge may have an interior space and a portal into the interior space. The interior space may have any shape. The centrifuge rotates about its diameter while also reciprocating in rolling motion lateral to its forward rotational direction by following the sinusoidal track.

A spherical centrifuge has a sinusoidal track engaged on its surface, the track circling the surface following a great circle of said centrifuge. A mechanical drive engages the track enabling rotation of the centrifuge. The track may have a constant sinusoidal amplitude and a constant sinusoidal period. The centrifuge may have an interior space and a portal into the interior space. The interior space may have any shape. The centrifuge rotates about its diameter while also reciprocating in rolling motion lateral to its forward rotational direction by following the sinusoidal track.

A spherical centrifuge has a sinusoidal track engaged on its surface, the track circling the surface following a great circle of said centrifuge. A mechanical drive engages the track enabling rotation of the centrifuge. The track may have a constant sinusoidal amplitude and a constant sinusoidal period. The centrifuge may have an interior space and a portal into the interior space. The interior space may have any shape. The centrifuge rotates about its diameter while also reciprocating in rolling motion lateral to its forward rotational direction by following the sinusoidal track.

A spherical centrifuge has a sinusoidal track engaged on its surface, the track circling the surface following a great circle of said centrifuge. A mechanical drive engages the track enabling rotation of the centrifuge. The track may have a constant sinusoidal amplitude and a constant sinusoidal period. The centrifuge may have an interior space and a portal into the interior space. The interior space may have any shape. The centrifuge rotates about its diameter while also reciprocating in rolling motion lateral to its forward rotational direction by following the sinusoidal track.

A centrifugal separator for cleaning gas containing contaminants includes a stationary casing, a gas inlet, a rotating member including a plurality of separation members, a gas outlet, a drainage outlet arranged in the lower portion of the stationary casing and a drive member for rotating the rotating member. The axial inner side surface of the stationary casing incudes at least one straight recess extending in the axial direction for accumulating oil that has been separated in the plurality of separation members. The at least one recess includes a first radial recess surface extending from the axial inner side surface of the stationary casing. The at least one recess extends axially on the inner side surface at least along the axial length of the radially outermost portion of the separation members.