Filter presses

Claim 2

A filter press having end frames, girder means extending horizontally along the press between the end frames, a pack of filter press trays, rollers associated with each tray, the rollers running on the girder means to carry the trays on the girder means in a movable manner, bar means extending horizontally along the press, powered apparatus for subjecting the bar means to reciprocatory movements, a plurality of catch members mounted in a pivotal manner at intervals along the bar means, abutments associated with the trays, said catch members being adapted normally to lift pivotally into abutment-engaging positions but being capable of being deflected downwardly clear of said abutments and of moving thereunder, said catches being set at predetermined spacing which is less than the length of the stroke of the reciprocatory movement of the bar means, said reciprocatory movements serving first to carry the catch members in the direction of said pack of filter trays awaiting movement and on reversal of the reciprocatory movement to bring back the catch members whereby one of them on moving from under the abutments lifts and engages with the abutments of the first tray of the pack and in the continuing reverse reciprocatory movement moves it away from the pack, and means for disengaging each catch member from the abutment of the tray which it moves away from the pack after movement of that tray away from the pack has been completed.

Claim 3

A filter press as claimed in claim 1 having two girders, one at each side of the press, two reciprocating bars, and guides on the girders in which the respective bars are slidably mounted, each bar having a plurality of carriages attached to it, tracks carried by the respective girders, the carriages running on the tracks, and the catch members being mounted on the carriages.

Claim 4

A filter press as claimed in claim 1 having a single overhead girder, two parallel reciprocatory bars supported from the girder, catch members pivotally mounted on the respective bars, and abutments on the press trays positioned for engagement with the catch members.

Claim 5

A filter press as claimed in claim 1 having a mechanical linkage, said linkage being connected with the bar means for effecting reciprocatory movement thereof.

Claim 6

A filter press as claimed in claim 1 having fluid pressure means, said fluid pressure means being connected with the bar means foR effecting reciprocatory movement thereof.

Claim 7

A filter press as claimed in claim 1 wherein said disengaging means includes a cam means carried by one of said end frames, and a surface of said catch arranged to engage said cam means during the reverse movement of said bar means.

Claim 8

A filter press as claimed in claim 1 including recesses in said catches capable of engaging with said abutments, and wherein said disengaging means include sloping faces of said recesses upon which said abutments can ride out of said recesses upon reverse movement of said bar means.

Claim 9

A filter press having end frames, girder means extending horizontally along the press between the end frames, a pack of filter press trays, each tray having rollers running on the girder means, bar means extending horizontally along the press parallel with the girder means, powered operating means for subjecting the bar means to lengthwise reciprocatory movements, a plurality of pivots fixed to the bar means at spaced intervals therealong, a plurality of catch devices each mounted upon one of the pivots, a plurality of springs one connected to each catch device and to the bar means, said springs tending to lift said catch devices, abutments associated with each tray, said catch devices having recesses therein capable of engaging with the abutments when the catch devices are lifted by the spring action, said reciprocatory movements of the bar means serving first to move the catch members towards said pack of filter trays awaiting movement, whereby said catch members are deflected downwardly against the spring action, and on reversal of the reciprocatory movement to bring back the catch devices so that one of them, emerging from under the abutments on the pack of trays, is raised by its spring action and made to lift operatively by its recess into engagement with the first tray of the pack and move said first tray away from the pack, and means for disengaging each catch member from the abutment of the tray which it moves away from the pack after movement of that tray away from the pack has been completed.

Claim 10

A filter press having end frames, girder means extending horizontally along the press between the end frames, a pack of filter press trays, each tray having rollers running on the girder means, bar means extending horizontally along the press parallel with the girder means, powered operating means for subjecting the bar means to lengthwise reciprocatory movements, a plurality of pivots fixed to the bar means at spaced intervals therealong, a plurality of catch devices each mounted upon one of the pivots, a plurality of springs one connected to each catch device and to the bar means, said springs tending to lift said catch devices, abutments associated with each tray, said catch devices having recesses therein capable of engaging with the abutments when the catch devices are lifted by the spring action, said reciprocatory movements of the bar means serving first to move the catch members towards said pack of filter trays awaiting movement, whereby said catch members are deflected downwardly against the spring action, and on reversal of the reciprocatory movement to bring back the catch devices so that one of them, emerging from under the abutments on the pack of trays, is raised by its spring action and made to lift operatively by its recess into engagement with the first tray of the pack and move said first tray away from the pack, and means for disengaging each catch member from the abutment of the tray which it moves away from the pack after movement of that tray away from the pack has been completed.

Claim 11

A filter press as claimed in claim 8 in which each of said catch devices has an upper perimeter in which said recesses are formed, and said tray rollers having extending pins constituting the abutments with which said recesses engage, when lifted by the action of the springs, and buffers on said bar means one associated with each of said catch devices and serving to limit the amount of lifting movement imparted to the catch devices by the springs.