Abstract: This invention relates to a rock anchor which includes an elongated element which is composed of a plurality of elongated tension members which are arranged around the long axis of the elongated element in a circumferential spaced relationship to provide a passage through the elongated element, slots between the tension members which extend over the length of the elongated element, an anchor at one end of the elongated element, for holding the element in a hole and a tensioning arrangement at the other end of the element for use in tensioning the elongated element in the hole. The anchor is preferably a wedge anchor and the invention extends to a method of anchoring the rock anchor in a hole by means of a rod which is passed up into the elongated element from the mouth of the hole to tension the elongated element and activate the wedge anchor to lock the anchor against the side of the hole to hold the elongated element in the hole under tension.

Abstract: The separation of a first solid component from a mixture thereof with a liquid and a second solid component which is of smaller average particle size than the first solid component, the first and second solid components being in suspension in the liquid and with the percentage by mass of the second solid component being substantially greater than that of the first solid component, by means of a travelling endless cloth. The cloth passes through an operative separating region in a horizontal manner. The mixture is fed onto substantially the entire operative separating region from a feed box that has a floor with apertures therein; the floor being located above the cloth. The liquid and second solid component pass through the cloth, to be collected by a trough. The first solid component remains on the cloth and is subsequently removed and collected.

Abstract: A horizontal vacuum belt filter having an endless filter cloth on which a residue filter cake is, in use, formed; a filter head roller; a rotatable discharge roller located some distance forward of the head roller, a portion of the filter cloth passing over a segment of the cylindrical surface of the discharge roller and being in engagement therewith; a plurality of longitudinally directed and circumferentially spaced apart passages being provided in the discharge roller which are each in communication with a different segment of the cylindrical surface of the discharge roller via suitable bores; a first valve for directing a discharge liquid to those passages which are in communication, at any particular time, with that segment of the cylindrical surface of the discharge roller engaged by the filter cloth; and a plurality of second valves for permitting flow of discharge liquid only from those passages that are in communication with the said segment through the bores associated with those passages to the sai

Abstract: The invention provides a discharge roller for a vacuum belt filter, over which a filter cloth of the filter passes, the roller having a channelling means in the form of a plurality of longitudinally directed and circumferentially spaced-apart passages which are each in communication with a different segment of the cylindrical surface of the roller via suitable radially directed bores and an end valve for directing a discharge fluid to those passages which are in communication, at any particular time, with that portion of the cylindrical surface engaged by the filter cloth, such that there is flow of the discharge fluid in a reverse direction through the cloth to separate residue cake therefrom.