Drum Filter Having a Media Supply Roll and Reroll Drum

A typical application for drum filters is to filter washer liquid at the rinse and wash stage of a phosphate line in an automotive assembly plant. Such drum filters generally comprise a perforate drum which is covered on the outside with a filter media for the filtration of liquid which flows from the outside of the drum to the inside of the drum. Discharge of liquid from the inside of the drum is effected by passing the liquid through the center of a tubular discharge shaft. Clean filter media is stored on a separate roll that is supported on a shaft that is substantially parallel to the shaft of the drum. The clean filter media generally comprises non-woven fibers such as Dacron, nylon, Orlon, etc. While generally satisfactory, such known drum filters have heretofore been faced with the problem of drift of the filter media longitudinally of the drum due to axial walking thereof.

Since the sludge to which the filter media of the aforesaid type of drum filter is exposed is generally uniformly deposited, reroll of the spent filter media with the contaminant thereon is a practical solution to the problem of media and contaminant handling and disposal. An electric motor drives the shaft of the reroll media roll through a reducer. As the diameter of the reroll roll increases, a variable speed drive adjusts to maintain linear speed of the media constant.

The reroll mechanism is actuated when the level of liquid in a clean liquid tank is lowered to a point at which a float trips a switch that activates a timer in a series with the drive motor. The motor circuit is closed for a preset period of time while the filter media is advanced and clean media is disposed about the drum. The drum itself, since it is substantially completely wrapped with the filter media, is rotated by the filter media as it advances. Since there is always a slight fluid pressure differential between the outside of the drum and the inside of the drum, the filter media is pressed against the surface of the drum assuring that the drum will rotate when the reroll mechanism is actuated. Drift of the filter media toward one side or the other of the drum due to axial walking of the filter media is minimized by utilizing a pair of endless chains that are wrapped around the drum for the support of a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending flights. The chains do not serve a drive function, but merely track the drum by virtue of the frictional force between the chains and the media. Once the fresh filter media is started on the drum, it is restrained by the chain and flights against longitudinal or circumferential drift. Therefore, the media is discharged at the same longitudinal position on the drum at which it enters into contact with the drum. The idler chain and flights on the return side of the chain hang down loosely in the form of a catenary so as to apply tension to the chain and hold it against the media on the drum.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a drum filter in accordance with an exemplary constructed embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a drum filter 10, in accordance with an exemplary constructed embodiment of the invention, comprises a tank 12 having a perforate drum 14 extending transversely thereof for the filtering of liquid through a fibrous sheet type filter media 16.

The media 16 is withdrawn from a fresh media roll 18 and is taken up on a reroll drum or roll 20. The perforate drum 14 is supported at one end on a shaft 22 that is journaled in a saddle bearing 24 and at the other end by a hollow shaft 26. Filtered liquid is withdrawn from the interior of the drum 14 through the hollow drum support shaft 26. The reroll drum 20 is supported on a shaft 32 and the supply roll 18 is supported on a shaft 34. Each of the aforesaid shafts are supported by appropriate bearings mounted on side walls 36 and 38 of the container 12.

The filter media 16 is fed from the supply roll 18 to the perforate drum 14 about rollers 40 and 42, and thence extends about the perforate drum 14 to the reroll drum 20. Tension is applied to the media 16 by the reroll drum 20 which is driven by a conventional variable speed motor 44 through a chain 46 and sprocket 48. The filter media 16 is sufficiently strong to effect rotation of both the perforate drum 14 and supply roll 18 incident to rotation of the reroll drum 20.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention the perforate drum 14 is provided with a media stabilizing system comprising a pair of endless chains 62 and 64 at opposite ends of the drum 14. The chains 62 and 64 extend about complementary pairs of wheels or idler sprockets 70,72, and 74,76, respectively. A clamping portion 80 of each of the chains 62 and 64, one of which is shown, is biased against the media 16 on the drum 14 due to the weight of an outer portion thereof which hangs in catenary configuration freely downwardly relative to the drum 14 over circumferentially spaced guides 84 and 86. The chains 62 and 64 are not driven by the motor 44 but merely track the media 16 on the drum 14 due to frictional engagement therewith.

In accordance with yet another feature of the instant invention, a plurality of longitudinally extending flights 100 extend between the chains 62 and 64 for engagement with the surface of the media 16 at circumferentially spaced positions thereon ensuring that the media 16 is retained against the perforate drum 14 by augmenting the retention force due to the fluid pressure differential thereacross.

In operation, fresh filter media 16 is withdrawn from the media supply roll 18 around rollers 40 and 42 onto the face of the perforate drum 14. The filter media 16 extends under the chains 62 and 64 thence onto the reroll drum 20. Advancement of the media 16 is effected solely by rotation of the reroll drum 20 by a conventional variable speed motor drive 44. Energization of the motor 44 can be controlled by a timer based upon operational history of the filter 10 or by a conventional float type liquid level sensor (not shown) which reflects an increase in input liquid level or a decrease in discharge liquid level due to build-up of contaminants on the filter media 16 which restricts liquid flow therethrough.

The catenary suspension of the chains 62 and 64 results in a relatively simple, effective, and inexpensive means for maintaining a radially inward bias against the media which, in turn, is biased against the drum 14. Since the chains 62 and 64 do not effect rotation of the drum 14, but in contradistinction, are driven by the drum 14, there is no tendency for the chains 62 and 64 to tear or otherwise distort the filter media 16. Moreover, once the chains 62 and 64 are properly positioned, the flights 100 extending therebetween are automatically maintained parallel to the central axis of the drum 14 and against the filter media 16.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it should be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of modification without departing from the scope of the following claims.