Diaphragm type cake compressor for filter presses

For use in a recessed plate type filter press that includes a plurality of recessed plates operably disposed between a fixed end plate and a movable end plate, with said plates being of like corresponding quadrilaterial marginal configuration, with said recessed plates each defining a slurry feed port, a filtrate outlet means, and a wash inlet means, with each said recessed plate being shaped to define a planar packing surfacing on either side of same and recessing between said packing surfacing and the slurry feed port that is in fluid flow communication with said filtrate outlet means, with filter sheeting material being applied over either side of each plate, and with the filter sheeting material of each plate on either side of same being coupled together through the slurry feed port, and means for closing said movable end plate and said recessed plates against the fixed plate with said recessed plate slurry feed ports aligned for supplying the slurry to the cake chamber formed by each pair of adjacent recessed plates about the slurry feed ports thereof for filtering the slurry through the filter sheeting material that is disposed on either side of the respective cake chambers for providing filtrate liquid flow to said filtrate outlet means,

• a cake compressor therefor for operative position application across a recessed plate defined cake chamber formed by a predetermined pair of the adjacent recessed plates, in bisecting relation to such cake chamber, and between such predetermined pair of recessed plates and the filter sheeting material of the respective plates of such predetermined pair of plates on the confronting sides of same,
• said cake compressor comprising:
• a planar panel of quadrilateral marginal configuration having oppositely facing side faces on either side of same,
• with each side face having a continuous marginal portion about the rim of the panel corresponding in configuration to the panel marginal configuration,
• said panel marginal configuration conforming to said marginal configuration of said plates,
• and with each said panel side face including its marginal portion being planar and coplanar with the plane of said panel,
• said panel being formed at a site spaced from said face marginal portions thereof with a slurry feed through opening that is positioned to be aligned with said slurry feed ports of the respective recessed plates when said compressor is applied to said such chamber,
• said panel configuration defining corner portions at the upper and lower ends of the panel,
• with at least one panel corner portion defining a filtrate passing aperture and with at least one other panel corner portion defining a wash passing aperture,
• said filtrate passing aperture and said wash passing aperture of said panel being positioned to be aligned with said filtrate outlet means and said wash inlet means of said recessed plants, respectively, when said compressor is applied to said such cake chamber,
• a pair of elastomeric membranes for said panel and each said membrane having a quadrilateral configuration approximating that of said panel whereby said membranes each having a marginal configuration thereabout that approximates the marginal configuration of said panel faces,
• with one of said panel membranes being disposed against one face of said panel and the other of said panel membranes being disposed against the other face of said panel,
• and with said panel membranes being bonded to said panel continuously about the respective marginal portions of said panel faces, to define a continuous static seal thereabout,
• said panel membranes being coupled together through and about said slurry feed through opening in sealed relation thereto to define a slurry feed port through said compressor having a continuous annular seal thereabout,
• said panel membranes being bonded to said panel faces in sealed relation thereto about said panel apertures to define aperture seals for each membrane about the respective panel apertures,
• said panel membranes being apertured in alignment with the respective apertures of said panel to define through the compressor a filtrate passing opening and a wash passing opening respectively positioned to be aligned with said filtrate outlet means and said inlet means, respectively, when said compressor is applied to said such chamber,
• said panel membranes each defining a portion of same between said annular seal and said static seal, to the exclusion of said aperture seals, that is free to deflect and distend laterally thereof and away from the panel face opposing same, to form a cake compressing diaphragm portion on either side of said panel,
• said panel and said side faces thereof being substantially coextensive with and being disposed between said portions of said membranes,
• said panel including means for supplying fluid under pressure between its said faces and said membrane diaphragm portions for inflating said membrane diaphragm portions into cake compressing relation with the cake when said compressor is applied to said such chamber and such cake is formed between same and the filter sheeting of said such chamber confronting same.