Measuring and testing – With fluid pressure – Porosity or permeability
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-12-11
Williams, Hezron (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
With fluid pressure
Porosity or permeability
C073S040700, C210S489000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327893
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to filter testing equipment and more particularly to a method and apparatus for comparative testing of at least two successively aligned layers of filter media in a particulate laden fluid stream.
Testing devices for testing the integrity and/or efficiency of filter media are generally well known in the filtration art, attention being directed to such U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,697, issued to S. B. Steinberg on May 14, 1974; U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,768, issued to A. J. Bauman et al. on Jul. 22, 1980; U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,508, issued to H. L. Everroad on Jul. 21, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,993, issued to R. J. Adrian on Jun. 14, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,403, issued to C. W. Bowers et al. on Jan. 22, 1985 and, Japanese patent publication No. 6,331,114 5A of T. Kazuo on Dec. 19, 1988—all of which teach various efficiency and/or integrity testing embodiments for testing filter media. In addition, attention is further directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,201, issued to M. A. Gogins on Apr. 20, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,480, issued to H. G. Henry on Sep. 14, 1993; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,811, issued to J. Wang et al. on Feb. 6, 1996—these three patents teaching filter testing arrangements which include structure for testing filter media in more than one position in a filtration system. Finally, attention is directed to MKS Instruments, Inc., Bulletin (cover pg. and ppgs. 14, 20 and 73). However, none of these aforementioned patents and bulletin even recognizes, let alone teaches, the importance of a comparative testing sample of at least two aligned filter media samples to be preselectively relatively positioned and/or spaced in aligned relation in the same filter testing system including a multi-stationed filter media sample holder. The inventive, unique and novel comparative filter media testing arrangement as disclosed herein, which allows for the control of differential pressure flow through filter media to be tested selectively maintaining the pressure drop across tested media substantially equal by varying media characteristics and spacing between tested media and/or the composition nature of tested media has particular applicability to U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,373, issued to Kyung-Ju Choi on Oct. 19, 1999. In order that appropriate filter media of preselected filtering properties and preselected layer spacing be incorporated in applicant's novel method and apparatus as set forth in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,373, it is essential that each layer of filter media selected, as well as the relative spacing between layers, be carefully and accurately criteria compliant prior to further manufacture, assembly and subsequent replacement thereof. The novel filter media sample testing equipment as described herein permits the manufacture, assembly and replacement of layers of filter media and the replacement thereof in a straightforward and economical apparatus and method with a minimum of structural parts and with a minimum of operating steps—utilizing readily and variable assembled parts which are commercially and economically available for unrelated uses such as conduit piping. Various other features of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More particularly the present invention provides a method of comparative testing at least two successive layers of filter media samples each of preselectively differing and successively controlled average pore size and/or fiber size, the selected filter media to be successively arranged in upstream-downstream respective alignment in a flow-through channel for removing particulate matter from a fluid stream to be treated in said channel comprising: successively positioning preselected sample layers of filter media which layers are to correspond to those to be utilized for filtering purposes with controlled average pore size and/or controlled fiber size arrangement respectively in a wall or fluid flow-through confined testing zone including an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet; the corresponding sample layers of filter media being supportively disposed in the confined flow-through testing zone between the upstream and the downstream outlet in preselected relation to each other to extend transversely across the line of fluid flow through the confined testing zone with the edges of the supported filter media sample layers being in sealed relation with the walls of the flow-through testing zone; introducing a measured particle laden fluid stream into the upstream inlet of the confined testing zone; and, measuring the particle count in the fluid upstream and downstream of each sample filter media layer. In addition, the novel method of the present invention provides for the inclusion of a controlled spacing step between layers to establish and/or meet any preselected spacing criteria. Further, the present invention provides for a unique and novel comparative test stand apparatus for comparatively testing successive layers of filter media samples to be utilized to optimize filtering capacity comprising: a flow-through housing having a fluid test stream inlet to receive preselected and measured particle laden fluids to be tested and a fluid test stream outlet downstream of the inlet; filter media sample receptacles cooperatively mounted with respect to the flow-through housing between the inlet and outlet to successively receive and relatively position at least two sample layers of filter media to be comparatively tested so that the sample layers are aligned with the fluid streams to be tested with the edges thereof in sealed relation with the inner wall faces of the flow-through housing; and; particle counter means associated with the housing to count particles in the fluid upstream and downstream of each filter media sample layer disposed in the housing. Further, the present invention includes a unique structural arrangement utilizing parts commercially available for other purposes and which provides for the adjusting and stacking and novel spacing in accordance with preselected spacing criteria between sample media layers to test whether the sample media layers are to be in face-to-face abutment or to be distanced from each other a preselected spaced distance.
It is to be understood that various changes can be made by one skilled in the art in one or more of the several parts and the several steps disclosed herein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3276597 (1966-10-01), Mesek et al.
patent: 3614421 (1971-10-01), Alter et al.
patent: 3810697 (1974-05-01), Steinberg
patent: 4055075 (1977-10-01), Allan et al.
patent: 4157968 (1979-06-01), Kronsbein
patent: 4213768 (1980-07-01), Bauman et al.
patent: 4279508 (1981-07-01), Everroad
patent: 4324568 (1982-04-01), Wilcox et al.
patent: 4384474 (1983-05-01), Kowalski
patent: 4387993 (1983-06-01), Adrian
patent: 4446099 (1984-05-01), Schwind et al.
patent: 4494403 (1985-01-01), Bowers et al.
patent: 4515007 (1985-05-01), Herman
patent: 4610705 (1986-09-01), Sarnosky et al.
patent: 4619136 (1986-10-01), Ortiz
patent: 4646558 (1987-03-01), Gualtieri et al.
patent: 4686848 (1987-08-01), Casselberry et al.
patent: 4772390 (1988-09-01), Kawai et al.
patent: 5203201 (1993-04-01), Gogins
patent: 5244480 (1993-09-01), Henry
patent: 5351523 (1994-10-01), Blackford et al.
patent: 5488811 (1996-02-01), Wang et al.
patent: 5968373 (1999-10-01), Choi
patent: 000150266A2 (1985-09-01), None
patent: 2252785A (1975-07-01), None
patent: 63311145A (1987-12-01), None
Sindetec, Process and Device for Determining the Distribution by Size of Particles in Suspension in a Liquid, translation, May, 2001.
AAF McQuay
Politzer Jay L.
Polster Lieder Woodruff & Lucchesi
Williams Hezron
LandOfFree
Filter layer comparative testing method and apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Filter layer comparative testing method and apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Filter layer comparative testing method and apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2577023