Abstract: Two porous belts and a plurality of rollers are provided for removing liquid from sludge. The sludge is positioned between the two belts and moved under compression over the rollers thereby causing the liquid to be discharged from the sludge and into a catch basin below. The rollers are relatively positioned to form an upwardly projected undulating contour thereby defining an area under each of substantially all rollers for the placement of liquid deflectors under each roller. An associated method provides steps for positioning sludge between two belts, moving the sludge in compression over rollers to remove liquid from the sludge and deflecting the extracted liquid from a portion of the belts.

Abstract: An apparatus for scraping material from a moving surface. The scraping apparatus is comprised of a scraping device disposed at an angle in relationship to the moving surface such that the scraping device scrapes material from the surface of the moving surface without binding the moving surface. Additionally, the scraping device is comprised of a positioning device for selectively positioning the scraping device in contact and out of contact with the moving surface. Additionally, the positioning device comprises device for regulating the force of the scraping device on the moving surface. Preferably, the position device is comprised of a pneumatically or hydraulically operated piston.

Abstract: Gas channeling apparatus and a flexible perforated diaphragm for diffusing gas into a liquid are provided. The gas channeling apparatus includes a ridge which projects from the surface of the gas channeling apparatus that increases the effective area on the diaphragm against which gas presses to increase the force used to expand the diaphragm.