Abstract: A beverage filter cartridge includes an impermeable yieldably pierceable base having a predetermined shape and an access opening at one end. A self-supporting wettable filter element is disposed in the base and is permanently sealed to an interior surface of the base. The filter element subdivides the base into first and second chambers, a first chamber for storing an extract of the beverage to be made, and a second empty chamber for accessing the beverage after the beverage outflow from the filter has been made by combining a liquid with the extract. An impermeable, yieldably pierceable, imperforate cover is sealingly engaged with the top of the base to form an impermeable cartridge.

Abstract: A backwash filter system includes a filter array comprising a plurality of filter units each having a housing, a filter element unit and a process liquid inlet port and a filtered liquid outlet port connected respectively with process liquid inlet and filtered liquid outlet sides of the filter element unit for filtering process liquid. A process liquid inlet header connects to the process liquid inlet ports of the filter units. A filtered liquid outlet header connects to the filtered liquid outlet ports of the filter units. A first valve unit on the process liquid inlet header is switchable for connecting same alternatively to a process liquid source and a backwash liquid drain. The filtered liquid outlet header can communicate with a filtered liquid receiver.

Abstract: A coolant filter assembly for attachment to a coolant circulation system of a motor or to a motor housing is provided. The filter assembly includes a housing that accommodates a cylindrical filter cartridge. The housing is sealably connected to the coolant circulation system. The filter cartridge accommodates a sealed chamber between the two opposing ends of the filter cartridge and the inner surface of the filter cartridge. The sealed chamber may be comprised of a continuous sealing layer. As the housing is attached to the coolant circulation system, the sealing layer is punctured or otherwise broken to release liquid coolant additive to the coolant circulation system.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for automatically opening and dispensing the contents of a vessel, for example, a vessel containing dialysate chemicals for dispersion into a dialysate preparation tank. The apparatus comprises a housing having an open interior region, with the vessel mounted above the housing, and a spike reciprocable within the interior of the housing between upper and lower positions. The spike pierces the vessel when the spike is moved to the upper position. The spike has an upper spike element that pierces the bottle and an integral spike body concentric with the housing permitting passage of dialysate chemicals therethrough after the spike has pierced the vessel. A drive means is proved for moving the spike relative to the housing between the upper and lower positions, so as to control the operation of the spike and the automatic release of the contents of the vessel.

Abstract: A method and device for removing waste oil from a cartridge-type oil filter with the filter including a plurality of openings formed therein in a predetermined pattern and an oil retention gasket disposed within the filter. The device includes an elongate body portion formed of resilient, bendable material defining a longitudinally extending central body formed with a predetermined lengthwise dimension sufficient to span a distance between two of the openings and two end portions formed integrally with the central body and projecting oppositely outwardly therefrom with the end portions being sized to fit within the openings and being of a sufficient lengthwise dimension to engage and displace at least a portion of the gasket to allow waste oil to be poured or otherwise drained from the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A device for filtering and separating a flow medium by reverse osmosis, micro filtration, ultra filtration, or nano filtration has a pressure-tight housing having 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 spaced apart membrane filter elements is provided, wherein the membrane filter elements are stacked atop one another to form a stack. The stacked units are sequentially arranged in the housing. The flow medium flows in sequence through the stacked units. Each one of the membrane filter elements includes areal outer membrane elements and an areal stabilizing element positioned between the areal outer membrane elements.

Abstract: An improved filtration device capable of filtering and storing liquid which can then be removed from the device for analysis. A top cap is placed over a filter cap such that a seal is created between these two caps. The filter cap has an opening on its bottom end which is covered by a filter membrane. A storage reservoir is created in the device when the top cap and the filter cap are sealed together. These caps are then slidably received by a vial containing unfiltered sample such that a seal is formed with the interior wall of the vial and the outer wall of the top cap. A needle with a needle housing pierces the top cap and forces the device downward which directs the sample in the vial through the filter on the filter cap and into a storage reservoir to be removed through the needle.

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 flat filter assembly may be installed in relatively narrow spaces which would otherwise be wasted such as the space beside a kitchen cabinet and the basin of a kitchen sink, inside a freezer door or on a countertop. The filter assembly includes a housing, preferably U-shaped, having a plurality of transversely extending ribs, formed in the opposed side walls of the housing, which reinforce the housing and which cause a generally serpentine flow of water through the housing during operation of the filter. Protrusions preferably are formed in the housing in addition to the ribs to strengthen further the housing and to aid in preventing the formation of channels through the granulated filter medium contained within the housing. The filter housing is preferably manufactured via a blow molding process.

Abstract: An additional trough for an aquarium filter container comprising a rectangular body having an open top and consisting of a bottom panel, two long-side panels and two short-side panels, said bottom panel being formed with a plurality of equidistant longitudinal and transverse grooves making a plurality of intersecting points, a perforation being formed on alternate one of said intersecting points and equally distant from each other, said bottom panel further having at the outer side a protruded portion which is smaller than the open top of said rectangular body in area and extends outwardly to a flange and downwardly to form four elongated projections, said bottom panel having an outer side formed with a plurality of annular portions concentric with corresponding perforations.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly space efficient solution to designing hydrocyclone vessels and the liners that are used therein. Moreover, the invention reduces the maintenance requirements for the vessels by providing the liners as units which are preassembled outside the vessel and installed in and out of the vessel without bolts or other minimally detailed process. The invention primarily includes a three chamber vessel wherein the inlet chamber is between the outlet and reject chambers. Therefore the inlet to the liners is between the plates dividing the chamber into separate chambers and the outlets from the liners extend straight into the end chambers. This avoids having to provide conduits from the reject end of the liner to a reject gallery in the plate or outside the vessel. Secondly, the design incorporated a no bolt design to secure the involute inlet into the liner and secure the liner into the opening in the plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting blood substantially free of undesired matter assure that accurate crossmatching and typing of cellular blood components can be done prior to transfusion, even though the cellular components are collected and stored in different containers. The blood containing the undesired matter is collected in a blood collection container. The blood collection container includes a tube that is sealed for retaining samples of the collected blood for later analysis. The collected blood is conveyed out of the blood collection container for removal of undesired matter. The blood substantially free of the undesired matter is collected in a separate transfer container for storage. The distal end of the sealed tube containing the blood samples is attached to the transfer container, while the other end of the sealed tube is disconnected from the original blood collection container.

Abstract: Systems and methods of collecting blood cells, substantially free of undesired matter, use a first container, that forms a part of a blood collection system, to initially collect a quantity of blood cells. A filtration system is then attached to the first container. The filtration system includes a second container, a first fluid path that leads to the second container through a filtration device, and a second fluid path that leads to the second container bypassing the filtration device. The blood cells are conveyed from the first container through the first fluid path and filtration device and into the second container to separate the undesired matter from the blood cells. The blood cells, now substantially free of the undesired matter, are then conveyed from the second container through the second fluid path, bypassing the filtration device, and back into the first container. The filtration system is then detached from the blood collection system.

Abstract: Filtering system which periodically filters cooking oil used in deep fat frying employs a flat, single sheet of filtering material pressed at its outer peripheral edge areas in sealing relationship against the bottom of a vessel having a sump area below the bottom surface. Filtered oil is pumped from the sump area back to the fry tank after filtering. The improvement includes the single sheet and a mechanism for applying downward thrust of the sheet edges against the bottom, such mechanism utilizing fixed ledge means in said vessel to act as an abutment or anchor for the downward thrust-applying elements. A removable filtering screen maintains the sheet above the bottom of the vessel and is preferably removably interconnected with the thrust applying mechanism during installation and removable of filtering sheets in filtering position.

Abstract: A filtering device (15) for use in a cooling system for motors or engines such as for example vehicle or boat engines or alternatively stationary engines having a cooling circuit around which the coolant passes. The device includes a bag-like member (16) which is comprised at least in part by mesh material, the bag-like member, in use, being disposed within the coolant circuit, so that the coolant passes through the mesh material and the bag-like member collects deposits carried by the coolant therein. A magnet (17) may also be provided within the bag-like member. Furthermore, the bag may be stretchable so that the mesh can expand under pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for filtering a fluid or gas stream under pressure includes a tank having inlet and outlet ports with a tube sheet disposed therebetween. The tube sheet supports one or more generally elongate filter tubes disposed in tube sheet apertures arranged in spaced relation one to another. Each filter tube has a flange which is sealed to the tube sheet by an annular gasket which expands as its temperature rises. The tube sheet is provided with upstanding circular wall members circumscribing the filter tube apertures. The inside diameter of the wall members is larger than the outside diameter of the filter tube flange forming a recess within which the flange is receivable. A plurality of through holes in the wall members receive pins extending across the filter tube flanges.

Abstract: A one piece moulded blank to be folded to form a filter housing. The blank comprising a main rectangular shaped panel having a number of spaced transverse grooves forming fold lines so the main panel may be folded to form the side walls of the housing. Two end panels formed integral with the main panel and projecting from respective opposite edges of the main panel. Grooves extend along the junction of each end panel to the main panel to form fold lines so the end panels may be folded to form the end walls of the housing. Interlocking elements formed integral with the main and end panels to interlock when the panels are folded to hold the panels in the relationship to form the housing.

Abstract: An improved method for treating liquids by disinfection and clarification which includes a means to mix and maintain consistency of the flow in a generally uniform composition prior to and during treatment. The mixture being connected to a section of conduit arranged in a pattern in a target area of a microwave generator so that all matter in the flow is exposed and excited by the electro-magnetic energy for a predetermined period of time and a control means to regulate flow of the mixture so as to allow flow only when mixture is treated, to a prescribed level. The method includes an automatic means to sense degree of treatment and to increase or decrease flow, as required, to maintain uniformity of treatment. Disposable filter means is provided when removal of undesirable contaminents is required.

Abstract: A motion monitor apparatus includes a monitoring housing with a projecting encoder shaft having an encoding disc on the inner end. The outer peripheral portion of the disc is imprinted with equicircumferentially distributed opaque sections. A pair of photo detectors are mounted with U-shaped arms having a light emitting diode to one side of the disc and a phototransistor to the opposite side. A signal processing circuit within the housing includes a pair of channels. Each channel includes a dual input gate connected to a resettable monostable multivibrator having a pulse width resistor-capacitor network have a variable resistor to adjust the output pulse width. The monostables have inhibit inputs and the outputs interconnected for various response conditions including dual directional response, single direction response or indicated opposite direction response. The processed pulse signals are impressed on an integrating capacitor which is coupled to drive a transistor.

Abstract: Systems and methods of collecting blood cells, substantially free of undesired matter, use a first container, that forms a part of a blood collection system, to initially collect a quantity of blood cells. A filtration system is then attached to the first container. The filtration system includes a second container, a first fluid path that leads to the second container through a filtration device, and a second fluid path that leads to the second container bypassing the filtration device. The blood cells are conveyed from the first container through the first fluid path and filtration device and into the second container to separate the undesired matter from the blood cells. The blood cells, now substantially free of the undesired matter, are then conveyed from the second container through the second fluid path, bypassing the filtration device, and back into the first container. The filtration system is then detached from the blood collection system.