Filter press

In a filter press which includes a generally horizontal series of vertical filter plates and means supporting said plates for movement between filtering positions in which the plates are compressed together as a pack, and cleaning positions in which at least some of the plates are separated from the remainder of the plates, the filter plates in said filtering position defining filter chambers between the plates in which solids accumulate as filter cake when the press is in use;

• the improvement comprising:
• each said filter plate being generally planar, having opposite side faces and top and bottom ends, and forming part of a filter plate assembly further comprising a stop bar disposed generally in the plane of said filter plate and spaced from one of said ends of the plate, means biassing the filter plate away from said bar towards a rest position, and respective filter cloths extending over the side faces of the filter plate and each having a first end which is fixed with respect to the bar and a second end which is fixed with respect to the plate so that the filter cloth is under tension when the plate is in said rest position;
• and,
• means for simultaneously and repeatedly displacing at least a group of said filter plates that are in said cleaning positions towards the respective bars of said filter plate assemblies, the plates returning under the effect of said biassing means so that tension in the filter cloth is alternately relaxed and restored, for dislodging filter cake from the filter cloths.

A filter press comprising:

• a frame having first and second end members and a pair of generally horizontal side bars extending between said end members in horizontally spaced positions;
• a series of filter plates;
• means supporting said plates on said side bars in generally vertical orientation for movement between filtering positions in which the plates are compressed together as a pack, and positions in which at least some of the plates are separated from the remainder of the plates for removal of filter cake from the separated plates, the filter plates in said filtering positions defining filter chambers between the plates in which filter cake accumulates in use;
• inlet means for delivering to said chambers a feed solution to be filtered;
• filtrate outlet means from said chambers;
• press closure means operable to maintain the filter plates in said filtering positions during filtration and releasable to permit at least some of the plates to be separated for removal of filter cake, said closure means comprising a closing head;
• means supporting said closing head between said side rails of the frame for movement towards and away from said filter plates, for compressing said plates against a first one of said frame end members, an intermediate carriage, means supporting said intermediate carriage between said side rails for movement along said rails between a second one of said frame end members and said closing head, and first and second cylinder and ram units, one coupled directly between said intermediate carriage and said closing head and the other coupled between said intermediate carriage and said second frame end member, for together permitting extended travel of said carriage with respect to said second end member, wherein said first cylinder and ram unit includes a cylinder carried by said intermediate head and a ram coupled to said closing head, and wherein said second cylinder and ram unit comprises a pair of cylinder and ram units, each including a cylinder carried by said intermediate carriage, and a ram coupled to said second frame end member, said first cylinder and ram unit being disposed on a longitudinal center line of said intermediate carriage, and said pair of cylinder and ram units being disposed symmetrically and on opposite sides of said longitudinal center line.