Improvements in and Applicable to Filter-Presses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 10th July, 1900
DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Applicable to Filter-Presses.
We ; JOHN CRITCHLOW, "Rosemont," 3, Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford
shire, Engineer, John Aynsley, of Blyth Bridge, in the County of Stafford, Gentle-
man, and Harry Aynsley, of Longton, in the same County, Earthenware Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This our my invention has reference to improvements in and applicable to filter-
presses for potters' use, the objects of our my said invention being to reduce the
weight of such presses, to economise labour and time, and increase the output of
such presses.
In carrying our my said invention into practice we make such presses of any
suitable size and capacity, the cloths for use therewith we I make from cloth usually
used for that purpose and the "slip-holes" through the centre of same; but prefer-
ably about nine or ten inches from their upper edge, and stitch such cloths together
around such holes so that when placed in position for use between such trays
there will be a clear way from the fore end of such presses to their rear end- or last
tray so as to avoid the risk of such holes getting stopped up when in use.
The framing of the trays for use with such presses we make square or rectangular
of suitable size and thickness of or from oak or like similar suitable wood with a
groove of suitable width and depth in their inside edge so that the edges or
periphery of a non-corrosive cast or rolled metallic grooved plate may be fitted
therein and bolted thereto by any suitable number of suitable bolts of nou-corrosive
or other suitable metal or metallic alloy, the bolt or bolts in the top rail of the
framing of such trays being chisel-shaped or pointed at their upper end above such
top rail, the vertical or straight ribs and grooves on such trays being of suitable
height, thickness and depth so as to extend from the underside or edge of the
top rail of their framing to within a short distance of the upper side or edge of the
bottom rail of their framing, and preferably so that the ribs on one side of such trays
are opposite to the grooves on the opposite side or surface of such metallic plates
and more in number and of 'less width on such metallic trays than those on the
wooden press trays in general use, to each side edge of the framing of such trays we
I fix a wood or metallic bracket or projection of suitable size at a suitable distance
down from their top rail, in the underside of which brackets we I form a suitable gap
or slot having a non-corrosive or other suitable metallic revoluble roller fitted therein
for bearing upon the top side or edge of each side rail of the metallic or wood framing
of such presses when placed transversely within such framing.
Each metallic corner post of such framing we I make of suitable height of or from
wrought-iron or steel of suitable section and connect such posts at or near to their

page_text: upper end by means of a wrought iron or steel angle, or tee iron or steel bar or rail
of suitable size so that a transverse iron or steel har or casting of suitable shape and
size having two or more suitably shaped revoluble metallic wheels or rollers pivotted
to its underside near to its outer ends may be supported thereon, to each prong or
fork of a horizontal metallic bracket cast on or fixed to each end of such transverse
metallic travelling bar or casting we I pivottally fix a suitably shaped revoluble wheel
or roller so that such rollers will bear against the inner side or surface of the tee iron
or steel rail connecting such corner posts or uprights, at each end of such transverse
travelling rod or casting we I fit or fix a suitably shaped depending cast or forged
metallic portion of suitable length having a swivable depending metallic arm of suit-
able length pivotted at their upper end to each of their sides at a suitable distance
from their lower end, which depending pivotted arms when not pegged or propped up
will fall against, or into recesses formed in such depending cast or forged arms or
portions.
The cast metallic cross-head or end of such improved presses we make of suitable
size and shape with a suitably shaped vertical or nearly vertical bracket or eye-bear-
ing of suitable height in which we bore a horizontal hole of suitable size and fit a
metallic shaft having a toothed metallic wheel or pinion fixed thereon at its outer
end, and two suitable vertical ledges on the inner side of such cross-head at a suitable
distance apart, in the fore end of a horizontal bored hole through such cross-head
we fit a brass or other suitable metallic gland and a metallic slidable sleeve of
suitable thickness having two or three grooves of suitable width and depth formed in
or on same near to its inner end, on the underside of such sleeve at or near to its
fore-end we cut or form a suitable number of square-ended teeth of suitable length
so that a metallic toothed pinion of suitable size mounted on a metallic shaft
supported in a suitable bearing beneath such teeth and attached or fixed to the fore
end of the said cross head may gear therewith.
At one side or near to one side of such framing me I fix a vertical metallic bar of
suitable height and size to the upper end of which I we transversely pivot a metallic
lever or rod of suitable size at about the middle of its length, at the inner end of
which lever we pivottally connect the upper end of a depending bifurcated or two
pronged metallic forging or casting of suitable size so that after the said slidable
sleeve and its inner slidable and rotatable shaft have been pushed or run up against
the rear end metallic plate of such presses such prong or fork can be lowered by
means of the aforesaid pivotted lever so as to slide between the vertical ledges on the
fore end of the said cross-bead and fit into the grooves in the aforesaid slidable sleeve
to prevent further rotation or sliding of such sleeve.
It will be understood that after pegging or propping up the rear depending pivotted
arm of each of the depending brackets of the transverse wheeled carriage resting on
the connecting rods or rails of the corner posts of such presses that each tray used
after being placed transversely between the side rails of such press framing can be
alternately slid or wheeled against each other by means of such wheeled transverse
carriage by pushing same forward so that the depending pivotted arm at the lower end
of each of its depending brackets will press against the rear side or surface of each side
projecting handle or bracket of the trays so that one tray has been pushed or wheeled
by such transverse wheeled carriage or bracket against the fore end metallic plate
such travelling bracket is pushed backwards on its rails until the said pivotted arms
at the lower end of its depending brackets strike against and pass over the projecting
brackets or arms of the next tray to be pushed forward, such pivotted arms then drop
down so that another tray can be pushed forward against the preceding tray by the
transverse wheeled carriage or bracket and the operation repeated until all the trays
are against each other, such trays can then be compressed by first sliding or pushing
the said slidable sleeve forward until the rear end metallic plate of such presses is
against the last tray, or such metallic sleeve and its inner shaft may be slid forward
by rotating the toothed pinion beneath such sleeve by means of a metallic or wood
handle at one or both sides of such press framing, then lowering the forked forging
or casting by means of its pivotted lever so that its prongs can be slid between the

page_text: vertical ledges on the fore end of the said cross-head so as to fit into the slots or
grooves near to the front end of the said sleeve to prevent further forward movement
of such sleeve as before described, then by rotating a metallic lever or handle fixed on
the outer end of the horizontal shaft in the bracket on the top surface at the rear of
the said cross-head the teeth of the pinion on such shaft will gear into or revolve a
toothed wheel below same fixed on the outer end of the slidable and rotatable shaft
within the said sleeve, the pump or pumps are then set in motion to force slip into
such trays, all expressed liquid flowing through a hole or holes bored through the
bottom rail of each tray framing on to the floor below, or into a trough fitted or fixed
beneath such trays.
When it is desired to separate or part the trays of such presses we first raise the
fork by means of its pivotted lever from the slots in the said sleeve between the
vertical ledges on the fore-end of the cross-head, then by rotating the handle or wheel
on either side. of the framing the pinion on its shaft engaging with the teeth on the
underside of the said sleeve will cause such sleeve, inner shaft and the rear end
metallic plate to slide or travel to the rear end of such press framing, we then peg
up the pivotted arms previously used to push or run the trays forward and let down
the pivotted arms at the opposite side of the depending brackets of the transverse
wheeled carriage, we I then push or wheel such carriage forward towards the trays
until the depending pivotted arm at the lower end of the bracket at each side of such
trays pass over the projections or handles of the rear end or first tray and fall down
between such handles and the handles of the adjacent tray we I then push or slide
the said travelling carriage on its rails towards the rear end or cross-head of such
filter-presses to part such trays so as to enable the press-cloth and its filtered slip or
clay to be removed from between same, and repeat such operation until all the trays
are parted and the cloths and clay removed.
By means of such transverse carriage with its depending brackets and pivotted arms
near to their lower end such press-trays can be readily slid together or parted, and
compressed by means of the toothed wheel and pinion at the rear end of the cross-
bead of such presses by one workman only.
Dated this 4th day of April 1899
JOHN CRITCHLOW,
Applicant.
Improvements in and Applicable to Filter-Presses.
We, I, JOHN CRITCHLOW, of 3, Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent, in the County of
Stafford, Engineer, John Aynsley, of Blyth Bridge, in the County of Stafford,
Gentleman, and Harry Aynsley, of Longton, in the same County, Earthenware
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 :-
The invention relates to improvements in and applicable to filter presses, for
potters' use, the objects being to construct a press of a lighter character than
hitherto, one in which the trays can be readily moved backwards and forwards and in
general a press designed to attain better filtration of the slip, and a greater output of
such, whilst at the same time economising both time and labour.
The improvements comprise means for moving the trays backwards and forwards
on their supporting frame from either end of the latter, means for rapidly forcing up
and withdrawing the movable press head and means for increasing the pressure of

page_text: the movable heal when up against the trays; an 1 sundry other decan improvements
all of which will be hereinafter referre.l to.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a filter press of the class referred to with my our
improvements applied,
Fig. 2 a plan of same,
Fig. 3 an end elevation,
Figs. 4 and 5 detail views, of the screw and holding arrangement for the screw for
forcing the trays together.
Fig.
an enlarged end elevation partly in section of the means for moving the
trays backward and forward,
Figs. 7 and 7 side elevation and section of an improved filter tray and
Fig. 8 side elevation of improved plate for filter tray.
Figs. 9 and 10 show front and sectional views of the filter cloths.
Referring principally to Figs. 1 to 3 and Fig. 6, a is the ordinary framing of the
filter press, b are the filter trays, c the stationary head and d the movable head.
Each of the trays has formed on or fixed at each side a projecting arm 1 in which is
journalled a small roller d¹, the rollers resting upon the longitudinal side frames.
Similar arms and rollers are carried by the movable head d and in each case are to
enable the trays and head to be easily moved along the frame either singly or two or
more at a time. Hitherto these trays have been operated by hand, one man being
stationed at one side of the press and another at the other. To dispense with the
services of one man and to enable the other to perform the operation of moving the
trays by himself, I we arrange above the main frame a, a subsiduary frame e of a
suitable character, but always having two side rails e¹ parallel with each other and
with the frame a. Upon the rails e¹ I we mount a light carriage f, the latter being
g that
supported by wheels f¹ and prevented from getting askew by similar wheels
bear against the inner sides of the rails e¹. The carriage is free to be moved back-
wards and forwards on the rails e¹ by means of handles attached to or formed on it.
At present we arrange the handles in the form shown as represented by g¹, in which
The
they consist of bars h passed through and secured to the carriage f, by nuts.
lower ends of the bars h, have pivoted to them, swivelling catches h¹ which may be
locked by wedges, or pins passed through holes h¹ so as to swivel in one direction
only and remain rigid or in line with the bar h in the other. Thus, assuming the
carriage f in Fig. 1 was moved to the left, the catches h¹ coming in contact with the
arms b¹ would ride over them and having passed, drop down behind one or more of
the latter. On moving the carriage in the reverse direction the catches remain rigid
and move the trays towards the movable head of the press so that the filtered slip
can be removed from them in the usual way. To bring the trays together again
prior to a pressing and filtering operation the pins or wedges are placed at the
opposite sides of the bars h.
By means of the arrangement described the trays 6 can be readily and quickly
moved about quite parallel to the face of the movable and stationary heads of the
press, by one man or boy, thus economising labour and increasing the production of
the press. Of course we would have it understood that instead of having a carriage
with eight wheels, three only or four may be used, these being turned hollow so as to
run on round rails, tubes or bars taking the place of those shown and acting both to
support and prevent skewing of the carriage as before explained.
In presses hitherto in use the movable head has been moved forward or withdrawn
from the trays b by means of a screw only, thus making the operation a long one.
To obviate this I we employ means whereby the head can be moved very rapidly in
either direction. These means are indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, the latter being
in section. Referring to these i is a central shaft coupled at its inner end to the
boss of the head d, but capable of revolving therein. The outer end of the shaft
passes through a boss in the end frame a¹ and carries a wheel j fixed to it, and near
the wheel the shaft is screwed for a portion of its length, such screwed portion

page_text: engaging with a chased thread formed in the end of a sleeve j¹ surrounding the shaft,
the sleeve having a sliding fit in the hole of frame a¹. The outer end of the shaft i
is supported by a bush or gland i fitted in the frame a¹. On the underside the
sleeve j¹ is provided with rack teeth, with which a pinion engages. The latter is
mounted on a shaft carried in bearing brackets beneath the side frames of the
machine, and is provided at one or both ends with wheels or levers by means of which
it can be turned round. The rotation of the shaft k¹ in one or other direction causes
the sleeve, shaft i with its wheel ; to be moved bodily and simultaneously towards
or from the trays o very rapidly and easily.
b
To put further pressure on the trays c after the head d has been moved forward
I we form the sleeve j¹ with grooves j111 as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. These
grooves are just inside the framing (see Fig. 2) when the head d is against the
trays and in order that it may be held in this position we provide a horse shoe
shaped stop which is hung from a lever carried by a bracket attached to the
frame a of the machine. The stop holds the screw from moving endways and
also prevents it turning round. The further pressure is now applied by means of the
wheel which is provided on one of its faces with holes m into which a lever may
be inserted for the purpose of turning the wheel round and the shaft on which it is
mounted. The shaft is thus screwed through the sleeve and pressure put on the
trays. When sufficient pressure is not obtained in this way we may use additional
means to put on the final pressure. These means may consist of a pinion n fixed
on a short stud passed loosely through a bracket n¹ carried by the framing a. The
front end of the pinion is arranged so that a winch handle or lever 11 may be easily
placed thereon. By these means further purchase may be obtained on the central
shaft i. As the stud on which the pinion n is mounted is capable of moving
endwise it can be brought into gear with the wheel ; as and when required, or be
disengaged therefrom. It will thus be seen that the medianism described
provides very ready means for rapidly applying pressure to the trays band for
increasing such pressure as required. It should be said that the stop receives the
end pressure and transmits it to the end frame a¹ and that prior to opening out the
trays it is lifted and held out of contact with the sleeve j¹ by means of the lever to
which it is coupled.
A further part of my our invention relates to an improved construction of filter
tray. This is indicated in Figs. 7 7 and 8, the former being a side elevation of a
complete tray and the latter a similar view of the plate. Instead of making the
trays of wood, I we make the central plate o of a non-corrosive cast stamped or
rolled metal sheet, grooved in a similar manner to the wooden plates hitherto in
use. The plate has attached to it on each side one or more bolts or studs o¹ screwed
at their outer ends and passed through holes in a wooden framework p which is
internally provided with grooves to admit the edges of the plate. The frame p and
plate o are rigidly held together by nuts on the bolts of The grooves in the
plates o on one side are opposite to the projections on the other side, and are
arranged to extend from the under edge of the top part of the frame p to within
short distance of the upper edge of the bottom portion of the frame. By making
the plates.o of cast, stamped or rolled metal the grooves can be made much finer
than is the case with the wooden trays hitherto in use. Each of the trays may be
provided with a tap p¹ to allow of the expressed water from the "slip
being
drained away.
A further detail improvement in connection with the trays is that instead of
making the slip hole in the centre of the plate, I we form it much nearer to the
top edge of the plate. I we also make the filter cloths (see Figs. 9 and 10) to
correspond. That is to say instead of sewing them together in the centre, I we sew
them at a point to correspond with the position of the slip hole q, inserting a non-
corrosive ring q¹ into the hole before sewing and the upper edge of each cloth is
felled so as to receive a wire rod r, the latter serving to hold the cloth in position
on the top edge of the tray. By constructing the slip holes in the position indicated
and making the filter cloths to correspond there is a clear way for the slip from the

page_text: fore end of the press to the rear end, and there is much less risk of the holes becoming
stopped up than has hitherto been the case whilst at the same time the slip is more
efficiently filtered.
-
In conclusion I we would have it understood that the details of construction may
be departed from without affecting the spirit of the invention and that all the
parts may be made of any material suitable for the purpose; but in any case those
parts which in any way come into contact with the "slip" should be made of non-
corrosive material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I we declare that what
I we claim is :-
:-
1. A filter press for potters' use provided with a carriage for moving one or more
filter trays at a time longitudinally of the framing; a rack and pinion and sleeve
arrangement for rapidly moving the movable press head to and from contact with
the filter trays; a wheel and screwed shaft and holding device for increasing the
pressure between the filter trays and a pinion and wheel and lever arrangement for
further increasing the pressure substantially as described.
2. In a filter press for potters' use the use of a longitudinally moving carriage
comprising a carriage frame mounted on rails and guided thereon by wheels, handles
for moving said frame backward and forward and catches or arms for sliding over
and engaging with the filter trays to move them backward and forward substantially
as and for the purpose described.
3. In a filter press for potters' use the means for rapidly moving the movable
head of the press to and from the filter trays, comprising a shaft attached to the
movable head carrying a wheel at its outer end and screwed to engage with a
sleeve mounted upon it, a sleeve mounted on said shaft and provided with rack
teeth to engage with a rotatable pinion and with or without a pinion and wheel
arranged for further increasing the pressure substantially as described.
4. A tray for a potters filter press consisting in the combination of a cast, rolled
or stamped grooved metallic non-corrosive plate with a wooden frame to which it is
secured by bolts, studs or the like substantially as described.
5. A tray of the kind referred to in Claim 4, with a slip hole between the centre
of the plate and its upper edge in combination with filter cloths sewn together on
a non-corrosive metal ring situated between the cloths around the feed hole for
keeping the cloths in position, substantially as described.
6. The improvements in filter presses for potters use constructed arranged and
operating substantially as described and as shown with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 8th day of January 1900
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR,
Stephens Buildings, 62, Market Street, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.