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 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 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.