Abstract: A device for dewatering sludge or the like, particularly sludge from water purification plants, having a preliminary pressureless pocket dewatering stage A, one or more horizontal dewatering zones B formed by horizontally extending filter belts located below the preliminary stage A, those zones being located serially one below another, a medium pressure drum filter stage C, and thereafter a high-pressure dewatering unit D.

Abstract: A plate filter press has a horizontal guide carrier; a plurality of filter plates shiftably supported on the guide carrier; a projection affixed to each filter plate; and a filter plate shifting device which includes a carrier element supported for displacement parallel to the guide carrier; a drive for moving the carrier element back and forth; as well as a shifting element and a reversing element mounted on the carrier element and arranged for engaging the projection of the filter plate to be shifted. The shifting element and the reversing element each are single-armed levers pivotally secured to the carrier element. The levers have respective free ends oriented towards one another. A bell crank lever is pivotally mounted on the free end of the reversing lever.

Abstract: The pick-up nozzle has a large flat inlet face with a gradually tapering housing extending upwardly therefrom to an angularly disposed inclined suction hose attachment. A filter screen is disposed across the inlet face with its periphery seated against a shoulder in the housing. Peripherally spaced feet extend downwardly from the housing periphery to support the screen above any surface upon which the nozzle may rest. A closure disc is spaced beneath the screen with its periphery engaging shoulders in the feet to protect the screen and restrict entrance of liquid thereto to the spaces between the several feet. A single vertical bolt suspends the screen and closure disc from the top of the housing with spacer sleeves thereon to secure the screen and disc in proper spaced position. The closure disc is dished upwardly to leave a space for the head of the bolt above the plane of the bottom of the feet. A float is pivotally attached to the top of the nozzle to maintain the latter at a preferred level in the water.

Abstract: A mechanical strainer having a stack of alternate discs and blades biased together, the discs being slowly driven by a motor and the blades being anchored on the strainer frame, which discs and blades are perforated so that water surrounding the strainer can leak into the perforations of the stack. A passage is formed in the frame communicating with the perforations of the stack, and a tube leading to where the water is desired is coupled to the frame passage. The result is a kind of labyrinth rotary seal having intended leakage.

Abstract: An animal guard for use in a field pipe has a generally circular baffle member formed of relatively thin sheet material mounted for pivotable movement in the direction of effluent flow at a perimetral point inwardly of the pipe at an axial predetermined distance from the open end of the pipe. A stop bar is secured inwardly of the pipe at a distance greater than said predetermined distance so that it is on the opposite axial side of the member. The bar extends from the inner surface of the pipe in a direction inclined in the direction of effluent flow and has a length to restrict pivoting of the member in a second arcuate direction oppositely of the first direction to prevent animal entry past the member while the member is free to pivot in the first direction toward the open pipe end to provide substantially free-flow of debris carrying effluents in the pipe toward the open end, while preventing the entrance of animals into the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing oil floating on the water comprising: floats for floating the apparatus on the water; at least one set of rotatable discs comprising a plurality of spaced apart, generally parallel, vertically oriented discs having generally collinear centers. The sets of discs are mounted on the floats so that the discs are partly submerged when the apparatus is floating on the water.

Abstract: Filter elements and filter assemblies are provided for use at any operating temperatures, having the filter elements disposed in sealing relationship in a leak-tight seal formed at such operating temperature by thermal expansion of at least two sealing components. Thus, at a lower or higher temperature, such as normal atmospheric temperature, the sealing components are contracted, and release the filter elements from sealing engagement, for removal and replacement, while at the selected operating temperature such sealing components are expanded, to form a thermal leak-tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: A low profile filter assembly for use in IV sets and the like includes a pair of spaced apart, axially aligned inlet and outlet filter adaptors secured to inlet and outlet ends, respectively, of a filter tube. A generally conically shaped filter member is connected at its opposite ends to the inlet and outlet filter adaptors and extends longitudinally within the filter tube between the adaptors. Lengths of flexible IV tubing are connected with the adaptors for conveying fluid to and from the filter assembly. The filter cone is disposed with its larger end connected to the inlet adaptor and its smaller end connected to the outlet adaptor and the filter assembly diameter is only about twice the diameter of the tubing connected therewith, yet a filter area many times greater than the cross-sectional area of the tubing is obtained. Additionally, the filter is simple and economical to assemble.

Abstract: A tank drain assembly for swimming pool filters is provided characterized by an improved locking and orienting structure individually locking collector tubes into their respective sockets in the manifold surrounding the common drain port of the filter tank, each such structure comprising spring finger means segmentally formed on the socket end of the tubes, and a finger receiving recess within the tube socket sized and located to operatively orient the tube apertures responsive to receiving the finger means in tube locking relation.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the continuous treatment of sludge, which is made possible through the advantageous combination of at least two independent dewatering steps at consecutively higher pressures and increased dwell time. In a preferred embodiment there is provided a three stage process where there is a first dewatering at the pressure provided by gravity action, the sludge being strained through continuous filter pockets; a second moderate pressure stage with a drum filter press; and a third higher pressure stage.

Abstract: A device for skimming floating material from a body of liquid, particularly useful with a pipe galvanizing apparatus for skimming dross from a zinc bath. The device includes paddles pivoted to a reciprocating carriage for dragging floating material to an edge of the vessel. The paddles pivot to positions in which their faces lie parallel with the direction of carriage movement to avoid pushing material back toward the interior of the vessel during return strokes of the carriage.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a floating skimming apparatus for removal of contaminated particles from the surface of a liquid contained in a tank. The floating skimming apparatus comprises a deflecting chamber extending substantially the width of the tank, movable along the length of the tank, and has at least one vertex for collecting deflected contaminated particles upon movement of the deflecting chamber. Flotation collars are connected to the deflecting chamber for continuously maintaining a portion of the deflecting chamber above the surface of the liquid. An evacuation device is connected to the deflecting chamber at the vertex for collecting the contaminated particles and removing the contaminated particles from the tank.

Abstract: An oil recovery device having a downwardly and rearwardly traveling oil abosrbing belt, to pick up oil on a body of water. The belt travels around an upwardly and forwardly positioned drum to be engaged by a porous squeeze belt to remove the oil from the oil absorbing belt. Rearwardly of the belt is an oil collecting enclosure to collect oil not recovered by the oil absorbing belt. The device has a downwardly and rearwardly inclined bow ramp over which an oil/water liquid passes into a through passage in the device, and water having oil separated therefrom passes out longitudinally spaced bottom openings, with the flow through these openings being controlled by closure doors.

Abstract: An aquarium water aeration device including an upper body member having an upwardly extending tubular neck portion with a downwardly depending cylindrical skirt portion and a concentrically disposed wall portion interiorly thereof defining an annulus closed by a lower body member having a collar portion with minute axially extending serrations about the periphery thereof, the collar portion frictionally engaging within the wall portion to define minute air passageways. The annular chamber has an air inlet nipple for receiving air from an air pump, the passage of air through the air passageways directed upwardly relative to a siphon tube to which the device is connected providing a head of water to act as an airlift pump, while providing aeration to the debris-laden fluid from the aquarium into the aquarium filter to which the siphon tube is attached. A grid is connected to the lower portion of the lower body member for limiting the size of particles entering the siphon tube.

Abstract: A water purification unit particularly adapted for household use, and for operation at high pressures, including two main co-operating parts forming a chamber, with a seal positioned between such parts, and a cap compressing the seal and holding the two parts together. The interior of the chamber can contain one or more filtering elements such as a particulate matter filter, a carbon filter or a reverse osmosis filter. To withstand high internal pressures without leakage or damage, mechanical connections are provided within the chamber to form a further positive connection between the two main parts forming the chamber, so as to maintain such filter elements in position within the chamber.

Abstract: A sector assembly for disc filters including an improved sector body, an improved bell member and two sector rods which extend along respective radial sides of the sector body and of the bell member to secure the sector body to the bell member. Each radial side of the sector body being formed to define a concave channel and formed to define within the channel a concave slot. Each radial side of the bell member being formed to define a concave channel and formed to define a passage inward of the channel. The slots and passages being dimensioned to allow the respective sector rod to extend therein.

Abstract: A plate filter press has a plurality of filter plates; an overhead guide carrier extending in the length dimension of the press and a suspension displaceably supporting each filter plate on the guide carrier. The filter plates are oriented, with their flat sides, perpendicularly to the length dimension. The suspension comprises first, second and third guide tracks affixed to the guide carrier and extending parallel to one another in the length dimension. The first and second guide tracks define a first guide plane, while the third guide track lies in a second guide plane extending parallel-spaced from the first guide plane. Each filter plate has spaced first, second and third guide elements (such as rollers) engaging the first, second and third guide tracks, respectively. The first and second guide elements are spaced transversely to the length dimension; the third guide element is spaced from the first and second guide elements in the direction of the length dimension.

Abstract: The invention provides a compact magnetic device for the treatment of liquids having a calcareous content to limit hard scale formations. The device comprises a magnetic source, thin magnetic plates spaced from each other and having peripheral edges and positioned to concentrate the polarity at each pole in their peripheral edges, whereby a curtain of lines of force extends between the edges.

Abstract: A combined aerating and filtering device includes a filter box to be mounted on the side wall of an aquarium for carrying filter material through which water from the aquarium will pass to be filtered. A combined filter pump and air pump assembly is supported by the filter box and includes a housing, a motor carried within the housing, an air pump carried in the housing and driven by the motor and a filter pump driven by the motor. An air outlet is carried by the housing and connected with the air pump to thus provide means for aerating the aquarium. The filter pump extends into the filter box to draw water from the aquarium through the filter material within the filter box, and to return the filtered water to the aquarium.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing floatable material from the surface of a carrier fluid including a hollow receptacle having a continuous side wall and a bottom having an opening centrally located therein. A pump is mounted within the hollow receptacle such that the pump inlet is positioned over the receptacle bottom opening and the pump outlet is connected to an exhaust conduit line mounted in the side wall and extending outwardly therefrom to a container or sump. The receptacle is positioned such that the top rim of the side receptacle wall rides at the surface of the carrier fluid so that floatable material, solid or liquid, is transferred over the rim into the receptacle and for solid materials, an opening is provided in the receptacle bottom for flowing upwardly into the receptacle to combine with the skimmed solid floatable substance for pumping outwardly of the receptacle through the exhaust conduit line.