APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR SEPARATING ONE SOLID COMPONENT FROM ANOTHER SOLID COMPONENT IN SUSPENSION IN A LIQUID

摘要

The separation of a first solid component from a mixture thereof with a liquid and a second solid component which is of smaller average particle size than the first solid component, the first and second solid components being in suspension in the liquid and with the percentage by mass of the second solid component being substantially greater than that of the first solid component, by means of a travelling endless cloth. The cloth passes through an operative separating region in a horizontal manner. The mixture is fed onto substantially the entire operative separating region from a feed box that has a floor with apertures therein; the floor being located above the cloth. The liquid and second solid component pass through the cloth, to be collected by a trough. The first solid component remains on the cloth and is subsequently removed and collected. Water is sprayed onto and through the cloth in the separating region, from below, to impede the formation of a cake or layer of the second solid component on the cloth.