Horizontal vacuum belt filter machine

In a horizontal vacuum belt filter machine of the type comprising a frame, spaced apart drum means journaled to the frame at opposite ends thereof, endless belt means mounted on the drum means having an upper horizontal path of travel and comprising a plurality of separate longitudinally aligned endless belt segments, an endless filter medium supported upon the endless belt means in the area of the upper horizontal path of travel, and suction means beneath the upper horizontal path of travel cooperating with the endless belt means and the filter medium for withdrawing liquid from slurry-like material deposited upon the filter medium, the improvement being characterized by the separate endless belt segments each including edge portions recessed for overlapping sealing engagement with the recessed edge portion of an adjacent belt segment to form a leak resistant joint therebetween along the horizontal path of travel, the overlapping joint additionally acting by frictional cooperation to minimize relative longitudinal slippage between adjacent belt segments as they travel along the horizontal path.