Horizontal endless belt vacuum filters

Claim 2

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter comprising: (a) an endless conveyor belt having means defining at least one opening for filtering a mass; (b) an assembly comprising a plurality of transverse bars and means for applying a vacuum connected to the plurality of transverse bars; (c) an endless filtering medium passing over guide rollers for receiving a mass to be filtered; (d) the plurality of transverse bars being pivotally mounted about a longitudinal pivot axis; (f) the assembly mounted to pivot, as a whole, about the longitudinal pivot axis to allow for access to the means for applying a vacuum.

Claim 3

A horizontal endless vacuum belt filter according to claim 1, the assembly further comprising a manifold mounted on one end of the plurality of transverse bars, the manifold being connected on one side via at least one connecting pipe to the means for applying a vacuum and the manifold being connected on another side to at least one dismountable coupling member, the manifold comprising at least one chamber filled with a ballast for ensuring balance of the assembly as it pivots about the longitudinal pivot axis.

Claim 4

The horizontal endless vacuum belt filter according to claim 2, the means for applying a vacuum comprising a vacuum box comprising means defining an upper opening extending along substantially the entire length of the vacuum box, a removable horizontal lower cover, and two sections of identical cross-section, disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the vacuum box; each of the two sections comprising a vertical web extended, at its lower end, by an outwardly projecting Ushaped gutter which is defined by a horizontal flange and an upwardly extending vertical flange.

Claim 5

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 3 further comprising means for controlling the tension of the filtering medium comprising a lower mobile weighted roller for exerting a force on the filtering medium, the lower mobile weighted roller being carried by a mobile chassis mounted to slide vertically on a frame of the vacuum filter, means for pulling a vertically mobile counterweight hooked on the chassis and passing over upper guide pulleys carried by the frame; the counterweight comprising a box provided, in its upper part, with means defining a filling orifice and presenting, on one of its vertical faces, means defining a plurality of orifices provided at different levels and each having an emptying valve.

Claim 6

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 4 the manifold being connected to the vacuum box by a plurality of connecting pipes spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction for better distributing suction over substantially the entire length of the vacuum box.

Claim 7

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 5 wherein (a) the vacuum box comprises a first plurality of independent compartments formed by a first plurality of independent transverse partitions; (b) the manifold comprises a second plurality of independent compartments formed by a second plurality of intermediate transverse partitions, the number of the second plurality of independent compartments being equal to that of the first plurality of compartments in the vacuum box; and (c) each of the second plurality of independent compartments being connected to a corresponding compartment in the first plurality of independent compartments by at least one pipe and each of the second plurality of independent compartments being connected to an independent separator member by a coupling sleeve, each of the independent separator members being adapted to be connected to the source of vacuum.

Claim 8

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter comprising: (a) an endless conveyor belt having at least one opening for filtering a mass; (b) an assembly comprising a plurality of transverse bars, a manifold and means for applying a vacuum to the belt; (c) an endless filtering medium passing over guide rollers for receiving a mass to be filtered; (d) the plurality of transverse bars being pivotally mounted about a longitudinal pivot axis; (e) the manifold being mounted on one end of the plurality of transverse bars, the manifold being connected on one side via at least one connecting pipe to the means for applying a vacuum, and the manifold being connected on another side to at least one dismountable coupling member; (f) the assembly mounted to pivot, as a whole, about the longitudinal pivot axis to allow for access to the means for applying a vacuum; and (g) the manifold comprising at least one chamber filled with a ballast for ensuring balance of the assembly pivoting about the longitudinal pivot axis.

Claim 9

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter comprising: (a) an endless conveyor belt having at least one opening for filtering a mass; (b) an assembly comprising a plurality of transverse bars, a manifold and means for applying a vacuum to the belt; (c) an endless filtering medium passing over guide rollers for receiving a mass to be filtered; (d) the plurality of transverse bars being pivotally mounted about a longitudinal pivot axis; (e) the manifold being mounted on one end of the plurality of transverse bars, the manifold being connected on one side via at least one connecting pipe to the means for applying a vacuum, and the manifold being connected on another side to at least one dismountable coupling member; (f) the assembly mounted to pivot, as a whole, about the longitudinal pivot axis to allow for access to the means for applying a vacuum; and (g) the manifold comprising at least one chamber filled with a ballast for ensuring balance of the assembly pivoting about the longitudinal pivot axis.

Claim 10

The horizontal endless vacuum belt filter according to claim 7 the means for applying a vacuum comprising a vacuum box comprising means defining an upper opening extending along substantially the entire length of the vacuum box, a removable horizontal lower cover, and two sections of identical cross-section, disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the vacuum box; each of the two sections comprising a vertical web extended, at its lower end, by an outwardly projecting Ushaped gutter which is defined by a horizontal flange and an upwardly extending vertical flange.

Claim 11

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 8, further comprising means for controlling the tension of the filtering medium comprising a lower mobile weighted roller for exerting a force on the filtering medium, the lower mobile weighted roller being carried by a mobile chassis mounted to slide vertically on a frame of the vacuum filter, means for pulling a vertically mobile counterweight hooked on the chassis and passing over upper guide pulleys carried by the frame; the counterweight comprising a box provided, in its upper part, with means defining a filling orifice and presenting, on one of its vertical faces, means defining a plurality of orifices provided at different levels and each having an emptying valve.

Claim 12

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 9 the manifold being connected to the vacuum box by a plurality of connecting pipes spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction for better distributing suction over substantially the entire length of the vacuum box.

Claim 13

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 10 wherein (a) the vacuum box comprises a first plurality of independent compartments formed by a first plurality of independent transverse partitions; (b) the manifold comprises a second plurality of independent compartments formed by a second plurality of intermediate transverse partitions, the number of the second plurality of independent compartments being equal to that of the first plurality of compartments in the vacuum box; and (c) each of the second plurality of independent compartments being connected to a corresponding compartment in the first plurality of independent compartments by at least one pipe and each of the second plurality of independent compartments being connected to an independent separator member by a coupling sleeve, each of the independent separator members being adapted to be connected to the source of vacuum.

Claim 14

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter comprising: (a) an endless conveyor belt having means defining a plurality of holes in a center part of the conveyor belt; (b) an assembly comprising a longitudinal vacuum box adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum and having means defining an upper opening extending beneath an upper side of the conveyor belt such that the plurality of holes move above the upper opening of the vacuum box; (c) an endless filtering medium passing over guide rollers and applied on the upper side of the conveyor belt for receiving a mass to be filtered; (d) the assembly further comprising a plurality of transverse bars, each having an inner end, the vacuum box being carried by the inner ends and each of the plurality of transverse bars being articulated on a horizontally aligned bearing for forming a longitudinal pivot axis; (e) the assembly further comprising a manifold mounted on outer ends of the plurality of transverse bars, the manifold connected on one side via at least one connecting pipe to the vacuum box, and the manifold connected on another side to at least one dismountable coupling member adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum; (f) the assembly being mounted to pivot, as a whole, about the longitudinal pivot axis; and (g) the manifold comprising at least one chamber which may be filled with a varying amount of ballast for ensuring balance of the assembly pivoting about the longitudinal pivot axis, the ballast comprising water.

Claim 15

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter comprising: (a) an endless conveyor belt having means defining a plurality of holes in a center part of the conveyor belt; (b) an assembly comprising a longitudinal vacuum box adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum and having means defining an upper opening extending beneath an upper side of the conveyor belt such that the plurality of holes move above the upper opening of the vacuum box; (c) an endless filtering medium passing over guide rollers and applied on the upper side of the conveyor belt for receiving a mass to be filtered; (d) the assembly further comprising a plurality of transverse bars, each having an inner end, the vacuum box being carried by the inner ends and each of the plurality of transverse bars being articulated on a horizontally aligned bearing for forming a longitudinal pivot axis; (e) the assembly further comprising a manifold mounted on outer ends of the plurality of transverse bars, the manifold connected on one side via at least one connecting pipe to the vacuum box, and the manifold connected on another side to at least one dismountable coupling member adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum; (f) the assembly being mounted to pivot, as a whole, about the longitudinal pivot axis; and (g) the manifold comprising at least one chamber which may be filled with a varying amount of ballast for ensuring balance of the assembly pivoting about the longitudinal pivot axis, the ballast comprising water.

Claim 16

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 12, wherein (a) the vacuum box comprises a first plurality of independent compartments formed by a first plurality of intermediate transverse partitions; (b) the manifold comprises a second plurality of independent compartments formed by a second plurality of intermediate transverse partitions, the number of the second plurality of independent compartments being equal to that of the first plurality of compartments in the vacuum box; and (c) each of the second plurality of independent compartments being connected to a corresponding compartment in the first plurality of independent compartments by at least one pipe and each of the second plurality of independent compartments being connected to an independent separator member by a coupling sleeve, each of the independent separator members being adapted to be connected to the source of vacuum.

Claim 17

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 13, wherein each section comprises a vertical web extended, at its lower end, by an outwardly projecting U-shaped gutter which is defined by a horizontal flange and an upwardly extending vertical flange, the U-shaped gutter is housed in a notch of rectangular shape provided in the upper edge of the cover which extends longitudinally, the cover to which the pipes are connected being attached to the lower gutters of the two sections by means of rapid-fastening devices distributed longitudinally; and the vertical web of each section being connected, at its upper end, to a flange of small width, inclined inwardly, which is in turn extended by an upper horizontal web terminating in a vertical flange bent downwardly, the two vertical flanges of the two sections defining therebetween the upper opening of the vacuum box.

Claim 18

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 14, wherein on the upper horizontal flanges of sections there are mounted longitudinal slide strips which each present, in their upper face, a groove of rectangular cross-section and in which moves an endless belt, an angle is welded, by one of its flanges, on each of the inclined flanges of each section and of which the other flange, which is thus inclined upwardly and outwardly, is engaged in a longitudinal groove of the same inclination made in the lower face of each slide strip.

Claim 19

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 15, wherein each slide strip is pierced with means defining vertical holes opening in the bottom of the groove when a slide belt is used, the vertical holes communicating with means defining horizontal, transverse holes pierced in each slide strip, the outer orifices of the horizontal holes being connected to pipes which are adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure so that a film of water may thus be permanently maintained which ensures lubrication between each slide belt and the bottom of the groove or between the conveyer belt and the slide strip.

Claim 20

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 15, wherein each slide belt is constituted by a laminated structure formed by a succession of layers constituted alternately by a fabric, for example made of polyester or cotton fibers, and by an elastomer.

Claim 21

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 12, the at least one chamber consisting of only one chamber containing a varying amount of ballast, the manifold adapted to operate as the only chamber.

Claim 22

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 12, the manifold being connected to the vacuum box by a plurality of connecting pipes spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction for better distributing suction over substantially the entire length of the vacuum box.

Claim 23

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 12 the at least one dismountable coupling member being adapted to be connected to the source of vacuum and the longitudinal pivot axis being offset laterally on one side of the conveyor belt.

Claim 24

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 12, further comprising means for controlling the tension of the filtering medium comprising a lower mobile weighted roller exerting a force on the filtering medium, the lower mobile weighted roller being carried by a mobile chassis mounted to slide vertically on slides of a frame of the vacuum filter, chains or belts being hooked on the mobile chassis and passing over upper guide pulleys being carried by the frame and also being hooked on a vertically mobile counterweight, the counterweight comprising a box provided, in its upper part, with means defining a filling orifice and presenting, on one of its vertical faces, means defining a plurality of orifices provided at different levels and each provided with an emptying valve.

Claim 25

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 12, wherein the vacuum box comprises a removable horizontal lower cover and two lateral walls constituted by two sections of identical cross-section, disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the vacuum box.

Claim 26

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter comprising: (a) an endless conveyor belt having means defining a plurality of holes in a center part of the conveyor belt; (b) an assembly comprising a longitudinal vacuum box, a plurality of transverse bars and a manifold; (c) the longitudinal vacuum box having means defining an upper opening extending beneath an upper side of the conveyor belt such that the plurality of holes move above the upper opening of the vacuum box; (d) an endless filtering medium passing over guide rollers and applied on the upper side of the conveyor belt for receiving a mass to be filtered; (e) the plurality of transverse bars, each having an inner end, the vacuum box being carried by the inner ends, and each of the plurality of transverse bars are articulated on a horizontally aligned bearing for forming a longitudinal pivot axis; (e) the manifold mounted on outer ends of the plurality of transverse bars, the manifold connected on one side via at least one connecting pipe to the vacuum box, and the manifold connected on another side to at least one dismountable coupling member; (f) the assembly being mounted to pivot, as a whole, about the longitudinal pivot axis.

Claim 27

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter comprising: (a) an endless conveyor belt having means defining a plurality of holes in a center part of the conveyor belt; (b) an assembly comprising a longitudinal vacuum box, a plurality of transverse bars and a manifold; (c) the longitudinal vacuum box having means defining an upper opening extending beneath an upper side of the conveyor belt such that the plurality of holes move above the upper opening of the vacuum box; (d) an endless filtering medium passing over guide rollers and applied on the upper side of the conveyor belt for receiving a mass to be filtered; (e) the plurality of transverse bars, each having an inner end, the vacuum box being carried by the inner ends, and each of the plurality of transverse bars are articulated on a horizontally aligned bearing for forming a longitudinal pivot axis; (e) the manifold mounted on outer ends of the plurality of transverse bars, the manifold connected on one side via at least one connecting pipe to the vacuum box, and the manifold connected on another side to at least one dismountable coupling member; (f) the assembly being mounted to pivot, as a whole, about the longitudinal pivot axis.

Claim 28

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 23, the manifold comprising at least one compartment, the at least one compartment being operable to provide ballast for the assembly as it is pivoted about the longitudinal pivot axis.

Claim 29

A horizontal endless belt vacuum filter according to claim 24, the at least one dismountable coupling member being adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum for operably connecting the vacuum box to the source of vacuum and the longitudinal pivot axis being offset laterally on one side of the conveyor belt.