Abstrict
A filter cloth oscillating apparatus for a filter press wherein
the filter cloth generally suspended over springs from a filter
cloth hanging rod extending laterally perpendicular to the direction
in which filter plates are opened to oscillate the rod and cloth
to shake off and filter cake adhering thereto has a drive unit and
crank mechanism mounted on a moving bed for moving the upper portion
of a filter press horizontally, an oscillating head and actuator
therefor, and by means of a plurality of guide members for oscillating
the head vertically as well as horizontally. The oscillating head
is lowered and raised pneumatically so that in the covered position
it can engage with and oscillate the filter cloth hanging rod.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a filter cloth oscillating apparatus for a filter press wherein
the filter cloth hangs from a rod suspended from springs and extends
laterally perpendicular to the direction of opening of filter plates
of the press, the oscillating apparatus being mounted on a bed movable
horizontally in the direction of opening of the filter plates and
having a head movable upwardly and downwardly to a position of contacting
engagement with the filter cloth hanging rod, the improvement comprising:
a plurality of spaced vertical guide shafts mounted on the bed;
a plurality of spaced parallel horizontal guide shafts operatively
supported on said vertical guide shafts for slidable movement along
said vertical guide shafts;
a head actuating means operatively supported on said horizontal
guide shafts for slidable movement along said horizontal guide shafts;
crank means operatively mounted on the bed and operatively connected
to said head actuating means to slidably move said head actuating
means on said guide shafts;
head raising and lowering means operatively mounted on said head
actuating means and operatively connected to said head to raise
and lower said head with respect to said head actuating means; and
drive means mounted on the bed and operatively connected to said
crank means to operate said crank means;
said guide shafts, head actuating means, and crank means being
cooperatively arranged so that said head is movable by said crank
means in an oscillating motion in a vertical plane.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of
horizontal guide shafts comprises an upper and lower horizontal
guide shaft; and further comprising
a horizontal guide sleeve slidably mounted on each horizontal guide
shaft, and
a pair of spaced vertical head guiding elements slidably supported
in said guide sleeve on said lower horizontal guide shaft and connected
to said head.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said crank means
comprises
a crank shaft rotatably mounted on said bed operatively connected
to said drive means to be driven thereby;
a crank arm mounted on said shaft to be rotated thereby; and
a crank pin mounted on said guide sleeve on said lower horizontal
guide shaft rotatably connected to said crank arm so that rotation
of said crank shaft produces said oscillating motion of the head.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said head raising
and lowering means comprises:
a fluid actuated piston and cylinder unit the cylinder of which
is mounted on and extends between said horizontal guide sleeves;
and
a piston rod extending from said cylinder and connected to said
head.
5. In a filter cloth oscillating apparatus for a filter press wherein
the filter cloth hangs from a rod suspended from springs and extends
laterally perpendicular to the direction of opening of filter plates
of the press, the oscillating apparatus being mounted on a bed movable
horizontally in the direction of opening of the filter plates and
having a head movable upwardly and downwardly to a position of contacting
engagement with the filter cloth hanging rod, the improvement comprising:
a crank shaft rotatably mounted on the bed;
a crank arm on said crank shaft to be rotated thereby;
drive means operatively connected to said crank shaft to rotate
said shaft;
a head actuating member operatively connected at one position thereof
to said crank arm and at a second position to said bed so that said
second position is moved reciprocally with respect to said bed by
circular oscillation at the first position produced by said crank
arm;
means to support the head on said head actuating member for movement
therewith; and
head raising and lowering means on said head actuating member and
connected to the head to move the head relative to said head actuating
member.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein:
said head actuating member extends substantially vertically and
is operatively connected at said one position to said crank arm
to be oscillated near the upper end in a circular motion; and further
comprising
a guide member mounted on the bed adjacent the lower end of said
head actuating member;
a vertical guide slot in said guide member;
a guide pin mounted on said head actuating member at said second
position adjacent the lower end thereof and operatively slidably
engaging in said guide slot;
so that oscillating motion at the upper end of said head actuating
member by said crank arm produces oscillation of said head.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein:
said head actuating member extends substantially horizontally with
respect to said bed; and further comprising
a horizontal guide rail on said bed disposed in a vertical plane
extending parallel to the direction in which the filter plates are
opened; and
a roller pivotally mounted on said head actuating member at said
second position operatively engaging said guide rail for guiding
rolling engagement therein.
8. In a filter cloth oscillating apparatus for a filter press wherein
the filter cloth hangs from a rod suspended from springs and extends
laterally perpendicular to the direction of opening of filter plates
of the press, the oscillating apparatus being mounted on a bed movable
horizontally in the direction of opening of the filter plates and
having a head movable upwardly and downwardly to a position of contacting
engagement with the filter cloth hanging rod, the improvement comprising:
a crank shaft rotatably mounted on the bed;
a crank arm on said crank shaft to be rotated thereby;
drive means operatively connected to said crank shaft to rotate
said shaft;
a head actuating member extending substantially vertically and
having an upper and a lower end;
means to operatively connect said head actuating member near said
upper end to said crank arm to be oscillated thereby in a circular
motion;
a guide arm pivotally connected at one end to said bed and at the
other to said head actuating member near said lower end;
means to support the head on said head actuating member for movement
therewith; and
head raising and lowering means on said head actuating member operatively
connected to the head to move the head relative to said head actuating
member;
so that oscillating motion at said upper end produced by said crank
arm oscillates said head.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filter cloth oscillating apparatus
for a filter press, more particularly to an apparatus for giving
oscillation to a filter cloth hanging rod suspended over springs
in a direction perpendicular to the filter plate's opening direction
so as to oscillate the filter cloth hung from the suspended rod
thereby shaking filter cake off the filter cloth.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of the prior art relating to a filter cloth oscillating
apparatus for a filter press of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,622,005.
One improved apparatus for first lowering the oscillating head
to where it comes into contact with the filter cloth hanging rod
and then oscillating it horizontally for oscillating the filter
cloth by the action of the wavy part in the lower end of the oscillating
head is disclosed in (Japanese Publication No. Sho-54-19622) and
another improved apparatus for transmitting the crank's rotary motion
to the oscillating head to cause the oscillating head in contact
with the filter cloth hanging rod to undergo a circular motion for
oscillating the filter cloth is disclosed in Japanese Publication
No. Sho-54-24747.
In the first Japanese publication the filter cloth hanging rod
is oscillated with the wavy part at the lower end of the oscillating
head, however, the filter cloth is subjected to friction as the
oscillating head undergoes sliding motion, possibly resulting in
injury of the filter cloth.
In the second Japanese publication in which circular motion is
imparted to the oscillating head, the change of direction proceeds
slowly in the horizontal cyclic motion of the oscillating head,
hence the impact applied to the filter cloth hanging rod is weak
and filter cloth oscillating effect is not sufficient.
The adhesiveness of the filter cake deposited on the filter cloth
after filtration of the liquid to the filter cloth is very marked.
Hence, for attaining removal of filter cake as thoroughly as possible,
it is important in a filter press to be able to shake off the filter
cake quickly without causing damage to the filter cloth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a filter cloth
oscillating apparatus for a filter press, which is free of the defects
as described above, simple in construction, has the motion of the
oscillating head well stabilized and also has the oscillation stroke
easily variable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to
the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partially cross-sectional front elevational view showing
an embodiment of the present invention, half of a laterally symmetric
filter press;
FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional right side view FIG. 1.
FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 3b is a right side view of a part of FIG. 3a,
FIG. 4 is a right side view of FIG. 3a;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 3a;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of still another embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a right side view of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 9 is a right side view of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary rear view of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating the function of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The filter press to which the present invention is applied is identical
with, for example, that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,005. Hence,
although it is not illustrated here, a filter press of this known
type has a lateral pair of horizontal filter plate supporting rails
between a fixed end plate frame having a liquor inlet and the other
end plate movable by hydraulic pressure and a plurality of filter
plates supported thereby and therebetween to be freely slidable.
And, as shown by imaginary lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, a filter cloth
hanging rod 3 is suspended from pins 1' at the top end of a linked
arm 1 between individual filter plates pivoted to both sides in
the top of each filter plate over a coil spring 2, filter cloths
4 hung from the filter cloth hanging rod 3 extending downward between
the individual filter plates to be pressed thereby during filtration.
According to the present invention, there is provided a frame-shaped
movable bed 5 located above the filter press and freely movable
both ways along the opening direction of the filter plates. There
are connected perpendicular to the upper frame 5a and lower frame
5b of one side of the movable bed 5 vertical guide shafts 6, 6 by
brackets 5'a, 5'b. Then, there are provided horizontal guide shafts
7, 7 vertically apart from each other with both ends thereof in
free slidable relationship with the above-mentioned guide shafts
6.
As mentioned below, the above-mentioned horizontal guide shafts
7, 7 are provided with a head actuating means 8, a drive means 9
mounted on the above-mentioned movable bed 5 and a shaft 10 of the
drive means 9 connected with the head actuating means 8 and there
is also provided a crank means 11, which rotates with the shaft
10 to drive the head actuating means 8. The head actuating means
8 is connected with an oscillating head 12 which is, as described
below, carried to be freely movable vertically and comes into contact
with the filter cloth hanging rod 3 at the lower end of its stroke
and also with a head lifting and lowering means 13 which lifts and
lowers the above-mentioned oscillating head 12.
The movable bed 5 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped
frame, has 4 guide rollers 14 carried on both, front and rear, sides
thereof mounted on a lateral pair of horizontal guide rails 15,
15 above the frame of the filter press and is moved in the filter
plates' opening direction by means of an unillustrated chain conveyor.
The vertical guide shafts 6, 6 are supported apart from and parallel
to each other between the upper frame 5a and lower frame 5b of one
side of the movable bed 5. Meanwhile, the horizontal guide shafts
7, 7 with guide sleeves 7a, 7a formed at both ends thereof fitted
with the individual guide shafts 6, 6 are mounted horizontally between
the vertical guide shafts 6, 6 to be freely slidable vertically.
The head actuating means 8 is I-shaped with a vertically spaced
pair of lateral guide sleeves 16, 16' connected by a vertical stiffener
17. The above lateral guide sleeves 16, 16' are mounted on the horizontal
guide sleeves 7, 7 respectively so as to be freely slidable both
ways along the moving direction of the filter plates. Since in this
construction the horizontal guide shafts 7 are free to move vertically
along the above-mentioned guide shafts 6, 6, it means that the head
actuating means 8 produces a motion unrestrained also vertically.
The drive means 9 is composed of a motor 18 and a shaft 10 driven
thereby. The shaft 10 is carried by bearings 27, 28 on the underside
of the movable bed 5 perpendicular to the actuating vertical face
of the head actuating means 8. The torque produced by the motor
18 is transmitted through a speed reducer 26, sprocket 23, chain
24 and sprocket 25 to the shaft 10. Meanwhile, a crank means 11
is composed of a crank pin 19 projecting from the rear end of the
lateral guide sleeve 16' under the head actuating means 8 and a
crank arm 20 fixedly connected to one end of the shaft 10 and carrying
the above crank pin 19 rotatably in the pin accommodating hole 20a
in its tip.
The head lifting and lowering means 13 comprises a pneumatic actuator,
whose piston rod 13a is vertically orientated and connected perpendicularly
to the front face of vertical stiffener 17 of the head actuating
means 8 for lifting and lowering the oscillating head 12 connected
to the lower end of the piston rod 13a with respect to the filter
cloth hanging rod 3 underneath.
On the top of the oscillating head 12 there are provided a pair
of upright guide shafts 21, 21, which are fitted through vertical
sleeves 22, 22 formed at both ends of the lower lateral guide sleeve
16' of the head actuating means 8. Smooth lifting and lowering of
the oscillating head 12 with respect to the head actuating means
8 is thus ensured. It is desirous to have the underside of the oscillating
head 12 which comes into contact with the filter cloth hanging rod
3 provided with rubber sheet or cloth so as to prevent slipping
of the oscillating head 12 with respect to the filter cloth hanging
rod 3.
Compressed air supply pipings 13b, 13c connected to the cylinder
of the head lifting and lowering means 13 are disposed above bed
guide rails 15, 15 with enough slack to allow movement of the movable
bed 5.
The operation of the above-described embodiment is as follows.
When, with filtration over, the filter plates are being opened
successively, the movable bed 5 is moved by means of the unillustrated
chain the right above the filter cloth 4 between the opened filter
plates. Then, the head lifting and lowering means 13, in response
to manipulation of the compressed air supply control means, lowers
the oscillating head 12 as indicated in phantom in FIG. 1 to where
it can act on the filter cloth hanging rod 3.
When the motor 18 is started with the oscillating head 12 lowered
to where it can act on the filter cloth hanging rod 3 as mentioned
above, the shaft 10 is driven to rotate via sprocket 23, chain 24
and sprocket 25 and its torque is transmitted via crank means 11
to the head actuating means 8. The freedome of the head actuating
means 8 to move horizontally guided by the horizontal guide shafts
7, 7 and the freedom of the horizontal guide shafts 7, 7 to move
vertically guided by the vertical guide shafts 6, 6 allow the head
actuating means 8 to make a circular motion with the shortest distance
between the shaft 10 and the crank pin 19 as radius. Hence the oscillating
head 12 supported by the head actuating means 8 similarly undergoes
a circular motion. Accordingly, the filter cloth hanging rod 3 pressed
down by the oscillating head 12 undergoes a circular motion as indicated
in phantom in FIG. 2, and the filter cloth 4 is swung forward and
backward, that is, along the direction in which filter plates open,
being oscillated vertically as well. Further, besides the above-mentioned
motion caused by the oscillating head 12, there is a motion in which
the filter cloth hanging rod 3 undergoes a sliding movement in the
opposite direction, and since the filter cloth is thus subjected
to positive oscillation not only vertical but also longitudinal,
the filter cake adhering to the filter cloth 4 can be effectively
shaken off.
In this embodiment, freedom to move horizontally as well as vertically
is imparted to the head actuating means 8 by guiding it horizontally
directly by means of the horizontal guide shafts 7, 7 on the one
hand and by guiding the horizontal guide shafts 7, 7 vertically
by means of the vertical guide shafts 6, 6 secured to the movable
rod 5 on the other hand. Besides such example, however, it is also
possible, conversely, to guide the oscillating head 12 directly
and vertically by means of the vertical guide shafts 6, 6 and the
vertical guide shafts 6, 6 by means of the horizontal guide shafts
7, 7 secured to the movable bed.
According to the filter cloth oscillating apparatus of the present
invention, it is possible to stabilize the circular motion of the
head actuating means 8 by a simple structure made up of vertical
and horizontal guide members, without unduly complicating the construction
and, moreover, to adjust the stroke of the oscillating head 12 by
simply changing the length of the crank arm 20 of the crank means
11, the filter cloth oscillating apparatus of the invention thus
having a good general-purpose feature.
Shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 is another embodiment, in which, as
in the aforesaid embodiment, a movable bed 35 disposed above the
filter press is adapted to be driven by a drive shaft 36 above,
and the guide rollers 41, 42 supported by both side walls 35a, 35b
below are guided by a pair of movable bed rails 43 disposed above
the filter cloth hanging rod 3. Also, as in the aforesaid embodiment,
the movable bed 35 is movable in the filter plate's opening direction
by means of a chain conveyor (not shown).
A drive means 37 comprises a motor 44 mounted on the movable bed
35 and the drive shaft 36 which is carried at a level half the height
of the movable bed 35 with its axis parallel to the filter cloth
hanging rod 3 and arranged to be driven by a motor 44 through a
sprocket 45, chain 46 and another sprocket 47. Numeral 48 designates
an inertia device with one end thereof secured to the drive shaft
36. This inertia device 48 serves to stabilize the rotation of the
drive shaft 36 so that the filter cloth hanging rod 3 is oscillated
by the latter vigorously and stably against the tension of the spring
2.
In this embodiment there is provided as head actuating means a
member 38 (hereinafter referred to as "actuator"), which
is arranged to be worked on the movable bed 35 by a crank 36a driven
by the drive means 37.
The actuator 38 is disposed vertically to extend downward through
an opening 49 made around the center on the side nearer to the drive
shaft 36 of the movable bed 35 and a pin 38a projecting from its
side near the top is connected with the crank 36a of the drive shaft
36. A guide pin 50 is provided, projecting from its side near the
bottom toward the drive shaft 36 through a slot 52 in a guide member
51 disposed to extend from the lower end face of the movable bed
35 parallel to the actuator 38. It is thereby arranged so that,
when the upper end of the actuator 38 is caused to make a "crank
motion", its lower end is moved vertically by the same stroke.
There is also provided a head lifting and lowering means 40. This
head lifting and lowering means 40 consists essentially of a pneumatic
actuator, and an oscillating head 39 connected to the lower end
of its downwardly disposed piston rod 40a extends downward toward
the filter cloth hanging rod 3. On both sides, left and right, of
the top of the oscillating head 39 there are provided a pair of
guide shafts 39a, 39a projecting upward therefrom, and these are
fitted through vertical guide sleeves 53, 53 extending from the
underside of the actuator 38 on both sides thereof so as to allow
smooth lifting and lowering motion of the oscillating head 39 with
respect to the actuator 38. The lower end face of the oscillating
head 39 which comes into contact with the filter rod hanging rod
3 is covered with rubber sheet or cloth so as to prevent slipping
of the oscillating head 39 against the filter cloth hanging rod
3.
Compressed air supply pipings 40b, 40c connected to the cylinder
of the head lifting and lowering means 40 are arranged above movable
bed guide rails 43 to have ample slack so as to allow the movement
of the movable bed 35, this being the same as in the aforementioned
embodiment.
Now described is the operation of this filter cloth oscillating
apparatus.
When, with filtration over, the filter plates are being opened
successively, the movable bed 35 is moved by means of the unillustrated
chain conveyor to a position right above the filter cloth 4 between
the opened filter plates. Then the compressed air supply control
means (not shown) is started, and the oscillating head 39 is lowered
by the head lifting and lowering means 40 to where it can act on
the filter cloth hanging rod 3 as shown in phantom in FIG. 3.
When the motor 44 is started with the oscillating head 39 lowered
as aforesaid and ready to act on the filter cloth hanging rod 3,
the drive shaft 36 is driven through the sprocket 45, chain 46 and
sprocket 47, and the rotation (torque) of the drive shaft 36 is
transmitted via the crank 36a to the actuator 38. The actuator 38
so driven enters into a vertical (reciprocating) motion along the
slot 52 to be oscillated with the guide pin 50 as the center, for
this guide pin 50 near the bottom of the actuator 38 is engaged
in the slot 52 of the guide member 51 secured to the movable bed
35.
Hence, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4, the oscillating head 39 integral
with the actuator 38 is oscillated in contact with the filter cloth
hanging rod 3, the way it oscillates being as shown in the figure
by the sketch below in which (I) (II) (III) (IV) show the order
of steps in a cycle of oscillation. Since, as it undergoes a cycle
of oscillation, the direction in which it presses on the filter
cloth hanging rod 3 is changed successively, the filter cloth 4
is subjected to a vigorous shaking motion. Hence, even flakes of
filter cake known to be difficult to remove can be effectively shaken
off the filter cloth 4, to say nothing of larger, sticky masses
of filter cake.
The vertical amplitude of the oscillating head 39 is adjustable
by simply changing the length of the crank 36a of the drive shaft
36, and the filter cake shaking effect of the filter cloth 4 can
be adjusted more elaborately by combining the above adjusting means
with adjustability of the speed (rpm) of the drive shaft 36'. The
inertia device 48 attached to the drive shaft 36 helps in stabilizing
the rotation thereof, so that by the aid of this inertia device
48 the filter cloth hanging rod 3 can be oscillated vigorously and
stably against the tension of the spring 2 for efficient shaking-off
of the filter cake even when the tension of this spring 2 (of the
filter cloth hanging rod 3) is relatively high and possibly also
irregular or subject to fluctuation.
The slot 52 of the guide member 51, which is provided in this embodiment
to extend vertically, can have its direction and/or shape modified
for increased variety of the patterns of oscillation of the actuator
38.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification of the above-described embodiment,
wherein the actuator 38, which with its guide pin 50 engaged in
the slot 52 of the guide member 51 was retained in the above embodiment
to be freely slidable (along the slot 52), has one end thereof rotatably
connected by the pin 56 with the end of the oscillating arm 55 which
is pivoted at its other end with a pin (supporting shaft) 54 to
the movable bed 35 under the motor 44.
When the lower end of the actuator 38 is thus retained by pivoting,
the oscillation amplitude at the lower end of the actuator 38 is
freely adjustable by changing the length of the oscillating arm
55 in proportion to the crank 36a. The effects attainable by this
modified embodiment are identical with those of the aforementioned
embodiment.
Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
8 through 12.
As in the aforesaid embodiment, a movable bed 65 freely movable
both ways along the filter plate's moving direction is here disposed
above the filter press. In this embodiment, as seen from FIGS. 9,
10 and 11, there is provided a horizontal guide rail 66 on one side
of the movable bed 65 near its bottom. As in the embodiments mentioned
above, a drive shaft 67 is disposed on the movable bed 65 parallel
to the filter cloth hanging rod 3, and this together with a motor
76 constitutes a drive means 68. There is also provided a head actuator
71 with a roller 69 disposed near its bottom as a slide means guided
by the above-mentioned horizontal guide rail 66. The function as
well as purpose of this head actuator is identical with that of
the head actuator 8 and the actuator 38 in the preceding embodiments.
This head actuator 71 is provided with an oscillating head 72, which
can be lowered to where it can act on the filter cloth hanging rod
3, and a head lifting and lowering means 73 for vertical driving
thereof.
The movable bed 65 has a parallelepiped frame guide rollers 74
pivoted at the front and rear ends on both sides of the movable
bed 65 carried on a lateral pair of movable bed guide rails 75 disposed
parallel to the filter plate guide rails above the filter press,
and the movable bed 65 is adapted to be movable both ways by means
of a chain conveyor (not shown) in the filter plate opening direction,
all these arrangements being identical with the preceding embodiments.
The above-mentioned guide rail 66 is made of channeled steel with
a lip and is fixed to a lower frame 65a secured to one side of the
movable bed 65 with the open side outward.
The head actuator 71 is shaped in cross-section with a horizontal
bottom plate portion 71a and a vertical back plate portion 71b,
and at one end of the vertical back plate portion 71b the slide
roll roller 69 is carried. This slide roll roller 69 is fitted in
the horizontal guide rail 66 and, as shown in FIG. 11, its inward
flange portion 66a is provided to retain the roller 69. A crank
means 70 consists of a crank arm 77 fixed to one end of the drive
shaft 67 and a crank pin 78 projecting from the forward end of the
crank arm pivoted to the other end of the vertical back plate portion
71b. When the drive shaft 67 rotates, the head actuator 71 is caused
to oscillate by the crank means 70.
The head lifting and lowering means 73 consists essentially of
a pneumatic actuator, with its piston rod 73a extending downward
and perpendicular to the horizontal bottom plate portion 71a for
the oscillating head 72 connected to the lower end of the piston
rod 73a to be lifted and lowered thereby with respect to the filter
cloth hanging rod 3. There are provided another pair of sliding
shafts 72a perpendicular to the upper end face of the oscillating
head 72 on both, left and right, sides thereof, and these sliding
shafts 72a are fitted through vertical guide sleeves 71c formed
at both ends of the horizontal bottom plate portion 71a of the head
actuator 71 so as to allow smoother lifting and lowering of the
oscillating head 72 with respect to the head actuator 71.
The compressed air supply piping to be connected to the cylinder
portion of the head lifting and lowering means 73 is omitted in
the drawings.
Now described is the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
8 through 12.
When, with filtration over, the filter plates are being opened
successively, the movable bed 65 is moved by means of the unillustratedd
chain conveyor to a position right above the filter cloth 4 between
the opened filter plates. Then the compressed air supply control
means (not shown) is started, and the oscillating head 72 is lowered
by the head lifting and lowering means 73 to where it can act on
the filter cloth hanging rod 3 as shown by the imaginary line in
FIG. 8.
When the motor 76 is started with the oscillating head 72 lowered
and ready to act on the filter cloth hanging rod 3, the drive shaft
67 is driven via the sprocket 79, chain 80 and sprocket 81, the
rotation (torque) of the drive shaft 67 is transmitted via the crank
70 to the head actuator 71 and the head actuator 71 connected correspondingly
to the connecting rod of the crank mechanism 70 undergoes an oscillating
motion with the slide roller 69 as fulcrum, the way it oscillates
being as shown in FIG. 12 in which (I) (II) (III) (IV) show the
order of steps in a cycle of oscillation. In this oscillating motion,
the roller 69 of the slide means is guided by the horizontal guide
rail 66 to undergo a reciprocating motion as indicated by the arrow
P in FIG. 12.
As the head actuator 71 is thus oscillated, the oscillating head
72 integral therewith undergoes oscillation in contact with the
filter cloth hanging rod 3 as illustrated by the imaginary line
in FIG. 9. (I') (II') (III') (IV') in FIG. 9 correspond to (I) (II)
(III) (IV) in FIG. 12 respectively.
In the oscillating motion of the oscillating head 72, the oscillation
head 72 oscillates not only vertically but the direction in which
it acts on the filter cloth hanging rod 3 is successively changed
so that the filter cloth 4 is subjected to a vigorous shaking motion,
hence the filter cake adhering to the filter cloth 4 is effectively
shaken off. Moreover, since the oscillating head 72 is slanted to
limit the restoring motion of the filter cloth hanging rod 3 when
the oscillating head 72 is deformed longitudinally for the strong
restitution force of the coil spring 2 to act on the filter cloth
hanging rod 3, there is little risk of the oscillating head 72 undergoing
sliding friction against the filter cloth hanging rod 3 as it oscillates.
This means that troubles such as damage of the filter cloth 4 due
to friction with the oscillating head 72 can safely be avoided.
The effects attainable by the construction of the above-described
embodiment are as follows.
Since the oscillating head 72 undergoes not a circular motion in
the horizontal posture but a three-dimensional oscillating motion,
the direction in which it acts on the filter cloth hanging rod 3
is successively changed so that the filter cloth is subjected to
a vigorous shaking motion, hence the filter cake adhering to the
filter cloth 4 is effectively shaken off.
For supporting the head actuator 71 to be movable with respect
to the moving bed 65, one end of the head actuator 71 is engaged
with the horizontal guide rail 66 via the slide roller 69 and the
other end thereof is engaged with the drive shaft 67 via the crank
means 70, the supporting structure being thus very simple yet quite
dependable.
Also, the oscillation stroke of the oscillating head 72 is easily
adjustable by simply changing the length of the crank arm 77 of
the crank 70, hence the filter cloth oscillating apparatus according
to this embodiment has a good general-purpose feature. |