Filter leaf

Claim 2

A filter segment for a disc filter, comprising a pair of sidewalls oppositely disposed in spaced relationship to include adjacent side faces and remote side faces, said adjacent side faces having drainage duct means therebetween, said sidewalls each including a plurality of elongated portions offset from adjacent portions thereof, said elongated offset portions each bounding an elongated recess in one of the side faces of their sidewall, said elongated offset portions being along their lengths spaced from there adjacent portions of their sidewalls to provide elongated drainage passages through the thicknesses of such sidewalls between said elongated offset portions and said there adjacent portions, and said elongated drainage passages communicating with said drainage duct means for draining filtrate thereto.

Claim 3

A filter segment according to claim 1, wherein said offset portions each slope downwardly towards their respective drainage passage for facilitating filtrate flow therethrough.

Claim 4

A filter segment according to claim 1, wherein said elongated offset portions and said elongated drainage passages longitudinally extend transversely of said sidewalls, said drainage passages are along the sides of said offset portions most adjacent to a single end of the filter segment, and said offset portions slope downwardly towards their respective drainage passages.

Claim 5

A filter segment for a disc filter including a hub, comprising a base adapted for connection to the hub and including passage means for discharging filtrate from the filter segment, a pair of sidewalls connected to said base and extending longitudinally from said base in opposed spaced relationship such that said sidewalls include adjacent side faces and remote side faces, said adjacent side faces having therebetween drainage duct means and said drainage duct means communicating with said passage means for draining filtrate thereto, said sidewalls each including a plurality of elongated portions recessed from adjacent portions thereof, said elongated recessed portions extending inwardly in the space between said sidewalls and each providing an elongated recess in the remote side face of their sidewall, said elongated recessed portions being along their lengths spaced from there adjacent portions of their sidewalls to provide elongated drainage passages through the thicknesses of said sidewalls between each said elongated recessed portion and said there adjacent portion and said elongated drainage passages communicating with said drainage duct means for draining filtrate thereto.

Claim 6

A filter segment for a disc filter including a hub, comprising a base adapted for connection to the hub and including passage means for discharging filtrate from the filter segment, a pair of sidewalls connected to said base and extending longitudinally from said base in opposed spaced relationship such that said sidewalls include adjacent side faces and remote side faces, said adjacent side faces having therebetween drainage duct means and said drainage duct means communicating with said passage means for draining filtrate thereto, said sidewalls each including a plurality of elongated portions recessed from adjacent portions thereof, said elongated recessed portions extending inwardly in the space between said sidewalls and each providing an elongated recess in the remote side face of their sidewall, said elongated recessed portions being along their lengths spaced from there adjacent portions of their sidewalls to provide elongated drainage passages through the thicknesses of said sidewalls between each said elongated recessed portion and said there adjacent portion and said elongated drainage passages communicating with said drainage duct means for draining filtrate thereto.

Claim 7

A filter segment according to claim 4, wherein said recessed portions each longitudinally extend laterally to the longitudinal axis of their sidewall, and said recessed portions each slope downwardly towards their drainage passage for facilitating filtrate flow therethrough.

Claim 8

A filter segment according to claim 5, wherein said drainage passages are at the sides of said recessed portions most adjacent to said base.

Claim 9

A filter segment according to claim 6, wherein said sidewalls each have integral flow barriers which extend along the peripheral edges of the space between said sidewalls, adjacent flow barriers of said sidewalls being connected in overlapping relation for closing such peripheral edges.

Claim 10

A filter segment for a disc filter including a hub, comprising a base adapted for connection to the hub and containing passage means for discharging filtrate from the filter segment, a pair of sidewalls unitary with said base and extending longitudinally from said base in opposed spaced relationship such that said sidewalls include adjacent side faces and remote side faces, said adjacent side faces having drainage duct means therebetween and said drainage duct means communicating with said passage means for draining filtrate thereto, said sidewalls each including a plurality of louvered openings providing drainage passages through their thicknesses in communication with said drainage duct means for draining filtrate thereto, the louvers for said openings extending transversely of said sidewalls and projecting from the latter inwardly in the therebetween space towards said base to locate said drainage passages at the sides of said louvers most adjacent to said base, and said louvers sloping downwardly towards their respective drainage passages and towards said base to facilitate filtrate flow through said drainage passages in a direction towards said base.

Claim 11

A filter segment for a disc filter including a hub, comprising a base adapted for connection to the hub and containing passage means for discharging filtrate from the filter segment, a pair of sidewalls unitary with said base and extending longitudinally from said base in opposed spaced relationship such that said sidewalls include adjacent side faces and remote side faces, said adjacent side faces having drainage duct means therebetween and said drainage duct means communicating with said passage means for draining filtrate thereto, said sidewalls each including a plurality of louvered openings providing drainage passages through their thicknesses in communication with said drainage duct means for draining filtrate thereto, the louvers for said openings extending transversely of said sidewalls and projecting from the latter inwardly in the therebetween space towards said base to locate said drainage passages at the sides of said louvers most adjacent to said base, and said louvers sloping downwardly towards their respective drainage passages and towards said base to facilitate filtrate flow through said drainage passages in a direction towards said base.

Claim 12

A filter segment according to claim 8, wherein said sidewalls each have integral flow barriers which extend along the peripheral edges of the therebetween space, adjacent flow barriers of said sidewalls being connected for closing such peripheral edges.