Filter press and washer for filter plate apparatus

A horizontal filter press having a plurality of filter plate assemblies supported by side bars, and a track;

• the horizontal filter press further comprising a washer carriage;
• the washer carriage being movably supported on the track and comprising a washer unit for washing the filter plate assemblies;
• the washer unit comprising:
• a wash water manifold which receives wash water via an inlet;
• the inlet being configured to be connected to a pressurized source of wash water;
• a plurality of reels that are each configured to store, deploy, and retract a flexible hose;
• at least one spray bar configured for lowering between two of the filter plate assemblies and being fluidly coupled to first and second flexible hoses by a hydraulic fitting;
• the spray bar being further configured with openings which are configured to deliver the wash water towards surface portions of the filter plate assemblies;
• wherein a first end of the spray bar fluidly communicates with the first flexible hose;
• wherein a second end of the spray bar fluidly communicates with the second flexible hose;
• wherein the washer unit is configured such that spooling the first and second flexible hoses onto respective first and second ones of said plurality of reels raises a location of the spray bar with respect to the filter plate assemblies;
• wherein the washer unit is configured such that spooling the first and second flexible hoses from the respective first and second ones of said plurality of reels lowers a location of the spray bar with respect to the filter plate assemblies;
• wherein in a standby configuration, the first and second flexible hoses are wrapped around said respective first and second ones of said plurality of reels;
• wherein in a wash configuration, the first and second flexible hoses are at least partially unwrapped from said respective first and second ones of said plurality of reels.