Abstract: Apparatus for effecting clarification of liquid having particulate material entrained therewithin includes a filter screen and a filter-cleaning device disposed adjacent thereto operable for removing particulate material from the filter screen which has been deposited or accumulated thereon from a particulate-laden liquid discharged onto the filter screen. The filter-cleaning device includes a dispenser which is selectively positioned, in an automatic manner, relative to the filter screen to direct a fluid flow against the filter screen at variable locations thereon to impart movement to the retained particulate material relative to the filter screen. Additionally, the filter-cleaning device of the present invention includes a plurality of nozzles, which form the dispensing device, mounted on a carriage which is operable for carrying the dispensing device so that the nozzles will be presented over the filter screen in a selective, reciprocally shifting manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing excess liquid and contaminants from a belt filter cake includes a perforated main belt extending over a separation drum. An anti-wear permeable belt has one portion lying against part of the main belt supported by the separation drum. There are exterior suction headers and chambers effective through the anti-wear belt and main belt and a main suction box within the separation drum for cake recovery where the main belt is in contact therewith. Wash water nozzles are within the separation drum directed toward the exterior suction headers and chambers.

Abstract: Filter elements are constructed of an array of parallel, spaced-apart rods, a plurality of spaced-apart bars fixed normal to the rods on one side of the array forming a multitude of cavities between the bars and above the surface of the array. Filter media comprising crushed aggregate bound in a matrix of cured resin fills the cavities to just below the plane of the top edge of the bars.Filter apparatus is provided having a rigid filter bed and including a scraper blade to be moved above the filter bed in contact with the top surface thereof to lift portions of filter cake from the filter bed. The scraper blade includes means to apply a vacuum through a surface of the blade.A new filtering method applies vacuum to the portions of filter cake lifted by the scraper blade causing relatively rapid removal of filtrate therefrom and producing an incoherent mass of particles of relatively dry filtered material.

Abstract: A clarifier allowing increased fluid pressure differentials across the filter septum is arranged with one face of the septum exposed to the contaminated liquid and the opposite face exposed to the suction pressure of a pump with the discharge of the pump capable of being redirected to backflush through the filter septum, such backflushing being carried out sequentially through small area segments of the septum. The return of a flight conveyor may be moved selectively into and out of scraping or wiping relation with the filter and filter wiping and backflushing may be automatically controlled.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for clarifying liquids wherein a flight conveyor in the settling tank has a forwarding run for removing sludge from the bottom of the tank and a return run which is selectively moved into and out of wiping cooperation with a filter between the settling tank and a clean-liquid tank, and a filter backwasher in the clean tank is selectively operable to progressively backwash the filter, and both the wiping and backwashing being accomplished in accordance with the clogged condition of the filter.

Abstract: A filter cone fixed to the bottom of a washing machine basket includes a plurality of closely spaced rigid teeth in a circumferential row extending outwardly and upwardly to divide the tub into first and second chambers for filtering laundry liquid during a washing cycle and for preventing sediment and debris from returning into the basket during a direct-into-spin portion of the wash cycle. The reverse flow of water through the filter teeth during the drain portion of the washing cycle effects self-cleaning of the teeth.

Abstract: A lime sludge press unit comprising at least two pairs of press rolls, the lime sludge web passing, supported by an endless wire, through their press nips and moisture escaping from the lime sludge therein. After the first pair of rolls is located a lime sludge treatment screw transversal to the lime sludge web and which breaks up the pressed lime sludge web and carrying helical threads starting at its ends and opposite in direction so that these both transport the lime sludge from the margin of the web towards its center.

Abstract: A strainer of the self-cleaning type includes a strainer element capable of removing matted debris by backwashing. The strainer element comprises a plurality of stacked annular strainer plates maintained in spaced relationship to form straining passages wherein the passages are substantially greater in depth than height. Protruding surfaces of the strainer element form vertically aligned compartments along its upstream side. The compartments collect the debris. A rotating backwash arm or arms are provided which may carry at least one cutting blade. The blade cuts matted debris extending between compartments into sections as it passes over these protruding surfaces and these sections are removed by backwashing.

Abstract: A sieve apparatus containing a circular sieve or screen, possessing at a portion of its circumference an impervious region. The impervious region of the circular screen forms a trough in which there can be formed a liquid sump for washing the material which is to be treated. In the case of a circular sieve or screen, formed of perforated sheet metal, the impervious region can be free of holes or openings. If the circular sieve or screen is formed of a sieve or filter material, then the circular sieve is covered at the impervious region. Spray tubes or the like serve for spraying the circular sieve, the material which is to be treated and for forming the liquid sump.

Abstract: A continuous separation system intended for the recovery of solids and/or liquid contained in slurries comprises an enclosed low speed rotary screen assembly mounted between a stationary casing under vacuum and a cover provided with a fixed scraper and into which circulates dry hot air. The arrangement is such that during operation a slurry is admitted on top of the rotating screen on one side of the scraper while liquid is recovered by suction into the casing leaving the solids which are washed and then dried before being scraped off and eventually removed on the other side of the scraper. The recovered liquid is automatically degasified into the casing before being pumped out therefrom. Throughput can be varied either by adjustment of the amount of material being fed into the system, or by varying the speed of rotation of the screen assembly, or both. Provision is made for cleaning the screen during operation.

Abstract: An improved rotary vacuum precoat filter apparatus comprises a nozzle positioned for spraying a displacing liquid on the outer surface of the filter cake. Connected to the nozzle is a supply conduit for delivering the displacing liquid under pressure to the nozzle. Included along the supply conduit is a temperature control for regulating the temperature of the displacing liquid. The temperature of the displacing liquid is regulated for providing a spray of the displacing liquid about the temperature of the filter cake. Such temperature regulation minimizes thermal shock to the precoat of filter aid forming the filter cake.

Abstract: The apparatus herein provides a separation of suspended solids from a liquid containing such suspended solids. The apparatus comprises a base which supports a pan having a bottom wall, a spaced-apart pair of sidewalls extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall and a spaced-apart pair of end walls extending upwardly and outwardly between the sidewalls and from the bottom wall to form an open top container. A perforated plate is secured within the pan to the sidewalls and end walls of the pan above the bottom wall to define a chamber between the bottom wall, an undersurface of the perforated plate, and the surrounding side and end walls. At least one outlet on the bottom wall of the pan is provided for introducing a vacuum to the chamber and for removing liquid from the chamber. A continuous liquid-absorbing medium transfer support extends around the pan and lies within the pan in contact with the perforated plate.

Abstract: A separating device for separating materials from each other having different melting points, particularly a mixture of plasticized and non-plasticized solid material, includes a housing having a bore and a plurality of successively arranged disc within the bore. The discs are located relative to each other and are of such configuration as to define screening gaps. The plasticized material is separated by passage through the screening gaps as the mixture including substantially all of the solid material passes through the bore.

Abstract: A filter assembly for an extrusion apparatus comprises a stationary filter having a flat, hard surface and slidable means having a plurality of apertures for both accumulating filtered debris and cleaning the filter surface when the debris is removed by sliding a clogged slide aperture out of position while replacing it with a clean aperture.

Abstract: A continuous separation system which continuously purges, washes, dries, and removes solids with a minimum amount of mechanical handling and consequential crystal breakage. A separator within the continuous separation system of the present invention comprises a stationary casing, a horizontal rotary screen within the casing, a fixed scraper mounted in the casing above the screen, an inlet conduit on one side of the scraper for depositing slurry on the screen to form a layer as the screen rotates, an outlet conduit on the other side of the scraper for carrying away dried solids, and gas nozzles for directing a gas stream at the solids as they encounter the scraper, entraining them, and directing them through the outlet conduit. The screen divides the casing interior into respective upper and lower chambers that are sealed from one another except through the screen. In operation, the gas stream carries the entrained solids to a separate receiver.

Abstract: A floating body the buoyancy of which may be controlled comprises a tubular housing for a driven conveyor screw operating adjacent the lower portion of a funnel having its upper edge positioned in a layer of oilspills to be skimmed. Intermediate the funnel and a discharge opening with a hose connector the housing is provided with a laterally extending casing surrounding a freely rotatable restrainer and scraper disc having notches in its peripheral portion to be engaged by the screw threads.

Abstract: A rotary filter (10) is disclosed which has a rotating drum (24) disposed within a pressure housing (12). The drum (24) is perforated to form a mesh surface over which a support layer (27) is affixed. Filter material is deposited on the support layer (27) to form a filter layer (30). The particulate matter within a fluid stream is removed by the filter layer (30) to form a filter cake (43 ) on the surface of the filter layer (30). A blade (42) scrapes the filter cake (43) from the surface of filter layer (30) and deposits the scraped filter cake (43) within a chamber (38). The rotary filter (10) thus operates continuously to filter the process fluid to prevent increasing the fluid pressure across the filter layer (30) due to blocking of the filter.

Abstract: A foreign material removing device in a synthetic resin reclaiming machine including an extruder having a screw shaft, a filter cylinder connected to the extruder, a resin filter mounted within the filter cylinder so as to form a resin chamber therebetween, a scraper shaft positioned within the filter cylinder and including projected strips as scraper which protrude aslant to the axis of the scraper shaft such that the strips contact the inner surface of the filter and interconnect with the screw shaft, a body fixed to the filter cylinder which includes a first guide hole, one end thereof being connected to the inside of the filter cylinder, an ejecting port, and a second guide hole disposed in an orthogonal direction with respect to the axis of the scraper so as to connect the first guide hole to the foreign material ejecting port further including a plurality of resin passages communicating with the resin chamber, a plurality of dies fixed to the body which include connecting passages for ejecting resin and

Abstract: A slide filter device for filtering thermoplastic and other materials which become fluid or stiffen in response to temperature change, having rigid self-supporting slide plate means movable within a housing from an inlet port passageway to an outlet port passageway for supporting and carrying replaceable filter media across the path of fluid flow (i.e.: the "melt stream") of the working material. The outlet port passageway is larger in cross-section than the slide plate means and a seal of stiffened working material is formed in the gap between the slide plate means and the walls of the passageway. Seal material emerges from the outlet port passageway affixed to the slide plate means as the slide plate means is advanced across the melt stream.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are illustrated for removing solids from filter media supported by a backup roll wherein an elongated brush exerts a flicking action on the solids collected by the media during a filtering operation and deposits the solids upon a splash plate where the solids are collected for reclamation. Spray means are provided for directing a backwash of water across the filter media on a side thereof remote from the brush for cleansing the filter media.

Abstract: Suspended contaminated particles are removed by magnetic separation from a liquid containing ferromagnetic particulate material to which the particles adhere. A plurality of radially extending filter discs are provided on a horizontally disposed rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, the liquid being directed toward the discs and through gaps provided therebetween. Permanent magnets are provided on the discs for producing local magnetic field gradients in the gaps, and the discs have non-magnetic portions outwardly of the magnets along the periphery of the discs. The particulate material is scraped from the discs which adhere thereto when the liquid passes the gaps, and the scraped material is moved outwardly of the discs.

Abstract: An industrial filtering apparatus in which the filter cake can be removed automatically by scraping layers of solid from the cake with paring devices which are associated with screw conveyors for transporting the solid to the center of the housing and depositing it in a removal pipe. The mouth of the removal pipe through which the cake falls is completely unobstructed by structural members. The paring devices can also be used in a different mode to smooth out cracks and compact the cake. There is also an independent revolving device for breaking up the cake which can be used in conjunction with a sprinkler head to ensure particularly intensive and intimate washing and slurrying of the cake. The paring device, its associated screw conveyors and the removal pipe can be raised and lowered, as can the device for breaking up the cake, thus making adjustment to any filter cake thickness possible.

Abstract: A filter barrier or ring fixed to the bottom of a washing machine basket includes a plurality of closely spaced flexible teeth in a circumferential row extending outwardly and downwardly to divide the tub into first and second zones for filtering laundry liquid during a washing cycle. The teeth deflect in response to centrifugal spinning forces to effect self-cleaning.

Abstract: A method and system for use with rotary vacuum filters having a plurality of circumferentially spaced filter segments, for selectively applying blower air to the filter segments at predetermined rotational positions at which relatively unrestricted openings to the valve ports are provided to thereby blow the filter segments, and for bypassing the stream of blower air to the atmosphere when the filter segments are not blown. The apparatus for practicing the invention may also include a blow-back trap for trapping excessive amounts of residual blow-back filtrate during blowing of the filter segments.

Abstract: A method is provided for continuously filtering liquids containing microorganisms, macromolecules and/or fine particles of solid matter as substances to be filtered out and collecting the substances that are filtered out. The liquid to be filtered is introduced from the top into an upright sieve basket where the filtrate is separated from the substances to be filtered out. A pressure is exerted on the liquid in the sieve basket by pressing means so that the filtrate leaves the sieve basket and the entire surface of the cake formed from the filtered-out substances always has approximately the same height in the sieve basket. The liquid in the sieve basket is pressed under an increasable counterpressure into the space underneath the pressing means in the sieve basket. When the backpressure of the liquid is higher than the pressure of the pressing means on the liquid, the pressing means is lifted a small distance above the cake in the sieve basket.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process and apparatus for filtering slurries and efficiently washing the filter cake. More specifically, the invention provides for mechanically raking the surface of the filter cake to loosen particles therefrom. The loosened particles are entrained by a wash liquid or other fluid applied subsequent to the raking step; the entrained particles tend to occlude cracks in the filter cake, thereby eliminating preferential fluid flow through such cracks.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a straining means in a cooling system which has a cooling medium inlet, a cooling medium outlet, a screen located between the inlet and outlet and means operable on the inlet side of the screen for keeping the screen clean and free of foreign objects. When using a cylindrical screen, the means for keeping the screen clean comprises a spiral screw-type member rotatable within the cylindrical screen and having means along at least a portion of its edge for grinding foreign material on the inlet side of the screen into a size small enough to pass through the screen.

Abstract: A method and separator for removing sugar crystals from a syrup. The syrup is continuously delivered to a space defined by an inner conical first perforated wall subjected to air pressure and an outer conical second perforated wall coaxial with the inner conical wall and subjected to a vacuum from outwardly of the space containing the syrup. The perforations subjected to a vacuum are restricted by projections on a plate that extend axially into corresponding perforations and are movable axially therein to maintain these perforations unobstructed by sugar crystals. Rotationally driven scrapers scrape the inner surfaces of the second perforated wall in synchronism with the projections extending into the perforations.