Miguel Dejesus

US Patent:

57387877, Apr 14, 1998

Filed:

Oct 30, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/550528

Inventors:

John Alexander - Valrico FL
William A. Marrone - Mulberry FL
Miguel A. DeJesus - Lakeland FL

Assignee:

IMC-Agrico Company - Mulberry FL

International Classification:

B01D 3910

US Classification:

210498

Abstract:

The present invention features a filtration plate for use in a filter pan comprising a corrugated sheet having a series of alternately upwardly and downwardly opening channels and a reinforcing material bonded to surfaces of the downwardly opening channels. The reinforcing material is effective for strengthening the sheet and retaining heat in a manner effective to slow cooling of the filtration plate during washing and to reduce heat losses from the filtration plate during filtering. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the corrugated sheet is a monolithic sheet of structural metal having a smooth upper filtration surface. The invention also provides a filter pan configured for use in filtration of a filtrate from solid particles. The filter pan comprises a filtration plate including a corrugated, monolithic sheet of structural metal having a series of alternately upwardly and downwardly opening channels. The filtration plate has an upper filtration surface that is smooth and unbroken by welds or joints, and the upwardly opening channels thereof have a width effective for channeling liquid.