Rotary drum vacuum filter

Claim 1

A ROTARY DRUM VACUUM FILTER FOR SUBDIVIDING A PRIMARY FILTRATE STREAM AND A WASH FILTRATE STREAM INCLUDING A TANK, FILTER DRUM AND SEGMENTED CELLS AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A VALVE SEAT INTEGRAL WITH SAID DRUM AND HAVING OPENINGS INCLUDING A FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS, SAID FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS BEING ARRANGED ON A CIRCLE ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID VALVE SEAT; (B) A FIRST CONDUIT MEANS PROVIDED WITHIN SAID DRUM BETWEEN SAID CELLS AND SAID FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS TO PROVIDE FLUID COMMUNICATION THEREBETWEEN; (C) A STATIONARY VALVE HOUSING POSITIONED AGAINST SAID VALVE SEAT AND HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN INCLUDING A PRIMARY FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS AND WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS, SAID PRIMARY AND WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS BEING ARRANGED ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID VALVE HOUSING, SAID FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS OF SAID VALVE SEAT BEING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE PRIMARY AND WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS OF SAID VALVE HOUSING AT VARIOUS POSITIONS OF SAID VALVE SEAT WITH RESPECT TO SAID VALVE HOUSING; (D) A CONTROL CYLINDER HAVING A FIRST WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS AND A SECOND WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS AND A PLURALITY OF WASH FILTRATE INLET MEANS ARRANGED ALONG SAID CYLINDER, SAID PLURALITY OF WASH FILTRATE INLET MEANS OF SAID CYLINDER BEING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS OF SAID VALVE HOUSING; (E) A PISTON POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CONTROL CYLINDER BETWEEN SAID FIRST WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS AND SECOND WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS AND CAPABLE OF BEING MOVED WITHIN SAID CYLINDER FROM OUTSIDE OF SAID CYLINDER WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON ALTERS THE RATIO OF WASH FILTRATE BEING RESPECTIVELY WITHDRAWN FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS OF SAID CONTROL CYLINDER, AND (F) MEANS TO MOVE SAID PISTON WITHIN SAID CYLINDER TO CHANGE SAID RATIO OF WASH FILTRATE OUTLET MEANS.