Abstrict
A caulking tool (20) comprises mechanisms (24, 25, 26, 27) for
temporarily securing the tool to a filter plate and a pivotally
operable caulking body (29, 30, 31) which urges a caulking rope
into a groove in the filter plate so as to capture a part of the
filter cloth therein. This secures the filter cloth to the filter
plate.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A caulking tool comprising means for temporarily securing the
tool to a filter apparatus and a pivotally operable caulking body
for urging a retaining member into a groove in the filter apparatus
so as to capture a part of a filter cloth therein and thus secure
the filter cloth to the filter apparatus, the tool further comprising
a guide body for guiding travel of the caulking body, the caulking
body comprising a bracket which is connected to the guide body so
as to facilitate travel along the guide body.
2. The caulking tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter
apparatus is a filter press plate.
3. The caulking tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for
securing the tool to the filter apparatus comprises a clamp.
4. The caulking tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool futher
comprises a guide body for guiding travel of the caulking body.
5. The caulking tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the caulking
body comprises a foot for engaging the retaining member and a handle.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filter caulking tool.
Some types of filter apparatus, such as filter presses comprise
a number of filter plates. Conventionally, both sides of the filter
plate are covered with a filter cloth. A central feed hole is provided
through the plate. This feed hole is unobstructed by the filter
cloth. A connecting device passes through the feed hole connecting
the two filter plates. One such arrangement is shown in GB 2088231.
The filter cloths need to be secured to the periphery of the filter
plates. In some presses a rubber seal is provided between adjacent
plates and the cloths are caulked into a groove in the plate which
is located just outside the filter area, but within the seal area.
A tool is required to achieve this caulking.
Caulking is traditionally achieved by forcing a rope or cord into
a groove containing a peripheral region of the filter cloth. This
method is very slow and labour intensive in that two people are
required for each caulking operation. One is required to hold the
cloth in the right position and another is required to caulk the
filter. The fact that a press plate will generally need to be removed
from the press and laid flat to be caulked, and then turned over
and laid flat to install the filter cloth on the other side, makes
the known method even more slow and cumbersome, the plates usually
being large and heavy. Filter cloths are also often easily damaged
by the wedge or hammer. The known caulking method is also a common
cause of injury to workers installing the filters, mainly to the
band fingers or elbow or wrist ligaments since the rope must be
tightly fitted to ensure that it stays in the groove when the filter
cloth distorts due to high flow pressures. The fact that workers
often have to kneel down to caulk the filters also results in potential
back injuries or strains.
The present invention has been made from a consideration of these
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a caulking
tool comprising means for temporarily securing the tool to a filter
apparatus and a pivotally operable caulking body for urging a retaining
member into a groove in the filter apparatus so as to capture a
part of a filter cloth therein and thus secure the filter cloth
to the filter apparatus.
The above referenced apparatus may be used to successfully and
speedily caulk a filter cloth to a filter press plate by a single
operation with less physical exertion and with a much reduced risk
of injury. The apparatus also usually facilitates a better fit of
the cloth into the groove of a filter plate.
The means for securing the tool to the filter apparatus preferably
comprises a clamp. The tool may be clamped into position on the
plate by any standard technique, such as by one or more screw clamps.
The tool preferably comprises a guide body, such as a bar or rod,
along which the lever operable caulking body travels in an axial
direction parallel to the filter plate groove. The caulking tool
preferably comprises a bracket which is connected to the guide body
so as to facilitate travel along the guide body. Each end of the
guide body is ideally secured to the filter plate, preferably at
the plate ends. The ends of the guide body may be secured to parts
which are held in an external clamp. This tool can be fixed onto
the top, bottom sides or comers of any filter plate. This allows
just one person to caulk a filter, with one hand operating the lever
and the other hand free to hold the cloth in the correct position.
The caulking body preferably comprises a foot for engaging the
retaining member and a handle, which acts as a lever for the foot.
The lever preferably pivots about the guide body in a direction
perpendicular to the axial direction of movement for the lever.
As the lever is pulled towards the operator and away from the plate,
in a direction perpendicular to the groove, the base section of
the lever is urged toward the plate and into the groove, pressing
in the rope and filter cloth.
A further advantage is that the tool may be mounted on a stand
outside the press and revolve around the filter plate to follow
the groove. Therefore, cloths may be fitted without removing the
plate.
The rope or other retaining member being caulked may be loose on
top of the cloth or temporarily bonded to it, for example, by sewing,
adhesive or pins, or it may be sewn into a hem or false hem around
filter cloth periphery.
The guide body may be of any length corresponding to the length
of grooves normally found in press plates. The lever foot may be
wedge-shaped or T-shaped. The lever, bracket and foot are ideally
an integral part. Most of the lever preferably lies about the guide
body so that less physical effort is needed to caulk the cloth effectively.
The components may comprise any material, although metal, such
as steel, is preferred.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However,
it should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention,
are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and
modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
In order that the present invention may be more readily understood,
specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example
only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a typical filter press plate on which
the caulking tool of the present invention may be used;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one caulking tool of the present
invention; and
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second caulking tool of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a filter plate 10 for a filter press has two
main faces only one of which is illustrated. A rubber seal 11 is
provided around the periphery of the filter plate 10. An aperture
12 is provided though the centre of the filter plate 10. A filter
cloth is provided on each main face of the filter plate 10. The
two filter cloths, only one of which 13 is shown, are connected
via a tubular barrel neck that extends through the aperture 12 in
the filter plate.
A groove 14 is provided in each main face of the filter plate.
The filter cloth 13 on that face of the filter plate lies over that
groove. A caulking rope 15 is then placed over the cloth and groove
in a position which is in register with the groove. The rope is
then urged into the groove so as to capture the filter cloth 13
on that side of the filter plate. The rope 15 is urged into position
by the caulking tools which are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, a caulking tool 20 comprises a bar 21, the
ends of which are each secured to a flange 22,23. Each flange 22,23
is secured to an open box section 24,25 which is operative to be
received over a corner of the filter plate 10. In use, the two box
sections 24,25 are received over adjacent corners of the filter
plate 10 and the apparatus is thus secured in place by spring-loaded
locating screws 26,27 which are urged towards the filter plate 10,
the filter plate 10 being retained between the rear walls only one
of which 28 is illustrated, of the box sections 24,25 and the end
of the spring-loaded located screws 26,27.
A short tube 29 is received over the bar 21 such that it can slide
along the length of the bar 21. A long rod 30 is secured to the
short tube 29, a short T-shaped rod 31 extending from the base of
the long rod 30 substantially perpendicular thereto. The short T-shaped
rod 31 may be pivoted about the bar 21 by securing the short tube
29 about the bar 21.
In use the caulking tool is secured in position such that the end
of the T-shaped rod 31 is in register with the caulking rope 15.
The end of the T-shaped rod 31 may be used to urge the caulking
rope 15 into position by pulling on the end of the long handle 30
so as to pivot the T-shaped rod 31 towards the rope 15 and thus
urge it into the groove 14. Different parts of the caulking rope
15 may be urged into position by first moving the short tube 29
along the bar 21 and then appropriately moving the T-shaped rod
31 into position.
The apparatus of FIG. 2 is used to move the caulking rope 15 into
position in the long sections 32 of the filter plate groove. The
caulking rope 15 may be caulked into position in the short angled
sections 33 by a similar apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 3 having
corner box section 34,35 operative to bring the T-shaped rod 31
into register with these short sections 33.
It is to be understood that the above described embodiments have
been made by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations
are possible.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the
same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded
as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all
such modifications as would be recognized by one skilled in the
art are intended to be included within the scope of the following
claims. |