Improvements in Filter Presses and in Apparatus Connected therewith.
Year: 1885

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
further Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as
allowed by the decision of the Comptroller General of the 4th day of
August 1896
Improvements in Filter Presses and in Apparatus Connected
therewith.
;
I, JAMES BINGHAM ALLIOTT of Radford Nottingham, Nottinghamshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:---
This Invention relates to filter presses and apparatus connected therewith and it
has for its object the improved construction and arrangement of such apparatus and
of parts thereof whereby the apparatus is rendered generally more convenient and
efficient.
The Invention relates partly to arrangements for facilitating the closing and
re opening of the press for the removal of its contents and also to arrangements for
enabling the intermediate plates to resist unequal pressure upon their opposite
sides to which they are sometimes liable, and also to means of regulating the
pressure upon the material being forced into the press for filtration. The Inven-
tion comprises the provision of a suitable cylinder having a piston and piston rod
arranged to be actuated by steam, air, water or other suitable pressure; upon either
side of the piston as required. This cylinder is suitably carried by the framing of
the filter press and its piston is suitably connected to the heavy moveable end
plate of the press, so that by admitting the actuating pressure upon one side of the
piston, such pressure may be utilised to withdraw the end plate to a convenient
distance, thus leaving only the lighter intermediate plates to be moved by hand.
By admitting the actuating pressure to the opposite side of the piston, the end
plate is forced back into contact with the intermediate plates, and at the same time
forcing the intermediate plates into contact or approximate contact with each other.
In order to enable the opening and closing of the "press to be yet more quickly
effected there are so arranged movable distance pieces, that the pressure of the
nuts or screws which are used for holding the plates firmly together when under
pressure shall be communicated to thein through these distance or moveable pieces,
which can be só moved or withdrawn when the nuts or screws are slackened back
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page_text: that by merely slackening the nuts or screws, and moving or withdrawing the
distance pieces, the moveable end plate of the press may be at once free to be
drawn back to the required distance for emptying and cleaning the press. In like
manner when the end plate and intermediate plates have been forced back into
contact or approximate contact as hereinbefore stated the distance pieces can be at
once dropped into their places and very little screwing up of the nut or screw will
suffice to bing the necessary pressure on the plates. In some cases it may be
desirable to arrange the cylinder so that its axis coincides with the axis of the press
and in this case the piston rod may be directly attached to the moveable end plate,
so as to withdraw the end plate from the intermediate plates or to force it against
them and drive them before it until they are all in contact. It may be more
convenient in some cases to arrange the cylinder with its axis at right angles to
the axis of the press and in this case the action of the piston is communicated to
the end plate by means of a bell crank lever or other suitable device. The cylinder
is provided with a suitable valve or cock near each end for the admission of the
steam or other agent to either end as may be desired, and suitable outlets having
valves or stopcocks, are also provided at or near each end of the cylinder for with-
drawing or permitting the escape of steam, condensed water, air and the like from
that end towards which the piston may be moving.
In some existing filter presses there are sometimes employed two short flanged
pipes or collars arranged to be screwed one into the other for securing the filtering
cloth round the central aperture in each one of the intermediate plates through
which the material to be filtered passes from space to space throughout the press.
In order to enable the intermediate plates of a press to withstand unequal pressure,
upon their opposite sides these collars are according to this Invention provided
with one or more projections,-preferably with two or three projections of such
length that these projections extend across the space and bear against the collar on
the next intermediate plate, or ou the end plate. The end plate may also have a
flanged pipe or collar attached to it. In some cases one of these collars may be
screwed or fitted into the aperture in the intermediate plate so that unequal
pressure upon the plate may be directly communicated to the collar and not put
additional pressure on the cloth which it holds in place. The one collar may in some
cases be screwed bome to a shoulder upon the other so as to secure a definite length
from end to end of a pair of collars with their projections. The same end may
be obtained by arranging part of the collar on each side of the plate to hear
directly on a slight faced projection upon the plate, the other part bearing upon
the cloth, the joint upon which may if desired be made by means of a rubber
washer. The projections upon the short flanged pipes or collars are of such a size
as to leave ample space for the passage of the material to be filtered between the
collars into the spaces between the intermediate plates. By this improved
arrangement each plate near its centre is stayed against the next plate, the last
intermediate plate at each end being stayed against the end plate, the whole series
is thus efficiently supported. Instead of forming projections on the short flanged
pipes or collars as just described suitable projection pieces may be fitted through
the filtering cloth and into the intermediate plate a corresponding projection piece
being fitted similarly to the next plate and so on throughout the series the joint in
the filtering cloth around the projection being made with a rubber or other suitable
washer. Or the projection pieces may be passed right through the intermediate
plate and through the filtering cloth on both sides, in this case the joints may be
made in the cloth by nuts pressing down rubber or other suitable yielding washers.
The nut or the projection piece being arranged to form the distance piece. In
other cases and especially when the joints around the edges of the plates are formed
by rubber rings, pieces of rubber of suitable thickness are sewn on to the filtering
cloth opposite to one another so that the rubber on one cloth when the press is
screwed up is brought into contact with and pressed against the rubber on the cloth
covering the next intermediate plate. The plates are also provided with suitable
beds on which the cloth carrying the rubber inay rest.

page_text: The material to be treated in the filter presses is commonly forced into them by
means of montejus actuated by compressed air which is supplied by air compressors.
As however the speed at which the material passes into the presses diminishes
greatly as these become partially filled with solid matter the quantity of compressed
air used varies considerably at different stages of the filtering process while the air
compressors used (which are usually in duplicate) need to be of sufficient size to
supply the largest quantity required. In order to avoid the loss of power which
results from this when only a small quantity of compressed air is being used, there
are arranged two air compressors with their engines upon one air receiver which.
form a foundation. The crank shafts of the two engines are suitably coupled
together at right angles in such a manner that they may readily be disconnected
when it is desired to work either separately. There is further arranged an equi-
librium or throttle valve supplying steam to the compressing engines in such a way
that when the pressure in the air receiver rises up to or above that at which it is
desired to work the presses the increased pressure shall partially or altogether close
the equilibrium valve and so diminish or cut off altogether the steam supply to the
compression engines thus regulating their speed to that necessary for the supply
of the compressed air being used. When the engines are being worked coupled
together, they will after being stopped by the closing of the equilibrium valve
again start automatically so soon as by the diminution of pressure the valve
re-opens, since the engines being coupled at right angles there will be no dead
point. If however a single compressor only is being worked it may be necessary
to restart the engine by hand should it have been brought to a stand.
Dated this Fourteenth day of September 1885.
LOCK MOORE,
Agent.
Improvements in Filter Presses.
JAMES BINGHAM ALLIOTT of Bloomsgrove Works, in the Borough of
Nottingham, Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to filter presses and it has for its object an improved
construction and arrangement of such apparatus whereby it is rendered generally
more convenient and efficient.
The improvements relate to mechanism for facilitating the closing of the press
and the reopening thereof for the removal of its contents.
The invention relates to filter presses of the kind comprising a suitable cylinder
having a piston and piston rod arranged to be actuated by steam air, water or
other suitable pressure upon either side of the piston as required. This cylinder is
carried by the framing of the filter press and its piston is connected directly or
indirectly to the heavy movable end plate of the press so that by admitting the
actuating pressure upon one side of the piston the pressure may be utilised to
withdraw the end plate to a convenient distance leaving ouly the lighter inter-
mediate plates to be moved by hand. By admitting the actuating pressure to the
opposite side of the piston the end plate is forced back into contact with the inter-
mediate plates and at the same time the intermediate plates are forced into contact
or approximate contact with each other as well understood. In order to enable
the opening and closing of the press to be more quickly effected employ movable
distance pieces to which the pressure of the nuts or screws used for holding, the
plates firmly together when under pressure is communicated. These pieces can be
so displaced when the nuts or screws are slackened that the movable end plate of

page_text: the press may be drawn away from the loose plates to the required distance for
emptying and cleaning the presses. In like manner when the end plate and inter-
mediate plates have been forced into contact or approximate contact as hereinbefore
stated the distance pieces can be at once dropped into their places and very little
screwing up of the nut or screw will suffice to bring the necessary pressure on the
plates. In some cases it may be desirable to arrange the cylinder so that its axis
coincides with the axis of the press and in this case the piston rod may be directly
attached to the movable end plate so as to withdraw the end plate from the
intermediate plates or to force it against them and drive them before it until they
are all in contact. It may be more convenient in other cases to arrange the
cylinder with its axis at right angles to the axis of the press and in this case
the action of the piston may be communicated to the end plate by means of a bell
crank lever or other suitable device. The cylinder is provided with a suitable
valve or cock near each end for the admission of the steam or other agent to either
end as may be desired and suitable outlets having valves or stop cocks, are also
provided at or near each end of the cylinder for withdrawing or permitting the
escape of steam water of condensation air and the like from that end towards
which the piston may be moving.
My invention is represented in side elevation in Figure 1 and in plan in Figure
of the accompanying drawings while Figures 3 and 4 represent in side elevation
and plan respectively the modified arrangement in which the cylinder has its axis
at right angles to the axis of the press. In these figures A represents the fixed end
of the press through which the material to undergo filtration is introduced. B the
standard supporting the other end of the side rods C C. of the press D D are
the loose intermediate filtering plates E is the movable end plate ee the movable
distance pieces swinging upon the pins or pivots e¹ e', e² are the projections or
stops against which the distance pieces e e rest when they are swung back from
the rods CC FF the nuts working upon the threads cut on the side rods C C
and furnished with recesses ff to receive hand levers or wrenches so as to enable
them to be screwed forcibly home to bring the requisite pressure to bear upon
distance pieces ee and through them upon the movable end plate E; G represents
the cylinder provided with piston g and piston rod y' connecting it either directly
or by indirect means such as the bell crank lever g2 and link g³ with the movable
end plate E of the press. This cylinder is provided with suitable inlet and outlet
pipes represented in Figures 1 and 2 by the pipes which serve both as
inlet and outlet pipes, the admission to the cylinder and exhaust from it being
both regulated by the valve g. In Figures 3 and 4 the inlet pipes are again
marked 9 and the inlet valves g g but the outlet pipes are marked and
the outlet valves. In opening a press constructed according to this inven-
tion it will be obvious that the nuts F having been slackened by hand the
movable distance pieces e e may readily be swung back on the pins or
pivots when they will rest against the projections or stops e³. If then
the valve in connection with the cylinder G be opened so as to admit steam
air water or other pressure upon the side of the piston nearest to the end
plate E the piston y in moving back (connected as it is by the piston rod g' direct
or by the intervention of levers and links. such as the bell crank lever g' and
link will draw the movable end plate E away from the loose plates D D of the
press E the required distance. The plates D D may then be readily moved one
by one by hand and the solid material contained in the press be removed from
between them and when all the plates D have thus been moved and the contents
of the press have been taken out they will most naturally rest in contact with the
movable end plate E instead of in contact with the fixed end A with which they
were left in contact when the movable end plate E was first withdrawn. By now
admitting the pressure to the opposite side of the piston g the movable end plate E
will be forced back and will push before it the loose plates D, D, until the first of
these comes into contact with the fixed end plate A; when all the plates will be in
approximate contact; when the distance pieces e e may again be moved so as to

page_text: rest upon the side rods C C and the press may be firmly closed and the plates held
in position by tightening up the nuts F F. When the exhaust pipes are
connected with the cylinder at some little distance from its two ends any air
team or other motive fluid which may be contained in the cylinder will be trapped
within it so soon as the piston covers the exhaust connection and the piston may
thus be cushioned and prevented from coming into forcible contact with either end
of the cylinder. Where this is done the connection for the entrance of steam or
compressed air should be placed close to er at the end of the cylinder so that it
may not be covered by the piston when the connection to the exhaust is thus.
closed but may remain open to admit compressed air or other motive fluid to
operate upon the piston. It is obvious that it is easy so to arrange links connecting
the end plate E with the loose intermediate plates D D, and these loose plates
with one another that by the time the end plate E is withdrawn to the desired
extent the loose plates D D may all be drawn apart and separated from one.
another by a distance dependent on the number of the loose plates D D and the
extent to which the end plate E can be drawn back. In some instances where
the material under treatment falls readily from between the plates of the press.
when these are open an arrangement of this kind will be found useful. It is also
obvious that an arrangement may readily be made by which 1, 2, 3, or any other
number of loose intermediate plates D D may be withdrawn along with the
movable end plate E by first withdrawing the end plate only then the end plate
and one intermediate plate then the end plate and two intermediate plates and so
on. Thus the whole work of moving the intermediate plates as well as the end
plate may when desired be performed by means of the steam, air, water, or other
motive fluid operating upon the piston y. The loose intermediate plates D, D, are
however usually of such dimensions that they may readily be moved by hand sc
that it is not necessary to arrange for moving them by power: In the drawing:
herewith the cylinder by means of which the end plate E is moved is shown in
two different positions the one horizontal and the other vertical but it is obvious.
that it may readily be placed in other positions than those indicated as for example
horizontally beneath the filtering plates of the press and yet operate upon the end
plate in a substantially similar way. It is also obvious that although the drawings.
only show the invention applied to presses in which the movable end plate E is
held in position by nuts upon the two side rods CC it is also applicable to those
presses in which the end plate is forced home and held in position by a central
screw in connection with a distance piece corresponding in its use and operation.
with the distance pieces e e.
Having new particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do
not claim broadly the application of steam compressed air or equivalent power to
the movable end plate or cover of a filter press for the purpose specified, but what
I claim is
In a filter press adapted to open and close by steam, compressed air, or equivalent.
power, the arrangement of apparatus as specified with reference to and illustrated
in Figures I to III of the accompanying drawings for opening and closing a filter.
press as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of June 1886.
JAMES BINGHAM ALLIOTT..

page_text: I, JAMES BINGHAM ALLIOTT of Radford Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to filter presses and apparatus connected therewith and it
has for its object the improved construction and arrangement of such apparatus and
of parts thereof whereby the apparatus is rendered generally more convenient and
efficient.
The Invention relates partly to arrangements for facilitating the closing and
re opening of the press for the removal of its contents and also to arrangements for
enabling the intermediate plates to resist unequal pressure upon their opposite
sides to which they are sometimes liable, and also to, means of regulating the
pressure upon the material being forced into the press for filtration. The Inven-
tion comprises the provision of a suitable cylinder having a piston and piston rod
arranged to be actuated by steam, air, water or other suitable pressure, upon either
side of the piston as required. This cylinder is suitably carried by the framing of
the filter press and its piston is suitably connected to the heavy moveable end
plate of the press, so that by admitting the actuating pressure upon one side of the
piston, such pressure may be utilised to withdraw the end plate to a convenient
distance, thus leaving only the lighter intermediate plates to be moved by hand.
By admitting the actuating pressure to the opposite side of the piston, the end
plate is forced back into contact with the intermediate plates, and at the same time
forcing the intermediate plates into contact or approximate contact with each other.
In order to enable the opening and closing of the press to be yet more quickly
effected there are so arranged movable distance pieces, that the pressure of the
nuts or screws which are used for holding the plates firmly together when under
pressure shall be communicated to them through these distance or moveable pieces,
which can be so moved or withdrawn when the nuts or screws are slackened back
that by merely slackening the nuts or screws, and moving or withdrawing the
distance pieces, the moveable end plate of the press may be at once free to be
drawn back to the required distance for emptying and cleaning the press. In like
manner when the end plate and intermediate plates have been forced back into
contact or approximate contact as hereinbefore stated the distance pieces can be at

page_text: once dropped into their places and very little screwing up of the nut or screw will
suffice to bring the necessary pressure on the plates. In some cases it may be
desirable to arrange the cylinder so that its axis coincides with the axis of the press
and in this case the piston rod may be directly attached to the moveable end plate,
so as to withdraw the end plate from the intermediate plates or to force it against
them and drive them before it until they are all in contact. It may be more
convenient in some cases to arrange the cylinder with its axis at right angles to
the axis of the press and in this case the action of the piston is communicated to
the end plate by means of a bell crank lever or other suitable device. The cylinder
is provided with a suitable valve or cock near each end for the admission of the
steam or other agent to either end as may be desired, and suitable outlets having
valves or stopcocks, are also provided at or near each end of the cylinder for with-
drawing or permitting the escape of steam, condensed water, air and the like from
that end towards which the piston may be moving.
In some existing filter presses there are sometimes employed two short flanged
pipes or collars arranged to be screwed one into the other for securing the filtering
cloth round the central aperture in each one of the intermediate plates through
which the material to be filtered passes from space to space throughout the press.
In order to enable the intermediate plates of a press to withstand unequal pressure,
upon their opposite sides these collars are according to this Invention provided
with one or more projections, preferably with two or three projections of such
length that these projections extend across the space and bear against the collar on
the next intermediate plate, or on the end plate. The end plate may also have a
flanged pipe or collar attached to it. In some cases one of these collars may be
screwed or fitted into the aperture in the intermediate plate so that unequal
pressure upon the plate may be directly communicated to the collar and not put
additional pressure on the cloth which it holds in place. The one collar may in some
cases be screwed home to a shoulder upon the other so as to secure a definite length
from end to end of a pair of collars with their projections. The same end may
be obtained by arranging part of the collar on each side of the plate to bear
directly on a slight faced projection upon the plate, the other part bearing upon
the cloth, the joint upon which may if desired be made by means of a rubber
washer. The projections upon the short flanged pipes or collars are of such a size
as to leave ample space for the passage of the material to be filtered between the
collars into the spaces between the intermediate plates. By this improved
arrangement each plate near its centre is stayed against the next plate, the last
intermediate plate at each end being stayed against the end plate, the whole series
is thus efficiently supported. Instead of forming projections on the short flanged
pipes or collars as just described suitable projection pieces may bo fitted through
the filtering cloth and into the intermediate plate a corresponding projection piece
being fitted similarly to the next plate and so on throughout the series the joint in
the filtering cloth around the projection being made with a rubber or other suitable
washer. Or the projection pieces may be passed right through the intermediate
plate and through the filtering cloth on both sides, in this case the joints may be
made in the cloth by nuts pressing down rubber or other suitable yielding washers.
The nut or the projection piece being arranged to form the distance piece. In
other cases and especially when the joints around the edges of the plates are formed
by rubber rings, pieces of rubber of suitable thickness are sewn on to the filtering
cloth opposite to one another so that the rubber on one cloth when the press is
screwed up is brought into contact with and pressed against the rubber on the cloth
covering the next intermediate plate. The plates are also provided with suitable
beds on which the cloth carrying the rubber may rest.
The material to be treated in the filter presses is commonly forced into them by
means of montejus actuated by compressed air which is supplied by air compressors.
As however the speed at which the material passes into the presses diminishes
greatly as these become partially filled with solid matter the quantity of compressed
air used varies considerably at different stages of the filtering process while the air

page_text: compressors used (which are usually in duplicate) need to be of sufficient size to
supply the largest quantity required. In order to avoid the loss of power which
results from this when only a small quantity of compressed air is being used, there
are arranged two air compressors with their engines upon one air receiver which
form a foundation. The crank shafts of the two engines are suitably coupled
together at right angles in such a manner that they may readily be disconnected
when it is desired to work either separately. There is further arranged an equi-
librium or throttle valve supplying steam to the compressing engines in such a way
that when the pressure in the air receiver rises up to or above that at which it is
desired to work the presses the increased pressure shall partially or altogether close
the equilibrium valve and so diminish or cut off altogether the steam supply to the
compression engines thus regulating their speed to that necessary for the supply
of the compressed air being used. When the engines are being worked coupled
together, they will after being stopped by the closing of the equilibrium valve
again start automatically so soon as by the diminution of pressure the valve
re-opens, since the engines being coupled at right angles there will be no dead
point. If however a single compressor only is being worked it may be necessary
to restart the engine by hand should it have been brought to a stand.

page_text: therewith.
I JAMES BINGHAM ALLIOTT of Bloomsgrove Works, in the Borough of Notting-
ham, Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to filter presses and apparatus connected therewith and
it has for its object an improved construction, and arrangement of such apparatus
whereby it is rendered generally more convenient and efficient.
The improvements relate chiefly to mechanism for facilitating the closing of the
press and the reopening thereof for the removal of its contents and also to devices
for enabling the intermediate plates to resist unequal pressure upon their opposite
sides to which they are sometimes liable and also to means of regulating the
pressure upon the material whilst being forced into the press for filtration.
The first portion of the invention comprises the provision of a suitable cylinder
having a piston and piston rod arranged to be actuated by steam air, water or other
suitable pressure upon either side of the piston as required. This cylinder is
carried by the framing of the filter press and its piston is connected directly or
indirectly to the heavy movable end plate of the press so that by admitting the
actuating pressure upon one side of the piston the pressure may be utilised to
withdraw the end plate to a convenient distance leaving only the lighter inter-
mediate plates to be moved by hand. By admitting the actuating pressure to the
opposite side of the piston the end plate is forced back into contact with the
intermediate plates and at the same time the intermediate plates are forced into
contact or approximate contact with each other. In order to enable the opening
and closing of the press to be yet more quickly effected I employ movable distance
pieces to which the pressure of the nuts or screws used for holding the plates
firmly together when under pressure is communicated. These pieces can be so
displaced when the nuts or screws are slackened that the movable end plate of the
press may be drawn away from the loose plates to the required distance for
emptying and cleaning the presses. In like manner when the end plate and inter-
mediate plates have been forced into contact or approximate contact as herein before
stated the distance pieces can be at once dropped into their places and very little
screwing up of the nut or screw will suffice to bring the necessary pressure on the
plates. In some cases may be desirable to arrange the cylinder so that its axis
coincides with the axis of the press and in this case the piston rod may be directly
attached to the movable end plate so as to withdraw the end plate from the
intermediate plates or to force it against them and drive them before it until they
are all in contact. It may be more convenient in other cases to arrange the
cylinder with its axis at right angles to the axis of the press and in this case
the action of the piston may be communicated to the end plate by means of a bell

page_text: crank lever or other suitable device. The cylinder is provided with a suitable'
valve or cock near each end for the admission of the steam or other agent to either
end as may be desired and suitable outlets having valves or stop cocks, are also
provided at or near each end of the cylinder for withdrawing or permitting the
escape of steam condensed water air and the like from that end towards which
the piston may be moving. By applying power to the movable cover of the press
I am enabled to save an important amount of titne in its working and also to
reduce the amount of manual labor required; both these being points of great
importance and tending considerably to the economical working of such an
apparatus as this.
This part of my invention is represented in side elevation in Figure 1 and in
plan in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings while Figures 3 and represent
in side elevation and plan respectively the modified arrangement in which the
cylinder has its axis at right angles to the axis of the press. In these figures
A represents the fixed end of the press through which the material to undergo
filtration is introduced. B the standard supporting the other end of the side
rods C C. of the press DD are the loose intermediate filtering plates E is the
movable end plate ee the movable distance pieces swinging upon the pins or
pivots e¹ el. e3 are the projections or stops against which the distance pieces e e
rest when they are swung back from the rods CC FF the nuts working upon
the threads cut on the side rods CC and furnished with recesses ff to receive hand
levers or wrenches so as to enable them to be screwed forcibly home to bring the
requisite pressure to bear upon distance pieces e e and through them upon the
movable end plate E; G represents the cylinder provided with piston g and piston
rod g connecting it either directly or by indirect means such as the bell crank
lever g and link g³ with the movable end plate E of the press. This cylinder is
provided with suitable inlet and outlet pipes represented in figures 1 and 2 by the
pipes g which serve both as inlet and outlet pipes, the admission to the cylinder
and exhaust from it being both regulated by the valve g. In figures 3 and 4 the
inlet pipes are again marked g and the inlet valves g³ g but the outlet pipes are
marked g and the outlet valves g. In opening a press constructed according
to this invention it will be obvious that the nuts F having been slackened by
band. the movable distance pieces e e may readily be swung back on the pins
or pivots eel when they will rest against the projections or stops e². If then
the valve g³ in connection with the cylinder G be opened so as to admit steam
air water or other pressure upon the side of the piston g nearest to the end
plate E the piston g in moving back (connected as it is by the piston rod g' direct
or by the intervention of levers and links such as the bell crank lever g² and
link g³) will draw the movable end plate E away from the loose plates D D of the
press E the required distance. The plates D D may then be readily moved one
by one by hand and the solid material contained in the press be removed from
between them and when all the plates D have thus been moved and the contents
of the press have been taken out they will most naturally rest in contact with the
movable end plate E instead of in contact with the fixed end A with which they
were left in contact when the movable end plate E was first withdrawn. By now
admitting the pressure to the opposite side of the piston g the movable end plate E
will be forced back and will push before it the loose plates D, D, until the first of
these come into contact with the fixed end plate A; when all the plates will be in
approximate contact; when the distance pieces e e may again be moved so as to
rest upon the side rods C C and the press may be firmly closed and the plates held
in position by tightening up the nuts F F. When the exhaust pipes 96 96 are
connected with the cylinder at some little distance from its two ends any air
steam or other motor which may be contained in the cylinder will be trapped
within it so soon as the piston covers the exhaust connection and the piston may
thus be cushioned and prevented from coming into forcible contact with either end
of the cylinder. Where this is done the connection for the entrance of steam.or

page_text: OD.
compressed air should be placed close to or at the end of the cylinder so that it
may not be covered by the piston when the connection to the exhaust is thus
closed but may remain open to admit compressed air or other motor to operate
upon the piston. It is obvious that in drawing back the end plate E it is easy so
to arrange links connecting it with the loose intermediate plates D D, and these
loose plates with one another so that by the time the end plate E is withdrawn to
the desired extent the loose plates DD may each be drawn apart and separated
from one another by a distance dependent on the number of the loose plates DD
and the extent to which the end plate E can be drawn back. In some instances
where the material under treatment falls readily from between the plates of the
press when these are open an arrangement of this kind will be found useful. It is
also obvious that an arrangement may readily be made by which 1, 2, 3, or any
other number of loose intermediate plates D Ď may be withdrawn along with the
movable end plate E by first withdrawing the end plate only then the end plate
and one intermediate plate then the end plate and two intermediate plate and so
Thus the whole work of moving the intermediate plates as well as the end
plate may when desired be performed by means of the steam air water, or other
motor, operating upon the piston g. The loose intermediate plates D, D, are
however usually of such dimensions that they may readily be moved by hand so
that it is not necessary to arrange for moving them by power. In the drawings
herewith the cylinder by means of which the end plate E is moved is shown in
two different positions the one horizontal and the other vertical but it is obvious
that it may readily be placed in other positions than those indicated as for example
horizontally beneath the filtering plates of the press and yet operate upon the end
plate in a substantially similar way. It is also obvious that although the drawings
only show the invention applied to presses in which the movable end plate E is
held in position by nuts upon the two side rods CC it is also applicable to those
presses in which the end plate is forced home and held in position by a central
screw or by a central screw in connection with a distance piece corresponding in
its use and operation with the distance pieces ce. In some existing filter presses
there are employed two short flanged pipes or collars arranged to be screwed one
into the other for securing the filtering cloth around the central aperture in each
of the intermediate plates D through which the material to be filtered passes. In
order to enable the intermediate plates of a press to withstand unequal pressure
upon their opposite sides I provide these collars with projections (preferably two
or three) of such length that they extend across the space and bear against the
collar on the next intermediate plate or on the end plate. The end plate may also
have a flanged pipe or collar attached to it. In some cases one of these collars
may be screwed or fitted into the aperture in the intermediate plate so that
unequal pressure upon the plate may bear upon the collar and not upon the cloth.
The one collar may in some cases be screwed home to a shoulder upon the other
so as to secure a definite length from end to end of a pair of collars with their
projections. The same end may be obtained by arranging part of the collar on
each side of the plate to bear directly on a slight faced projection upon the plate
the other part bearing upon the cloth the joint upon which may if desired be
made by means of a rubber washer. The projections upon the short flanged pipes
or collars are of such a size as to leave ample space for the passage of the material
to be filtered between the collars into the spaces between the intermediate plates.
By this improved arrangement each plate near its centre is stayed against. the
next plate the last intermediate plate at each end being stayed against the end
plate the whole series is thus efficiently supported. This part of my invention is
represented in sectional side elevation in figures V, VII and VIII and in front
elevation in Figure VI. In these figures H represents the section of the loose
intermediate plates of the press; h represents the filter cloths represents the
projecting flanges around the edges of the plates H. I represents the flanged
pipe or collar which is screwed into the opening in the plate H and also into

page_text: the collar or flange I upon which are the three (or more) projections or distance
pieces ii. Figures VII and VIII are substantially similar to Figure V excepting
that in Figure VII the flange or collar I is screwed home to a shoulder a on the
flanged pipe or collar I while india rubber washers h³ ³ are introduced to assist
in making the joints between the flanged pipes or collars and the filter cloth.
In figure VIII the flanged pipe or collar I and the flange or collar I¹ both rest
upon slight faced projections h³ h³ upon the intermediate plate H the joint between
the flanged pipes or collars and the filter cloth being in this case made with flat
rubber rings h Figure VI represents in front elevation a flanged pipe or collar I
with the flange or collar I screwed upon it while i ii represent projections which
in this case are shown as forming part of the flange or collar I. It is obvious
that in any of the arrangements shown the projections may be carried either by
the flange or collar I' or by the flange pipe or collar I or even though less con-
veniently partly upon the one and partly upon the other. Instead of forming
projections on the short flanged pipes or collars as just described; suitablo
projecting pieces may be inserted through the filtering cloth into the plate on
each side thereof corresponding pieces being fitted to the next plate and so on
throughout the series the joints between the filtering cloth and the projections
being made with rubber or other suitable washers. Or the projecting pieces may
be passed right through the intermediate plate and through the filtering cloth
on both sides, in this case the joints may be made by nuts pressing down rubber
or other suitable yielding washers forming what may be termed an accomodation
joint, the nut on the projection forming the distance piece.
This first form of this part of my invention is represented in Figure IX where
i i represent the projection or distance pieces screwed into or through the plates H
of the press and the second form in Figure X where ii represent nuts upon the
projection or distance pieces i i 6 representing the india-rubber washers.
In other cases and especially where the joints around the edges of the plates
are formed by rubber rings pieces of rubber of suitable thickness are sewn on to
the filtering cloth opposite to one another so that the rubber on one cloth when
the press is screwed up is brought into contact with and pressed against the
rubber on the cloth covering the next plate. The plates are also provided with
suitable beds or faces on which the cloth carrying the rubber may rest.
This part of my invention is represented in sectional elevation in Figure XI
where represents the india rubber pads used to support the intermediate
plates.
The material to be treated in filter presses is commonly forced into them by
means of montejus actuated by compressed air which is supplied by air com-
pressors. As however the speed at which the material passes into the press
diminishes greatly as it becomes partly filled with solid matter the quantity
of compressed air used varies considerably at different stages of the filtering
process whilst the air compressors (generally used in pairs) require to be of
sufficient size to supply the maximum quantity. In order to avoid the loss of
power which results from this when only a small quantity of compressed air
is being used there are arranged two air compressors with their engines upon
one air receiver which forms a foundation. The crank shafts of the two engines
are suitably coupled together at right angles in such a manner that they may be
readily disconnected when it is desired to work either separately. There is further
an equilibrium or throttle valve supplying steam to the compressing engines in
such a way that when the pressure in the air receiver rises up to or above that
at which it is desired to work the presses, the increased pressure shall partially.
or altogether close the equilibrium valve and so diminish or cut off altogether the
steam supply to the compression engines thus regulating their speed to that
necessary for the supply of the compressed air being used.
When the engines are being worked coupled together they will after being
stopped by the closing of the equilibrium valve again start automatically so soon

page_text: as the valve re-opens, by diminution of pressure since the engines being coupled
at right angles there will be no dead point. If however a single compressor only
is being worked it may be necessary to restart the engine by hand should it have
been brought to a stand.
Figure XII represents in side elevation and figure XIII in plan a small plant
arranged in accordance with my improvements. In these figures J represents the
ram or "montejus" from which the material to be filtered is supplied under
pressure through the pipe J¹ to the filter press K. LL' represent a pair of engines
working the air compressors M M¹ by means of which the compressed air receiver
(which forms the foundation both for the engines and the air compressors) is
supplied with air under pressure; 1 represents the steam pipe through which the
steam is supplied to the engines L L¹; n represents the pipe through which
compressed air is supplied to the ram or "montejus J; n¹ represents the pipe
conveying compressed air to the cylinder k in connection with the press K and
also to one side of the piston working in the cylinder O. This piston is however
held against the air pressure admitted to the piston from the compressed air
receiver N by means of a spring or by weights applied by means of a lever
or in any other convenient way; the rod of this piston communicates by means
of levers with the throttle valve P upon the steam pipe 7. When the material
to be filtered is first admitted from the ram J to the press K the flow of water
from the press is usually rapid and the pressure needed to force the material into
the press is small but as the press K becomes charged with solid material the
quantity of water flowing from it becomes smaller and the pressure needed becomes
greater though the volume of air passing to the "montejus" is smaller so that the
pressure in the air receiver N increases.
When the point is reached at which the pressure in the receiver is sufficient to
overcome the resistance of the weighted piston working in the cylinder O this
piston is moved and in moving operates upon the throttle valve P which it
partially or entirely closes thus diminishing or entirely shutting off the supply
of steam to the engines L L' which accordingly are either entirely stopped or run
at a reduced speed and so compress a smaller quantity of air. When the pressure
in the receiver falls the piston under the influence of the spring or other pressure
operating upon it returns to its original position admitting a full supply of steam
to the engines which accordingly run faster and supply an increased quantity of
compressed air.
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
1. The application of steam compressed air or equivalent power to the movable
end plate or cover of a filter press for the purpose specified.
2. The arrangements of apparatus for opening and closing a filter press by steam
compressed air or equivalent power substantially such as specified and illustrated
in Figures I to III of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a filter press the employment of flanged pipes or collars such as I I'
provided with projections or stops i for the purpose of enabling any intermediate
plate of a filter press to obtain support from adjoining intermediate plates or from
the end plate of the press without undue wear and tear of the filter cloths which
cover the plates substantially as specified.
4. In a filter press the employment of removable and adjustable projections or
stops such as in combination with the accomodation joint be upon the filter
cloth around them substantially as specified and illustrated in Figures IX and X
of the accompanying drawings for the purpose of enabling any intermediate plate
of a press to obtain support from adjoining intermediate plates or from the end
plate of the press without undue wear and tear of the filter cloths which cover
the plates.

page_text: 5. The employment in a filter press of india rubber pads such as h³ attached
to the filter cloth h suitable seats being provided for them upon the filter plates H
substantially as specified and illustrated in Figure XI of the accompanying
drawings.
6. In an apparatus such as described the automatic regulating device consisting
of a cylinder such as O whose interior is in communication with the receiver N
and the movements of the loaded piston whereof due to the variations of pressure
in said receiver N operate the valve which controls the supply of steam to the
engines of the air compressor substantially as specified and illustrated in Figures
XII and XIII of the accompanying drawings.
"