WO2013181204A1

WO2013181204A1 - Adjustable vacuum pan baffle for horizontal belt filter

Info

Publication number: WO2013181204A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/043019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jay L BREINHOLT; Jerry W HUNT; Brian Kent SHAW
Original assignee: Flsmidth A/S
Priority date: 2012-05-30
Filing date: 2013-05-29
Publication date: 2013-12-05

Abstract

A vacuum pan baffle [10] for a horizontal belt filter [900] is split into smaller pieces or sections [12A, 12B]. The smaller pieces are sufficiently small to be inserted through the narrow opening (the vacuum slot 951) in the top of the vacuum pan [950] and into the vacuum chamber [952]. After insertion, each section [12A, 12B] is rotated by inserting or sticking screwdrivers or other long thin rods into holes [24A, 26A; 24B, 26B] in the top of the baffle section. The rotated baffle sections 12A, 12B] are moved into contact with one another and locked together by a generally U-shaped seal block [42]. Accordingly, the baffle [10] can be installed in the vacuum pan [950]/vacuum chamber [952] at any point where it is needed.

Description

ADJUSTABLE VACUUM PAN BAFFLE FOR HORIZONTAL BELT FILTER

RELATED APPLICTIONS

This application is an international application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/653,121 filed on 30 May 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to filtration processes and equipment, and more particularly to horizontal belt filter apparatus, particularly for use in minerals processing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a horizontal belt filter 900 having a conventional vacuum pan assembly 990. Horizontal belt filter 900 comprises a frame 930 and a drainage belt 910 having a number of pores 912 provided therein which are configured to pass fluid and moisture from a slurry (not shown) to the conventional vacuum pan assembly 990 positioned below the belt 910. Belt 910 supports filter media 914 such as a filter cloth. Conventional vacuum pan assembly 990 comprises a swing arm 940 which is pivotally attached to said frame 930 by way of a pivot bracket 941. A vacuum pan 950 having an elongated inlet or vacuum slot 951 and a channel or vacuum chamber 952 is mounted to the swing arm 940 via a number of fasteners 953 passing through at least one mount 957 on the pan 150. A wear plate 959 having a number of apertures 955 may serve as a sacrificial interface between the pan 950 and the belt 910. Apertures 955 in the wear plate 959 allow fluid and moisture from slurry passing through pores 912 to enter the conventional vacuum pan assembly 990 positioned below the belt 910.

In a vacuum pan assembly 990 of horizontal belt filter 900, baffles (not shown) are inserted into the vacuum pan 950 from the end of the vacuum pan and slid longitudinally through the vacuum pan into location. Replacement of the baffles or rearrangement thereof typically requires disassembly of the vacuum pan, which results in extended filter down times. On one section vacuum pan machines the baffles had to inserted before the vacuum pan ends were welded closed. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum pan baffle assembly which reduces down time for users during routine maintenance.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a vacuum pan baffle assembly which can be installed or removed without disassembly of the vacuum pan.

These and many other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and description herein. Although every object of the invention is believed to be attained by at least one embodiment of the invention, there is not necessarily any one embodiment of the invention that achieves all of the objects of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contemplates a vacuum pan baffle for a horizontal belt filter where the baffle is split into smaller pieces or sections. The smaller pieces are sufficiently small to be inserted through the narrow opening (the vacuum slot) in the top of the vacuum pan and into the vacuum chamber. After insertion, each section is rotated by sticking screwdrivers or other long thin rods into holes in the top of the baffle section. The rotated baffle sections are moved into contact with one another and locked together by a U-shaped seal block. Accordingly, the baffle can be installed in the vacuum pan/vacuum chamber at any point where it is needed.

More specifically, the present invention provides a method for installing a baffle in a vacuum pan of a horizontal belt filter, where the vacuum pan has an elongate vacuum chamber and an elongate vacuum slot communicating with the chamber. The method comprises providing a baffle section having a thickness less than the width of the vacuum slot, inserting the baffle section into the vacuum chamber through the vacuum slot, and thereafter turning the inserted baffle section about a generally vertical axis so that the baffle is oriented in the chamber transversely to elongate dimensions of the slot and the vacuum chamber. The baffle section may be one of a plurality of baffle sections forming a complete baffle. A second baffle section also has a thickness less than the width of the vacuum slot. The method further comprises inserting the second baffle section into the vacuum chamber through the vacuum slot, thereafter turning the second baffle section about a generally vertical axis so that the second baffle section is oriented transversely in the vacuum chamber, and, after the turning of the first baffle section and the second baffle section, shifting the baffle sections along the vacuum pan into juxtaposition with one another and inserting a generally U-shaped seal block through the vacuum slot and over the juxtaposed baffle sections.

Pursuant to another feature of the present invention, the first baffle section and the second baffle section are provided with a pair of first holes and a pair of second holes, respectively. The inserting of the first and second baffle sections through the vacuum slot includes orienting the baffle sections so that the first holes and the second holes are accessible through the vacuum slot. Then, the turning of the first baffle section includes inserting tools into the first holes and thereafter manipulating the tools to turn the first baffle section, while the turning of the second baffle section includes inserting tools into the second holes and thereafter manipulating the tools to turn the second baffle section.

It is contemplated that each baffle section includes a pair of baffle section parts connected to one another via a tongue and groove arrangement and by any type of elastic band (e.g., a ring or, more particularly, an O-ring) which also serves to help provide a seal between the vacuum pan/vacuum chamber sides and the baffle(s)/section parts. Each baffle section further includes an extension screw assembly encased by the baffle section parts. The installation method then further comprises, for each baffle section, turning a screw of the respective extension screw assembly to increase an effective length thereof and thereby move the respective baffle section parts apart from one another and into engagement with walls of the vacuum chamber in opposition to a restoring force exerted by the respective elastic band.

Typically, where each baffle section has a first cross-sectional configuration and the vacuum chamber has a second cross-sectional configuration, the first cross-sectional configuration and the second cross-sectional configuration being approximately congruent, the first cross-sectional configuration is slightly smaller than the second cross-sectional configuration. The expansion of the extension screw assemblies brings the cross-sectional of the baffle sections into close approximation with the cross-sectional configuration of the vacuum chamber.

The present invention is also directed to a baffle section for partitioning a vacuum chamber of a vacuum pan of a horizontal belt filter, where the vacuum pan has an elongate vacuum slot communicating with the chamber. The baffle section comprises a plurality of baffle parts movably joined to one another to enable an expansion of the baffle section to conform to the vacuum chamber, an upper one of the baffle parts being provided in an upper surface with a plurality of holes for receiving at least one tool to enable a turning or rotation of the baffle section.

The baffle parts of the baffle section are preferably provided with an interleaved tongue and groove array. Furthermore, the baffle section includes a baffle expansion device encased by the baffle parts _a and the upper surface of the upper baffle part is provided with a hole enabling access to a screw head of the baffle expansion device. Preferably, but not necessarily, the hole for enabling access to the screw head of the baffle expansion device is different from and spaced from each of the plurality of holes for receiving the baffle turning or rotation tool.

Pursuant to a particular feature of the present invention, each of the plurality of holes for receiving the baffle turning tool or tools is inclined at an acute (or obtuse) angle relative to the upper surface. Where the upper surface of the upper baffle part is planar and the upper one of the baffle parts is provided with at least two planar lateral surfaces contiguous with the upper surface at opposite sides thereof and oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the upper surface, each of the plurality of holes for receiving the baffle turning tool or tools may extend parallel to a respective one of the two planar lateral surfaces.

The baffle section preferably further comprises an elastic band partially surrounding each of the baffle parts and holding the baffle parts together.

The present invention is additionally directed to a baffle assembly for partitioning a vacuum chamber of a vacuum pan of a horizontal belt filter, where the baffle assembly includes a plurality of baffle sections as described above and further includes a U-shaped seal block for holding the baffle sections in engagement with one another to form a complete baffle, the U-shaped seal block having a width or thickness smaller than the width or transverse dimension of the vacuum slot.

A vacuum pan baffle in accordance with the present invention allows installation of baffle at any location in vacuum pan/vacuum chamber after assembly is complete. The baffle may be installed in an existing vacuum pan/vacuum chamber without disassembly of the vacuum pan. The installation process is easier and can be accomplished in a reduced time relative to convention baffles. Concomitantly, baffles in accordance with the present invention can be removed easily and quickly and without disassembly of the vacuum pan. Accordingly, rearrangement of baffles to reconfigure a vacuum pan/vacuum chamber is significantly facilitated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a horizontal belt filter with a vacuum pan that may receive a baffle assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a broken-away isometric view of a vacuum pan that may receive a baffle assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another broken-away isometric view of a vacuum pan that may receive a baffle assembly in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an assembled baffle in accordance with the present invention, showing a pair of elastic rings disposed on opposite sides of the baffle.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view, similar to FIG. 4, showing the baffle with the omission of the elastic rings of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view, similar to FIG. 4, showing a completed baffle assembly including the baffle of FIG. 4 together with a U-shaped seal block.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the U-shaped seal block of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a lower part of a section of the baffle of FIGS. 4-6.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the lower baffle part of FIG. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the lower baffle part of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an upper part of a section of the baffle of FIGS. 4-6.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper baffle part of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the upper baffle part of FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the upper baffle part of FIGS. 11-13.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view, similar to FIG. 5, showing the baffle of FIG. 5 with an upper part of a baffle section removed and depicting an extension screw assembly inside the partially disassembled baffle section.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the partially disassembled baffle of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of two extension screw assemblies and two elastic rings in the relative spatial dispositions the parts have inside and on the assembled baffle of FIGS. 4 and 6.

FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the complete baffle assembly of FIG. 6. FIG. 19 is partially a partial isometric view of the baffle of FIG. 4 and partially a broken away isometric view of a vacuum pan of a horizontal belt filter, showing disposition of the baffle inside the vacuum pan in an installation step prior to the insertion of the U-shaped seal block of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 20 is a transverse cross- sectional view of the baffle and vacuum pan of FIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of the baffle assembly of FIG. 7 disposed in a vacuum pan chamber or channel.

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 20 and shows the baffle held or embraced by the U-shaped seal block of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 23 is an isometric view of a vacuum pan of a horizontal belt filter, showing an exemplary placement of the baffle assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 24 is a detail isometric view of a portion of the vacuum pan and baffle assembly of FIG.

23.

FIG. 25 is a schematic side elevational view of a horizontal belt filter, showing positioning of multiple baffle assemblies in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As depicted in FIGS. 4-6, a vacuum pan baffle 10 for a horizontal belt filter comprises two sections 12A and 12B each including a respective upper part 14A and 14B and a respective lower part 16A and 16B. Baffle sections 12Aand 12B are sufficiently small for separate insertion through the elongate narrow opening or vacuum slot 951 (FIGS. 1, 2) in the top of vacuum pan 950 (FIGS. 1, 2).

Upper baffle part 14A has a planar upper surface 18A that is contiguous with two planar lateral surfaces 20A and 22A, which are inclined at obtuse angles a and β with respect to upper surface 18A. Likewise upper baffle part 14B has a planar upper surface 18B that is contiguous with two planar lateral surfaces 20B and 22B, which are inclined at the same obtuse angles a and β with respect to upper surface 18B. Upper baffle part 14A is provided in upper surface 18A with two holes or bores 24A and 26A for receiving at least one and preferably two tools 28 and 29, e.g., rods or screw drive shafts (FIG. 4), to enable a turning or rotation of baffle section 12A during an installation or removal procedure. Similarly, upper baffle part 14B is provided in upper surface 18B with two holes or bores 24B and 26B for receiving tools 28 and 29 to enable a turning or rotation of baffle section 12B during an installation or removal procedure.

Upper surface 18A of baffle part 16A is further provided with an access opening or hole 30A for the insertion of a tool such as a hexagonal wrench (not shown) for inducing a separation of baffle parts 14A and 16A and a concomitant expansion of baffle section 12A during an installation procedure. Upper surface 18B of baffle part 16B is likewise provided with an access opening or hole 30B for the insertion of a tool (not shown) for inducing a separation of baffle parts 14B and 16B and a concomitant expansion of baffle section 12B during an installation procedure.

As shown in FIG. 4, baffle 10 includes a first elastic band or ring (O-ring) 32A that exerts a compressive restoring force on upper baffle part 14A and lower baffle part 16A to hold those baffle parts together to form baffle section 14A. Baffle 10 also includes a second elastic band or ring (O- ring) 32B that exerts a compressive restoring force on upper baffle part 14B and lower baffle part 16B to hold those baffle parts together to form baffle section 14B. Elastic band or ring (O-ring) 32A is seated in a groove 34A (FIGS. 5, 10, 11) along an edge 36A of upper baffle part 14A and in a groove 38A (FIG. 9) along an outer edge 40A of lower baffle part 16A. Elastic band or ring (O- ring) 32B is similarly seated in a groove 34B (FIG. 5) along an outer edge 36B of upper baffle part 14B and in a groove (not shown) along an edge (not designated) of lower baffle part 16B. As discussed later, the elastic bands or rings (O-rings) will also serve to help provide a seal between the vacuum pan/vacuum chamber sides and the baffle 10. As illustrated in FIG. 6, baffle 10 together with a U-shaped seal block 42 forms a baffle assembly 44 that forms an operative structure inside a vacuum pan, e.g., pan 950 in FIGS. 1-3. FIGS. 6 and 7 depict U-shaped seal block 42 as including a pair of legs 46 and a bight portion 48. Seal block 42 is inserted through a vacuum slot (951 in FIGS 1,2) over baffle 10 after the baffle is assembled inside the channel or chamber (952 in FIGS. 1, 2) of a vacuum pan (e.g., 950).

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate lower part 16A of baffle section 12A. Lower baffle part 16B has a similar, but mirror symmetric configuration. Along an upper side, part 16A is provided with a tongue-and-groove formation 50 having a plurality of spaced fins 52 that are interleaved with fins 54 of a cooperating tongue-and-groove formation 56 (FIGS. 12-14) on an underside of upper part 14A of baffle section 12A. The tongue and groove formations 50 and 56 enable a limited relative translation of baffle parts 14A and 16A relative to one another during an installation procedure, while maintaining a labyrinthine seal between the baffle parts.

Lower baffle part 16A is provided with a generally cylindrical recess 58A that is aligned with access opening 30A in upper baffle part 14A. Recess 58A and a lower portion of access opening or hole 30A receive an extension screw assembly 60A (FIGS. 15-18) that is operated by a tool (e.g., screwdriver or hexagonal wrench) via access opening 30A during an installation procedure to shift baffle parts 14A and 14B apart from one another, in opposition to a restoring force exerted by elastic band or ring (O-ring) 32A, and into an effective sealing engagement with an internal surface of a vacuum pan. More particularly, the expansion of baffle sections 12A and 12B presses elastic bands or rings (O-rings) 32A and 32B (FIGS. 4, 6, 17) into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the vacuum pan/vacuum chamber.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11-14, upper baffle part 14A is provided along a lower side with tongue-and-groove formation 56 consisting of parallel and mutually spaced fins 54. Access opening 30A includes a lower portion 62A and an upper portion 64A (FIGS. 12 and 13), where the lower portion has a larger diameter than the upper portion to form a shoulder 66A. An upper tip 68A (FIGS. 15-18) of extension screw assembly 60A abuts against shoulder 66A. Holes or bores 24A and 26A are shown as extending parallel to lateral surfaces 20A and 22A at angles a and β with respect to upper surface 18 A.

As shown in FIGS. 15-18, baffle sections 12A and 12B include respective baffle expansion devices in the form of extension screw assemblies 60A and 60B that are encased by baffle parts 14A, 14B and 16A, 16B, respectively. Extension screw assembly 60A is housed in lower portion 62A of access opening 30A and in cylindrical recess 58A of lower baffle part 16A, while extension screw assembly 60B is housed in a lower portion 62B of access opening 30B and in a cylindrical recess 58B of lower baffle part 16B (FIG. 18). FIGS. 16 and 18 show the interleaved labyrinthine sealing configuration of tongue-and-groove formations 50 and 56. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, extension screw assemblies 60A and 60B are provided in upper tips 68A and 68B with hexagonal openings 70A and 70B defining operative screw heads for receiving a hexagonal wrench (not shown) for purposes of unscrewing an upper screw part 72A from a lower screw part 74A to effectuate a separation of baffle parts 14A and 16A and for unscrewing an upper screw part 72B from a lower screw part 74B to effectuate a separation of baffle parts 14B and 16B. Screw parts 72A, 74A and 72B, 74B are screwed in the opposite direction during a removal or adjustment in location of the baffle assembly 44.

During an installation procedure, a first assembled baffle section 12A or 12B is inserted through an elongate vacuum opening or slot 76 (see FIGS. 19-21) of a vacuum pan 78 and into an elongate chamber or channel 80 thereof so that holes or bores 24A and 26A or 24B and 26B are accessible via vacuum slot 76. Baffle sections 12A and 12B each naturally have a thickness less than the width of vacuum slot 76. During the insertion, the baffle section 12A or 12B is naturally oriented parallel to the vacuum slot 76. After insertion into vacuum pan chamber or channel 80, baffle section 12A is rotated through an angle of about 90° by inserting screwdriver shafts 82 and 84 or other long thin rods into bores in the top of the baffle section and manipulating the screwdriver shafts to turn the baffle section about a vertical axis so that the baffle section 12A is oriented in the chamber 80 transversely to elongate dimensions of slot 76 and vacuum chamber 78. The same procedure is followed for turning baffle section 12B. The inserted and rotated baffle sections 12A, 12B are then moved laterally into contact with one another inside vacuum chamber or channel 80 as shown in FIG. 19. After the juxtaposition of baffle sections 12A and 12B, a hexagonal wrench or other screw driving tool (not shown) is used to unscrew the extension screw assembly 60A or 60B of at least one of the baffle sections 12A and 12B, to expand the baffle section in opposition to a restoring force exerted by the respective elastic band 32A or 32B and move the elastic band or ring (O-ring) into sealing engagement with the walls (not separately labelled) of vacuum pan 78. The other screw assembly 60B or 60A may also be operated at this time or, alternatively, may have been operated and lengthened prior to the movement of the baffle sections 12A and 12B into engagement with one another. After the juxtaposition and expansion of the installed baffle sections 12A and 12, U-shaped seal block 42 is inserted through vacuum slot 76 and over the baffle sections 12A and 12B, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. Naturally, seal block 42 has a width or thickness smaller than the width or transverse dimension of vacuum slot 76.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show an exemplary location of installed baffle assembly 44 in vacuum pan 78. FIG. 25 shows multiple baffle assemblies 44 at relatively spaced locations to define multiple vacuum zones 86 for optimising belt filter performance. The easy adjustability of baffle assemblies 44 facilitates adapting the vacuum pan 78 to different operating requirements.

Each baffle section 12A and 12B has a cross-sectional configuration that is approximately congruent with the cross- sectional configuration of vacuum chamber or channel 80. The cross- sectional configurations of the baffle sections 12A and 12B are of course slightly smaller than the cross-sectional configuration of vacuum chamber or channel 80. The expansion of extension screw assemblies 60A and 60B brings the cross-sectional configurations of baffle sections 12A and 12b into close approximation with the cross-sectional configuration of vacuum chamber 80.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. For example, and pursuant to this invention, the cross-sectional profile of a vacuum pan and/or its vacuum chamber or channel can be of any suitable shape, including, but certainly not limited to, diamond, square, rectangular, oval, oblong, pipe-like, u-shaped, circular and/or semi-circular. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for installing a baffle in a vacuum pan [950] of a horizontal belt filter, the vacuum pan having an elongate vacuum chamber [952] and an elongate vacuum slot [951] communicating with said chamber, said vacuum slot [951] having a width, said method comprising: providing a baffle section [12A] having a thickness less than the width of said vacuum slot [951]; inserting said baffle section [12A] into said chamber [952] through said vacuum slot [951]; and thereafter, turning the inserted baffle section [12A] about a generally vertical axis so that said baffle is oriented transversely in said chamber [952].

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said baffle section [12A] is a first baffle section, said method further comprising: providing a second baffle section [12B] having a thickness less than the width of said vacuum slot [951]; inserting said second baffle section [12B] into said chamber [952] through said vacuum slot [951]; thereafter turning said second baffle [12B] section about a generally vertical axis so that said second baffle section [12B] is oriented transversely in said chamber [952]; after the turning of said first baffle section [12A] and said second baffle section [12B], shifting the baffle sections along said vacuum pan [950] into juxtaposition with one another; and inserting a U-shaped seal block [42] through said vacuum slot [951] and over the juxtaposed baffle sections.

3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein said first baffle section [12A] is provided with a pair of first holes [24B, 26B], the inserting of said first baffle section [12A] through said vacuum slot [951] including orienting said first baffle section [12A] so that said first holes are accessible through said vacuum slot [951], the turning of said first baffle section [12A] including inserting one or more tools [28, 29] into said first holes [24A, 26A] and thereafter manipulating said one or more tools [28, 29] to turn said first baffle section [12A], said second baffle section [12B] being provided with a pair of second holes [24B, 26B], the inserting of said second baffle section [12B] through said vacuum slot including orienting said second baffle section so that said second holes [24B, 26B] are accessible through said vacuum slot [951], the turning of said second baffle section [12B] including inserting tools into said second holes [24B, 26B] and thereafter manipulating said tools to turn said second baffle section [12B].

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said baffle section [12A] is provided with a pair of holes [24A, 26A], the inserting of said baffle section [12A] through said vacuum slot [951] including orienting said baffle section [12A] so that said holes [24A, 26A] are accessible through said vacuum slot [951], the turning of said baffle section [12A] including inserting tools into said holes [24A, 26A] and thereafter manipulating said tools to turn said baffle section [12A].

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said baffle section [12A] includes a pair of baffle section parts [14A, 16 A] connected to one another via a tongue and groove arrangement and by an elastic band [32A] , said baffle section further including an extension screw assembly [60A] encased by said baffle section parts, further comprising turning a screw of said extension screw assembly [60A] to increase an effective length of said extension screw assembly [60A] and thereby move said baffle section parts [14A, 16A] apart from one another and into engagement with walls of said vacuum chamber [952] in opposition to a restoring force exerted by said elastic band [32A] .

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said baffle section [12A] has a first cross- sectional configuration and said vacuum chamber [952] has a second cross- sectional

configuration, said first cross-sectional configuration and said second cross-sectional configuration being approximately congruent, said first cross-sectional configuration being slightly smaller than said second cross-sectional configuration.

7. A baffle section [12A] for partitioning a vacuum chamber [952] of a vacuum pan [950] of a horizontal belt filter [900], said vacuum pan having an elongate vacuum slot [951]

communicating with said vacuum chamber, said baffle section [12A] comprising a plurality of baffle parts [14A, 16A] movably joined to one another to enable an expansion of the baffle section [12A] to conform to said vacuum chamber [952], an upper one of said baffle parts [14A, 16 A] being provided in an upper surface with a plurality of holes [24A, 26 A] for receiving at least one tool [28, 29] to enable a turning or rotation of the baffle section [12A].

8. The baffle section [12A] defined in claim 7 wherein said baffle parts [14A, 16A] are provided with an interleaved tongue and groove array [50, 52, 56].

9. The baffle section [12A] defined in claim 8, further comprising a baffle expansion device [60A] encased by said baffle parts [14A, 16A]₄ said upper surface being provided with a hole [30A] enabling access to a screw head of said baffle expansion device [60A].

10. The baffle section [12A] defined in claim 9 wherein said hole [30 A] for enabling access to said screw head is different from and spaced from each of said plurality of holes [24A, 26A] for receiving said at least one tool [28, 29].

11. The baffle section [ 12A] defined in claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of holes [24A, 26A] is inclined at an acute angle relative to said upper surface.

12. The baffle section [12A] defined in claim 11 wherein said upper surface is planar, said upper one of said baffle parts [14A, 16A] being provided with at least two planar lateral surfaces [20A, 22A] contiguous with said upper surface at opposite sides thereof and oriented at an obtuse angle relative to said upper surface, each of said plurality of holes [24A, 26A] extending parallel to a respective one of said two planar lateral surfaces [20A, 22A].

13. The baffle section [12A] defined in claim 8, further comprising an elastic band [32A] partially surrounding each of said baffle parts [14, 16A] and holding said baffle parts together.

14. The baffle section [12A] defined in claim 13 wherein said elastic band [32A] comprises an O-ring.

15. A baffle assembly [44] for partitioning a vacuum chamber [952] of a vacuum pan [950] of a horizontal belt filter [900], said vacuum pan having an elongate vacuum slot [951] communicating with said chamber [952] and having a width or transverse dimension, said baffle assembly [44] including a plurality of baffle sections [12A, 12B] each of said baffle sections having a width or thickness smaller than the width or transverse dimension of said vacuum slot [951], each of said baffle sections [12A, 12B] comprising a plurality of baffle parts [14A, 16A; 14B, 16B] movably joined to one another to enable an expansion of the respective baffle section [12A, 12B] to conform to said vacuum chamber [952], an upper one of said baffle parts being provided in an upper surface with a plurality of holes [24A, 26A; 24B, 26B] for receiving at least one tool [28, 29] to enable a turning or rotation of a baffle section.

16. The baffle assembly [44] defined in claim 15, further comprising a generally U-shaped seal block [42] for holding said baffle sections in engagement with one another to form a complete baffle [10], said generally U-shaped seal block [42] having a width or thickness smaller than the width or transverse dimension of said vacuum slot [951].

17. The baffle assembly [44] defined in claim 16 wherein said baffle parts [14A, 16A; 14B, 16B] of each of said baffle sections [12A, 12B] are coupled to one another via a tongue and groove array, each of said baffle sections incorporating a baffle expansion device [60A, 60B] encased by the respective baffle parts, each of said baffle sections [12A, 12B] including an elastic band [32A, 32B] partially surrounding each of the respective baffle parts and holding the respective baffle parts together, each of said baffle sections [12A, 12B] including, in the respective upper surface, a respective hole enabling access to a screw head of the respective baffle expansion device [60A, 60B] for shifting the respective baffle parts [14A, 16A; 14B, 16B] away from one another in opposition to a restoring force exerted by the respective elastic band [32A, 32B] tending to draw the respective baffle parts [14A, 16A; 14B, 16B] together.

18. The baffle assembly [44] defined in claim 17 wherein said elastic band [32A, 32B] comprises an O-ring.

19. The baffle assembly [44] defined in claim 17 wherein in each of said baffle sections [12A, 12B] the respective hole enabling access is different from and spaced from said plurality of holes [24A, 26A; 24B, 26B] for receiving said at least one tool [28, 29] .

20. The baffle assembly [44] defined in claim 15 wherein each of said holes [24A, 26A; 24B, 26B] is inclined at an acute angle relative to the respective upper surface.

21. The baffle assembly [44] defined in claim 20 wherein each said upper surface is planar, each said upper one of said baffle parts [14A, 16A; 14B, 16B] being provided with at least two planar lateral surfaces [20A, 22A; 20B, 22B] contiguous with the respective upper surface at opposite sides thereof and oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the respective upper surface, each of said holes extending parallel to respective ones of said two planar lateral surfaces [20A, 22A; 20B, 22B].