The invention concerns a suction dryer, which comprises one or several filter plates, which said filter plate is fitted so that it can be displaced into contact with the material to be filtered, whereat negative pressure is fitted to be applicable to the in¬ terior of the filter plate so as to produce suction, so that the material to be filtered is arranged to adhere to the face of the filter plate, and whereat the liquid to be filtered is arranged to be sucked out of the mate¬ rial to be filtered.

The suction dryer subject of the invention com¬ prises several preferably ceramic filter plates. The plates are mounted as a circular structure so that the connecting duct of each plate is connected to a central suction pipe, which is placed on the shaft of rotation. Each filter plate is connected by means of the connecting duct to the said central pipe. The plates are fitted so as to pass through a basin. The basin may be filled with peat sludge or with any other, corresponding material to be dewatered. Negative pressure is applied to the filter plates through the central pipe and the connecting ducts. Owing to the porous structure of the filter plates, the sludge present in the basin, out of which the liquid is supposed to be removed, is carried, by the ^' effect of the negative pressure applied to the centre of the filter plates, onto the suction faces of the plates. The liquid in the sludge contained in the basin is sucked further, by the effect of the negative pres¬ sure, through the suction faces of the filter plates into the central space and further along the ducts into the central pipe and out of the construction.

As the filter plates are mounted circum- ferentially around the central pipe or shaft and as the shaft is fitted so as to revolve, each filter plate is, in its turn, displaced into the basin and further, as

the shaft of rotation revolves, rises out of the basin. By the effect of the negative pressure, material to be dewatered, which adheres to the suction faces of the filter plates, rises out of the basin along with the plates. When the negative pressure is maintained, the dewatering of the material goes on during the said rising movement, and after the material to be dewatered, such as peat, has been carried to the doctor station,- scraping knives or other detaching members, i.e. doctors, detach the material from the suction faces and the dewatered material is passed out of contact with the plates and with the device.

In the suction dryer in accordance with the in¬ vention, the suction faces of the filter plates operate expressly as suction faces saturated with liquid, which means -that air (or gas in general) cannot pass through the suction face with the pressure differences between air and liquid that are'employed in the dewatering method. In the suction dryer in accordance with the invention, the object to be dewatered is brought, by the intermedi¬ ate of the suction face of the finely porous plate saturated with liquid, into hydraulic connection with a liquid subjected to negative pressure relative the object to be dewatered. A problem in the prior-art suction dryers has been the correct timing of the filtering phases. It is of essential importance that the suction can be applied at the correct time when the suction dryer plate is in contact with the material to be filtered. Besides the correct timing of the suction, it is also essential that a negative pressure of correct pressure value can be applied to the interior of the suction plate. The said circumstances depend on the material to be filtered, and therefore the timing of the said suction phases ought to be adj stable• in accordance with the material to be fil¬ tered and in accordance with the filter plates used. Thus, the said timing of the filtering phases has been

a major deficiency and drawback of the prior-art suction dryers. Thus, the object of the invention is a suction dryer in which it has been possible to time the filtering phases correctly and in which it has been possible to provide the filtering pressures at the desired pressure values for the desired filtering phases. So, by means of the distributor device of the suction dryer in accord¬ ance with the invention, it has been possible to solve the phasing of the filtering phases at correct times and with correct durations. According to the invention, a distributor device related to a suction dryer has been provided, by means of which it has been possible to regulate the filtering phases correctly.

The device in accordance with the invention is mainly characterized in that the suction dryer includes a distributor device for the timing of the filtering stages, which said distributor device comprises a rotor part fitted stationarily on the structure, preferably a shaft, which displaces the filter plate into the material to be filtered, and a stator part, which is functionally coupled to the rotor part and which can be set for the purpose of adjusting the filtering stages, whereat the different stages required in the filtering are fitted as taking place so that the negative pressure applied to the filter plates is arranged so that it is transmitted through the ducts in the stator part and through the ducts in the rotor part at the time when the opening in the stator part is located facing the mobil , preferably revolving, opening in the rotor part. In the device in accordance with the invention, the rotor part 34 is placed in a stationary position in the frame construction that displaces the filter plate into the material to ^' be filtered, favourably on the shaft. Under these circumstances, the rotor part is fitted to revolve along with the shaft. The stator part and the rotor part are fitted to be interconnected functionally in such a way that the rotor part revolves as pressed

against the stator part. The rotor part is fitted as gliding against the stator part. According to the inven¬ tion, the stator part, which is in other respects in a stationary position during the filtering, is fitted so that it can be set and adjusted in such a way that, at each suction plate, the times of starting and ending of the filtering phases can be altered. According to the invention, the stator part includes a timing disc con¬ nected to the frame of the stator part, by means of which said timing disc, by turning the stator part, the posi¬ tions of the openings in the stator part are adjusted in relation to the stationary constructions in the suc¬ tion dryer and/or in relation to the material to be filtered that is present in the basin. The invention will be described in the follow¬ ing with reference to some favourable embodiments of the invention illustrated in the figures in the accompanying drawings, whereat the invention is, however, not to be confined to said embodiments only. Figure 1 illustrates the dewatering by means of suction schematically step by step.

Figure 2 shows a filter plate used in the suction dryer in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a filter plate in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 is a side view of a suction dryer ^' in accordance with the invention, partly as a schematical presentation.

Figure 5A is a schematical illustration of principle of a suction dryer subject of the invention.

Figure 5B is a schematical side view of the timing device for the phasing of the filtering stages in a suction dryer in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5C is a schematical illustration of the operation of the distributor device timing and phasing the filtering stages in accordance with the invention, with the rotor part and the stator part set apart from

each other.

Figure 6 is a side view of a preferred embodi¬ ment of a suction dryer in accordance with the inven¬ tion provided with a distributor device. Figure 7A shows a section I-I in Fig. 6, seen in the direction of the arrows. What is shown herein is the arrangement of devices used for the adjustment of the stator part.

Figure 7B is a partial view of Fig. 6 seen from one end of the device in the direction of viewing indicated by the arrow - .

Figure 7C is a corresponding partial view from the other end of the device of Fig. 6, seen in the direction of viewing indicated by the arrow k-. Figure 7D is a partial view of the filter disk formed by the suction-dryer plates. The illustra¬ tion is taken along the section line II-II in Fig. β.

Figure 8A is a partly sectional side view of the distributor device that times the suction-drying stages in a suction dryer in accordance with the inven¬ tion. The figure shows the timing disk permanently con¬ nected to the stator part of the distributor device.

Figure 8B is an end view of Fig. 8A, seen in the direction of viewing indicated by the arrow k-.. Figure 9A shows a second embodiment of the distributor device in accordance with the invention that adjusts and/or times the suction-drying stages. The illustration is a partial illustration.

Figure 9B is an end view of Fig. 9A, seen in the direction of viewing indicated by the arrow k..

Fig. 1 is a schematical illustration of the suction drying in accordance with the invention step by step. The figure shows the passage of one suction drying block in the dewatering process step by step. In the figure, one suction-dryer plate is denoted with the reference numeral 10, and the direction of rotation is denoted with the arrow L.

In the step A, the dryer plate is placed in the basin 11 for the sludge to be dewatered. In the step illustration shown below, a sectional view of the filter plate is given, and as comes out from the figure, vacuum and suction are fitted inside the filter plate. In the step B, the dryer plate has been taken out of connection with the sludge to be dewatered and, as comes- out from the lower illustration of the step, the material to be filtered is kept in contact with the ceramic plate and negative pressure is maintained in the central filter space in the plate so that the liquid is sucked out of the material to be filtered into the central space in the plate. The figure illustrates the passage of the liquid in the plate structure. In the step C, the filter plate 10 has passed to the doctor station, where the removal of the filtrate material sedimented on the face of the apparatus is carried out by scraping;

In the step D, cleaning water is passed into the central space in the plate, and the plate is cleaned by means of pressurized water.

The filter plate 10 shown in Figures 2 and 3 comprises a first suction face 11 and a second suction face 12, between which there is a space 14 filled by granules 13. The said intermediate space functions as the water space. The granules are confined substantially by the first face 11 and the second face 12. They act as rigidifiers of the structure, and owing to their granular nature, they do, however, not prevent the flow of the liquid that has entered into the said central space, because the granules do not produce a major re¬ sistance to flow. A connecting duct 15 passes into the said central space 14, said duct 15 being further con¬ nectable to a source of negative pressure so as to pro- duce flow of liquid through the suction faces 11 and/or 12 into the central space 14 and further out of the filter plate 10.

The connecting duct 15 of the plate as well as the edges 16 of the plate are reinforced by means of a glazing.

The plate may further be provided with fasten- ings 17. The said fastenings 17 may act as means for attaching the plate 10 to its base. The space 14 filled with granules supports the suction faces 11 and 12 against pressure.

The suction faces 11 and 12 proper of the plate as well as the granules 13 are preferably made of a ceramic casting mix, whose composition is as follows:

- clay about 20 %,

- kaolin about 30 %,

- aluminium hydroxide about 45 %, and - calcium carbonate about 5 %.

The particle size of the raw-materials is on the average 0.002 mm.

The dryer in accordance with the invention, which makes use of microporous plates , is used favourably for the dewatering of web-like, such as paper, floury, such as peat, solid, such as wood, porous material. By the intermediate of a finely porous suction face filled with liquid, the object to be dewatered is brought into hydraulic connection with a liquid subjected to negative pressure relative the object to be dewatered.

Fig. 4 illustrates the principle of the con¬ struction of the suction dryer in accordance with the invention in more detail.

The suction dryer 18 in accordance with the invention comprises several preferably ceramic filter plates 10. The plates 10 are mounted as a circular con¬ struction so that the connecting duct 15 of each plate 10 communicates with a central suction pipe 19 , which is placed on the shaft of rotation. Each filter plate 10 is connected to said central pipe 19 by means of a duct 20. The plates 10 are fitted so as to pass through the basin 21. The basin 21 may be filled with peat sludge

or with any other, corresponding material to be dewatered. Negative pressure is passed into the filter plates 10 through the central pipe 19 and the ducts 20. Owing to the porous structure of the filter plates, the sludge present in the basin 21, from which said sludge the liquid is supposed to be removed, is carried, by the effect of the negative pressure applied to the middle of the filter plates , into contact with the suction faces of the plates 10. The water contained in the sludge in the basin 21 is sucked further by the effect of the negative pressure through the suction -faces 11 and 12 of the filter plates 10 into the central space 14 and further along the ducts 20 into the central pipe 19 and out of the construction. As the filter plates 10 are mounted circum- ferentially around the central pipe or shaft 19 and as the shaft 19 is fitted so as to revolve, each filter plate 10 is, in its turn, displaced into the basin 21 and further, as the shaft of rotation revolves, rises out of the basin. By the effect of the negative pressure, mate¬ rial to be dewatered, which adheres to the suction faces 11 and 12 of the filter plates 10, rises out of the basin 21 along with the plates. When the negative pres¬ sure is maintained, the dewatering of the material goes on during the said rising movement, and after the mate¬ rial to be dewatered, such as peat, has been carried,- e.g., to point A in the construction shown in Fig. 3, scraping knives or other detaching members 30 detach the material from the suction faces 11 and 12, and the de- watered material is passed out of contact with the plates and with the device. The construction further includes a support frame 22, which is fitted to carry the basin 21. The basin 21 is provided with an outlet pipe 23. Further, the device includes a storage tank 24 for the material to be dewatered, said tank being provided with an outlet duct 25. An electric motor is fitted to rotate the central rotation shaft and the pipe 19.

In the suction dryer 18 in accordance with the invention, the suction faces 11 and 12 of the filter plates 10 operate expressly as suction faces saturated with liquid, which means that air (or gas in general) cannot pass through the suction face with the pressure differences between air and liquid that are employed in the dewatering method. In the suction dryer 18 in accord¬ ance with the invention, the object to be dewatered is- brought, by the intermediate of the suction face 11 and/or 12 of the finely porous plate 10 saturated with liquid, into hydraulic connection with a liquid subjected to negative pressure relative the object to -be dewatered. The device in accordance with the invention is intended in particular for the dewatering of peat, but it is to be emphasized that the said device is also suitable for the dewatering of many other materials. Further, it should be emphasized that, in stead of water, the liquid to be sucked by means of the device 18 in accordance with the invention may also be some entirely different liquid. Fig. 5A is a schematical and axonometric view of the device in accordance with the invention. The actuating member 30 is fitted to rotate the shaft 19 so that each filter plate is fitted to be displaced, in its turn, into the basin 21 and into contact with the liquid to be filtered contained in the basin. The suction-dryer plates 10, which are mounted on support of the shaft ^' 19 or of any other mobile frame part, are fitted to revolve, being rotated by the actuating member 30, preferably an electric motor or hydraulic motor, whereas the shaft 19 is fitted to revolve on bearing means 31 and 32. The distributor device 33, distributor valve, which produces the timing of the filtering stages, e.g. suction' stages, is fitted on the shaft 19, and in such a way that at least a part of the distributor device 33 is fitted to revolve along with the shaft 19 in a stationary position in relation to the shaft 19.

The distributor device 33, whose principle is illustrated in Figures 5B and 5C, is fitted to distribute the suction phases to each suction-dryer plate 10 in such a way that the suction is fitted to be'applied in a certain stage in a certain position of the suction-dryer plate 10 relative the sludge or the material to be filtered, which is present in the basin.

Thus, the distributor device 33 is fitted to distribute and to time the said suction stages in the desired way and with the desired lengths and durations, and the distributor device in accordance with the inven¬ tion is also fitted to time the other stages in the filtering process, such as the pressure-equalization and washing stages. The distributor device 33 in accordance with the invention comprises a first distributor-device portion

34, i.e. a rotor, which is fitted to revolve along with the shaft 19 and is, thus, attached to the sha t 19 in a stationary position. The distributor device 33 also comprises a second settable distributor-device portion

35, i.e. a stator, which is fitted, for the time of the filtering, in a stationary position relative the sludge contained in the basin and/or relative the surrounding constructions. In the following, the first distributor- device portion 34 of the distributor device 33 or distri¬ butor valve 33 will be called the rotor, and the second distributor-device portion 35 will be called the stator. According to the invention, the stator 35 can be turned for the purpose of adjusting the timing of the filtering stages relative the basin and relative the material to be filtered, contained in the basin, and in this way the points of starting and ending of the suction stages are adjusted in respect of each plate. Likewise, by means of the said adjusting, the starts and ends of the other filtering stages are also obtained. According to the invention, the distributor device 33 comprises a separate timing device 36 , which is favourably a timing

disk. When the stator part 35 is turned by means of the timing disk 36, the vacuum and washing openings in the stator 35 can be brought to the desired positions relative the material to be filtered, whereby the filtering stages can be timed as desired.

In the so-called timing disk 36, which is the back plate of the stator 35, there is a separate regula¬ ting device 37, by means of which the timing disk 36 can be turned by the desired angle relative the stationary basin constructions and the liquid material to be filtered.

The same suction time/pressure time is not suitable for all materials, so that, by using the distri¬ butor device 33 in accordance with the invention, the desired adjustments can be carried out in compliance with the requirements of the materials.

Fig. 5C shows a distributor device 33 in accord¬ ance with the invention schematically in an embodiment of equipment which comprises several wheels of plates 101,102... The distributor device 33 is fitted on the shaft 19 so that the rotor part 34 of the distributor device is fitted in a stationary position on the shaft 19 so as to revolve along with the shaft and at the same speed as the shaft. The stator part 35 of the distri¬ butor device 33 is fitted in a stationary position rela- tive the frame constructions D and relative the sludge T to be filtered, present in the basin 21, after the adjustment has been carried out. By means of the adjust¬ ment device 37 and the timing device 36, the position of the stator 35 can be altered in relation to the sludge in the basin and to the stationary constructions D.

Fig. 5C further shows the operation of the distributor device 33 in accordance with the invention schematically.

The distributor valve can be regulated con- tinuously by altering the mutual relationship between- - the stator and the rotor. In this way, the process can be provided with the desired absorption and with the

desired time and/or duration of suction (dewatering) and pressure.

Moreover, the negative pressure can be adjusted for different sectors by means of closing plugs, whereat the closing plug divides the duct of negative pressure into two or more parts.

In the distributor device 33, the first part of the distibutor device, i.e. the rotor part 34, re¬ volves in the direction shown by the arrow L... The second part in the distributor device 33, i.e. the stationary stator part 35, is non-revolving relative the stationary base constructions D. Negative pressure is passed through suction ducts into the interior spaces in the suction-dryer plates 10. As is shown in the figure, the device includes a first suction duct 40, which applies a lower negative pressure to the interior space in the plates, and a second suction duct 42, which applies a higher negative pressure to the interior space in the plates. Moreover, the construction includes a washing duct 41, through which washing liquid can be passed into the space in the plates. The stator 35 may further include the pressure equalizing ducts 43 illustrated in the figure.

The rotor part 34 revolves along with the shaft 19, and the connecting duct or duct opening 34a, 47b, etc. passing into each filter plate 10a _Λ 10' that is in the same phase enters, in its turn, in connection with -each counter-opening 40a,41a,42a in the stator part 35. Thus, for example, the duct 33a, which is shown in Fig. 5C and which passes to the suction duct, is first passed to a position facing the second suction- duct opening 42a, and suction is applied from the suction duct 42 further to the duct portion 33a and thereby to the interior of the suction plate 10. The rotor part 34 revolves further in the way shown by the arrow L.. , and the duct 33a passing to the suction duct is next passed into connection with the opening 43a of the duct 43 that

passes to the pressure equalizing space, whereby the negative pressure in the interior of the plate can be equalized before, the next opening, which is the opening 41a of the washing duct 41, reaches connection with the duct 33a passing into the suction-dryer plate. Through the washing duct 41, pressurized washing liquid can be passed further through the duct opening 33a in the rotor part 34 to the interior of the suetion-dryer plate 10. Further, in the next phase, after washing, the duct 33a passing into the suction-dryer plate reaches connection with the suction opening 40a of the first suction duct 40, through which negative pressure is again applied to the interior of the suction-dryer plate 10, the magnitude of this negative pressure being lower than the negative pressure applied through the second suction duct 42.

The suction ducts 40 and 42 are preferably connected to the same source of negative pressure. From each opening 34a,34b, etc. in the rotor 34, a duct is passed to a certain suction-dryer plate in each wheel of plates and/or to the plates placed in a corresponding position and phase in adjoining wheels of plates.

Fig. 5C further shows a duct 51, which passes from the duct 33a to a distributor valve 50, from which the suction can be applied along the ducts 52 and 53 to the suction-dryer plates 101,10a' and 102,10a" that are in the same phase. There may be several wheels of plates placed side by side, or such an embodiment is also pos¬ sible in which only one wheel of plates is used, in which case the duct 51 is passed directly to the con- necting duct 56 passing into the suction-dryer plate.10.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a suction dryer in accordance with the invention. The shaft 19 is rotated by a motor 30. The shaft 19 is connected to the distri¬ butor device 33 so that the rotor part 34 revolves along with the shaft 19. The stationary non-revolving part of the distributor device 33, i.e. the stator part 35, is attached to the base D, and during filtering the stator

part 35 is placed in a stationary position relative the base constructions D and relative the sludge T in the basin. The ends of the shaft 1 are mounted rotatively in bearing devices 31 and 32. The base construction D comprises a frame 38, to which screws 39a _r 39b with nuts 39c.,39c ₂ are attached. By means of the nuts 39c.,39c ₂ it is possible to adjust the horizontal position of the back plate, i_e. ^{^} the- timing disk 37, connected to the distributor device 33. The ducts connected to the dis- tributor device 33, such as the first suction duct 40 and the second suction duct 42 as well as the washing duct 41, are passed through bores in the timing disk 36.

In Fig. 6, five wheels of plates 101,102,103, 104 and 105 are shown. Each wheel of plates comprises several suction plates 10 mounted in a sector of a circle. From each of the duct openings 34a,34b etc. in the rotor part 34 of the distributor device 33, a connecting duct 51 is passed to the distributor valve 50, from which the suction and the washing are distributed to the parallel suction plate 10 placed in a corresponding phase and/or in a corresponding position in each wheel of plates 101, 102,103,104 and 105.

The timing device 36 , which is favourably the back plate of the distributor device 33, is fitted to turn around the central axis X of the shaft 19, and by means of said turning movement the turning of the stator 35 relative the frame constructions D and/or relative the sludge T in the basin is also controlled. In this way it is possible to regulate the position of the open- ings in the stator part, favourably the suction openings 40a,42a and the washing-duct opening 41a, relative the basin and the sludge or any other material to be filtered present in the basin and/or relative the frame construc¬ tion D. The timing device 36 is favourably a circular disk, which includes an adjusting device 37. The ad¬ justing device 37 comprises a torque arm 372 functionally connected to the timing disk 37, which said torque arm

is further, by the intermediate of an articulation point 375, linked to a regulator piece 371 connected to a height-adjustment screw 373. By displacing the regu¬ lator piece 371 vertically or by displacing the height- adjustment screw 373 vertically, the height position of the articulation point 375 of the torque arm 372 of the timing disk is adjusted, and thereby the timing disk 36 is turned around its central axis X. The position of the screw 373 relative the frame D can be adjusted by turning the screw 373 in the vertical direction in a threading provided in the frame D or by setting the screw 373 in the hole provided in the frame D in a certain and desired position by means of fastening nuts 374, whereby the said screw 373 can be connected with the frame D in the desired position.

Fig. 7A shows the section I-I in Fig. 6. When the articulation point 375 is displaced up and down,- the timing disk 36 is turned relative the axis X, and the timing disk 36 is guided by means of the horizontal screws 39a and 39b and the nuts 39c ₁ and 39c ₂ related and connected to the grooves 361 and 362 in the timing disk. At the centre lines of the screws 39a,39b it is possible to read the angular position of the timing disk 36 and, consequently, of the stator 35 fixed to the timing disk, from the scale 375 on the timing disk 36. The function of the grooves 361 and 362 is to support and to guide the timing disk 36 and the stator part 35 fixed to same. By turning the disk 36, it is possible to alter the position of the suction openings 42,40 and the washing opening 41 in the stator 35 relative the frame construction D and/or the material T to be filtered.

Fig. 7B is a top view of the suction dryer seen from the end of the suction dryer placed next to the distributor device 33. The figure is a partial illustration and taken in the direction of the arrow K ₁ in Fig. 6. The shaft 19 is mounted rotably in the bearing 32, and the timing disk 36 is connected to the

stationary frame constructions D so that, by means of the adjusting device 37 of the timing disk 36, the timing disk with the connected stator part 35 of the distributor device 33 can be -turned around the axis X, whereby its angle position can be adjusted. In this way it is possible to adjust the positions of the holes 42a, 40a,41a and 43a relative the sludge present in the basin as well as the stage at which each suction plate becomes subjected to negative pressure or meets the washing stage. It.is also possible to adjust the duration of the application of negative pressure to each suction plate in the basin containing the sludge to be dewatered. The arrow L- denotes the turning of the disk 36 and of the stator 35 around the axis X. Both directions of turning are possible.

The turning is carried out by means of the disk 36 adjusting device 37 shown in more detail in Figs.. 7A and 7B. The arm part 372 is connected to the con¬ necting part 371 , and the turning of the disk 36 and, thereby, the position of the stator part 35 are adjusted by altering the position of the arm 372.

Fig. 7C is a view of the other end of the suction dryer 10, taken in the direction of the arrow K_ in Fig. 6. The figure is a partial illustration. The figure shows the actuating member 30 , favourably an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, which rotates the shaft 19 by the intermediate of a gearbox 30a.

Fig. 7D is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in Fig. 6. The figure shows a wheel of plates 101 of the suction dryer, comprising several suction-dryer plates fitted in sectors of a circle,- as is shown in the figure, the plates 10a,10b,10c,10d,10e, etc. The number of the plates is preferably high enough so that they occupy the whole circumference of the circle. A duct 56 ^« ,56",56'", etc. passes into the inside space in each plate 10. For example, a connecting duct 56' passes into the plate 10b, said duct being

connected to the duct 56 passing from the distributor valve 50. Further, the distributor valve 50 communi¬ cates along the duct 51 with the duct 34a in the rotor part 34. Correspondingly, the other plates 10c,10d,10e, etc. in the wheel 101 have connecting ducts 56",56'", etc. of their own, which communicate with their own distributor valves 50' ,50" (not shown) and further with their own ducts 34b,34c, etc. in the rotor part.

Fig. 8A is a sectional view of the stator part and the rotor part as fitted to each other. The rotor part 34 includes a sleeve-shaped part 341 connected to the shaft 19 and a connected flange part 342, to which a collar part 343 projecting in the direction of the shaft is connected. In the space between the collar part 343 and the central axis X, the stator part 35 is fitted inside the collar part 343, said stator part comprising a stator ring 351, in which there are openings and ducts 40,41,42, etc. of their own for each filtering stage, suction stage, washing stage, pressure-equalizing stage, etc.

The stator part 35 and the timing disk 36, which positions the stator ring 351, are interconnected by means of connecting bushings 352,353 and 354. The connection between the disk 36 and the stator ring 351 is fixed. From the ducts 40,41,42, etc. in the stator ring 351 , connection is opened into the rotor 34 opening 34a,34b,34c at each particular time arriving in the position facing each duct, each of said rotor openings communicating with a filter plate and/or filter plates placed in a certain phase.

Fig. 8B is an illustration of Fig. 8A taken in the direction of viewing indicated by the arrow k- in Fig. 8A. The figure is a partial illustration. From the figure it is seen that the flange part 342 is pro- vided with several duct openings 34a,34 ,34c, etc., each of which passes to one filter plate or to several filter plates that are placed in the same parallel position

and/or phase.

During filtering, the stator ring 351 is in a stationary position relative the frame constructions D and/or relative the basin for the material to be filtered and relative the material to be filtered, whereas the rotor 34 revolves along with its shaft 19, being attached to the shaft. Between the end of the stator ring 351 and the flange face of the rotor flange ^' 342 and/or the ^' sleeve part 341 of the rotor, there is glide- contact and glide seals, which, for example in the case of Fig. 8A, keep the connection between the ducts 34a and 40 tight. Moreover, at the end of the stator ring 351 placed next to the timing disk 36, there is a lip seal 346 or some other, corresponding seal, which seals the connecting edge between the part 343 and the stator ring 351 tightly.

Figures 9A and 9B show a second advantageous embodiment of the distributor device 33 in accordance with the invention and of its timing disk 36. Fig. 9A is a partly sectional view of the distributor device 33. The opening 33N in the flange part of the rotor part com¬ municates with the pressure equalizing opening 44 in the stator ring 351 in the stator part. The timing disk 36 includes a tensioning device 60, by means of which the stator ring 351 is made to be pressed with a suitable force against the rotor part and against its flange part 342. When the adjusting nuts 61,62 are turned, ^" the timing disk 36 can be brought to the desired posi¬ tion relative the stator ring 351. The screw 63 is passed through the timing disk 36 and through its sleeve part 64, and further it is threaded into the threading 354' in the end bore 354 of the spring cavity 352. The spring 353 is placed in the spring cavity 352 and is favourably a compression spring. The end of the spring that is placed next to the timing disk 36 is placed in contact with the sleeve part 64, and the other end is placed against the bottom wall 352' of the cavity 352. Besides being passed through the timing disk 36, the

spring 63 is also passed through the sleeve 64, whereat between the screw 63 and the sleeve 64 a movement is permitted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the screw 63. By turning the nuts 61,62, the position of the timing disk 36 and its sleeve part 64 can be altered relative the stator part 35 and the stator ring 351. The end part 64' of the sleeve 64 can be made to move and to press the spring 353, whereat the force of the spring 353 acts further upon the stator ring 351, and thereby the stator 35 is pressed against the rotor part 34 and its flange part 342. In this way, a desired pre-pressing force is provided between the end of the stator ring 351 and the flange part of the rotor flange 342, and the seals 344,345,346 and 347 can be pressed with the desired force to provide adequate sealing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, between the outer mantle 351" of the stator ring 351 and the projecting sleeve-like part 343 of the rotor, there is a seal 348. The seal 348 may be of any sealing mate- rial whatsoever. For example, the seal 348 may consist of oil. Other materials are also possible, for example seal materials alone. After the desired tensioning of the stator part in the axial direction against the rotor part has been obtained, the timing disk 36 with its sleeve 64 is locked in the desired tensioning position by turning the lock-nut 62 in the threading on the screw 63.

Fig. 9B is a view of Fig. 9A in the direction of the arrow k.. From the figure it is seen that there are two tensioning devices 60 placed symmetrically rela- tive the central axis X. By means of said two tensioning devices 60 , en equal pressing of the stator 35 against the rotor part 34 is obtained. The timing disk 36 may be adjusted, as to its angle position, in the other re¬ spects in the same way as is described in the embodiments of Figs. 6 and 7. The construction of the adjusting de¬ vice of the timing disk 36 may be similar to that of the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7.