Abstract: A cathode frame for receiving and retaining a cathode plate for electrowinning and/or electrorefining processes is constructed as an integrally-formed frame body having a base member and side members which provide a continuous channel therethrough for retaining the peripheral edge of a cathode plate, and is further structured with a cross frame extending between the side members for receiving a cathode plate therethrough. The cross frame is sized and positioned to extend proud of the frame body thereby providing contact surfaces for striking when recovering the cathode plate from the frame. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cross frame is integrally formed with the side members and base member and the cathode frame is configured to retain a filter media thereagainst.

Abstract: A device and method that inhibits the ability of photographic equipment from obtaining a recognizable picture upon its recording media, of areas of a vehicle equipped with this invention. The leading edge or beginning of the photographic equipment's photoflash is detected by the photoflash detector cicuit group (50). A xenon reply flash (30) is immediately output towards the photographic equipment's general location, for the remainder of the photographs exposure time, rendering sections of the photograph unrecognizable.

Abstract: A filter plate press or an electrolyzer cell has a series of filter plates or cell frames, respectively, which are moved as a stack against a press or cell headpiece by a follower moved by one or more rodded cylinders mounted on a fixed bracket. Scissors mechanisms extending on each side of the press/cell holder and between the bracket and follower assure precise parallel movement of the follower with respect to the headpiece. To accommodate any cumulative errors in the stack dimensions the scissor mechanisms are disengageable upon closure of the press/cell holder so that the follower has freedom to match the abutting surface of the plate/cell frame stack and thus evenly seal the abutting peripheral edges of the plates/cell frames.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting the separation of filter plates within a filter press is disclosed. The apparatus includes a guide track having mounted thereon a slidably reciprocal carriage. The carriage includes at least one pivoted pawl having an abutment space defined thereon for contacting a filter plate to be transported. The pawl is held in a raised orientation by a resilient spring means. The carriage is driven along the guide track by means of a pressure displaced piston mechanically associated therewith. The piston is housed within a tubular member. Positioned within the tubular member are two pressure chambers, one on each end of the piston. Pressurized fluid is controlledly introduced into one or the other of those chambers to effect a displacement of the piston. The pressure cylinder is of the type generally designated a rodless cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting the separation of filter plates within a filter press is disclosed. The apparatus includes a guide track having mounted thereon a slidably reciprocal carriage. The carriage includes at least one pivoted pawl having an abutment space defined thereon for contacting a filter plate to be transported. The pawl is held in a raised orientation by a resilient spring means. The carriage is driven along the guide track by means of a pressure displaced piston mechanically associated therewith. The piston is housed within a tubular member. Positioned within the tubular member are two pressure chambers, one on each end of the piston. Pressurized fluid is controlledly introduced into one or the other of those chambers to effect a displacement of the piston. The pressure cylinder is of the type generally designated a rodless cylinder.

Abstract: A filter plate press or an electrolyzer cell has a series of filter plates or cell frames, respectively, which are moved as a stack against a press or cell headpiece by a follower moved by one or more rodded cylinders mounted on a fixed bracket. Scissors mechanisms extending on each side of the press/cell holder and between the bracket and follower assure precise parallel movement of the follower with respect to the headpiece. To accommodate any cumulative errors in the stack dimensions the scissor mechanisms are disengageable upon closure of the press/cell holder so that the follower has freedom to match the abutting surface of the plate/cell frame stack and thus evenly seal the abutting peripheral edges of the plates/cell frames.

Abstract: An improved electronic impact detection method for the detection of an impact upon a toy or game surface. This is accomplished by the use of a plurality of flexible panels which are interconnected, with each individual target panel or region bordered with a flex barrier. The flex barriers allow the target region struck to flex under the impact of a projectile, while insulating the remaining target regions from effects of an impact. Piezo electric elements are attached to the underside of these panels, in this manner the signal produced by an impact will have sufficient strength to directly drive most digital logic integrated circuits, thereby requiring a minimum of electronic components associated with detection. These panels will also not be sufficiently triggered by common shock or sonic waves, from handling or accompanying an impact. Thereby assisting to reduce false triggerings of the target or game surface by external or undersireable elements.

Abstract: A boat trailer is disclosed, having a rigid frame, a guide member adapted for guiding a boat being loaded onto or launched from the trailer, and buoyant members for elevating the guide member to an altitude proximate a surface level of a body of water into which the trailer has been driven. The trailer may include a subframe pivotally mounted to the main frame. The guide member, which may be a pair of cables trained over a plurality of upright stanchions mounted on the frame, defines a "V"-shaped channel dimensioned to receive and guide a boat. The subframe may be fitted with low density material blocks which upon being placed in water effect a hydrostatically-induced, buoyant force against the subframe causing that subframe to rise as it pivots about its frame mounting. The trailer is adapted for forming an automatic connection with an incoming boat and further, for automatically uncoupling itself from a boat being launched. The trailer is thereby suited for one-man loading and launching operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting the separation of filter plates within a filter press is disclosed. The apparatus includes a guide track having mounted thereon a slidably reciprocal carriage. The carriage includes at least one pivoted pawl having an abutment space defined thereon for contacting a filter plate to be transported. The pawl is held in a raised orientation by a resilient spring means. The carriage is driven along the guide track by means of a pressure displaced piston mechanically associated therewith. The piston is housed within a tubular member. Positioned within the tubular member are two pressure chambers, one on each end of the piston. Pressurized fluid is controlledly introduced into one or the other of those chambers to effect a displacement of the piston. The pressure cylinder is of the type generally designated a rodless cylinder.

Abstract: A membrane filter press has a series of filter plates having an imperforate pipped membrane mounted on each side or one side thereof. Inlet ports are provided with a cantilevered retainer which support adjacent portions of the membrane when the membrane is expanded to effect a squeezing of filter cake deposited on filter media carried by pips on the membrane. The retainer may be circular in the case of a center inlet port or linear in the case of a corner inlet port. Corner outlet ports are provided in the filter plate, with the plate having a linear collection groove juxtaposed to an outer edge portion of the membrane so that filtrate flow from around the membrane pips to the collection groove and by passages only in the plate are conveyed to an outlet port. A beaded membrane rib enhances the connection of the membrane in a filter plate groove at a position adjacent to the plate seal face of adjoining filter plates.

Abstract: A membrane filter press has a series of filter plates having an imperforate pipped membrane mounted on each side or one side thereof. Inlet ports are provided with a cantilevered retainer which support adjacent portions of the membrane when the membrane is expanded to effect a squeezing of filter cake deposited on filter media carried by pips on the membrane. The retainer may be circular in the case of a center inlet port or linear in the case of a corner inlet port. Corner outlet ports are provided in the filter plate, with the plate having a linear collection groove juxtaposed to an outer edge portion of the membrane so that filtrate flow from around the membrane pips to the collection groove and by passages only in the plate are conveyed to an outlet port. A beaded membrane rib enhances the connection of the membrane in a filter plate groove at a position adjacent to the plate seal face of adjoining filter plates.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting the separation of filter plates within a filter press for washing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a guide track having mounted thereon a slidably reciprocal carriage. The carriage includes multiple pivoted pawls having an abutment surface defined thereon for contacting a filter plate to be transported. The pawl is held in a raised orientation by a resilient spring means. The carriage is driven along the guide track by a pressure displaced piston in a rodless cylinder or tubular member. Positioned within the tubular member are two pressure chambers, one on each end of the piston. Pressurized fluid is controlledly introduced into one or the other of those chambers to effect a displacement of the piston. A pair of shifter carriages are provided at the top of and parallel to the filter stack. A plate washer includes a vertical pair of rodless cylinders connecting a pair of vertically movable cross-bars, each cross-bar mounting a series of wash spray nozzles.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting the separation of filter plates within a filter press is disclosed. The apparatus includes a guide track having mounted thereon a slidably reciprocal carriage. The carriage includes at least one pivoted pawl having an abutment space defined thereon for contacting a filter plate to be transported. The pawl is held in a raised orientation by a resilient spring means. The carriage is driven along the guide track by means of a pressure displaced piston mechanically associated therewith. The piston is housed within a tubular member. Positioned within the tubular member are two pressure chambers, one on each end of the piston. Pressurized fluid is controlledly introduced into one or the other of those chambers to effect a displacement of the piston. The pressure cylinder is of the type generally designated a rodless cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically removing cake deposits from the surface of filter cloths within a filter press is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rod for suspending the cloth in a substantially inverted "V"-shaped configuration. The cloth is then slackened by lowering a rod over which the cloth is folded. The rod is then suddenly forced upwardly under the driving force of a loading means. The rod draws the cloth to a taut, tensioned condition, imparting a whip-like motion to the fabric of the filter cloth. This imparted motion serves to disengage the cake from the filter cloth.

Abstract: In a dewatering machine for dewatering wet solids in which an elastomeric covered roll applies pressure upon one or more dewatering valves, the improvement whereby the elastomeric roll covering is a multi-layer covering having a graded hardness across the covering layer. A typical covered roll of such a machine is one in which a soft rubber-like material adheres to the surface of the roll and is covered by a harder outer covering.

Abstract: A machine and process for washing paper stock pulp and other vacuum-filterable materials includes a wash drum mounted in a tank. Two endless filter belts are trained to pass around the wash drum and through wash liquid contained in the tank. A mat of pulp is formed between the two endless filter belts and carried on the wash drum and through the tank for washing therein. Wash liquor is pulled by vacuum through the pulp mat as it travels under the drum thereby washing the pulp mat. After the pulp has been washed it is removed from between the two belts.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for steam drying a cake of filtered solids formed on a disc filter element of a rotary disc vacuum filter where the disc filter element is mounted on a rotating means for rotation in a container, the lower portion of which includes a slurry tank and the upper portion of which includes a steam hood. The steam hood encloses a portion of the disc filter element in a steam chamber and includes a pair of sidewalls and a spine wall which joins the pair of sidewalls. A linear seal means is mounted to the pair of sidewalls of the hood to define a steam-retaining exit for the steam chamber through which the disc filter element rotatably moves, and includes two elongated flexible flaps which extend in a straight line from the spine wall into the slurry tank.

Abstract: A machine and process for washing paper stock pulp and similar free-filtering materials includes two or more horizontally-disposed wash drums mounted each in a tank. Two endless filter belts are trained to pass under each of said wash drums and through liquid contained in each of the tanks. A mat of pulp is formed between the two endless filter belts and carried under each of the wash drums for washing therein. Wash liquor passes through the pulp mat as it travels under each of the drums thereby washing the pulp mat, and the liquor passes between the drums and the tanks by gravity flow. After the pulp has been washed it is removed from between the two belts.

Abstract: A machine and process for washing paper stock pulp and similar free-filtering materials includes two or more horizontally-disposed wash drums mounted each in a tank. Two endless filter belts are trained to pass under each of said wash drums and through liquid contained in each of the tanks. A mat of pulp is formed between the two endless filter belts and carried under each of the wash drums for washing therein. Wash liquor passes through the pulp mat as it travels under each of the drums thereby washing the pulp mat, and the liquor passes between the drums by gravity flow. After the pulp has been washed it is removed from between the two belts.

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.