Patent ID: 6206203
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for separating liquid components from a mixture that includes liquid components and particulate components, the apparatus having an upstream end adapted for receiving the mixture and a downstream end, said apparatus comprising:an endless filtering belt having upper and lower reaches and having a mesh size selected to allow liquid components of the mixture to pass therethrough while retaining particulate components thereon;a drive system operatively connected to the filtering belt for driving movement of the belt in a circuit between the upstream and downstream ends of the apparatus so that the upper reach may carry the mixture toward the downstream end, whereby liquid components are separated from the mixture by filtering through the filtering belt as the belt carries the mixture toward the downstream end of the apparatus; anda press mounted on the apparatus in opposed, permanently spaced relationship with the upper reach of the filtering belt generally between the upstream and downstream ends of the apparatus to define a nip between the press and the filtering belt, the mixture on the upper reach of the filtering belt passing through the nip as the mixture is carried toward the downstream end of the apparatus, said press comprising a wedging unit having an inclined lower surface in opposed relationship with the filtering belt, the inclined lower surface having an upper end and a lower end downstream of the upper end, the lower end being substantially closer to the belt than the upper end and defining the nip, the inclined lower surface of the wedging unit applying a squeezing pressure against mixture contacting the lower surface as the mixture passes the wedging unit, the inclined lower surface agitating at least some of the mixture upstream of the lower end of the lower surface to work additional liquid components from the mixture before the mixture is carried downstream of the wedging unit and to promote uniform distribution of the mixture along the width of the filtering belt.