Horizontal compression type automatic filter press

Claim 1

A filter press for compression filtering and squeeze dewatering slurry through an endless filter cloth, comprising: a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced stationary filter plates; a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced movable filter plates, each movable filter plate being alternately positioned between adjacent stationary filter plates; a plurality of diaphragms eaCh having a main portion which is thicker in cross-section than its outer peripheral portions, each diaphragm having its central portion connected to an associated movable filter and its outer peripheral portion connected to an associated stationary filter plate so that the diaphragm is sandwiched therebetween; the stationary filter plates each having a cavity formed therein for enclosing the diaphragm and movable filter plate, connected therewith; a plurality of longitudinally spaced filter frames supported on a side bar of the filter press, each frame being disposed between adjacent faces of adjacent stationary and movable filter plates so as to form a filter chamber therebetween; filter cloth disposed between the opposed sides of each filter frame and the adjacent faces of the adjacent stationary and movable filter plates; means for pressing the diaphragm and its attached movable filter plate toward the face of the adjacent stationary filter plate to compress therebetween within the interposed filter frame between the filter cloth the slurry introduced into the filter chamber in the filter frame; the faces of the movable and stationary filterplates being in contact with the opposed sides of the filter frame through the filter cloth in a manner to provide a difference in filtration resistance between the faces of the adjacent movable and stationary filter plates so that upon completion of the compressing action and the opening of the filter plates the cake of compressed slurry remaining is attached only to the portion of the filter cloth located on the side of the high filtration resistance thereby facilitating the removing of the cake from the cloth and dropping it out of the filter chamber upon the opening of the filter press; filter plate open and close means for opening and closing all of filter plates and filter frames simultaneously; and filter cloth transfer means for shifting the filter cloth, including transfer rollers consisting of a first set of rollers arranged above and a second set of rollers arranged below the filter plates and filter frames the diameter of the first set of rollers being smaller than that of the second set of rollers.