# US 2019/0314742 A1 · Discharge filter plate assembly for filter press > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0314742 A1 - Document ID: US20190314742A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/381,435 - Filed: 2019-04-11 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-11 - Inventors: Sean R. Duby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314742A1 ## CPC - B01D 25/164: Chamber-plate presses, i.e. the sides of the filtering elements being clamped between two successive filtering plates (B01D25/127, B01D25/172, B01D25/176, B01D25/19 take precedence) - B01D 25/32: Removal of the filter cakes - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A filter plate assembly for a filter press is provided. The filter plate assembly includes at least a first filter plate and a second filter plate, which cooperate to define a filter chamber when the first filter plate and the second filter plate are in a filtering position. At least one of the first filter plate and the second filter plate is movable from the filtering position to a discharge position in which a filter cake can be discharged. In other configurations, the filter plate assembly can include a first filter plate, a second filter plate and a center filter plate or frame, which cooperate to define a filter chamber. The center filter plate or frame is movable from a filtering position to a discharge position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filter plate assembly, comprising: a first filter plate; and a second filter plate; wherein the first filter plate and the second filter plate have a filtering position in which the plates are aligned within one another along an operational axis and cooperate to define a filter chamber; wherein the first filter plate is movable out of alignment with the second filter plate and away from the operational axis to a discharge position in which filter cake can be discharged from a portion of the filter chamber defined by the at least one of the first filter plate and the second filter plate. ### Claim 2 A filter plate assembly, comprising: a first filter plate having a first side surface comprising a first cavity; and a second filter plate having a second side surface comprising a second cavity; wherein the first filter plate and the second filter plate have a filtering position in which the plates are aligned within one another along an operational axis and the first cavity and the second cavity cooperate to define a filter chamber; wherein at least one of the first filter plate and the second filter plate is movable away from the operational axis and out of the filtering position to a discharge position in which filter cake within the respective one of the filter cavity and the second filter cavity can be discharged. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The filter plate assembly of claim 2, further comprising a force generator configured to exert a force to hold the movable plate in the filtering position or return the movable plate to the filtering position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The filter plate assembly of claim 3, wherein the force generator is a pneumatic cylinder which utilizes a compressed gas as its operating fluid, a hydraulic cylinder that utilizes an incompressible fluid, an electric cylinder, or a screw jack. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The filter plate assembly of claim 2, wherein, in the discharge position, a portion or all of the movable plate is located outside of a space bounded by side edges of the other of the first filter plate and the second filter plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The filter plate assembly of claim 2, further comprising a first sprayer assembly attached to the movable plate at a location outside of the cavity, the first sprayer assembly connected to a wash fluid source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The filter plate assembly of claim 6, wherein the first sprayer assembly is configured to direct a spray of wash fluid toward at least one of the other of the first and second filter plates and a filter plate adjacent an opposite side of the movable plate from the other of the first and second filter plates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The filter plate assembly of claim 2, further comprising a second sprayer assembly attached to the movable plate, the second sprayer assembly connected to a wash fluid source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The filter plate assembly of claim 8, wherein the second sprayer assembly is configured to direct a spray of wash fluid in a direction opposite the first sprayer assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The filter plate assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one support structure that movably supports the movable plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The filter plate assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one support structure comprises a first side track and a second side track located on opposite sides of the movable plate. ### Claim 12 A filter plate assembly, comprising: a first filter plate having a first side surface; a second filter plate having a second side surface; a center plate having an outer surface and an interior region, said center plate configured to be movable between an aligned position and a separated position relative to the first filter plate and the second filter plate, wherein in said aligned position the center plate is held in place between the first side surface and the second side surface, and wherein in said separated position the first filter plate and the second filter plate separate from the center plate a distance, said distance permitting the center plate to drop or move toward or to the separated position, whereupon particulate cake is discharged from the interior region of the center plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The filter plate assembly of claim 12, further comprising a force generator configured to exert a force to hold the center plate in place between the first side surface and the second side surface in said aligned position or return the center plate to the aligned position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The filter plate assembly of claim 13, wherein the force generator is a pneumatic cylinder which utilizes a compressed gas as its operating fluid, a hydraulic cylinder that utilizes an incompressible fluid, an electric cylinder, or a screw jack. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The filter plate assembly of claim 14, wherein said separated position is attained when the compressed gas is released from the pneumatic cylinder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The filter plate assembly of claim 12, wherein, in the separated position, a portion or all of the center plate is located below a first bottom surface of the first filter plate and a second bottom surface of the second filter plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The filter plate assembly of claim 12, further comprising a first sprayer assembly attached to the outer surface of the center plate, said first sprayer assembly connected to a wash fluid source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The filter plate assembly of claim 17, wherein the first sprayer assembly is configured to direct a spray of wash fluid toward at least one of said first side surface and said second side surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The filter plate assembly of claim 12, further comprising a second sprayer assembly attached to the outer surface of the center plate, said second sprayer assembly connected to a wash fluid source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The filter plate assembly of claim 19, wherein the second sprayer assembly is configured to direct a spray of wash fluid toward at least one of said first side surface and said second side surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The filter plate assembly of claim 12, further comprising at least one support structure that movably supports the center plate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The filter plate assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one support structure comprises a first side track and a second side track located on opposite sides of the center plate.