Liquid purification or separation – Filter – With residue removing means or agitation of liquid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-03-06
Savage, Matthew O. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Filter
With residue removing means or agitation of liquid
C210S416200, C210S418000, C092S100000, C417S395000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196395
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and a device for filtering fluids and, more particularly, to a filter for use with filter aid materials that is adapted to perform a regeneration of the filter aid materials by an external regeneration mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fluid filter devices have been proposed over the years utilizing filter aid materials or other filter media for better filtration. Some of said filters comprise filter element or elements having a large surface area but with no mechanism to regenerate the filter aid material. Other filters known in the market comprise a mechanism contained inside the filter housing such as the construction proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,329 to Davidson, which discloses a filter having a single filter element and an inner mechanism such as a piston to perform the regeneration of the filter aid material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,461 to Drori discloses a method for regeneration of filter aid material comprising a filter with an internal mechanism for regenerating the filter aid material. U.S. Pat. No. 2,367,935 to Franck, U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,065 to Varjaberian and U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,465 to Stewart disclose filters having an inner mechanism such as a piston to perform the regeneration of the filter aid material. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,923,601, 5,112,481 and 5,328,604 to Drori and U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,887 to Frederick disclose different types of internal mechanisms to regenerate the filter aid material such as a mechanism to rotate back and forth the filter element during the regeneration operation. All of the above mechanisms are internal of the filter housing and therefore occupy some of the filter housing inner volume in order to properly perform the regeneration operation. Many filters with different constructions and configurations are known in the market in which the filter element occupies the entire inner volume of the filter housing and, therefore, an internal mechanism to regenerate the filter aid material cannot be adapted. An external regeneration mechanism is therefore required in the market that is adapted to be assembled on the existing types of filters in order to regenerate the filter aid material. Said external regeneration mechanism will have following features:
a. Does not require an additional inner volume to the filter housing;
b. Can be sold as a unit to be assembled to any existing filter presently in the market without making changes to the filter construction; and
c. Can be assembled on filters with existing design and construction which are still in the production line without changes in the filter production line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an external regeneration mechanism which does not require changes in the inner volume of the filter housing as it is adapted to be assembled outside the filter housing in order to perform the dislodging and regenerating of particles and filter aid material accumulated on the external surface of the filter element by circulating the fluid in the filter. The external regeneration mechanism can be sold as a separate unit to be assembled on any existing filter presently in the market having the existing design and construction and be assembled to filters which are already in the production line without making any changes in the filter production line.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a filter having at least one inner filter element, said filter being in communication with an external regeneration mechanism and with an external valve.
There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an external regeneration mechanism adapted to be coupled to existing filters in the market in order to circulate the liquid contained in the filter during either the regeneration operation or the cleaning operation, thus to either assist to regenerate the filter aid material accumulated on the external surface of the filter element or assist in the cleaning operation of the filter element.
There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an external regeneration mechanism constructed and operative outside the inner volume of the filter housing therefore leaving the entire inner volume of the housing free for filtration.
There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an external regeneration mechanism comprising an inner displaceable member such as a diaphragm or a piston located between two internal chambers and a rod coupled to said displaceable member and to an external handle.
There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an external regeneration mechanism adapted to be in communication with the inlet and outlet of the filter and with the inlet and outlet of a valve.
REFERENCES:
patent: 862867 (1907-08-01), Eggleston
patent: 2367935 (1945-01-01), Franck
patent: 2578730 (1951-12-01), Nicholson et al.
patent: 2733572 (1956-02-01), Butterfield et al.
patent: 3365065 (1968-01-01), Varjabedian
patent: 3389797 (1968-06-01), Giardini
patent: 4923601 (1990-05-01), Drori
patent: 4944887 (1990-07-01), Frederick
patent: 5013461 (1991-05-01), Drori
patent: 5328604 (1994-07-01), Drori
patent: 5397465 (1995-03-01), Stewart
patent: 5591329 (1997-01-01), Davidson
Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, PLL
Savage Matthew O.
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