CA2169205A1 - Filter sector constructions - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter sector for use in rotary disc filter systems. The filter sector includes a pair of spaced-apart metallic structural members formed of expanded metal having a plurality of openings and a non-metallic coating covering the metallic structural members. The filter sector may also include reinforcing ribs, a frame, a mechanism for attaching the filter sector to a rotary disc filter system, and a mechanism for attaching a filter bag to the filter sector. additionally, the structural members may be formed of a nonmetallic or metallic material where the structural members are permanently or removably attached to the filter sector frame.

Description

~ 169~ 15 ~RO'V0 rtL~R _~;,G~ C0~5~
~etd of t~e ~ t~on ~ h~ pr---nt lnv~nt~on relat~J g~nerally to f~lter ~y-~em- In parti~ular, tho pr-~nt lnventlon r-lat~s to ~n lmprov-d filter ~ector con~truction for u-- in a rotary di~a filtcr ~tructur~
Ra~ground of tho ~nVSA~~
Rotary di~a f~lt-r- ar~ u~d ~or ro~oving material~ fro~
an aqueous ~uepon~io~. In ono ~ppl~cation of th- prose~t invontion, rotary di~c filter- ar- u~ed in ~ilt-ring proce~s for r~moving ~ ~in~r~l or- conc-ntr~t~ from a ~i~eral or-~lurry, wb~ch i~ th- product of a ml~ral ~paration proc~
The dry ore concen~r~tc obt~ ~ ~r ~ from th- rota~y disc filtering proces~ ~ay b~ u~4t ~or p~ tin~ or other pro4~6~ng purpo~eo.
~ rot~ry di~c filter ~tructur~ ge~erally includes ~
plur~lity o~ wedge-~haped filt~r 6~ctor~ h filter sector i6 covered by a rilter bag. Th~ filter 6ectors are connected to a central cylindrical drum, and ar~ rotated about ~he oylindrical drum durin~ di~c filter operation.
In operation, t~e cylindrical drum i~ rotated counter-clockwi~o s~ch that tbe filter ~ector~ are ~olectively imm~r~ed ~nd L~ ed from an aqueous suspenJion or ~lurry ~on~jn~ng the ore from which it i~ de~ir-d to remove th~
wate~. Alternat~ly, ~cuu~ or prQ~-urized air i~ applie~ to the filter ~ector~ from a vacuu~ blower or pre~urized a~x . ' 1 21bi9 ~ourcc.
Wh~ c filtcr sector~ nmor~-d in the olurry, ~cuw~ through a ~on~ t conn~t-d to th- f~ltor c-ctor- dr~ng wat~r throug~ b~g-typ- filt~r medlu~. Thc or~ 1~ the aqucou- ~u~pen~ion b-comQ8 caked to t~o ext-rior ~urfac~ of th- fllt~r b,~g, while t~e wator filtrato ~ ~e~d ~etween th- r~ltor b~g and t~e f~lter ~ector. F~lt-rod t~ter i- cont~n~ ly dra~ t}~rough the f~lt-r b~g u~til the ~llt-r bag b~come~ t~nt~ally cak~d wit~ or~ rQr~ontratç.
Th~ f~lter ~ector continu-~ to rotate out of thc ~ ou~
~u~ens~ o~, oxpo~ g th- cakQd ore cor~çntrat- to the atmo~ph~r- for ~ dry$ng period. Th~ v~cuu~ i~ conti~uou-ly ~ppl~ed to f~cil~tat~ rapid drying of th- f~lt-r bag and cak-d ore ~oncentr~t-.
T~o rotary f 11t~r i~ then po~ ~ tion~d ~ov~ ~4 or~
collector bin~ Pr~Juriz-d air i8 fed through a cor~nit into ~¢h f ~ lter ~cctor to -Yr~n~ the filter bag- and drive tho dried or~ cQncc~tra~e fro~ the ~urfac~ of th- ~ilter ~ag into the collection bin.
q~he a~ov~ cycle i~ continually repeated to collec~
~ddit ~ a 1 ore concentrate, with a ~acuu~ being Al?P~ to each filter ~-ctor during ; m~ner~ion ~to th- aqu~ou~
~us~en~lon of or~ and w~ter, subseguent drying Or th~ or~ c!ake o~ t~e ~ilter bag, and pr~s~ized air ~eing ~uppl~ed to each fllter ~ector for removal of th- dried ore ~n~ trate into coll~ction bin~.
.

21~9~û5 Filter ~ctor~ mu~t be conYtruct~d to w~th-t~Dd ~he h~rsh envlron~-nt assoclated wlt~ tho abov- proc-J~ F~n~ p~t~clo~
ar- dr~w~ thr~ugh the f~ltor bag durin~ th- filt-ring proc~s, ub~ct~ng the fllt~r ~ector- to hars~ abr~ion a~d w~r Additionally~ fllter ~ector~ ~u~t withst~d r~p~ated ~xpaJure to w~t~r ~nd ~ub~cgu-nt drying The repctitiY- application of a v~cuum and ~ub~equent ~ppl~tion of pre~Jurized ai~ to the filter ~ector~ ~ub~ect~
thc filter sector to ~ r~ flsx ~trQssing. ~re~ent rotary di~c filters includ- a numb~r of filter ~ector~ which are con~truct~d o~ he~vy m~tall~c mat-rial- to with~tand the ~v~re flex 3tre~ing. Th- h-Avy mntall~c filt~ sector~ ha~e been found to b- parti~ularly difficult to handl~ during rel~tively frequent chang~ of t~ filter bag. Other rotary di-c filtQrs includ~ filter ~ect~r ~tructuxe~ ~onstruc~ed of lighter weight ~a~erials, whic~ do n~t have the ability to withstant th- flex ~tr~ing as effectively as the metal filter sector~.
Pi~ter ~e~tox~ haYe al80 been designed wlth a combinat~on of metallic an~ non-met411ic mAterial to t~ke advan~4g~ of th-light weight of ~olded plastic, while retA;n;ng steel ribs for reinfor~ement and structural ot_b~lity. One ~uch invention i~
di~closed in ~S~ Patent No. 4,139,472 to Simon~on, wh~ch i~
herein i~orporated by ref~r~nce.

21~2~5 Sumr~rv of t~e rny~nt~c~ -The pr~-nt ~nvention r~l~tc~ to ~n improv~d ~lt-r ~ecto~ con-tructio~ wh~ch may b~ u--d i~ ~ rotary di~c filt~r ~tructur-. In onQ applicatio~, th- f$1t~r ~ector i~ u~d in a rotary d~c f~lter ~or L~.lng a mlnerAl or- concentrate from ~ ral ore aqueou~ ~u~enYion or ~lurxy.
In on- embod~ent, th- pro~ent invention ~nclude~ a filt~ ctor ~bo~t which ~ ~ltor ~ag ~ ~ocurod. Structural m-~n~ formed of ~Yp~n~ed ~etal ha~g a pl~ral~ty of op~ninga ar~ prov~ded for support~ng the ~ilt~r bag. ~ddlt~on~lly, mean~ are pro~idod for covering the ~xpanded metal to protect th~ filtes bag.
The ~tructural mean~ may include a plur~lity of elongated meta~ rib- located ~d~ac~nt th- exp~ ~etal and s~cur~d to the ~ran~e~ m~tal. ThQ ~YrAn~ m~tal may b~ formed ~n a generally open pattern. ~dditlonally, ~Qans may be p~ovided for attaching th~ filte~ bag to the filter ~ec~or, and means may be pro~ided for se~uring t~e filter ~ector to a rotating filter sy~tem.
In t~e pref~rred e~odim~nt, th~ filter ~ectox ~ncludes a pAir of generally w~ c~-shapQd ~tructural members formed o~
~Y~An~ metal ~a~ing ~ plu~ality of opening~. Means ~r~
conn-ct-d ~o the ~txuc~ural me~ber~ for s~Ac~ n~ apart th~
structural membexs. A non-met~ coat~ng cov~ th-~tru~tural ~e r~ and th~ meano ~o~r - _ ~ed to the ~tructural ~ember~. In one embod~m~nt, the ~on-metallic c~ating i~ an 2169~5 ol~tcmeric ~naterial, and tbe ~an~ for ~p~cing ~p~t th-~tructural member- ~ nalude~ t-llic ~r~
Th~ r of gener~lly w~dg~d-~hap-d structur~ member~
aro ~D-r~lly plAnar~ ~cb ~nclud~g ~n ~;rcuate edg-, a ~n~rally str~ght ~dg~ ASld ~ pair o~ diverg$ng sld- ~dge~.
Th~ f ~ lt~r 6~sctor furt~r lnclud~s ~esn~ ~or r~lnforcing th-tructural me~b-rs, whlch ~ay inaludo ~t l-~t on-long~ t~ y x~n~li n~ r-~ nforce~ent rib ~cured to tho pl ~ r ~tructur 1 m~r ~xt~nd ~ n~ b~tw~en tho g~n~rally ~tr~ight edgc and th~ arcuat- ed~e.
~ h- ~ilter ~-¢to~ ~y furth~r iDolud~ n~ for ~ecuring a filtes bag to the filt~r ~ector, and mean~ for ~ecur~ng tll~ filt-r ~ctor to ~ rotary filter ~yotem.
Th- f ~ lter ~-~tor of th~ present in~e~tion pr~ide~ a light-weight structurally reinforced filter ~ector which hao tbe ab; lity to withstand the flex 6treY-ing prQ~ent in the mlne~al or~ remo~al proc4P~. Add~t~onally, tho filt~r sector i8 coated with a ~on-metallic.material for protecting t~e filtor sector from hax~h filtering p~ocess ~rironment~.
In yet aAother ~mbo~ nt, t~e f ilt~r ~ector of t~e pre~-nt in~e~ti~n includes a ~Upp~t s~r~cture, ~her-in ~t lea~t a port~ on of the ~uppo~ u~-~re i8 ~ e~O~ a~ly ~ttach~ble. The ~uppo~ ~truotllre ~ay include a ra~e and a pai~ of 8tructural me~bers, wherein the ~tructural mR~ber~ are removably attachable to the frame.
Th~ ~upport stru¢tu~e m~y be cover~d wlt~ a non-metallic

2~69~05 ._ coating. ~h- otructural m-~b~r~ may bo formed o~~~xp~nd-d met~l or may bo form-d of a non-m t~ a mater~al. ~ o~
ombod~ent, th~ ~tructural m-mb~r~ ~nclud- ~ g-n~rally pl nar urface havl~g a plurality of pro~-ctlons ~Yt~n~ing th-r fro~.
~ n~ m~y b- prov~ded for r~G~bly attaching th-st~uctur~l mamb~rs to tho fr~ n the psoferrad ~sbod~ment, the mean~ ~ncludes ~t le~t one pu~h-through fa~ton-r.
Alt~r~Ativoly, tllo ~ean- ~or Y~cl~ably ~ttachin~ th-tructural memb-r~ to tho fr~c includo at l-~-t on~ bolt y~tam.
~ n the pref~rr-d ~ho~ nt, aach ~tructur~l ~amb~r ha~
plur~lity of ~ ~n~ ngS ex~en~ ng th~rethrough, and ~nclude~
an ~rcu~te edg~, ~ gener~lly ~tr~Sght edq-, and a pair of diverq~ng.J~de edges. ~e fr~m~ extends ~lon~ th~ arcu~te edge and generally straiqht edge. At least on~ re~nforcem~nt rib may xtend between the arcuatc edge and the generally straigh~ edge, and ~t l~a~t one reinforcem~nt rib ~ay extend ~etwee~ the ~id~ edg~.
The filtcr ~ector of th~ pre~ent in~ention io r~peatedly exposet to har~h filterin~ proces~es, ~hich ma~ damage the filter ~ec~or ov-r tim~. Eventually, the filter ~ector may have to b- r-rl~e~. The novel filter sector o~ the p~esent invention, ha~ing ~ able stru~tural mem~ers ~ provides an effici-nt and ~oot-cffecti~e method of ropl~ci~g da~aqed filter ~ectvr structural ~e~ers, without total filter sector replace~ent.

21692~
-~rief D~scrip.t~ on of t~ Dras.ing~ ~
Thc $nvention will b- furth-r de~crlbed w~th r-fer-nce to acca~panylng draui~g~ ~h~r~ lilce numb~rs re~er to li~ce part~
in ~eVQ~al view~, and whereint Fig. 1 i~ a per~poct~ve view of the filter ~ctor of t~o pr~en~ $nvention;
Pig. 2 1~ ~n e~cplod-d p-r6p~tive v~ ~w in part of the filtor ~ector ~ho~m in F~ g. 1 t Fig. 3 ia asl ~nla~ged frag~ntary per~pecti~ view t~ken from t}~e ar~a erlc~rcled at 3 in ~ig. 2;
~ ig. 4 ~ J ~n exploded p~r~p~ctive view ln part of the fllte~ ~ector ~hown ~n F~ g. l;
Pig . S i~ an enl~rged section taken ~ long lin~ S-S i~
~ig. 4;
~ ig. 6 i~ an enlarged frag~entary per~pective view of an altern~tive e~bodiment of the pre~ent inve~tioTl;
Fig. 7 i~ a fragm~ntary ~ectional view taken ~long line 7-7 of Yi~. 6;
~ ig. ~ i~ a fragme~ary sectl~n~l ~ie~ s~ to that of ~ig. 7 showing another alternative embodiment of thQ pre6ent inv-nt~on Fig. 9 i- a fragm~nt~ry P~L ~- Liv~ vi~w of a portion of the framo of thc alt~rnati~e -~o~mentJ ~hown in F1g~. 6-~) a~d Fig. 10 is a fragmentary ~ectional plan vie~ of another alternati~e e~od;~ent of ~he pre~ent in~ent$on.

2169~5 De~cript-tQn of ~hC P-~ferr~
~rhO pre- lnt ~nv~D,tion relat~- to an ~prov-~ f~ltor -ctor con~truct~on fc~r l~e ~n a rot~ry disc filt-r ~tructur-Rot~ry cl$sa ~lter~ aro u~-d, for ~xa~le, ~or ~ovislq ~
~ner 1 or- concentrat- frollt a m~neral or- aqll~ou~ suJp~n~ion or -lurr~, which i~ t}~.8 y~ t. 0~ a miner~l -par~tion proc~s During the filt-rlng proce~Y~ th- dis~! fllt-r ~octor~ t w~th-tand hor~h ~br~-ion and vear, wltb re~e~-d e~cpooure to w~t~r and s~3~ nt dry~ng, c~u~ g f lcx str~-ing of th- ~ilter ~ector~
The pr~--nt filter s-cto~ construction i~ ~ble to w~thstand the ~bove har-h f~ltering proc~o environment The filter ~eotor provid~J for reduced m~nufacturing CoRtH and ea~e in f~lter bag repl~c~ment Additlonally, the pre~ent filter ~ector coAstruction i~ l~ght-w~ight, non~damagl~g to fllter bag~, and allows for efficl-nt remnval of water ~rom the ore ~lurry, re~ult~ng in a very dry residual cakc of oro.
Fig. 1 ~ho~s a per~pective view o~ a filter 6ector of the present inv~ntion for UB~ with a rotary disc filtQr sy~tem generally ~t 10. The filt~ ~ector 10 ~9 ~hown loc~t~d within a f ilter bag 12 . ~he fil~er b~g 12 ia ~ecured to filter sector 10 ~i~h r~tr~int rope 14.
Refer~ing to Fig. 2, a ~c~ ed pe~c~lve vlew of filter ~e~t~r 10 i~ shown. FiltRr ~ector 10 ge~erally ~n¢ludes a ~ector grlll 16, a f~ame 19, reinforci~g rib~ 20 and collar m~her 2?. Sector g~ 16 are gen~r~lly wedged .

21 6 9 ~ O ~

~ped, aAd include B plurality o~ o~n~s 2~. s~ct~r gr~
16 gen~rally ~nclud~ nner edg- 26, ~ outQr ~dg~ 28, ~d ~id- dq~ 30 a~d 32. In ono e~bod~-nt, tho lnn-r edqe 26 io ~tr~Lg~t, and tho outer dg~ 28 ~- gon~rally ~rcuato ~haped.
Tho ~id- ~dges 30 and 32 dlr-~ge botwe~n ~ n~r dge 26 and out~sr ~dg- 28.
Th~ urfac~ of sector grlll~ 16 l~ q-ne~ally plaIlar, ~d ~ nclude~ ~ plurality of o~on ~ n~J~ 24 extending ther-t~ uç~h .
In th- proferr~ ho'~- ant, the ~ector gr~ll 16 ~- for~ed of ~ando~ m~t~l, whic~ may b- e~ily m~nufactur-d ~ v~rlous~
t!onfiquration~ while providing th- ~tructur~l ~upport to th~
filter ~octor 10 ~d f~lter b~g 12, and a.llow~ng fluid to pa~
ther~through. In the profer~ed ~mbodi~nt, tho ~ector grills 16 ~r~ for~od o~ ~n ~Yp~ ed met~l which ~ ~ aluminum. Th~
Qxp~r~A- ~ metal eonYtruct$on re~ult~ ~ n filt-r s~ctor~ w~ich arl~ light-woiqht for efficient ~G~al/r~placement or the filter sector w$thin a rotary filt~r ~ystem.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, d pair of sector grillo 16 ar- located wi~hi~ fra~e 18. Pram~ 18 io ~e~ured to the oute~
edg- 2~ and side edgeo 30 o~ o~ctor grills 16.
In t~e pr¢fer~:ed e~hQ'7~ ~.nt, th- fra~ a. me~
frAmo wh~c~ ~o fonned o~ ~ ~lat bar 36, and rodo 3~. Th~ ~la~
b~r 36 i~ located betwe-n the ec~g~8 of se~tor grills 16, ~pAc~g apart th- ~ector grills 16. Flat bar 36 i~ Le~;ULed to ~ector grill- by ~thods ~cnown in ~he art, ~uch as welding.
Two r~do 38 are welded to th~ out~ide of flat bar 36, to fonn 216~2~5 groov- ~ 0 b~tween the ~od~
~ plural~ty of reinforcement r$~ 20 ~r~ locat~d b~twc~n t}l- ector gr~l~ 16 for ~tructur~l re~orc~ent of th-rllt-r -ctor 10. The re~nforcing rib- 20 ar~ ~z~d ~ rly to th~ fra~e 18 flat b~r 36. The rei~forcing rib~ 20 are for~d of ~ g-n-r~lly rlat h~r which aid- in unlfon~l ~pacing apare of ~ector gr111s 16 . T~e r~Aforc~ ng rib- 20 aro gually ~paced u~thin f~lter soctor 10~ and exte~d longlt~ n-l ly ~roDI inn~r ~dg~ 2~, to outor etg- 28. Tbo ro~nforcing r~b~ 20 ~r- wold~d to tho ector qr~llJ 16 and thc fr~me 1~ at th- outar adg~ 28.
A~ ~owrl ~n F$g~. 2 and 3, the filter sector lO i- coated w~ th a no~-~ot~ o aoating 44 ~ In ~enerA l, all m~ta1ic ~urface6, pro~ ction~ and edge~ ~re evenly coated w~ t~ t~e non-metall~c coating 44. The ~lm ~eetor 10 may be co~ted by own proce~ uch ~ dipping the film ector 10 ~n ~ non-metallic coating bath or throuqh a ~pray pro~e~s ~here th~
non-metallic coating 44 ~ ~pr~yed onto the film sector lO.
The no~-~et~ll;c coati~g 44 i~; a 6~ft, rèsilient coating which protects film sector 10 during the harsh oso ~ ~-o~,,al proc~s. Add~tlonally, th~ coatlng 44 prote¢~s the filter bag 12 ~xom being ~amaged duQ to contact with the metallic s~ctor qr~lls 16 and fra~o 18. ln tho proferred embod$mQnt, non-~etallia coatlng 44 i~ laotomeria coat~ng.
Collar mem~ex 22 i~ ~ecured to th~ f~lte~ ~ecto~ 10.
Coll~ ~ember 22 gene~ally i~lcludc~ 4 tubul~lr exten~ion 50, ~9~o~

~ould~r~ 52, aDd ~capula 5~. Tho scap~la 54 i~ con~cted to tb~ tv~ul ar ext-n~to~ 50 throuqh ~ho~lder~ 52, In a pr~ r~d embo~ nt, collar me~ber 22 ~- ~ormed o~
non-~tall~a ~la~tomertc m~t-rial. Alt~rnativ-ly, it i~
recognizod th~t coll~r ~emb r 22 m4y ~lso bo form~d of m-t~ c m~t-ri-l and then pr-f-r~bly ~oated wlth ~ ~on-m~tallic coatlng 44. Coll~r m~mber 22 i~ ~ecured to filter ctor 10 by morh~eal m-~n~, ~uch a~ bolt m-~han~m 58 ~x~nd~ ng through ~olea 60. The in~er odge 26 of f~lt~r ~-cto~ 10 ~ in~orted into th- collar m~ber 22 w~th ~capul~
54 extending O~Q~ th~ pl~n~r cideY of oector gr~lls 1~.
The collAr member 22 tubular exten~ion 50 pro~id~ ~or conn~ction of th~ fllter sector 10 to a rotary f~lt~r ~ystem (not shcwn). Th~ filtes ~ctor 10 i~ in communication w~th the rotary filter y~t~m, ~ince pa-~ages 62 definod by ~ctor grill 16 and ~ein~orc~ng ribY 20 are ~n dirQat cc~municatio~
w~h th~ tubular extension S0.
Pig. 1 ~how~ filter bag 1~ ~ecured a~out filter ~ector 10. Fig. 4 io a Betailed p-rspective ViQ~ 0~ filt~r ~ag 12.
Filter bag 12 is formed of ~ ~creen ~ilter m~dium 70 and generally ~noludes ~ yoke portion 72, a body 74, ~nd ~ VELCR0 fastener ~yst-~ 76.
The filter bag 12 i- ~h~ gener~lly ~;lAr to filter ~ctor 10. The f~lt~r bag 12 ; n~ a neck D~~n~ng 78 at the yoke 72, and a bottom apening ~n~ t~d at 80. ~he filter hag 12 ~id~ ar~ ~ormed by securing th~ 8areen filter medlum -21692~)5 70 tog~tb~r a~ in~ t~d at ~am~ B2.
Filter ~ctor 10 ~- loc~t~d wi~hin fllter b~g 12 by fir~t rl~c~ng the fllt-r b-g 12 over t~e filter ~ector 12. Tbe yo~
72 exte~ds over th~ coll~r ~m~Qr 22, ~ith tubul~r xtens~on 50 exter~ n~ up througb tho ~ck op~r~ 78. R~ferriAg to Flg. 5, VEICR0 ia~t-n-r sys~e~ 7~ secure~ t~o botto~ of filt~r b~g 12 ~bout thc ~ilt-r ~ector 10 outer edqe 28.
~ oferr~ng to ~g. 1, ~ig. 4, and ~ig. 5, ~llt~r bag 12 ~
~ecur-d to filt~r ~octor 10 u~ing ~estra~nt ro~e 14. After filter ~ctor 10 is loc~t-d w~thin filter bag 12~ r--traint rop~ 14 is po~ition-d arou~d the filter b~g 12 ~ indicated in Figs. 4 a~d 5. R~tra~t ropo 14 i- ~ecur-ly tightened ~bout f~lt~r bag 12 ~nd ~lt~r ~ector 10 w~th~n groo~ 40. Th-t~ghten~d lo~tr~$nt ro~ 14 i~ then tied ~round collar member 22 and tubular exten-$on 50 uoing knot~ 84 for ~cu~e retention of f~lter bag 12 around filter sector 10.
With filter ~ector 10 located within fll~er bag 12, t~e ~ilter ~ector 10 ~y be po~itioned within ~ rotary filter syste~ for U8Q in an or~ f~lt~ring pr~cess.
In op~at~on, thQ presen~ ~ilter sector lO in~ntion i~
lo~ted within a rotaxy filter system used in an ore filtering pro~es~. A plurali~y of ~ilt-r ~ctorc 10 ~re located about ~ cylindr~cal ~nu~ Th~ cylindrical dru~ i~ rot~t~d cou~terclockwi~ ouch th~t the filter ~ctor~ lO ~r-sele~t~vely immer~ed an~ ~smo~ed from an agu~ou- ~u~pen~ion or ~lu~ry cont~n~ng the o~ fro~ which ~t i~ desired to remove 2169~5 th- w~t-r. A vacuum or pre~urizcd a~r m~y bo ~ltexnat-ly ap~l~ed to th- f~ r -ctor~ 10 througb tubul~r e~tons~on 50, from a vacuum blower or pr~--uriz-d ~r source ~not hown).
Wh~n th- filt-r -ctor~ 10 ar~ l~m~rsed in the slurry, vac~um i~ applied through a condu~t ~onn-et-d to th~ f~lt-r ~ector~ 10, t~h~ r ~xt~n~ion 50, draw~ng water throu~h tb~
filtor bag 12 ~nd planar s~ctDr g~ lC. F~ltor w~ter 1~
trawn in through fllter bag 12, thro~gh the op~n~ngJ 24 in t~e ~ector grlll 16, through passage~ 16, a~d up through t~h~ r oxten~ion 50.
Th- or~ in the aqueou~ Yusp~nsioA become~ caked to the exteslor urf~c~ of the filter bag 12, whllo th- ~at~r filtrato ~ h-ld b~twe~n tbe filt~r bag 12 and the f~lter sector lO ~nd within thQ filter ~ector 12. ~$1t~r-d w~ter i~
continually drawn through thQ filt~ b~g 12 u~til tho f~lt~
bag 12 beeomes su~tant~lly eak~d with or~ eoneQn~rate.
~ h~ filter sector 10 eontinue~ to rotat- out o~ th~
aqueous suspension or ~lurry, ~xpo~ing the ~aked ore e~n~entrAto to the atmo6phe~Q for a dryin~;p~rlod. ~ euum eontinues to be ap~;e~ through the tubular exten~ion 50 to faeili~te rapid drying of th~ filter ba~ 12 and c~ked oro ~on~o~trate .
As th~ filt-r -etor 10 ~otat~ out of th~ agu~ou~
6u~ers; on or elurry, thQ watQr filtr~to flows fro~ th~
~rcu~t~ outer ed~e 28 to the inner edge 26. A6 the vaeuum ~
cont~nuou~ly applled through tubul~r extcn~ on 50, tbo wat~r 21692~S

filtratQ exits the filter sector 10 through coll~r ~mbRX 22 t~)bul~r eYten~ion 50. The ~ector gr~ 16 upport f~lt~r bag 12~ snd includo ~ plurality of o~-n~ng~ 24 ~long the ~ector gr~ll 16 surf~co ~uch that ~ sub~t~nt~l port~on of f~lt-r bag 12 ~reen filter ~edium 70 i~ expo~d to th- v~cuu~
facilitating r~p~d dry~nq of th~ filter b~g 12 ~nd c~kod or~
co~t:eAtrate .
Tho rotary fllt-r ~nclud~ng ~ilter ~Qctor~ 10 ar-po~itioned ~bov~ ~n or~ coll~ctor bin (~ot ~hown).
Pr---uriz-d a~r i~ fed ~hrougb tubular cxton~ion 50 ~nto ~ac~
filt~r 8ecto~ 10 to oxrA~ the filt~r b~s~ 12 ~nd drivQ the dri~d ore concentrsto from the Jurf~c~ of the ~lter ba~ 12 into the collectlon bln. Th~ cycl~ ~ay ~Q repeated for ~oll~ting addit~n~l oro cor~ntrat- ~ th- filt~r s~ctor 10, with ~ v~cuum being applied to each filter cector 10 during immer~ OD into tho agu~ou~ ~u~pension of ore a~d water, subsequent dry$ng of th- ore cak~ on the filte~ bag 12, and pre~urized a~r being ~upplied.to aach filter ~e~to~ 10 ~or remo~al of the dried ore o~n~e~tra~e into co~lector bin~.
The filter sector~ con~tructed in accordance with the pre-~nt in~ention arQ ahle to ~ithstand the harYh environment a~o~iated with the abov~ proces~. ~ino particles aro drawn through the filter bag 12 durLng the f~lterLng proc-~s, subj~cting tho filter ~-ctor- 10 to har-h ~bra~ion and wear.
Additionally~ th~ filter ~e~tor~ 10 ~re ablR to w~th~tand rep~ated exposur~ to water ~nd ~u~sequent drying.

21692~5 - Th~ repetiti~e ~pplic~tlon of ~ ~¢uum ad compr~ssed a~r to f~lt~r sec~or 10 ~ub~ect- tha fllter ~ctor 10 to ~vere ~l~x t~sin~. Th~ ~Yr~n~ metal con~tructlo~ o~ th~
pre~-nt ~ilter ~ctor invention allow~ filt~r aoctor 10 to with~talld the o-v~ro fle~c otr~-J~ng.
~ dditlonally, the ~nt~r- f~lter ~-ctor 10 a~embl~ i-~oated w~t~ a non-m~tallic co~ting q4, ~hich i- profer~bly ~la-tom~r~c. Th- non-m~t~ 9 ooating ~4 provides fur~her corrosion r~ tancc to the har~h filt-r~ng proce~s. The non-met~ coating 44 covero ~11 ~stallic ~b~r~ of tho filter sector 10, pro~idi~g protectio~ to tho filt-r bag 12 fro~ any m-talli~ ~h~rp etg~.
The ~Yp~n~ tal coD~truction allows for filt~ sector to b~ for~ed of ~ relati~ely l$ght ~e~ght ~etallic terial, providing for ea~e of filt~r bag chan~e or filt~r sector removal. Th- generally op~n ~ector grill- 1~ allow for water f~ltr~to to ea~ily enter the f~lter ~ctor 10, and pa~
through the pas~ages 6~ between.thQ pa~r o~ ~octor grills 16, and ~ubeequently dischargo throug~ t~ A ~xtengion 50 ~ithout undue con~trietion. Alt-rnati~ely, the filtar ~ector 10 may b- open betwean sector grill~ 16, without reinf~rcing ri~c 20, to furtha~ ~llow ~ n~tr;cted movcm-nt o~ watex f~ltrate through t~e ~lter ~cctor 10.
In an alt~rna~ivo s~ho~i~ent, .tho pre~-nt invention lnclude~ ~ filter ~ector h~ving removably mounted ~ctor grills. The rotary filter ~ector ~s repeatedly expo~ed ~o the ~ar~h or- r-moval pro~es~, da~aging the filter ~ c~or over time. Bv-ntually, the ha~ or~ rQmoval proce~ effect~ th~
Jtructur~l inte~r~ty of th- filter ~-ctor to th~ ~xtont that th- ~llt-r ~-ctor mu-t b- r~pl~c~d.
The filt~ fiector of the pre~e~t invention, ha~ing r movably mou~ted ~ctor gr~lls, provides an off~al~nt and co-t--ff~ct~v~ ~etbod o~ replacing ~m~ged filt-r Jector gr~llJ, w~thout total f~lt~r ~ctor repl~cement.
Referring to Fig. 6, ~n ~nlarg~d fragmont~y Qer~p~cti~
vie~ of ~n ~lt~n~tiv- ~ho~;~Qnt of th~ pr~ent ~n~ntion, h~v~ng ~-ctor grill~ 16 whi~h ~re removably ~ount-d, i8 ~hown ~n~r~lly at 100. Th~ ~ector gr~llo 16 ar~ r-movably mount~d to tho filtQr s~ctor 10 fr~m- 18 w~th fa~tener~ 102.
Fa~t~n~rs-~02 ~ecu~ s~ctor'gr~ 6 to fr~m 1~ by ~xtQnd~g th~oug~ sector gr~ll 16 and fram~ qcurely ret~ ni ~g ~ctor grill 16 agAinst fram~ lB.
Se~tor ~rill 1~ i9 r~plac~d by fir~t re~o~ing fastener~
102. ~ext, ~ector gill 16 i~ ~e~ed and a ne~ 6ector grill 16 i- po~itioned aga~ns~ fra~e 18. ~ ~asten~r 102 i~ then again pushed through sector grill 16 ~nd fr~m~ 18, ~ecur~ly ret~i n; ~g ~ector grill 16 against fr~me 18.
Referr~ng to Fig. 7, ~ fragmentary s-ct;~n=l vie~ tAken ~long llne 7-7 of P$g. 6 i~ ~hown. In on~ alternati~
bo~;~ent, f~sten~r~ 102 includ~ non-met~ e, ~sh-through f~stener~ 104. To cons~ruct filter ~ector 10, ~etallic fra~e 16 i~ fir~t coated with a non-~etallic coAting 44~ S~ ly, 2~9~5 ~ecto~ grille 16, ror~d o~ ~x~~n~ metal, ~se separ~tely coat~d with ~ no~-motalli~ coatl~g 44. S-ctor grill- ~6 axe then Jecurely ~ttached to fram~ 18 with non-m-ta~ , pu~h-through f~-t-n-rJ 104. In thi~ ~~hs~m nt, th-r- ~r~ no ~xpoJ~d m~t~ c ourfac~s, ~hich may b~ ~f~ct~d by th~
corrooive oro proce~o~ng y~OCC~8 Sectox gr~ll 16 may b~
ch~ng~d o~t b~ simply r~mo~lng faotener 10~, roplacing ~ctor gr~ll 16, and ag~in ~curing th- ncw ~octor grill 16 t~ fra~e 18 w~th a new fa~ten~r 104.
Refsrri~g to Fig. 8, an ~lt~rn~tiv~ ~mbod~ent of the r~mov~bly mouDt~d filt~r ~ector oy~te~ ~ s~own g~n~rally a~
10~. In y-t~ 106, tho ~ector grills 16 ar~ r~movably unt~d to fr~m~ 18 u-~ng f~otenero 102, which ~lclude~ a bolt system 108. Bolt oystem 10~ in~ludes bolt~ 109, wa~her~ 110 and 112, and nut 114 for re~ov~bly securing seoto~ grill 1~ ~o frame 1~.
~ pxef er~ed pmh~ im~nt of the fra~e 18 used in the alter~ative embodiments shown i~ Fig~. b~ hown generally at 116. The frame 118 edge member~ are formed of ~ ~et~llic U_C~Ann~! 120. Reinforci~g ribs 20 ext~nd between the inner edge 2~ ~not shown) and the bott~m edge 28, and for additional ~tructural ~uppo~t, re~nforcing ribs 20 may extend be~we~n ~de ~dge 30 and side edge 32 tnot ~hown). The reinforcing ribs 20 are socured to ra~e 18 by known method~, ~u~h a~
weld6 122.
~ e~ 124 aro loc~ed ~v~nly ~paced arol~d u-~h~nn~l 120.

21632~5 ~Iole~ 124 allow thQ ~ctor grill- 16 to be remova~lr~ounted to fr~e 18 u-~ng f~-tener~ 102. Met~ q ~ctor fr~ may t~en b~ co~t-d ~$th a non-metall~c co~t~ng, such a~ ~n elastom~ric co~t~ng, to protect t~ m~tallic fr~e from ha~r~h f~ltering procc88~.
Yet another alternatiY- cmbod~ent of th~ pr~ent inv~nt~ on ~- ho~n gcn~rally at 130 in F~. lO . The f~lt~r aoctor 10 hown in F~g. 10 can be con~truct~d ~ lar to th-f~lter ~ector d~clo~ed ~n U.S. Patent ~c. 4,139,4~2 to S~nonson, which ha~ b~on ~ncorporat~d ~nto th~ ~ applic4tion by r~fer~nce. ~n t~i~ Q~bod~m~nt, ~cto~ grill~ 16 are gQnerally fo~med of A no~-met~ mat~riAl ~nd include o, pluralitsr Of ~ubJtantially cyl~ l~drical yroj~ct~on~ for ~uppo~ting the filter bag. The fra~ne 18 i~ gRn~r~lly for~ed of a ~et~llic materi~l for 6tmctural ~upport. ~he sector grill~ 16 ~r be r~ rably mount~d to fr~me 18 u~ing fa~t~ners 102. In thc preferred embod;~ent ~hown in Fig. 10, tho fa~tener 102 i~ludes a bolt ~y~tem 10~.
After a period of u~e, tho sector grill~`16 oft-n become damaged from the ore removal prooes8 and need to be replaced.
The removably mouIIted sector grill~ 16 of the prese~t invention allow ~eotor grillo 16 ~o be a~ily re~oYed and repl ~,~eA in a ~o~t-~ffective ~nd eff ~ cient manner without havin~ to r~plac~ th- entire filter 9eot~r in ~ rotary filter ~ystem.

It will b~ underctood t~t thi~ di-closure i~ many ~1632~

re~pects~ only i~lu~tr~tive. Change- ~y ~ ~de iD~eta~lo~
p~rtlc~larly in J~utter~ of ~hapc, ~s ze, mat~r~ nd arrangem~nt of p~ without ~xce~3din5 th~ 8~0p- of the $nvont$on. Eor ex~plo, ~t i~ recoqniz~d t~at th~ filter ~ector g ill~ m~y toke on diff~rent sh~p~s and ~liZe8, including variou~ly ~h~ped ~l~eningJ w~thln the pl~nar ~u~faco, wh~le retaln~ the novel f~aturo of ~ f~lter ~ector for~ed of an ~panded mot~l con~truction including ~ non-m~t~llic c~oating. l~ddition~lly, it i~ ~c--GyllizQd that th- ~o~ly ~ountQd filter s~ctor g~ of th- present i~ Dtion may tak~
on ~Any forDI~ a~d ~y bc mo~tod to th~ ~ector frame by other methods, while ret~ni~ the no~el remo~ably ~ounted feature~
of the pre~ent invention. Accordingly, the ~col;le of the invent~ o, i~ as dafined in the languagQ o~ thc ~r,r~A~-l cl~imo .

Claims (32)

What is claimed is:

1. A filter sector about which a filter bag is secured, comprising:
a. means for supporting the filter bag, said supporting means formed of metal having a plurality of openings; and b. coating means covering the metal supporting means.

2. The filter sector of claim 1, further including a plurality of elongated metallic ribs located adjacent the metal supporting means.

3. The filter sector of claim 1, wherein the metal supporting means defines a generally open pattern.

4. The filter sector of claim 1, further including means for attaching the filter bag to the filter sector.

5. The filter sector of claim 1, further including means for securing the filter sector to a rotating filter system.

6. A filter sector, comprising a. a pair of generally wedge-shaped structural members formed of expanded metal having a plurality of openings;

b. means connected to the structural members for spacing apart the structural members; and c. a nonmetallic coating covering the structural members and the means connected to the structural members.

7. The filter sector of claim 6, wherein the nonmetallic coating is an elastomeric material.

8. The filter sector of claim 6, wherein the means for spacing apart the structural members includes a metallic frame.

9. The filter sector of claim 6, further including means for reinforcing the structural members.

10. The filter sector of claim 9, wherein the means for reinforcing the structural members includes at least one longitudinally extending reinforcement rib secured to the structural member.

11. The filter sector of claim 6, further comprising means for securing a filter bag about the filter sector.

12. The filter of claim 6, wherein the structural members are removably connected to the means for spacing apart the structural members.

13. A filter sector for use in a rotary disc filter comprising:
a. a pair of generally planar structural members formed of expanded metal, each structural members having a plurality of openings extending therethrough and including an arcuate edge, a generally straight edge, and a pair of diverging side edges; and b. means for spacing apart the structural members including a metallic frame extending along the arcuate edge and pair of side edges.

14. The filter sector of claim 13, further including a nonmetallic coating covering all metallic members of the filter sector.

15. The filter of claim 14, wherein the nonmetallic coating is an elastomeric material.

16. The filter sector of claim 13, further including reinforcing means extending along the generally planar structural members from the generally straight edge to the arcuate edge for structurally reinforcing the filter sector.

17. The filter sector of claim 13, further comprising means for connecting the filter sector to the rotary disc filter.

14. The filter sector of claim 13, further comprising means for securing a filter bag to the filter sector.

19. A filter sector comprising:
a support structure wherein at least a portion of the support structure is removably attachable.

20. The filter sector of claim 19, further including a nonmetallic coating covering the support structure.

21. The filter sector of claim 19, wherein the support structure includes:
a. a frame; and b. a pair of structural members, wherein the structural members are removably attachable to the frame.

22. The filter sector of claim 21, wherein the frame includes at least one reinforcing member.

23. The filter sector of claim 21, wherein the structural members are formed of expanded metal.

24. The filter sector of claim 21, wherein the structural members are nonmetallic.

25. The filter sector of claim 21, wherein each structural member includes a generally planar surface having plurality of protections extending therefrom.

26. The filter sector of claim 21, further including means for removably attaching the structural members to the frame.

27. The filter sector of claim 26, wherein the means includes at least one bolt system.

28. The filter sector of claim 26, wherein the means includes at least one push-through fastener.

29. The filter sector of claim 21, wherein each structural member has a plurality of openings extending therethrough, and include an arcuate edge, a generally straight edge, and a pair of diverging side edges, and the frame extends along the arcuate edge and generally straight edge.

30 . The filter sector of claim 29, further including at least one reinforcement rib extending between the arcuate edge and the generally straight edge, and at least one reinforcement rib extending between the side edges.

31. The filter sector of claim 19, further including means for connecting the filter sector to a rotary filter system.

32. The filter sector of claim 19, further including means for securing a filter to the filter sector.