AN OUTLET PIECE ASSEMBLY FOR A HORIZONTAL PLATE AND FRAME -TYPE FILTER, SUCH AS A TOWER PRESS

Abstract

An outlet piece assembly for a horizontal plate and frame-type filter, such as tower press. The disclosure is based on the idea of providing the outlet piece assembly as having a base removably attachable to a filter press (e.g., to the filter plate or plate frame thereof), and a lid removably fixed to the base, such that an internal conduit of the outlet piece assembly running between a vat end and a discharge end is formed between the base and the lid. This enables a part of an associated filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner, to be received between the base and the lid, thereby ensuring secure sealing between these components.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An outlet piece assembly for conducting filtrate out from a filtrate vat of a horizontal filter press, such as a tower press, the outlet piece assembly having an internal conduit for conducting said filtrate, wherein the outlet piece assembly comprises a base removably attachable to a filter press, and a lid removably fixed to the base, wherein the internal conduit is formed between the base and the lid, and runs between a vat end and a discharge end of the outlet piece assembly, wherein the outlet piece assembly comprises a recessed seat at the vat end thereof, into which a portion of a filtrate vat component, such as a vat liner, or a portion of the filtrate vat is receivable, wherein that the lid comprises one or more projections extending towards the base, and wherein the outlet piece assembly is configured for clamping a portion of the filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner, or a part of the filtrate vat, received in the recessed seat between the projections and the recessed seat, thereby securing the outlet piece assembly with respect to the portion of the filtrate vat.

12. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 11, wherein the projections are provided as one or more elongate ribs extending in the direction of the internal conduit.

13. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 11, wherein a seal arrangement is provided at the recessed seat configured for sealing against the associated part of the filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner, or the associated part of the filtrate vat received at the recessed seat.

14. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 11, wherein the base comprises a recessed chute at the discharge end as a continuation of the recessed seat for conducting filtrate out of the outlet piece assembly.

15. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 11, wherein the at least the base and the lid are made of a creeping-resistant material, preferably chosen from a group comprising metals, such as steel, FRP (fibre-reinforce plastics) materials, such as reinforced composite materials with a thermoset or thermoplastic matrix, and thermoset materials.

16. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least the portions of the base and lid forming the internal conduit are coated with a wear-resistant material, preferably chosen from a group comprising wear resistant polymers, such as thermoplastics including thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastics elastomers, PUR and rubber.

17. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 11, wherein the base comprises one or more first attachment holes extending therethrough for receiving a fixing element attaching the base to the filter press

18. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 17, wherein the one or more first attachment holes are situated on a portion of the base not forming a part of the internal conduit.

19. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 11, wherein the base comprises one or more second attachment holes, and the lid comprises one or more third attachment holes, aligned with the second attachment holes, the lid being fixed to the base with a fixing element inserted into the second attachment hole through the third attachment hole.

20. The outlet piece assembly according to claim 19, wherein the one or more second attachment holes are situated on a portion of the base not forming a part of the internal conduit, and the one or more third attachment holes are situated on a portion of the lid not forming a part of the internal conduit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In the following the disclosure will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an outlet piece assembly in connection with a filter plate assembly incorporating an integral filtrate vat and vat liner, as seen as an exploded perspective view;

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of a portion of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 in a non-exploded configuration;

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a partial cut view along the dash-dotted line of FIG. 4, as seen as an exploded configuration, and

[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates the partial cut view of FIG. 6 as seen as a non-exploded configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0017] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an outlet piece assembly 1 is provided for conducting filtrate out from a filtrate vat 8a of a horizontal filter press, such as a tower press.

[0018] The outlet piece assembly 1 has an internal conduit 2 for conducting said filtrate, and comprises a base 3 removably attachable to a filter press and a lid 4 removably fixed to the base 3. Particularly, the internal conduit 2 is formed between the base 3 and the lid 4, and runs between a vat end 1a and a discharge end 1b of the outlet piece assembly 1.

[0019] For example, the base 3 may be removably attachable to either or both of a filter plate 8 or a plate frame 9 supporting the filter plate 8.

[0020] Preferably, but not necessarily, the lid 4 is attached to the base 3 vertically with respect to the filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner 5, or a part of the filtrate vat 8 to be received between the base 3 and the lid 4. This allows the filtrate vat component or the filtrate vat 8 to be clamped between the base 3 and lid 4, further improving a secure and sealed attachment

[0021] As discussed earlier, such an arrangement enables a part of an associated filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner 5, or a part of the filtrate vat 8 to be received between the base 3 and the lid 4, thereby ensuring secure sealing between these components.

[0022] In an embodiment according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the outlet piece assembly 1 comprises a recessed seat 3a at the vat end 1a thereof, into which a portion of the filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner 5, or a portion of the filtrate vat 8a is receivable. Most suitably, the recessed seat 3a, is provided at the base 3.

[0023] Preferably, but not necessarily, the lid 4 comprises one or more projections 4a extending towards the base 3.

[0024] For example, such projections 4a could be provided as one or more elongate ribs extending in the direction of the internal conduit 2, i.e., along the direction in which the filtrate is intended to flow within the internal conduit 2.

[0025] Preferably, but not necessarily, the outlet piece assembly 1 is configured clamp a portion of the filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner 5, or a part of the filtrate vat 8, received in the recessed seat 3a between the projections 4a and the recessed seat 3a, thereby securing the outlet piece assembly 1 with respect to the portion of the filtrate vat 5.

[0026] Preferably, but not necessarily, a seal arrangement is provided at the recessed seat 3a configured for sealing against the part of the filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner 5, or the part of the filtrate vat 8 received at the recessed seat 3a.

[0027] Preferably, but not necessarily, the base 3 comprises a recessed chute 3b at the discharge end 1b as a continuation of the recessed seat 3a for conducting filtrate out of the outlet piece assembly 1. For example, the recessed chute may be recessed at a level aligned with the part of the filtrate vat component, such as the vat liner 5, or the part of the filtrate vat 8a received in the recessed seat 3a.

[0028] In an embodiment according to the present disclosure at least the base 3 and the lid 4 are made of a creeping-resistant material. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, metals, such as steel, FRP (fibre-reinforce plastics) materials, such as reinforced composite materials with a thermoset or thermoplastic matrix, and thermoset materials.

[0029] In an embodiment according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, at least portions of the base 3 and lid 4 forming the internal conduit 2 are coated with a wear-resistant material. Example of such materials include, but are not limited to, wear resistant polymers, such as thermoplastics including thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastics elastomers, PUR and rubber.

[0030] In addition to improving the wear-resistance characteristics of the outlet piece assembly 1, such a coating further improves sealing of base 3 against the lid 4, and the sealing of the outlet piece assembly 1 against other components, e.g. the filter plate 8 and the filtrate vat component, such as vat liner 5, or a separate filtrate vat.

[0031] In an embodiment according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the base 3 comprises one or more first attachment holes 6a extending therethrough for receiving a fixing element 7a attaching the base 3 to the filter press. As discussed above, the base 3 may be fixed, for example, to either or both of the filter plate 8 or the plate frame 9 supporting the filter plate 8.

[0032] Preferably, but not necessarily, the one or more first attachment holes 6a are situated on a portion of the base 3 not forming a part of the internal conduit 2. Such an arrangement, that the fixing elements 7a are less likely to seize due to contamination of the filtrate running in the internal conduit 2.

[0033] In an embodiment according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the base 3 comprises one or more second attachment holes 6b, and the lid 4 comprises one or more third attachment holes 6c, aligned with the second attachment holes 6b. The lid 4 is then fixed to the base 3 with a fixing element 7b inserted into the second attachment hole 6b through the third attachment hole 6c.

[0034] Preferably, but not necessarily, the one or more second attachment holes 6b are situated on a portion of the base 3 not forming a part of the internal conduit 2, and the one or more third attachment holes 6c are situated on a portion of the lid 4 not forming a part of the internal conduit 2. Such an arrangement, that the fixing elements 7b are less likely to seize due to contamination of the filtrate running in the internal conduit 2.

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates an outlet piece assembly 1 in connection with a filter plate assembly incorporating an integral filtrate vat and vat liner 5, as seen as an exploded perspective view. In the arrangement of FIG. 1, a filter plate 8, supported by a plate frame 9, integrally forms a filtrate vat 8a. The integral structure of the filtrate vat 8a is provides the filter plate assembly with sufficient creeping-resistant characteristic, while the vat liner 5 protects the filtrate vat from abrasion caused by the solid particles carried by the filtrate. It should be noted that although FIG. 1 depicts only two outlet piece assemblies 1, any number of such outlet piece assemblies may be provided, for example at each corner of the filtrate vat.

[0036] The outlet piece assembly 1 and the portion of the filter plate assembly encircled in FIG. 1 are illustrated as a more detailed view in FIG. 2. Particularly, FIG. 2 shows the mutual assembly order of the filter plate 8, the base 3, the vat liner 5, and the lid 4. In other words, the base 3 of the outlet piece assembly 1 is attachable to the filter plate assembly with fixing elements 7a insertable through first holes 6a on the base 3. The vat liner 5, is the placed on the filtrate vat 8a formed by the filter plate 8 and the base 3, and finally the is attachable to the base 3, on top of the vat liner 5, with fixing element 7b inserted through third holes 6c into second holes 6b.

[0037] FIG. 3, in turn, illustrates the detailed view of FIG. 2 in a non-exploded configuration.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. Particularly, FIG. 1 illustrates a dot-dashed line along, which the partial cut-views of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are seen.

[0039] FIG. 5, illustrates an exploded cut view of the outlet piece assembly 1 along the dashed lined shown in FIG. 4, whereas FIG. 6 illustrates the same in a non-exploded configuration. Particularly FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 further illustrating how the base 3 and lid 4 of the outlet piece assembly 1 are arranged with respect to the filter plate 8 and the vat liner 5. Particularly the recessed seat 3a of the base 3 can be seen to be flush with the filtrate vat 8a and that the vat liner 5 extends over the recessed seat 3a. Furthermore, the projections 4a provided as ribs of the lid 4 can be seen to press against the vat liner 5, thereby securely clamping it in place and sealed against the recessed seat 3a. Furthermore, the base 3 can be attached to the plate frame 9 through the filter plate 2.

[0040] Although the present disclosure has been discussed above in connection with the appended drawings, in which the filtrate vat 8a is integrally formed on the filter plate 8, it should be noted that outlet piece assembly 1 may alternatively also be configured to be used with a conventional separate filtrate vat, in which case the filtrate vat itself extends into the outlet piece assembly 1 in a similar manner as shown with the vat liner 5 .

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0041] 1 outlet piece assembly

[0042] 1a vat end

[0043] 1b discharge end

[0044] 2 internal conduit

[0045] 3 base

[0046] 3a recessed seat

[0047] 3b chute

[0048] 4 lid

[0049] 4a projection

[0050] 5 vat liner

[0051] 6a first attachment hole

[0052] 6b second attachment hole

[0053] 6c third attachment hole

[0054] 7a first fixing element

[0055] 7b second fixing element

[0056] 8 filter plate

[0057] 8a filtrate vat

[0058] 9 plate frame