Heating plate for vacuum filter press

A filter press comprising:

• a frame including an elongate rail structure;
• first and second head assemblies supported on said rail structure adjacent respective opposite ends thereof, said head assemblies being relatively movable to permit opening and closing of said press;
• a plate arrangement including a plurality of individual plates supported on said rail structure between said first and second head assemblies, said plurality of plates being disposed in a generally horizontally extending closed stack and clampingly held between said first and second head assemblies when said press is in a closed position;
• said plurality of plates comprising a plurality of first plates each including a frame having a pair of oppositely disposed faces, a peripheral portion, and a central portion which is recessed inwardly with respect to said peripheral portion, a pair of liquid impermeable and flexible membranes fixed to said frame and extending across the respective opposite faces thereof to define respective pressure chambers between said central portion and the respective membranes;
• and
• said plurality of plates comprising a plurality of second plates each including a frame having a pair of oppositely disposed faces, a peripheral portion, and a central portion, a pair of heat transfer members disposed within said central portion, said heat transfer members being disposed sidewardly inwardly relative to said peripheral portion of said second plate, said central portion of said second plate defining therein a chamber which communicates with a supply of heated fluid and is disposed to bring the heated fluid within said chamber into contact with respective inner surfaces of said heat transfer members;
• said first and second plates being disposed in an alternating manner along said rail structure in adjacent sealing contact with one another in said closed position of said press to define respective filter chambers therebetween for filtering and collecting solids from a slurry entering the respective filter chambers, each said filter chamber being defined on one side by a said membrane of a said first plate and on the opposite side by a said heat transfer member of a said second plate, and said pressure chambers communicating with a fluid source to expand said membranes of said first plates towards the respective adjacent second plates.