Method and means for separation of liquids from a mixture of solids and liquids

Claim 1

A method for the separation of liquids from a solid liquid mixture comprising the steps: depositing a solids liquid mixture on a separating oscillating conveyor surface permeable to the liquid with the material moving in a conveying direction; applying a vacuum on the undersurface of the separating surface; and increasing the vacuum in the conveying direction of material movement on the separating surface.

Claim 2

A method for the separation of liquids from a solid liquid mixture comprising the steps: depositing a solids liquid mixture on a separating oscillating conveyor surface permeable to the liquid with the material moving in a conveying direction; applying a vacuum on the undersurface of the separating surface; and increasing the vacuum in the conveying direction of material movement on the separating surface.

Claim 5

A device for the separation of liquids from a mixture of solids and liquids comprising in combinatioin: means defining a closed separation chamber having a first separation zone and a second separation zone; a generally horizontally extending permeable separation surface along the bottom of said chamber and having openings in said surface of a size to permit penetration of liquid, the openings in said first zone being larger than the openings in said second zone; a first vacuum chamber beneath said first zone; means for controlling the vacuum in said first chamber; a second vacuum chamber beneath said second zone; means for controlling the vacuum in said second chamber to be higher than the vacuum in said first chamber; means for supplying a mixture of solids and liquid onto said separation surface in said first zone; first means for collecting liquid beneath said first zone; second means for collecting said liquid beneath said second zone; a recirculating conduit means connected to said first and second collecting means for delivering material from the collecting means to said chamber between said zones onto material above said surface; a cyclone separator in said circuit for separation of liquid from the material returned to said material above said surface; a vibrating means connected to vibrate said surface and to cause movement of the material from said first to said second zone; a discharge opening at a discharge end of the second zone; means to control the flow through said discharge end; means for directing heat into the closed chamber above the surface; and means for pressurizing said chamber above the surface.

Claim 6

A device for the separation of liquids from a mixture of solids and liquids comprising in combinatioin: means defining a closed separation chamber having a first separation zone and a second separation zone; a generally horizontally extending permeable separation surface along the bottom of said chamber and having openings in said surface of a size to permit penetration of liquid, the openings in said first zone being larger than the openings in said second zone; a first vacuum chamber beneath said first zone; means for controlling the vacuum in said first chamber; a second vacuum chamber beneath said second zone; means for controlling the vacuum in said second chamber to be higher than the vacuum in said first chamber; means for supplying a mixture of solids and liquid onto said separation surface in said first zone; first means for collecting liquid beneath said first zone; second means for collecting said liquid beneath said second zone; a recirculating conduit means connected to said first and second collecting means for delivering material from the collecting means to said chamber between said zones onto material above said surface; a cyclone separator in said circuit for separation of liquid from the material returned to said material above said surface; a vibrating means connected to vibrate said surface and to cause movement of the material from said first to said second zone; a discharge opening at a discharge end of the second zone; means to control the flow through said discharge end; means for directing heat into the closed chamber above the surface; and means for pressurizing said chamber above the surface.

Claim 7

A device for the separation of liquids from a mixture of solids and liquids comprising in combination: an oscillating conveyor having a generally horizontal permeable separating surface for receiving a solids liquid mixture on its upper surface in a conveying direction; said permeable separating surface having openings which decrease in size in the conveying direction; means for feeding onto that portion of said separating surface which has the larger openings a mixture of solids and liquid; means beneath said surface for the production of a vacuum drawing liquid downwardly from the solids with said vacuum increasing along said surface in said conveying direction; and means on the underside of the separating surface for the withdrawal of liquid which passes downwardly.

Claim 8

A device for the separation of liquids from a mixture of solids and liquids comprising in combination: an oscillating conveyor having a generally horizontal permeable separating surface for receiving a solids liquid mixture on its upper surface in a conveying direction; said permeable separating surface having openings which decrease in size in the conveying direction; means for feeding onto that portion of said separating surface which has the larger openings a mixture of solids and liquid; means beneath said surface for the production of a vacuum drawing liquid downwardly from the solids with said vacuum increasing along said surface in said conveying direction; and means on the underside of the separating surface for the withdrawal of liquid which passes downwardly.