Filter Press Plate Textured Surface Residue Adhesion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Filter press plates require frequent and costly washing due to the adhesion of solid residues on their surfaces, even with elastomer-reinforced designs, which increases production costs and downtime.

Innovation Solution

A filter press plate with a textured, self-cleaning surface is manufactured using a method that imparts a fractal-like geometry to prevent residue adhesion, allowing liquid and residues to be easily conveyed to collection channels, reducing the need for frequent washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional smooth surfaces are used on filter press plates, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but solid residues adhere to the surface requiring frequent washing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidresidue adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies a textured surface structure with specific local characteristics (protrusions and recesses of defined dimensions) to the plate surface. This localized structural modification creates areas with different adhesion properties, preventing solid residue adhesion while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through injection molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the surface geometry parameters by introducing a textured pattern with specific protrusion and recess dimensions. This parameter modification transforms the surface from smooth to textured, fundamentally altering its interaction with solid residues and preventing adhesion without requiring complex post-processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If frequent washing operations are performed to remove adhered residues, then plate cleanliness is maintained, but production costs and downtime increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplate cleanlinessVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The textured surface structure is pre-formed on the plate during manufacturing, creating a surface that proactively prevents residue adhesion before it becomes a problem. This preliminary structural preparation eliminates the need for subsequent washing operations, maintaining cleanliness while preserving production continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The textured surface provides self-cleaning functionality by preventing residue adhesion in the first place. The plate structure itself performs the cleaning function through its geometric design, eliminating the need for external washing operations and associated downtime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a textured surface is imposed on the plate, then residue adhesion is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresidue adhesion preventionVSAvoidsurface structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surface is segmented into discrete protrusions and recesses with defined dimensional characteristics. This segmentation creates a textured pattern that prevents residue adhesion while being amenable to standard injection molding processes, balancing functionality with manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The textured surface acts as an intermediary structure between the plate and solid residues. This intermediate geometric layer modifies the interaction interface, preventing direct adhesion between residues and the plate surface while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through mold integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The textured surface significantly reduces residue accumulation on the plates, lowering production costs and downtime by facilitating self-cleaning, while maintaining effective filtration performance.

Implementation Method 1

imparting a textured structure corresponding to a fractal geometry to the surface of the partition wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFractal geometry: Fractal Forms

Implementation Method 2

the textured surface significantly reduces residue accumulation on the plates, lowering production costs and downtime by facilitating self-cleaning

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3746205B1Method of manufacturing a filter press plate of the improved type with self-cleaning surface and associated filter press plate
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 DIEMME SOIL WASHING SRL
  • EP3746205B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3746205B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3746205B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Method of manufacturing a filter press plate (1) comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of reinforcement material lined on both sides by an elastomeric material, to define a half-processed partition wall of the filter press plate (1); providing at least one impression die; impressing a textured surface (10) on at least a face of the partition wall, by placing the at least one impression die against the corresponding face of the half-processed partition wall and pressing them together; curing the half-processed partition wall in order to obtain a partition wall (3) with at least one of a first face (3a) or a second face (3b) having a textured surface (10); coupling said partition wall (3) to a peripheral frame (4) made of rigid material so as to define the filter press plate (1).