Automatic Batch Centrifugals For High Purity Massecuites

1. Head Design
Ball and quill design for self-centering operation. Basket oscillations dampened by an adjustable rubber buffer.

2. AC Motor
With Tork-Master(TM) Variable Frequency Drive is 100% regenerative to AC supply. Loading, spinning and plowing are performed with one, simple, easy to maintain, single-wound squirrel cage main drive motor.

3. Motion Sensors
Applies the brake if basket gyration or vibration exceeds a preset limit.

4. Disc Brake
Simple and reliable. Provides a safety backup.

5. Automatic Discharger
Pneumatically operated. Square shaft for strength. Profiled shoe for fast unloading. Spring loaded shoe tip for long screen life.

6. Enclosed Butterfly Feed Valve
Programmed to achieve "pinch action" valve throttling for higher capacity with synchronous operation of our improved Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor.

7. Elastomeric Coupling
Split design isolates the motor shaft from the basket loads. Elastomeric element absorbs shock loads.

8. Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor(TM)
Senses load and throttles gate for increased capacity. All stainless steel construction.

9. Posi-Latch(TM) Valve
Downward opening. Mechanically latched in the closed position to prevent leakage during loading. Operating mechanism outside of basket for easy maintenance. All stainless steel construction.

10. Curb Top
Completely enclosed. One hinged door provides easy access for cleaning and inspection.

12. Wash Water Manifold
Adjustable spray pattern

13. Separable Spindle
Allows independent removal of basket or drive head.

14. Solenoid Valves

15. Monitor Case
Through-the-floor design for enhanced stability. Convenient curb top height.

16. Wash Ring
Works with Syrup Separator to provide more effective separation of the high and low purity molasses streams.

The head is designed specifically for use with the Tork-Master(TM) Variable Frequency Drive. A single disc brake is fitted to the head to provide emergency mechanical braking. Working in conjunction with two non-contact proximity sensors and two vibration sensors, the brake is applied when the basket gyration or vibration exceeds a preset limit. Normal braking is accomplished electrically by the Tork-Master drive.

The head is grease lubricated. Grease lubrication eliminates the need for a separate lubrication system and its associated piping. Grease lubrication eliminates the possibility of product contamination due to oil leaks. The head coupling has a special elastomeric element between the head half and the motor half to provide long life and smooth operation. The proven features of the G-series head have been retained in the design. Features such as the ball and quill self-centering spindle and adjustable rubber buffer provide excellent basket stability at all speeds.

The totally enclosed feed system is designed to meet the requirements of modern sugar refineries for totally enclosed centrifugals. Enclosing the feed system prevents product contamination. Two butterfly valves are used to assure trouble-free operation and prevent contamination of the sugar cake caused by molasses dripping into the basket after loading is complete. The feed control valve is fitted with an operator and a feed back device that operate in conjunction with Western States' Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor to assure the maximum load possible, each cycle. The feed control valve is closed in a series of steps to allow additional massecuite to be introduced to the basket to make up for volume lost due to purging during loading. A second valve, located at the curb top, seals the feed system to prevent molasses from contaminating the sugar cake. Wash-out and inspection ports are provided for inspection and cleaning. All parts of the feed system in contact with the massecuite are constructed of stainless steel.

The Posi-Latch valve is assembled concentrically with the basket spindle and opens downward. Downward opening provides the maximum basket opening for fast, efficient discharging of the sugar. When the Posi-Latch valve is in the closed position, it is mechanically latched to prevent leakage during loading. All of the operating mechanism is located outside of the basket for easy maintenance. All parts in contact with the product are constructed of stainless steel.

A new discharger designed to operate in the forward direction provides fast, efficient unloading of the basket. Single pneumatic cylinder operation allows for a shorter discharger shaft and reduced discharger maintenance. The large discharger shoe is designed to remove sugar from the basket quickly and cleanly. The shoe is shaped to efficiently remove the sugar from the basket wall and direct it out the bottom. The discharger shoe tip is spring mounted to allow complete cleaning of the screen without damage. Rotating the discharger shoe into the sugar wall allows the discharger housing to remain stationary on the curb top. The stationary housing provides a completely closed curb to prevent contamination of the product. The single pneumatic cylinder which lowers the discharger shoe is also located outside of the basket to prevent product contamination.

When in the rest position, the discharger shoe is rotated 180 degrees away from the sugar wall. Positioning the shoe in this way prevents contact between the shoe and the sugar wall in the event of a basket gyration. In addition, the rest position is electronically sensed to prevent the centrifugal from spinning or feeding product unless the discharger blade is in the proper position and the discharger is mechanically locked to prevent movement. The discharger shoe can not move from its rest position even if both electrical power and air pressure are lost.

The standard configuration for the Titan Series is through-the-floor mounted. The curb top is approximately 30" (765 mm) above the working floor providing easy access to the curb mounted devices for operating and maintenance personnel. The through-the-floor design enhances the overall stability of the centrifugal. Manually operated access covers allow operator access for cleaning and screen replacement.

All moving parts are fully guarded for operator safety. Solenoid valves and electrical junction boxes are mounted in enclosures built into the curb to protect them from the environment and provide an easy to clean installation. Standard material of construction is carbon steel. Stainless steel construction is available. An optional curb design featuring a flanged front cover to facilitate basket removal is also available. This design mounts flush to the operating floor with the curb top approximately 60" (1525 mm) above the working floor.

A stationary manifold with multiple nozzles is positioned inside the basket to assure uniform application of wash water over the entire surface of the sugar cake. A typical washing cycle includes pre-flushing of the basket prior to loading, first wash applied when the molasses leaves the sugar wall and a second wash to produce the required sugar quality. Provision for applying steam to the sugar cake is available. All piping is stainless steel.

The Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor employs sound wave technology to provide greater sensitivity to cake wall thicknesses and smoother process control.
Unlike mechanical or capacitance sensors, the advanced non-contact sensor uses ultrasonic waves to reliably monitor cake thicknesses. The use of sound waves offers unprecedented flexibility for monitoring cake walls within +/- .25 inch of desired cake thickness. The Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor's analog output linearly follows the cake wall for continuous sensing and uniform loading of the centrifugal.

The sensor features push button span limit settings and an analog output of either 4 to 20 mA or 0 to 10 VDC. The sensor component is epoxy sealed in a tough plastic housing designed to meet IP 67 and NEMA 4X industry standards. Because the velocity of sound in air is temperature dependent, the Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor contains a temperature sensor to compensate for air temperature variations.

Eliminates Moving Parts
Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor is the most reliable loading gate control for the batch sugar centrifugals available today. Its solid-state construction has no moving parts. Feeler arm adjustments and complicated servo linkages are eliminated. Ultra-Sonic Load Sensors can be retrofitted to older Western States centrifugals using existing electrical controls. It works with any centrifugal controller type, from mechanical relay to PLC.

Self-Contained
The sensors are mounted in an all stainless steel enclosure. All connections within the assembly are "potted" to assure complete protection against moisture and vibration. The sending and receiving units are mounted in a Teflon® collar to prevent buildup of massecuite in the sensing area.

Special Designed Sensors
The special narrow band Ultra-Sonic transmitter and receiver assure precise measurements of the wall thickness regardless of the fluidity of the massecuite.

Simple Calibration and Operation
The basic configuration is preset by Western States before shipment. In-plant calibration is a simple matter of pressing a button two times to set the empty and full basket condition. LEDs mounted on the sensor assure proper calibration. Desired cake thickness and full open gate position are entered via the operator interface located at the centrifugal.

Detect Thickness, Regulate Charging Without Contact
Ultrasonic sensing of cake thickness eliminates all contact between the sugar wall and sensor parts. There are no parts to wear out. There is no product "splash" because the sensor never touches the product.
This precise, non-contact cake detector features a long operating life and accurate repeatability over the entire range of operations.

Operation
The Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor is an electronic loading gate control. It replaces the entire mechanical loading system.

The loading gate receives the "gate open" signal from the centrifugal controller to initiate loading. After the loading gate is open, its actions are controlled by the Ultra-Sonic system. If power fails, the gate will close automatically. A manual gate opening mode is provided for cleaning or to remove obstructions.

The "gate open" signal actuates the transmitter which powers the Ultra-Sonic probe. The Ultra-Sonic transmitter sends continuous pulses indicating cake thickness to the control box. As the gate opens and closes, an electronic feedback device, mounted on the gate shaft, converts the movement to a digital signal. The control box compares the cake thickness (or load) signal from the transmitter and the gate position signal from the feedback device to control the gate.

Special circuitry assures proper operation of the gate position feedback device even with severe buildup around the gate shaft.

Detect Thickness, Regulate Charging Without Contact
Ultrasonic sensing of cake thickness eliminates all contact between the sugar wall and sensor parts. There are no parts to wear out. There is no product "splash" because the sensor never touches the product.
This precise, non-contact cake detector features a long operating life and accurate repeatability over the entire range of operations.

Operation
The Ultra-Sonic Load Sensor is an electronic loading gate control. It replaces the entire mechanical loading system.
The loading gate receives the "gate open" signal from the centrifugal controller to initiate loading. After the loading gate is open, its actions are controlled by the Ultra-Sonic system. If power fails, the gate will close automatically. A manual gate opening mode is provided for cleaning or to remove obstructions.

The "gate open" signal actuates the transmitter which powers the Ultra-Sonic probe. The Ultra-Sonic transmitter sends continuous pulses indicating cake thickness to the control box. As the gate opens and closes, an electronic feedback device, mounted on the gate shaft, converts the movement to a digital signal. The control box compares the cake thickness (or load) signal from the transmitter and the gate position signal from the feedback device to control the gate.

Special circuitry assures proper operation of the gate position feedback device even with severe buildup around the gate shaft.