Abstract: A drum filter is provided including a rotatably mounted, generally cylindrical drum with a filter and vacuum drainage associated therewith. The deck structure comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending, and radially projecting imperforate members affixed at one end to the outer peripheral surface of the drum and having an outer end on which said filter is supported. The members each include a pair of circumferentially spaced, axially extending, and radially projecting imperforate surfaces. Perforate members are preferably formed in a substantially "U" shaped cross-sectional configuration comprising a pair of sidewall members connected to a floor member, which in turn is joined to and supported on the outer peripheral surface of the filter drum. The opposed surfaces of the members together define filtrate slots which form open axially extending channels adapted to receive at least a substantial portion of the filtrate after the drum rotates past the twelve o'clock position.

Abstract: The shower pipe assembly of the present invention can be used in a washing device such as a rotary drum filter and comprises an elongate pipe member including means defining a hollow interior flow chamber, preferably located adjacent a washer device, for conveying a wash liquid, preferably a liquid for washing a pulp mat. The shower pipe includes at least one row of spray holes extending through the pipe from the interior flow chamber to the exterior thereof. It also comprises a spray diffusion flange assembly extending from the pipe member adjacent each of the spray holes and further includes apparatus for impermanently attaching the diffusion flange to, and detaching the diffusion flange from, the pipe member, preferably to the exterior of the pipe member. These attachment and detachment steps are carried out without the use of auxiliary internal connecting apparatus which are not part of the diffusion flange structure.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for axially and externally mounting an expandable sleeve onto, and dismounting the sleeve from, a cylinder. The subject device comprises an external fluid-transmission means for expanding the diameter of the expandable sleeve by introducing a fluid capable of expanding the sleeve between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the cylinder. The requisite sleeve expansion is accomplished without transmitting fluid from within the cylinder during the mounting and dismounting operations. The sleeve is contractable by the removal of the fluid.

Abstract: A unitary, cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve is provided which is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder. The subject printing sleeve comprises a printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and a wall thickness of at least about 0.015 inches. The sleeve is substantially airtight when mounted onto the printing cylinder, and has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces. The diameter of the printing sleeve is expandable by the introduction of a low fluid pressure level between the inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of the printing cylinder of not more than about 100 psi at ambient temperature. The printing sleeve is contractable by the removal of the low pressure fluid.

Abstract: The subject valve discharge system comprises a discharge valve member that includes a valve closure segment at an inlet end thereof for insertion in the discharge valve housing. It further includes valve connecting means at a discharge end thereof. The respective discharge valve member and the discharge valve housing together define a gap therebetween. The discharge elbow defines a flow passage therethrough and includes elbow inlet and outlet ends. The elbow inlet end includes elbow connecting means. Discharge valve mounting means are connected to the respective discharge valve member and the elbow connecting means, respectively. The valve mounting means is self-adjustable during use for axial movement in response to the axial movement of the discharge system which is responsive to the axial movement of the rotary drum filter. In this way, the gap setting is maintained at a substantially constant, fixed clearance.

Abstract: The improved rotary vacuum filter discharge flow assembly provides a discharge filtrate stream having a substantially increased filtrate flow velocity, a reduced vacuum loss, a reduced level of turbulence and air entrainment to means defining an axially-extending valve-receiving space in communication with a remote filtrate collection area. The subject assembly, which is located at one end of a rotary vacuum filter, includes a plurality of radially-disposed, inlet conduit means connected to and in communication with the rotary vacuum filter discharge flow assembly and comprises a plurality of radially-disposed discharge conduit means for transporting the discharge filtrate stream from the inlet conduit means to the valve-receiving space means. Each of the discharge conduit means are connected at one end to one end of the inlet conduit means, and are joined at the other end to respective adjacent discharge conduit means for defining the valve-receiving space means.