David D Mcleod

US Patent:

55673279, Oct 22, 1996

Filed:

Mar 27, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/406939

Inventors:

Joel D. De Haan - Zeeland MI
Daniel De Haan - Zeeland MI
Gregory De Haan - Zeeland MI
David J. Spyker - Holland MI
David P. McLeod - Muskegon MI
Wesley G. Koops - Holland MI
Leonid B. Gelfand - Holland MI

Assignee:

JWI, Inc. - Holland MI

International Classification:

B01D 2532

US Classification:

210768

Abstract:

A filter press plate shifter assembly (21) provided with a shifter housing (22) having a tunnel-like center part which passes over the filter plates and housing parts positioned adjacent opposite side rails (14). Each side housing part mounts a pneumatic plate shifter (41) for permitting the endmost plate in the closed stack to be individually and sequentially shifted away from the stack into an open position when discharge of filtrate is desired. The shifter housing mounts a bumping device (61) which cooperates with the endmost plate in the stack to effect vertical bumping thereof relative to the support rails to assist in loosening sticky cake which adheres to the plate. The shifter housing also mounts an air-assist discharge mechanism (62) which includes a nozzle-bearing head assembly (80, 80') which moves vertically downwardly between the opposed faces of an open pair of adjacent plates for discharging airstreams downwardly against the plates to assist in removing the sticky cake from the plates. The overall operation of the shifter assembly is fully automated to permit each adjacent pair of plates in the closed stack to be opened, bumped and subjected to an air blast to cause discharge of sticky cake.

US Patent:

52757404, Jan 4, 1994

Filed:

Jun 8, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/895363

Inventors:

David J. Spyker - Holland MI
Victor A. Van't Hof - Holland MI
David P. McLeod - Muskegon MI

Assignee:

JWI, Inc. - Holland MI

International Classification:

B01D 3704

US Classification:

210741

Abstract:

A method for controlling the filling of a filter press with slurry according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the sequentially executed steps of: gradually increasing the pressure of the slurry supplied to thee press until the slurry pressure reaches an upper pressure limit; recording a trigger point in time at which the slurry pressure reaches the upper pressure limit; and determining whether the slurry pressure subsequently falls below a lower pressure limit within a predetermined period of time commencing at the trigger point. If the slurry pressure does fall below the lower pressure limit within the predetermined period of time, then the above-listed sequence of steps is repeated until the slurry pressure fails to fall below the lower pressure limit within the predetermined period of time, thereby indicating that the press is full and terminating the process.