Abstract: A spiral wound filter element is disclosed which includes alternating layers of filter medium and diffusion medium wrapped about a cylindrical core defining a central axis of the filter element. The alternating layers extend from a radially innermost layer of the filter element to a radially outermost layer of the filter element, the diffusion medium is defined by a continuous lengthwise sheet of mesh material, and the filter medium is defined by at least one sheet of filter material arranged along the length of the continuous sheet of mesh material. The alternating layers of filter medium and diffusion medium define three distinct radially disposed layered filtering sections surrounding the cylindrical core, and include a first filtering section having radially outer prequalifying layers, a second filtering section having middle prequalifying layers and a third filtering section having radially inner qualifying layers.

Abstract: A method for separating fluid from a mixture of fluid and fibrous lost circulation material, the method including introducing the mixture onto a screen assembly that is vibrating for passage of the fluid through the screen assembly and for separation of fibrous lost circulation material from the fluid, the screen assembly comprising a plurality of screens one on top of the other and including at least a first screen and a second screen, one of the screens with comprising a screen mesh woven with non-square openings as viewed from above.

Abstract: A filtration media having at least one structured polymeric layer, wherein a structured surface is defined within the layer. Layers may be configured as a stack that has the structured surfaces defining a plurality of ordered inlets open through a face of the stack and corresponding ordered fluid pathways, thereby forming an ordered, porous volume. The ordered fluid pathway may be defined by a plurality of flow channels formed within the structured surfaces of the structured layers, or may be defined by a plurality of protuberances formed in an ordered pattern within the structured surfaces of the structured layers.

Abstract: A subterranean filter to remove particles from production fluid in a well includes a perforated inner member, at least one filter membrane made of a non-woven polymer material and a metal braided layer installed around the membrane and inner member to provide a filter having improved permeability and resistance to chemical and physical forces.

Abstract: An oriented structure for treating a fluid, comprising an inlet end for receiving a fluid to be treated and an outlet end opposite the inlet end and from which a treated fluid is discharged, the fluid being allowed to flow into the structure from the inlet end to the outlet end defining a flowing direction. The oriented structure comprises a juxtaposition of layers of porous material having a different porosity, each layer spanning from the inlet end to the outlet end of the structure whereby in use the layers are oriented generally parallel to the flowing direction of the fluid. The oriented structure is designed so to better control the different biological and physical phenomena related to the accumulation or exchange processes taking place in the structure.

Abstract: A filter including alternating layers of filter medium and diffusion medium. The filter provides optimum distribution of fluid over the filtering medium, a reduced pressure drop and an increased filter life, without a reduction in filter rating. The diffusion medium has a first plane of spaced-apart, substantially parallel strands defining first longitudinal passages having a first height dimension and a first width dimension, and a second plane of spaced-apart, substantially parallel strands defining second longitudinal passages having a second height dimension and a second width dimension. The strands of the second plane of the diffusion medium are oriented in a non-parallel manner with respect to the strands of the first plane, such that the first and the second planes define lateral openings having side dimensions. The first and the second longitudinal passages include at least one dimension that is smaller than any of the side dimensions of the lateral openings.

Abstract: A method for separating fluid from a mixture of fluid and fibrous lost circulation material, the method including introducing the mixture onto a screen assembly that is vibrating for passage of the fluid through the screen assembly and for separation of fibrous lost circulation material from the fluid, the screen assembly comprising a plurality of screens one on top of the other and including at least a first screen and a second screen, one of the screens with comprising a screen mesh woven with non-square openings as viewed from above.

Abstract: The invention provides a filter cell and a filter cartridge in which the filter cell includes an inner separator disc having a central aperture about which is located a plurality of upstanding pins or teeth, the pins or teeth being formed integrally with said separator disc. The filter cell includes layer(s) of filtration medium. The filter cartridge includes a plurality of filter cells arranged in contiguous and stacked relationship, adjacent filter cells being spaced from one another by spacer rings or gaskets, means being provided to hold the filter cells and spacer rings or gaskets in position to form said cartridge, the cartridge having an elongate central aperture into which filtered fluid may flow.

Abstract: An integrated filter for removing impurities from a fluid stream. The filter includes a first element adapted to remove at least some of the impurities by physical adsorption, and a second element adapted to remove at least some of the impurities by electrokinetic adsorption. Either or both of the first element and the second element further may be adapted to remove at least some of the impurities by sieving. The first element generally may be composed of loose particles or granules, or the first element may be composed of a porous block of an adsorbent, wherein the block is permeable to fluids and has interconnected pores therethrough. The second element generally is composed of a porous, charge-modified fibrous web which includes fibers prepared from a thermoplastic polymer. For example, the thermoplastic polymer may be a polyolefin. As another example, the porous, charge-modified fibrous web may be a nonwoven web, such as a meltblown or microfiber glass web.

Abstract: A corrugated axial filter (148) has a plurality of flow channels (178, 180, 182, 184, 208, 212) extending axially from the upstream dirty frontside (146) of the filter to the downstream clean backside (160) of the filter. Each channel has an upstream opening (186) at the upstream dirty frontside and has top and bottom walls (188 and 190) and right and left sidewalls (192 and 194) extending from the opening rearwardly toward the downstream clean backside. The right and left sidewalls taper towards each other as they extend rearwardly to define a triangular shaped flow channel. Right and left sidewalls of adjacent flow channels are a single continuous sheet of filter material (130) in a zig-zag pattern (134) with a plurality of fold lines including a first set of fold lines (136, 138, 140, 142, 144) at the upstream dirty frontside and a second set of fold lines (150, 152, 154, 156, 158) at the downstream clean backside.

Abstract: A screen for a vibratory separator for screening fluid with material entrained therein introduced on the screen, the screen having, in certain aspects, a plurality of warp wires and a plurality of shute wires, the warp wires interwoven with the shute wires, the plurality of warp wires including a plurality of first warp wires and a plurality of spaced-apart support wires, the support wires having a diameter greater than a diameter of the warp wires. In another aspect, a screen for a vibratory separator for screening fluid with material entrained therein introduced on the screen, the screen having a plurality of warp wires and a plurality of shute wires, the warp wires interwoven with the shute wires, the plurality of shute wires including a plurality of first shute wires and a plurality of spaced-apart support wires, the support wires having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first shute wires.

Abstract: A filter arrangement includes a filter element configured for straight through flow and a handle member secured to the filter element. The filter element may typically have a plurality of flutes where selected ones of the flutes are open at upstream portions and closed at downstream portions, and where selected ones of the flutes are closed at the upstream portions and open at the downstream portions. In one embodiment, the handle member is secured to the central core member. In some embodiments, the handle member and the central core member are a single molded construction. The handle member can include a single aperture, such as an elongated slot, or a plurality of apertures. A method for servicing a system having a straight through flow filter element includes grasping a handle secured to the filter element, and pulling the handle to remove the filter element from the system.

Abstract: A dynamic filter system includes a dynamic filter assembly including one or more filter elements and one or more members disposed within a housing. The filter elements and the members are interleaved and arranged to rotate with respect to one another. The dynamic filter assembly preferably includes one or more mechanisms to prevent preferential fouling.

Abstract: A filter element for a pressure filter where a substantially horizontal wall (3) divides the interior of a pressure vessel into a lower inlet compartment (5) and an upper outlet compartment (6). A filter element (20) having a filter medium (40) is suspended from the wall (3) such that the filtering takes place from the inlet compartment (5) through the filter element (20) up to the outlet compartment (6). A corrugated sheet (22) is provided which defines a plurality of substantially vertically extending channels (45) and (42). Each first channel (45) is open the inlet compartment (5) with the filter medium (40) covering the first channels (45) with the upper end of the first channels (45) being closed and the lower end of the first channels (45) being open at (43). The second channels (42) being formed on an inner side of the corrugated sheet (22) with an open bottom end and an upper end communicating with the outlet compartment (6).

Abstract: Debris vacuum device including a suction bulb. In a first embodiment the suction bulb includes a hollow tube with an inlet check valve located at one end and an exhaust check valve located at the opposing end. A screen is provided to extend across the interior of the tube intermediate the ends. By squeezing the walls of the tube, water can be forced out the exhaust check valve with the inlet check valve closed. Then as the flexible walls expand to their original shape, water and debris are drawn into the tube to the inlet check valve while the outlet check valve is closed. In a second embodiment, a bulb having a single opening into the interior is used. An inlet tube for drawing debris and water has one end inserted into the interior of the bulb. The bulb opening is also connected to an exhaust port to allow water to be forced out of the interior of the bulb. An inlet check valve is placed across the inlet tube and an exhaust check valve is placed across the exhaust port.

Abstract: A removable and replaceable filter and filter holder is mounted within a mop cleaning bucket to receive dirt settling under gravity from the contained liquid with the dirt collecting in, and passing through so as to be trapped below, the filter and its holder. The holder is a rigid or substantially rigid perforated support structure spaced above and below the dirt receiving filter. In one embodiment, the holder is supported in the bucket in spaced relationship to the bottom of the bucket and protects the filter. The filter is a thin, sturdy, semi-rigid and floatable member with many holes so soiled water passes through and collects in the bottom of the bucket. The construction of the filter can be selected depending upon the material (grease sludge, dirt, oil, soot, or food particles) to be mopped up. The combination of the filter and filter holder blocks or dampens turbulence and prevents sediment from being stirred up in the bottom portion of the bucket.

Abstract: A filter element for filtering a particle-containing paint composition or a particle loading slurry composition which is a precursor to a particle-containing paint composition is provided. The filtration element comprises at least one filtration layer formed from woven polymer fibers and having substantially uniform pores and two spacer layers. The spacer layers have raised projections to create a space between adjacent spacer layers having contacting projections. The filtration element has a pleated or spirally wound configuration.

Abstract: A filter cartridge is provided which includes (a) a wound depth filter or a cylindrical seamless depth filter and (b) a pleated filter having a lower micron retention rating than the depth filter. The depth filter and pleated filter surround a central opening. The cartridge is sealed and an appropriate inlet or outlet is provided in order to assure sequential fluid flow first through the depth filter and then through the pleated filter.

Abstract: A pipeline strainer having a body defining a rectilinear flow passage between an inlet and an outlet and a cylindrical cavity centrally located therebetween. A removable cover of cup-like configuration is secured in a sealed relation to the body subtending the body cavity in which a dual layered strainer assembly is supported in the flow passage in a sealed relation between an interior surface of the cover and an interior surface of the cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removal of contaminants from fluid columns utilizes a solidifying polymer-based filtration media to extract pollutants, such as organic compounds and metals. Dissolved, emulsified or suspended contaminants are absorbed and solidified into an easily retrievable mass and retained within a replaceable filter container. Solidified contaminants may not leach when exposed to pressure limits currently used to determine landfill acceptability, may be incinerated as fuel for their BTU content or used as a component in the production of asphalt, roofing material or other tar-like compounds. Treated fluid columns exit the process containing acceptable levels of contaminants to permit free release into the environment.

Abstract: A cover for covering an opening of a fuel tank holds a fuel pump, a fuel filter, a fuel level gauge and a pressure regulator inside the fuel tank. The fuel filter is contained inside a filter housing having a C-shaped cross-section. A filter element also has a C-shaped cross-section. This type of filter element is formed by bending flat stacked pre-assembled bodies into a C-shape. Other components such as the fuel level gauge, a fuel passage and the like are placed in an open part of the C-shaped cross-section and thus, the fuel filter and the other components are integrated in a high density.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of polyether-amide solutions, steam-sterilizable dialysis membranes obtainable using the polyether-amide solutions, and a process for the production of these membranes.Polycondensation of one or more dicarboxylic acid derivatives of the formula I ##STR1## with one or more aromatic diamines of the formula II ##STR2## and, if appropriate, m-phenylenediamine, in aprotic polar solvents is known.As a result of passing ammonia, in an amount sufficient to neutralize the HCl formed, into the polymer solution obtained after the end of the polycondensation and filtering off the ammonium chloride formed, it is possible to prepare neutral, salt-free and particularly storage-stable polyether-amide solutions which can be further processed to membranes without isolation of the polymer. The resulting membranes are steam-sterilizable, chemically and thermally stable and show efficiency data in the region of that of good high-flux dialysis membranes.

Abstract: A screen for use with a vibrating screening machine to filter undesired particles from a liquid uses a filter cloth having a substantially rectangular mesh suitable for separating the undesired particles from the liquid bonded in laminar relationship to a back-up having a substantially coarser mesh. The substantially rectangular mesh is formed by a lengthwise array of parallel individual wires woven with a transverse widthwise array of parallel groups of at least three wires. The individual wires are distorted from rectangular proximate the ends of the rectangles by bows in the individual wires at their area of intersection with each of the parallel groups of wires. This configuration provides improved throughput and life characteristics over known screens. A plastic grid of mesh substantially greater than the back-up mesh may be fused to the bonded lamination of the filter cloth and the back-up.

Abstract: A composite filter media for bag or pocket filters and the like includes an upstream dirt-holding layer of fine polymeric fibers and a downstream high efficiency filtration layer of glass fibers. The upstream layer includes polymeric microfibers having a mean fiber diameter ranging from about 2.5 to about 4.5 microns, lofting fibers and binder fibers; and weighs between about 2.0 and about 7.0 grams per square foot. The glass fiber layer has a weight between about 1.2 and about 2.7 grams per square foot; the average diameter of the fibers in the glass fiber layer is within a range from 3.0.times.10.sup.-5 to 4.1.times.10.sup.-5 inches; and the fibers are bonded together at their points of intersection with a binder. The composite filter media has an average air filtration efficiency of at least 80%.

Abstract: An apertured film extruded from a crystalline, thermoplastic, extrudable fluoroplastic material. The film includes spaced-apart strand segments defining apertures therebetween and has at least 10 strand segments per inch. The film has a thickness of 2-12 mils and a Frazier air permeability number in the range of 200-2,000. The invention includes a process for preparing an apertured thermoplastic film by a single-sided embossing method. The process includes the steps of extruding in the machine direction, a film of a molten, crystalline, thermoplastic, extrudable, fluoroplastic material. The molten extruded film is passed in the machine direction through the nip of two metal rollers. One of the rollers has a substantially smooth surface, having a convex configuration as viewed from a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the roll, such that the diameter in the center of the roll is in the range of 8-12 mils greater than the diameter at the ends of the roller for a 40 inch roller.

Abstract: A filter element for filtering a particle-containing paint composition or a particle loading slurry composition which is a precursor to a particle-containing paint composition is provided. The filtration element comprises at least one filtration layer formed from woven polymer fibers and having substantially uniform pores and two spacer layers. The spacer layers have raised projections to create a space between adjacent spacer layers having contacting projections. The filtration element has a pleated or spirally wound configuration.

Abstract: A removable filter assembly includes a relatively thin support grate positioned on top of an inlet grate, a filter fabricated from a geotextile material is positioned on the support grate and has an appropriate filter size for removing suspended particulate materials from ground water before the ground water passes into the catch basin, and a covering grate positioned above the filter for protecting the filter from contact damage caused by passing vehicular traffic. The cover includes depending sides for positioning the covering grate and blocking flow. In one embodiment, the support grate has a plurality of spaced apart pads around the exterior thereof, and the filter is placed on the support grate and over the pads. The pads extend into holes in the covering grate to trap the filter therebetween. The covering grate also has a depending peripheral flange that depends downwardly to circumscribe the support grate and an upper portion of the inlet grate.

Abstract: A filter for removing particulate matter from water flowing into an inlet, such as a catch basin is disclosed. The filter may comprise an envelope of filter material adapted to receive an inlet cover device, such as a catch basin gate. The inlet device may be inserted within the envelope and placed in an opening of the inlet. Water, for example, may then be double filtered before entering the inlet. A roll filter comprising porous material is also disclosed that may be used in combination or alone when filtering runoff entering a curb drain or other inlet.

Abstract: A dynamic filter system comprises a dynamic filter assembly including one or more filter elements and one or more members disposed within a housing. The filter elements and the members are interleaved and arranged to rotate with respect to one another.

Abstract: A filter of the type having first annular filter media comprising a generally columnar stack of annular filter media lamina for providing filtration for one circuit, a harness for retaining the filter media lamina in stacked columnar alignment comprising a generally circular end piece having a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the filter media lamina engaging one end lamina, an annular portion engaging the opposite end lamina, a plurality of elongated strips integral with and extending from the periphery of the annular portion with the end piece receiving and retaining the free ends of the elongated strips. There is a second filter media providing filtration for another circuit. The two filter media are housed adjacent to one another in a hollow cylindrical shell closed at one end. An annular retainer is integral with the shell near the other shell end for engaging the second media and retaining both media axially within the shell.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrical, unitized filter element for separating contaminant material from a flowing media includes an outer, substantially cylindrical wall portion which is fabricated by a two step process involving both a compacting step followed by a sintering step. The result of these processing steps is to create a rigid, porous filtering matrix. The filter element also includes an inner, substantially cylindrical wall portion which is also constructed through a two step process of a granular material which has been compacted and sintered into a rigid and porous filtering matrix. Disposed between the two cylindrical wall portions is a substantially cylindrical structural support member which is fabricated from a non-restrictive material and a material which is compatible with the material selected for the inner and outer wall portions.

Abstract: Frames holding separate sections of a filter medium, each covering a section of the perforated sidewall of an annual disc of a device for filtering liquids are held in sealing arrangement with the sidewall by a circumferential holding system containing a circumferential groove engaging the frame, which in a preferred embodiment can be slidingly inserted and removed.

Abstract: A filter for removing particulate matter from water flowing into an inlet, such as a catch basin is disclosed. The filter may comprise an envelope of filter material adapted to receive an inlet cover device, such as a catch basin grate. The inlet device may be inserted within the envelope and placed in an opening of the inlet. Water, for example, may then be double filtered before entering the inlet. A roll filter comprising porous material is also disclosed that may be used in combination or alone when filtering runoff entering a curb drain or other inlet.

Abstract: The filter device (10), provided for the filtration of fluids, comprises two interconnected material structures (14,16) forming a filter unit (12). The two material structures (14,16) are mechanically stable, at least one of the two material structures (14,16) being elastically deformable. The two material structures (14,16) are connected to each other at opposite connecting sites, with one (16) of the material structures forming an arch between the connecting sites. This arch has been generated by elastic deformation of the respective material structure (16) so that this material structure (16) is mechanically biased. A stretching movement of this material structure (16) is prevented by the connection of this material structure (16) to the other material structure (14) which in turn is of substantially plane configuration and is tensioned.

Abstract: A filter is provided which combines a woven wire mesh over a supporting body. The supporting body is typically a metal perforated tube which provides fluid communication between the well bore and the production equipment string. The woven wire mesh acts as a filter to prevent the influx of sand particles, provides openings oriented at various angles relative to its surface, so that some area is available for fluid entry even when particulate matter is lodged on the surface above an opening, provides interior channels that allow fluid to travel from one location on the mesh surface to another location over an opening into the supporting body, and does not provide "straight-through" openings, thus forcing the fluid to make multiple turns to pass through the mesh, thereby dissipating the fluid's energy and increases the mesh's erosion resistance. When particulate matter accumulates on the mesh's surface, the resulting particle cake remains porous, heightening the filter's resistance to plugging.

Abstract: A tubular filter element for filtering fluids includes a zigzag folded filter mat having rounded off mat ends. The mat ends face one another and are located in fixed positions. A bed of adhesive connects and bonds the mat ends. A cylindrical expandable metal grid surrounds at least one side of the filter mat and forms an expandable metal jacket. The metal jacket has a small mesh width and protectively surrounds the filter mat. The metal jacket has bent jacket ends defining the bed of adhesive and extends radially inwardly. The jacket ends face one another to define a space receiving the mat ends. The mat ends and the jacket ends extend substantially parallel.

Abstract: A micropore filter of discrete flow-through pores of highly controlled pore configuration and dimensions is formed by bonding platelets into a laminate, each platelet having been etched, preferably by a combination of electropolishing and photoetching techniques, to form depth-etched passages and through-etched passages, respectively. The filter is housed in a module which contains wiper blades for periodically removing deposited debris from the filter surface.

Abstract: A device for filtering and separating a flow medium by reverse osmosis, microfiltration, ultrafiltration or nanofiltration has a pressure-tight housing with an inlet for the flow medium and a first outlet for the retentate and a second outlet for the permeate. A plurality of stacked units comprised of spacer elements and membrane filter elements is provided. The spacer elements and the membrane filter elements are stacked alternatingly atop one another to form a stack. The stacked units further comprise two receptacle parts forming a receptacle for enclosing a stack of spacer elements and membrane filter elements. The stacked units are positioned adjacent to one another in the housing. The flow medium flows in sequence through the stacked units.

Abstract: A fluid filter comprising a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a filter element defining an upstream surface communicating with the fluid inlet and a downstream cylindrical surface communicating with the fluid outlet, the filter element comprising a stack of filter disks defining a hollow volume interiorly thereof and a longitudinal axis, and backflushing means for removing filtered out sediment from the filter element comprising an axially displaceable backflushing nozzle assembly disposed within the hollow volume comprising a rotating head coupled to the fluid inlet and having fluid outlet means, arranged to provide a generally radially directed pressurized jet and rotational motion of the rotating head.

Abstract: Insolubilized enzyme particulates are located on the upstream surface of a filtration layer of a filtering element which can be used in a cartridge filter. Employed in a recycling flow reaction system at relatively high flux rates, the cartridges are useful for conducting catalyzed chemical reactions of dissolved solutes, for example, esterifications, isomerizations, oxidations, reductions, and cyclizations.

Abstract: A liquid purification system is provided which is capable of separating a first liquid, that is wholly or partly immiscible in and forms a discontinuous phase with a second, continuous phase-forming liquid, from the second liquid, which includes at least one coalescing element or assembly for coalescing the first liquid having at least one fluid inlet at the top thereof; and at least one separating element or assembly for separating droplets of the first liquid from the second liquid, the at least one coalescing element or assembly being arranged in superposed and fluid communicable relationship above the at least one separating element or assembly

Abstract: Layered plasma polymer composite fluid separation membranes are disclosed, which comprise alternating selective and permeable layers for a total of at least 2n layers, where n is .gtoreq.2 and is the number of selective layers.

Abstract: A filter for filtering a highly viscous material comprises a filter element including a glass fiber filter medium, preferably resin-bonded, having upstream and downstream sides and a polymeric mesh situated on at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of the filter medium, and preferably on both sides of the filer medium. A non-woven sheet, such as a cellulose paper sheet, may be disposed between the downstream side of the filter medium and the downstream polymeric mesh. The filter element is typically cylindrical and longitudinally pleated to maximize the filtration area in as small a volume as possible. Also provided is a method of filtering a highly viscous material, particularly magnetic coating mixes.

Abstract: A filter device and method are provided for treating parenteral nutrient fluids, particularly TNA systems containing lipids, glucose, and amino acids. The filter device comprises a housing and a microporous medium in the form of a synthetic polymeric microporous structure having a pore rating of less than 1.2 micrometers. A preferred microporous medium comprises, in series, a matrix of microfibers which has been radiation grafted to render the matrix wettable by parenteral nutrient fluids followed by a microporous membrane, also wettable by parenteral nutrient fluids, and having a finer pore rating than the microfibrous matrix.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid treatment apparatus for the transfer of mass or energy through the membrane is disclosed. It is designed particularly, but not only, for use in membrane oxygenators. Hollow fiber membranes extend substantially longitudinally, first inert fibers are spaced between them and also extend substantially longitudinally. Second inert fibers extend generally transverse to the hollow fibers and generally contiguous therewith, so that a first fluid (preferably an oxygen-containing gas) can pass through the hollow fibers and a second fluid (preferably blood) can be passed over their exterior for mass or energy transfer through the membrane.

Abstract: An oil filter for providing coarse and fine filtration of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine is disclosed herein. The oil filter includes a cylindrical housing closed by a cover containing a coarse-filtering cartridge of pleated paper included between a lower plate and an upper plate, and a fine-filtering cartridge placed between the coarse-filtering cartridge and the cover. The fine-filtering cartridge is supported between a lower base plate and an upper base plate arranged to bear against the cover. Both filtering cartridges have a cylindrical shape with axial recesses extending therethrough. The fine-filtering cartridge is composed of a band of filtering paper disks, the band being bent as an accordion. The upper base plate is integrally formed with to a first end of a barrel with the barrel coaxially extending through the axial recess of said fine-filtering cartridge and partially into the axial recess of said coarse-filtering cartridge.

Abstract: A defoaming device for separating foam and bubbles from a liquid, such as blood, is disclosed. The device can be used in conjunction with a medical device, such as a membrane oxygenator, for separating air from blood while minimizing blood contact with the antifoam agent used in the device. In a first embodiment, the device includes a reservoir and a filtering material that does not contain any antifoaming agent. This filtering material is positioned in a lower portion of the reservoir to separate foam and bubbles from the liquid. An element containing an antifoaming agent is positioned in the reservoir above the maximum surface fluid level therein and receives the foam and bubbles that rise from the filtering material. Contact of the liquid with the antifoaming agent is substantially avoided. In a second embodiment, an element containing an antifoaming agent is positioned in the reservoir within the fluid therein.

Abstract: A water filter comprising a hollow cylindrical base, a filter assembly fastened in said base at the top which is comprised of an inner filter tube covered with a braided outer filter tube, a cylindrical casing covered on said filter assembly and attached to said base at the top, a ater outlet pipe connected to said base at the bottom, a water intake pipe and a drain pipe respective connected to said base, a plunger fastened in a cylindrical hole inside said base and rotated by a lever, wherein said plunger has a plurality of water passage holes alternatively rotated by said lever to let an intake flow of water from said water intake pipe: (a) flow toward said water outlet pipe directly; (b) flow through said filter assembly to said water outlet pipe (c) flow through the space between said inner filter tube and said outer filter tube and then, penetrate through said outer filter tube toward said drain pipe; (d) flow into the space between said outer filter tube and said cylindrical casing and penetrate through

Abstract: Filtering apparatus for the separation of microparticles such as bacteria has two planar sheets each with an array of laser drilled or etched pores. One or both of the sheets can be displaced relative to the other under feedback control to bring the pores into greater or lesser register. The effective pore size is thus varied to provide controlled selectivity.

Abstract: A separating agent which includes a polyvinyl acetal resin having open cell structure and an average pore size of from about 10 to about 1000 micrometers; and, porous calcium phosphate granules having open cell structure, and also having two distributions of pore size wherein one distribution has micropores ranging from about 20 to about 500 mm in average pore size and the other distribution has small pores ranging from about 1 to about 50 micrometers in average pore size. Alternatively, the separating agent includes a polyvinyl acetal resin having open cell structure and having an average pore size of from about 10 to about 1000 micrometers as a first element, and a layer of porous calcium phosphate granules having an average granule size of from about 10 to about 2000 micrometers as a second element applied onto the first element. The separating agents may be used in a separator, and may be employed in separating methods.