Patent ID: 6871744

Claim:
Apparatus for electrodewatering and recovery of solid material from a solid-liquid mixture, the apparatus having: (a) a conveyor belt adapted for receiving the solid-liquid mixture thereon and for receiving an electric charge; (b) an element positioned in juxtaposition to the conveyor belt and adapted for receiving an opposite electric charge to the conveyor belt; (c) an electrical system for establishing an electric field by applying the electric charge and the opposite electric charge; (d) means for moving the element in juxtaposition with the conveyor belt to apply a continuous compressive force to the mixture between the conveyor belt and the element while the conveyor belt is moving; (e) the conveyor belt having a plurality of discrete, flexible, electrically conductive segments permeable to the liquid and for receiving the electric charge, the segments being located on or within the conveyor belt such that liquid can pass through the segments; and (f) the electrical system having means for applying the opposite electric charge separately to individual ones of said conductive segments whereby during the motion of the conveyor belt, liquid is urged from the mixture through the segments under the influence of the compressive force and the electric field.