Abstract: An extended nip press for a paper machine for removing water from a wet fibrous or porous web. The press comprises two parallel, rotating press rolls which are pressed against each other and form therebetween a press nip through which a web to be dried passes together with at least one drier felt. At least one of the press rolls is provided with a hard support cylinder and a flexibly compressible shell layer surrounding said cylinder so that the press nip forms an extended press zone. In order to equalize the pressure and the temperature in the press zone, the shell layer is provided with a flexible layer formed by at least one liquid-filled cavity and a gas-filled cell disposed in the cavity, said flexible layer surrounding the support cylinder at least corresponding to the width of the web.

Abstract: A wedge die is provided for shaping plywood or the like into a desired configuration. It includes a female die section having a body member with a channel defined therein. The channel has opposing inwardly tapered walls and an inner surface connecting these walls. First and second generally L-shaped slidable members are held by spring members and connecting links within the channel and in contact with the tapered walls. The slidable members have opposing inner surfaces which correspond to the desired exterior surface of the workpiece. A compressible bumper is positioned between the inner surface of the channel and each of the slidable members. A male die member having an exterior surface corresponding to the desired interior surface of the workpiece is also provided. In operation, the female die section is forced upon the male die member. After the male die member is a certain distance within the channel, the slidable members move towards the inner surface of the channel and accordingly toward each other.

Abstract: A ply (100) of fiber reinforced composite material is laid onto a mandrel (30) having a vacuum ported upper surface with a generally U-shaped cross section. Ply (100) is laid onto the top web (32) of mandrel (30), with its side edges being laid in a cantilevered fashion. A flexible bag (20) is inflated into a stretched condition and lowered over mandrel (30). Bag (20) rolls over mandrel (30) to form play (100) down over mandrel (30). As bag (20) rolls over mandrel (30), it folds ply (100) along two contoured bend lines between the web (32) and flanges (34, 36) of mandrel (30) and simultaneously restrains ply (100) from folding along a straight line. Bag (20) engages a seal (38) carried by mandrel (30). A vacuum is applied through mandrel (30) to evacuate the area between bag (20) and mandrel (30) within seal (38), to compact ply ( 100). Each ply of composite material is formed and compacted before laying another ply.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for extracting liquid from cloth goods, such as laundry from a washing machine, wherein a dome having a diaphragm across its lower end is mounted above a press plate which is reciprocable beneath the dome between an upper position adjacent the diaphragm, whereby the diaphragm may be inflated by fluid pressure supplied to the dome in order to press a batch of goods received on the press plate, and a lower position to permit the pressed goods or cake to be moved laterally off the press plate and another batch to be received thereon at the start of a subsequent press cycle, and a basket is mounted for shifting vertically between an upper position to form with the press plate a container for the goods which are received thereon, and a lower position beneath the top side of the press plate as the press plate is raised to its upper position as well as upon lowering of the press plate to permit removal of the cake.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in the fabrication of laminated products. A laminator includes lower and upper units, the lower unit adapted to receive a workpiece within a recessed interior cavity and the upper portion providing a hood thereover. An elastomeric membrane, which serves as a diaphragm for transmitting forces, is adhesively secured at the periphery of the upper unit. A peripheral rib structure associated with the lower unit is provided to assure air tight sealing of the vacuum chamber wherein lamination takes place. Ports in the upper and lower members are adapted to accept the outputs of air evacuation apparatus for controllably actuating the membrane to apply a compressive force over the surface of the workpiece during the lamination process.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated press, particularly for pressing grapes, has a cylindrical drum which is rotatable about a horizontal axis.An internal membrane separates the drum into a pressing space in which the groups are pressed and an air space to which compressed air is introduced.A side wall of the drum defining the pressing space is perforated for passing the juice from the space and an opening in this side wall admits the grapes before and after pressing.The drum is cylindrical with the perforated side wall comprising half the drum surface and presenting a smooth surface to the membrane.The membrane is connected to the drum at opposite sides of its axis by connecting strips.

Abstract: A press for gluing footwear elements to each other comprising a tank and means for supporting an article of footwear in the tank. A flexible pocket or elastic membrane is positioned in the tank and is adapted to envelope at least the portion of the article of footwear which includes the footwear elements which are to be glued to each other. The press includes a jack having a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, the piston being adapted to be moved by the application of a pressurized pneumatic fluid to one surface of the piston. The opposite surface of the piston communicates with a liquid supply in the tank, whereby movement of the piston is operable to force the liquid under pressure against the flexible pocket or elastic membrane to cause the flexible pocket to conform to the contour of the footwear elements whereby to cause the elements to become glued to each other. Means is provided for moving the piston to a retracted position when the pneumatic pressure is released.

Abstract: A nut blanching arrangement in which nuts to be blanched are passed between first and second spaced, counter-rotating rollers. Each roller is provided with a plurality of hollow elastic tubular rings extending around its outer circumference. The tubular rings on the first roller are longitudinally aligned with respect to the tubular rings on the second roller such that each four adjacent tubular rings, two on each roller, form an opening through which the nuts pass during the blanching operation. In this arrangement, the nuts passing between the counter-rotating rollers are forced between the grooves of adjacent tubular rings such that the rings encapsulate and compress the nuts as they pass therebetween. The counter-rotating rollers are rotated at slightly different speeds such that during the blanching operation, the slight differential in the roller speeds causes the outer skin of the peanut to peel away from the nut meat.

Abstract: A diaphragm type cake compressor for filter presses employing recessed plates, which compressor comprises a planar panel of quadrilateral configuration and formed from a suitable inert material to define a lower central slurry feed through opening and at its corner portions at least one filtrate passing aperture and at least one separate wash passing aperture, which panel has applied to each face of same an elastomeric membrane, which membranes are secured in place by double sided adhesive tape applied about the margins of the panel and membranes, in circumambient relation thereto, with the membranes being coupled together and through the panel slurry feed through opening in sealing relation thereto to define the slurry feed through port of the compressor, and with the membrane being apertured to correspond to the panel filtrate and wash apertures, which apertures are sealed off from the slurry by adhesive tape bonding of the membranes to the panel.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for use in a press having one or several openings defined by a number of platens, consisting of a plate to which an inflatable, flexible seal with a protective retainer is attached and is installed in the space in each opening by suspending it to the bottom side of each platen. After closing of the press, positive air pressure is delivered into the sealing element to gradually inflate the sealing element causing a tight sealing of the space between the platens irrespective of the irregularities existing in the contact surface of the sealing element. A vacuum can be applied to remove any contaminants and/or gasses trapped in the space enclosed by the sealing assembly.

Abstract: A press container of a diaphragm press for agricultural products, such as grapes, fruits and other fruits or fruit-like products is driven to be rotatable about its horizontal lengthwise axis and is provided with two substantially hood-shaped diaphragms or membranes. The diaphragm attachment elements are arranged at surfaces which run with opposite inclination in the direction of the inlet and outlet opening, respectively. During the filling of the container the diaphragms are located at the upper side thereof and at the same time juice outlet channels of the press container lie free at the region of dropping of the mesh. This leads to an increased juice extraction by pre-dejuicing. The conveying action of the diaphragm attachment elements facilitates the removal of the grape or product residue.

Abstract: An apparatus for laminating a solar cell structure includes upper and lower housing members and an intermediate member which includes a flexible membrane. The members form upper and lower sealed chambers which can be selectively evacuated. The solar cell structure is placed between the membrane and a parallel rib structure in the lower chamber. Heater elements and reflectors between the ribs are employed for radiating heat energy to the solar cell structure during the laminating process for melting a potting material therein, while both chambers are evacuated. Then air is admitted to the upper chamber to cause the membrane to compress the laminated structure against the parallel rib support means while the laminated structure cools.

Abstract: Belt 21 on which a residual filter cake has been formed by the action of a suction box (16, FIG. 1) on a slurry, is brought over a filter grid 46 superimposed on a membrane 42 inflation of which causes the filter cake to be compressed upwards against stationary pressure plate 53 for further dewatering. The grid 46 has parallel grooves in its top surface and further parallel grooves in its under-surface, and intersecting with and communicating with those in the top surface, to permit suction to be applied by way of suction pipe 146 and drain duct 45. The belt 21 is intermittently driven, but the arrangement may be such that the belt moves continuously and the grid 46, membrane 42 and pressure plate 53 move in sequence, forwards from a starting position for a certain distance in contact with the belt while applying pressure to the filter cake and then backwards to the starting position out of contact with the belt.

Abstract: Slurry required to be filtered is supplied to a downwardly inclined feed section of intermittently-moving belt 25 by way of supply pipe 20. Inclination of succeeding vacuum section of belt 25, over vacuum boxes 17, ensures even distribution of thin layer of slurry over belt 25, dependent upon angle of inclination, in range 4.degree. to 20.degree. to horizontal (an angle of 8.degree. being illustrated).Subsequently resultant filter cake layer is subjected to mechanical dewatering by an expansible membrane of a lower pressure plate 23 being expanded to press belt 25 with filter cake thereon against underside of counterplate 24.

Abstract: A tube pressure filter comprises (a) a pair of generally coaxial inner and outer tubular assemblies, which define between them a chamber of annular cross-section, (b) an impermeable elastic sleeve which divides said chamber into non-intercommunicating inner and outer compartments, (c) a filter element, (d) a slurry inlet extending annularly around one of the tubular assemblies for feeding a slurry to said inner compartment, (e) a hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet for feeding hydraulic fluid to and withdrawing hydraulic fluid from the outer compartment, (f) filtrate discharge means for the discharge of filtrate which has passed through the filter element and through apertures in the inner tubular assembly into the chamber, and (g) means for effecting relative movement of said tubular assemblies from one to another of three operating positions of said tubular assemblies.

Abstract: Embossing apparatus employing a grooved, finned, deformable outer element for defining a nip with an embossing roll, the deformable outer element having a durometer in the range of about 40 to about 80 shore "A".

Abstract: A press for squeezing juice-containing materials, like grapes, fruit-mashes and the like, by a closed container rotatable around its longitudinal horizontal axis, whereby a filling opening, covered by a perforated sheet, is provided in the jacket of the container and a pressure membrane made of flexible or elastic material matching the shape of the container is provided inside the container at the edge of the filling opening and is fastened parallel to the plane passing through the axis of rotation, said membrane dividing the interior of the container into a pressure medium and a pressure space. A loosening and draining device is provided in the pressure space inside the container opposite the filling opening and opposing the pressure membrane.

Abstract: A system is provided for applying a force to selected compliant material ch is in adjacent relationship with the inner surface of a rigid spherical segment. The system includes an elastomeric spherical segment having an apex and a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of the inner surface of the rigid spherical segment when the elastomeric segment is in an undeformed condition. Operative structure is provided for initially spacing the elastomeric segment from the rigid spherical segment, so that the elastomeric segment is in point contact relationship with the compliant material, and for controllably urging the elastomeric segment toward the compliant material after the initial spacing, until the curvature of the elastomeric segment is conformed to the curvature of the inner surface of the spherical segment.

Abstract: A tube pressure filter including an inner compartment having an inlet which comprises a substantially annular aperture extending around the lower end of the inner tubular body and debouching into the inner compartment. The substantially annular aperture is constructed and disposed so that, in use, feed material debouching therefrom has an upward component of velocity and is in communication with an ante-chamber into which a mixture to be pressure filtered can be introduced under pressure through a feed conduit, the feed conduit containing or co-operating with a non-return valve so as to prevent the flow back along the feed conduit of feed material to be pressure filtered which is under high pressure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vacuum bag apparatus for laminating large size structures. The various layers to be bonded together are stacked against a base form and are covered by a flexible vacuum bag. In order to submit the entire surface of the laminates to be bonded to uniform vacuum, the vacuum source is connected to a grid of perforated pipes extending between the laminates and the vacuum bag itself. The apparatus is particularly useful for making utilized truck bodies.

Abstract: A continuous press is disclosed for simultaneously pressing and conveying a workpiece, such as the laminations for making plywood, through the press in a continuous manner. The press comprises opposed sets of presser-conveyor rails which are spaced apart to receive a workpiece therebetween. The rails are mounted upon hydraulic actuators, one set of actuators for transverse motion of the rails and another set of actuators for longitudinal actuation of the rails. Each set of rails drives a separate caterpillar belt and the workpiece is interposed between the belts. The hydraulic actuators are energized in a sequence so that the rails maintain continuous pressing action through the belts and the belts maintain continuous conveyor action.

Abstract: Water containing bark, or the like, is fed into a gap of a bark press, mounted in an inclined plane, the gap being formed between the inner face of a rotating large rigid perforated drum and the outer face of at least one of a plurality of independently rotating smaller compressor rolls. Water is expelled from the bark through the perforations in the drum. Any of the compressed bark which adheres to the drum or compressor roll surfaces is scraped therefrom, falls to the lower portion of the bark press where it is subjected to additional compressive forces and is finally collected at the lower end of the inclined bark press. The relatively dry bark, which is obtained, can be more effectively used as a fuel.

Abstract: A tire repair device which vulcanizes an uncured rubber repair plug built in a damaged area of the tire. The frame of the device is in the form of a C-clamp having a heated backing plate which opposes a heated pressure pad. The pad is carried in a cylinder which also receives a sealing piston forming a pressure chamber behind the pad. Air under pressure is applied to the pressure chamber to force the pressure pad against the damaged area of the tire during vulcanization. The pressure pad is flexible in order to conform to the tire surface against which it is pressed in opposition to the backing plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for compressing voluminous material easy to compress and for storing and transporting the material in said compressed state. According to the invention, thus, there are provided a bottom and two opposed vertical walls capable to approach each other for compressing the material between the walls. When the material has been compressed to the desired volume the material is transferred to a storage or transport crate, which is located with its floor beneath the bottom and with its sides outside of and adjacent the walls. When the material is being discharged between the walls, it expands and presses against the side of the crate and an end side connected to the crate whereby the crate is moved with the material while being successively filled. When the material is being compressed it is pressed downward by a belt acting from above on the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat sealing composite lids, made of a laminate of a light ductile alloy coated with a layer of thermoweldable plastic material, on glass containers. The apparatus applies, under pressure, a flexible membrane onto said lid while disposed in position on the mouth of a glass container. The membrane is a simple sheet stretchingly supported by its outer periphery on a movably and hingedly supporting frame. The side of said membrane opposite said lid is subjected to a controlled heat flow, thus sealing the lid to the container.

Abstract: A one-piece spring material finger-operated tongs for compressing tea bags is sized for convenient holding in one hand with broad upwardly convergent tea bag compressing jaw plates projecting forwardly of a pair of finger grip tabs near the center of the device. When the compressor is closed on the tea bag, the bag is progressively squeezed from top-to-bottom across its full width to drain downwardly into a tea cup. The greatest compression on the tea bag is at its bottom.

Abstract: Apparatus for bonding heat bondable materials through the application of pressure and heat employs a diaphragm pressed by fluid pressure against the materials. The diaphragm comprises a web having a flexible heating element which is bonded to its non-material pressing side and has a configuration corresponding to the desired seam configuration. The web carries heat dissipating means to conduct heat away from the diaphragm and the materials in the seam configuration and heat directing means to conduct heat from the element to the seam area. Preferably the heating element, heat directing means and heat conducting means are formed from metallic foil bonded to both sides of the web and having portions etched away to provide electrically insulating channels separating one from another.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is shown for simultaneously retreading all of the tires in a stack of rubber tires that have been placed in an autoclave or the like. Each of the tires is covered respectively with a precured tread and enclosing envelope having a U-shaped cross section that surrounds the periphery of the tire to be retreaded, the inner edges of the respective envelopes being pressed to seal against the rims or shoulders of the tires. Proper sealing of the edges of the U-shaped envelopes against the sides of the tires is effected by compressing the stack against a back-up means adjustably supported on and locked in position on a post that extends centrally through the stack. The improved means for producing compression in the tire stack includes an inflatable tire means that surrounds the post to press the stack against the back-up means.

Abstract: A rotary diaphragm press comprises a revolving drum on the periphery of which a tubular diaphragm is mounted, an endless belt assembly which consists of a cover cloth, a filter cloth, and a back-up belt separately extended and arranged one above the other over said revolving drum, and a series of receiving rollers disposed in parallel with a spindle for said revolving drum so as to press the endless belt assembly against the drum in a contact zone of the assembly. The rotary diaphragm press is further designed so that sludge successively fed to the filter cloth is held between the filter cloth and the cover cloth and is passed through the contact zone.

Abstract: A surfboard having a central core of relatively soft and/or light material such as balsa wood or foamed plastic and a laminated outer skin construction is disclosed herein along with a method and apparatus for making the surfboard or a similar article. Both the method and apparatus utilize particular vacuum molding techniques which form the laminated outer skin constructions while at the same time accurately conforming this skin construction to the complex curvatures of the core.

Abstract: Apparatus for bonding heat bondable materials through the application of pressure and heat employs a diaphragm pressed by fluid pressure against the materials. The diaphragm comprises a web having a flexible heating element bonded to its non-material pressing side and has a configuration corresponding to the desired seam configuration. An improved heating element configuration is disclosed to reduce the forces tending to separate the element from the web as a result of their different coefficients of expansion and provision is made fo facilitate electrical connection to the heating element while reducing unwanted effects on the heat pattern.

Abstract: A press for extracting water from wet washing comprises a housing, a perforated press floor for supporting a batch of wet washing, and a hydraulic ram for pressing the wet washing down against the press floor. The hydraulic ram is constituted by a generally bell-shaped diaphragm carrier whose open end is closed by a bowed-in, flexible diaphragm. The hollow interior of the diaphragm carrier is pressurizable with hydraulic fluid. A charging frame is provided to assist with the uniform pressing of wet washing while helping prevent damage to the washing arising from jamming. The charging frame is movable with the diaphragm carrier towards the press floor.

Abstract: A membrane pressure filter comprises a pressure chamber divided into non-intercommunicating first and second compartments by a substantially upright impermeable elastic membrane, said first compartment containing a filtering surface, and said impermeable elastic membrane either being constructed in a manner such that or co-operating with means such that, in use, when the material in said first compartment has a specific gravity which is greater than the specific gravity of the material in said second compartment, said membrane is constrained to adopt a shape such that the surface of the membrane opposite the filtering surface is substantially parallel to the filtering surface.

Abstract: A vacuum laminating fixture includes a pair of opposed plates having opposed plane faces with a peripheral groove formed in each plate surrounding the face with the grooves matched for receiving a unitary band seal extending between the grooves for sealing the space between the faces of the plates, a vacuum port is formed in the lower plate communicating with the area of the face inside the peripheral groove. The method includes setting up a laminate of plural flexible sheets of circuit, placing the laminate within and between the faces of the plates, drawing a vacuum of 28 inches of mercury for a period of two minutes to completely evacuate the space between the laminate sheets, and thereafter applying a predetermined curing pressure and temperature to the plates within a press.

Abstract: A feed conveyor supplies resawn split shakes of varying thicknesses to an operator at a shake panel assembling machine. The operator arranges shakes in a row with the shake butts generally aligned and the sawn surfaces of the shakes laid on the upper surface of a backing strip to which thermosetting glue has been applied. The assembly of shakes and backing strip is conveyed by a carrier belt to a press station where a solid but readily deformable elastomer pad is pressed against the rough split upper surfaces of the shakes. The pressure of the pad on the shakes causes the pad to be deformed unevenly to conform to the split surfaces of the uneven and varying thickness shakes so that each shake and all portions of each shake are held in engagement with the backing strip under substantially the same pressure while the glue is set by dielectric heating. When the glue has set, the elastomer pad is released from the shakes and the completed assembly is conveyed by the carrier belt to a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A platen for a press comprises a housing having a recess therein, an inflatable member being received in the recess. When the inflatable member is inflated, it acts as a pressure applying member. The press may be provided with one or two such platens.

Abstract: A belt press has vertically spaced upper and lower traverses carrying respective upper and lower platens each constituted by a traverse plate secured to the respective traverse, a press plate parallel thereto, and a flexible membrane connecting the outer peripheries of the press and the traverse plates. A skirt extends from each of the traverse plates around the respective press plate to guide and confine same during pressurization of the chamber defined in each platen by the respective press and traverse plates with the respective membrane.

Abstract: A press for squeezing out batch material, especially laundry, with an elastic pressure member which can be charged with a pressure medium, in a housing, and a conveyor belt for conveying the batch material from a loading station to a pressing station below the said pressure member, and to a discharge station after the squeezing is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imprinting articles such as tiles by the sublimation transfer of dyes into a dye receptive surface coating provided thereon. A platen having a press member formed of liquid metal and a flexible confining membrane is utilized to heat and press a sheet having the dye imprinted design thereon so as to sublimate such designs into the adjacent coated surface of the articles. The press member is accordingly both capable of transmitting heat and pressure to the surface coating of such articles so as to simultaneously transfer said design and the texture of the membrane, sheet or separate texturing member disposed therebetween to the surface of the article.

Abstract: Manufacturing process and straightening jig for a hollow tapered rod characterized in that in mid-process of curing the resin in a fiber-reinforced resin-impregnated sheet wound around a mandrel, the mandrel is pulled out of the wound sheet in a semi-cured state or the mandrel is pulled out and again thrust into the wound sheet; then the wound sheet with the mandrel pulled out or the wound sheet with the mandrel reinserted is placed on a straightening jig and left there until the curing is completed.

Abstract: A connection apparatus mainly comprises a gas-tight container one surface of which is made of a film, a gas supply source for filling the container with a gas at a predetermined pressure, and a heat source. Two substrates, at least one of which is flexible, are tightly supported on the film surface of the container in such a manner that electrodes or terminals formed on the both substrates confront with each other. The gas pressure in the container is increased to the predetermined value, thereby to tightly contact the electrodes formed on the both substrates with each other. Thereafter, the heat source is enabled to melt the electrodes and to electrically connect the two substrates with each other.

Abstract: An equalizing plate for use in a vulcanizing press or the like comprises a base plate, a top plate and a low-melting point metal alloy hermetically sealed therebetween. The two plates are flexibly joined at their periphery and at least one of the plates has a membrane-like transition in the outer periphery thereof having at least one single U-shaped profile whose axis of symmetry is perpendicular to the surface of the equalizing plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid and solid materials from one another, especially for the extraction of juice from agricultural products, particularly from fruit, comprising a press container rotatably mounted about a substantially horizontal axis. The press container is subdivided by means of a substantially hood-shaped press or squeezing diaphragm into a pressue compartment, which can be impinged by a pressurized fluid medium, and a press or squeezing compartment possessing a juice outlet arrangement. The press container possesses a tapered configuration and the juice outlet arrangement is disposed at a widened region of the press container.

Abstract: An arrangement for removing water from mud and the like has a flexible container having an inlet and an outlet opening. A flexible tubular member is located outside and adjacent the outlet opening of the container. Means are provided for deforming the flexible tubular member so that the latter closes the outlet opening of the container during dewatering of the mud. The flexible tubular member may be formed either of a one piece with the container or as a separate part connected to a front end portion of the same. At least two ring-shaped elements are provided, one of which elements is connected to the front portion of the container, and the other element is connected to the flexible tubular member and rotatable relative to the first ring-shaped element. By means of rotation of the other ring-shaped element the flexible tubular member is deformed so as to close the outlet opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding structural parts from fiber reinforced plastic composite. The apparatus is comprised of a rigid container, one or more pads of silicone rubber housed inside the container to exert pressure on the part, and one or more expandable diaphragms housed inside the container to control the pressure exerted on the part by the pads. The method used to mold a complex-shaped part from fiber reinforced plastic composite material is to lay up the part on the pads and place the pads, together with the part, between the diaphragms which are housed in the container. The container is then closed and placed in a temperature control chamber and the diaphragms connected to an external pressure control system, after which the part is cured by increasing the temperature of the chamber to the curing temperature of the part, while at the same time controlling the pressure exerted on the part by controlling the pressure in the diaphragms.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid and solid materials, especially for extracting juice from agricultural products, particularly from fruits, comprising a rotatably mounted press container subdivided by a substantially hood-like press or squeezing diaphragm into a pressure compartment and a press or squeezing compartment. The pressure compartment has an inlet arrangement for a pressurized fluid medium and the squeezing compartment has a juice outlet arrangement. The juice outlet arrangement possesses drainage channels at the solid-wall, preferably dome-shaped section of the container located opposite the squeezing diaphragm. The drainage channels are formed by substantially trough-shaped elements provided with perforations and arranged in spaced relationship from one another at the inside of the wall of the container.

Abstract: A method of reducing the liquid content of a mixture of a liquid and a particulate solid by subjecting said mixture to pressure filtration in a tube pressure filter in which, after the formation of the filter cake on the filter element of the tube pressure filter, a gas is forced through the filter cake at a pressure which is at least one third of the maximum pressure employed to form the filter cake on the filter element.

Abstract: A pressing tool for use in the cavity of a press device for forming sheet metal parts around forming tools, the pressing tool including an upper tool part with flanges at the peripheral edges thereof and directed downwardly, a lower tool part with flanges at the peripheral edges thereof and directed upwardly, wall elements positioned within the respective flanges of the upper and lower tool parts to form a forming space, a forming tool positioned in the space on the lower tool part, and an elastomeric forming pad located in the forming space for forming a work piece around the forming tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid and solid materials from one another, especially for the extraction of juice from agricultural products, particularly from fruit, comprising a rotatably mounted press container which is subdivided by a substantially hood-shaped press or squeezing diaphragm into a pressure compartment and a press or squeezing compartment. The pressure compartment possesses an inlet arrangement for the infeed of a pressurized fluid medium and the squeezing compartment is provided with a juice outlet arrangement. At the region of the squeezing diaphragm there are provided outfeed or ejection elements for the product residues, these ejection elements being dispositioned to protrude into the squeezing compartment and extend along sections of a helical or screw line.

Abstract: A plate hold-down device for use during the abrasive cutting of plates which includes an expansible and retractable member adapted to be filled with a liquid and placed onto the plate.