Filter assembly with filter media retrieval

A filter assembly, comprising:

• multiple sheets of filter media each having a first filtration surface and a second surface;
• a filter stack module of multiple filter chambers each having separable parallel plate means for receiving one of the sheets of filter media therebetween;
• a filter media supply module for introducing the sheets of filter media at one side of the respective filter chambers;
• a separator module means including a separator means for separating filter cake solids from the sheet of filter media;
• the filter stack, filter media supply, and separator modules being compactly arranged in-line with each other to form a straight-line path for the filter media as viewed from a direction normal to the first or second surfaces of the sheet of filter media, and to define an initial forward direction of travel along the straight-line path from the supply module, to the filter stack module, and toward the separator module;
• the separator means including, for each filter chamber, a first roller means contacting a portion of the respective second sheet surface and extending perpendicularly across the straight-line path of the filter media for first reversing its initial forward direction of travel and tending to cause separation of the filter cake solids from the filter media, a second roller means contacting a portion of the respective first sheet surface and positioned along the first reversed direction of travel while extending perpendicularly across the straight-line path of the filter media for again reversing its first reversed direction of travel to the initial forward direction of travel, and a conveyor means lateral to the straight-line path of the filter media and adjacent the portion of the first sheet surface contacting the first roller means for receiving and transferring the separated filter cake solids to a collection point;
• and
• means for extracting the sheets of filter media from an opposite side of each filter chamber.

A filter assembly comprising:

• multiple sheets of filter media each having a first filtration surface and a second surface;
• a filter stack module of multiple filter chambers each having separable parallel plate means for receiving one of the sheets of filter media therebetween;
• a filter media supply module for introducing the sheets of filter media at one side of the respective filter chambers;
• a separator module including a separator means for separating filter cake solids from the spent portion of the sheet of filter media;
• the filter stack, filter media supply, and separator modules being compactly arranged in-line with each other to form a straight-line path for the filter media as viewed from a direction normal to the first or second surfaces of the sheet of filter media, and to define an initial forward direction of travel along the straight-line path from the supply module, to the filter stack module, and toward the separator module;
• the separator means including, for each filter chamber, a first roller means contacting a portion of the respective second sheet surface and extending across the straight-line path of the filter media for first reversing its initial direction of travel and tending to cause separation of the filter cake solids from the filter media, a second roller means contacting a portion of the respective first sheet surface and positioned along the first reversed direction of travel while extending across the filter media in its first reversed direction of travel for again reversing its first reversed direction of travel to the initial forward direction of travel, and a conveyor means lateral to the straight-line path of the filter media and adjacent the portion of the first sheet surface contacting the first roller means for receiving and transferring the separated filter cake solids to a collection point, the first and second rollers are substantially parallel with each other and slightly angled to form a reverse travel portion of the filter media path which is angularly offset from the forward direction of travel of the filter media path;
• and
• means for extracting the sheets of filter media from an opposite side of each filter chamber.