Filter press

Claim 2

A filter press apparatus comprising a plurality of adjacently stacked filter plates supported on a support means, a corresponding plurality of filter cloth support bars each bar being suspended above and generally between two adjacent filter plates for supporting a length of filter cloth hung in inverted U-shape between each two adjacent filter plates, said bars being longer than the width of said filter plates and being substantially horizontal and extending approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the plates open to separate from one another, with the ends of each bar extending beyond the width of the filter plates; at least two filter cake discharge means, one located at each side of the apparatus; means mounting each said filter cake discharge means for movement in a direction generally parallel to the direction in which the filter plates open; each discharge means including a hammer means and means for moving said hammer in a circular path wherein the hammer means hits and makes rubbing frictional contact with an end of at least one of said bars for thereby vibrating the bars in both vertical and horizontal directions for removing filter cakes from a filter cloth hung on said bars.

Claim 3

The filter press apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter cake discharge means include means for moving their respective hammers through their respective circular paths in opposite rotary directions.

Claim 4

The filter press apparatus of claim 2, wherein the filter cake discharge means include means for moving their respective hammers through their respective circular paths at different rotary speeds.

Claim 5

The filter press apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter cake discharge means include means for moving their respective hammers through their respective circular paths at different rotary speeds.

Claim 6

The filter press apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a length of filter cloth hung in inverted U-shape between adjacent filter plates, the length of said filter cloth support bars being longer than the width of said cloth.

Claim 7

The filter press apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hammer means is covered with a sheath of synthetic resin.

Claim 8

A filter press apparatus comprising a plurality of adjacently stacked filter plates supported on a support means; a corresponding plurality of filter cloth support bars each bar being suspended above and generally between two adjacent filter plates for supporting a length of filter cloth hung in inverted U-shape between each two adjacent filter plates, said bars being longer than the width of said filter plates and being substantially horizontal and extending approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the plates open to separate from one another, with the ends of each bar extending beyond the width of the filter plates; at least two filter cake discharge means, one located at each side of the apparatus; means mounting each said filter cake discharge means for movement in a direction generally parallel to the direction in which the filter plates open; each discharge means including a hammer means and means for moving said hammer in a circular path whereby the hammer means hits and makes rubbing frictional contact with an end of at least one of said bars for thereby vibrating the bars in both vertical and horizontal directions for removing filter cakes from a filter cloth hung on said bars, wherein said hammer means is mounted through adjusting means for adjusting positions of said hammer means in a vertical direction for controlling the lowermost position of the hammer means during operation thereof.

Claim 9

A filter press apparatus comprising a plurality of adjacently stacked filter plates supported on a support means; a corresponding plurality of filter cloth support bars each bar being suspended above and generally between two adjacent filter plates for supporting a length of filter cloth hung in inverted U-shape between each two adjacent filter plates, said bars being longer than the width of said filter plates and being substantially horizontal and extending approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the plates open to separate from one another, with the ends of each bar extending beyond the width of the filter plates; at least two filter cake discharge means, one located at each side of the apparatus; means mounting each said filter cake discharge means for movement in a direction generally parallel to the direction in which the filter plates open; each discharge means including a hammer means and means for moving said hammer in a circular path whereby the hammer means hits and makes rubbing frictional contact with an end of at least one of said bars for thereby vibrating the bars in both vertical and horizontal directions for removing filter cakes from a filter cloth hung on said bars, wherein said hammer means is mounted through adjusting means for adjusting positions of said hammer means in a vertical direction for controlling the lowermost position of the hammer means during operation thereof.