Abstract: A rotary disc vacuum filter includes detachably-mounted conduits rotating with a trunnion to provide flow communication between disc-shaped filter elements mounted on the trunnion and a valve applying suction to the filter elements. The rotary disc vacuum filter further includes ferrules for mounting the disc-shaped filter elements to the trunnion.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for steam drying a cake of filtered solids formed on a filter element of a rotary disc vacuum filter where the disc filter element is mounted 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 filter element in a steam chamber and includes tubular members which are connected to support the steam hood walls and which serve as an element of an introduction means for conveying steam into the chamber.

Abstract: In combination with a filtration machine of the type employing an endless belt of filter medium without beads on either of its edges, a pair of devices for aligning and dewrinkling the belt. Each of the aligning and dewrinkling devices includes a rigidly-mounted arm and a first cylindrical roller extending from the arm beneath the adjacent edge of the belt of filter medium. Also, each of the aligning and dewrinkling devices includes a second arm pivotably connected to the first arm and a second cylindrical roller extending from the second arm above the adjacent edge of the belt of filter medium so that a long nip line is defined between the rollers. A spring is connected between the ends of the two arms to urge the pivoted arm to rock to pinch the rollers together along the nip line to grip the filter belt. Also, a selectively-actuatable ram assembly is connected between the arms for selectively increasing the grip of the rollers on the belt.

Abstract: A dewatering machine comprises an integral and cooperative combination of a vacuum filter of the rotary drum type and an expression device of the diaphragm type. An intermittently-indexed endless filter medium belt carries a sheet of filter cake to the expression device after the cake is formed on the vacuum filter. The belt indexing action is coordinated with pressurization of the expression device so that the filter drum is indexed only when the diaphragm is relaxed and the pressurization is effected only at such times as the drum is not being indexed.

Abstract: A dewatering machine comprising an integral and cooperative combination of a vacuum filter of the rotary drum type and an expression device of the type wherein a diaphragm is pressed against a drainage deck. An intermittently-indexed first endless filter medium belt carries filter cake to the expression device after the cake is formed on the vacuum filter. A second endless filter belt is trained to run beneath the diaphragm of the expression device parallel to the drainage deck and above the first filter belt so that the filter cake is sandwiched between the two filter belts. The belt indexing action is coordinated with pressurization of the expression device so that the filter drum is indexed only when the diaphragm is relaxed and the pressurization is effected only at such times as the drum is not being indexed. The second filter belt prevents the pressed material from adhering to the diaphragm of the expression device.