IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERING PRESSES FOR EXPRESSING THE LIQUID PARTS AND RETAINING THE SOLID PARTS OF ANY SEMI-LIQUID SUBSTANCES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Thomas Hughes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
October 1866.-A communication from abroad by Pierre du Rieux
and Edouard Roettger, of Lille, in the Empire of France, Civil
Engineers.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERING PRESSES FOR EXPRESSING THE
LIQUID PARTS AND RETAINING THE SOLID PARTS OF ANY SEMI-LIQUID SUBSTANCES,"
-A communication to me from abroad by Pierre du Rieux and Edouard
Roettger, of Lille, in the Empire of France, Civil Engineers, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to filtering presses where the solid parts of semi-
liquid substances are separated from the liquid or moist parts thereof by the
said semi-liquid substances being introduced under pressure into one or more
chambers between plates or slabs or boards having grooves or other channels
formed in them and covered with cloth or other textile material, the pressure
of the semi-liquid substances causing the liquid parts thereof to pass through
the cloth and run off along the grooves or channels on the slabs or plates,
whilst the solid parts of the said semi-liquid substances remain in a cake
between the said cloths, and may be removed on separating the said slabs or
boards. An application of the above mode of expressing liquid or moisture
from substances was patented in Great Britain on July 14th, 1853, No. 1669,
by. William Needham and James Kite the younger.

page_text: These improvements as communicated to me, consist in an improved
construction and arrangement of parts of filtering presses, whereby a more
efficient working is obtained, and all danger of the machine exploding under
pressure is avoided, and the operations of filtering the liquid parts and caking
the solid parts of semi-liquids may be conducted with more speed, regularity,
safety and efficiency.
According to these improvements instead of using grooved slabs, boards, or
plates the filtering chambers are cast of a cylindrical shape so as to present a
uniform resistance to the pressure within. The said filtering chambers or
frames consist of a circular rim or ring, the central portion of which is provided
with a series of bars cast with the rim but less wide than the rim, so that
when a certain number of the said rings or circular frames with their gratings
are secured together face to face they will form two series of chambers, the
one composed of gratings, the second of hollow spaces between the said
gratings equal in width to the difference between the width of the grating and
the width of their surrounding rings. On each side of the said gratings aro
attached perforated metal plates, and over these plates are one or more cloths
or other filtering medium which may be secured to the ring or rim of the
frame either by means of a metallic ring taking into a groove on which the
cloth is tightened so as to be easily removed with the said ring, or by forming
the rim of the frame so that the cloth may be secured thereto. without injury
by a cord or rope which at the same time insures its contact with the surface
of the metallic perforated plate over the grating.
'
Thro' the upper part of each rim of the circular frames is an aperture or
channel, which channels when the circular frames are secured together face to
face communicate one with the other throughout the entire length of the
machine, and also with the spaces within and between the said frames. The
continuous channel formed by the said apertures communicates externally by
cocks and pipes or other similar means with the machinery used for forcing
in the semi-liquid substance to be operated upon, and it is preferred that the
semi-liquid substance should be forced into the apparatus by means of the
direct pressure of steam acting in a "monte jus" or juice elevator. The
circular frames are each provided with side projections or arms which rest
upon the longitudinal bars of a supporting frame, and the circular frames when
in position are closed before and bebind by strong metallic circular plates, the
inner surfaces of which are formed with gratings and parts similar to those of
the inner circular frames, so as to complete the chambers of the adjoining
frames next to them. One of the 'sáid end plates is supported by a standard
resting on the ground, and by means of lugs cast on its sides supports partly

page_text: the two horizontal bars running longitudinally along the frames, which frames
rest upon the said bars by means of their above-mentioned arms or projections.
The bars pass through corresponding lugs on the sides of the front end plate to
a second standard or support, where the two bars are joined together by means
of a cross beam extending across the end plate; a similar cross beam joins
together the said bars behind the back end plate. Between the front end
plate and the cross beam and front support is a moveable block, which a
screw in the front support may be made to press against the front end plate,
and thus firmly tighten together all the frames between the two end plates.
On slightly loosening the said screw the intermediate block falls and releases
the frames which may be readily separated as required.
The frames may be made to join tightly by means of india-rubber rings
inserted round the rims in conical grooves, or by forming on the rims deep
cylindrical grooves, or in any other convenient manner. The frames having
been properly tightened together the semi-liquid substance to be operated
upon is forced into the apparatus, passing through the channel in the rims of
the frames, and enters the spaces inclosed between the said frames. The
liquid parts pass through the cloth or filtering medium to between the gratings
of the frames, whence they flow off through suitable channels or pipes cast
under the said gratings, and the solid parts of the said semi-liquids accumulate
outside the cloths and form solid cakes which when the frames are separated
fall to the ground and may be removed. The under channels for the outlet
of the liquid may be provided with stop-cocks to stop off the flow of liquid
from any compartments when from any cause the liquid ceases to be clear.
Sometimes besides the above-mentioned aperture or channel for the introduction
of the semi-liquid matters into the filtering press, two additional apertures or
channels may be formed in the rim of the frames, giving access alternately
to the compartments next each other, so as alternately to admit water under
pressure of steam or gas into the channels in order to cause the water to
© traverse the matters in the frame spaces, and to pass in different directions
as required, so as to wash out perfectly the said matters; the said additional
channels or apertures being provided with suitable cocks outside the filtering
press. Sometimes in each circular frame of the filtering press a double-jointed
bottom actuated by hydraulic pressure is used to reduce the thickness of the
5 matters inserted.