Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ 169~ 15
~RO'V0 rtL~R _~;,G~ C0~5~
~etd of t~e ~ t~on
~ h~ pr---nt lnv~nt~on relat~J g~nerally to f~lter
~y-~em- In parti~ular, tho pr-~nt lnventlon r-lat~s to ~n
lmprov-d filter ~ector con~truction for u-- in a rotary di~a
filtcr ~tructur~
Ra~ground of tho ~nVSA~~
Rotary di~a f~lt-r- ar~ u~d ~or ro~oving material~ fro~
an aqueous ~uepon~io~. In ono ~ppl~cation of th- prose~t
invontion, rotary di~c filter- ar- u~ed in ~ilt-ring proce~s
for r~moving ~ ~in~r~l or- conc-ntr~t~ from a ~i~eral or-
~lurry, wb~ch i~ th- product of a ml~ral ~paration proc~
The dry ore concen~r~tc obt~ ~ ~r ~ from th- rota~y disc
filtering proces~ ~ay b~ u~4t ~or p~ tin~ or other
pro4~6~ng purpo~eo.
~ rot~ry di~c filter ~tructur~ ge~erally includes ~
plur~lity o~ wedge-~haped filt~r 6~ctor~ h filter sector
i6 covered by a rilter bag. Th~ filter 6ectors are connected
to a central cylindrical drum, and ar~ rotated about ~he
oylindrical drum durin~ di~c filter operation.
In operation, t~e cylindrical drum i~ rotated counter-
clockwi~o s~ch that tbe filter ~ector~ are ~olectively
imm~r~ed ~nd L~ ed from an aqueous suspenJion or ~lurry
~on~jn~ng the ore from which it i~ de~ir-d to remove th~
wate~. Alternat~ly, ~cuu~ or prQ~-urized air i~ applie~ to
the filter ~ector~ from a vacuu~ blower or pre~urized a~x
. ' 1
21bi9
~ourcc.
Wh~ c filtcr sector~ nmor~-d in the olurry,
~cuw~ through a ~on~ t conn~t-d to th- f~ltor
c-ctor- dr~ng wat~r throug~ b~g-typ- filt~r medlu~. Thc
or~ 1~ the aqucou- ~u~pen~ion b-comQ8 caked to t~o ext-rior
~urfac~ of th- fllt~r b,~g, while t~e wator filtrato ~ ~e~d
~etween th- r~ltor b~g and t~e f~lter ~ector. F~lt-rod t~ter
i- cont~n~ ly dra~ t}~rough the f~lt-r b~g u~til the ~llt-r
bag b~come~ t~nt~ally cak~d wit~ or~ rQr~ontratç.
Th~ f~lter ~ector continu-~ to rotate out of thc ~ ou~
~u~ens~ o~, oxpo~ g th- cakQd ore cor~çntrat- to the
atmo~ph~r- for ~ dry$ng period. Th~ v~cuu~ i~ conti~uou-ly
~ppl~ed to f~cil~tat~ rapid drying of th- f~lt-r bag and cak-d
ore ~oncentr~t-.
T~o rotary f 11t~r i~ then po~ ~ tion~d ~ov~ ~4 or~
collector bin~ Pr~Juriz-d air i8 fed through a cor~nit into
~¢h f ~ lter ~cctor to -Yr~n~ the filter bag- and drive tho
dried or~ cQncc~tra~e fro~ the ~urfac~ of th- ~ilter ~ag into
the collection bin.
q~he a~ov~ cycle i~ continually repeated to collec~
~ddit ~ a 1 ore concentrate, with a ~acuu~ being Al?P~ to
each filter ~-ctor during ; m~ner~ion ~to th- aqu~ou~
~us~en~lon of or~ and w~ter, subseguent drying Or th~ or~ c!ake
o~ t~e ~ilter bag, and pr~s~ized air ~eing ~uppl~ed to each
fllter ~ector for removal of th- dried ore ~n~ trate into
coll~ction bin~.
.
21~9~û5
Filter ~ctor~ mu~t be conYtruct~d to w~th-t~Dd ~he h~rsh
envlron~-nt assoclated wlt~ tho abov- proc-J~ F~n~ p~t~clo~
ar- dr~w~ thr~ugh the f~ltor bag durin~ th- filt-ring proc~s,
ub~ct~ng the fllt~r ~ector- to hars~ abr~ion a~d w~r
Additionally~ fllter ~ector~ ~u~t withst~d r~p~ated ~xpaJure
to w~t~r ~nd ~ub~cgu-nt drying
The repctitiY- application of a v~cuum and ~ub~equent
~ppl~tion of pre~Jurized ai~ to the filter ~ector~ ~ub~ect~
thc filter sector to ~ r~ flsx ~trQssing. ~re~ent rotary
di~c filters includ- a numb~r of filter ~ector~ which are
con~truct~d o~ he~vy m~tall~c mat-rial- to with~tand the
~v~re flex 3tre~ing. Th- h-Avy mntall~c filt~ sector~ ha~e
been found to b- parti~ularly difficult to handl~ during
rel~tively frequent chang~ of t~ filter bag. Other rotary
di-c filtQrs includ~ filter ~ect~r ~tructuxe~ ~onstruc~ed of
lighter weight ~a~erials, whic~ do n~t have the ability to
withstant th- flex ~tr~ing as effectively as the metal
filter sector~.
Pi~ter ~e~tox~ haYe al80 been designed wlth a combinat~on
of metallic an~ non-met411ic mAterial to t~ke advan~4g~ of th-
light weight of ~olded plastic, while retA;n;ng steel ribs for
reinfor~ement and structural ot_b~lity. One ~uch invention i~
di~closed in ~S~ Patent No. 4,139,472 to Simon~on, wh~ch i~
herein i~orporated by ref~r~nce.
21~2~5
Sumr~rv of t~e rny~nt~c~ -
The pr~-nt ~nvention r~l~tc~ to ~n improv~d ~lt-r
~ecto~ con-tructio~ wh~ch may b~ u--d i~ ~ rotary di~c filt~r
~tructur-. In onQ applicatio~, th- f$1t~r ~ector i~ u~d in
a rotary d~c f~lter ~or L~.lng a mlnerAl or- concentrate
from ~ ral ore aqueou~ ~u~enYion or ~lurxy.
In on- embod~ent, th- pro~ent invention ~nclude~ a
filt~ ctor ~bo~t which ~ ~ltor ~ag ~ ~ocurod. Structural
m-~n~ formed of ~Yp~n~ed ~etal ha~g a pl~ral~ty of op~ninga
ar~ prov~ded for support~ng the ~ilt~r bag. ~ddlt~on~lly,
mean~ are pro~idod for covering the ~xpanded metal to protect
th~ filtes bag.
The ~tructural mean~ may include a plur~lity of elongated
meta~ rib- located ~d~ac~nt th- exp~ ~etal and s~cur~d
to the ~ran~e~ m~tal. ThQ ~YrAn~ m~tal may b~ formed ~n a
generally open pattern. ~dditlonally, ~Qans may be p~ovided
for attaching th~ filte~ bag to the filter ~ec~or, and means
may be pro~ided for se~uring t~e filter ~ector to a rotating
filter sy~tem.
In t~e pref~rred e~odim~nt, th~ filter ~ectox ~ncludes
a pAir of generally w~ c~-shapQd ~tructural members formed o~
~Y~An~ metal ~a~ing ~ plu~ality of opening~. Means ~r~
conn-ct-d ~o the ~txuc~ural me~ber~ for s~Ac~ n~ apart th~
structural membexs. A non-met~ coat~ng cov~ th-
~tru~tural ~e r~ and th~ meano ~o~r - _ ~ed to the ~tructural
~ember~. In one embod~m~nt, the ~on-metallic c~ating i~ an
2169~5
ol~tcmeric ~naterial, and tbe ~an~ for ~p~cing ~p~t th-
~tructural member- ~ nalude~ t-llic ~r~
Th~ r of gener~lly w~dg~d-~hap-d structur~ member~
aro ~D-r~lly plAnar~ ~cb ~nclud~g ~n ~;rcuate edg-, a
~n~rally str~ght ~dg~ ASld ~ pair o~ diverg$ng sld- ~dge~.
Th~ f ~ lt~r 6~sctor furt~r lnclud~s ~esn~ ~or r~lnforcing th-
tructural me~b-rs, whlch ~ay inaludo ~t l-~t on-
long~ t~ y x~n~li n~ r-~ nforce~ent rib ~cured to tho
pl ~ r ~tructur 1 m~r ~xt~nd ~ n~ b~tw~en tho g~n~rally
~tr~ight edgc and th~ arcuat- ed~e.
~ h- ~ilter ~-¢to~ ~y furth~r iDolud~ n~ for
~ecuring a filtes bag to the filt~r ~ector, and mean~ for
~ecur~ng tll~ filt-r ~ctor to ~ rotary filter ~yotem.
Th- f ~ lter ~-~tor of th~ present in~e~tion pr~ide~ a
light-weight structurally reinforced filter ~ector which hao
tbe ab; lity to withstand the flex 6treY-ing prQ~ent in the
mlne~al or~ remo~al proc4P~. Add~t~onally, tho filt~r sector
i8 coated with a ~on-metallic.material for protecting t~e
filtor sector from hax~h filtering p~ocess ~rironment~.
In yet aAother ~mbo~ nt, t~e f ilt~r ~ector of t~e
pre~-nt in~e~ti~n includes a ~Upp~t s~r~cture, ~her-in ~t
lea~t a port~ on of the ~uppo~ u~-~re i8 ~ e~O~ a~ly
~ttach~ble. The ~uppo~ ~truotllre ~ay include a ra~e and a
pai~ of 8tructural me~bers, wherein the ~tructural mR~ber~ are
removably attachable to the frame.
Th~ ~upport stru¢tu~e m~y be cover~d wlt~ a non-metallic
2~69~05
._
coating. ~h- otructural m-~b~r~ may bo formed o~~~xp~nd-d
met~l or may bo form-d of a non-m t~ a mater~al. ~ o~
ombod~ent, th~ ~tructural m-mb~r~ ~nclud- ~ g-n~rally pl nar
urface havl~g a plurality of pro~-ctlons ~Yt~n~ing th-r fro~.
~ n~ m~y b- prov~ded for r~G~bly attaching th-
st~uctur~l mamb~rs to tho fr~ n the psoferrad ~sbod~ment,
the mean~ ~ncludes ~t le~t one pu~h-through fa~ton-r.
Alt~r~Ativoly, tllo ~ean- ~or Y~cl~ably ~ttachin~ th-
tructural memb-r~ to tho fr~c includo at l-~-t on~ bolt
y~tam.
~ n the pref~rr-d ~ho~ nt, aach ~tructur~l ~amb~r ha~
plur~lity of ~ ~n~ ngS ex~en~ ng th~rethrough, and ~nclude~
an ~rcu~te edg~, ~ gener~lly ~tr~Sght edq-, and a pair of
diverq~ng.J~de edges. ~e fr~m~ extends ~lon~ th~ arcu~te
edge and generally straiqht edge. At least on~ re~nforcem~nt
rib may xtend between the arcuatc edge and the generally
straigh~ edge, and ~t l~a~t one reinforcem~nt rib ~ay extend
~etwee~ the ~id~ edg~.
The filtcr ~ector of th~ pre~ent in~ention io r~peatedly
exposet to har~h filterin~ proces~es, ~hich ma~ damage the
filter ~ec~or ov-r tim~. Eventually, the filter ~ector may
have to b- r-rl~e~. The novel filter sector o~ the p~esent
invention, ha~ing ~ able stru~tural mem~ers ~ provides an
effici-nt and ~oot-cffecti~e method of ropl~ci~g da~aqed
filter ~ectvr structural ~e~ers, without total filter sector
replace~ent.
21692~
-
~rief D~scrip.t~ on of t~ Dras.ing~ ~
Thc $nvention will b- furth-r de~crlbed w~th r-fer-nce to
acca~panylng draui~g~ ~h~r~ lilce numb~rs re~er to li~ce part~
in ~eVQ~al view~, and whereint
Fig. 1 i~ a per~poct~ve view of the filter ~ctor of t~o
pr~en~ $nvention;
Pig. 2 1~ ~n e~cplod-d p-r6p~tive v~ ~w in part of the
filtor ~ector ~ho~m in F~ g. 1 t
Fig. 3 ia asl ~nla~ged frag~ntary per~pecti~ view t~ken
from t}~e ar~a erlc~rcled at 3 in ~ig. 2;
~ ig. 4 ~ J ~n exploded p~r~p~ctive view ln part of the
fllte~ ~ector ~hown ~n F~ g. l;
Pig . S i~ an enl~rged section taken ~ long lin~ S-S i~
~ig. 4;
~ ig. 6 i~ an enlarged frag~entary per~pective view of an
altern~tive e~bodiment of the pre~ent inve~tioTl;
Fig. 7 i~ a fragm~ntary ~ectional view taken ~long line
7-7 of Yi~. 6;
~ ig. ~ i~ a fragme~ary sectl~n~l ~ie~ s~ to that of
~ig. 7 showing another alternative embodiment of thQ pre6ent
inv-nt~on
Fig. 9 i- a fragm~nt~ry P~L ~- Liv~ vi~w of a portion of
the framo of thc alt~rnati~e -~o~mentJ ~hown in F1g~. 6-~)
a~d
Fig. 10 is a fragmentary ~ectional plan vie~ of another
alternati~e e~od;~ent of ~he pre~ent in~ent$on.
2169~5
De~cript-tQn of ~hC P-~ferr~
~rhO pre- lnt ~nv~D,tion relat~- to an ~prov-~ f~ltor
-ctor con~truct~on fc~r l~e ~n a rot~ry disc filt-r ~tructur-
Rot~ry cl$sa ~lter~ aro u~-d, for ~xa~le, ~or ~ovislq ~
~ner 1 or- concentrat- frollt a m~neral or- aqll~ou~ suJp~n~ion
or -lurr~, which i~ t}~.8 y~ t. 0~ a miner~l -par~tion
proc~s During the filt-rlng proce~Y~ th- dis~! fllt-r
~octor~ t w~th-tand hor~h ~br~-ion and vear, wltb re~e~-d
e~cpooure to w~t~r and s~3~ nt dry~ng, c~u~ g f lcx
str~-ing of th- ~ilter ~ector~
The pr~--nt filter s-cto~ construction i~ ~ble to
w~thstand the ~bove har-h f~ltering proc~o environment The
filter ~eotor provid~J for reduced m~nufacturing CoRtH and
ea~e in f~lter bag repl~c~ment Additlonally, the pre~ent
filter ~ector coAstruction i~ l~ght-w~ight, non~damagl~g to
fllter bag~, and allows for efficl-nt remnval of water ~rom
the ore ~lurry, re~ult~ng in a very dry residual cakc of oro.
Fig. 1 ~ho~s a per~pective view o~ a filter 6ector of the
present inv~ntion for UB~ with a rotary disc filtQr sy~tem
generally ~t 10. The filt~ ~ector 10 ~9 ~hown loc~t~d within
a f ilter bag 12 . ~he fil~er b~g 12 ia ~ecured to filter
sector 10 ~i~h r~tr~int rope 14.
Refer~ing to Fig. 2, a ~c~ ed pe~c~lve vlew of
filter ~e~t~r 10 i~ shown. FiltRr ~ector 10 ge~erally
~n¢ludes a ~ector grlll 16, a f~ame 19, reinforci~g rib~ 20
and collar m~her 2?. Sector g~ 16 are gen~r~lly wedged
.
21 6 9 ~ O ~
~ped, aAd include B plurality o~ o~n~s 2~. s~ct~r gr~
16 gen~rally ~nclud~ nner edg- 26, ~ outQr ~dg~ 28, ~d
~id- dq~ 30 a~d 32. In ono e~bod~-nt, tho lnn-r edqe 26 io
~tr~Lg~t, and tho outer dg~ 28 ~- gon~rally ~rcuato ~haped.
Tho ~id- ~dges 30 and 32 dlr-~ge botwe~n ~ n~r dge 26 and
out~sr ~dg- 28.
Th~ urfac~ of sector grlll~ 16 l~ q-ne~ally plaIlar, ~d
~ nclude~ ~ plurality of o~on ~ n~J~ 24 extending ther-t~ uç~h .
In th- proferr~ ho'~- ant, the ~ector gr~ll 16 ~- for~ed of
~ando~ m~t~l, whic~ may b- e~ily m~nufactur-d ~ v~rlous~
t!onfiquration~ while providing th- ~tructur~l ~upport to th~
filter ~octor 10 ~d f~lter b~g 12, and a.llow~ng fluid to pa~
ther~through. In the profer~ed ~mbodi~nt, tho ~ector grills
16 ~r~ for~od o~ ~n ~Yp~ ed met~l which ~ ~ aluminum. Th~
Qxp~r~A- ~ metal eonYtruct$on re~ult~ ~ n filt-r s~ctor~ w~ich
arl~ light-woiqht for efficient ~G~al/r~placement or the
filter sector w$thin a rotary filt~r ~ystem.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, d pair of sector grillo 16
ar- located wi~hi~ fra~e 18. Pram~ 18 io ~e~ured to the oute~
edg- 2~ and side edgeo 30 o~ o~ctor grills 16.
In t~e pr¢fer~:ed e~hQ'7~ ~.nt, th- fra~ a. me~
frAmo wh~c~ ~o fonned o~ ~ ~lat bar 36, and rodo 3~. Th~ ~la~
b~r 36 i~ located betwe-n the ec~g~8 of se~tor grills 16,
~pAc~g apart th- ~ector grills 16. Flat bar 36 i~ Le~;ULed to
~ector grill- by ~thods ~cnown in ~he art, ~uch as welding.
Two r~do 38 are welded to th~ out~ide of flat bar 36, to fonn
216~2~5
groov- ~ 0 b~tween the ~od~
~ plural~ty of reinforcement r$~ 20 ~r~ locat~d b~twc~n
t}l- ector gr~l~ 16 for ~tructur~l re~orc~ent of th-
rllt-r -ctor 10. The re~nforcing rib- 20 ar~ ~z~d ~ rly
to th~ fra~e 18 flat b~r 36. The rei~forcing rib~ 20 are
for~d of ~ g-n-r~lly rlat h~r which aid- in unlfon~l ~pacing
apare of ~ector gr111s 16 . T~e r~Aforc~ ng rib- 20 aro
gually ~paced u~thin f~lter soctor 10~ and exte~d
longlt~ n-l ly ~roDI inn~r ~dg~ 2~, to outor etg- 28. Tbo
ro~nforcing r~b~ 20 ~r- wold~d to tho ector qr~llJ 16 and thc
fr~me 1~ at th- outar adg~ 28.
A~ ~owrl ~n F$g~. 2 and 3, the filter sector lO i- coated
w~ th a no~-~ot~ o aoating 44 ~ In ~enerA l, all m~ta1ic
~urface6, pro~ ction~ and edge~ ~re evenly coated w~ t~ t~e
non-metall~c coating 44. The ~lm ~eetor 10 may be co~ted by
own proce~ uch ~ dipping the film ector 10 ~n ~ non-
metallic coating bath or throuqh a ~pray pro~e~s ~here th~
non-metallic coating 44 ~ ~pr~yed onto the film sector lO.
The no~-~et~ll;c coati~g 44 i~; a 6~ft, rèsilient coating
which protects film sector 10 during the harsh oso ~ ~-o~,,al
proc~s. Add~tlonally, th~ coatlng 44 prote¢~s the filter bag
12 ~xom being ~amaged duQ to contact with the metallic s~ctor
qr~lls 16 and fra~o 18. ln tho proferred embod$mQnt, non-
~etallia coatlng 44 i~ laotomeria coat~ng.
Collar mem~ex 22 i~ ~ecured to th~ f~lte~ ~ecto~ 10.
Coll~ ~ember 22 gene~ally i~lcludc~ 4 tubul~lr exten~ion 50,
~9~o~
~ould~r~ 52, aDd ~capula 5~. Tho scap~la 54 i~ con~cted to
tb~ tv~ul ar ext-n~to~ 50 throuqh ~ho~lder~ 52,
In a pr~ r~d embo~ nt, collar me~ber 22 ~- ~ormed o~
non-~tall~a ~la~tomertc m~t-rial. Alt~rnativ-ly, it i~
recognizod th~t coll~r ~emb r 22 m4y ~lso bo form~d of
m-t~ c m~t-ri-l and then pr-f-r~bly ~oated wlth ~ ~on-
m~tallic coatlng 44. Coll~r m~mber 22 i~ ~ecured to filter
ctor 10 by morh~eal m-~n~, ~uch a~ bolt m-~han~m 58
~x~nd~ ng through ~olea 60. The in~er odge 26 of f~lt~r
~-cto~ 10 ~ in~orted into th- collar m~ber 22 w~th ~capul~
54 extending O~Q~ th~ pl~n~r cideY of oector gr~lls 1~.
The collAr member 22 tubular exten~ion 50 pro~id~ ~or
conn~ction of th~ fllter sector 10 to a rotary f~lt~r ~ystem
(not shcwn). Th~ filtes ~ctor 10 i~ in communication w~th
the rotary filter y~t~m, ~ince pa-~ages 62 definod by ~ctor
grill 16 and ~ein~orc~ng ribY 20 are ~n dirQat cc~municatio~
w~h th~ tubular extension S0.
Pig. 1 ~how~ filter bag 1~ ~ecured a~out filter ~ector
10. Fig. 4 io a Betailed p-rspective ViQ~ 0~ filt~r ~ag 12.
Filter bag 12 is formed of ~ ~creen ~ilter m~dium 70 and
generally ~noludes ~ yoke portion 72, a body 74, ~nd ~ VELCR0
fastener ~yst-~ 76.
The filter bag 12 i- ~h~ gener~lly ~;lAr to filter
~ctor 10. The f~lt~r bag 12 ; n~ a neck D~~n~ng 78 at
the yoke 72, and a bottom apening ~n~ t~d at 80. ~he filter
hag 12 ~id~ ar~ ~ormed by securing th~ 8areen filter medlum
-
21692~)5
70 tog~tb~r a~ in~ t~d at ~am~ B2.
Filter ~ctor 10 ~- loc~t~d wi~hin fllter b~g 12 by fir~t
rl~c~ng the fllt-r b-g 12 over t~e filter ~ector 12. Tbe yo~
72 exte~ds over th~ coll~r ~m~Qr 22, ~ith tubul~r xtens~on
50 exter~ n~ up througb tho ~ck op~r~ 78. R~ferriAg to
Flg. 5, VEICR0 ia~t-n-r sys~e~ 7~ secure~ t~o botto~ of filt~r
b~g 12 ~bout thc ~ilt-r ~ector 10 outer edqe 28.
~ oferr~ng to ~g. 1, ~ig. 4, and ~ig. 5, ~llt~r bag 12 ~
~ecur-d to filt~r ~octor 10 u~ing ~estra~nt ro~e 14. After
filter ~ctor 10 is loc~t-d w~thin filter bag 12~ r--traint
rop~ 14 is po~ition-d arou~d the filter b~g 12 ~ indicated in
Figs. 4 a~d 5. R~tra~t ropo 14 i- ~ecur-ly tightened ~bout
f~lt~r bag 12 ~nd ~lt~r ~ector 10 w~th~n groo~ 40. Th-
t~ghten~d lo~tr~$nt ro~ 14 i~ then tied ~round collar member
22 and tubular exten-$on 50 uoing knot~ 84 for ~cu~e
retention of f~lter bag 12 around filter sector 10.
With filter ~ector 10 located within fll~er bag 12, t~e
~ilter ~ector 10 ~y be po~itioned within ~ rotary filter
syste~ for U8Q in an or~ f~lt~ring pr~cess.
In op~at~on, thQ presen~ ~ilter sector lO in~ntion i~
lo~ted within a rotaxy filter system used in an ore filtering
pro~es~. A plurali~y of ~ilt-r ~ctorc 10 ~re located about
~ cylindr~cal ~nu~ Th~ cylindrical dru~ i~ rot~t~d
cou~terclockwi~ ouch th~t the filter ~ctor~ lO ~r-
sele~t~vely immer~ed an~ ~smo~ed from an agu~ou- ~u~pen~ion or
~lu~ry cont~n~ng the o~ fro~ which ~t i~ desired to remove
2169~5
th- w~t-r. A vacuum or pre~urizcd a~r m~y bo ~ltexnat-ly
ap~l~ed to th- f~ r -ctor~ 10 througb tubul~r e~tons~on 50,
from a vacuum blower or pr~--uriz-d ~r source ~not hown).
Wh~n th- filt-r -ctor~ 10 ar~ l~m~rsed in the slurry,
vac~um i~ applied through a condu~t ~onn-et-d to th~ f~lt-r
~ector~ 10, t~h~ r ~xt~n~ion 50, draw~ng water throu~h tb~
filtor bag 12 ~nd planar s~ctDr g~ lC. F~ltor w~ter 1~
trawn in through fllter bag 12, thro~gh the op~n~ngJ 24 in t~e
~ector grlll 16, through passage~ 16, a~d up through t~h~ r
oxten~ion 50.
Th- or~ in the aqueou~ Yusp~nsioA become~ caked to the
exteslor urf~c~ of the filter bag 12, whllo th- ~at~r
filtrato ~ h-ld b~twe~n tbe filt~r bag 12 and the f~lter
sector lO ~nd within thQ filter ~ector 12. ~$1t~r-d w~ter i~
continually drawn through thQ filt~ b~g 12 u~til tho f~lt~
bag 12 beeomes su~tant~lly eak~d with or~ eoneQn~rate.
~ h~ filter sector 10 eontinue~ to rotat- out o~ th~
aqueous suspension or ~lurry, ~xpo~ing the ~aked ore
e~n~entrAto to the atmo6phe~Q for a dryin~;p~rlod. ~ euum
eontinues to be ap~;e~ through the tubular exten~ion 50 to
faeili~te rapid drying of th~ filter ba~ 12 and c~ked oro
~on~o~trate .
As th~ filt-r -etor 10 ~otat~ out of th~ agu~ou~
6u~ers; on or elurry, thQ watQr filtr~to flows fro~ th~
~rcu~t~ outer ed~e 28 to the inner edge 26. A6 the vaeuum ~
cont~nuou~ly applled through tubul~r extcn~ on 50, tbo wat~r
21692~S
filtratQ exits the filter sector 10 through coll~r ~mbRX 22
t~)bul~r eYten~ion 50. The ~ector gr~ 16 upport f~lt~r bag
12~ snd includo ~ plurality of o~-n~ng~ 24 ~long the ~ector
gr~ll 16 surf~co ~uch that ~ sub~t~nt~l port~on of f~lt-r bag
12 ~reen filter ~edium 70 i~ expo~d to th- v~cuu~
facilitating r~p~d dry~nq of th~ filter b~g 12 ~nd c~kod or~
co~t:eAtrate .
Tho rotary fllt-r ~nclud~ng ~ilter ~Qctor~ 10 ar-
po~itioned ~bov~ ~n or~ coll~ctor bin (~ot ~hown).
Pr---uriz-d a~r i~ fed ~hrougb tubular cxton~ion 50 ~nto ~ac~
filt~r 8ecto~ 10 to oxrA~ the filt~r b~s~ 12 ~nd drivQ the
dri~d ore concentrsto from the Jurf~c~ of the ~lter ba~ 12
into the collectlon bln. Th~ cycl~ ~ay ~Q repeated for
~oll~ting addit~n~l oro cor~ntrat- ~ th- filt~r s~ctor 10,
with ~ v~cuum being applied to each filter cector 10 during
immer~ OD into tho agu~ou~ ~u~pension of ore a~d water,
subsequent dry$ng of th- ore cak~ on the filte~ bag 12, and
pre~urized a~r being ~upplied.to aach filter ~e~to~ 10 ~or
remo~al of the dried ore o~n~e~tra~e into co~lector bin~.
The filter sector~ con~tructed in accordance with the
pre-~nt in~ention arQ ahle to ~ithstand the harYh environment
a~o~iated with the abov~ proces~. ~ino particles aro drawn
through the filter bag 12 durLng the f~lterLng proc-~s,
subj~cting tho filter ~-ctor- 10 to har-h ~bra~ion and wear.
Additionally~ th~ filter ~e~tor~ 10 ~re ablR to w~th~tand
rep~ated exposur~ to water ~nd ~u~sequent drying.
21692~5
- Th~ repetiti~e ~pplic~tlon of ~ ~¢uum ad compr~ssed a~r
to f~lt~r sec~or 10 ~ub~ect- tha fllter ~ctor 10 to ~vere
~l~x t~sin~. Th~ ~Yr~n~ metal con~tructlo~ o~ th~
pre~-nt ~ilter ~ctor invention allow~ filt~r aoctor 10 to
with~talld the o-v~ro fle~c otr~-J~ng.
~ dditlonally, the ~nt~r- f~lter ~-ctor 10 a~embl~ i-
~oated w~t~ a non-m~tallic co~ting q4, ~hich i- profer~bly
~la-tom~r~c. Th- non-m~t~ 9 ooating ~4 provides fur~her
corrosion r~ tancc to the har~h filt-r~ng proce~s. The non-
met~ coating 44 covero ~11 ~stallic ~b~r~ of tho filter
sector 10, pro~idi~g protectio~ to tho filt-r bag 12 fro~ any
m-talli~ ~h~rp etg~.
The ~Yp~n~ tal coD~truction allows for filt~ sector
to b~ for~ed of ~ relati~ely l$ght ~e~ght ~etallic
terial, providing for ea~e of filt~r bag chan~e or filt~r
sector removal. Th- generally op~n ~ector grill- 1~ allow for
water f~ltr~to to ea~ily enter the f~lter ~ctor 10, and pa~
through the pas~ages 6~ between.thQ pa~r o~ ~octor grills 16,
and ~ubeequently dischargo throug~ t~ A ~xtengion 50
~ithout undue con~trietion. Alt-rnati~ely, the filtar ~ector
10 may b- open betwean sector grill~ 16, without reinf~rcing
ri~c 20, to furtha~ ~llow ~ n~tr;cted movcm-nt o~ watex
f~ltrate through t~e ~lter ~cctor 10.
In an alt~rna~ivo s~ho~i~ent, .tho pre~-nt invention
lnclude~ ~ filter ~ector h~ving removably mounted ~ctor
grills. The rotary filter ~ector ~s repeatedly expo~ed ~o the
21 6Q205
~ar~h or- r-moval pro~es~, da~aging the filter ~ c~or over
time. Bv-ntually, the ha~ or~ rQmoval proce~ effect~ th~
Jtructur~l inte~r~ty of th- filter ~-ctor to th~ ~xtont that
th- ~llt-r ~-ctor mu-t b- r~pl~c~d.
The filt~ fiector of the pre~e~t invention, ha~ing
r movably mou~ted ~ctor gr~lls, provides an off~al~nt and
co-t--ff~ct~v~ ~etbod o~ replacing ~m~ged filt-r Jector
gr~llJ, w~thout total f~lt~r ~ctor repl~cement.
Referring to Fig. 6, ~n ~nlarg~d fragmont~y Qer~p~cti~
vie~ of ~n ~lt~n~tiv- ~ho~;~Qnt of th~ pr~ent ~n~ntion,
h~v~ng ~-ctor grill~ 16 whi~h ~re removably ~ount-d, i8 ~hown
~n~r~lly at 100. Th~ ~ector gr~llo 16 ar~ r-movably mount~d
to tho filtQr s~ctor 10 fr~m- 18 w~th fa~tener~ 102.
Fa~t~n~rs-~02 ~ecu~ s~ctor'gr~ 6 to fr~m 1~ by ~xtQnd~g
th~oug~ sector gr~ll 16 and fram~ qcurely ret~ ni ~g
~ctor grill 16 agAinst fram~ lB.
Se~tor ~rill 1~ i9 r~plac~d by fir~t re~o~ing fastener~
102. ~ext, ~ector gill 16 i~ ~e~ed and a ne~ 6ector grill
16 i- po~itioned aga~ns~ fra~e 18. ~ ~asten~r 102 i~ then
again pushed through sector grill 16 ~nd fr~m~ 18, ~ecur~ly
ret~i n; ~g ~ector grill 16 against fr~me 18.
Referr~ng to Fig. 7, ~ fragmentary s-ct;~n=l vie~ tAken
~long llne 7-7 of P$g. 6 i~ ~hown. In on~ alternati~
bo~;~ent, f~sten~r~ 102 includ~ non-met~ e, ~sh-through
f~stener~ 104. To cons~ruct filter ~ector 10, ~etallic fra~e
16 i~ fir~t coated with a non-~etallic coAting 44~ S~ ly,
2~9~5
~ecto~ grille 16, ror~d o~ ~x~~n~ metal, ~se separ~tely
coat~d with ~ no~-motalli~ coatl~g 44. S-ctor grill- ~6 axe
then Jecurely ~ttached to fram~ 18 with non-m-ta~ , pu~h-
through f~-t-n-rJ 104. In thi~ ~~hs~m nt, th-r- ~r~ no
~xpoJ~d m~t~ c ourfac~s, ~hich may b~ ~f~ct~d by th~
corrooive oro proce~o~ng y~OCC~8 Sectox gr~ll 16 may b~
ch~ng~d o~t b~ simply r~mo~lng faotener 10~, roplacing ~ctor
gr~ll 16, and ag~in ~curing th- ncw ~octor grill 16 t~ fra~e
18 w~th a new fa~ten~r 104.
Refsrri~g to Fig. 8, an ~lt~rn~tiv~ ~mbod~ent of the
r~mov~bly mouDt~d filt~r ~ector oy~te~ ~ s~own g~n~rally a~
10~. In y-t~ 106, tho ~ector grills 16 ar~ r~movably
unt~d to fr~m~ 18 u-~ng f~otenero 102, which ~lclude~ a bolt
system 108. Bolt oystem 10~ in~ludes bolt~ 109, wa~her~ 110
and 112, and nut 114 for re~ov~bly securing seoto~ grill 1~ ~o
frame 1~.
~ pxef er~ed pmh~ im~nt of the fra~e 18 used in the
alter~ative embodiments shown i~ Fig~. b~ hown generally
at 116. The frame 118 edge member~ are formed of ~ ~et~llic
U_C~Ann~! 120. Reinforci~g ribs 20 ext~nd between the inner
edge 2~ ~not shown) and the bott~m edge 28, and for additional
~tructural ~uppo~t, re~nforcing ribs 20 may extend be~we~n
~de ~dge 30 and side edge 32 tnot ~hown). The reinforcing
ribs 20 are socured to ra~e 18 by known method~, ~u~h a~
weld6 122.
~ e~ 124 aro loc~ed ~v~nly ~paced arol~d u-~h~nn~l 120.
17
21632~5
~Iole~ 124 allow thQ ~ctor grill- 16 to be remova~lr~ounted
to fr~e 18 u-~ng f~-tener~ 102. Met~ q ~ctor fr~ may
t~en b~ co~t-d ~$th a non-metall~c co~t~ng, such a~ ~n
elastom~ric co~t~ng, to protect t~ m~tallic fr~e from ha~r~h
f~ltering procc88~.
Yet another alternatiY- cmbod~ent of th~ pr~ent
inv~nt~ on ~- ho~n gcn~rally at 130 in F~. lO . The f~lt~r
aoctor 10 hown in F~g. 10 can be con~truct~d ~ lar to th-
f~lter ~ector d~clo~ed ~n U.S. Patent ~c. 4,139,4~2 to
S~nonson, which ha~ b~on ~ncorporat~d ~nto th~ ~ applic4tion by
r~fer~nce. ~n t~i~ Q~bod~m~nt, ~cto~ grill~ 16 are gQnerally
fo~med of A no~-met~ mat~riAl ~nd include o, pluralitsr Of
~ubJtantially cyl~ l~drical yroj~ct~on~ for ~uppo~ting the
filter bag. The fra~ne 18 i~ gRn~r~lly for~ed of a ~et~llic
materi~l for 6tmctural ~upport. ~he sector grill~ 16 ~r be
r~ rably mount~d to fr~me 18 u~ing fa~t~ners 102. In thc
preferred embod;~ent ~hown in Fig. 10, tho fa~tener 102
i~ludes a bolt ~y~tem 10~.
After a period of u~e, tho sector grill~`16 oft-n become
damaged from the ore removal prooes8 and need to be replaced.
The removably mouIIted sector grill~ 16 of the prese~t
invention allow ~eotor grillo 16 ~o be a~ily re~oYed and
repl ~,~eA in a ~o~t-~ffective ~nd eff ~ cient manner without
havin~ to r~plac~ th- entire filter 9eot~r in ~ rotary filter
~ystem.
It will b~ underctood t~t thi~ di-closure i~ many
~1632~
re~pects~ only i~lu~tr~tive. Change- ~y ~ ~de iD~eta~lo~
p~rtlc~larly in J~utter~ of ~hapc, ~s ze, mat~r~ nd
arrangem~nt of p~ without ~xce~3din5 th~ 8~0p- of the
$nvont$on. Eor ex~plo, ~t i~ recoqniz~d t~at th~ filter
~ector g ill~ m~y toke on diff~rent sh~p~s and ~liZe8,
including variou~ly ~h~ped ~l~eningJ w~thln the pl~nar ~u~faco,
wh~le retaln~ the novel f~aturo of ~ f~lter ~ector for~ed of
an ~panded mot~l con~truction including ~ non-m~t~llic
c~oating. l~ddition~lly, it i~ ~c--GyllizQd that th- ~o~ly
~ountQd filter s~ctor g~ of th- present i~ Dtion may tak~
on ~Any forDI~ a~d ~y bc mo~tod to th~ ~ector frame by other
methods, while ret~ni~ the no~el remo~ably ~ounted feature~
of the pre~ent invention. Accordingly, the ~col;le of the
invent~ o, i~ as dafined in the languagQ o~ thc ~r,r~A~-l
cl~imo .
