Abstract: A filter element includes outer and inner sleeves made from a flexible, pervious material. The inner sleeve, which is arranged substantially concentric with respect to the outer sleeve, employs one or more handles to facilitate the removal of the filter element from an associated filter housing.

Abstract: A backwash strainer is equipped with a mechanism for enhancing performance of a backwash operation by imparting a cyclonic flow to liquid to be filtered. The backwash strainer includes a generally cylindrical filter element that defines an interior chamber having an inlet through which liquid to be filtered can flow. A backwash arm is rotatably mounted within the interior chamber of the filter element. An impeller ring is positioned proximal the inlet for imparting cyclonic flow to a liquid flowing therethrough.

Abstract: A filter element includes outer and inner sleeves made from a flexible, pervious material. The inner sleeve, which is arranged substantially concentric with respect to the outer sleeve, employs one or more handles to facilitate the removal of the filter element from an associated filter housing.

Abstract: A filter element assembly includes an outer filter member and an inner filter member. The filter assembly is also provided with a support cap having an outer ring, which is connected to the outer filter member, and an inner ring, which is connected to the inner filter member. The support cap also includes a plurality of connecting members connecting the outer ring to the inner ring, which is positioned substantially within the outer ring. Each of the connecting members is sized and shaped so as to allow the outer ring and the inner ring to move relative to each other.

Abstract: A pressure vessel in accordance with the present invention comprises a cover, movable between an open position and a closed position, and a clamp for releasably clamping the cover in its closed position. The clamp includes a handle for manually operating the clamp. The handle is movable between a first position, in which the clamp releasably holds the cover in its closed position, and a second position, in which the cover is free to be moved to its open position. The pressure vessel further comprises locking means, including a latch pin for releasably locking the handle in its first position upon actuation of the latch pin, and actuating means, including a flexible diaphragm which is responsive to an increase in pressure within the pressure vessel, for actuating the latch pin when the pressure within the vessel has reached a predetermined level.

Abstract: A pressure vessel in accordance with the present invention comprises a cover, movable between an open position and a closed position, and a clamp for releasably clamping the cover in its closed position. The clamp includes a handle for manually operating the clamp. The handle is movable between a first position, in which the clamp releasably holds the cover in its closed position, and a second position, in which the cover is free to be moved to its open position. The pressure vessel further comprises locking means, including a latch pin for releasably locking the handle in its first position upon actuation of the latch pin, and actuating means, including a flexible diaphragm which is responsive to an increase in pressure within the pressure vessel, for actuating the latch pin when the pressure within the vessel has reached a predetermined level.

Abstract: A filter bag assembly line first forms a tube from a filter media, the tube being cut to twice the length of a finished filter bag and being open on opposite ends. The tube is then vibration welded across its width, intermediate the ends, to form the bottoms of two filter bags in an end-to-end configuration. The adjoined filter bags are separated by a laser cutting machine and the separated bags then passed to an accumulation station. An operator removes a filter bag from the accumulation station and places the filter bag along with a corresponding bag ring into a welding station, which welds the filter bag and the ring together.

Abstract: A flow control assembly is provided with a cartridge which includes a body sized and shaped so as to be received in a housing of fluid handling apparatus, such as duplex strainers and diverter valves. The body has a first chamber and a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber. The first chamber includes a first fluid inlet and first and second fluid outlets, while the second chamber includes second and third fluid inlets and a third fluid outlet. A first valve is movably positioned in the first chamber. The first valve is movable between a first position, in which fluid passes from the first fluid inlet to the first fluid outlet, and a second position, in which fluid passes from the first fluid inlet to the second fluid outlet. A second valve is also movably positioned in the second chamber.

Abstract: A sealing ring for use in connection with a filter bag assembly of a filter is disclosed. The sealing ring includes an annular body having an outer annular wall projecting from the body. The outer wall is flexible such that it can engage an adjacent surface of the filter in a liquid-tight manner for forming a seal between the surface and the sealing ring.

Abstract: A holding device for a filter element is disclosed. More particularly, the holding device includes a body having upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface is sized and shaped so as to engage an end of an associated filter element. The holding device also includes a compressible member, which is positioned on the upper surface of the body, and a connecting mechanism for directly and movably connecting the body to a body of at least one other identical holding device.

Abstract: A swing check valve, which is adapted for automatically inhibiting back flow of fluid from an outlet thereof to an inlet thereof, includes a clapper member and a housing. The housing has a first body portion, which includes its own valve seat and its own mounting mechanism adapted to removably mount the clapper member therefrom when the first body portion is positioned adjacent to the inlet of the valve. The housing also has a second body portion, which includes its own valve seat and its own mounting mechanism adapted to removably mount the clapper member therefrom when the second body portion is positioned adjacent to the inlet of the valve. The first and second body portions are removably connected to each other in an end-to-end fashion and are interchangeable with each other, whereby each body portion may be utilized as a replacement for the other body portion.

Abstract: An actuator for actuating a valve from a first position to a second position includes a housing and a rotatable stem mounted within the housing and restricted from moving axially. The actuator also includes a non-rotatable plunger engaging the stem such that the plunger moves axially in response to rotation of the stem, whereby the valve is actuated from the first position to the second position. The actuator is also provided with a non-rotatable indicator member, which is mounted within the housing and through which the stem extends. The indicator member engages the stem such that the indicator member moves axially in response to rotation of the stem. A viewing window is formed in a wall of the housing such that the indicator member can be seen through the window for indicating the first position and the second position of the valve.

Abstract: A device for controlling fluid flow through a conduit includes a ball valve with a ball having a conduit terminating at an end thereof in an outlet orifice having a non-circular shape. The orifice shape is compound and may be selected to linearize the flow/ball angle relationship. The ball may be reversible to permit reversing the flow change dynamic and may also be a flow reducer.