Belt for a vacuum filter

Claim 2

A filter belt for a continuous belt vacuum filter, said belt having a series of ribs having horizontal top surfaces which provide a substantially horizontal, flat surface on the filtration portion of said belt, said ribs being positioned along the surface of said belt and spaced one from the other to define therebetween a series of drainage channels having a floor a series of perforations through said belt, said perforations being in liquid flow communication with the floor of said drainage channels, and the floor of said drainage channels being sloped downwardly from said horizontal top surfaces towards said perforations.

Claim 3

The filter belt of claim 1 wherein said perforations are positioned along the longitudinal center line of said belt, and said drainage channel floors are sloped downwardly from the outer edges of said belt towards the center line thereof.

Claim 4

The filter belt of claim 1 wherein the edges of said belt are of raised construction.

Claim 5

The filter belt of claim 1 wherein said drainage channel floor is sloped between about one-eighth inch per foot to about three-fourths inch per foot.

Claim 6

The filter belt of claim 4 wherein said floor is sloped at about one-fourth inch per foot.

Claim 7

The filter belt of claim 1 wherein said ribs and the drainage channels formed therebetween are positioned substantially transversely to the longitudinal length of the belt.

Claim 8

The filter belt of claim 1 further including a filter cloth overlying said belt and supported on said top surfaces of said ribs.

Claim 9

The filter belt of claim 7 wherein said drainage channel floor is sloped between about one-eighth inch per foot to about three-fourths inch per foot.

Claim 10

A filter belt for a continuous belt vacuum filter, said belt having a series of ribs having top surfaces, said ribs being positioned along the belt surface and spaced one from the other to define therebetween a series of drainage channels having a floor, a series of perforations through said belt, said perforations being in liquid flow communication with the floor of said drainage channels, and a series of notches formed in said top surfaces of said ribs to form a series of liquid drainage paths through said ribs.

Claim 11

A filter belt for a continuous belt vacuum filter, said belt having a series of ribs having top surfaces, said ribs being positioned along the belt surface and spaced one from the other to define therebetween a series of drainage channels having a floor, a series of perforations through said belt, said perforations being in liquid flow communication with the floor of said drainage channels, and a series of notches formed in said top surfaces of said ribs to form a series of liquid drainage paths through said ribs.

Claim 12

The filter belt of claim 9 wherein about 20 to about 75 percent of the total surface area of said top surfaces is cut away to form said notches.

Claim 13

The filter belt of claim 10 wherein about 40 percent of the total top surface area is so cut away.

Claim 14

The filter belt of claim 9 further including a filter cloth overlying said belt and supported on said top surfaces of said ribs.

Claim 15

The filter belt of claim 8 wherein about 20 to about 75 percent of the total surface area of said top surfaces is cut away to form said notches. 14. The belt of claim 7 wherein said ribs and said drainage channels formed therebetween are positioned transversely to the longitudinally extending length of the belt.

Claim 16

A filter belt for a continuous belt vaccum filter, said belt having a series of ribs having horizontal Top surfaces which provide a substantially horizontal, flat surface on the filtration portion of said belt, said ribs being positioned along the surface of said belt and spaced one from the other to define therebetween a series of drainage channels having a floor, a series of perforations through said belt, said perforations being in liquid flow communiation with the floor of said drainage channels, the floor of said drainage channels being sloped downwardly from said horizontal top surfaces towards said perforations, and a series of notches formed in said top surfaces of said ribs to form a series of liquid drainage paths through said ribs.

Claim 17

A filter belt for a continuous belt vaccum filter, said belt having a series of ribs having horizontal Top surfaces which provide a substantially horizontal, flat surface on the filtration portion of said belt, said ribs being positioned along the surface of said belt and spaced one from the other to define therebetween a series of drainage channels having a floor, a series of perforations through said belt, said perforations being in liquid flow communiation with the floor of said drainage channels, the floor of said drainage channels being sloped downwardly from said horizontal top surfaces towards said perforations, and a series of notches formed in said top surfaces of said ribs to form a series of liquid drainage paths through said ribs.

Claim 18

The filter belt of claim 13 wherein said perforations are positioned along the longitudinal center line of said belt, and said drainage channel floors are sloped downwardly from the outer edges of said belt towards the centerline thereof.

Claim 19

The filter belt of claim 13 wherein said drainage channel floor is sloped between about one-eighth inch per foot to about three-fourths inch per foot.

Claim 20

The filter belt of claim 17 wherein said floor is sloped at about one-fourth inch per foot

Claim 21

The filter belt of claim 13 wherein about 20 percent to about 75 percent of the total surface area of said top surfaces is cut away to form said notches.

Claim 22

The filter belt of claim 19 wherein about 40 percent of said total surface area is so cut away.

Claim 23

The filter belt of claim 13 further including a filter cloth overlying said belt and supported on said top surfaces of said ribs.

Claim 24

The filter belt of claim 14 wherein said drainage channel floor is sloped between about one-eighth inch per foot to about three-fourths inch per foot.

Claim 25

The filter belt of claim 19 wherein about 20 percent to about 75 percent of the total surface area of said top surfaces is cut away to form said notches.

Claim 26

The filter belt of claim 13 wherein said ribs and said drainage channels formed therebetween are positioned substantially transversely to the longitudinally extending length of the belt.