IMPROVEMENTS IN TELESCOPING PRESSES FOR EXTRACTING LIQUIDS FROM SOLID, SIMI-SOLID AND FLUID SOB- STANCES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, GEORGE BRYANT BOOMER, of the Town of Mount Pleasant, in the County of
Westchester, State of New York, United States of America, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TELESCOPING
PRESSES FOR EXTRACTING LIQUIDS FROM SOLID, SIMI-SOLID AND FLUID SOB-
STANCES to be as follows:-
This invention consists in constructing the boxes in the press double or with
two cavities devided by a central partition, in such a manner as to obtain a long
bearing on the rods which support them, so as to prevent all canting or tilting of
the boxes when the press is in operation, combined with a double plunger; and
providing these boxes with doors on the upper and lower ends, by means of which
the boxes are charged and discharged; and also in so arranging the filter cloths on
the face of the box and of the plunger that they will remain place when the box
is emptied, and yet can easily be removed to be cleaned or renewed; and also in
so constructing such telescopic boxes that the press can be used as a filter press for
semi-fluid and fluid matter, and adapted to be filled with a pump.
My improved press consists of a series of boxes, arranged horizontally, with their
corresponding plungers, adapted to slide or move along horizontal rods so as to
engage with each other.
The boxes are preferable rectangular in shape, having the greatest length in a
perpendicular direction, but the shape of the box may be varied somewhat, and the
upper and lower ends may be arched if desired; in all cases however the vertical.
sides of the box should be straight to allow the cake or material, after having been
pressed, to drop out through the bottom, and to still further facilitate the discharge
of the material, the boxes may be a little wider at the bottom than at the top.
The boxes constructed according to my improved method are double, being
devided by a central, vertical partition, which forms the face of each single box,
against which the material is pressed, with the front or open sides into which the
plungera slide opening in opposite directions. Each box thus consists of two single
boxes, placed back to back, and has continuous sides extending the entire length of
the double box thus formed, and thereby permits the use of long or double bearings
on the rods on which the boxes slide.
The upper and lower ends of the boxes, as they are arranged on the press, are
formed by doors through which the boxes are charged and discharged. These
doors, which are capable of being securely and tightly closed to resist the pressure
in pressing, may be hinged to one of the vertical sides of the box, so as to swing
outward, or may slide in grooves on the box, and may be arranged so as to cover
each cavity or both cavities of the double box, or all the cavities in the press.

page_text: The plungers designed to be used with these double boxes, are also made double,
or with opposite faces, and are provided with bearings on which they slide on the
supporting rods, so that when arranged between the double boxes a face of the
plunger will enter the openings of the box on either side.
The face of the plungers and the inner face of the boxes, against which the
material is pressed, may be constructed in a variety of ways to adapt the press to
different kinds of work, but in general narrow vertical grooves are formed on the
face of the plunger and on the inner face of the box. These vertical grooves
terminate in a ridge or channel extending across the lower edge of the face, which
communicates with a suitable outlet for the liquid. Over these vertical grooves on
the face of the box and of the plungers are placed metallic plates, having horizontal
grooves on one side, and pierced with a number of small holes opening into the
horizontal grooves, and corresponding in position with the vertical grooves, before
described on the face of the plunger and of the box.
On the grooved side of the metallic plate is secured a filter cloth, by means of
a beveled frame, so shaped as to hold the cloth tightly around the edges and in the
middle, and prevent its being pulled off when the cake is detached and dropped
out of the box. These several parts, the plate, cloth and frame, may be attached
to each other and to the box and plunger, in any convenient manner; or the plate,
cloth and frame may be connected together, and adapted to slide into their places
in front of the inner face of the box and of the face of the plunger. Or the plate
and frame may be omitted, and the cloth attached directly to the face of the box
and of the plunger.
The boxes and plungers, thus constructed, are arranged on the rods of the press
along which they slide, in alternate succession, a double box and a double plunger,
except at the ends of the press, where a single plunger is secured.
The face of the plunger is introduced just within the open edge of the cavities,
and encloses the space within, and confines the material or charge in the cavity;
and the plungers are held in this position by rods or bolts which permit them to
slide within the cavities, but prevent them from withdrawing entirely, or separating
from the boxes. The open face of the cavities are thus perpetually closed by the
plungers, and communication is had with the interior only through the doors on
the upper and lower sides or ends.
By means of the upper doors the cavities in the boxes are filled with the material
to be pressed, when the doors are closed and securely fastened, and the press run
together, when the plungers are caused to slide into the cavities, and plungers and
boxes moved along the rods on which they are supported. On account of the long
or double bearing on the double boxes this motion is rendered steady, and all
canting or tilting is made impossible. After all the liquid is extracted, the press is
run back, the plungers withdrawn to the edge of the cavities, the upper and lower
doors opened, and the pressed cakes dropped out, when the lower doors are closed,
and the cavities are ready to be refilled and the operation of pressing repeated.
When my telescopic boxes and their engaging plungers are used on filter presses,
or on presses in which fluid or partially fluid material is pumped into the boxes,
a hole or passage is made through the partition of the double boxes and through
the double plungers; so as to connect the interior of the several boxes with each
other. After all the liquid is extracted that is possible by forcing the material
into the boxes by the pump, the press is run together, and the material subjected to
still further pressure, and the remaining liquid extracted.
My improved construction of doors on the upper and lower ends of the boxes
may be used on the single boxes common to telescopic presses.

page_text: солгИМЦИ
DIECIFICATION.
I, GEORGE BRYANT BOOMER of the Town of Mount Pleasant, in the County of
Westchester, State of New York, United States of America, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for TELESCOPING PRESSES FOR
EXTRACTING LIQUIDS FROM SOLID AND FLUID MATERIAL, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention consists in a novel method of constructing the boxes on the press
by which two boxes are formed together or in one, so as to obtain a longer bearing
on the rods which support them and prevent all canting or tilting of the boxes
when the press is in operation; and providing these boxes with doors on the upper
and lower ends, by means of which the boxes are charged and discharged; and also
in a novel method of constructing and arranging the plates and filter cloths in the
boxes and on their plungers; also in so constructing such telescopic boxes that the
press can be used as a filter press for semi-fluid matter, and adapted to be filled
with a pump.
In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my improvements, in which like
letters indicate like parts:
Figure 1. Is a view of my improved boxes and plungers as arranged in the press
showing some of the boxes and their corresponding plungers in section.
Figure 2. Is a view of a box with my improved sliding doors applied to the
bottom, and showing mechanism for opening and closing the same.
Figure 3. Is a view of the front or outside of my improved plate, showing the
cloth attached on a part of the same.
Figure 4. Is a view of the underside of my improved plate, showing the method
of securing the cloth to the same.
Figure 5. Is a view of a box, showing the method of securing the plate on the
inner face of the same.
Figure 6. Is a view of the face of the plunger showing the method of securing
the plate on the same.
Figure 7. Is a view of my improved boxes and plungers provided with a central
passage to be filled with a pump, and used as a filter press.
My improved press consists of a series of boxes with their corresponding plungers,
arranged horizontally, and supported on rods; along which they are adapted to slide
or move so as to engage with each other."
The boxes constructed according to my improved method are double, consisting
of two single cavities or boxes C₁ C₁ divided or separated from each other by
a central, vertical partition B which forms the back or pressing surface of each
single box, and having the front or open sides, into which the plungers slide, facing

page_text: in opposite directions. Each box is thus formed of two single boxes arranged back
to hack, and opening in opposite directions.
The boxes may be of any shape desired to adapt them to different styles of
presses, but are preferably rectangular in form, with the greatest length in a perpen-
dicular direction; and when provided with doors at the top and bottom through
which the boxes are charged and discharged, as shown in the drawing, and
hereinafter described, the sides of the boxes should be vertical to allow the cake or
material after having been pressed, to drop out through the bottom. To still
further facilitate the discharge of the material the boxes may be a little wider at
the bottom than at the top. As two boxes are thus brought together to form the
double box, a saving in space is effected, as but one back is necessary, for the two
single boxes or cavities, and the cost of construction is much less than where the
single boxes are made separately. The plungers P. designed to be used with these
double boxes, are also made double, or with opposite faces F1 F1 to enter the open
boxes or cavities on either side. The boxes and plungers thus constructed are
arranged on the rods of the press, along which they slide, in alternate succession,
a double box and a double plunger, except at the ends of the press where a single,
fixed plunger P¹ is secured as shown in Fig. 1.
By my form of double box, in which there are long continuous sides extending
over the two cavities, I secure an extended bearing on the rods, by which the boxes
are supported. This bearing may extend along the full width of the side of the
box, or there may be two bearings, as shown at A On account of this long or
double bearing, the box is made to slide evanly and steadily on the rods, and can
not be tilted or canted in any way, as frequently happens with the ordinary boxes
which only admit of a single short bearing. Even if the plunger is tilted on
entering the box, the latter is held so firmly, by the long bearing that it cannot be
moved out of its true position, but causes the plunger to right itself so as to slide
freely into the box or cavity. In my improved double box, therefore, there is no
danger of bursting or injuring the box on account of the plunger not sliding evenly
into the cavity, and the face of the plunger and of the box, as they come together
in the operation of pressing, are always held parallel with each other; and, more-
over, as the box cannot tilt in any manner, it slides more freely and with less
resistance on the rods..
The double boxes thus formed may be used on all telescopic presses and can be
adapted to be filled and emptied in any manner found desirable.
As I prefer to construct them, the boxes are provided with doors at the top and
bottom, by means of which they are charged and discharged.
This improved arrangement, which constitutes the second part of my invention,
is fully shown in the drawing in Fig. 1. The upper door D D of the box is
opened, and the cavity filled with the material to be pressed, when the door is
closed and tightly secured. After the operation of pressing, and when the press has
been run back, the lower door, D' or if necessary both doors are opened and the
cake is dropped out of the press into some convenient receptacle underneath.
The liquid extracted by pressing escapes through holes in the lower doors, or by
a conduit in the web or division B, between the cavities of the box and of the heads
of the plungers. When communication is had with the interior by means of the
doors, the front or open side of the box, is perpetually closed, by the plunger, which
is arranged so that it cannot be withdrawn entirely from the box. As will be seen
in Fig.
when the press is open or run back, the plunger remains just within the
open edge of the box, and is prevented from withdrawing entirely from the box
by the bolts or rods G. These rods which are firmly secured to the web or middle
piece P of the plunger, pass through ears r. on the sides of the box and are provided
on their ends with nuts, which can be adjusted as desired. As the rods rest loosely
in the ears, they readily slide back and forth in the same, and offer no obstruction
to the free movement of the plunger within the box, but by the contact of the nuts
од their ends with the ears they prevent the plunger withdrawing entirely from the

page_text: box. The open sides of the boxes are thus closed by the plungers, which enclose
the space within, and confines the material, introduced through the top door.
The doors may be arranged to open in any manner found desirable, and can both
be hinged to one side of the box so as to open outward, as shown in Fig. 1. Each
cavity may have its separate door, or the doors may be made large enough to cover
both cavities of the double box. The construction and arrangements of the doors
which I prefer to employ is shown in Fig. 2. As will be there seen, the top or
upper door, which is made large enough to cover both cavities, is hinged to one
side of the box so as to open outward, and when closed is secured by a fastening on
the opposite side. The bottom or lower door, is double, having separate doors for
each cavity, which are arranged to slide in grooves in the vertical sides of the box.
These separate doors are connected with each other, and are arranged to slide open
and shut at the same time in the following manner.
Extending across the box a little distance from the central partition or web B. is
a rod or bar R. which passes through holes in the sides B. B¹. of the box, large
enough to permit it to turn freely, and terminates at each end, outside of the box,
in a cog-wheel L. Fastened to the outer edge of the doors are crosspieces N. N'.
secured to the ends of which, on both sides of the box, are toothed rods or
racks M. M. which extend inward toward the middle of the box, and engage with
the pinion L., being held in contact with the latter by the pins P'. against which
they slide. By arranging the racks M. M. on opposite sides of the pinion as shown
in the drawing, it will be evident that as the latter is turned the racks will be
moved in opposite directions, and the doors to which they are attached will both
be caused to slide away from or towards the partition B. or opened or closed at the
same time. As the pinions L. on each end of the connecting rod R turn together
the racks M. M. on both sides of the box are caused to move at the same time and
the doors are pushed out or drawn back by both sides, and thereby made to move
evenly and smoothly. It will be evident that by attaching a suitable lever or
crank to the rod R. power can be brought to bear on the racks M. and the doors
can be slid open against a great deal of friction or pressure from the pressed
material within the box, and moreover the doors can be held in place, and prevented
from being drawn open by the plunger as it slides out of the box.
By my improved method therefore I am enabled to open and close the two doors
by one and the same operation, and apply the power at each side of the door to
ensure equal and even movement, and with sufficient force to slide the doors against
the resistance to be overcome.
The sliding doors above described may be used, if it is desired, or the upper doors
of the press boxes, instead of the swinging door shown in the drawing, but I prefer
the arrangement shown and described, with the swinging double door on the upper
side of the box, and the separate, sliding doors on the under side.
The third part of my improvement relates to the pressing surface of the boxes
and plungers, and the arrangement of the plates and filter cloths on the same.
The face of the plungers and the inner face of the boxes against which the
material is pressed may be constructed in a variety of ways to adapt the press to
different kinds of work. On the face or pressing surface of the boxes and plungers,
which may be either left plain, or provided with narrow vertical grooves or
channels, are generally placed grooved and perforated plates and filter cloths,
through which the material is strained in the operation of pressing. The cloth is
conveniently secured to the plate by means of a frame, so shaped as to fit around
the edge of the plate, and the plate, cloth and frame may be attached to each other
and to the box and plunger in any convenient manner, If it is desired the
perforated plate may be dispensed with and the cloth attached directly to the face
of the box and plunger.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the construction of the plate, and arrangement of plate
and cloth which I deem most desirable.

page_text: This plate H. as will be seen in the drawing is grooved on both sides, the grooves I
on the upper or outer side extending crosswise of the plate, and those r¹ on the
under side, next to the face of the box or plunger, lengthwise of the same. These
grooves are made deep enough to pierce through, or perforate, the plate, where they
cross each other as at g. so the grooves on the upper side communicate directly
with, or open into, those on the lower side. The liquid collected in the grooves on
one side of the plate, therefore, flows directly into those on the other side. By this
method of constructing the plate, the latter is perforated by the process of grooving,
and it is not necessary to have a separate operation for piercing the plate. The
filter cloth E is placed next to the outer side of the plate, and is made large enough
to lap over the edges of the same, as shown in Fig. 4 and is fastened to the plate in
any suitable manner, as by stitching through holes o, provided in the edges of the
plate for that purpose.
By this method of attaching the cloth to the plate, the former is stretched evenly
and smoothly over the plate, and held securely in place during the operation of
pressing, and of removing the cake after the pressing is over, and can be easily and
quickly removed when it is desired to cleanse the cloth or renew the same.
The plate and cloth, thus secured together are placed in position in the press by
sliding the plate in front of the face or pressing surface of the box and of the
plunger as shown in Fig. 5 and 6.
The plate is introduced into the box through the lower door, as will be under-.
stood from Fig. 5 and when placed in position against the face or pressing
surface F¹ of the box, is held by the set screws S. S. which pass through the sides of
the box, and enter holes 8. 8. in the edge of the plate. By this means of fastening,
the plate is held securely in place, and can be readily and quickly attached to, and
separated from, the box. The method of connecting the plate with the plunger is
shown in Fig. 6. As will there be seen a narrow rim or band v. is placed around the
face F of the plunger, and projects from the same so as to form a recess, within
which the plate and cloth rests. The width of this rim is regulated by the thickness
of the plate, and is so arranged that the rim or band will not project beyond the
plate when the cloths is in position on the plunger. The top plate V₁ forming a
portion of band is made so as to be easily removed, and the plate, having the cloth
áttached, is slid into the recess from the top, as shown in Fig. 6. On the inner
side of the lower band are studs or projections T. T. which fit into holes t. t. in the
edge of the plate, and similar studs T¹ T¹ adapted to enter corresponding holes
in the upper edge of the plate, are provided in the upper band V. After the plate is
slid into position in the recess and against the plunger the upper movable band is
replaced and secured by means of the screws shown in the drawing. The studs T
and T entering the corresponding holes t and t, hold the plate in position on the
face of the plunger.
The narrow band V surrounding the plate protects the cloth and edges of the
latter from coming in contact with the sides of the box, as the plunger slides in
and out of the same and thus not only prevents the wear of those parts, but
decreases the friction in the operation of pressing.
By this method of attaching the cloth to the plate and securing the plate on the
press the surface of the plate is made to cover the entire inner face of the box and of
the plunger, thus not only insuring a great extent of drainage surface, but allowing
the plates to come close enough together to completely press the material.
And, moreover, when used on my improved form of boxes, in which the face of
the plunger is held continually within the box the plate can be readily separated
from and attached to the face of the box and of the plunger through the lower and
upper doors respectfully without separating the parts of the press.
The faces F and F of the box and of the plunger may be left plain or may be
provided with vertical grooves or channels, the latter I deem preferable, and the
liquid may be conducted through suitable ducts or channels so as to be discharged
through the central partition or web of the plungers and of the boxes. It will be

page_text: evident that any suitable plate may be used in place of the one shown in the
drawing and described above, and the same advantages of attaching the cloth and
securing the plate in position, whether the plate is grooved and perforated as shown
or otherwise.
When the press is to be used as a filter press, or for pressing material of so soft
or liquid a nature that it can be pumped into the boxes, a hole or passage is made
through the divisions of the boxes and of the plungers, as shown in Fig. 7 so as to
connect the interior of the several boxes with one another. The hole or passage
extends through the plates and filter cloths, and is provided with a thimble or other
device, so as to prevent the material from passing back of the filter cloths, or any-
where but into the boxes. The first box being connected with the pump by means of a
supply pipe, the operation is as follows: The plungers being drawn out to their full
extent, and the top and bottom doors of the boxes closed and secured, the semi-
liquid material is pumped in until the boxes are filled with the solid portion, the
liquid portion having been forced through the filtering cloths and passed off.
When sufficient material has been forced into the boxes, the supply pipe is closed
and the press put in operation. After the material is thoroughly pressed, it is
discharged as before described. Thus with my system of telescoping boxes when
applied to a filter press, after the power of the pump to extract the liquid is
exhausted, I am enabled to continue the process of pressing or filtering, and still
further separate the liquid from the material in the boxes.
My improved arrangement of doors on the upper and lower sides of the boxes,
and improved construction of plate, and method of securing the same on the press
may be used with the ordinary form of single boxes, commonly used on telescopic
presses.
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) In presses for extracting liquids from solid or partially solid matter, the
double box C. constructed substantially as described, and provided with double
plungers P. as and for the purposes set forth.
(2) In presses for extracting liquids from solids or partially solid matter,
telescoping boxes and plungers arranged in a horizontal position and provided
with doors, at the top and bottom, substantially as described, and for the purposes
set forth.
(3) In presses for extracting liquids from solids or partially solid matter, the
double boxes C. provided with doors at the top and bottom substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
(4) In presses for separating liquids from solid or partially solid matters, and
having double boxes the combination with the sliding doors D₁ D' of the rod R
cross pieces N. N¹, racks M. M' and pinion L. substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
(5) In presses for extracting liquids from solids or partially solid matter, the
plate H. grooved and perforated, substantially as described, and for the purposes
set forth.
(6) In presses for extracting liquids from solids or partially solid matter, the
combination with the box of the plate with or without its cloth attached to the
box by the set screws S. S. substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
(7) In presses for extracting liquids from solids or partially solid matter the
combination with the plunger, provided with the rim or band V. V' of the plate
and cloth, attached to the plunger by the studs T. and T substantially as described.
(8) In presses for extracting liquids from solids or partially solid matter the
plunger P. having a rim or band around its face, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
(9) In presses for separating liquids from semi-fluid matter telescoping boxes
connecting with each other by a passage through which the material can be forced
into all the boxes by a numb. for the purposes set forth.

page_text: (10) In presses for extracting liquids from semi-fluid matter, the double boxes C.
and double plunger P., substantially as described, provided with a passage through
the same by which the material can be forced into all the boxes by means of a
pump, as and for the purposes set forth.