BACKGROUND

Statement of Related Applications

[0001] This application depends from and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application serial number 63/154,240 filed on February 26, 2021, which is incorporated into this application in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a vessel for concentrating solids from a stream of a mixture of solid pieces suspended in a flow of a liquid component and for removing a liquid component from the stream of mixture to provide a concentrated solids stream and a filtrate (liquid component) stream.

Background of the Related Art

[0003] Small pieces, chunks, scraps and parts of solid bodies are often produced as a result of processing solid bodies. For example, but not by way of limitation, this kind of processing is especially common in food processing methods and equipment in which the peel or skin of a fruit or vegetable is removed in small pieces or in which the fruit or vegetable is being processed into smaller pieces like slices or strips. The small solid pieces are washed from the skinning or peeling equipment with, for example, water, resulting in a stream of wash water containing diluted solid pieces suspended therein, referred to herein below as a stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces. The solid pieces, once washed from the equipment using wash water, are a by-product of the peeling or skinning process and are for disposal. However, disposing of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces is both costly and wasteful. For example, it may desirable to recover the liquid component from the stream of the liquid component with suspended solid pieces (e.g., water) by concentrating and removing the solid pieces, thereby enabling the water to be recycled for further washing of equipment. It can be counterintuitively advantageous for the concentrated solids to remain in liquid for additional processing and ease of transport via pipe instead of semi-solid state like what is produced by “screw presses” and similar devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention provide a concentrator vessel that can be used to remove solid pieces of matter from an inlet stream of a liquid component in which the solid pieces of matter are suspended. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to concentrate the solid pieces of a stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces, in which a plurality of solid pieces are suspended or entrained, into a concentrated solids stream that is discharged from the vessel while separating the liquid component and, if desirable, recycling the liquid component of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces that contains no solid pieces or very few solids pieces that are small enough to pass through a filtering barrier having a plurality of openings therein. The solid pieces of matter that do not pass through the openings of the filtering barrier temporarily form a filter cake on an inlet side of the filtering barrier. The filter cake is scoured from the filtering barrier by the impingement of the inlet stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces on the inlet side of the filtering barrier at an advantageous angle that removes the filter cake from the filtering barrier and pushes the solid pieces further through the concentrator vessel and along the filtering barrier towards a concentrated solids outlet. The liquid component that passes through the filtering barrier contains only those solid pieces that are small enough to pass through the openings in the filtering barrier.

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention provides a solids concentration vessel comprising a first end, a second end, an interior cavity therebetween, an inlet cavity portion within the interior cavity, a filtrate cavity portion within the interior cavity, an inlet of the concentrator vessel through which a stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces enters the interior cavity of the solids concentration vessel, the inlet being disposed at the first end of the concentration vessel, a concentrated solids outlet through which a continuous stream of concentrated solid pieces can be discharged from the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity of the vessel, the concentrated solids outlet being disposed at the second end of the concentrator vessel that is opposite to the first end, a filtering barrier disposed within the interior cavity of the concentrator vessel intermediate the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity and the filtrate cavity portion of the interior cavity, the filtering barrier having a plurality of openings therein which may be, for example, slots or holes, through which the inlet cavity portion is in fluid communication with the filtrate cavity portion, the filtering barrier being disposed within the interior cavity in a position such that the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces entering the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity impinges on an inlet side of the filtering barrier at a scouring angle that is within the range from zero degrees (zero radians) to 45 degrees (0.785 radians). The embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention further includes a filtrate outlet through which a continuous stream of the liquid component passes from the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity through the plurality of openings of the filtering barrier into the filtrate cavity portion can be discharged from the filtrate cavity portion of the interior cavity of the vessel. The embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention further includes a cross- sectional flow area of the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity that progressively decreases from a maximum cross-sectional flow area disposed proximal to the inlet to the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity of the concentrator vessel to a minimum cross- sectional flow area proximal to the concentrated solids outlet.

[0006] As stated above, in one embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the scouring angle of impingement of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces on the inlet side of the filtering barrier positioned intermediate the inlet cavity portion and the filtrate cavity portion is within the range from zero degrees to 25 degrees (0.436 radians). In another embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the scouring angle is within the range from zero degrees to 15 degrees (0.262 radians). A scouring angle within these ranges is beneficial for scouring the filter cake that temporarily forms on the inlet side of the filtering barrier as the liquid component of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces passes through the openings to the filtrate cavity portion and solid pieces are deposited on the inlet side of the filtering barrier that is disposed towards the inlet cavity portion of the concentrator vessel.

[0007] The plurality of openings in the filtering barrier are sized to prevent the entry of the solid pieces that are suspended within the liquid component of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces flowing into the inlet cavity portion. In one embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the openings of the filtering barrier are smallest at the inlet side of the filtering barrier disposed towards the inlet cavity portion, and the openings progressively diverge or expand to a larger size at the outlet side of the filtering barrier disposed towards the filtrate cavity portion. This divergent or expanding profile of the openings of the filtering barrier prevents the entry of solid pieces that are too small to pass into the opening from the inlet side of the filtering barrier disposed towards the inlet cavity portion but those solid pieces that enter the openings will not lodge or become stuck in the openings of the filtering barrier intermediate the inlet cavity portion and the filtrate cavity portion. In one embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the filtering barrier comprises a plurality of spaced-apart and wedge-shaped wires known as wedge wires. The wedge wires have a tapered profile and can be secured together in a parallel arrangement to provide openings that are elongate slots of a desired width intermediate each pair of adjacent wedge wires. In embodiments of the concentrator vessel in which the filtering barrier comprises elongate slots, such as an embodiment in which the filtering barrier comprises wedge wires, the slots may be parallel to, perpendicular to, or at any angle intermediate parallel and perpendicular to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces within the inlet cavity portion. In embodiments of the concentrator vessel that include a filtering barrier comprising wedge wires and slots therebetween that are disposed perpendicular to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces, each wedge wire may be rotated about an axis of the wedge wire and secured within the filtering barrier such that a leading corner of the wire (the corner disposed towards the inlet of the interior cavity) is tilted into the flow to thereby increase the aggressiveness of the separation of the liquid component of the stream of liquid component and suspended solid pieces, or each wedge wire may be rotated about an axis of the wedge wire and secured within the filtering barrier such that a leading comer of the wire (the comer disposed away from the inlet of the interior cavity) is tilted away from the flow to thereby reduce the plugging tendencies while reducing ability of fluid to flow through slots.

[0008] In some embodiments, the spacing or span of the slots between each pair of adjacent wedge wires can be optimized to prevent the passage of most of the solid pieces that come into engagement with the inlet side of the filtering barrier. In other embodiments of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the openings may include holes which may be circular, oval or other shapes. In some embodiments of the concentrator vessel of the present invention having filtering barriers that comprise wedge wires, the portions of the wedge wires disposed towards the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity are parallel one to the others. In other embodiments of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the portion of the wedge wires are not parallel one with the others.

[0009] In one embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the filtering barrier is adjustably positionable within the interior cavity to vary the scouring angle. For example, but not by way of limitation, the filtering barrier may be supported within the interior cavity by one or more supports, and hinges may be provided intermediate the one or more supports and the filtering barrier. The one or more supports can be extended into or retracted from the interior cavity to support the filtering barrier at a desired position to obtain a desirable scouring angle. Concentrator vessels of this embodiment can provide for optimization of the filtering process by varying the scouring angle at which the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces impinges upon the inlet side of the filtering barrier.

[0010] In one embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the filtering barrier includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending blades or propellers to engage and displace filter cake towards the outlet of the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity of the concentrator vessel. [0011] The drawings appended hereto illustration some of the embodiments of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, but should not be taken as limiting of the invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto or amendments thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of an embodiment of a concentrator vessel for filtering an inlet stream of a liquid component with suspended solid pieces into a liquid stream (filtrate) and a stream of concentrated solids.

[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of a filtering barrier of an embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention, the filtering barrier of FIG. 2 being comprised of wedge wires secured in a parallel relationship one to the others.

[0014] FIG. 3A is an illustration of the accumulation of filter cake on an inlet side of the filtering barrier of an embodiment of a concentration vessel of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3B is an illustration of the scouring of accumulated filter cake from the inlet side of the filtering barrier of the concentrator vessel by impingement of the stream of liquid component and suspended solid pieces at a scouring angle.

[0016] FIG. 3C is an illustration of an accumulation of filter cake on an inlet side of a filtering barrier having slots intermediate adjacent pairs of wedge wires that extend parallel to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solids.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention having a frustoconical filtering barrier and a cylindrical vessel wall.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation view of another alternate embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention having a cylindrical filtering barrier and a frustoconical vessel wall.

[0019] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of a concentrator vessel of the present invention having a filtering barrier with sequentially smaller diameter cylindrical sections. [0020] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of a concentrator vessel of the present invention having a frustoconical filtering barrier with a progressively reducing diameter.

[0021] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of a concentrator vessel of the present invention having a frustoconical filtering barrier with a progressively reducing diameter comprised of a helically or spirally wound wedge wire.

[0022] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an enlarged portion of a filtering barrier of an embodiment of the concentrator vessel of the present invention in which the filtering barrier comprises wedge wires with each wedge wire rotated about an axis of the wedge wire and secured within the filtering barrier such that a leading corner of the wire (the corner disposed towards the inlet of the interior cavity) is tilted into the flow to thereby increase the aggressiveness of the separation of the liquid component of the stream of liquid component and suspended solid pieces.

[0023] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an enlarged portion of a filtering barrier of an embodiment of a concentrator vessel of the present invention in which the filtering barrier comprises wedge wires with each wedge wire rotated about an axis of the wedge wire and secured within the filtering barrier such that a leading corner of the wire (the corner disposed towards the inlet of the interior cavity) is tilted away from the flow to thereby reduce the plugging tendencies while reducing ability of fluid to flow through slots.

[0024] FIG. 11 is an illustration of a filtering barrier having a plurality of blades or propellers coupled thereto for moving filter cake towards the outlet of some embodiments of the concentrator vessel of the present invention from the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity of the concentrator vessel and, in some embodiments, to grind the filter cake against the housing wall or to scrape the filter cake from the housing wall of the concentrator vessel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of an embodiment of a concentrator vessel 10 for filtering an inlet stream 50 of a liquid component with a plurality of solid pieces suspended or entrained therein, removing the solid pieces from the inlet stream 50 to form a liquid stream 55 and concentrating the solid pieces to form a concentrated solids stream 59. The solid pieces are not shown in FIG. 1 for simplicity and are shown in subsequent drawings that are appended hereto and discussed herein below. The concentrator vessel 10 of FIG. 1 includes a diluted solids inlet 14 through which the stream of liquid component with suspended solids 50 enters an inlet cavity portion 13 of an interior cavity 11 of the concentrator vessel 10, a concentrated solids outlet 16 through which a stream of concentrated solids pieces 59 is discharged from the inlet cavity portion 13 of the interior cavity 11 of the concentrator vessel 10, a filtering barrier 30 having a plurality of openings therein (openings not shown in FIG. 1), a filtrate cavity portion 15 into which liquid component (not shown) passing through the filtering barrier 30 from the inlet cavity portion 13 flows, and a filtrate outlet 18 through which a stream of liquid filtrate is discharged from the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the interior cavity 11 of the concentrator vessel 10.

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates that the inlet stream 50 enters the concentrator vessel 10 through the inlet 14 and flows along a direction of flow from the inlet 14 towards the outlet 16, and the stream of liquified component with suspended solids 50 moves at a scouring angle 35 as indicated by the angle intermediate the impingement flow lines 51 and the filtering barrier 30 shown in FIG. 1. This scouring angle 35 is preferably between zero degrees (0 radians) and 45 degrees (0.785 radians), more preferably between zero degrees and 25 degrees (0.436 radians), and most preferably between zero degrees and 15 degrees (0.262 radians).

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates the progressively reducing cross-sectional flow area of the inlet cavity portion 13 of the interior cavity 11 as the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50 moves from the inlet 14 towards the outlet 16 of the concentration vessel 10. At location 71, which is proximal to the inlet 14 of the concentrator vessel 10, the cross-sectional flow area is substantially larger than at location 72, which is proximal to the outlet 16. This progressively reducing cross- sectional flow area provides for maintained flow velocity which, but for the progressively reducing cross-sectional flow area, would progressively reduce as a result of the liquid component of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50 exiting the inlet cavity portion 13 passing through the filtering barrier 30 and entering the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the concentrator vessel 10 as indicated by arrows 44. By progressively reducing the cross-sectional flow area of the inlet cavity portion 13, the scouring action of the impinging stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50 continues to scour and remove filter cake that temporarily accumulates and forms on the filtering barrier 30, as discussed in more detail below. The filtering barrier 30 is positioned within the interior cavity 11 of the concentrator vessel 10 to not only separate the inlet cavity portion 13 from the filtrate cavity portion 15, but also to cooperate with the structure and dimensions of the wall 12 of the concentrator vessel 10 that surrounds the interior cavity 11 to provide the progressively reducing cross-sectional flow area and to thereby sustain the effectiveness of the scouring action notwithstanding the reduction in the rate of flow that occurs between location 71 and location 72.

[0028] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the filtering barrier 30 of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a portion of a filtering barrier 30 that comprises a plurality of wedge wires 32 of the filtering barrier 30 that are secured in parallel position one relative to the others by a plurality of barrier rails (which are shown in FIG. 2 for simplicity). The wedge wires 32 are shaped and positioned one relative to the others to provide for a plurality of openings 23 intermediate each pair of adjacent wedge wires 32, each of the plurality of openings 23 having an opening inlet 22 disposed towards the inlet side 28 of the filtering barrier 30 and towards the inlet cavity portion 13 of the interior cavity 11 and an opening outlet 24 disposed towards the outlet side 29 of the filtering barrier 30 and towards the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the interior cavity 11. The opening inlet 22 of each of the openings 23 is smaller than the opening outlet 24 of the opening 23, and the cross-sectional flow area of each opening 23 progressively increases from the opening inlet 22 to the opening outlet 24. This progressively expanding cross-sectional flow area of each opening 23 of the filtering barrier 30 prevents solid pieces (not shown) that are small enough to pass from the inlet cavity portion 13 of the interior cavity 11 of the concentrator vessel 10 into the opening inlet 22 of the plurality of openings 23 from becoming lodged or stuck within the opening 23. Solid pieces that do not enter the opening inlet 22 of an opening 23 will accumulate on the opening inlets 22 of the openings 23 of the filtering barrier 30 (the side of the filtering barrier 30 disposed towards the inlet cavity portion 13) and form a filter cake that is scoured away by the impingement of the flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50 (not shown in FIG. 2) at the scouring angle 35 illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the wedge wires 32 of the filtering barrier 30 shown in FIG. 2 includes a leading edge 26 that is disposed towards the inlet 14 (not shown in FIG. 2) through which the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50.

[0029] FIG. 3A is an illustration of the accumulation of filter cake 40 on an inlet side 28 of the filtering barrier 30 of an embodiment of a concentration vessel 10 (not shown) of the present invention. The filter cake 40 forms on the inlet side 28 of the filtering barrier 30 as solid pieces 39 suspended within the stream of liquid component with suspended solids 50 are filtered from the stream of liquid component with suspended solids 50 and temporarily accumulate on the inlet side 28 of the filtering barrier 30. As the filter cake 40 forms, the liquid component that passes through the opening inlets 22 filtering barrier 30 emerges from the opening outlets 24 indicated by the arrows 44 and flows into the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the interior cavity 11 of the concentrator vessel 10. FIG. 3A also depicts the span 45 of the openings 23 of the filtering barrier 30 disposed intermediate each pair of adjacent wedge wires 32. FIG. 3 A also shows how barrier rails 61 can be spaced apart one from the others and connected to the wedge wires 32 to secure the wedge wires 32 in a parallel relationship one to the others to form the filtering barrier 30.

[0030] FIG. 3B is an illustration of the scouring of accumulated filter cake 40 from the inlet side 28 of the filtering barrier of the concentrator vessel by impingement of the stream of liquid component and suspended solid pieces 50 at a scouring angle. Some of the dislodged solid pieces removed by scouring of the filter cake 40 may remain with the filter cake 40 while other dislodged solid pieces 42 may become disassociated with the filter cake 40 and from the inlet side 28 of the filtering barrier 30. Some solid pieces 39 may remain in a suspended state and may be swept along with the filter cake 40 towards the outlet 16.

[0031] FIG. 3C is an illustration of an accumulation of filter cake 40 on an inlet side 28 of a filtering barrier 30 having openings 23 that are slots intermediate adjacent pairs of wedge wires that extend parallel to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50. Other embodiments of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention may include a filtering barrier 30 that may include openings 23 of various shapes and sizes adapted for the service conditions, and elongate openings 23, such as the slots shown in FIG. 3C, may be parallel to, perpendicular to, or at any angle to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50 that scours filter cake 40 from the inlet side 28 of the filtering barrier 30.

[0032]

[0033] FIGs. 1-3C illustrate an embodiment of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention in which the inlet cavity portion 13 is disposed underneath the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the interior cavity 11. However, in other embodiments of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention, the inlet cavity portion 13 can be positioned above or alongside the filtrate cavity portion 15. In still other embodiments, the inlet cavity portion 13 of the concentrator vessel 10 could surround the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the interior cavity 11 of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention. For example, but not by way of limitation, the filtering barrier 30 could be formed into a tubular, frustoconical or cylindrical shape that surrounds the filtrate cavity portion 15. In some of those embodiments, the wall 12 of the concentrator vessel 10 may have a frustoconical shape to achieve the progressively reducing cross-sectional flow area. Alternately, the filtering barrier 30 could be formed into a frustoconical shape with the small diameter end being disposed proximal to the diluted solids inlet 14, the large diameter end being disposed proximal to the concentrated solids outlet 16 of the concentrator vessel, and the wall 12 of the concentrator vessel 10 could be cylindrical to achieve the progressively reducing cross-sectional flow area.

[0034] Factors such as the density and viscosity of the liquid component of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50, the density and size of the solid pieces 39 and the specific flow rate per unit area of cross-section, in addition to other factor, can effect the optimal positioning of the inlet cavity portion 13 relative to the filtrate cavity portion 15, the span 45 of the inlets 22 of the openings 23 of the filtering barrier 30, and the spacing of the openings 23 in the filtering barrier 30.

[0035] In still other embodiments of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention, the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the interior cavity 11 of the concentrator vessel 10 could surround the inlet cavity portion 13 of the concentrator vessel 10. In this embodiment, the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50 would enter the inlet cavity portion 13 and filtrate would flow radially outwardly from the inlet cavity portion 13, through the openings 23 of the filtering barrier 30 and into the filtrate cavity portion 15 that surrounds the inlet cavity portion 13 and the filtering barrier 30.

[0036] While FIGs. 2 and 3 show a filtering barrier 30 formed of wedge wires each secured in a parallel position with the others, other filtering barriers 30 may include plates or sheets into which frustoconical apertures are drilled or cut so that the smaller inlets 22 of each of the frustoconical apertures or openings 23 are disposed towards the inlet side 28 of the filtering barrier 30 and the larger outlets 24 of each frustoconical apertures or openings 23 are disposed towards the outlet side 29 of the filtering barrier 30. In some embodiments of the concentrator vessel 30 of the present invention, the openings 23 may not progressively expand or diverge from the inlet 22 to the outlet 24, but in those embodiments it may be advantageous to intermittently scrub or pressure wash the filtering barrier 30 to remove any solid pieces 39 that may become lodged in the filtering barrier 30.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention having a frustoconical filtering barrier 30 and a cylindrical vessel wall 12. The frustoconical shape of the filtering barrier 30 of FIG. 4 surrounded by the cylindrical wall 12 of the concentrator vessel 10 provides for separation of the inlet cavity portion 13 from the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the interior cavity 11 while also providing the progressively reducing cross-sectional flow area of the inlet cavity portion 13 from an upstream location 71 proximal to the inlet 14 to the downstream location 72 proximal to the outlet 16. The filtrate, which is the liquid component of the liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50, exits the filtrate cavity portion 15 through the filtrate outlet 18 while the stream of concentrated solids 59 exits the inlet cavity portion 13 of the concentrator vessel 10 through the solids outlet 16, which is an annular outlet in the embodiment of the concentrator vessel 10 of FIG. 4.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation view of another alternate embodiment of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention having a cylindrical filtering barrier 30 and a frustoconical vessel wall 12. The frustoconical shape of the wall 12 of FIG. 5 surrounding the cylindrical filtering barrier 30 of the concentrator vessel 10 provides for separation of the inlet cavity portion 13 from the filtrate cavity portion 15 of the interior cavity 11 while also providing the progressively reducing cross-sectional flow area of the inlet cavity portion 13 from an upstream location 71 proximal to the inlet 14 to the downstream location 72 proximal to the outlet 16. The filtrate, which is the liquid component of the liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50, exits the filtrate cavity portion 15 through the filtrate outlet 18 while the stream of concentrated solids 59 exits the inlet cavity portion 13 of the concentrator vessel 10 through the solids outlet 16, which is an annular outlet in the embodiment of the concentrator vessel 10 of FIG. 5.

[0039] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of a concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention having a filtering barrier 30 with sequentially smaller diameter cylindrical sections 13A-13C of the inlet cavity portion 13, with the largest diameter section 13A of the sectioned inlet cavity portion 13 being proximal to the inlet 14 and the smallest diameter portion 13C of the inlet cavity portion 13 being proximal to the outlet 16. Although FIG. 6 shows the wedge wires 32 of each of the sections 13A-13C of the sectioned inlet cavity portion 13 being defined by wedge wires 32 defining openings 23 extending parallel to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50, other embodiments may have openings that extend perpendicular to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50 and still other embodiments may form any angle with the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50.

[0040] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of a concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention having a frustoconical filtering barrier 30 with a progressively reducing diameter with the largest diameter of the inlet cavity portion 13 being proximal to the inlet 14 and the smallest diameter of the inlet cavity portion 13 being proximal to the outlet 16. FIG. 7 shows the wedge wires 32 surrounding the inlet cavity portion 13 being defined by wedge wires 32 formed of progressively smaller hoops defining openings 23 circumferentially surrounding the inlet cavity portion 13 and providing openings that are perpendicular to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50. Again, the largest diameter of the inlet cavity portion 13 is disposed at location 71 proximal to the inlet 14 while the smallest diameter portion disposed at location 72 proximal to the outlet 16.

[0041] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of a concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention having a frustoconical filtering barrier 30 with a progressively reducing diameter and comprised of a helically or spirally wound length of wedge wire 32. The filtering barrier 30 of FIG. 8 surrounds the inlet cavity portion 13 of the interior cavity 11 and separates the inlet cavity portion 13 from the filtrate cavity portion 15. The filtering barrier 30 of FIG. 8 is a single-wind helically or spirally wound wedge wire 32 and can be formed by, for example, winding an elongate wedge wire 32 around a frustoconical or conical mandrel or other body, and by then removing the mandrel or other body from the wedge wire 32 after it has been formed. The openings 23 intermediate adjacent windings of the wedge wire 32 cause the openings 23 to be at an angle between perpendicular and parallel to the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solid pieces 50. The filtering barrier 30 of FIG. 8 is disposed within a concentrator vessel 10 with a cylindrical wall 12 that surrounds the filtrate cavity portion 15. The filtrate stream 55 exits the filtrate cavity portion 15 at filtrate outlet 18 , and the stream of solids 59 exits the inlet cavity portion 13 at outlet 16. Although the single-wound wedge wire 32 filtering barrier 30 shown in FIG. 8 comprises only a single elongate wedge wire 32, dual -wound, triple-wound and other types of helically or spirally wound wedge wire filtration barriers 30 can be made in the same manner.

[0042] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an enlarged portion of a filtering barrier 30 of an embodiment of the concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention in which the filtering barrier 30 comprises wedge wires 32 with each wedge wire 32 rotated about an axis of the wedge wire 32 and secured within the filtering barrier 30 by connection to the barrier rail 61 such that a leading comer 27 of each wedge wire 32 (the comer disposed towards the inlet 14 of the interior cavity portion 13) is tilted into the direction of flow of the stream of liquid component with suspended solids 50 to thereby increase the aggressiveness of the separation of the liquid component of the stream of liquid component and suspended solid pieces and to promote the flow of the liquid component through the openings 23.

[0043] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an enlarged portion of a filtering barrier 30 of an embodiment of a concentrator vessel 10 of the present invention in which the filtering barrier 30 comprises wedge wires 32 with each wedge wire 32 rotated about an axis of the wedge wire 32 and secured within the filtering barrier 30 such that a leading corner 27 of each of the wedge wires 32 (the comer disposed towards the inlet 14 of the interior cavity portion 13) is tilted away from the direction of flow of the stream liquid component with suspended solids 50 to thereby reduce the plugging tendencies while reducing ability of the liquid component to flow through openings 23.

[0044] FIG. 11 is an illustration of a filtering barrier having a plurality of blades or propellers coupled thereto for moving filter cake towards the outlet of some embodiments of the concentrator vessel of the present invention from the inlet cavity portion of the interior cavity of the concentrator vessel and, in some embodiments, to grind the filter cake against the housing wall or to scrape the filter cake from the housing wall of the concentrator vessel.

[0045] The stream of concentrated solids 59 discharged from the concentrated solids outlet 16 of the concentrator vessel 10 may be in the form of a slurry or sludge, and it may be of such thickness that mechanical devices may be used to ensure removal of the stream of concentrated solids 59. Screw-drive sludge pumps and the like may be fitted on or into the concentrated solids outlet 16 to enhance the flow of the concentrated solids from the concentrator vessel 10.

[0046]

[0047] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention.

[0048] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or steps plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but it is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.