Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1232843
The present invention relates to a filter cloth
cleaning device for a filter press wherein cleaning liquor
is Seward onto the filter cloth from its spray tube with a
multiplicity of spray nozzles, which is adapted to move
along and substantially parallel -to each filter cloth.
The present invention will be illustrated by way
of the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a front view in vertical section of a
filter press in a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Ego. l, and
Fig. 3 is a side view partly in section;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the relation-
ship between a second carrier and a spray tube;
Fig. 5 is a side view showing an operating device
for the spray tube;
Fig. 6 is a plan view partly in section
corresponding to Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a front view of a second embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof;
Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of the same as
viewed from right in Fig. 10; and
Fig. lo is a front view of the filter press given
by way of showing the alternate positions the spray tube
assumes.
,
~.~'`~'
-- 1 --
issue
A number of devices have been proposed of the kind, in
which the spray tube is allowed to pivot downwardly into place
between filter cloths covering each opened pair of filter plates
and the cleaning liquor is sprayed from the spray tube onto the
aforesaid filter cloth for cleaning thereof. A device having its
spray tube long and large as disclosed, for instance, in West
German Patent No. 1,611,097 issued September 27, 1973 which lea-
lures the possibility of cleaning the entire surface of the lit-
ton cloth through simple movement of the spray tube between the
opened pair of opposed filter cloths as aforesaid, has the draw-
back of being large in swing diameter for the spray tube as it is
allowed to pivot downwardly into place between adjacent filter
cloths and also large in space requirement around the filter
press. Moreover, the spray tube in the rest position above the
filter plates extends substantially beyond the side of the filter
press, this interfering with or limiting utilization of the
spaces along the sides of or above the filter press.
As a solution to the aforesaid problem was the filter
cloth cleaning device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,137,
issued December 12, 1978 in which a spray tube carrier carrying a
spray tube erect below filter plates of the filter press is
caused to travel both-ways in front of the filter cloth.
us This system has an advantage of allowing installation
above the filter press of the filter cloth oscillating device for
imparting oscillation to the filter cloth for shaking off the
filter cake which deposits on the filter cloth during filtration,
utilizing the ample space available there. Since the cleaning
device of the U.S. patent, however, has to be kept at rest at a
location where it is not exposed to the shower of cake during
shaking off of the filter cake, the time required for cleaning
after completion of shaking off the filter cake is increased,
this resulting in lowering of the working efficiency of the lit-
ton press.
i232843
The cleaning device of German Patent 1,611,097 has
arranged on a carrier 33 movable on rails laid above and longitu-
finally of filter plates a cleaning liquor spray tube 14 and a
bracket 36 of a work cylinder 6 for lifting and lowering thereof
tilt ably pivoted by means of a fulcrum shaft 32. The bracket 36
has its position controlled by a tilting cylinder 34 and its
piston. Indicated by solid line in Fig. 1 of the German patent
is the position the device assumes before starting of cleaning,
and thereafter the work cylinder 6 operates to alternately lift
and lower the cleaning liquor spray tube 14 in its level position
for the filter cloth or filter plate to be sprayed with the
cleaning liquor.
When the aforesaid bracket 36 is tilted by the tilting
cylinder 34, the cleaning liquor spray tube as well as its work
cylinder and guides comes to be in the waiting position indicated
by dotted line in Fig. 1.
Unlike the device disclosed above, the cleaning device
of the present invention occupies a small space above the filter
press.
The cleaning device of U.S. Patent 4,129,137 comprises
a first carrier 12 movable on rails under a group of filter 25 plates and a movable unit 11 movable thereon. A gleaning liquor
spray tube 10 is disposed vertically on the movable unit 11 and
is adapted to move sideways and alternately in front of the lit-
ton cloth or filter plate for gleaning by spraying) thereof.
Its relationship with the present invention is already described
above.
.
The present invention provides a filter cloth cleaning
device for a filter press, which may be allowed to pivot down-
Ward into place between filter cloths and withdrawn therefrom
to a rest position, which is practically safe from extending
beyond the side of the filter press, and is free from the alone-
_ 3 -
lZ32843
said defect.
According to the present invention, there is provided a
filter press, in which a spray tube pivot able about a horizontal
shaft and displaceable along its own axis and carried by a second
carrier adapted to be movable along the longitudinal direction of
a filter press is connected with a cleaning liquor feed tube, is
let to pivot down into place between an opened and opposed pair
of filter cloths and is let to withdraw therefrom and also it is
lo made displaceable along its own axis between the position it
assumes upon rotating downward and the working (spraying) post-
lion.
In one embodiment the present invention provides a
spray tube operating means comprising a pinion set on a shaft
driven by a reversible motor and a rack rod guide tube pivoted to
said shaft by an arm. Suitably a rack rod with one end of said
spray tube connected to its lower end is set through said rack
rod guide tube and said rack rod and said pinion are meshed where
an opening is provided in said guide tube. Preferably the device
includes stoppers on said second carrier opposite lugs on both
sides of said spray tube holder, a key way with its lower end
portion open on one side of said rack rod, and a key pin fitting
in said key way on said second carrier.
In another embodiment of the present invention said
spray tube holding means comprises two links hinged together by a
shaft and said spray tube operating means is composed of a shaft
fixedly connected to one end of said link pivoted to said second
carrier and a motor for driving thereof. Suitably said spray
tube operating means comprises an arm receiving member extending
I from the hinged end of said arm and another arm receiving member
¦ extending downward from the bottom of said second carrier.
¦ Desirably said first carrier is moved by means of wheels arranged
to roll on rails laid vertically and above said filter plates in
the direction in which said filter plates are shifted.
- 4 -
i2328~3
In a particular aspect thereof the present invention
provides in a cleaning device for a filter press wherein, a spray
tube is movable into a position between spaced adjacent pairs of
filter plates for cleaning the filter plate surface and filter
cloth, including a first carrier disposed above the filter plates
movable into positions between open pairs of adjacent filter
plates, a second carrier movably mounted on the first carrier to
move in opposite directions thereon parallel to the surfaces of
the filter plates, a spray tube supporting means mounted on the
second carrier, a spray tube pivotal mounted on the second car-
nor and a flexible tube connected at one end to the outlet of a
source of cleaning liquid on the first carrier and at the other
end to the spray tube for supplying cleaning liquid thereto, the
improvement comprising: a spray tube operating shaft rotatable
mounted on the second carrier; a reversible motor means mounted
on the second carrier; means operatively connecting said motor
means to said shaft to drive said shaft by said motor means; a
pinion gear mounted on said shaft to be rotated therewith; a
spray tube support arm means pivotal mounted on said shaft and
having an outer end; a rod element on the upper portion of said
spray tube; a spray tube support tube mounted on said outer end
of said support arm telescopingly receiving said rod portion
therein; a gear rack in said rod portion extending substantially
parallel with the central axis of said spray tube and operatively
engaging said pinion gear; at least one lug on said spray tube
support tube; at least one lug stopper member on the second car-
nor cooperatively engage able with said at least one lug; at
least one key way in said rod portion extending in said rod port
lion extending substantially parallel to the central axis of said
spray tube; at least one key pin on the second carrier slldably
engage able in said at least one key way; and a stopper on said
rod member adjacent the juncture with said rod element cooper
natively engage able with said support tube; so that operation of
said motor means in one direction pivotal moves said spray tube
about said shaft between a non-use position above the filter
plates and a substantially vertical position between adjacent
_ 5 _
~232843
filter plates, said at least one lug member and cooperating
stopper engaging to prevent said pivotal movement beyond said
substantially vertical position and said pinion gear drives said
rack to move said spray tube downwardly with respect to move said
spray tube into an extended position for use, and operation of
said motor means in the reverse direction after use raises said
spray tube vertically to a position of said cooperating eying-
cement between said stopper on the rod member and said support
tube to prevent further vertical raising of said spray and said
pinion gear pivotal moves said spray tube to said non-use
position. Suitably the device further comprises: a longitudinal
slot in said support tube to receive said pinion gear therein
wherein said pinion gear engages said gear rack; said support
tube has an upper and lower end; and said stopper on said rod
member is cooperatively engage able with said lower end of said
support tube.
In a further aspect thereof the present invention pro-
vises in a cleaning device for a filter press wherein, a spray
tube is movable into a position between spaced adjacent pairs of
filter plates for cleaning the filter plate surface and filter
cloth, including a first carrier disposed above the filter plates
movable into positions between open pairs of adjacent filter
plates, a second carrier movably mounted on the first carrier to
move in opposite directions thereon parallel to the surfaces of
the filter plates, a spray tube supporting means mounted on the
second carrier and a flexible tube connected at one end to the
outlet of a source of cleaning liquid on the first carrier and at
the other end to the spray tube for supplying cleaning liquid
thereto, the improvement comprising: a spray tube operating shaft
rotatable mounted on the second carrier; a reversible motor means
mounted on the second carrier; means operatively connecting said
motor means to said shaft to drive said shaft by said motor
means; a spray tube operating arm mounted on said shaft to be
rotated thereby and extending radially therefrom; a spray tube
support member pivotal connected to said arm at a pivot post-
- pa -
1232843
lion radially spaced from said shaft, and supporting said spray
tube thereon; a stop means on said support member cooperatively
engage able with said arm when said arm is in a non-used storing
position with the pivotal connection above said shaft so that
said spray tube is held above the filter plates; a first support
member receiving stop element projecting from said arm sub Stan-
tidally oppositely relative to said spray tube; and a second sup-
port member receiving stop element projecting downwardly from the
second carrier; said stop elements being positioned so that when
said arm is in a position for use where the pivotal connection is
below said shaft and said spray tube is substantially vertical,
said support member is engaged on opposite sides by respective
stop elements to retain said spray tube substantially vertically.
- 5b -
~23Z843
A preferred embodiment of the present Invention Is
shown In Figures 1 through 6. Each filter plate 1, which Is dls-
posed between a fixed end plate and a movable end plate, (not
shown) Is, as Is well known, movable longitudinally along a fit-
ton press via traveling rollers 3 on the underside of handles 2proJectlng therefrom on both sides thereof supported by a side
bar 4 disposed vertically between the fixed and the movable end
plates on each side thereof. The filter plate 1 Is covered with
filter cloths 5 on both, front and back, sides thereof. The fit-
ton cloths 5 on both sides of the filter plate 1 are sewn together along the periphery of a sludge dlstrlbutlon hole 6.
Also, both ends of a filter cloth hanging rod 7 disposed horizon
tally and laterally through the French seamed upper end of the
filter cloth 5 are hung from the upper connecting pins 9 of a
conventional filter cloth hanging fink 8 through a spring 10.
The filter press becomes ready for filtration, as well
known, when the filter plate 1 Is moved on the side bar 4 accom-
paying the advance of the movable end plate toward the fixed end
plate, for Instance, In the direction Indicated by the arrow A In
Fig. 3. Upon completion of filtration each filter plate 1 Is
moved following the withdrawal of the
issue
movable end plate, that is, in the direction opposite to
that indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2 and, as shown in
Fig. 3, the adjacent filter plates 1 with both sides thereof
covered with filter cloths 5 being successively opened or
the filter cake to be released and fall.
According to the present invention, there is provided a
first carrier 12 above the filter press of this type
supported by rails 11 to be movable longitudinally thereof.
The rails 11 are formed on the inside of a pair of girders
13, and the carrier 12 has its end rollers 14 carried by the
respective rails 11. The carrier 12 is connected with
endless drive belts 15' through connectors 34. As the
a
endless drive belt 15' is driven forward or reverse by
(hot so ox ho
unilluEtratcd reversible motor, the carrier 12 is moved
longitudinally of the filter press, that is, in the
direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2 or opposite
thereto.
Perpendicular to the first carrier 12 there are
provided laterally a pair of rails 15, and a second carrier
16 is supported thereby to be movable in the direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the filter
press, that is, along the width thereof. The second carrier
16 has its end rollers 17 carried by the rails 15 and is
connected with an endless drive belt 19 set between and
~Z3Z8~3
around end frames 18, 18 at both ends of the rails 15
through connectors 35. When endless drive belt 19 is driven
forward or reverse by a reversible motor 20 installed on one
end frame 18, the second carrier 16 is moved sideways of the
filter press, that is, in the direction indicated by the
arrow B in Fig. 1 or opposite thereto. Numeral 21
designates a transmission belt between the motor 20 and the
endless drive belt 19.
The second carrier 16 has arranged thereon a reversible
motor-with-brake 22 and a horizontal revolving shaft 24
driven thereby through a transmission belt 23. A pinion 25
is set fixedly on the revolving shaft 24, and spray tube
holders are retained to be freely rotatable thereon through
pivot arms 27 as shown in Figs. 4 through 6. The spray tube
holder 26 has its free end formed integral with a guide tube
28 perpendicular to the revolving shaft 24. The guide tube
28 has set freely slidahle there through a rack rod 30 meshed
with the aforesaid pinion 25, and this rack rod 30 has
connected to its lower end the upper end of a spray tube 31.
As shown in Fig. 5, this spray tube 31 is connected with an
end flange 30' of the rack rod 30 through a flange 33' of a
connector 33 for a cleaning liquor feed tube 32. The spray
tube holder 31 is shiftable between the somewhat slanted
lZ3Z843
rev
way position indicated by dashed line in Fig. 1 and the
vertical cleaning position indicated by solid line in Fig. 1
as will be further described later.
Shifting of the spray tube 31 from the position
indicated by the dashed line in Fig. 1 to the position
indicated by solid line takes place as the pinion 25 is
driven by the motor 22 counterclockwise in Fig. 1, following
its rotary motion through the rack rod 30 for the spray tube
31 has its gravitational (deadweight-induced)
counterclockwise rotary moment with the revolving shaft I
Jo eye
as center. Hence, the above-mentioned rotary shifting takes
place counterclockwise together with that of the spray tube
holder 26 not accompanied by sending out of the rack rod 30
by the pinion 25 with respect to the spray tube 31.
Lugs 36 are fixedly provided on both sides of the spray
tube holder 26, and stoppers 37 on the second carrier 16
opposed to the above-mentioned lugs 36. This is for the
lugs 36 to come into contact with the stoppers 37 when the
spray tube 31 has reached the vertical position indicated by
solid line in Fig. 1 so as to prevent the counterclockwise
rotation beyond the vertical position of the spray tube
holder 26 and spray tube 31 with the revolving shaft 24 as
center. Hence, even if the pinion 25 is further rotated
counterclockwise, it effects only sending out the rack rod
~Z328~3
30 and the spray tube 31 is lowered to the position
indicated by broken line in Fig. 1, kept vertical.
On the side of the rack rod 30 there is provided an
axial groove 38 with its lower end forming openings aye to
both sides, and a key pin 39 fitting in this groove 38 is
secured to the second carrier 16 through a connector 40. It
is so designed that when the spray tube 31 has pivoted down
to assume the vertical position indicated by solid line in
Fig. 1, the key pin 39 engages in the opening aye of the
groove 38 so as to be positioned on the vertical downward
extension of the groove 38. Hence, when the spray tube 31
has come down to the position indicated by broken line from
the position indicated by solid line in Fig. 1, the key pin
39 is engaged in the groove 38, and would not be disengaged
unless the spray tube 31 is returned to the solid-line
position in Fig. 1.
The vertical position shown by dotted line in Fig. 1
the spray tube 31 assumes at the lower limit of its stroke
is kept unaltered as the spray tube 31 moves from the
position indicated by broken line to that by imaginary line
in Fig. 1 and back between the adjacent filter cloths 5
opened as shown in Fig. 3. Hence, the spray tube 31 is kept
safe from undesirable oscillation so that the cleaning by
-- 10 --
issues
the cleaning liquor sprayed through the plurality of nozzles
41 is effected uniformly throughout the entire surface of
the filter cloth 5. When cleaning is over, the spray tube
31 returns to the waiting position indicated by the dashed
line in Fig. 1, and for that the pinion 25 is rotated
clockwise in Fig. 1 by reversing of the motor 22, with the
spray tube 31 in the broken line position in Fig. 1. Since
the spray tube 31 and the spray tube holder 26 are prevented
from rotation with the revolving shaft 24 as center,
clockwise rotation of the pinion 25 takes place when the
rack rod 30 alone is lifted.
As the rack rod 30 is lifted, also lifted is the spray
tube 31, and when the spray tube 31 has reached the solid
line position from the broken line position in Fig. 1, the
key pin 39 it disengaged from the key way (groove) 38 to be
in the opening aye. And now, the spray tube 31 and spray
tube holder 26 are allowed to pivot about the revolving
shaft 24. At the same time a stopper flange 42 provided
integral with the rack rod 30 slightly above the groove's
opening aye near the lower end thereof comes into contact
with the lower end of the guide tube 28 of the spray tube
holder 26 so as to prevent further lifting of the rack rod
30. Hence, thereafter the clockwise rotation of the pinion
i2328~3
25 effects clockwise pivoting about the revolving shaft 24
of the rack rod 30 together with the spray tube 31 and spray
tube holder 26. Thus, the spray tube 31 is shifted back
from the solid line position to the dashed line position in
Fig. 1.
When the spray tube 31 has reached the predetermined
position indicated by broken line or dashed line in Fig. 1,
the motor 22 is stopped by triggering of limit switches 46,
47 by an actuator 45 on an endless belt 43 interlocked with
the revolving shaft 24 and is kept stopped until it is
started next time. Simultaneously with stopping of the
motor 22 the braking mechanism accessory thereto is actuated
for the rack rod 30 and the spray tube 31 to be locked
securely through the pinion 25 at either the aforesaid
broken line position or dashed line position in Fig. 1, the
latter in particular for which there is provided no other
position stabilizing means.
The cleaning liquor feed tube 32, leading from outside
the filter press, is connected with the spray tube 31 by
means of the aforesaid connector 33 through the second
carrier 16. Where necessary, flexible tube aye, joint
freely bendable etc. are used lest necessary movement of the
second carrier 16 and/or spray tube 31 should be interfered
with.
- 12 -
- ~23289~3
The first carrier 12 is further provided with a filter
cloth oscillating device 48 and the filter cloth hanging rod
7 is caused to undergo wavy oscillation by its oscillator 49
for the filter cloth 5 hung by the hanging rod 7 to be
oscillated for enhanced releasing of the filter cake
adhering thereto. It is also possible for oscillation of
the filter cloth 5 to proceed simultaneously with cleaning
thereof if the oscillator 49 is so arranged that it is
parallel to the aforesaid spray tube 31 along its width off
its sideways stroke in the filter press.
In the illustrated embodiment oscillation and cleaning
action are applied successively to the filter cloths opened
as shown in Fig. 3.
Cleaning of filter cloths 5 is done successively by
shifting the spray tube 31 in the waiting position indicated
by dashed line in Fig. 1 above the filter plates 1 as they
are opened successively after each cycle of filtration
without interfering with the filter cloths 5 etc. through
movement of the first carrier in the direction indicated by
the arrow A. Mach time after shifting the spray tube 31 is
pivoted down to the position indicated by solid line in Fig.
1 by the motor 22 running forward between the opened pair of
filter plates 1, i.e. between the filter cloths 5 covering
the opposing sides of the adjacent filter plates 1, then it
12328~3
is lowered to the position indicated by broken line in Fig
1 and the motor 22 is thereupon stopped. The motor 20 is
then started forward for moving the second carrier 16 in the
direction indicated by the arrow B and the spray tube 31 is
thereby moved to the position indicated by imaginary 2-dot
chain line. When the spray tube 31 has reached the
imaginary line position, the motor 20 is reversed to move
the second carrier 16 in the direction opposite to that
indicated by the arrow B for the spray tube 31 to be
returned to the broken line position in Fig. 1.
The spray tube 31 is fed with the cleaning liquor to
spray it onto the filter cloths 5 as illustrated in Fig. 3
as it travels both-way between the opened pair of filter
plates 1.
Depending on the material of the filter cloth 5, the
kind of the filter cake, the way the filter cake adheres
etc., it is also possible to do cleaning in repeated strokes
or cycles. When cleaning is over with the spray tube 31
returned to the dotted line position in Fig. 1, the motor 22
is reversed to first lift the spray tube 31 to the solid
line position in Fig. 1 and then restore to the waiting
position indicated by dashed line in Fig. 1.
After thus cleaning all filter cloths S the first
carrier 12 is moved in the direction opposite to that of the
- 14 -
~232843
arrow A back to the initial position and waits there until
the next cycle of cleaning is started.
On both sides of the filter press curtains 50 as
outlined in imaginary line in Fig. 1 are hung from
unillustrated curtail rails to be freely slid able to open or
close, these serving to prevent the cleaning liquor from
splashing away.
According to the present invention, a spray tube
pivot able about a horizontal shaft and also displaceable
along its own axis is attached to a second carrier movable
longitudinally as well as sideways, it is connected with a
cleaning liquor feed tube, the spray tube is let to pivot
down into place between the opened filter cloths (from
above) and is made axially displaceable between there and
the position it is to assume for proper cleaning. Hence,
even if a long spray tube advantageous for cleaning of the
front side of the filter cloth is used, it can be shifted
from the waiting position, in which it can be moved
longitudinally of the filter press without unduly projecting
above it, to the predetermined position between the filter
cloths by pivoting about the aforesaid horizontal shaft
without projecting beyond the side of the filter press and
without interfering with any other component. Hence the
~Z3Z8~3
space surrounding the filter press can be effectively
utilized or other purposes and, moreover, since the spray
tube is let to pivot down into place between the filter
cloths can be brought to where necessary for proper cleaning
by axial displacement, advantageous cleaning of the entire
surface of filter cloth is securely feasible by the use of a
long spray tube without loss of any of the aforesaid
features.
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Figs. 7 through 10. As in the aforesaid embodiment, a first
carrier 56 is provided above the filter press to be freely
movable in the same direction as filter plates 52. This
first carrier 56 is provided with a second carrier 57 to be
freely movable parallel to the filter plate surface. Two
arms aye and 58b are pivotal linked by a pin 59, and the
other end of the arm aye is pivoted to the aforesaid second
carrier 57. As is clear from Figs. 8 and 10, the arms aye
and 58b are pivotal linked as aforesaid to be freely
rotatable in a plane parallel to the surface of the filter
plate. The arm 58b is provided with an arm stopper 60, so
that when the arm aye is off the limit of its rotation, the
rotation of the arm 58b with respect to the arm aye is
limited thereby. The other end of a solid spray tube 55
connected to an unillustrated cleaning liquor source through
a feed tube 61 to be described later on is fixedly connected
- 16 -
~232B43
to one end of the arm 58b. With rotation of the arm aye by
an arm driving means 62 provided on the second carrier 57,
the spray tube 55 is pivoted from the waiting position above
the filter plate to the vertically downward position and
into place between filter cloths 54 covering the opposing
sides of an opened pair of filter plates 52, 52.
The first carrier 56 has left and right rollers 64 on
shafts extending sideways from the top of a supporting melnber
63 placed thereon about the center supported by a lateral
pair of rails 65, 65 disposed parallel to side bars 51, 51
above the filter plates so that it is freely movable along
the direction in which the filter plates move. This first
carrier 56 is connected with chains 66, 66 extending along
the aforesaid rails 65, 65, these chains 66, 66 are driven
each time an adjacent pair of filter plates 52 are opened,
and the first carrier 56 is successively moved so that the
spray tube 55 carried thereby is brought to the position
just between the opened pair of filter plates 52.
As seen from Figs. 7 and 8, a second carrier 57 is made
freely movable horizontally and parallel (perpendicular) to
the surfaces of filter plates, that is, along the lateral
direction of the first carrier 56 with 4 rollers 67........ on
shafts extending parallel above the top thereof, i.e. at
~232843
the four corners thereof, carried by a pair of rails 68, 68
which also serve as lateral members of the frame of the
first carrier 56. In Fig. 8 numerals l9.c... designate the
rollers at the four corners of the second carrier 57, which
fit in and are carried by the aforesaid rails 68, 68 for the
second carrier 57 to move smoothly along them.
A driving means 70 for moving the second carrier 57 is
carried by and between sprocket 71, 71 on both end portions
of the first carrier 56 and includes a chain 72 with the
second carrier 57 connected thereto and a motor 73 for
driving the sprocket 71 on one side of the first carrier 56.
The torque of the motor 73 -is transmitted to a revolving
shaft 75 through a chain 74 and is used to drive the
sprocket 71 fixedly set on the revolving shaft 75.
As feed tube 61 which feeds the cleaning liquor from
the cleaning liquor source to the spray tube 55 and extends
from the supporting member 63 of the first carrier 56 to the
base of the spray tube 55 is used a flexible tube aye and
this flexible tube aye is dimensioned to have an ample
slackness. Displacement of the spray tube 55 from the
waiting position close to the horizontal to the vertical
position (for spraying) and the movement of the second
carrier 57 are thus allowed and, furthermore, flexible tube
- 18 -
~2321343
is used also amid the unillustrated piping between the
supporting member 63 of the f first carrier 56 and the
cleaning liquor source lest the movement of the first
carrier (movable frame) 56 should be interfered with.
As seen from Figs. 7 and 10, the second carrier 57 has
pending from its underside an arm receiving member 76.
Also, another arm receiving member 77 is provided projecting
from the connected end of the arm aye so that, when the arm
aye is positioned right downward for the spray tube 55 to be
in the downward vertical position as in Fig. 10, the arm 58b
is sandwiched between the arm receiving members 76 and 77.
Thus, as the spray tube 55 moves sideways along the filter
plate, it is kept vertical with no indication of oscillation
as indicated by I, II, III and IV in Fig. 10.
The arm driving means 62 includes a motor 78 and a
torque transmission shaft 79, and the torque generated ho
the motor 78 is conveyed to the torque transmission shaft 79
through a sprocket 80, chain 81 and another sprocket 82 for
the arm aye fixedly secured to the torque transmission shaft
79 to be rotary driven thereby.
In the periphery of the spray tube 55 there are
provided a plurality of nozzles aye opening forward and
rearward with respect to the first carrier 56, and the
cleaning liquor fed from the cleaning liquor source to the
-- 19 --
~Z3Z843
spray tube 55 through the feed tube 61 is sprayed uniformly
distributed through these nozzles aye.
In this embodiment cleaning is performed in the
following way.
After completion of filtration the withdrawing motion
of the individual filter plates 52 is detected by the
detecting elements such as limit switches, the unillustrated
motor for driving the first carrier is started by the
detection signal, and the first carrier 56 is driven thereby
on the rails 65, 65 in the direction opposite to the
withdrawing direction of the filter plates 52.
The second carrier 57 then stands by on one side of the
first carrier 56, while the arm aye is in an upward position
as shown in Fig. 7. Hence, the arm stopper 60 comes into
contact with the arm aye, the spray tube 55 is prevented
thereby from its gravitational pivoting toward the
vertically downward position, hence it is held above the
filter plates 52 and filter cloths 54 in a slightly inclined
position lest it-should interfere therewith.
The first carrier 56 stops when it has moved to where
the spray tube 55 is located between an adjacent pair of
opened filter plates 52, 52. Then, when the arm driving
means 62 is started, the arm aye starts rotating
counterclockwise in Fig. 10.
- 20 -
.. .
,. .
i23~ 3
As the arm aye rotates, the spray tube 55 gradually
moves toward the vertically downward position as indicated
by I in Fig. 10. Then, the spray tube 55 starts lowering in
its vertically downward position due to the articulated
motion of the arm baa with respect to the arm 58b, and stops
when the arm aye has reached the right downward position.
The spray tube 55 then assumes the position II in Fig. 10.
When the spray tube 55 has reached the vertically
downward position, feeding of the cleaning liquor from the
cleaning liquor source through the feed tube 61 to the spray
tube 55 is started.
Then the second carrier driving means 70 is started,
the second carrier 57 starts moving from its waiting
position toward the other end of the first carrier 56, and
the filter cloth 54 is successively cleaned from one side to
the other side thereof by the cleaning liquor sprayed
through the individual nozzles aye...... of the spray tube 55
moving left ward in its vertically downward position. When
the spray tube 55 has reached the other side of the filter
cloth 54 moving from the position III (II?) to the position
IV in Fig. 10, the motor 73 of the end carrier driving means
70 is reversed and the second carrier 57 starts moving in
the opposite direction.
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Upon return of the second carrier 57 to the initial
waiting position the second carrier arriving means 70 is
stopped with simultaneous stopping of feeding of the
cleaning liquor to the spray tube 55.
Then the motor 78 of the arm driving means 62 is
reversed, the arm aye starts rotating clockwise in Fig. 10
and reaches the position where the arm stopper 60 comes into
contact with the arm aye for the spray tube 55 to be
prevented from its gravitational rotation toward the
vertically downward position. The course thereafter is the
opposite of the "pivoting down steps" described above, and
the spray tube 55 returns to the initial waiting position
from between the filter plates 52 or filter cloths 54.
When the spray tube 55 has returned to the initial
waiting position, the motor 78 of the arm driving means 62
is stopped temporarily and then the process described above
is repeated in cycles, this interlocked with movement of the
filter plates 52.
When all filter plates have moved toward the movable
end plate side and the spray tube 55 has gone through the
last cycle of pivoting down into place between the filter
cloths 54, spraying and withdrawal therefrom, the motor for
driving the first carrier 56 is reversed and it is stopped
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when the first carrier 56 has been restored to the initial
position to be kept waiting until the start of the next
cleaning cycle.
The filter cloth cleaning device of the present
invention has advantages as enumerated below.
(A) It is possible to let the spray tube pivot down into
place between the filter cloths and let it withdraw
therefrom with the spray tube shifting means kept in the
waiting position. wince the aforesaid pivoting down
into place and withdrawal to the waiting position of the
spray tube is done through combination of rotary,
lifting and lowering motions by means of pinion-rack
mechanism and articulated arm mechanism, it is not
necessary to set the spray tube shifting stroke
excessively because of the required pivoting down and
withdrawal thereof, hence the cleaning device can be
arranged compactly above the group of filter plates.
(B) The spray tube can be kept waiting slightly slanted
downward in the space above the group of filter plates,
hence, even when the spray tube is pretty long, it is
possible to keep its forward end from getting beyond the
outermost filter plate even in its waiting position.
Hence, this cleaning device, simple in construction as
it is, is also reasonably small in space requirement,
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not interfering in this respect with other accessories
of the filter press such as the filter cloth oscillating
device.
(C) The cleaning device of the invention can be arranged
above the group of filter plates where there is a
relatively ample space, hence there is little risk of
the device being splashed with the used cleaning liquor,
soiling or corrosion of the device can be prevented
without difficulty and, moreover, the device can be
installed with greater ease.
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