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 rotary filter has a pressure vessel and a rotor from which a plurality of filter cells are suspended from outer portions of the rotor so that they clear a conveyor located proximal to the axis of rotation and upon which the filter cake is removed. Conduits are connected to the filter cells from a single distribution head for initially evacuating the cells in the filter stage and thereafter pressurizing the cells to dislodge the filter cake while the vessel remains under pressure. The filter cells can have the filter surfaces extending generally in axial planes or in axially spaced relationship in planes wherein a plurality of angularly spaced filters extend generally radially from respective filtrate conduits running axially along the outer part of the rotor.

Abstract: A sector for a disc-shape filter including a substantially sector-shape element having a pair of opposed sides and a pair of opposing edges including a leading and a trailing edge converging towards each other and terminating in a neck at one end and diverging in the other direction to terminate in an arcuate outer edge. An arrangement of flow paths is on each side and positioned to direct filtrate toward the neck. The element is adapted to be interconnected with a plurality of similar sectors to form a disc-shaped filter and adapted to be interconnected with a source for pressure differential so that when a filter medium is mounted thereon, filtrate collected therethrough will be directed to the neck for removal. The flow paths are in a predetermined non-symmetrical arrangement of channels in the outer surface of each side with the channel arrangement adjacent the leading edge being different from the channel arrangement adjacent the trailing edge.

Abstract: An oil filtering and purifying apparatus comprising a closed pressure tank with fluid inlet and outlet openings and a plurality of vertically stacked filter units removably arranged within the tank; the filter units have central hubs with vertical flow passages; the flow passages of adjacent hubs communicate with each other and with the outlet opening; each unit includes a lower horizontal plate carried by its hub, a felting screen supported in spaced relationship above the plate and cooperating therewith to define a fluid conducting chamber below the screen and about the hub; and fluid ports in the hub communicating with the flow passage therein and with the chamber related thereto; the apparatus next includes a deposit of particulate filtering material atop the felting screen of each unit; a section line from said inlet opening to a supply of oil to be filtered; and a motor driven fluid pump with its inlet communicating with said outlet opening and its outlet communicating with an oil delivery line.

Abstract: A diffusion washer and/or thickener assembly is provided that is greatly simplified. A number of withdrawal screens and fluid introducing structures are provided supported by spider arms which comprise conduits for introduction of liquid into and withdrawal of liquid from an elongated upright hollow vessel in which the assembly is disposed. The conduit means, with attached screen structures, is reciprocated up and down by a single linear actuator located preferably above the vessel and within the cross-sectional area thereof so that the wall of the vessel need not be penetrated by the conduits. The screens and fluid introducing structures remain stationary with respect to each other during reciprocation. A number of wiper blades, which may be operated by a single linear actuator, are provided at the top of the vessel for moving upwardly flowing pulp into withdrawal conduits surrounding the vessel periphery.

Abstract: A rotary disc filter apparatus including selectively removable filtrate flow conducting means and improved securing means therefor.

Abstract: Apparatus for the cross-flow filtration of liquids or gases, such apparatus having disc-shaped filter elements which are located concentrically around a filtrate collecting pipe and within a tubular jacket, and an inlet and outlet pipe extending parallel to the filtrate collecting pipe, each inlet and outlet pipe having an aperture between each filter element to ensure that the liquid to be filtered is supplied tangentially thereby assuming a helical flow across the filter elements. The filter elements are provided on both sides with a microporous membrane and are provided with a supporting layer having sealed passages in order to supply the filtrate to the central collecting pipe.

Abstract: A process is provided for filtering a liquid containing solids having a substantially different specific gravity relative to the liquid. The process includes the steps of providing a filter element having a hollow interior communicating with an outlet and being bounded by a filter mesh, passing a liquid containing solids having a substantially different specific gravity relative to the liquid against the outside of the filter mesh so that the filtrate enters into the interior and leaves the filter element through the outlet, and establishing a pressure differential between the interior and the ambient space so as to form an elevated pressure within the interior of the filter element, thereby irregular filter cake formations of the solids are at least substantially avoided because of the pressure differential between the outside of the filter mesh and the hollow interior. A filter for performing this process is also provided.

Abstract: A disc filter assembly in which a plurality of filter discs are attached to a central shaft. The central shaft is a fabrication which has a central mandrel. Pipe segments are removably secured around the mandrel with their longitudinal axes parallel to the mandrel's longitudinal axis. The pipe segments have walls which define a trapezoid in cross-section. The walls are positioned such that two side walls define planes which converge relatively close to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. Each pipe has at least one aperture through which filtrate from the interior of the disc filter segment passes to the interior of the pipe. The pipe is in fluid communication with an end piece having apertures therethrough. The end piece apertures have a trapezoidal cross-section corresponding to the trapezoidal shape of the pipe interior. A wear plate is attached to the outer end of the end piece and has trapezoidal apertures therethrough which are aligned with the apertures of the end piece.

Abstract: A sector body for use in a rotary disc dewatering apparatus is provided with a radially extending groove on each of its opposing faces. Any slackness in a filter medium fabric covering the sector body is gathered into the radial grooves. A caulking compound is applied over the filter medium in the radial grooves to maintain tautness of the filter medium.

Abstract: A rotary vacuum disc filter having a rotatable center shaft assembly mounting a plurality of filter discs each comprised of a like number of removable filter sectors aligned in horizontal rows, with each row connected to one of a plurality of longitudinally extending filtrate channels in the center shaft assembly wherein the outlet port of a selected channel at one end of the center shaft assembly may be selectively closed by a removable sealing plate to cut off flow from such channel.

Abstract: A sector for a disc-shaped filter. The device includes a substantially sector-shaped element having a pair of opposed sides, a pair of opposing edges converging toward each other and terminating in a neck at one end and diverging toward the other direction to terminate at an arcuate outer edge. An arrangement of flow paths is on each side and positioned to direct fluid filtrate toward the neck. The element is adapted to be interconnected with a plurality of similar sectors to form a disc-shaped filter and is adapted to be interconnected with a source for pressure differential so that when a filter medium is mounted thereon, filtrate collected therethrough will be directed to the neck for removal.

Abstract: A method of and device for filtering liquids according to which the liquid to be filtered together with an auxiliary filter substance, e.g. Kieselguhr, is introduced into a filter tank including filter elements arranged in spaced superimposed relationship to each other and located on a filter shaft. The auxiliary filter substance, e.g. Kieselguhr, which has a flow and sedimentation speed settles on the filter elements while forming deposits which form filtering layers for the liquid to be filtered. The filtered liquid is withdrawn from the lower region of the filter tank. A transverse flow extending transverse to the sedimentation speed of the liquid to be filtered is superimposed upon the sedimentation speed including the auxiliary filter substance.

Abstract: The hubs of adjacent rotary filter leaves are sealed together by means of a unitary, rigid ring which extends across the interface between the leaves and sealably engages annular gaskets mounted in circumferential grooves in the hubs.

Abstract: A vertically disposed centrifugal pressure filter for suspensions has a closed casing containing a sectional hollow rotary shaft, the long section of which is equipped with filter disks within the casing. A relatively short shaft section has a plug-in connection with the lower end of the long shaft section and has bearing in an outside bearing casing detachably connected to the filter casing. Dynamic sealing means is provided between the short shaft section and the bearing casing, so that when the bearing casing and short shaft section are disconnected from the filter casing and long shaft section, the seal for the short shaft section is not disturbed. The filtrate passes through the shaft sections and to the outside through the bearing casing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vacuum filter segment including a segment frame made up of a sector-shaped frame partially defining a generally sector-shaped central open area and a throat adapted for sealing engagement with a vacuum manifold and for communicating with the central open area. A pair of sector plates are removably secured in a spaced apart mounted position in engagement with the frame and further define the central open area. The sector plates are adapted for supporting a filter medium and include apertures for affording communication between the central open area and the filter medium. The filter segment includes fasteners for removably securing the sector plates without requiring integral bonding or welding of the fasteners to the frame in the mounted position. The frame and sector plates are preferably composed of steel having a urethane coating so as to resist abrasion and corrosion.

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.

Abstract: A process is provided for filtering a liquid containing solids having a substantially different specific gravity relative to the liquid. The process includes the steps of providing a filter element having a hollow interior communicating with an outlet and being bounded by a filter mesh, passing a liquid containing solids having a substantially different specific gravity relative to the liquid against the outside of the filter mesh so that the filtrate enters into the interior and leaves the filter element through the outlet, and establishing a pressure differential between the interior and the ambient space so as to form an elevated pressure within the interior of the filter element, thereby irregular filter cake formations of the solids are at least substantially avoided because of the pressure differential between the outside of the filter mesh and the hollow interior. A filter for performing this process is also provided.

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: A filter sector about which a bag-type filter is secured is disclosed for use in a rotary disc filter structure. The filter sector is a generally wedge-shaped panel having oppositely disposed planar surfaces. A plurality of substantially cylindrical projections are affixed to the planar surfaces and have contact surfaces which support the bag filter spaced apart from the planar surfaces. A plurality of elongated ribs extend between an apex end portion and an arcuate end portion of the panel and are spaced apart to define a plurality of independent flow channels for filtrate drawn through the bag filter. A collar assembly is provided for connecting the filter sector to a filtrate discharge conduit.

Abstract: A filter arrangement for thickening suspensions of fibrous material is shown as having rotating filter elements encased in a filter trough with such filter elements being pairs of filter disks fixed at right angles to a rotary hollow shaft and further defining a chamber as between such filter disks; the chambers are connected through the hollow shaft to a suction head to which down-pipes are linked and in which material outlet shafts are disposed between the pairs of filter disks; turbulence generating means are provided in the filter trough and the filter disks are provided with at least one ejector vane.

Abstract: The filtered liquid present in the rotating compartments of the core of a disc filter is suctioned out of the filter through two separate zones. Muddy or turbid filtrate is drawn out as the compartments pass through a first zone lying near the bottom point in the rotation of the compartments. Thereafter, the compartments pass through a second zone located in the region of the first 60.degree. of the upward movement of the compartments, in which zone the clear filtrate is drawn out. The compartments have a slight axial pitch and their surfaces are concave so that, as the compartment moves in the upward direction, the filtrate flows towards the discharge ports of the filter.

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: A rotary disc filter machine having a rigid scraper blade member supported on radially innermost and outermost circumferentially extending side surfaces of a filter disc unit by cake scraping and blade supporting shoe devices mounted on the radially innermost and outermost end portions of the scraper blade member, the radially innermost end portion of the scraper blade member having a pivotal connection relative to the tank means to enable axial movement of the blade member with the filter disc unit caused by wobble of the filter disc unit while being mounted in a fixed rigid adjusted position relative to the filter disc unit by mounting bracket devices enabling various radial, circumferential, and axial adjustments of the scraper blade position and gap relative to the filter disc unit which is axially confined at the radially outermost portion thereof by guide and abutment devices mounted on the side wall plates of the cake removal slots.

Abstract: Disk filter comprising a tank for the liquid to be filtered, a tubular shaft carrying, spaced in its longitudinal direction, filtering disks which consist of functionally independent, hollow filtering sectors communicating through holes made in the mantle of the tubular shaft and located at the tips of the sectors with the interior space of the tubular shaft, the different filtrates coming from the filtering sectors being removed from the different chambers with the aid of vacuum introduced into said interior space. The chambers are established when within the tubular shaft there is placed a slide member which is stationary as the shaft rotates and which divides the interior of the shaft in the transversal direction into sectors and which is confined by ends at either of the shaft.

Abstract: A filter has a housing defining a closed chamber around a hollow shaft which is rotatable in the housing and which carries a plurality of filter elements so that fluid can be pumped through the filter elements into the hollow interior of the shaft. The shaft is rotatable with the filter elements relative to the housing for cleaning filter cake off the filter elements between filtering operations. An annular and hollow bellows-type seal surrounds the shaft and has one axial end secured to the housing and an opposite axial end engageable with the shaft for sealing the shaft relative to the housing. This bellows-type seal is made of thin and flexible stainless steel. The inside of the seal may be pressurized by a liquid or gas to force the end of the seal against the shaft and form a tight connection therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a filter sector for a vacuum disc slurry filter which is molded from an elastomer such as rubber and which is provided with a grid of reinforcing bands and a grid of ribs superimposed on the supporting bands to provide a supporting surface for the filter bag. The bands and ribs form slots and channels with a minimum surface area contacting the filter bag to provide increased vacuum communication with the filter bag and thus enhance cake build-up for more efficient separation of the liquids and solids. The use of rubber results in a lighter disc sector and minimizes abrasion on the filter bag and increases bag life.

Abstract: A disc filter assembly in which a plurality of filter discs are attached to a common shaft. The common shaft is a fabrication which has a central common mandrel. Saddles are rigidly attached to the common mandrel. Pipe segments are removably attached to the saddles. The pipe segments have at least one aperture which allows passage of filtrate from the filter to the pipe segments. The pipe segments are aligned and connected to form a continuous passage with an end piece which is mounted for rotation above a slurry container. The end piece has apertures therethrough aligned with the pipe segments. The end piece is operably connected to the pipe segments to form a continuous passage therethrough. The filter assembly is used to filter liquids from a taconite or other particulate slurry.

Abstract: A filter element for a filter apparatus comprises a rigid support plate on at least one side of which is spanned a generally square filter cloth. This filter cloth may be formed as a pair of panels joined permanently together on three sides so as to form a pocket and having a fourth side which can be closed by a clamp or the like. The support is slipped into the pocket and a plurality of such filter elements are spaced along a rotatable hollow shaft centered in a filter chamber to which a solution to be filtered is fed. During operation the filtrate is pumped out of the hollow shaft through the filter cloth on which filter cake deposits. For cleaning of the cloth the shaft is rotated and the filter cake is washed off with a liquid spray.

Abstract: A rotary filter for concentrating fiber suspensions comprises annular disks mounted in parallel and spaced from each other on a motor-driven drum having a lattice-shaped cylindrical wall, the drum being journalled in a vessel for liquid to be filtrated. Each filter disk is composed of sector-shaped filter boxes having at least two opposite filter walls and connected to outlet conduits included in the lattice-shaped wall of the drum. Further, a collecting hopper is stationary inserted in the drum to collect concentrated pulp falling down through the lattice-shaped drum wall from the filter surfaces at the moment such surfaces are in their uppermost positions.

Abstract: A filter cloth for a leaf filter of a pressure vessel including a flat retaining sack or bag which encloses the leaf filter. An outlet opening is contained in the sack through which the filtered product can be extracted. A releasable closure device is provided along the greater part of one side edge of the sack to permit removal of the sack from the leaf filter for cleaning and replacement thereof. A reinforcing material is provided at the outlet opening to provide a tight seal about the outlet of the leaf filter. Preferably, the sack is substantially circular but may have any configuration conforming to the shape of the leaf filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for concentration of or liquid treatment of liquid-containing substance mixtures, particularly cellulose pulp, in which a preferably upright container is adapted for axial flow of cellulose pulp therethrough. A plurality of screen bodies which have outlets and are mounted in the container and have perforated or slotted walls for the collection of liquid separated from the cellulose pulp are provided. The screen bodies are arranged substantially radially in the cross-section of the container and extend from the periphery of the container to a filling body or the like provided in the container preferably centrally therein.

Abstract: Disc filter assembly in which a plurality of filter discs are mounted on common shaft for rotation to selectively dispose disc surfaces under vacuum in a confined body of slurry through a portion of said rotation and to discharge formed cake from said surfaces by "blow" action through another portion of rotation. Each disc has plurality of sectors in sequential arrangement circumferentially of shaft mounted on a hollow center shaft and communicating with passage-defining means controlled by a valve at the end of the shaft. A connector having a curved passage establishes communication between a disc sector and the passage-defining means which it connects by externally applied welding.

Abstract: A disc filter is provided with undulating filter material formed by ridges and grooves extending radially and alternating circumferentially to increase the effective area of the filter.