DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a filterpress structure used for dehydration of sludge by mechanical process means of separation solid-liquid.

State of the art

Are known filterpress used in clarification and dehydration plants of sludge or other derivatives, for example, by stone or the like.

In particular, a filterpress allows to dehydrate a flow of mud pumped as input to obtain from this solid mud block, easily to remove.

According to a structural point of view, a filterpress comprises a plurality of filtering plates arranged on a frame which are movable by at least one pneumatic cylinder. The filtering plates are shaped to conveying the mud into a space, that defines a treat chamber. Each treat chamber contains a predetermined amount of mud to be treated. At least one actuating piston, commonly pneumatic, is arranged for operating the filterpress and move the filtering plates selectively between a closed configuration, of compression, and an open configuration, of unloading.

According to the prior art, are known filterpress wherein the compression action on the filtering plates is operated by a pull movement of the pneumatic cylinder.

The same applicant has developed a system and a filterpress architecture, wherein the compression action on the filtering plates is operated by a push movement the pneumatic cylinder.

The filterpress are classify according to the boundary size of the filtering plates.

For large size of filtering plates, i.e. with relevant filtering surfaces, the common machines and architectures are not adapted to compress in a homogeneous and effective way the sludge to be treat and therefore are adapted to low flow rate and only for selected types of sludge.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a filterpress structure with high treatment capacity of sludge.

It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a filterpress structure that is adapted to obtain an increased performance, about double, with respect to the filterpress according to the prior art, maintaining a structural conformation substantially equal to each other and comparable dimension.

It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a filterpress that is structurally easy to realize and to move.

These and other objects are achieved by a filterpress structure comprising: a support frame having a first fixed shoulder and a second fixed shoulder opposite to each other;

a movable shoulder arranged between said first fixed shoulder and said second fixed shoulder,

a plurality of filtering plates functionally arranged between the movable shoulder and the second fixed shoulder that extend along a longitudinal axis;

actuating means arranged between the first fixed shoulder and the movable shoulder and that is adapted to move selectively the movable shoulder between a closed configuration, in which the filtering plates are compacted against the second fixed shoulder, and an open configuration, in which at least one plurality of filtering plates are spaced from each other to unload the solid mud block;

wherein said actuating means comprises at least one first couple of actuating pneumatic cylinders parallel to each other arranged on a first reference plane and a second couple of actuating pneumatic cylinders parallel to each other arranged on a second reference plane overlapped to said first reference plane.

Advantageously, is provided a third couple of actuating pneumatic cylinders parallel to each other arranged on a third reference plane overlapped to said second reference plane.

The arrangement of two couples of pneumatic cylinders overlapped and stacked to each other allows to distribute homogeneously the acting load on the filtering plates, with relevant size filtering surface. The action of the pistons causes a higher load that acts on the filtering plates and especially a uniformly load distributed on all the surface of the filtering plates. Such architecture is particularly suitable for inert and clay materials, which have a sludge more difficult to treat and require a high pressure. The filterpress according to the present invention can operate up at a pressure of the inlet material larger than 20 Bar.

Preferably, said support frame comprises at least one first support beam and a second support beam that extend along said longitudinal axis between said first and second fixed shoulder, said first support beam and second support beam arranged on opposite sides to each other in said filtering plates.

Advantageously, are provided a couples of side support beams that extend along said longitudinal axis and which are arranged on opposite sides to each other extending between said first and second fixed shoulder. Each couple being made by support beams parallel to each other.

The support beams act as support and slide path for the filtering plates. In addition, allow to contrast the push load generated by the pneumatic cylinders during the compression of the filtering plates.

Advantageously, said support frame comprises, furthermore, at least a first portal hoops and a second portal hoops integrally connected to said support beams. This way, by a structural viewpoint, the combination of portal hoops and side support beams allows to obtain a correct distribution of the stress to the support beams.

In particular, the number of the portal hoops is variable according to the number of filtering plates of the machine and after length of the support beams.

Advantageously, the portal hoops are equally spaced from each other along the side support beams.

Advantageously, the couples of pneumatic cylinders are associated each to respective adjusting valves. The adjusting valves are functionally associated with a control unit, of type manual or automatic.

Advantageously, each couple of pneumatic cylinders or each pneumatic cylinder is associated with at least one regulation valve, a fluid distributor being associated with each regulation valve, said regulation valve and/or said fluid distributor being functionally associated with the control unit, of type manual or automatic, where the control unit adjusts the flow pneumatic on each couple of pneumatic cylinders, and, in particular, on each pneumatic cylinder taken singularly.

Preferably, each pneumatic cylinder comprises a cylinder body and a stem functionally put in the cylinder body, wherein each cylinder body is cantilevered mounted on the first fixed shoulder and extends from opposite edge with respect to the filtering plates, and wherein each stem is arranged between the first fixed shoulder and the shoulder mobile.

Being each stem fitted on the movable shoulder the handling the latter to move from the open configuration towards the closed configuration is carried out with a compression stroke to push the stems.

Vice-versa, by a stroke of tension of the stems the filtering plates are given by the closed configuration to the open configuration.

Advantageously, the filterpress according to the present invention comprises, furthermore, an opening system the filtering plates that comprises a first guide with a first actuation slider. The first guide extends according to said longitudinal axis X along a first edge of the support frame. A second guide with a second actuation slider is arranged at opposite edge to the first guide. Are, furthermore, provided hanging elements conformed as cantilever pins arranged on respective filtering plates on each respective edge of the same filtering plate.

The gripping means is arranged on the first and second actuation slider configured to pass selectively between a hooking configuration, wherein are arranged in a raised position for hook a corresponding hanging element at opposite sides on each filtering plate edge, and a free configuration wherein are arranged in a withdrawn position. Preferably, the gripping means comprises a gripper operated by an actuator.

An electronic control unit is configured to operate the first and of the second actuation slider and the gripper and it is programmed to control: the movement of the first and second actuation slider along respective side guides, and to operate the gripping means such that to reach and hook a first filtering plates group and moves them from said closed configuration to said open configuration.

Then, in turn achieving and hook a second filtering plates group, adjacent to the first group, and moves them from the closed configuration to the open configuration, with subsequent compaction of the first filtering plates group and thus repeat these steps in order to opening and unloading all the filtering plates.

Description of the figures of the invention

Further characteristic and advantages of the invention are better shown by the examination of the following detailed description of a shape of preferred embodiment, but not exclusive, shown for example and not limitative, with the support of the attached drawings, wherein: - Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a filterpress according to the present invention, in an open configuration of the filtering plates;

- Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a filterpress of Fig. 1 in a perspective that depicts the part side of the same;

- Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a filterpress of Fig. 1 in a perspective that depicts the rear part of the filterpress.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to Fig. 1 , is shown a filterpress 100 according to the present invention. The filterpress structure comprises a support frame 10 with a first fixed shoulder 1 and a second fixed shoulder 2 opposite to each other.

A movable shoulder 3 is arranged between the first fixed shoulder 1 and the second fixed shoulder 2. With movable shoulder 3 is intended a plate portion that is sliding according to a longitudinal axis X that extends between the first fixed shoulder 1 and the second fixed shoulder 2. A plurality of filtering plates 20 are arranged between the movable shoulder 3 and the second fixed shoulder 2. The filtering plates 20 are arranged along the longitudinal axis X, to form a filtering plates package wherein the filtering plates are adjacent to each other.

The filterpress structure 100 comprises, furthermore, actuating means 40 arranged between the first fixed shoulder 1 and the movable shoulder 3, said actuating means 40 is adapted to move selectively the movable shoulder 3 in a compression stroke and in an opening stroke, opposite to the compression stroke, between a closed configuration, in which the filtering plates 20 are compacted against the second fixed shoulder 2, and an open configuration, in which selectively singularly or a groups of filtering plates 20 are spaced from each other for unloading the solid mud block, derivative from the dehydration of sludge put preliminarily in the chambers of the filtering plates 20.

In particular, the actuating means 40 comprise at least one first couple of actuating pneumatic cylinders 41 parallel to each other arranged on a first reference plane P1 , and a second couple of actuating pneumatic cylinders 42 parallel to each other arranged on a second reference plane P2 overlapped to the first reference plane P1. In other words, the second reference plane P2 is located at a different coordinate with respect to the first reference plane P1. The two planes are shifted to each other according to a vertical axis V orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

Advantageously, is provided a third couple of actuating pneumatic cylinders 43 parallel to each other arranged on a third reference plane P3 overlapped, i.e. to a coordinate higher according to said vertical axis V, with respect to the second reference plane P2.

The arrangement of the couples of overlapped and stacked to each other along a vertically direction, and preferably aligned according to a transversal direction X in turn orthogonal to the vertical axis V, allows to obtain an homogeneously distributing load acting on the filtering plates, which have a relevant size. The pneumatic cylinders action is carried out with a push action in order to move said movable shoulder along the axis X, in a direction which tends to approach the movable shoulder 3 towards the second fixed shoulder 2. Vice- versa, the action of the pneumatic cylinders for opening the filtering plates 20 moves the movable shoulder 3 according along the axis X in a direction which tends to move away said movable shoulder 3 with respect to second fixed shoulder 2, to open the filtering plates 20.

A similar architecture allows, in the compression stroke to generate an higher load action that acts on the filtering plates 20 and especially an uniformly distributed load which acts on the movable shoulder 3 and therefore on the surface of the filtering plates 20.

The same homogeneous load action finds advantages also in an opening phase of filtering plates, and especially with reference to the unloading and releasing of the solid mud block by gravity. Such architecture makes it possible to operate with an inlet pressure of sludge larger than 20 Bar. The sludge are pumped through an inlet duct 25 (Fig.3). The couples of cylinders 11 , 11’, 12, 12’ allow to keep the load derivative from the pressure and, therefore, to operate difficult material with high flow rate as input in the chambers of the filtering plates 20.

Furthermore, the architecture of the present invention allows to realize shoulders of large size about 2500x2600 mm ² , according to which it is possible to obtain an increased performance about 160%, maintaining a structural conformation substantially unvaried, as described hereafter.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the support frame 10 comprises at least one first support beam 11 and a second support beam 12 that extend along the longitudinal axis X between the first 1 and the second fixed shoulder 2. The first support beam 11 and the second support beam 12 are arranged on opposite sides to each other with respect to the filtering plates 20.

Advantageously, are provided a couples of support beams 11 , 1 T and 12,

12’ that extend along the longitudinal axis X arranged on opposite sides to each other that extend between the first and second fixed shoulder 2. Each couple 11 , 1 T and 12, 12’ is made by support beams 11 , 11’, 12, 12’ parallel to each other.

The support beams 11 , 11’, 12, 12’ act as a support and slide path for the filtering plates 20. In addition, allow to contrast mechanically the pushed action generated by the pneumatic cylinders during the compaction of the filtering plates 20.

Furthermore, the support frame 10 comprises at least one first portal hoops 13 and a second portal hoops 14 at a distance from each other along the longitudinal axis X, and integrally connected to the support beams 11 , 11’, 12, 12’. This way, by a structural viewpoint, the combination of portal hoops 13, 14 and side support beams 11 , 11’, 12, 12’ allows a correct distribution of the stress in the support beams 11 , 11’, 12, 12’.

In the exemplary embodiment shown are provided three portal hoops 13, 14, 1 5.

In particular, the number of the portal hoops is variable according to the number of filtering plates of the machine and after length of the support beams 11 , 1 1’, 12, 12’.

Advantageously, the portal hoops 13, 14, 15 are equally at a distance from each other along the support beams 11 , 1 T, 12, 12’ lateral.

Advantageously, the couples of pneumatic cylinders are associated each to respective adjusting valves. The adjusting valves are functionally associated with a control unit, of type manual or automatic.

Each couple of pneumatic cylinders or each pneumatic cylinder is associated with at least one regulation valve. A fluid distributor is associated with each regulation valve. Furthermore, the regulation valve and/or the fluid distributor are, in turn, functionally associated with the control unit, of type manual or automatic. Through the control unit it is possible to adjust the flow rate on each couple of pneumatic cylinders, and - in particular - on each pneumatic cylinder taken singularly.

Structurally, each pneumatic cylinder comprises a cylinder body and a stem functionally arranged in the cylinder body. The cylinder body is cantilevered mounted on the first fixed shoulder 1 and extends from opposite edge with respect to the filtering plates 20. The stem is instead arranged between the first fixed shoulder 1 and the movable shoulder 3.

Being each stem fitted on the movable shoulder 3, the relative stroke carries out by it, from the open configuration towards the closed configuration is carried out with a compression stroke that causes a pushing movement of the stems.

Vice-versa, by a traction stroke of the stems the filtering plates 20 passes from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

In one preferred embodiment, the filterpress according to the present invention, comprises, furthermore, an opening system adapted to control the filtering plates 20. Said opening system comprises a first guide 11 , which advantageously, coincide or it is arranged on the first beam 11 , with a first actuation slider. The first guide extends according to the longitudinal axis X along a first edge of the support frame 10. A second guide 12, which advantageously, coincide or it is arranged on the second beam 12, with a second actuation slider is arranged at opposite edge to the first guide. Are, furthermore, provided hanging elements 15 conformed as cantilever pins arranged on respective filtering plates 20 on each respective edge of the same filtering plate.

Gripping means 16 are arranged on the first and second actuation slider configured to pass selectively between: a hooking configuration, wherein are arranged in a raised position to hook corresponding hanging elements, said hanging element being arranged at opposite sides on each filtering plate, and a free configuration wherein remain in a withdrawn position. Preferably, the gripping means comprises a gripper operated by an actuator.

An electronic control unit is configured to control the first and of the second actuation slider and the gripper and is programmed to slide the first and second actuation slider along the respective guide and operate the gripping means in order to reach and hook a first filtering plates group 20 to pass them from said closed configuration to said open configuration. Then, in turn achieving and hook a second filtering plates group 20, adjacent to the first group, to pass them from the closed configuration to the open configuration, with subsequent closure of the first filtering plates group 20 and thus repeat the same process to open and to unload all the filtering plates 20 of the filterpress.

To made inspections and carry out maintenance operations on the filtering plates 20 but also on the opening system, the filterpress 100 comprises, furthermore, a gangway structure 50 for an operator arranged on at least one edge of the same.

The description of which above at least one exemplary embodiments particular is capable of show the invention from a viewpoint conceptual so that other, using the prior art, can be changing and/or adapting in various applications an exemplary embodiments without further researches and without moving away from each other by the concept inventive, and, then is intended that such adaptation and changes will be high as equivalent of an exemplary embodiment specific. The means and the material to provide the various functions described can be changes nature without for this come out from the field of invention. Is intended that the expression or the terminology used have object purely described and for this not limitative.