Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus for extracting liquid from a slurry containing fine solids and liquid comprising an endless screen formed of woven monofilaments of thermoplastic material so as to define a multiplicity of small openings extending between opposite sides thereof and a supporting structure for supporting the endless screen for movement through initial and intermediate operative run portions along an underside thereof in such a way as to present an upper operative side thereof for the accumulation of solids thereon by the passage of liquid through the openings thereof. The screen supporting structure comprises a multiplicity of fixed closely spaced parallel bars formed of material having favorable wear and coefficient of friction characteristics with respect to the thermoplastic material of the endless screen. Each of the parallel bars has (1) an upwardly facing rounded surface engageable with the underside of the endless screen so as to support the same for movement thereover and (2) side surfaces extending downwardly from the rounded surface. The spacing between adjacent side surfaces of adjacent bars defines slots of a width sufficient to allow the passage of enough liquid therethrough to form a solids layer and solids cake without allowing the underside of the initial and intermediate operative run portions to enter the slots appreciably below the upwardly facing rounded surfaces of engagement.

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First Claim