Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Liquids from Pulverulent or Granular Materials, Seeds, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Liquids from Pulverulent
or Granular Materials, Seeds, and the like.
I, ROBERT WILSON, of Plantation Starch Works, Mair Street, Govan, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Starch Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object by means of improved apparatus to separate
liquids from pulverulent or granular materials, seeds, and the like very completely, in.
an expeditious and economical manner, the said apparatus being as effectual as many
forms of filter and other presses, whilst it can be conveniently and advantageously
constructed of comparatively large sizes so as to deal with considerable quantities at a
time.
My present Invention consists of improvements on or additions to apparatus described
in my Patent Specification, No. 10956 of 1894. In that apparatus (described as
applied to starch) the mixture of liquid and pulverulent material was run into a number
of vertical cells formed of cloth or other suitable permeable material supported by
frames, spaces and passages being provided for the withdrawal of the liquid filtering
through the cloth. By my present Invention I arrange alternately with the cloth
cells hollow partitions or boxes made with faces of sheet metal or other suitable
imperineable material, and watertight so that fluid pressure may be applied inside of
them, suitable pipe connections being fitted to them for introducing and withdrawing
fluid. When the mixture of liquid and other materials is introduced into the cloth
cells, its pressure causes the faces of the hollow partitions to concave inwards, the
liquid in the partitions being then withdrawn or free to escape from them. After as
much of the liquid as will do so has passed through the cloth of the cells, water is
injected into the hollow partitions and making its faces bulge outwards exerts its
pressure on the cloth cells, and expresses a further quantity of liquid from the
materials in them, these becoming more or less nearly dry accordingly as the pressure
applied by means of the hollow partitions is greater or less.
I prefer to support the sides of the cloth cells by boards or plates interposed
between them and the hollow partitions, the surfaces of such boards or plates facing
the cloth being made with vertical corrugations down the hollows of which the liquid
filtering through the cloth flows. The bottoms of the corrugations communicate
with horizontal passages leading to the outside of the apparatus.
In some cases it will be advantageous to attach wire cloth or netting to the insides
of the cloth forming the cells.
The mixture of liquid and pulverulent or other materials may be fed into the tops
or sides of the cloth cells; in some cases, I prefer to introduce it at the bottom by
means of a pipe extending along under a series of cells, and communicating with
each. With this arrangement the several cells of a series become filled up simul-
taneously the mixture being always at the same height in all of them whilst they
become filled.

page_text: The liquid may be injected into the hollow partitions by means of one or more
steam injectors in which exhaust steam may be utilised where available. Or a pump
or accumulator may be used for injecting the liquid.
Dated this Twenty-third day of October 1896.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Liquids from Pulverulent
or Granular Materials, Seeds, and the like.
I, ROBERT WILSON, of Plantation Starch Works, Mair Street, Govan, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Starch Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention has for its object by means of improved apparatus to separate
liquids from pulverulent or granular materials, seeds, and the like, very completely,
in an expeditious and economical manner, the said apparatus being as effectual as
many forms of filter and other presses, whilst it can be conveniently and advan-
tageously constructed of comparatively large sizes so as to deal with considerable
qantities at a time.
Apparatus as made according to my Invention is shown on an accompanying sheet.
of explanatory drawings, Figure, 1, thereof being a plan, Figure, 2, a partial side eleva-
tion, and Figure, 3, a vertical section, as at right angles to Figure, 2. Figure, 4, is a
vertical section of a detail, as at right angles to Figure, 3, and Figure, 5, is a vertical
section of part of the apparatus, as taken at right angles to Figure, 3, and as drawn to a
larger scale. In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to
mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
My present Invention consists of improvements on or additions to apparatus
described in my Patent Specification, No. 10956 of 1894. In that apparatus
(described as applied to starch) the mixture of liquid and pulverulent material was
run into a number of vertical cells formed of cloth or other suitable permeable material
supported by frames, spaces and passages being provided for the withdrawal of the
liquid filtering through the cloth. By ny present Invention and according to the
example of it shown in the drawings, I arrange alternately with the cloth cells (which
are formed by two separate pieces of cloth, A, arranged as hereinafter described)
hollow partitions or boxes, B, made with faces, C, of sheet metal or other suitable
impermeable material, and watertight so that fluid pressure may be applied inside of
them by an injector or other means (not shown) operating through a main pipe, D,
from which branch pipes, E, of flexible material lead to each pressure box. The main
pressure pipe, D, is also fitted with a valve (not shown) for quickly relieving the
boxes, B, of pressure. On each side of each pressure box, B, there is a frame, G, of
metal or other suitable material and in outward contour (rectangular by preference)
similar to the pressure box, each pair of frames with the pressure box between them
being bolted together so as to be capable of being moved as one piece. Rollers, H,
attached in any convenient manner, are provided at or about the middles of two sides
of each piece (consisting of a pair of frames, G, and a pressure box, B) and by means
of these rollers each piece is supported on rods, J, held in bearing brackets, K, at one
end and a frame piece or housing, L, at the other end fixed to any convenient base.
Over each piece (consisting of a pair of frames, G, and a pressure box, B) the cloth, A,
is hung, its face areas being larger than the frames and forining with the same parts
of other cloths hung similarly on adjacent pieces, the cells for holding the mixture of
liquid and other materials. I prefer to support the sides, A, of the cloth cells by

page_text: boards or plates, M, interposed between them and the hollow partitions or pressure
boxes, B, the surfaces of such boards or plates facing the cloth, B, being made with
vertical corrugations, N, down the hollows of which the liquid filtering through the
cloth flows. The bottoms of the corrugations, N, cominunicate with horizontal
passages formed by chamfering the bottom of each board, M, or in any other
convenient way, and leading to the outside of the apparatus through drain pipes, P.
In some cases it will be advantageous to attach wire cloth or netting to the insides of
the cloth, A, forming the cells.
The mixture of liquid and other materials is introduced into the cloth cells, A, by a
pipe, R, from a tank (not shown) placed at a level higher than that of the apparatus ;
and the pipe, R, communicates with a horizontal passage, R1, formed in the pieces
consisting of the frames, G, and pressure boxes, B, the entrance of the liquid and
other materials to each cell being secured by metal or other guards or guide
pieces, R 2. Each guide piece, R 2, (shown in Figures, 3, and, 4) is fixed in a recess in
one frame, G, with part of one cloth between it and the frame while part of it presses
the cloth of the adjacent frame into a similar recess in that frame when the pieces
(consisting of the frames and pressure boxes, B) are pressed together, thus ensuring a
clear passage for the liquid or other materials to the space or cell between the cloths.
The rods, J
J, are each provided at one end with a nut, S, made with handles, S 1, or
equivalent and by means of these nuts, and a platen, S2, sliding on the rods, the
pieces consisting of the frames, G, and pressure boxes, B, are pressed against each
other and the housing, L. When the mixture of liquid and other materials is intro-
duced into the cloth cells, A, its pressure causes the faces of the hollow partitions or
pressure boxes, B, to become concave inwards, there being at that time no fluid
pressure in the boxes and the liquid in the materials being free to escape through the
cloth to the drain pipes, P, and a gutter, P 1, fixed to the housing, I, and any other
convenient part and leading to any suitable place. After as much of the liquid as will
do so has passed through the cloth, A, of the cells, or while such action is taking place
water or other fluid is injected into the hollow partitions or pressure hoxes, B, through
the main pipe, D, and branch pipes, E, and making its faces bulge outwards, exerts
pressure on the cloth cells, and expresses a further quantity of liquid from the
inaterials in them, these becoming more or less nearly dry accordingly as the pressure
applied by means of the hollow partitions is greater or less, and according to its
duration.
For convenience in filling the pressure boxes, B, with water and obtaining a certain
pressure quickly the main pipe, D, communicates by a branch, D 1, with a tank (not
shown) placed at a convenient height above the level of the apparatus. The main
pipe, D, is fitted with a safety valve, T, which allows water to escape to the tank when
a pre-determined pressure is exceeded. When it is desired to fill the pressure
boxes, B, the safety valve, T, is lifted, and the water flows from the tank into them,
the injector being employed to raise the pressure to what is required.
When the materials in the cells have become sufficiently dry the nuts, S, are
screwed back, and the pieces (comprising the frames, G, and the pressure boxes, B) are
separated from each other, the dried materials dropping or being pushed into a truck, V,
below them in which they are conveyed to a suitable place. Instead of the parts of
the apparatus being pressed together by screwed rods, J, and nuts, S, at the sides
they may be pressed together by one screwed rod centrally applied; or one or more
hydraulic cylinders, conveniently placed, may be employed for the purpose.
The mixture of liquid and pulverulent or other materials may be fed into the tops
or sides or bottoms of the cloth cells, A, the inlet passage in all cases extending along
the series of cells and communicating with each. With the inlet at the bottom or
side the several cells of a series become filled up simultaneously, the mixture being
always at the same height in all of them whilst they become filled.
In cases in which it is desired to use rubber or like impermeable material for the
sides of the pressure boxes the frames of these boxes may be strengthened by means
of perforated plates (or other stays) riveted to them and extending midway between
the rubber sides.

page_text: In the steam injector or injectors exhaust steam may be utilised where available.
Instead of the injectors a pump or accumulator may be used for injecting the liquid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
Improved apparatus for separating liquids from pulverulent or granular materials,
seeds, and the like, comprising a series of cells formed of cloth or other suitable per-
meable material, supported by frames and corrugated pieces of wood or other inaterial,
and having interposed alternately between them hollow partitions or boxes in which
fluid pressure is applied to act on the materials in the cells suitable pipe connections
and passages being provided for feeding in the mixture of liquid and other materials
to the cells, for draining the liquid therefrom, and for applying fluid pressure in the
hollow partitions, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twentieth day of July 1897.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.