Filter apparatus and method using belt filter medium

A method for separating solid materials from liquid materials in a fluid slurry material employing a filter apparatus having separable chamber plate members with mating peripheral sidewalls and a belt filter medium positionable between said chamber plate members at said peripheral sidewalls and within said chamber created by said chamber plate members, said sidewalls having internal grooves along their mating perimeter faces, said internal grooves being adapted to be separately pressurized, the steps comprising:

• a) positioning said belt filter medium within said chamber plate members and between said perimeter faces, guiding said chamber plate members to align said internal grooves in said mating perimeter faces, and closing said plate members against each other under pressure to seal said chamber and said internal grooves in said perimeter faces,
• b) applying a pressurized gas to said internal grooves of said sidewalls so as to create a differential pressure between the groove in one of said separable chamber plate members with respect to the pressure in the groove of the other of said separable plate members,
• c) filling said chamber with said fluid slurry material,
• d) interrupting said filling with said fluid slurry material and applying a pressurized fluid to said filter chamber while said fluid slurry material is in said chamber to force fluids from said fluid slurry material while retaining solid materials of said fluid slurry material within said chamber and on said belt filter medium,
• e) removing said pressurized gas from said sidewall internal grooves and removing said pressurized fluid from said filter chamber, and separating said chamber plate members to open said filter chamber,
• f) moving said belt filter medium from between said separated filter plate members to remove said retained solid materials from said filter apparatus, removing said retained solid materials from said belt filter medium, and
• g) repeating steps a) through f).

A filter apparatus for pressure filtering fluid slurry materials containing liquid and solid materials in a filter chamber and for creating a substantially dry filter cake of said solid materials, said apparatus having mechanical means for opening and closing said filter chamber and for maintaining said chamber closed and under pressure during filtering operations and for opening said chamber after filtering has been completed, said apparatus comprising:

• A) means establishing said filter chamber, said means including
• a) a support frame including:
• i) a lower strongback member,
• ii) upright tension columns joined to said lower strongback member,
• iii) an upper strongback member joined to said tension columns,
• iv) said lower strongback member, tension columns and upper strongback member creating an open interior portion within said support frame
• b) an upper plate member operatively attached to said upper strongback member,
• c) a lower plate member operatively attached to said lower strongback member,
• d) said upper and lower plate members having recessed portions and peripheral sidewalls defining respective chamber areas,
• e) a mechanical drive means for producing relative movement of said upper plate member with respect to said upper strongback member,
• f) said relative movement of said upper plate member with respect to said upper strongback causing said peripheral sidewalls of said upper and lower plate members to become mated under pressure and to form said filter chamber by mating said recessed portions,
• g) guide means on at least one of said upper and lower plate and alignment guide rod means on said upright tension columns cooperating with said guide means during said relative movement between said upper and lower plate members to sense alignment and engagement of said peripheral sidewalls,
• B) entry port means into said upper plate member for passage of fluid material including said fluid slurry material into said recessed portion of said upper plate member,
• C) exit port means from said lower plate member for passage of fluid materials from said recessed portion of said lower plate member,
• E) a grate member within said recessed portion of said lower plate member,
• F) a porous belt filter medium positioned between said upper and lower plate members within said open interior portion and contacting said grate within said open interior portion and contacting said grate within said lower plate member, said belt filter medium having lateral dimensions at least as large as the largest lateral dimensions of said peripheral sidewalls of said upper and lower plate members, said belt filter medium being positioned and aligned to be pressed between said pressure engaged sidewalls of said upper and lower plate members and on said grate when said upper and lower plates mate to form said filter chamber,
• G) belt drive means for positioning and removing said belt filter medium from between said upper and lower plate members through said open interior portion when said upper and lower plates are separated,
• H) means for passing fluids including said fluid slurry material into said entry port means of said upper plate member,
• I) and control means
• a) for controlling said belt drive means,
• b) for controlling said mechanical means for producing relative movement of said upper plate member with respect to said upper strongback member,
• c) for maintaining said mechanical engagement of said upper and lower plate members under pressure, and
• d) for controlling passing of fluids including said fluid slurry material into said entry port means,
• whereby fluids from said fluid slurry material entering said entry port means are passed through said chamber and said belt filter medium and exit through said exit port means while solids in said fluid slurry material are retained in said chamber on said belt filter medium until said upper and lower plate members are separated, said solids being formed as a substantially dry filter cake and being removed from said chamber with said belt filter medium after said plate members are separated, and said substantially dry filter cake being removed from said belt filter medium after said belt filter medium is removed from between said upper and lower plate members.