Abstract: A method of and apparatus for purifying a liquid which contains magnetic solid particles therein, includes a system for feeding the liquid to a container of an electromagnetic filter including a matrix disposed inside the container and a coil disposed so as to encompass the outer circumference of the container and generating a line of magnetic force to magnetize the matrix when a current is applied thereto. The coil is cooled by diverting the purified liquid from a downstream side of the matrix.

Abstract: A filtrating method for removing suspended solids from a liquid by passing the liquid through a layer of filter medium in a magnetic field, the filter medium layer comprising a collection of organic fibers and ferromagnetic metal fibers. Usual suspended solids and relatively large magnetic suspended solids are arrested by the organic fibers, while fine magnetic suspended solids are arrested by the ferromagnetic metal fibers subjected to the action of the magnetic field. The collection of fibers achieves a high filtration efficiency, has outstanding regeneration characteristics, withstands continued use and is therefore very useful as a filter medium.

Abstract: An improved pre-evacuated blood sampling collection tube having two oppositely positioned rubber stoppers sealing the corresponding oppositely positioned open ends of the said cylindrical tube, and interposed within the said tube is a slideable perpendicularly placed filtration disc that filters and separates the cellular elements of the whole blood from its fluid counterpart during the process of centrifugation. One embodiment of the tube having a special structural extension baffle at one of the two sealing rubber stoppers, said structural extension found proximal to the puncturable entrant area of the blood specimen into the tube, acts as the structural baffle that prevents or curtails hymolysis of the red blood cells during the sudden onrush of blood from the blood source through the bore of the collection needle, and into the vacuum of the said collection tube.

Abstract: An arrangement for fastening filter candles and filter apparatus provided therewith includes a collecting pipe which is composed of several T-shaped pipe pieces. Each of the pipe pieces has a substantially horizontal portion and extending therefrom a second portion which has a free end part provided with a groove. Each of the filter candles has an upper part provided with a flange portion which is engageable into the groove to obtain a tight attachment of the filter candle to the collecting pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and method for separating, by centrifugation, blood lymphocytes from other leukocytes in a blood sample. Small dense particles, either wetted or suspended in a physiological, hydrophilic medium, and a chemically inert hydrophobic barrier material are initially located in a suitable container. When the blood sample is added to the container, the particles are phagocytized by the monocytes and granulocytes, so as to increase their specific gravities. Upon centrifugation, the barrier material, whose specific gravity is only slightly greater than the specific gravity of the lymphocytes and less than the respective specific gravities of the phagocytic cells which have ingested particles and of the erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the blood sample, forms a rigid barrier therebetween, allowing harvesting of the lymphocytes, substantially free of contamination.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for continuously filtering a flow of melted plastic which includes a mechanism for purging the filter without interrupting continuous operation. A filter screen is disposed in a circular chamber within the filter housing. A collector plate including a plurality of radially oriented, triangularly shaped passages is disposed on the upstream side of the filter screen, defining triangular pockets for collecting contaminants that cannot pass through the filter screen. A collector head is rotatably disposed for selective registration with the collector pockets, and an indexing mechanism is included for sequentially stepping the collector head around the collector plate for momentary registration with each collector pocket. The collector head communicates with a contaminant discharge passage that is opened and closed in timed sequence with movement of the collector head.

Abstract: A particle washing system and method of use provides for the placement of the fluid containing the desired particles within an inner tube having near the bottom thereof an orifice plugged with a material for sealing the particulate containing fluid from a wash fluid under forces substantially equal to 1G. The inner tube is positioned within an outer tube which contains a wash fluid having a density at least equal to that of the particle containing solution but less than that of the particles. Application of centrifugal force, substantially greater than 1G, and directed toward the bottom of the outer tube, causes the sealing material to be dislodged thereby permitting the particles to move through the orifice and through the outer solution. Thus the particles are collected from the inner solution, washed by the outer solution, and pelleted at the bottom of the outer tube.

Abstract: A water treatment system is described comprising a first water line in communication with a source of water at one end and a water filter on the other. An alternating current magnetic means is imposed with the first water line so that water flowing therethrough will be subjected to the magnetic field thereof. A second water line extends from the water filter to a water outlet means. A direct current magnet means is imposed in the second water line so that water flowing therethrough will be subject to the magnetic field thereof. The magnet means are comprised of coils imposed in a housing, a first shaft extends through the coil and is adjustably secured to the housing. The inner end of the shaft terminates in a plate means which is normally positioned adjacent inlet and outlet openings in the housing. A second shaft means is adjustably secured to the housing and its inner end terminates in a plate means which is oppositely disposed from the first mentioned plate means.

Abstract: An aircushion and fluid film bearing arrangement particularly suitable for supporting the undersurfaces of the outer edges of the transport belt in a horizontal belt vacuum filter is disclosed wherein the respective air box sections beneath the edges are fabricated into parallel members each exteriorly rectangular in form and having an air pressure chamber therein triangular in cross-section with its apex forming a longitudinal slot centrally disposed in the flat upper surface of the box, which slot communicates the air pressure admitted to the chamber to the upper surface of the box. Longitudinal sealing guides are upstandingly mounted on the upper edges of each air box and form fluid-pressure chambers above the flat upper surfaces in cooperation with the undersurface of the transport belt, which chambers contain the communicated air pressure and create a fluid cushion exerting evenly balanced supporting forces across the outer undersides of the belt.

Abstract: In a system having a fluid filter that is automatically backwashed each time the differential pressure thereacross reaches a predetermined value, the desired base rate at which the drop across the filter should increase during its initial filtering sequence (i.e., before backwash) is determined and stored in digital format in a process controller along with a preset maximum differential pressure at which backwash is set to occur. During use of the filter the actual rate of change of the pressure drop thereacross is monitored continuously and compared with the rate that is stored in the controller. Whenever the actual rate of change of the pressure drop across the filter differs from the base rate, which is the usual case, the present backwashing pressure is automatically adjusted--usually downwardly. This reduction continues until the actual drop across the filter finally reaches the adjusted value of the preset backwashing pressure, at which time backwashing of the filter is automatically commenced.

Abstract: A liquid is filtered through a bed 7 of granular material and cleaning of the bed is conducted, when necessary, by upflow of wash water through orifices 9 and air through orifices 12 positioned mid-way between the orifices 9. An overflow 13 defines a free water space 15 above the bed and a baffle formed of elements 18, 19 and 20 surrounds the overflow outlet. During cleaning the wash water and air flow upwardly at rates such that some granular material is entrained by upflowing air bubbles and could be carried to the overflow 13 but substantially all the entrained granular material is separated from the entraining air bubbles at or near the top of the free space 15.

Abstract: A filter assembly is provided comprising a housing; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in the housing, each opening into a fluid chamber; and, disposed in the fluid chamber across the line of fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet so that all flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet must pass therethrough, a filter element composite comprising a filter sheet material sandwiched between layers of foraminous spacer sheet material. The filter element composite has an upstream side and a downstream side and separates the chamber into a first portion on one side of the filter element composite communicating with the fluid inlet, and a second portion on the other side of the filter element composite communicating with the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A portable removable sludge cleaner for tanks is provided in two sections, one of which rests on top of the tank and has a travelling bridge from which is suspended the second section. This second section is a suction head carrying frame unit deposited into one end of the tank with the aid of a crane or overhead pulley. The travelling bridge section is then deposited on top of the tank by the crane or pulley. The bridge is centered for balance during the mounting operation and after depositing on the tank, the bridge is moved over the suction head unit previously deposited in the end of the tank. Ramp hitches on the bridge then engage support pins on the head unit lifting its front end off of the bottom of the tank. Pipe couplings on the rear end of the unit are then connected to counterparts depending from the bridge to lift the rear end of the unit off of the tank bottom. The bridge travels on tracks provided by the frame and is propelled by a drive screw to traverse the length of the tank.

Abstract: A device for clarification of liquids and separation of precipitates is characterized by that it comprises a contact chamber 1 above which there is a multi-stream settling tank 2 and below which a chamber 6 for thickening the precipitate is comprised, and comprises an overflow pocket 5 for clarified liquid, the contact chamber 1 has the shape widening upwards, preferably the shape of an inversed cone or an inversed truncated pyramid and the axis of the contact chamber 1 is skew to the level, whereas on the upper edge of the contact chamber 1 an adjustable overflow edge 4 is situated, in the upper part of the multi-stream settling tank 2 there is an outflow unit 7, and the overflow pocket 5 is comprised below the outflow unit 7, the outflow unit 7 is constructed of many uniformly distributed outlet elements 8 which are stub pipes directed upwards and situated on the upper horizontal or inclined surface of the cover plate of the unit 7, the outlet surface of all stub pipes being situated on the same common plan

Abstract: An apparatus for separating entrained matter from a flowing fluid carrying the entrained matter includes a passage diverging at an angle of from 3 to about 20 degrees in the direction of flow of the fluid and at least one helical flight having the same twist direction throughout located with the passage and tapered to conform thereto. A straight cylindrical pipe is attached to the outlet end of the passage; the pipe contains a straight baffle interlocking to aboout 90 degrees with the helical flight. Opposed edges of the flight may be spaced from or in contact with the wall of the diverging passage.

Abstract: A magnetic filter including a tubular case which has a filter region divided along a flow passage into two smaller-dimensioned spaces in each of which a filter element of magnetic material is located. A magnetic means is also provided in one of the two spaces. In the smaller-dimensioned space including the magnetic means, only a portion of the lines of magnetic force produced by an electromagnetic coil connected to the tubular case is allowed to magnetize the filter element disposed in the same space, while the remaining lines pass through the magnetic means, so that the filter element is magnetized to a lesser degree. However, the filter element located in the other smaller-dimensioned space is magnetized by all the lines of magnetic force so that the same space has a higher capacity for attracting magnetic particles. Therefore, different types of magnetic particles contained in a fluid are attracted by the lowly-magnetized filter element and the highly-magnetized one, respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus for skimming an overlying non-conductive lighter liquid from an underlying conductive heavier liquid in a two-liquid body which are particularly applicable for recovering oil and/or gasoline from a well. A skimmer designed to float in the two-liquid body contained in the well includes a closed cylindrical float, a hollow cylindrical skirt installed over a portion of one end of the float and permanently attached to the float. The end of the skirt surrounding the float is open to the lighter liquid. Spaced-apart liquid level controls are positioned on the skirt for sensing the liquid/liquid interface level. The other end of the skirt is connected to a pump for removing lighter liquids collected in the skirt. Means operated by the controls turn the pump off and on in response to higher and lower levels, respectively, of the two-liquid interface.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting clarification of liquid having particulate material entrained therewithin includes a filter screen and a filter-cleaning device disposed adjacent thereto operable for removing particulate material from the filter screen which has been deposited or accumulated thereon from a particulate-laden liquid discharged onto the filter screen. The filter-cleaning device includes a dispenser which is selectively positioned, in an automatic manner, relative to the filter screen to direct a fluid flow against the filter screen at variable locations thereon to impart movement to the retained particulate material relative to the filter screen. Additionally, the filter-cleaning device of the present invention includes a plurality of nozzles, which form the dispensing device, mounted on a carriage which is operable for carrying the dispensing device so that the nozzles will be presented over the filter screen in a selective, reciprocally shifting manner.

Abstract: Bracelet-shaped filter device molded of plastic has a frame surrounding a slotted filter portion and integral retaining portions which permit it to be held tightly in contact with the surface of a pipe. The filter portion contains a plurality of evenly spaced slots which are positioned so as to be spaced at a predetermined distance from an aperture in the pipe through which fluid may pass. The filter slots are V-shaped and of increasing width in a direction toward the center of the pipe. In a preferred embodiment, the retaining portions are integral straps which can be tightened and held by an integral fastener. In a modified structure which is suitable for small tubes, the device may include curved portions which are adapted to be spread apart and snapped over the sides of the tube. The devices are especially useful to prevent entry of the solid particles in a fluidized bed into the fluid supply conduit.

Abstract: A motorized lifting mechanism for the rake arms of a sedimentation tank which comprise spaced vertical pairs of pivot link arms interconnecting the rake arm frame to a main center rake arm drive cage and wherein the rake arm frame is in turn interconnected to a motorized jack lifting screw by means of a cable to raise the arm upon the pivoting of the pivot arms.