Abstract: An apparatus for thickening liquids or thin sludges by water extraction, having a bottom, a tub having an underside, stands supporting the tub on the bottom, a ripening time chamber for receiving the liquids or thin sludges, first devices for admixing a polyelectrolyte for flocculation in the ripening time chamber, a conveyor belt for further dewatering the liquids or thin sludges, and second devices for delivering liquid extracted from the conveyor belt and thick sludge discharges. At least the conveyor belt, the ripening time chamber and the second devices are accommodated in the tub, which thus acts as a frame and a lateral boundary for the conveyor belt, the ripening time chamber and the second devices. All connections required for operation are disposed on the underside of the tub, and the underside of the tub is spaced above the bottom by the stands.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a surface includes a spray pipe situated at a distance from, and generally parallel to the surface. The spray pipe has a plurality of spray nozzles having a predetermined spacing from one another along the spray pipe. Each spray nozzle has a spray width on the surface to be cleaned. There is further provided a drive for longitudinally displacing the spray pipe. The predetermined spacing is a multiple of the spray width, and further, the spray pipe has detent positions in a displacement path thereof. The number of the detent positions equals the ratio of the spacing to the width, and the distance between detent positions equals approximately the spray width at the most.

Abstract: A dual-cycle method of extracting juice from fruit and a juice extraction installation consisting of two angular presses in tandem arrangement in which the fruit mash yields first quality juice and pomace in the first press, and this pomace is immediately broken up and deposited on the horizontal run of the second press, under the addition of water which soaks and swells the pomace, before it passes through the second extraction press. The latter yields juice of second quality and twice-pressed pomace.

Abstract: A raking apparatus comprises a guide track, a carriage supported on the guide track for displacement thereon along a traveling path, a linkage assembly supported on the carriage and comprising a plurality of linkage levers articulated to one another by respective joints, and a rake supported on the carriage and operatively connected to the linkage assembly for varying angular positions of the rake by the linkage assembly upon pivotal motion of the levers with respect to one another. There is further provided a slide track receiving one of the joints for guiding it upon pivotal motion of the levers and a locking mechanism mounted on the carriage and cooperating with the linkage assembly. The locking mechanism has a released position permitting a pivotal motion of the levers and a locking position immobilizing the levers of the linkage assembly with respect to one another.

Abstract: A conveyor-type sludge filtering device for extracting the liquid component from the sludge, the device including a horizontally moving supported strand of a perforate endless conveyor belt onto which a continuous flow of sludge is deposited, while rows of flow breaker members extend downwardly into the moving sludge, thereby preventing the formation of sludge layers, especially of a belt-plugging bottom layer of solid matter. The flow breakers are preferably wedge-shaped and pivotably supported on transverse rods.

Abstract: A web filter press for the removal of liquid from sludge having an upright converging filtering space into which sludge is received from above, a dandy roll at the bottom end thereof, and a horizontal roller train, in which the webs are progressively more deflected and compressed. A horizontal prefiltering run may be arranged ahead of the upright filter space, and suction boxes may be arranged in both of these runs to enhance their filtering efficiency.