Center flow perforated plate filter
A waste water filter has a perforated conveyor made up of a plurality of segments. Each of the segments has a shelf portion to lift trapped filtered material. Drive chains on opposite sides of the conveyor rotate the conveyor in an oblong loop. End plates on the ends of each segment have leading and trailing edges that extend at an acute angle relative to one another. Each of the end plates is rigidly mounted to a link of one of the chains. A socket mounted on a first edge of each of the segments engages a rod mounted on a second edge of an adjacent segment. Seal plates are located between the chains and the end plates. Each of the seal plates is rigidly mounted to one of the end plates and has an overlapping portion that extends alongside in sliding contact with an adjacent one of the end plates.
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This application claims priority to provisional application 60/561,964, filed Apr. 14, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates in general to large screen filters, and particularly to a filter that utilizes a conveyor of perforated plates with the flow entering a central area between the upward and downward runs of the conveyor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONLarge filtration units are used by municipalities and various industries to filter material from the water. One type of filter uses a perforated conveyor having a large number of apertures. The conveyor is rotated in an oblong loop as the water flows through the conveyor. The conveyor is made up of a number of segments pivotally linked to each other. Each segment has a shelf portion that lifts filtered material trapped by the conveyor.
One type of unit is oriented normal to the direction of flow. The water flows through the upward moving run of the conveyor, then the downward moving run. Another type of unit, referred to herein as a center-flow unit, is oriented with the upward and downward moving runs in planes parallel with the direction of flow. The water enters an inlet between upward and downward moving runs and flows out both runs simultaneously.
In both types, chains are located on opposite ends of the segments to drive the conveyor. A variety of devices are employed to connect the segments to the chains. Different types of seal members are used to block fluid flow outward past the ends of the segments. In one type that orients normal to the flow, the unit has end plates mounted to each segment, each end plate being rigidly fastened to one of the links of the chain. That unit also has a seal plate mounted to each end plate. In that unit, the leading and trailing edges of each end plate are parallel with each other. The edges of adjacent end plates are close together on the linear portions of the conveyor and separate at the curved portions. The seal plate has a portion that overlaps an adjacent end plate to block a portion of the gap created at the curved portions. The seal plates have concave and convex edges that slidingly engage each other. While workable for a normal-to-flow filter, a conveyor with end plates and seal plates as described would not work with a center flow type filter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn this invention, the filter has a perforated conveyor for placement in a fluid flow to trap filtered material. The conveyor has a plurality of segments pivotally linked together, each of the segments having a shelf portion to lift trapped filtered material. A socket is mounted on a first edge of each of the segments. A rod is rigidly mounted to a second edge of each of the segments. The rod of each of the segments fits within the socket of an adjacent one of the segments to pivotally link the segments together.
End plates are rigidly mounted on opposite ends of each of the segments. Each of the end plates has leading and trailing edges that extend at an acute angle relative to one another. The leading edge of each of the segments is at an acute angle relative to the trailing edge of an adjacent one of the segments while on a linear portion of the conveyor, creating a V-shaped gap. The gap closes up while the segments round the axis at each end.
A plurality of seal plates located between the chains and the end plates. Each of the seal plates has a first portion rigidly mounted to one of the end plates and a second portion that overlaps with and is pivotal to an adjacent one of the end plates to block fluid flow through the V-shaped gap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
A pair of deflector plates 23 mounts to the forward side of filter 11. Deflector plates 23 extend from filter 11 to the side walls of channel 13. Deflector plates 23 converge toward each other to direct all of the flow in channel 13 into the interior of filter 11 between the two conveyor runs 15a, 15b. Filter 11 has a frame or housing with a closed downstream wall 25, forcing all of the fluid to flow simultaneously through conveyor runs 15a, 15b and trapping filtered material or filtered material on the inner sides of conveyor runs 15a, 15b. Conveyor 15 is configured in a stair-step configuration. Upward run 15a lifts the filtered material until reaching drive member 17, where the filtered material is dislodged, such as by brushes or downwardly directed spray nozzles 26. The filtered material falls into a chute 27 or conveyor that delivers the filtered material from channel 13.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In this embodiment, a leading hole 50 and a trailing hole 52 are located in each end plate 43. Holes 50, 52 are located on a line that it is parallel to outer edge 51 and intersects rod 37 and socket 39. Outer edge 51 is parallel to conveyor runs 15a, 15b. Lifting shelf 33a is at an angle that is preferably slightly less than 90 degrees relative to outer edge 51 for retaining filtered material on upward conveyor run 15a.
Referring to
Seal plate 53 has a leading hole 63 and a trailing hole 65 for receiving fasteners. Holes 63, 65 are located on a line that is parallel with outer edge 61. A recess or cutout 67 extends from trailing edge outer portion 57a selected distance inward to allow pivotal movement of each seal plate 53 with the end plate 43 of an adjacent screen member 33.
Each end plate 43 has an overall axial length Le measured parallel to inner edge 51 from socket 39 to rod 37. Each seal plate 53 has a greater overall axial length Ls measured from the junction of trailing edge portions 57a, 57b to where the inner tip of leading edge 55 extends. The curved leading and trailing edges 55 and 57b of adjacent seal plates 53 are closely spaced to each other to block outward flowing leakage. The transverse distance or height from inner edge 59 to outer edge 61 of each seal plate 53 is greater than the transverse distance or height from outer edge 51 to inner edge 49 of each end plate 43. Consequently, seal plates 53 protrude inwardly more than end plates 43, as shown in
As illustrated in
Each seal plate 53 is mounted to a single end plate 43, but it is axially offset so that a leading edge 45 of each end plate 43 leads the end plate 43 to which it is attached. Trailing edge 47 of each end plate 43 leads trailing edge portions 57a, 57b of its mating seal plate 53. Each seal plate 53 overlaps in sliding engagement a substantial portion of the adjacent trailing end plate 43.
Leading hole 63 of seal plate 53 aligns with trailing hole 52 of end plate 43 for receiving a fastener that also extends through a link of chain 69. Trailing hole 65 of seal plate 53 is aligned with rod 37 and a pin of chain 69 (
Referring to
In operation, the upward run 15a will appear as shown in
When going over drive member 17 or lower arcuate curved portion 21(
While in the upward moving run 15a, as shown in
The invention has significant advantages. The rod and socket linkage provides an effective seal. The connection of the end plates with the chains transfers weight to the chains rather than through the rod and socket joint. The seal plates create a labyrinth seal, effectively sealing both during the linear portions and curved portions of the conveyor.
While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, one could also employ the rod and socket between screen members with a filter that mounts the conveyor normal to the flow.
Claims
1. In a filter having a perforated conveyor for placement in a fluid flow to trap filtered material, a drive assembly for rotating the conveyor, the conveyor having a plurality of segments pivotally linked together, each of the segments having a shelf portion to lift trapped filtered material, the improvement comprising:
- a socket mounted on a first edge of each of the segments; and
- a rod rigidly mounted to a second edge of each of the segments, the rod of each of the segments being rotatably located within the socket of an adjacent one of the segments to pivotally link the segments together.
2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein each of the sockets extends continuously a full width of each of the segments.
3. The filter according to claim 2, wherein:
- each of the sockets has a cylindrical interior with a slot extending the full width of each of the segments; and
- each of the rods extends the full width of each of the segments, and the second edge of each of the segments extends through the slot of an adjacent one of the segments.
4. The filter according to claim 1, wherein:
- the drive assembly comprises a pair of chains, the chains being located on opposite sides of the conveyor; wherein end plates are secured to opposite sides of each of the segments; and
- a fastener extends between each of the end plates of the segments and a link of one of the chains to secure the segments to the chains.
5. The filter according to claim 1, wherein:
- the drive assembly comprises a pair of chains, the chains being located on opposite sides of the conveyor and secured to the segments by fasteners; and
- the rods have ends that are separated from the chains by a clearance so that lifting forces on each the segments pass from the end plates to the chains and not through the rods and sockets.
6. The filter according to claim 1, further comprising:
- end plates secured to opposite ends of each of the segments, each of the end plates having first and second edges extending at an acute angle relative to each other; and
- a plurality of seal plates, each of the seal plates having a second portion pivotally mounted to one of the end plates and a first portion extending past the first edge of the end plate to which it is mounted and alongside in flush sliding contact with an adjacent one of the end plates.
7. The filter according to claim 6, wherein the first edge of each of the end plates and the second edge of an adjacent one of the end plates are at an acute angle relative to one another while on linear portions of the conveyor, and substantially flush with one another while turning at ends of the conveyor.
8. In a center flow filter having a perforated conveyor for placement in a fluid flow to trap filtered material, a pair of chains on opposite sides of the conveyor for rotating the conveyor in a loop defining a linear upward moving run, an upper curved portion around an upper axis, a linear downward moving run, and a lower curved portion around a lower axis, the conveyor having a plurality of segments pivotally linked together, each of the segments having a shelf portion to lift trapped filtered material, the improvement comprising:
- a plurality of end plates, the end plates being rigidly mounted on opposite ends of each of the segments, each of the end plates having leading and trailing edges, the leading edge of one of the end plates and the trailing edge of an adjacent one of the end plates having gaps between them while on the upward and downward moving runs that decrease while on the upper and lower curved portions of the conveyor; and
- a plurality of seal plates located between the chains and the end plates, each of the seal plates having a first portion rigidly mounted to one of the end plates and a second portion that slidingly overlaps and is pivotal to an adjacent one of the end plates to overlay the gaps between adjacent ones of the end plates.
9. The filter according to claim 8, wherein each of the chains has a plurality of links, and wherein each of the end plates and each of the seal plates are rigidly attached to one of the links.
10. The filter according to claim 8, wherein the leading and trailing edges of each of the end plates extend at an acute angle relative to one another, creating a V-shaped gap between adjacent ones of the end plates while on the upward and downward moving runs and being substantially parallel while on the upper and lower curved portions of the conveyor.
11. The filter according to claim 8, wherein:
- each of the seal plates has a convex edge and a concave edge; and
- the convex edge of each of the seal plates is in flush sliding engagement with the concave edge of an adjacent one of the seal plates while on the upward and downward moving runs.
12. The filter according to claim 8, further comprising:
- a frame that supports the conveyor; and
- wherein the seal plates slidingly engage a portion of the frame to block filtered material from contact with the chain.
13. The filter according to claim 8, further comprising:
- a socket welded to a first edge of each of the segments, the socket having a cylindrical interior and an elongated slot; and
- a cylindrical rod welded to a second edge of each of the segments, the rod of each of the segments being rotatably located within the socket of an adjacent one of the segments, the second edge extending through the slot.
14. A filter, comprising:
- a frame having an inlet on one side and a closed opposite side;
- a perforated conveyor having a plurality of segments pivotally linked together, each of the segments having a shelf portion to lift trapped filtered material;
- a pair of chains on opposite sides of the conveyor for rotating the conveyor in a loop defining a linear upward moving run, an upper arcuate portion, a linear downward moving run, and a lower arcuate portion, the conveyor being oriented so that fluid flowing through the inlet of the frame passes first between the upward and downward moving runs, then outward through the upward and downward moving runs;
- a plurality of end plates, the end plates being rigidly mounted on opposite ends of each of the segments, the end plate of adjacent ones of the segments having gaps between them while on the upward and downward moving runs, the gaps decreasing while on the upper and lower arcuate portions;
- a socket mounted on a first edge of each of the segments, each of the sockets having a cylindrical interior and extending a full width of each of the segments, each of the sockets having a slot extending the full width of each of the segments;
- a rod rigidly mounted to a second edge of each of the segments and extending a full width of each of the segments, the rod of each of the segments being rotatably located within the socket of an adjacent one of the segments and the second edge extending through the slot; and
- a plurality of seal plates located between the chains and the end plates, each of the seal plates being rigidly mounted to one of the end plates and having an overlapping portion that extends alongside in sliding contact with an adjacent one of the end plates, each of the seal plates fully eclipsing one of the gaps between the end plates both while in the upward and downward moving runs and while in the upper and lower arcuate portions.
15. The filter according to claim 14, wherein:
- the frame has spaced-apart wall portions on each side that define a recess through which each of the chains extend; and
- the seal plates slidingly engage the wall portions to reduce fluid flowing into contact with the chains.
16. The filter according to claim 14, wherein each of the seal plates has a leading edge, a trailing edge, an outer edge and an inner edge, and wherein the outer edge has a portion located in the overlapping portion.
17. The filter according to claim 14, wherein:
- each of the end plates is secured to a link of one of the chains by a pair of fasteners; and
- the overlapping portion of each of the seal plates pivots relative to the end plate being overlapped while passing through the arcuate portions of the conveyor and has a cutout to accommodate the pivotal movement relative to one of the fasteners of the end plate being overlapped.
18. The filter according to claim 14, wherein:
- each of the end plates has leading and trailing edges that extend at an acute angle relative to one another, the leading edge of each of the segments being at an acute angle relative to the trailing edge of an adjacent one of the segments while on the upward and downward moving runs, creating a V-shaped gap, and being substantially parallel while on the arcuate portions.
19. The filter according to claim 14, wherein:
- the rods have ends that are separated from the chains by a clearance so that lifting forces on each the segments pass from the end plates to the chains and not through the rods and sockets.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 14, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Applicant:
Inventor: Gerald Seidl (Houston, TX)
Application Number: 11/105,838