Abstract: A filter plate having a flow channel area on its main top surface, and liquid distribution and collection basins, each of polygonal shape, on its main bottom surface. Liquid inlet and discharge trough openings extend through the plate adjacent the respective distribution and collection basins, to commnicate the basins on the main bottom surface of the plate with the flow channel area on the main top surface thereof. Such plates may be associated in opposedly facing pairs to form enclosed flow channels characterized by fluid flow patterns which are substantially uniform across the full transverse extent of the flow path and which facilitate the utilization of the full areal extent of the filter media employed therewith. Also described is a unitary filter element support which may be usefully employed in the filter.

Abstract: A plate filter press for the mechanical separation of solids from a liquid forming a suspension. The plate filter press is made of a plurality of vertical membrane plates and filter plates, the membrane plates and filter plates alternating. The space between the membrane plates and filter plates defines a filter chamber, which can be opened by moving the plates apart. An impermeable and flexible membrane is positioned in the filter chamber and is sealed to the periphery of the membrane plate. The space between the membrane and the membrane plate defines a pressure medium chamber for receiving pressure medium. The space between the membrane and the filter plate defines a suspension chamber for receiving the suspension. Finally, a woven metal fabric filter is positioned on each side of the filter plate. Both the filter plates and the woven metal fabric filters are planar. Liquid from the suspension is discharged through the woven metal fabric filter toward the interior of the filter plates.

Abstract: In homogeneous substitution washing method and apparatus for a cake using a filter press which comprises pairs of opposed squeezed and squeezing filtering plate units, pairs of opposed squeezed and squeezing filtering cloths, each pair of filtering cloths being arranged between the pair of filtering plate units, and diaphragms. Each diaphragm is arranged on one side of one of the pair of filtering plate units. Stock solution is supplied into a space between the pair of filtering cloths, and is pressurized and dehydrated by the diaphragm to form the cake. The cake is processed in washing to obtain a clean raw material. In parallel with the pressurizing and dehydrating step of the stock solution, a washing liquid is poured into a space between the diaphragm and the squeezing filtering cloth abutted against the diaphragm, at a pressure at least a pressurizing and dehydrating pressure applied to the stock solution through the diaphragm, to wash the cake between the pair of filtering cloths.

Abstract: A membrane plate for filter presses including a supporting plate with a clamping rim elevated on both sides, a frame, and a membrane clamped in place between the supporting plate and the frame. The membrane is enclosed inwardly of the clamping rim between two approximately V-shaped diverging contact surfaces of the supporting plate and the frame and is capable of elastic deflection toward both sides of the membrane. To attain a high resistance to continuous stress, the membrane is provided inwardly of the clamping rim with a wavy or undulation zone wherein the undulation or wave crests extend in parallel to the clamping ring. At least one outer undulation or wave crest is enclosed between two contact surfaces, with this wave crest projecting with a back surface thereof into a flaring space defined by the contact surfaces lying in opposition to a pressure medium chamber of the filter press.

Abstract: A pressurized liquid filter in which a series of spaced apart, vertically extending filter plates are mounted between the sides of housing, inflatable hose seals extending across each top entrance and bottom exit. Filter media strips are draped vertically into the spaces, each disposed over a perforated sheet forming the outer layer of either side of each filter plate. The space between each pair of filter plates is subdivided into two filtering chambers by a dual element dewatering diaphragm mounted in a frame disposed centrally in each space. Liquid slurry is introduced into each chamber under pressure, flow induced to pass through the filter media strips and passing into vertical passages in the filter plates and into collection troughs extending along each row of passages.

Abstract: A membrane filter plate for filter presses includes either a membrane holding frame or plate having dovetailed recesses; at least one membrane having an associated covering frame; each membrane and covering frame combination having an associated filter cloth and each membrane edge having a dovetailed-shaped projection which engages in corresponding dovetailed recesses of the membrane holding frame or plate wherein each membrane edge is provided with a flute in the dovetailed-shaped projection and the covering frame is provided with a projection at locations corresponding to the flute which engages with the flute.

Abstract: A filter plate arrangement for a filter press which includes a carrier plate, at least one membrane arranged on the side of the carrier plate having spacing ribs for positioning a filter cloth, a sealing edge frame for securing the membrane to the carrier plate with a fluid-tight connection and a chamber plate secured on an outer surface of the sealing edge frame is characterized by an improved design to limit stressing of the membrane as it moves from a filtering phase to a pressing phase. These improvements include the thickness of the frame adjacent an inner peripheral edge being substantially the same as the height of the spacing ribs and the chamber plate having an olique portion extending from the surface at an angle to a center plane of the carrier plate from a line immediately adjacent the peripheral edge so that during the pressing stage, the membrane will not be subjected to extreme bends to cause rupture or tearing thereof.

Abstract: A device for separation of constituents, separable in a filter, from a liquid medium, comprising a stack of a plurality of plate units (10), arranged one after the other, with filters (11) arranged therein. Along the filters there are arranged rotors (24) for scraping off coatings deposited on the filters. Each rotor is mounted on a separate shaft piece (22) arranged in each plate. The shaft pieces are connected to each other by means of connections which can be drawn apart in the stacking direction of the plate units. Defects in the device can be detected in a channel (20) which extends in the stacking direction of the plate units and which is common to liquid having passed through the filter. A defective plate unit can be shut off, while maintaining the separation device in operation, and be replaced without dismantling the entire device (FIG. 7).

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly pressing a plurality of flat plate-type structures together comprising a first and second vertical support means, a pair of side rails spaced apart and supported on the support means, the side rails being perpendicular to the support means and adapted to support flat plate-like structures, a plurality of flat plate-like structures with hanger members to slidably and pivotably mount the structures on the side rails, a vertical mobile platen provided with top and bottom hanger members connected to a press means adapted for pressing the mobile platen against and toward the flat plate-type structures to compress them together and retracting the mobile platen from the plate-like structures, the press means comprising at least one coiled spring, a first contactor plate attached to the mobile platen and a second contactor plate attached to a positioning device secured to one of the support means and a first and second guide chamber for directing the positioning device and coiled spring per

Abstract: A filter press has at least one support wall and at least one filter element adjacent the wall and in turn having an outer peripheral frame secured to the wall, a generally planar central panel within the frame and having a back face turned toward and forming a compartment with the wall and a front face turned away from the wall, and a deformable connecting web between the panel and the outer periphery and extending at an acute angle to the plane of the panel. The web and frame form a V-shaped groove having a pair of flanks. A filter cloth overlies the front face and a fluid under pressure can be forced into the compartment to press the panel forward and deform the web such that its flanks meet. The web is formed with thickened ridges extending generally parallel to the adjacent frame.

Abstract: Membrane filter plate for a filter press or the like, with a carrier plate, at least one membrane arranged on one side of the carrier plate and preferably provided with spacing cams or the like for applying a filter cloth or the like and a sealing edge surrounding the carrier plate and membrane and interconnecting them in a substantially flow medium-tight manner, the peripheral surface or surfaces of said sealing edge parallel to the carrier plate median plane being arranged in the unloaded normal position thereof on the side having the membrane or on either side of the carrier plate, while being spaced from the membrane plane, wherein the contact surface of the carrier plate facing the membrane runs towards the carrier plate median plane in a transition area located between the connecting line of the membrane with the sealing edge and the central area of the carrier plate, in which it extends parallel to said central plate median plane.

Abstract: Composite, unbreakable plates for filter-presses are formed by the firm assembly of, in succession for each plate, a first thin frame 1 collecting the filtrates, a grooved resilient membrane 4 to squeeze the cake, a second thin frame 3 forming a chamber for the fluid inflating the membranes, a second similar membrane, and a third thin frame similar to the first frame. The filtration composite plate cooperates with a frame or is a recess plate which is spaced for unloading of the cakes collected. Each plate or frame has a small jack operating between small extensions at the top of the frames or on top of the plates for separating the plates.

Abstract: This invention provides a filter cloth assembly for use on a filter plate of a center-feed filter press, which comprises a two-part filter cloth with fittings for rapid and easy assembly on the filter plate, one cloth on each side. Methods of manufacture of the novel assembly and its parts and a new method for bonding otherwise incompatible plastics and elastomers are disclosed.

Abstract: Membrane filter plate for a filter press or the like, with a carrier plate, at least one membrane arranged on one side of the carrier plate and preferably provided with spacing cams or the like for applying a filter cloth or the like and a sealing edge surrounding the carrier plate and membrane and interconnecting them in a substantially flow medium-tight manner, the peripheral surface or surfaces of said sealing edge parallel to the carrier plate median plane being arranged in the unloaded normal position thereof on the side having the membrane or on either side of the carrier plate, while being spaced from the membrane plane, wherein the contact surface of the carrier plate facing the membrane runs towards the carrier plate median plane in a transition area located between the connecting line of the membrane with the sealing edge and the central area of the carrier plate, in which it extends parallel to said central plate median plane.

Abstract: A press for pressing liquid from thin layers of liquid-containing masses including a frame, first and second spaced fixed platens on the frame, a movable platen between the first and second fixed platens for dividing the press into first and second operating sections, first and second bag-carrying frames in the first and second operating sections, first and second series of racks on the first and second bag-carrying frames, first and second series of bags interspersed with the first and second series of racks, the bags having downwardly converging side seams from open tops, pivot means mounting the first and second bag-carrying frames for pivotal movement between first positions wherein the bags have their open tops facing upwardly and second positions outside of the frame where the bags have their open tops facing downwardly, and motor mechanism for selectively moving the movable platen toward and away from each of the fixed platens.

Abstract: A filter plate which is longitudinally partitioned between its inlet and outlet ends, and features liquid feed and collection troughs at the respective ends which are of progressively decreasing depth from the medial part of the trough to the extremities thereof. Such plates may be associated in opposed, relatively inverted pairs to form enclosed flow channels characterized by fluid flow rates which are substantially uniform across the full transverse extent of the flow path and which facilitate the utilization of the full areal extent of the filter media employed therewith. Also described in a unitary filter element which may be usefully employed in the filter.The filter of the invention may be highly efficiently employed for dewatering of aqueous biomass suspensions, desalting of proteins, removal of secreted metabolites from cellular suspensions, and the like.

Abstract: In order to regulate the filter plate contact pressure in a plate filter press comprising a hydraulic closing cylinder unit, the compression force prevailing in the filter plate pack, or the compression of at least one component such as, for example, a filter plate, exposed to the compression pressure ambient in the filter plate pack is utilized as a control variable. The hydraulic pressure of the closing cylinder unit is regulated so as to maintain a desired compression value.

Abstract: A chamber filter press including frameless chamber plates covered on both sides with filter clothes stretched thereover, wherein two adjacent chamber plates contact each other with an outer, continuous clamping rim and define a filter chamber, consisting of a central filter cake compartment lying between the filter cloths and two outer filtrate compartments lying between the plate and the filter cloth. Repressing devices for the filter cake are arranged in the zone of at least one of the two filtrate compartments of each filter chamber. The repressing devices are fashioned as distensible cushions suspended within at least one filtrate compartment of each filter chamber at the adjoining chamber plate by marginal suspension strips which keep open, at least at the lower edge of the distensible cushion. A liquid passage is provided between the half of the filtrate compartment on the filter cloth side and the half on the plate side.

Abstract: The thermoplastic filter plate is designed for a filter press comprising a plurality of the filter plates clamped together edgewise forming a plurality of filter chambers between themselves. Each filter plate has a press wall on one or both sides of it. This press wall is at least flexible in an edge region and is movable by action of a pressurizing medium into one of the filter chambers. Each of the filter plates includes unitarily a supporting wall and a compression chamber for the pressurizing medium acting on the press wall, the supporting wall being located between adjacent compression chambers. The press wall is made in one piece with a plate frame of the filter plate. The rigid plate frame is composed of a hard plastic material resistive to the closing pressure of the filter press and the press wall is composed of an elastic plastic material guaranteeing an easy adjustability and deformability.

Abstract: Membrane filter plate for a filter press or the like, with a carrier plate, at least one membrane arranged on one side of the carrier plate and preferably provided with spacing cams or the like for applying a filter cloth or the like and a sealing edge surrounding the carrier plate and membrane and interconnecting them in a substantially flow medium-tight manner, the peripheral surface or surfaces of said sealing edge parallel to the carrier plate median plane being arranged in the unloaded normal position thereof on the side having the membrane or on either side of the carrier plate, while being spaced from the membrane plane, wherein the contact surface of the carrier plate facing the membrane runs towards the carrier plate median plane in a transition area located between the connecting line of the membrane with the sealing edge and the central area of the carrier plate, in which it extends parallel to said central plate median plane.

Abstract: There is disclosed a filtering method comprising using a filter-press-type device in the chambers whereof filtering means divide a compartment for material to be filtered from a filtrate-collecting compartment, compressing the possibly-washed material to be filtered by reducing the volume of the compartments for material to be filtered, discharging washing solute and filtrate which have passed through the filtering means, and dismantling said filter-press. The method makes use of filter means which are resistant and undistortable under the method conditions, and retains the filtering means in a relative position to the filtering chamber axis which is identical during all the filtering steps.

Abstract: The press wall is provided for a filter element of a filter press comprising a plurality of filter elements clamped together edgewise forming filter chambers for the suspension to be filtered. A filter element carries on one or both sides a press wall is attached edgewise with it which is movable by a pressurizing medium into the filter chamber. Each press wall has a plurality of sectional projections overlayed with a filter cloth on their wall surfaces directed toward the filter chamber which form a drainage system under the filter cloth. The press wall has an edge adjacent an edge region facilitating its connection to the filter element and a wall strip extending along this edge region. The wall strip is bendable at least to the extent of the displacement of the press wall under pressure.

Abstract: A filter cloth securing device attaches a filter cloth in the zone of the slurry port of a filter plate. A plurality of face-to-face arranged filter plates constitute a filter plate stack of a plate filter press. Each filter cloth securing device has two flanged sleeves inserted from either side of the slurry port and a threaded tightening sleeve which passes through the slurry port and which tightens the flanged sleeves to one another to thus clamp the filter cloth against the filter plate face. In the closed state of the filter plate stack face-to-face oriented flanged sleeves belonging to consecutive filter plates define an annular clearance and further, at least one flanged sleeve of the filter cloth securing device has on its outer face at least one protuberance which projects towards the outer flange face of an adjoining flanged sleeve, belonging to a consecutive filter plate. The protuberance ends at a distance from the last-named outer flange face.

Abstract: A membrane plate for a chamber filter press over which a filter cloth may be stretched on both sides thereof. The membrane plate includes an exchangeable substantially planar membrane member which is loosely enclosed between a bracket plate and a frame and is adapted to be clamped tightly between the bracket plate and the frame only by the closing pressure of the chamber filter press. The bracket plate and the frame, when the filter press is open, are adapted to be moved apart from one another along slide bearing pieces by a distance of 1 to 3 mm until the movement is limited by a stop. By enabling a relative movement when the filter press is open, the membrane is vented during times of stoppage of the open filter press or during ejection of a filter cake or a washing of the filter cloths so as to enable the membrane to readily readjust.

Abstract: A filter press, for cake or precoat filtration, including one or more filter units, each of which includes slurry frames, filter plates, and support sheets or surfaces. Each of the filter plates is provided with at least one filtrate discharge, and each support sheet or surface, which is disposed on one side of a given filter plate, has associate therewith one of the slurry frames, which has a filling space which is directed toward the caking side of the support sheet or surface, an upper and lower connection for venting and discharge, and a supply conduit for medium which is to be filtered. Associated with each of the slurry frames is a distribution chamber which communicates with the filling space of one of each of the support sheets or surfaces, which are in a sealed state with the slurry frame via a press border. The communication is established via a partition which borders one of the filling spaces and extends parallel to the support sheet or surface.

Abstract: A filter plate and diaphragm assembly (10) is disclosed for use in a filter press comprising a horizontal stack of such assemblies interleaved with recess plates (12). Each assembly (10) comprises a plate (11) and a diaphragm (19). Plate (11) has a thicker peripheral portion (13) and staybosses (20). Adjacent portion (13) and staybosses (20) the diaphragm does not overlie the plate (11) but has lips (23, 24) accommodated in recesses (25, 26) in the plate (10). This ensures that the clamping loads applied to the stack are not borne by the diaphragms. The diaphragm 19 can have a drainage channel (28) formed in a rib (29) to receive liquid passing along drainage grooves (27) or the like after passing through a filter cloth (17). Air can be introduced via bores (22) to urge the diaphragm (19) away from the plate (11) to compress a filter cake being formed in the space between the assembly 10 and an adjacent recess plate (12).

Abstract: Filter cake formed from a slurry is dried in a filter press comprising a plurality of filtration units each having a chamber bounded by a pair of opposed flexible walls with at least one of said walls being constituted by a filter medium. The flexible walls are sandwiched between flexible membranes. The filter cake is formed and compressed in the chambers by hydraulic fluid pressure acting on the flexible membranes. By means of pressure oscillations set up in the hydraulic fluid, the filter cake in the chambers is deformed by bowing from side to side of an initial central plane, whereby drying is improved.

Abstract: A filter cloth arrangement for use in a fixed filter cloth type filter press including at least one pair of first and second filter plates and a pair of first and second filter cloths interposed between the first and second filter plates. The arrangement includes a support member for supporting upper ends of the first and second filter cloths, an elastic member for vibratingly supporting the support member, a fixing member for fixing lower ends of the first and second filter cloths to it, and a first slurry feeding plate attached to the first filter cloth.

Abstract: A diaphragm type cake compressor for filter presses employing recessed plates, which compressor comprises a planar panel of quadrilateral configuration and formed from a suitable inert material to define a lower central slurry feed through opening and at its corner portions at least one filtrate passing aperture and at least one separate wash passing aperture, which panel has applied to each face of same an elastomeric membrane, which membranes are secured in place by double sided adhesive tape applied about the margins of the panel and membranes, in circumambient relation thereto, with the membranes being coupled together and through the panel slurry feed through opening in sealing relation thereto to define the slurry feed through port of the compressor, and with the membrane being apertured to correspond to the panel filtrate and wash apertures, which apertures are sealed off from the slurry by adhesive tape bonding of the membranes to the panel.

Abstract: A squeeze-filter plate for use in such a filter press as to squeeze a cake of solid substances which is built up within a filtration room defined between the squeeze-filter plate and a filter plate adjacent thereto. The squeeze-filter plate is composed of a diaphragm means having a central portion and an outer peripheral portion, and a frame for supporting the diaphragm means. The outer peripheral portion has at least one structure for discharge a filtered liquid from the surface of the diaphragm to a passage in the frame. This structure is constituted by at least one aperture defined in the outer peripheral portion having a solid plug portion positioned therein and at least one socket member housed in the aperture for defining at least two discharge passages each of which guides a filtered liquid from one of the surfaces of the central portion to the passage in the frame without clogging occurring therein.

Abstract: A filter press having a slurry feed inlet arranged at the lower ends of filter cloths at locations outside filter chambers formed by filter plates thereby enabling the filter cloths to entirely open when the filter plates are opened to facilitate discharge of cakes adhered to the filter cloths.