Improvements in or relating to Filter Presses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1900—Accepted, 15th Sept., 1900
Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Filter Presses.
I, JAMES BINGHAM ALLIOTT, of The Bloomsgrove Iron Works, Nottingham, in
the County of Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention of improvements in or relating to filter presses consists of an
improved construction of filtering plate suitable more particularly for use in
filter presses in which after the chambers or spaces formed by and between the
filtering plates have become filled with cakes of solid matter, it is desired to
wash the cakes, or to pass liquid into or through them before removing them
from the press; and also of improved constructions and arrangements of filter
press.
The improved fittering plate is constructed with four holes arranged sym-
metrically in such a way that when several of such plates are put together in
a press, these holes form continuous passages from end to end of the press. A
fifth hole, preferably but not necessarily made through the centre of each plate,
forms the passage through which the material to be treated in the press enters
the filtering chambers formed by and between the plates. The four symme-
trically arranged holes may conveniently be placed two near the top edge of
the plate and two near the bottom edge. One of the holes near the bottom
edge of the plate is connected with the channel in the thickness of the plute
which ordinarily receives, by means of openings to the filtering surface on each
side of the plate, the liquid which has passed through the filtering cloth. One
of the holes near the top edge of the plate is connected with a similar channel
having like openings to the filtering surface. The other holes both at top and
bottom are not connected with any channel leading to the filtering surface but
are plain holes passing through the plate.
In one arrangement the four holes are made in lugs extending from opposite
edges of the plates and adjacent to the corners thereof. In another arrangement
they are formed through the plates near to the corners thereof but within the
edges of the plate. In a further arrangement two of them are formed through
the upper portion of the plate and two through the lower portion of the plate.
The joints around the four holes may be made in any of the well known
ways.
The ends of the passages formed through the press by the holes may be closed,
or those passages which it is desired to close may be closed by a cock or cocks
arranged at the end of the passages; such cock or cocks may conveniently be
attached to one of the end plates of the press, one or both of the said end plutes
being made in such a way as to correspond with the intermediate plates."
The arrangement is such that if the plates be all placed in the press the same
way round, that is to say with the holes having communications with the
filtering surfaces of the plate on the same side of the press, then when material
to be filtered is forced into the press through the central holes in the plates,
the filtered liquid will issue from the press from oue of the lower passages only,

page_text: and in like manner from one of the upper passages only, while one passage
below and one passage above will be blind passages into which nothing can pass
and from which nothing can escape. If however the alternate plates be reversed,
so that half the holes connected with the filtering surfaces of the plates are on
one side and half on the other, continuous passages from end to end of the
press will still he left but at the bottom half the plates will discharge into the
channel on one side of the press and the other half into the channel on the
other side and the same thing will happen at the top. This is the arrangement
of plates used when it is wished to use the press as a washing press, though
either arrangement may be employed when for any reason it is not desired to
wash or otherwise treat the cakes before they leave the press.
When using the press as a washing press, the operation is as follows. The
plates are first suitably clothed with filtering cloth and the press closed, the
joints between the intermediate plates and between those plates and the end
plates being made all in manner well known. The material to be treated is
first forced into the press through a feed valve and through the central openings
in the fixed end plate and in the intermediate plates, and this is continued until
the chambers or spaces between the plates are filled with cake. During this
time the escaping liquid runs off through the two lower passages which discharge
it through the fixed end of the press, or through both ends as may be arranged,
into a receiving tank or tanks, or into gutters which convey it away. The
liquid will also run off through both the upper passages should these be left
open, but in practice these are often closed, or only left open to permit air to
escape, being closed as soon as liquid follows the air.
When the cake is completely formed, the washing water or other liquid is
admitted into one of the passages, usually one of the lower passages, (and I will
describe it as being one of the lower passages) the other corresponding passage
being closed. The washing water or other liquid is thus placed in communication
with the channel and openings in each alternate plate through which the
escaping liquid runs off while the press is filling. Through these channels and
openings the washing water passes behind the filter cloths on these alternate
plates, driving the air before it, such air passing away through that one of the
upper channels win which the filtering portion of the plate is in communication.
The air would be followed by the water, but as soon as the air has passed off,
the corresponding passage is closed by a cock at the end.
The water or other liquid can then only escape by passing through the cakes
to the next plates on each side, where it finds the way open into the passage on
the opposite side to that from which the air escaped. Thus the cake will be
traversed by the washing or other liquid. Either of the lower passages may be
used for the admission of the washing or other liquor, or by arranging suitable
piping, valves and connections, the two passages may be used alternately. In
this case the upper passages would be used alternately for the escape of air and
as the outlet for the washing or other liquid. The valves and connections of
these upper passages would in such a case be arranged to suit either use.
This method of working presents the advantage that all the filter cloths would
be from time to time washed and cleaned by water or other liquid passed through
them in a direction contrary to that taken by the liquid escaping from the
material being forced into the press.
The important feature of this improvement lies in the fact that all the inter-
mediate plates of a washing filter press constructed as described, are interchange-
able, one pattern of plate only being made use of.
My improvements in filter presses are more especially intended for use in filter
presses having many intermediate plates and of considerable length, and where
it is desired that the side rods or bars supporting the intermediate plates and
the movable end plate and upon which such plates slide, should be stiff enough
to bear the weight of the plates and of the contents of the press without needing
any intermediate column or support to stiffen them. In a filter press for this

page_text: purpose according to this invention, the side rods are or may be made of deep
rectangular bars supported at one end by the heavy fixed end plate of the press
and at the other end by standards, and the intermediate plates and the
movable end plate carried thereby are forced together and against the
fixed end plate and kept tight under pressure by a central screw working through
a nut supported in the cross piece at one end of the press, or by two screws
working through nuts supported in the said cross piece. In conjunction with
the central screw, or with the two screws, as the case may be, there is provided
an air cylinder for the well known purpose of withdrawing the heavy movable
end plate and of moving back and closing up both this end plate and all the
intermediate plates when the press is to be closed, so that the central screw, or
the two screws, may only have to force the movable end plate and the inter-
mediate plates together so tightly as to keep the chambers or spaces formed by
and between them closed under pressure.
When a central screw is used, it is made hollow and the piston rod of the
air cylinder is passed through it so that it can be attached to the movable end
plate of the press and cause this end plate to move backwards and forwards
without interfering with the screw. The air cylinder is attached to the cross
piece by brackets, and the screw is actuated by a worm and worm wheol, the
fatter being connected to the worm in such a manner, as for example by a
feather and groove connection, that it will be rotated by the worm wheel but
can slide through such wheel which is made of such a diameter that it can be
placed between the brackets which attach the air cylinder to the cross piece.
The worm is carried by a cross shaft revolving in suitable bearings supported
by a bracket or brackets attached to the cross piece, or to the legs or standards
supporting the same. The shaft is also provided at one end or at each end with
a hand wheel or handle for enabling it to be worked. A suitable distanco picco
is provided through which the screw acts upon the movable end plate of the
press. When this distance piece is removed, the movable end plate can at once
he withdrawn to the full distance necessary for working the press, and when
the intermediate plates and the movable end plate have been closed by the
action of the air-cylinder, the distance piece can again be dropped into position
and the joints of the press made tight through the action of the screw acting
upon it.
When two screws are used, the air cylinder is placed between them and
attached to the cross piece, its piston being connected to the movable end plate
of the press. In conjunction with each screw there is provided a distance piece
and a worm wheel and worm carried by a suitable shaft and brackets. The worms
may conveniently be right and left handed and cast together or connected by
the shaft or otherwise so arranged that a great part of the strain set up in
working may be self-contained and not be transmitted to the brackets carrying
the shaft.

page_text: invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention of improvements in or relating to filter presses consists of an
improved construction of filtering plate suitable more particularly for use in
filter presses in which after the chambers or spaces formed by and between the
filtering plates have become filled with cakes of solid matter, it is desired to
wash the cakes, or to pass liquid into or through them before removing them
from the press; and also of improved constructions and arrangements of filter
press.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 shows in elevation au im-
proved filtering plate constructed in accordance with the present invention ;
Figs. and are respectively a side elevation and a plan of my improved
filter press; and
Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views to Figs. and 3 of a modified form.
The filtering plate 1 is constructed with four holes, 2, 3, 4, 5 arranged sym-
metrically in such a way that when several of such plates are put together in
a press, these holes form continuous passages 1", 1b (Fig 2) from end to end of
the press.
A fifth hole 6, preferably, but not necessarily, made through the
centre of each plate 1 forms the passage through which the material to be treated
in the press enters the filtering chambers formed by and between the plates.
The symmetrically arranged holes 2-5 may conveniently be placed two near
the top edge of the plate and two near the bottom edge. One of the holes 4
near the bottom edge of the plate is connected with the channel 7 formed in
the thickness of the plate which ordinarily receives, by means of perforations
opening to the filtering surface on each side of the plate, the liquid which has
passed through the filtering cloth. One of the holes 3 near the top edge of the
plate is connected with a similar channel 8 having like openings to the filtering
surface. The holes 2 and 5 at the top and bottom of the plate respectively are
not connected with any channel leading to the filtering surface but are merely
plain holes pussing through the plate.
In the arrangement shown the holes 2-5 are made in lugs 9 that extend
from opposite edges of the plates and adjacent to the corners thereof. In another
arrangement they are formed through the plates near to the corners thereof but
within the edges of the plate. In a further arrangement, two of the holes are
formed through the upper portion of the plate and two through the lower
portion of the plate, all at some distance from the corners.
The joints around the four holes may be made in any of the well known
ways.
The ends of the passages 11 that are formed longitudinally of the press by
the holes 2-5 may be closed, or those passages which it is desired to close may
be closed, by a cock or cocks 10, 10 arranged at the ends of the passages as
shown in Figs. 2 and 3; such cock or cocks 10, 10 being conveniently attached
to one of the end plates 11 of the press holes being made in one or both of the
end plates to correspond with the holes 2-5 in the intermediate plates 1.
The arrangement is such that if the plates 1 be all placed in the press the
same way round, that is to say, with the holes 3, which communicate through
the channels 8, with the filtering surfaces of the plate, on the one side of the press,
and the holes 4 which communicate with the channels 7 on the other side of
the press, then when material to be filtered is forced into the press through tho
contral holes 6 in the plates, the filtered liquid will issue from the press from
one of the lower passages 1b only, and in like manner from one of the upper
passages only, while one passage 1 below and one passage 1 above will be
blinu passages into which nothing cau pass and from which nothing can escape.
If, however, the alternate plates be reversed, so that half the holes 3 and half
the holes 4 are on one side of the press and the remainder on the other, con-
tinuous passages from end to end of the press will still be formed, but at the

page_text: bottom half the plates will discharge into the channels 7 which lead to one side
of the press and the other half into the channels 7 which lead to the other
side, the same thing happening at the top of the press. This latter arrangement
of plates is used, when it is desired to use the press as a washing press, though
either arrangement may be employed when, for any reason, it is not desired to
wash or otherwise treat the cakes before they leave the press.
When using the press as a washing press, the operation is as follows:-The
plates 1 are first suitably clothed with filtering cloth and the press closed, the
joints between the intermediate plates and between these plates and the end
plates 11 and 17 being made all in manner well known. The material to be
treated is first forced into the press through a feed valve 12 and through the
central openings 6 in the fixed end plate 11 and in the intermediate plates 1.
This operation is continued until the chambers or spaces between the plates are
filled with cake. During this time the escaping liquid runs off through the two
lower passages 1 which discharge it through the cocks 10 on the fixed end of
the press, or through both ends as may be arranged, into a receiving tauk or
innks, or gutter or gutters 13 which convey it away. The liquid will also run
off through both the upper passages 1 should the cocks 10 controlling these
passages be left open, but in practice they are often closed, or only left open to
permit air to escape, being closed as soon as the air is driven out of the press
and the liquid follows the air.
When the cake is completely formed, the washing water or other liquid is admitted
into one of the passages, usually one of the lower passages 1 (and I will describe
it as being one of the lower passages) the other lower corresponding passage
being closed. The washing water or other liquid is thus placed in communication
with the channel 7 and openings in each alternate plate through which the
escaping liquid runs off while the press is filling. Through these channels 7
and openings the washing water passes behind the filter cloths on these alternate
plates, driving the air before it, such air passing away through that one of the
upper channels 8 with which the filtering portion of the plate is in communi-
cation. The air would be followed by the water, but as soon as the air has passed
off, the cock 10 of the corresponding passage 1 is closed. The washing water
or other liquid can then only escape from the press by passing through the
cakes to the next plates on each side, where it finds the way open into the
passage on the opposite side to that from which the air escaped. Thus the
cake will be traversed by the washing water or other liquid. Either of the
lower passages 1 may be used for the admission of the washing water or other
liquor, or by arranging suitable piping 14 valves 14 and connections as shewn
in Figs. 2 and 3, the two passages may be used alternately. In this case the
upper passages 1 would be used alteruately for the escape of air and as the outlet
for the washing water or other liquid. The valves and connections of these
upper passages would, in such a case, be arranged to suit either use.
This method of working, has the advantage that all the filter cloths would be
from time to time washed and cleaned by water or other liquid passing through
them in a direction contrary to that taken by the liquid escaping from the
material being forced into the press.
The important feature of this improvement lies in the fact that all the inter-
mediate plates of a washing filter press constructed as described, are interchange-
able, one pattern of plate only being made use of.
My improvements in filter presses are more especially intended for use in filter
presses having many intermediate plates and of considerable length, and where
it is desired that the side rods or bars supporting the intermediate plates and
the movable end plate and upon which such plates slide, should be stiff enough
to bear the weight of the plates and of the contents of the press without needing
any intermediate column or support to stiffen them. In a filter press for this
purpose according to this invention and shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 the side rods 15
arm or may be made of deep rectangular bars supported at one end by the heavy

page_text: fixed end plate 11 of the press and at the other end by standards 16 and the
intermediate plates 1 and the movable end plate 17 carried thereby are forced
together and against the fixed end plate 11 and kept tight under pressure by a
central serew 18 working through a nut 19 supported in the cross piece 20 at or
near one end of the press, or by two screws 18 (Figs. 4 and 5) working through
nuts 19 supported in the said cross piece. In conjunction with the central
screw 18, or with the two screws 18%, ns the case may be, there is provided an
air cylinder 21 for the well known purpose of withdrawing the heavy movable
end plate 17 and of moving back and closing up both this end plate and all
the intermediate plates when the press is to be closed, so that the central screw 18
or the two screws 18, may only have to force the movable end plate 17 and
the intermediate plates 1 together so tightly as to keep the chambers or spaces
formed by and between them closed under pressure.
When a central screw 18 is used, it is made hollow and the piston rod 22 of
the air cylinder 21 is passed through it so that it can be attached to the movable
end plate 17 of the press and cause this end plate to move backwards and
forwards without interfering with the screw. The air cylinder 21 is attached to
the cross piece 20 by brackets 23, and the screw 18 is actuated by a worm and
worm wheel 24, the latter being connected to the screw 18 in such a manner, as
for example by a feather and groove connection, that the screw will be rotated
by the worm wheel but can slide through such wheel which is made of such
diameter that it can be placed between the brackets 23 which attach the air
cylinder 21 to the cross piece 20. The worm is carried by a cross shaft 25
revolving in suitable bearings supported by the brackets 23, or by another
bracket or brackets attached to the cross piece 20, or to the logs or standards 16
supporting the same. The shaft 25 is also provided at one end or at each end
with a hand wheol or handle 26 for enabling it to be worked. A suitable distance
piece 27 is provided through which the screw 18 acts upon the movable end
plate 17 of the press. The distance piece 27 may be carried by an arm 27ª
pivoted to the end plate 17 and carrying a balance weight 27. When the distance
piece 27 is removed, the movable end plate 17 can at once be withdrawn to the
full distance necessary for working the press, and when the intermediate
plates 1 and the movable end plate 17 have been closed by the action of the
air-cylinder 21, the distance piece 27 can again be swung or dropped into position
and the joints of the press made tight through the action of the screw 18.
When two screws 18 are used as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the air-cylinder 21
is placed between them and attached to the cross piece 20, its piston 22 being
connected to the movable end plate 17 of the press. In conjunction with each
screw there is provided a distance piece 27 and a worm wheel and worm 24
carried by a suitable shaft and brackets. The distance pieces 27 are arranged
to balance each other and the axis of the piston rod 22 is coincident with that
of the pivot on which the armn 27 is mounted. The worms may conveniently
be right and left handed and cast together or connected by the shaft or other-
wise so arranged that a great part of the strain set up in working may be
self-contained and not be transmitted to the brackets carrying the shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined I declare that what
I claim is:
—
1. Filtering plates for washing filtering presses each having five holes or
openings therethrough, of which when several plates are put together in a press,
one serves to permit the passage of the material to be filtered to adjoining
filtering chambers, whilst of the other four, two are plain and two have channels
leading to the filtering surface of the plate opening into them, the said four
holes feing symmetrically arranged in suchwise that they form a corresponding
number of continuous passages longitudinally of the press some or all of which
according to the arrangement of the plates in the press, serve as conduits for

page_text: the expressed liquid, or for the washing water or other liquid, and that the
several plates of a press are interchangeable, only one pattern being used, suh-
stantially as described.
2. Altering press wherein the movable intermediate and end plates are
mounted on deep rectangular bars supported, at one end, by the fixed end plate
of the press and, at the other end, by standards, and are adapted to be forced
together and against the fixed end plate by a screw or screws and the movable
end plate is connected to the piston of a pneumatic or other fluid pressure engine,
substantially as described.
3. Filtering plates for filtering presses constructed, arranged and operating
substantially as herein before described with reference to and shown in Fig. 1 of
the accompanying drawings.
4. A filtering press constructed, arranged and operating substantially as herein-
before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or Figs. 4 and 5
of the accompanying drawings, whether or not the press be provided with plates
described
Dated this 13th day of August 1900.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.