Abstract: A filter includes a lower filter plate mounted to a frame, an upper filter plate movably mounted above the lower filter plate and filter paper between the two plates. A number of shafts are mounted to the frame below the lower filter plate and extend past opposite sides of the filter. Elongate crank arms and eccentrically positioned tie rod connection pins are secured to the ends of the shafts. The upper ends of the tie rods are mounted to opposite sides of the upper filter plate. The tie rods' lower ends are pivotally mounted to the tie rod connections for eccentric movement about the axes of the shafts. A pneumatic ram is used to rotate one of the shafts through an actuator arm keyed to the shaft. The outer ends of the crank arms on each side are coupled together by connecting bars so the crank arms move in unison. A locking arm is mounted to one of the shafts and is positioned to engage locking recesses in upper and lower locking dogs when the upper filter plate is fully opened and fully closed.

Abstract: A system for filtering liquids, such as coolant liquid from process machinery. The system includes an improved liquid storage tank having a partition dividing the tank into a clean tank for receiving clean liquid from a filter for return to the process machinery, and a dirty tank for receiving process or dirty liquid from process machinery. The storage tank further includes a second partition forming a blowdown chamber and a recirculation chamber below the blowdown chamber, the two chambers being coupled together by a valve which can be opened and closed depending upon the cycle of operation of the system. The recirculation chamber is coupled by a filter pump to the inlet of the filter. The filter has a return line to the clean tank and a blowdown line to the blowdown chamber. The blowdown chamber has a conical bottom and the recirculation chamber has a sidewall provided with tangential inlet ports communicating with the dirty tank.