IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH FILTER PRESSES to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: We JAMES ARTHUR DRAKE and RICHARD MUIRHEAD both of Maidstone, Kent,
Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH FILTER PRESSES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to certain detail improvements in and connected with
filter presses whereby the filtering media are made more than usually efficient by
forcing the liquor from sewage sludge or other body being filtered through a
thickness of fibrous material forming the surface of the plates or discs to the edges
thereof, the liquor escaping into grooves formed between the edges of the discs or
plates and overlapping edges of rings which also serve as distancing pieces to
determine the thickness of the cakes or slabs of material from which the liquor
has been filtered.
The filtering medium is composed of coir .or like fibre, in spun or rope form,
interlaced, wound, or otherwise applied to the surface or surfaces of the metal
plates; which may be recessed, slotted or otherwise provided with means by which
the coir or like fibrous body in spun or rope form can be secured or held thereto.
We prefer to slot the metal plates and to lace or rove the coir or like fibrous
rope through said slots and over the outer edge so that both sides of the plate are
covered completely with the exception of a central hole through which the charge
to be filtered is admitted.
The rope being applied radially from the centre to the edge forms by the
combination of fibres a series of capillary tubes or passages by which the water or
liquor can pass under pressure to the outer edges of the discs.
The coir or like fibrous rope may be made in mat form so as to be affixed to said
plates. The adjoining layers of coir or like fibrous rope are squeezed under pressure
or hammered so as to bring them into close contact and produce an even thickness
and a level surface or nearly so.
The intercepting or distancing rings are made with fillets which overlap the
fillets of the adjoining rings and so break joint to prevent the filtrate from squirting
out at that part.
Between the edges of the filtering discs and the inner surfaces of the fillets and the
projecting parts of the distancing rings, channels are formed into which the liquor

page_text: filtered from the sludge (filtrate) can pass and flow to the lower part into a trough
or receptacle to be afterwards operated upon or be allowed to flow away according
to its character.
The discs according to our invention are entirely enclosed within the press
when the distancing rings are in position and these rings bear directly upon the
coir or like fibrous surface of the plates at or near their perypheries by screw
pressure.
The other parts of the press are of the ordinary and well known description.
The filtering medium may be of other than disc or round form so as to suit the
shape of the press.

page_text: We JAMES ARTHUR DRAKE and RICHARD MUIRHEAD both of Maidstone, Kent,
Mechanical Engineers, 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 certain detail improvements in and connected with
filter presses, whereby the filtering media are made more than usually efficient by
forcing the liquor from sewage, sludge, slurry or other semi-fluid body being filtered
through a considerable thickness of fibrous material forming the surface of the
filter plates or discs to the edges thereof, the liquor escaping into channels formed
between the outer edges of the discs or plates and the overlapping fillets, or flanges
of the intermediate rings or cells which serve as distancing pieces to determine
the thickness of the cakes or slabs of solid material from which the liquor has been
filtered.
The filtering medium is composed of coir, bass, or like fibre in spun, plaited,
woven or rope form interlaced, wound, or otherwise applied in a notable quantity
to the surface or surfaces of metal plates which may be either plain, or recessed,
slotted or otherwise provided with means by which the coir, bass, or like fibrous
body in spun, plaited, woven, or rope form can be secured or held thereto.
Our invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal elevation, partly in section.
Figures 2 and 3 represent filter plates showing different methods of applying the
coir, or filtering material and Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sections showing two
modifications of Figure 3.
.
When the coir, bass, or like fibrous material is applied in the form of rope A we
make in the metal plates B B, slots C C and wind, lace, or rove the coir, bass, or
like fibrous material in rope or spun form through said slots C C as shown by
Figure 2 and over the outer edge D so that both sides of the plate B are covered,
with the exception of a central hole E which provides communication between
the various cells and through which the charge to be filtered is admitted in the
usual way.
The rope being applied radially from the centre to the circumference forms by
the combination and arrangement of its fibres a series of capillary tubes or passages
through which the water or other liquid can pass under pressure to the outer edges
of the discs, but the capillary tubes, pores, passages and interstices being very small
and also tortuous the solid matter contained in the sludge, slurry, or other semi-
fluid to be filtered cannot pass through them and is consequently left behind in the
form of a cake, or cakes on the surface or surfaces of the filtering material.
The coir, bass, or like fibrous material may be previously woven, plaited, sewn,
or otherwise made into mat form so as to be applied or affixed either in one or
more pieces, layers, or thicknesses to one or more plates as shown by Figures 3, 4,
and 5. When so applied the mats A-A are preferably secured or attached to the
filter plates by means of rings F F on each side held together by bolts G G
passed through the whole (as shown by Figures 3, 4, and 5,) or other equivalent
ineans.
KUNS

page_text: In some cases we first cover a plate with spun coir, bass or like fibre in rope
form, as in Figure 2, and then over that apply a mat of the same or similar suitable
material and secure the whole together by rings and bolts as a modification or
combination of the arrangements shown by the drawings, the object in all cases
being to provide a considerable thickness or body of the fibrous material so that
there shall be a sufficient number of the very small capillary tubes, pores, passages,
and interstices to carry off the liquid rapidly when the pressure is applied.
In making the mats, or in winding the rope on to the plates, the adjoining
layers, plies, or strands of the fibrous material are squeezed by pressure or are
hammered up so as to bring them into close contact and produce an even thickness
and a level surface, or nearly so.
"
The intermediate rings, cells or distancing frames H H are made of larger
diameter than the filter plates and have lateral fillets, flanges, or projections I I,
Figure 1, which overlap and break joint" with the corresponding fillets or pro-
jections J J on the other sides of the adjoining rings and by thus overlapping not
only do they entirely enclose the filter plates and so prevent the filtrate from
being squirted out in all directions beyond the press-which, when sewage is being
filtered is very objectionable-but by this arrangement, channels K K are formed
into which the filtrate will pass and flow, or be conducted round to the lower part
of the press and escape thence through an opening, or openings into a trough or
receptacle in order to be afterwards operated upon or be allowed to flow away
according to its character.
Thus, although according to our invention, the filtrate exudes from the pores of
the filtering discs at all parts of their outer circumferences moving in the direction
of the arrows shown on the drawings yet the discs themselves and the liquor
coming from them are entirely concealed within the press when the distancing
rings are in position for work, as shown in Figure 1.
When in use these rings bear directly upon the coir, bass, or like fibrous surface
of the filtering discs at or near their peripheries and the whole series forming
filter press are held firmly together by screw or other pressure..
The other parts of the press are of the ordinary and well known description.
The filter plates and filtering media may be of other than disc or circular form
so as to suit the shape of any press.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. The improvements in and connected with filter presses hereinbefore
described and substantially as shown on the annexed drawings.
Secondly. In a filter press the construction and arrangement of recessed or
slotted metal plates or discs to the surface or surfaces of which coir or like fibrous
material in spun or rope form is interlaced, wound or otherwise radially applied
for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly. The arrangement of recessed or slotted plates in combination with
distancing rings which bear directly upon the fibrous surface of said plates and are
provided with fillets which overlap fillets of the adjacent rings, and form channels
into which the filtered liquor can pass substantially as described and shown at
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings.