US4037338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum belt filters
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-22
•
Granted: 1977-07-26
•
Expires: 1995-12-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to improvements in or relating to vacuum belt filters. It relates further to suction boxes for such filters and to a method of operation of the filters. More particularly, the invention relates to the supporting of the belt of the filter about the suction box so as to minimize drag of the belt and to minimize friction between the belt and the suction box and still seal the suction box. This is accomplished by means of conduits that have deformable walls and are located along the edges of the suction boxes, fluid support cushions being formed in the conduits. This is also accomplished by controlling the fluid support cushion according to the drag on the suction box, the suction pressure in the suction box and the rate of flow of fluid into the conduits to form the support cushion.
Inventors
- 👤 Sylvain Dominique Daniel Leonce Berline
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:28
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D33/00; B01D33/04; B01D33/70; B01D33/74; B01D33/745; B01D2201/00; B01D2201/20; B01D2201/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A suction box for a vacuum belt filter having a belt whereon material is carried that is to be filtered by means of a suction force exerted via the suction box and which travels over the suction box, the suction box including a conduit fast with the suction box along each edge thereof parallel to the direction of travel of the belt, each conduit having an inner and an outer wall and an inlet opening through which a pressurized support fluid may be introduced into the conduit to provide a support cushion for the belt, and the inner wall of each conduit being of a resiliently deformable material and having a longitudinal cavity and an opening through which a pressurizing fluid may be forced into the cavity to pressurize it so that the conduits deform, in use, according to the shape of the belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A suction box for a vacuum belt filter having a belt whereon material is carried that is to be filtered by means of a suction force exerted via the suction box and which travels over the suction box, the suction box including a conduit fast with the suction box along each edge thereof parallel to the direction of travel of the belt, each conduit having an inner and an outer wall and an inlet opening through which a pressurized support fluid may be introduced into the conduit to provide a support cushion for the belt, and the inner wall of each conduit being of a resiliently deformable material and having a longitudinal cavity and an opening through which a pressurizing fluid may be forced into the cavity to pressurize it so that the conduits deform, in use, according to the shape of the belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A suction box as claimed in claim 1, in which each inner wall comprises a bag of a non-extendable, deformable material which is inflated by the pressurizing fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A suction box as claimed in claim 2, in which the outer wall of each conduit comprises a bag of a non-extendable, deformable material having an opening through which a fluid may be forced into the bag to inflate it.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A suction box as claimed in claim 2, in which each bag has longitudinal wearing ribs on its outer surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
A vacuum belt filter which includes, a belt whereon material that is to be filtered may be carried; a suction box located below the belt and over which the belt may travel; support members located along each edge of the suction box parallel to the direction of travel of the belt; force means for forcing a support fluid between the support members and the belt to form a support cushion for the belt; control means for controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid forced between the support members and the belt; and measuring means for measuring the drag of the belt on the support members, the control means being responsive to the measuring means such that just sufficient of the support fluid is forced between the support members and the belt to reduce the drag on the support members to be below a predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
A vacuum belt filter which includes, a belt whereon material that is to be filtered may be carried; a suction box located below the belt and over which the belt may travel; support members located along each edge of the suction box parallel to the direction of travel of the belt; force means for forcing a support fluid between the support members and the belt to form a support cushion for the belt; control means for controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid forced between the support members and the belt; and measuring means for measuring the drag of the belt on the support members, the control means being responsive to the measuring means such that just sufficient of the support fluid is forced between the support members and the belt to reduce the drag on the support members to be below a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A vacuum belt filter which includes, a belt whereon material that is to be filtered may be carried; a suction box located below the belt and over which the belt may travel; support members located along each edge of the suction box parallel to the direction of travel of the belt; force means for forcing a support fluid between the support members and the belt to form a support cushion for the belt; control means for controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid forced between the support members and the belt; and measuring means for measuring the suction pressure in the suction box, the control means being responsive to the measuring means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A vacuum belt filter which includes, a belt whereon material that is to be filtered may be carried; a suction box located below the belt and over which the belt may travel; support members located along each edge of the suction box parallel to the direction of travel of the belt; force means for forcing a support fluid between the support members and the belt to form a support cushion for the belt; control means for controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid forced between the support members and the belt; and measuring means for measuring the suction pressure in the suction box, the control means being responsive to the measuring means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of operating a vacuum belt filter having a belt whereon material is carried that is to be filtered by means of a suction force exerted via a suction box located below the belt over which the belt travels, which includes supporting the belt on a cushion of the filtrate by forcing a part of the filtrate between support members, located along each edge of the support box, parallel to the direction of travel of the belt, and the belt; collecting the filtrate that flows out between the belt and the support members; and re-cycling the collected filtrate to form the support cushion.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of operating a vacuum belt filter having a belt whereon material is carried that is to be filtered by means of a suction force exerted via a suction box located below the belt over which the belt travels, which includes supporting the belt on a cushion of the filtrate by forcing a part of the filtrate between support members, located along each edge of the support box, parallel to the direction of travel of the belt, and the belt; collecting the filtrate that flows out between the belt and the support members; and re-cycling the collected filtrate to form the support cushion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of operating a vacuum belt filter having a belt whereon material is carried that is to be filtered by means of a suction force exerted via a suction box located below the belt, over which the belt travels, which includes, forcing a support fluid between support members, located along each edge of the suction box, and the belt to form a fluid support cushion for the belt; controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid forced between the support members and the belt; measuring the drag of the belt on the support members; and responsively controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid to reduce the drag on the support members to be below a predetermined amount.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of operating a vacuum belt filter having a belt whereon material is carried that is to be filtered by means of a suction force exerted via a suction box located below the belt, over which the belt travels, which includes, forcing a support fluid between support members, located along each edge of the suction box, and the belt to form a fluid support cushion for the belt; controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid forced between the support members and the belt; measuring the drag of the belt on the support members; and responsively controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid to reduce the drag on the support members to be below a predetermined amount.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of operating a vacuum belt filter having a belt whereon material is carried that is to be filtered by means of a suction force exerted via a suction box located below the belt, over which the belt travels, which includes forcing a support fluid between support members, located along each edge of the suction box, and the belt to form a fluid support cushion for the belt; controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid forced between the support members and the belt; measuring the suction pressure in the suction box; and controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid in accordance therewith.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of operating a vacuum belt filter having a belt whereon material is carried that is to be filtered by means of a suction force exerted via a suction box located below the belt, over which the belt travels, which includes forcing a support fluid between support members, located along each edge of the suction box, and the belt to form a fluid support cushion for the belt; controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid forced between the support members and the belt; measuring the suction pressure in the suction box; and controlling the rate of flow of the support fluid in accordance therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |