Abstract: A valve structure for a fluid dispenser primarily of the type known in the art as an aerosol dispenser incorporating a filter assembly comprising one or more filter elements each formed from an apertured, open mesh material of nylon or like synthetic fiber. At least one of the filter elements is mounted on a filter housing in the form of an auxiliary valve body attached to the primary valve body of the valve structure wherein the path of fluid flow is established from the interior of the dispenser to the valve chamber and the one or more filter elements are disposed in interruptive disposition relative to the path of fluid flow so as to cause filtering of any undesirable particles from the product or propellant as the product is being dispensed.

Abstract: A reservoir tank has filling and outlet ports which are provided in a common aperture formed through the tank top.

Abstract: A wash filter for tapping and filtering a portion of fluid in a moving stream has a plug mounted coaxially in a conduit receiving the stream. The plug includes a bullet-shaped nose similar to that in a conventional wash filter for accelerating the fluid through an annular passageway adjacent the conduit wall, and a porous frusto-conical screen or mesh body portion downstream of the nose and through which a portion of the accelerated fluid is tapped and filtered. Suspended particles in the fluid are driven toward the conduit wall by the plug nose while an inwardly located portion of the accelerated fluid passes inwardly through the porous screen and then through a base of the plug into a separate outlet line arranged coaxially of the conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus for contacting a fluid stream with a bed of catalyst wherein solid particulate matter is removed from the fluid stream before contact with the catalyst bed. The fluid stream is tangentially discharged into a circular trough located in an upper section of a vertically disposed cylindrical vessel. The inner wall of the trough is porous to allow drainage of liquids, and vapors exit the trough through its open top. The vapors than pass downward through the open center of the trough and contact the catalyst bed located in the lower section of the vessel.

Abstract: A filtration system comprises a relatively thin prefilter medium and a relatively thick main filter medium, which are so related that the pore size of the prefilter medium is no greater than the pore size of the main filter medium. The purpose of the prefilter medium is to prevent premature clogging of the surface of the main filter medium. The arrangement is such that backwashing or replacement of the prefilter medium can be effected readily in order to prolong the life of the main filter medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for separating oily particles from an emulsion thereof in an aqueous liquid. The emulsion is passed through a bed of oleophilic granules supported on a foraminous support, the oleophilic granules, by virtue of their density, pressing against the foraminous support and the bed is unconfined downstream thereof so that the granules in the bed are fluidized by the passage of liquid therethrough. The oily particles are removed from the emulsion by the oleophilic granules in the bed, and the oily material accumulates and agglomerates and is transported out of the bed by the passage of liquid therethrough. The movement of the liquid then carries the oily droplets which are formed in the bed and deposits them upon a screen positioned downstream of the bed, the aqueous liquid passing through the screen in purified form. The oil accumulates on the screen and is propelled by the moving liquid into an oil reservoir positioned downstream of the screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for separating fine oily particles from aqueous liquids at very high flow velocities by passing the mixture upwardly through an unconfined mass of oleophilic granules in a column with adequate velocity to separate and lift the individual granules into the upwardly flowing mixture within the column where movement of the individual granules serves to collect and coalesce the fine oily particles, and finally to release large oil drops back into the mainstream of the upwardly flowing mixture column. These large oil drops are then intercepted and extracted by a steeply inclined screen and caused to flow to storage in the form of a fine oil film propelled by the force of the flow of the aqueous liquid through the screen.