Patent Publication Number: US-2020283323-A1

Title: Inline dewatering system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/604 184, filed Jan. 23, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Applications U.S. Ser. No. 61/930 708, filed on Jan. 23, 2014, U.S. Ser. No. 62/085 839, filed on Dec. 1, 2014, and U.S. Ser. No. 62/055 294, filed on Sep. 25, 2014, the disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns a liquid extraction system, and more particularly relates to an inline dewatering system including an inline thickener and an inline press. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Apparatus for feeding, compressing, liquid extraction, washing and chemical treatment of sludge, slurries or other wet materials are well known. Such equipment finds particular application in the pulp and paper industry, waste water treatment, mineral processing, agriculture, food processing, fisheries, breweries, wineries, chemical processing, oil and tar sands industry, etc. 
     An improved apparatus is desired for feeding, compressing, liquid extracting, washing and chemical treating of the sludge, slurries or other wet materials. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the present invention is to provide an inline thickener including a cylinder, a wiper inside the cylinder and rotating relative thereto for cleaning an interior surface of the cylinder, an outer housing, a sludge inlet for inserting sludge under pressure into a first end of the cylinder, a sludge outlet at a second end of the cylinder, and a filtrate outlet for allowing a portion of liquid removed from the sludge to exit the inline thickener. The pressure of the sludge inlet, the sludge outlet and the filtrate outlet are measured and controlled to allow for a selected percentage of the liquid in the sludge entering the inline thickener to be removed from the sludge. The sludge is not mechanically compacted within the inline thickener. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of removing a selected percentage of liquid from sludge while maintaining a path for the selected percentage of the liquid removed from free of blockage. The method comprises providing an outer housing, providing a cylinder within the outer housing, positioning a wiper inside the cylinder, rotating the wiper relative to the cylinder thereby cleaning an interior surface of the cylinder, inserting sludge under pressure into a first end of the cylinder, forcing the sludge through an interior of the cylinder, removing the selected percentage of liquid from the sludge passing through the cylinder, outletting the sludge with the selected percentage of the liquid removed therefrom at a second end of the cylinder through a sludge outlet, outletting the selected percentage of the liquid removed from the sludge through a filtrate outlet, and measuring and controlling the pressure of the sludge inlet, the sludge outlet and the filtrate outlet to control the selected percentage of the liquid in the sludge removed from the sludge. The sludge is not mechanically compacted within the inline thickener. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a liquid extraction system including an inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional side view of a first end of the inline thickener of the present invention taken along line IIIA-IIIA of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional side view of a second end of the inline thickener of the present invention taken along line IIIB-IIIB of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a filter screen and a wiper of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5-9  illustrate a second embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention, with  FIG. 9  illustrating a method of disassembling the inline thickener for cleaning. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a wiggle plate assembly of a third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a mount plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of the mount plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the mount plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a wiggle plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the wiggle plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the wiggle plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the wiggle plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention taken along line XIX-XIX of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 20  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the wiggle plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention taken from area C of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the wiggle plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention taken from area D of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 22  is an enlarged view of the wiggle plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention taken from area B of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 23  is an enlarged perspective view of the wiggle plate of the wiggle plate assembly of the third embodiment of the inline thickener of the present invention taken from area B of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 24  is a schematic view of a dewatering system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It is to be understood that the invention as described herein may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for extracting liquid from a humid mass (e.g., sludges and slurries), as those used or produced in the pulp and paper industry, waste water treatment plants, agricultural, food and beverage industries, etc. The present invention can be used to remove a portion of liquid from the humid mass to produce a waste solid that is easy to treat for disposal or remove a portion of liquid from the humid mass for other purposes. 
     The reference number  10  ( FIG. 1 ) generally designates a system for extracting liquid from a mass for purifying waste water. The illustrated system  10  for extracting liquid from a mass comprises a plurality of elements or machines that can remove a portion of waste material from the mass or prepare the mass for removal of a portion of waste material as the mass travels through the system  10 . The mass enters the system  10  at an input  12  and is passed through at least one screen  14  (e.g., coarse screens and/or fine screens) and then at least one lift station  16 . Screens  14  and lift stations  16  are well known to those skilled in the art and are used to remove large solid material (e.g., rags, paper, plastics, and metals) from the mass. Although not illustrated, the mass can also be passed through at least one comminutor and/or at least one grinder. The mass then is subjected to aerated grit removal at a grit remover  18  for removing grit (e.g., sand, gravel, cinder, or other heavy solid materials). Many types of grit removers  18  exist and are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the grit remover  18  can include aerated grit chambers, vortex-type (paddle or jet induced vortex) grit removal systems, detritus tanks (short-term sedimentation basins), horizontal flow grit chambers (velocity-controlled channel), and hydrocyclones (cyclonic inertial separation). The mass with the grit removed is then passed to at least one primary clarifier  20 , wherein a portion of the solid material in the mass is settled to the bottom of each primary clarifier  20  and subsequently removed to at least one cyclone degritter  34 . The portion of the solid material in the mass that is settled to the cyclone degritter  34  is called “waste sludge.” The waste sludge, after passing through the cyclone degritter  34 , is passed to at least one pre-thickener  36 . 
     In the illustrated system, the portion of the mass that does not have the waste sludge removed therefrom in the at least one primary clarifier  20  is then passed to at least one pure oxygen aeration tank  22 , wherein oxygen is added to the mass in order to increase the speed of the mass through the system. The mass then passes to at least one first stage second clarifier  24 , where once again the waste sludge (i.e., the solid material in the mass that is settled to the bottom of the first stage second clarifier  24 ) is removed therefrom and passed directly to the at least one pre-thickener  36 . The mass, after passing through the at least one first stage second clarifier  24 , is passed to at least one second stage aeration tank  26  wherein the mass is further aerated. The mass is then passed to at least one second stage secondary clarifier  28 , where once again the waste sludge (i.e., the solid material in the mass that is settled to the bottom of the second stage secondary clarifier  28 ) is removed therefrom and passed directly to the at least one pre-thickener  36 . The mass, after passing through the at least one second stage secondary clarifier  28 , is ready to be passed to a water source  32  (e.g., river) after passing through a chlorine contact tank  30  to remove or neutralize any fecal coliform bacteria in the mass (which is almost pure liquid at this point). 
     In the illustrated example, the waste sludge is passed to the pre-thickener  36  to be finally processed to remove all liquid from the waste sludge. Pre-thickeners  36  are well known to those skilled in the art and are used to further remove liquid from the waste sludge (e.g., gravity thickener, centrifugal thickener, gravity belt thickener and rotary drum thickeners). After passing through the pre-thickener  36 , the waste sludge is passed to a post-thickener  41  after passing through a pure oxygen digester  38  and an inline thickener  40  of the present invention. The post-thickeners  41  are well known to those skilled in the art and are used to further remove liquid from the waste sludge (e.g., gravity thickener, centrifugal thickener, gravity belt thickener and rotary drum thickeners). The inline thickener  40  and the pure oxygen digester  38  can be placed in any order between the pre-thickener  36  and the post-thickener  41 . The pure oxygen digester  38  adds oxygen to the waste sludge to destruct degradable organic components and reduce pathogenic organisms in the waste sludge. The inline thickener  40  is discussed in more detail below. After the waste sludge passes through the post-thickener  41 , the waste sludge passes through a press  43 . The press  43  can be any press known to those skilled in the art. For example, the press  43  can be a belt filter press or the rotary fan press as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,895,943, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. All of the liquid removed from the pre-thickeners  36 , the inline thickener  40 , the post-thickeners  41  and the presses  43  can be moved to the chlorine contact tank  30  and the solid portion of the waste sludge removed from the press  43  can be placed in a landfill  45 . It is contemplated that the pre-thickener  36  and the post-thickener  41  could be the inline thickener  40  (either with or without any further inline thickeners  40 ). 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a particular design of a system for extracting liquid from a mass for purifying waste water. However, the system for extracting liquid from a mass can be used to purify waste water in many different configurations using only some of the machines as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , using more than the machines as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and/or substituting different machines for those illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, the inline thickener  40  of the present invention can be used in any system for thickening a mass of solid and liquid (e.g., those used or produced in the pulp and paper industry, waste water treatment plants, agricultural, food and beverage industries, etc.) The inline thickener  40  receives the mass therein, with the mass being forced into and through the inline thickener  40  by pressure from a pump  39 . The pump  39  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as being directly before the inline thickener  40  in the system  10 . However, it is contemplated that the pump  39  could be located anywhere before the input  12  to the inline thickener  40 . 
     The illustrated inline thickener  40  ( FIG. 2 ) removes a selected portion of the liquid from the mass. The inline thickener  40  includes a liquid removal assembly  42  wherein the selected portion of the liquid is removed from the mass. The liquid removal assembly  42  has a mass input  44  for receiving mass under pressure, a thickened mass output  46  and a filtrate output  48 . During use, the mass enters the inline thickener  40  and a portion of the liquid in the mass is removed therefrom. The portion of the liquid removed from the mass exits the inline thickener  40  through the filtrate output  48  and the mass with the portion of liquid removed therefrom exits the inline thickener  40  through the thickened mass output  46 . The inline thickener  40  can also include a filtrate input  50  as described in more detail below. 
     In the illustrated example, the inline thickener  40  receives the mass through the mass input  44  in an input section  52  of the liquid removal assembly  42 , removes a portion of the liquid from the mass in a liquid removal section  54  of the liquid removal assembly  42 , and outputs the liquid removed from the mass and the mass with the liquid removed therefrom through the filtrate output  48  and the thickened mass output  46  in an output section  56  of the liquid removal assembly  42 . The input section  52  ( FIG. 3A ) of the liquid removal assembly  42  includes an input outer cylinder  58  having a first end  60  and a second end  62 . A first end plate  64  is located at the first end  60  of the input outer cylinder  58 , with the first end plate  64  having a centrally located opening  66 . The filtrate input  50  is a tube  68  connected to the first end plate  64 . A filtrate liquid can be inserted through the tube  68  and through the centrally located opening  66  to enter the input section  52 . It is contemplated that the filtrate input  50  can be closed or have a cap on the tube  68  to prevent passage of liquid into or out of the input section  52  through the filtrate input  50  as described in more detail below. The mass input  44  comprises an elbow tube  70  that enters the input outer cylinder  58  radially and then curves to extend axially along the input outer cylinder  58  towards the second end  62  thereof. A central axis of the elbow tube  70  extending axially along the input outer cylinder  58  is substantially located along a central axis of the input outer cylinder  58 . The liquid removal section  54  of the liquid removal assembly  42  is connected to the input section  52  of the liquid removal assembly  42 . 
     In the illustrated example, the portion of the liquid is removed from the mass in the liquid removal section  54  of the liquid removal assembly  42  of the inline thickener  40 . The liquid removal section  54  includes an outer cylinder  72 , a screen cylinder  74  and a wiper  76 . The outer cylinder  72  of the liquid removal section  54  has substantially the same diameter as the input outer cylinder  58  of the input section  52  of the liquid removal assembly  42 . A clamp assembly  78  connects the outer cylinder  72  of the liquid removal section  54  to the input outer cylinder  58  of the input section  52  of the liquid removal assembly  42 . The screen cylinder  74  ( FIG. 4 ) extends along a central axis of the outer cylinder  72  of the liquid removal section  54 . The screen cylinder  74  includes a plurality of openings  80  therethrough. In the illustrated example, the openings  80  comprise a plurality of rings of straight parallel aligned slots extending through a wall  82  of the screen cylinder  74 . However, it is contemplated that the opening  80  can be formed of a plurality of small circular or non-circular holes, a plurality of arcuate slots or any other opening that will allow liquid to pass therethrough but prevent most of the solid material of the mass from passing therethrough (e.g., helical slots). The screen cylinder  74  is fixed at a first end  84  to the elbow tube  70  such that the mass entering the liquid removal assembly  42  will pass through the elbow tube  70  and directly into the center or interior area of the screen cylinder  74 . As discussed in more detail below, a selected portion of the liquid in the mass will pass through the openings  80  in the screen cylinder  74  while the remainder of the mass will pass through the center of the screen cylinder  74  from the elbow tube  70  to the thickened mass output  46  in the output section  56  of the liquid removal assembly  42 . 
     The illustrated wiper  76  extends along the center of the screen cylinder  74  and forms a path for the mass traveling through the screen cylinder  74  and scrapes against an inner surface  86  of the screen cylinder  74  to keep the inner surface  86  clean to allow the liquid removed from the mass to pass therethrough. The wiper  76  includes an axle  88  and a helical scraper fin  90 . The helical scraper fin  90  extends radially from the axle  88  and an outer end  92  of the helical scraper fin  90  abuts against the inner surface  86  of the screen cylinder  74 . The helical scraper fin  90  forms a path through the screen cylinder  74  for the mass to pass. The helical scraper fin  90  has a consistent shape (i.e., the width of each winding of the fin has the same distance) such that the mass traveling through the screen cylinder  74  is not compacted because of the helical scraper fin  90 . However, as discussed in more detail below, the thickened mass output  46  includes a valve  100  for building pressure within the screen cylinder  74  to force the selected portion of the liquid from the mass and through the openings  80  in the screen cylinder  74 . It is contemplated that the outer end  92  of the helical scraper fin  90  can be formed of a rigid material (e.g., metal or polymer) or could be flexible (e.g., rubber). A second end  98  of the screen cylinder  74  extends into the output section  56  of the liquid removal assembly  42 . 
     In the illustrated example, the output section  56  of the liquid removal assembly  42  (see  FIG. 3B ) includes the filtrate output  48  and the thickened mass output  46 . The output section  56  includes an output outer cylinder  94  connected to the outer cylinder  72  of the liquid removal section  54  by a clamp assembly  96 . The thickened mass output  46  is a tube  102  extending radially through the output outer cylinder  94  and connected radially to the second end  98  of the screen cylinder  74  to allow the mass that passes through the center of the screen cylinder  74  to pass through the tube  102  and out of the liquid removal assembly  42  through the thickened mass output  46 . A second terminal end  104  of the screen cylinder  74  includes a seal plate  106  to prevent the mass from passing therethrough. The seal plate  106  includes a central hole  108  to allow the axle  88  of the wiper  76  to pass therethrough. The filtrate output  48  includes a tube  110  extending radially through the output outer cylinder  94 . A motor assembly  112  having a motor (not shown) is connected to a second end of the output outer cylinder  94 . The output outer cylinder  94  includes a second end terminal seal wall  114  to prevent the selected portion of the liquid removed from the mass from passing therethrough. The second end terminal seal wall  114  includes a central opening  116  to allow the axle  88  rotated by the motor of the motor assembly  112  to pass therethrough. The screen cylinder  74  is held in position within the liquid removal assembly  42  by the elbow tube  70  (which is connected to the input outer cylinder  58 ) and the tube  94  (which is connected to the output outer cylinder  94 ). It is further contemplated that the screen cylinder  74  could be maintained in position by struts extending between the screen cylinder  74  and the outer cylinder  72 . While the wiper  76  is illustrated as being rotatable relative to the screen cylinder  74 , it is contemplated that the screen cylinder  74  could be rotated while the wiper  76  remains stationary. 
     In use, the mass is inputted into the liquid removal assembly  42  through the mass input  44 , passes through the elbow tube  70 , passes through the screen cylinder  74  and exits the liquid removal assembly  42  through the tube  102  of the thickened mass output  46 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the thickened mass output  46  includes the valve  100 . The valve  100  is selectively opened and closed (partially or fully) to allow the mass with the selected portion of liquid removed therefrom to pass therethrough. The mass input  44  includes a mass input pressure sensor  120  for sensing a pressure of the mass entering the liquid removal assembly  42 , with the pump  39  applying pressure to the mass. The thickened mass output  46  includes a mass output pressure sensor  122  for sensing the pressure of the mass with the selected portion of liquid removed therefrom exiting the liquid removal assembly  42 . By adjusting the valve  100 , the pressure differential between the mass entering the liquid removal assembly  42  and the mass exiting the liquid removal assembly  42  can be maintained or adjusted to be at a desired level. It is contemplated that the valve  100  could be any valve (e.g., pinch) or any control arm or any other method of limiting the amount of mass passing therethrough. Furthermore, in use, the filtrate input  50  is closed. 
     In the illustrated example as shown in  FIG. 2 , the filtrate output  48  includes a control arm  150  for selectively allowing a portion (or all) of the liquid removed from the mass to pass therethrough. The control arm  150  is selectively opened and closed (partially or fully) to allow the selected portion of liquid removed from the mass to pass therethrough. The filtrate output  48  includes a filtrate output pressure sensor  152  for sensing the pressure of the liquid removed from the mass exiting the liquid removal assembly  42 . By adjusting the control arm  150 , the pressure of the liquid removed from the mass can be controlled to be at a desired level. It is contemplated that the control arm  150  could be any valve (e.g., pinch) or any control arm or any other method of limiting the amount of liquid passing therethrough. Furthermore, in use, the filtrate input  50  is closed. Through use of the control arm  150 , the amount of liquid removed from the mass can be controlled. For example, if the pressure of the liquid exiting the filtrate output  48  is about equal to the pressure of the mass exiting the thickened mass output  46 , almost no liquid will be removed from the mass as the mass passes through the screen cylinder  74 . As the pressure of the liquid exiting the filtrate output  48  is lessened compared to the pressure of the mass exiting the thickened mass output  46 , more liquid will be removed from the mass within the screen cylinder  74  because of the pressure differential between the outside of the screen cylinder  74  (as controlled by the control arm  150 ) and the inside of the screen cylinder  74  (as controlled by the valve  100 ). Therefore, a control system for the inline thickener  40  can control the amount of liquid removed from the mass as the mass passes through the inline thickener  40 . The inline thickener  40  can also include a flow meter  151  for measuring the flow of filtrate out of the inline thickener  40  (with the flow meter reading being used to control the filtrate output (in addition to or as a substitute to control from the valve  150 )). The filtrate input  50  can be opened to allow the area outside of the screen cylinder  74  to be filled with a liquid to easier set the pressure of the area outside of the screen cylinder  74  or filtrate (or cleaning fluid) can be inputted into the liquid removal assembly  42  through the filtrate input  50  to clean the liquid removal assembly  42  and the screen cylinder  74  by forcing the filtrate (or cleaning fluid) through the openings  80  in the screen cylinder  74  from outside the screen cylinder  74 . 
       FIGS. 5-9  illustrate a second embodiment of the inline thickener  40   a,  with similar parts in the second embodiment of the inline thickener  40   a  having the same reference number as the first embodiment of the inline thickener  40 , except with the letter “a” being added to the reference number for the second embodiment of the inline thickener  40   a.  One of the differences between the first embodiment of the inline thickener  40  and the second embodiment of the inline thickener  40   a  is that the second embodiment of the inline thickener  40   a  includes the filtrate output  48   a  adjacent the mass input  44   a  instead of adjacent the thickened mass output  46   a.  It is contemplated that the filtrate output  48  can be located anywhere along the length of the liquid removal assembly  42   a.    
       FIGS. 10-12  illustrate a wiggle plate assembly  200  to be used in a third embodiment of the inline thickener. The wiggle plate assembly  200  replaces the screen cylinder  74  used in the first embodiment of the inline thickener. All other elements of the first embodiment of the inline thickener can be used in the third embodiment of the inline thickener. The wiggle plate assembly  200  includes a plurality of alternating wiggle plates  202  and mount plates  204  sandwiched between an inlet tube  206  and an outlet tube  208 . The plurality of alternating wiggle plates  202  and mount plates  204  form a virtual cylinder accepting the wiper  76  therein. The inlet tube  206  is fixed to the elbow tube  70  such that the mass entering the liquid removal assembly  42  will pass through the elbow tube  70  and directly into the virtual cylinder of the wiggle plate assembly  200 . As discussed in more detail below, a selected portion of the liquid in the mass will pass radially through the virtual cylinder of the wiggle plate assembly  200  between the wiggle plates  202  and the mount plates  204  while the remainder of the mass will pass through the center of the wiggle plate assembly  200  from the elbow tube  70  to the thickened mass output  46  in the output section  56  of the liquid removal assembly  42 . 
     In the illustrated example, the inlet tube  206  and the outlet tube  208  form an entrance and an exit to the virtual cylinder of the wiggle plate assembly  200 . The inlet tube  206  includes a tapered cylinder  210 , with a wider end  212  of the tapered cylinder  210  being connected to an inlet connection plate  214 . The inlet connection plate  214  is circular and has a centrally located circular opening surrounded by the tapered cylinder  210 . The inlet connection plate  214  includes a plurality of holes for accepting a first end  216  of elongate fasteners  218  therethrough. The elongate fasteners  218  connect the inlet tube  206  to the outlet tube  208 . The outlet tube  208  includes a cylinder  220  connected to an outlet connection plate  222 . The outlet connection plate  222  is circular and has a centrally located circular opening  224  surrounded by the cylinder  220 . The outlet connection plate  222  includes a plurality of holes for accepting a second end  226  of the elongate fasteners  218  therethrough. The elongate fasteners  218  can be fixed in locations by nuts  221  (only one nut  221  is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , but a nut  221  could be located on each first end  216  and second end  226  of the elongate fasteners  218 ). The elongate fasteners  218 , along with connecting the inlet tube  206  to the outlet tube  208 , also fix the mount plates  204  and the wiggle plates  202  in position. 
     The illustrated mount plates  204  ( FIGS. 13-15 ) maintain the wiggle plates  202  of the wiggle plate assembly  200  in position. The mount plates  204  each include a circular flat disc  230  having a plurality of planar ears  232  extending radially from an outside edge  234  of the circular flat disc  230 . Each planar ear  232  has a hole  236  therethrough. The holes  236  each have a washer  235  fixed therein (only one washer  235  is shown in  FIGS. 13-15 , but a nut washer could be located in each hole  236 ). The elongate fasteners  218  extend through the washers  235  in the holes  236  and the washers  235  are locked into position in a fixed location along the elongate fasteners  218 . The washers  235  can be fixed in location into position on the elongate fasteners  218  through an interference fit and/or by using an additional fastener (e.g., adhesive). It is also contemplated that the elongate fasteners  218  could be locked into positon within the holes  236  themselves by an interference fit and/or by using an additional fastener (e.g., adhesive). The circular flat disc  230  includes a central opening  238 , with an inside edge  240  of the circular flat disc  230  at the central opening  238  forming a portion of the virtual cylinder of the wiggle plate assembly  200 . The central opening  238  has a diameter such that the outer end  92  of the wiper  76  can engage the inside edge  240  to clear the inside edge  240  in the same manner that the wiper  76  cleans the screen cylinder  74  of the first embodiment of the inline thickener. 
     In the illustrated example, the wiggle plates  202  ( FIGS. 16-23 ) allow liquid to escape the virtual cylinder of the wiggle plate assembly  200 . Each wiggle plate  202  includes a circular disc  244  having a substantially flat first surface  246 , a substantially flat second surface  248  and a central opening  250 . The circular disc  244  defines an outer circular surface  252  and an inner circular surface  254  surrounding the central opening  250 . Both the substantially flat first surface  246  and the substantially flat second surface  248  have a plurality of wedge shaped channels  256  extending radially from the inner circular surface  254  to the outer circular surface  252 . In the illustrated example, the wedge shaped channels  256  have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, but it is considered that the wedge shaped channels  256  could have other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., U-shaped with a curved bottom). The wedge shaped channels  256  have a smaller width at the inner circular surface  254  and a larger width at the outer circular surface  252 . In the illustrated example, the wedge shaped channels  256  widen in a linear manner, but it is considered that the wedge shaped channels  256  could widen in a non-linear manner. The illustrated wedge shaped channels  256  have a width at the outer circular surface  252  that is twice as great as the width at the inner circular surface  254 , although it is considered that other ratios could be used. The central opening  250  has a diameter substantially identical to the diameter of the central opening  238  of the mount plates  204  such that the outer end  92  of the wiper  76  can engage the inner circular surface  254  to clear the inner circular surface  254  in the same manner that the wiper  76  cleans the screen cylinder  74  of the first embodiment of the inline thickener. 
     During use of the third embodiment of the inline thickener, a selected portion of the liquid in the mass will pass through the wedge shaped channels  256  of the wiggle plates  202  and between the wiggle plates  202  and the adjacent mount plates  204  while the remainder of the mass will pass through the virtual cylinder of the wiggle plate assembly  200  from the elbow tube  70  to the thickened mass output  46  in the output section  56  of the liquid removal assembly  42 . Each of the wiggle plates  202  are located between a pair of mount plates  204 . The wiggle plates  202  are not fixed in position, but are prevented from moving radially a large amount by the elongated fasteners  218 , which will abut the outer circular surface  252  of the circular disc  244  of the wiggle plates  202  when the wiggle plates  202  move radially outward. Moreover, the mount plates  204  are spaced slightly greater than the thickness of the wiggle plates  202  to allow the wiggle plates  202  to move axially between the adjacent mount plates  204 . In the illustrated example, the distance between adjacent mount plates  204  is approximately 3.2% larger than the thickness of the wiggle plates  202 . However, it is contemplated that other ratios could be used above and below 3.2% larger, which could be adjusted depending on the type of mass passing through the wiggle plate assembly  200 . 
       FIG. 24  illustrates an inline dewatering system  500  including an inline thickener  502  and an inline press  504 . The inline thickener  502  is identical to the first, second or third embodiment of the inline thickener as outlined above. The inline press  504  is substantially identical to the first, second or third embodiment of the inline thickener as outlined above, except that the inline thickener does not include the valve  100  that is selectively opened and closed to allow the mass with the selected portion of liquid removed therefrom to pass therethrough (or the valve  100  is not used). In the inline press  504 , the liquid leaving the inline press  504  is not regulated by pressure outside of the screen cylinder  74  or the wiggle plate assembly  200  (i.e., the pressure outside of the screen cylinder  74  or the wiggle plate assembly  200  is at atmospheric pressure). Therefore, in the inline dewatering system  500  of the present invention, the inline thickener  502  removes a selected portion of the liquid passing therethrough to thicken the mass and the inline press  504  removes a further portion of the liquid. In both the inline thickener  502  and the inline press  504 , pressure of the mass entering the system is used to removing the liquid from the mass instead of mechanical compression of the mass. Once the mass exits the inline press  504  at exit  506 , the mass can be further processed as outlined above (e.g., sent to a landfill  45 ). 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention. It is contemplated that the inline thickener  40  or  40   a  could be used in conjunction with a machine identical to the inline thickener  40  or  40   a  (e.g., positioned after the inline thickener  40  or  40   a ) except that the identical machine does not measure the amount of liquid removed from the mass and does not include any valve controlling the pressure of the liquid removed from the mass. Further, it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.