INFLOW APPARATUS FOR A DECANTER CENTRIFUGE

Abstract

An inflow apparatus includes an inlet opening for introducing a starting product into the inflow apparatus, at least one first outlet opening and one second outlet opening different from the first outlet opening for feeding the starting product from the inflow apparatus into the filling zone. The inflow apparatus additionally includes a connection device via which the inlet opening is in flow communication with the first outlet opening and with the second outlet opening. To ensure a homogeneous distribution of the starting product in the filling zone in the peripheral direction, the connection device includes a first passage and a second passage different from the first passage, with the first outlet opening being in flow communication with the inlet opening via the first passage and the second outlet opening being in flow communication with the inlet opening via the second passage.

Claims

1. An inflow apparatus for feeding a starting product into a filling zone of a decanter centrifuge, comprising: an inlet opening configured to introduce the starting product into the inflow apparatus; at least one first outlet opening and a second outlet opening different from the first outlet opening, the at least one first outlet opening and the second outlet opening configured to feed the starting product from the inflow apparatus into the filling zone; and a connection device via which the inlet opening is in flow communication with the first outlet opening and the second outlet opening, the connection device including a first passage and a second passage different from the first passage, with the first outlet opening being in flow communication with the inlet opening via the first passage and the second outlet opening being in flow communication with the inlet opening via the second passage.

2. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first passage extends continuously from the first outlet opening up to the inlet opening and the second passage extends continuously from the second outlet opening up to the inlet opening.

3. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inflow apparatus has a mixing chamber between the inlet opening and the first outlet opening or the second outlet opening; and the first passage extends continuously from the first outlet opening up to the mixing chamber or the second passage extends continuously from the second outlet opening up to the mixing chamber.

4. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional surface of the first passage increases from the inlet opening to the first outlet opening, or the cross-sectional surface of the second passage increases from the inlet opening to the second outlet opening.

5. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first passage opens into the first outlet opening at a predefinable angle or the second passage opens into the second outlet opening at a predefinable angle so that the first passage or the second passage follows a curve.

6. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inflow apparatus includes a fastening element configured to fasten the inflow apparatus in the filling zone.

7. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the fastening element is arranged in a region of the inlet opening or at an end opposite the inlet opening.

8. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the fastening element is a disk.

9. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the fastening element is connected to the first passage or to the second passage via a support element.

10. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first passage or the second passage is at least partly surrounded by a stabilizing element.

11. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first outlet opening or the second outlet opening is integrated in the stabilizing element.

12. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the stabilizing element is a lattice.

13. The inflow apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inflow apparatus is formed by an additive process.

14. A centrifuge drum for a decanter centrifuge having the inflow apparatus of claim 1.

15. A decanter centrifuge having the centrifuge drum of claim 14.

16. A decanter centrifuge having the inflow apparatus of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a sectional representation of a centrifuge drum with a conveying element and with an inflow apparatus known from the prior art;

[0042] FIG. 2A is a first embodiment of an inflow apparatus in accordance with the invention,

[0043] FIG. 2B is a sectional representation of the conveying element with an inflow apparatus in accordance with FIG. 2A;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of an inflow apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a third embodiment of an inflow apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a fourth embodiment of an inflow apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a fifth embodiment of an inflow apparatus in accordance with the invention; and

[0048] FIG. 7 is a sixth embodiment of an inflow apparatus in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0049] As already mentioned, FIG. 1 shows the prior art and has already been explained comprehensively in the introduction so that a further discussion will be dispensed with here.

[0050] FIG. 2A shows a first embodiment of an inflow apparatus in accordance with the invention that will be marked in total by reference numeral 1 in the following. The reference numerals used in FIG. 2A to FIG. 7 do not have any prime in this respect since these Figures relate to embodiments of the present invention. As already mentioned above, only the reference numerals of FIG. 1 have a prime since it relates to the known prior art.

[0051] In accordance with FIG. 2A, the inflow apparatus 1 comprises an inlet opening 2, a first outlet opening 301, a second outlet opening 302, a third outlet opening 303, and a fourth outlet opening 304 (not shown in FIG. 2A). The outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304 are configured differently from one another. As already mentioned with respect to FIG. 1, the inlet opening 2 serves for the feeding of a starting product into the filling zone of the decanter centrifuge and the outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304 serve for the feeding of the starting product from the inflow apparatus into the filling zone. The inflow apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a connection device via which the inlet opening 2 is in flow communication with the first, second, third, and fourth outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304. The connection device in this respect comprises a first passage 401, a second passage 402, a third passage 403, and a fourth passage 404. The passages 401, 402, 403, 404 are configured differently from one another. The first outlet opening 301 is in flow communication with the inlet opening 2 via the first passage 401; the second outlet opening 302 via the second passage; the third outlet opening 303 via the third passage 403; and the fourth outlet opening 304 via the fourth passage 404.

[0052] The first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404 each extend continuously from the first, second, third, and fourth outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304 up to the inlet opening 2. The starting product flowing into the inflow apparatus is thus distributed over the first, second, third, and fourth outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304 at the inlet opening 2. The first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404 are configured such that the cross-sectional surface of the respective passage increases from the inlet opening 2 to the first, second, third, and fourth outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304. In addition, the inflow apparatus 1 comprises a stabilizing element 8 that partly surrounds the first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404. The inflow apparatus 1 additionally has a mount element in the form of a pin 15 at the other end of the inlet opening 2, said pin serving for mounting a fastening element 6 (FIG. 2B).

[0053] In the embodiment, the inlet opening 2 extends coaxially to a longitudinal axis 14 of the inflow apparatus 1 and the outlet opening 301, 302, 303, 304 extends radially to the longitudinal axis 14. The first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404 thus extend at a curve with respect to the longitudinal axis 14 so that a substantially targeted deflection of the starting product from an axial direction into a radial direction takes place through the first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404. In addition, in this embodiment, the outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304 are arranged offset from one another along the longitudinal axis 14.

[0054] FIG. 2B shows a sectional representation of a conveying element 10 with the above-described inflow apparatus 1 in accordance with FIG. 2A. As can be seen from FIG. 2B, the inflow apparatus 1 is fastened to the inner surface of the conveying element 10 via a fastening element 6 that is formed as a disk. The connection between the inflow apparatus 1 and the fastening element 6 takes place via the pin 15 of the inflow apparatus 1 that cooperates with a bore 16 of the fastening element 6.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of an inflow apparatus 1 in accordance with the invention. Unlike the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2A, the inflow apparatus 1 does not have a stabilizing element that partly surrounds the first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404. The inflow apparatus 1 in contrast has a fastening element 6 at an end opposite the inlet opening 2. The fastening element 6 is formed as a disk and is connected to the passages via support elements 7.

[0056] A third embodiment of an inflow apparatus 1 in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 4. The inflow apparatus 1, unlike the inflow apparatus 1 in accordance with FIG. 3, has a mixing chamber 5. The mixing chamber 5 is arranged between the inlet opening 2 and the first, second, third, and fourth outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304. The first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404 in this respect extend continuously from the respective outlet opening 301, 302, 303, 304 up to the mixing chamber 5. In this embodiment, the starting product is thus collected in the mixing chamber before it is conducted into the first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of an inflow apparatus 1 in accordance with the invention. Unlike the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2A, the inflow apparatus 1 has a stabilizing element 8 that partly surrounds the first, second, third, and fourth passages 401, 402, 403, 404. The first, second, third, and fourth outlet openings 301, 302, 303, 304 are integrated in the stabilizing element 8 in this respect. The stabilizing element 8 simultaneously serves as a fastening element for attaching the inflow apparatus 1 in the conveying element.

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of an inflow apparatus 1 in accordance with the invention. Unlike the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 5, the stabilizing element 8 is not formed as solid, but rather as a lattice. In addition, the stabilizing element 8 only extends over a part of the length of the inflow apparatus 1.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of an inflow apparatus 1 in accordance with the invention. Unlike the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2A, the inflow apparatus 1 additionally has a fastening element 6 that is formed as a disk and is arranged in the region of the inflow opening 2.