Abstract: A filter press having an activating mechanism for holding the drip trays in a closed position before the stack of filter plates. The activating mechanism includes a fluid pressure cylinder which moves the drip trays between open and closed positions. The activating mechanism includes a linkage which moves into a locking position when the pressurized cylinder moves the trays into the closed position to automatically maintain the drip trays in the closed position even though pressure to the activating cylinder is relieved.

Abstract: A shifter mechanism for a filter press, which shifter mechanism incorporates a vibrating mechanism for effecting bumping of individual filter plates during the separation thereof from the closed stack to assist in dislodgement of filter cake from the individual filter plates. The vibrating device can selectively vibrate or bump the individual filter plates responsive to the weight of the filter plate being bumped, whereby the vibrating device will be activated only upon sensing a filter plate having a weight greater than a predetermined value so as to be indicative of an undesired quantity of filter cake being adhered thereto.

Abstract: A shifter mechanism for a filter press, which mechanism includes a reciprocal housing supported for movement along the press side rail, and a stop pawl mounted on the housing for stopping shifter movement in one direction, and a drive pawl mounted on the housing for effecting opening movement of the frontmost filter plate in the opposite direction. A vibrator is mounted on the housing and is rotated in response to linear movement of the shifter mechanism in the opposite direction to effect raising of the filter plate being shifted, followed by dropping thereof onto the side rail to impose an impact thereon to assist in loosening of the filtrate adhered thereto.

Abstract: A filter press plate shifter assembly (21) provided with a shifter housing (22) having a tunnel-like center part which passes over the filter plates and housing parts positioned adjacent opposite side rails (14). Each side housing part mounts a pneumatic plate shifter (41) for permitting the endmost plate in the closed stack to be individually and sequentially shifted away from the stack into an open position when discharge of filtrate is desired. The shifter housing mounts a bumping device (61) which cooperates with the endmost plate in the stack to effect vertical bumping thereof relative to the support rails to assist in loosening sticky cake which adheres to the plate. The shifter housing also mounts an air-assist discharge mechanism (62) which includes a nozzle-bearing head assembly (80, 80') which moves vertically downwardly between the opposed faces of an open pair of adjacent plates for discharging airstreams downwardly against the plates to assist in removing the sticky cake from the plates.

Abstract: A filter press plate shifter assembly provided with a shifter housing having a center part which passes over the filter plates and housing parts positioned adjacent opposite side rails. The housing parts are rollingly supported on rods which extend along the side rails. One housing part mounts a rotary pneumatic motor and a drive roller which drivingly engages the rod. Each housing part mounts a plate shifter unit having a pneumatic shift cylinder which is provided with relatively fixed and movable plate shifting blades. A pneumatic lift cylinder pivots the shift cylinder upwardly so that the blades project between handles of adjacent filter plates, following which the shift cylinder is energized so that the movable blade engages and shifts the endmost plate toward the open press head.

Abstract: A drier having a boxlike housing (12) for receiving a hopper (13) therein which contains a batch of wet sludge. The hopper (13) cooperates with the housing, when closed therein, to define a closed air recirculation system which supplies dry pressurized warm air into an air-receiving chamber (79) located at the bottom of the hopper. The air passes upwardly through a perforated bottom wall (78) into and through the sludge to remove moisture therefrom. The moist air passes upwardly through the open top of the hopper, through a filter and is supplied to a drying unit (34) located in the housing for removing moisture therefrom, which moisture is externally discharged. The drying unit resupplies the dry air back to the drying chamber formed in the hopper.

Abstract: A plating waste water treating apparatus including a tank defining an interior treating chamber. A sleevelike electrode which functions as an anode is positioned concentrically within and spaced slightly from the tank wall. An electrode which functions as a cathode is concentrically positioned within and spaced from the anode, with the cathode being defined by two concentric but radially spaced coil springs, with the outer spring functioning to receive thereon the metal deposits. A diffuser plate is provided at one end of the treating chamber to control waste water flow into the treating chamber.

Abstract: A filter press plate shifter assembly provided with a shifter housing having a center part which passes over the filter plates and housing parts positioned adjacent opposite side rails. The housing parts are rollingly supported on rods which extend along the side rails. One housing part mounts a rotary pneumatic motor and a drive roller which drivingly engages the rod. Each housing part mounts a plate shifter unit having a pneumatic shift cylinder which is provided with relatively fixed and movable plate shifting blades. A pneumatic lift cylinder pivots the shift cylinder upwardly so that the blades project between handles of adjacent filter plates, following which the shift cylinder is energized so that the movable blade engages and shifts the endmost plate toward the open press head.

Abstract: A filter press plate shifter assembly provided with a shifting housing having a tunnel-like center part which passes over the filter plates and housing parts positioned adjacent opposite side rails. The housing parts are rollingly supported on rods which extend along the side rails. One housing part mounts a rotary pneumatic motor and a drive roller which drivingly engages the rod to control movement of the shifter assembly along the press. Each side housing part mounts a pneumatic plate shifter for permitting the endmost plate in the closed stack to be individually and sequentially shifted away from the stack into an open position when discharge of filtrate is desired. The shifter housing mounts a bumping device which cooperates with the endmost plate in the stack to effect vertical bumping thereof relative to the support rails to assist in loosening sticky cake which adheres to the plate.

Abstract: A method for controlling the filling of a filter press with slurry according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the sequentially executed steps of: gradually increasing the pressure of the slurry supplied to thee press until the slurry pressure reaches an upper pressure limit; recording a trigger point in time at which the slurry pressure reaches the upper pressure limit; and determining whether the slurry pressure subsequently falls below a lower pressure limit within a predetermined period of time commencing at the trigger point. If the slurry pressure does fall below the lower pressure limit within the predetermined period of time, then the above-listed sequence of steps is repeated until the slurry pressure fails to fall below the lower pressure limit within the predetermined period of time, thereby indicating that the press is full and terminating the process.

Abstract: A batch-type dryer, such as for sludge, having a generally upwardly-opening channel-like drying chamber which is closed at opposite ends. The chamber is defined by a generally U-shaped sidewall having an arcuate bottom portion generated about a radius so as to define a generally semi-cylindrical configuration. The edges of this semi-cylindrical bottom wall are joined to straight sidewall parts which project upwardly in generally parallel relationship. An auger-type rotor extends axially along the bottom of the chamber to agitate the material therein. A heat exchanger is associated with and extends around at least the arcuate bottom wall of the chamber. The U-shaped wall of the chamber has the central upwardly-extending plane thereof disposed at a selected angle, preferably about 30.degree., relative to the vertical so that the material, when the agitator rotates, remains in intimate heat-transfer contact with the arcuate bottom wall over substantially the full 180.degree. extent thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting separation of filter plates within a filter press, which apparatus includes first and second filter plate engaging pawls pivotally mounted on a carrier which is supported for generally linear back and forth movement longitudinally of the filter press. The pawls have adjacent free ends which define thereon generally opposed abutment surfaces adapted for engaging opposite sides of a filter plate. One pawl is spring urged into a raised position, and this one pawl has an upper camming surface adapted for contact with a bottom surface on the filter plate to urge the first pawl into a lowered position. The other pawl is pivotally mounted in a manner free of springs, and has an upwardly projecting cam lug which defines the respective abutment surface on one side, and a camming surface on the other side.