Apparatus for extracting solids from slurry

An apparatus for separating solids from a slurry suspension of solids and liquid, including a container adapted to hold a quantity of the slurry suspension, said apparatus comprising:

• a cylindrical sieve rotatably mounted to said container, said sieve being adapted to permit passage therethrough of the liquid while substantially retaining the solids on a surface thereof while being partially immersed in the slurry;
• means within said cylindrical sieve defining a stationary first reduced pressure chamber within said cylindrical sieve for applying suction to a zone on the interior side of said sieve, said interior zone being at least partially within that part of the circumference of said sieve most deeply immersed in the slurry;
• means for feeding said slurry suspension to a corresponding zone on the exterior side of said sieve, whereby the solids are urged against said corresponding zone of said sieve and the liquid is urged to flow through said sieve to the interior thereof;
• means within said cylindrical sieve defining a second chamber angularly spaced from said first chamber, said second chamber defining means being at least partially formed as a trough;
• conveyance means comprising a plurality of liquid collection and transport means spaced around the circumference of said sieve and extending generally inwardly from the inner surface of said sieve, said liquid collection and transport means being arranged to collect some of the liquid when said liquid collection and transport means are adjacent said interior zone and being arranged to discharge at least some of the thus collected liquid onto said trough when said liquid collection and transport means are moved toward said second chamber to a position removed from adjacent said interior zone;
• sealing means whereby reduced pressure may be substantially maintained in said first reduced chamber notwithstanding transportation of liquid therefrom by said liquid collection and transport means.