US-12623164-B2 - Filter press adapter

US12623164B2US 12623164 B2US12623164 B2US 12623164B2US-12623164-B2

Abstract

A filter press device includes a supporting frame and elongated side rails disposed parallel and horizontally on the supporting frame. A following head assembly is disposed on an end portion of the supporting frame, and a following head assembly is movably disposed on another end portion of the supporting frame. The elongated side rails support a combination of filter plates of varying sizes through one or more adapters. An adapter plate interposes between adjacent filter plates of different sizes, providing fluidic communication between the different sized filter plates.

Inventors

Gerhard Sekot
Lucia Gnauer
Wolfgang Teschner

Assignees

TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20210609

Claims (10)

1 . A filter press device comprising: a supporting frame; a first elongated side rail and a second elongated side rail disposed parallel thereto and on a first side portion and a second side portion of the supporting frame respectively; a stationary head assembly disposed on a first end portion of the supporting frame and adjacent to each of the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail, wherein the stationary head assembly comprises a first array of channels defined by a first length; a following head assembly disposed on a second end portion of the supporting frame and adjacent to each of the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail, the following head assembly movable along a lengthwise direction of the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail forwardly towards and rearwardly away from the stationary head assembly; a plurality of plates supported on and between the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail by one or more frame adapters slidably coupling each plate in the plurality of plates to the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail, wherein: each respective plate in the plurality of plates comprises: a second array of channels defined by a second length different from the first length, and a first support arm and a second support arm outwardly extending from opposing side surfaces of the respective plate, wherein each respective support arm supports the respective plate on a member selected from the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail, and wherein each respective support arm is accommodated by a frame adapter in the one or more frame adapters, and the plurality of plates is movable along the lengthwise direction of the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail forwardly towards and rearwardly away from the stationary head assembly between the stationary head assembly and the following head assembly in accordance with a movement of the following head assembly; and an adapter plate interposes between the plurality of plates and the stationary head assembly, wherein the adapter plate comprises: a first surface abutting an adjacent surface of an end plate in the plurality of plates, a second surface opposing the first surface and abutting an adjacent surface of the stationary head assembly, and a plurality of channels, each respective channel in the plurality of channels traversing from the first surface to the second surface and connecting a corresponding channel in the first array of channels on the first surface to a corresponding channel in the second array of channels of the second surface, thereby providing fluidic communication between the plurality of plates and the stationary head assembly.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more frame adapters comprises a supporting frame adapter, wherein the supporting frame adapter comprises a first enclosing portion and a second enclosing portion opposing the first enclosing portion and removably coupled thereto, and wherein each of the first enclosing portion and the second enclosing portion of the supporting frame adapter comprises: a first groove disposed at a first edge portion of the enclosing portion, the first groove accommodating a portion of the support arm; a coupling surface configured to removably engage with a corresponding coupling surface of an opposing enclosing portion of the supporting frame adapter; and a second groove disposed at a second edge portion of the enclosing portion, the second groove supporting the plate on a member selected from the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein for each enclosing portion of the supporting frame adapter, each coupling surface defines a through hole disposed on a face of the enclosing portion and aligned with a corresponding through hole of the opposing enclosing portion of the supporting frame adapter, the through hole accommodating a connector penetrating each through hole of the supporting frame adapter.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more frame adapters comprises an encompassing frame adapter surrounding a first external surface of a respective plate in the plurality of plates, wherein the encompassing frame adapter comprises a through-hole defining a second external surface and an internal surface of the encompassing frame adapter, and wherein: the internal surface corresponds to the first external surface of the respective plate and configured to accommodate the plate; and the second external surface comprises a first encompassing adapter support arm extending outwardly from a first side surface of the second external surface and a second encompassing adapter support arm extending outwardly from a second side surface opposing the first side surface of the second external surface, wherein each respective encompassing adapter support arm supports the respective plate on a member selected from the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the encompassing frame adapter is integrally formed with the plate.
6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the encompassing frame adapter further comprises a gasket disposed about the internal surface of the encompassing frame adapter, thereby interposing between the internal surface of the encompassing frame adapter and the supporting frame of the plate.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more frame adapters comprises a first sleeve frame adapter and a second sleeve frame adapter, and wherein each sleeve frame adapter of the first sleeve frame adapter and the second sleeve frame adapter comprises: a first groove disposed at a first edge of the sleeve frame adapter facing a first external surface of a respective plate in the plurality of plates, the first groove accommodating a member selected from the first support arm or the second support arm of each respective plate in the plurality of plates; and a second groove disposed at a second edge of the sleeve frame adapter, the second groove supporting the plurality of plates on a member selected from the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail.
8 . A filter press device comprising: a supporting frame; a first elongated side rail and a second elongated side rail disposed parallel thereto and on a first side portion and a second side portion of the supporting frame respectively; a stationary head assembly disposed on a first end portion of the supporting frame and adjacent to each of the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail, wherein the stationary head assembly comprises a first array of channels defined by a first length; a following head assembly disposed on a second end portion of the supporting frame and adjacent to each of the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail, the following head assembly movable along a lengthwise direction of the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail forwardly towards and rearwardly away from the stationary head assembly; a plurality of plates supported on and between the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail by one or more frame adapters slidably coupling each plate in the plurality of plates to the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail, wherein: each respective plate in the plurality of plates comprises: a second array of channels defined by a second length different from the first length, and a first support arm and a second support arm outwardly extending from opposing side surfaces of the respective plate, wherein each support arm supports the respective plate on a member selected from the first elongated side rail and the second elongated side rail, and wherein each support arm is accommodated by a frame adapter in the one or more frame adapters, and the plurality of plates traverses between the stationary head assembly and the following head assembly in accordance with a movement of the following head assembly; and an adapter plate mechanism interposes between the plurality of plates and the stationary head assembly, wherein the adapter plate mechanism comprises: a first adapter plate comprising: a first surface abutting an adjacent surface of an end plate in the plurality of plates, a second surface opposing the first surface and facing a third surface of a second adapter plate, and a first plurality of channels, each respective channel in the first plurality of channels aligned with a corresponding channel in the second array of channels and traversing from the first surface to the second surface, and the second adapter plate comprising: the third surface, a fourth surface opposing the third surface and facing a fifth surface of the stationary head assembly, and a second plurality of channels, each respective channel in the second plurality of channels aligned with a corresponding channel in the first array of channels and traversing from the first surface to the second surface; and a plurality of tubes, wherein each respective tube in the plurality of tubes extends from a corresponding channel from the first plurality of channels and a corresponding channel from the second plurality of channels, thereby providing fluidic communication between the plurality of plates and the stationary head assembly.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein each respective tube in the plurality of tubes is a flexible tube.
10 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of spacers, each respective spacer in the plurality of spacers extending horizontally and interposing between the first adapter plate and the second adapter plate.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a 371 U.S. National Phase Application of International Patent Application No.: PCT/US2021/036652, entitled “Filter Press Adapter,” filed Jun. 9, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/036,718, entitled “Filter Press Adapter,” filed Jun. 9, 2020, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in entirety for all purposes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present disclosure relates to a filter press device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to adaptors for a filter press device. Description of Related Art Filter presses are well known and extensively utilized for separating solids from slurries. Referring briefly to FIG. 13, a conventional filter press device will now be described to aid in understanding the general operation of the filter press device. Filter press 1300 utilizes a series of plates 1310 to filter a media, such as a slurry. Plates 1310 includes filter plates 1312 and frame plates 1314 that are adjacent to one another and in an alternating configuration, such that each frame plate 1314 is neighbored by two filter plates 1312. Plates 1310 further include end plates 1316, which are configured for contacting and interfacing with one of fixed head mechanism 1340 and following head 1352. Each plate 1310 is independently and slidably supported and on frame 1320 by pair of elongated side rails 1330. Support arms 1332 of each plate 1310 interact with one of elongated side rails 1330. In this way, a lateral distance between elongated side rails 1330 defines a size of plate 1310 that can be used with filter press 1310. Following head mechanism 1350 includes following head 1352 that abuts end plate 1316 and, optionally, controller 1354 and hydraulic cylinder 1356, which collectively provide power and instructions to following head 1352. A space defined between each filter plate 1312 and frame plate 1314 is lined with a filter media, such as a filter cloth or a membrane. An internal cavity is defined by frame plate 1314 with filter media lined on each side of frame plate 1314. Each plate 1310 includes one or more apertures permitting fluidic communication between filter plates 1312 and frame plates 1314. In this way, a filtering surface area increases proportional to a number of filter plates 1312 and frame plates 1314 used with filter press 1300. Slurry is pumped into and through filter press 1300 via fix head mechanism 1340 and/or end plate 1316 for collecting solids in the form of a cake in the internal cavities defined by frame plates 1314. One or more inlets of each frame plate 1314 is provided to introduce slurry into the internal cavities on an upstream side of the filter media, and one or more outlets communicate with each internal cavity on a downstream side of the filter media. Once the internal cavities in the frame plates 1314 are filled with slurry, the delivery pressure of the incoming slurry is adjusted such that the liquid component is displaced through the filter media and the solid particulate matter is retained within the internal cavity upstream from the filter media. The filtered liquid, or filtrate, moves to the outlet(s), where it is discharged. The filter cycle continues until completion. In some embodiments, upon competition, following head 1352 is backed away from plates 1310. Plates 1310 are moved apart from one another into an open position to permit discharge of the cake, which is collected in frame plates 1314. To permit movement of plates 1310 into an open position, a plate shifting mechanism is typically provided on adjacent opposing sides of filter press 1300 for permitting automatic or manual control over plate 1310 movement and cake discharge. While filter press devices are available in a range of sizes, each filter press device is limited to accepting a restricted range of plate sizes. This restriction is because each respective plate is individually supported on the elongated side rails of the filter press and a distance between the elongated side rails is fixed and defined by the filter press device. Oversized plates are too large to fit between the elongated side rails, while undersized plates slip through the elongated side rails since the support mechanism of the undersized plates cannot reach both of the elongated side rails. Furthermore, if undersized plates can be accommodated on the elongated side rails, the inlets and outlets of the do not align with the inlets and outlets of the media, such that fluidic communication in the filter press device cannot exist. Thus, prior to the present disclosure there existed a need to modularly incorporate filters plates of different sizes with different sized conventional filter press device. The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any