Abstract: A device and method for removing petroleum based contaminants from the runoff water that passes into a storm drain. The device is a filter apparatus that can be added to a storm drain. The filter apparatus consists of a filter cage that defines an open central conduit and a filter cartridge that wraps around the periphery of the filter cage. During normal rain conditions, water enters the sewer grate near the edges of the sewer grate. This water falls through the filter cartridge and is filtered. Solid debris that is mixed with the water is deflected through the central conduit and falls through the filter apparatus. During flood conditions, excess water is allowed to pass through the center conduit of the filter cage unfiltered in order to preserve the water flow capacity of the storm drain.

Abstract: A casing having an inlet positioned below the bilge water discharge outlet of a boat or ship aligns a generally U-configured pipe vertically, in which first and second open ends of the pipe are overlaid with one of a gravel or charcoal coarse material restrictive to the flow of oil-based contaminants, and with the second open pipe end coupled to the casing outlet, such that with a plurality of filter pads floating atop the overlying layer adapted to absorb oil-based contaminants, a continuous absorption of the contaminants occur as the bilge water circulates through the casing and is allowed to dwell therein while the filter pads absorb the oil-based contaminants floating atop the inputted bilge water, along with one or more wheels extending downwardly from the casing and a handle extending rearwardly of it in allowing the casing to be moved about by a user.

Abstract: A casing having an inlet which receives oil-based contaminated bilge water is mounted on a boat or ship in aligning a generally U-configured pipe vertically, in which first and second open ends of the pipe are overlaid with one of a gravel or charcoal coarse material restrictive to the flow of oil-based contaminants, and with the second open pipe end coupled to the casing outlet, such that with a plurality of filter pads floating atop the overlying layer adapted to absorb oil-based contaminants, a continuous absorption of the contaminants occur as the bilge water circulates through the casing and is allowed to dwell therein while the filter pads absorb the oil-based contaminants floating atop the inputted bilge water.

Abstract: A cell-type filter unit having two or more filter media layers and/or zones, at least one of the layers/zones having a different particle retention capability disposed on each side of a non-filtering separator element. The filter media are preferably positioned such that each succeedingly distal filter layer or zone from the separator has a decreased particle retention capability than each proceeding filter layer or zone. The filter media layer most proximal to the separator element may be separated from the separator by a support material for supporting such filter media element and preventing collapsing of the media into any separator conduit.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vacuum filtration device for aqueous media that includes a hydrophilic tubular filter element in a cylindrical housing and at least one hydrophobic gas-permeable membrane, coupled with a gas bleed-off valve to allow the escape of air entrained in the filtration medium.

Abstract: A concentric arrangement of bag-type filter sleeves 11, 12 of a filter insert are removably supported within a concentric arrangement of screens 60, 61 of an annularly-shaped basket 10a. The screens respectively support the filter sleeves against radial flow during filtration. A filter cartridge 37 is carried interiorly of the innermost filter sleeve and is configured to filter the liquid that has first been filtered in the filter insert and before the liquid can exit the filter vessel 30.

Abstract: A bottle mountable filtration system typically includes a plurality of different filter elements or filtering and treatment elements having a substantially common central axis that are mounted to extend into a bottle from a cap with a manual valve. Mounting structures may be provided, by screw threads, or by an interference fit, and connect the filter treating elements to the cap. An outer filter treating element may comprise a chlorine removal primarily radial flow outer filter, and an inner treatment element comprising a flavoring, vitamin, mineral, or medication adding component including a mixing chamber which provides an axial flow chamber radially surrounded by the flavoring, etc., adding component. Conversely, the inner treatment element may be a radial flow carbon composite filter used independently or in conjunction with one of several independent outer water treatment elements which may be radial or axial flow in design for the removal of a variety of biological, organic, or inorganic contaminants.

Abstract: A filter element to be installed into a housing to constitute a filter assembly for separation of solids in a fluid is constructed from one or more baggy filtering mediums made of porous membrane or non-woven fabric of synthetic plastic, passageway material arranged along the inside and/or outside surface of the baggy filtering mediums depending on necessity and a sleeve joining with each opening of the baggy filtering medium(s). By adopting the baggy filtering mediums, it is possible to superimpose them into a filter element in a state of layers, and by adopting one baggy filtering medium folded repeatedly back and forth upon itself, it is also possible to construct another filter element in a state of layers, so as to fit to various filtration spaces in the housing. Accordingly, the space occupied by substantially parallel layered filtering medium(s) can be used densely for filtration, as the result a filtration area per unit filtration space is very large.

Abstract: A fuel filter/dryer having a casing, and the casing having an inlet and an outlet. At least a portion of the casing is filled with a desiccant through which the fuel flows. Also within the casing, is a particulate filter which removes harmful particles from the fuel. The desiccant is of a type that changes color when saturated with water. The casing is transparent to allow the change in color to be viewed in order to ascertain whether or not the fuel filter/dryer needs replacement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the presence and growth of microorganisms and biofilms in water lines is provided. The systems include, for example, a valved, multi-port control manifold for accepting inlet water to be treated and a filter for (1) reducing particulate physical matter, (2) further reducing particulate matter while also reducing the content of absorbable organics, and (3) physically removing microorganisms. The system further includes a mixing reservoir or chamber with specialized means for injecting active agents such as biocides for additional control of planktonic and sessile microbes. An optional pressurized storage vessel for retaining and delivering filtered and treated water is also disclosed. The methods include, for example, the step of introducing an aqueous cleaner derived from natural citrus botanicals into a water system.

Abstract: A filtering device includes a container having an inlet for introducing liquid to be treated, an annular multi-layered prepacked screen assembly provided in the container and having an outlet for treated liquid. The screen assembly includes three or more cylindrical screens having different diameters and being coexially disposed in the container with their axes extending vertically in the container. An annulus is formed between the respective cylindrical screens. Two or more different filter materials performing different filtering functions are filled one in each of the annuluses between the cylindrical screens.

Abstract: Filtration device comprising an inlet for the supply of the liquid to be filtered and means for holding a filter crossing the flow path beyond the inlet. The inlet opens into an annular intermediate passage which narrows down in the flow direction to an annular slit. The inlet opens into the annular passage in a tangential direction. The device comprises a support screen for support of a removable filter, and a dome leaving a small gap between its outline and the support screen when it is positioned in the support screen.

Abstract: A filter for removing undesired materials from a fluid, such as used cooking oil, for example, includes a filter envelope including first and second panels. The first panel has a permeability which is greater than that of the second panel. The first panel of the filter envelope may be formed from a filter pad and the second panel from a filter paper, and may enclose a metal spacer grid. When the filter is connected to a pump for drawing the oil through the filter, the flow of the oil is directed selectively through the filter pad, whereby undesired materials are removed from the oil. The filter provides for efficient flow of the oil to be filtered while removing undesired materials therefrom.

Abstract: A coalescing element is provided which is capable of separating a continuous phase fluid from a discontinuous phase fluid. The coalescing element includes a wrap structure which facilitates the coalescing process by conglomerating smaller droplets of the discontinuous phase fluid into larger droplets which may be of a size that will prevent them from being re-entrained.

Abstract: A filter for removing undesired materials from a fluid, such as used cooking oil, for example, includes a filter envelope including first and second panels. The first panel has a permeability which is greater than that of the second panel. The first panel of the filter envelope may be formed from a filter pad and the second panel from a filter paper, and may enclose a metal spacer grid. When the filter is connected to a pump for drawing the oil through the filter, the flow of the oil is directed selectively through the filter pad, whereby undesired materials are removed from the oil. The filter provides for efficient flow of the oil to be filtered while removing undesired materials therefrom.

Abstract: A filtering device includes a container having an inlet for introducing liquid to be treated, an annular multi-layered prepacked screen assembly provided in the container and having an outlet for treated liquid. The screen assembly includes three or more cylindrical screens having different diameters and bieng coazially disposed in the container with their axes extending vertically in the container. An anulus is formed between the respective cyldinrical screens. Two or more different filter materials performing different filtering functions are filled one in each of the annuluses between the cylindrical screens.

Abstract: A gravity-flow water filtration cartridge is disclosed herein. The cartridge includes a housing having a compressed bed of ion-exchange resin disposed within an upper region thereof and a high surface area cyst-reducing filter element that is disposed within a lower thereof. The housing includes a middle chamber which separates the compressed bed of ion-exchange resin from the cyst-reducing filter element. The housing further includes a hydrophobic air vent conduit having an entry end that is positioned above a topmost surface of the cyst reducing filter element and an exit end that is positioned at least at a lowest surface of the cyst-reducing filter element, wherein the entry end includes a membrane having at least one hydrophobic side.

Abstract: A front packing medium accumulation layer (90) and a downstream packing medium accumulation layer (44) which are separated by a lower outflow prevention plate (40) are arranged within a coagulation tank (80). The superficial water passage velocity within the front packing medium accumulation layer (90) is so set as to be larger than the downstream packing medium accumulation layer (44). A floc drawoff pipe (98) is provided for drawoff flocs over the lower outflow prevention plate (40). The interface between a floc blanket which may be formed between the lower outflow preventing plate (40) and the upper packing medium accumulation layer (44) and water thereabove is detected by an interface meter (100) so that a flow regulating valve (102) is correspondingly controlled to regulate the flow rate of the flocs. This prevents any grown floc blanket from reaching the downstream packing medium accumulation layer (44). Thereby extending the cleaning interval.

Abstract: A drainwater treatment system positionable within the vertical passageway of a drainage system utilizes a catch basin for accepting drainwater which flows downwardly into the drainage system and a filter-supporting section disposed alongside the catch basin. The filter-supporting section accepts drainwater which flows therein from the catch basin and permits drainwater to flow downwardly therethrough. First and second filters containing a hydrophobic material are positioned within the filter-supporting section for filtering contaminants from the drainwater flowing downwardly therethrough, and an overflow is associated with the catch basin and the filter-supporting section through which drainwater is permitted to exit the treatment system and bypass the first and second filters when the flow rate of drainwater into the system exceeds the rate at which drainwater is permitted to flow downwardly through the first and second filters.

Abstract: A filtration apparatus for separating and/or enriching dissolved substances from a suspension or suspensions having at least one filter means through which flow takes place, there being arranged on the retentate side of the filter means a means for producing a shear field which produces a virtually homogeneous shear field and pressure gradient across the inflow cross-section of the filter means. The means for producing the shear field may be formed by a rotationally symmetrical rotor. There may be used as filter means matrices that are suitable for the adsorption of the dissolved substances to be separated off. There come into consideration for that purpose surface-modified membranes, for example affinity membranes. The filter apparatus may be one-tier, two-tier or multi-tier.

Abstract: A drainwater treatment system positionable within a horizontal flow passage of a drainage system utilizes a partition which divides the flow passage into an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber. In addition, a mid-panel is supported within the upstream chamber for dividing the interior of the upstream chamber into an upper section and a lower section so that the drainwater enters the upper section before entering the lower section through a first opening provided in the mid-panel. A conduit is also joined between a second opening provided in the mid-panel and the opening of the partition for conducting drainwater from the lower section of the upstream chamber to the downstream chamber so that the drainwater which enters the upper section and then into the lower section is decelerated to flow conditions at which debris and suspended are permitted to separate and settle from the drainwater before being conducted from the lower section and into the downstream chamber through the conduit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter element for a fluid filter incorporating a web of pleated filtering material that is formed into a circumferentially closed cylindrical filter body, which is coaxially supported by a perforate rigid tube and the axial ends of which are sealingly inserted into corresponding annular receiving cavities provided in a rigid bottom end cap at one end and in a rigid annular end cap at the opposite end of the filter body. The cylindrical filter body has its terminal edges embedded in separate sealing rings of a flexible type of rubber or similar elastomeric material and the filter body is sealingly clamped with the sealing rings, and together with the supporting tube, removably between the rigid bottom end cap and annular end cap, respectively.

Abstract: A sewage filtration system for efficiently filtering sewage waste material from smaller residential areas without the use of expensive sewage treatment plants. The inventive device includes a conventional septic tank connected to each building structure's sewage system, a pair of fluidly connected two compartment tanks connected to the conventional septic tanks, and a final phase filtering tank fluidly connected to the pair of two compartment tanks. The final phase filtering tank comprises a tank, a cover, an inlet tube, an outlet tube, a first tube connected to the outlet tube, a second tube fluidly connected to the first tube wherein the second tube is water permeable, at least one sand or gravel layer above the second tube, a layered filter structure above the sand or gravel layer that receives the filtered liquid from the inlet tube.

Abstract: An in-tank fuel filter includes a body having upper and lower panels comprising an outer shell or layer of extruded mesh, layers of spun bonded and melt blown filtration media and a fitting for mounting the filter to an in-tank fuel pump inlet. The outer layer of the body is extruded mesh material that has the general appearance of a woven fabric but includes connections at every filament intersection. This outer layer protects the finer, inner filtration layers which include a first layer of spun bonded material, a layer of melt blown filtration media defining smaller pore sizes and a second layer of spun bonded material. The mounting fitting is made of a fuel compatible material and may either be a multiple part device or be in-situ molded on one of the filter panels. Separating ribs or a stuffer may be disposed in the interior of the filter to prevent its collapse and improve fuel withdrawal through the mounting fitting.

Abstract: A porous coalescing filter element of conical configuration is disposed within a substantially cylindrical filter housing such that the area between the element and the wall increases in the direction of the primary phase flow to keep the annular velocity substantially constant or decreasing in the direction of primary fluid flow. The element may be manufactured with a round end and tapered walls terminating to a pointed apex, but is more preferably manufactured and secured within the filter housing using flat end caps on both ends. The filter element may be vacuum formed, or manufactured from media in a flat sheet form, which may be pleated if desired.

Abstract: A filter is provided for use with an in-tank fuel pump for an internal combustion engine. The filter is disposed within a fuel tank and includes a main filtration chamber connected to an inlet of the fuel pump and a return fuel chamber connected to the engine for introducing thereto return fuel from the engine. The main filtration chamber has an upper side peripheral wall formed from a meshed filter medium. The return fuel chamber is connected to the main filtration chamber in such a manner that the upper side peripheral wall of the main filtration chamber serves as a partition wall between the main filtration chamber and the return fuel chamber. In one embodiment, the return fuel chamber has a peripheral wall formed from sheet or plate impermeable to fluid.

Abstract: An in-tank fuel filter includes a body comprising layers of spun bonded and melt blown filtration media and a fitting for mounting the filter to an in-tank fuel pump inlet. An outer layer of the body is preferably spun bonded material which exhibits good abrasion resistance. One or more inner layers of melt blown filtration media define smaller pore sizes and thus exhibit smaller particle filtration capability. The mounting fitting is made of a fuel compatible material and may either be a multiple part device or be in-situ molded on the filter body. A separator may be disposed in the interior of the filter to prevent its collapse and improve fuel withdrawal through the mounting fitting.

Abstract: An oil filter for internal combustion engines is disclosed herein. The filter includes a housing with a bottom arranged below an open top and a screw-on cover threadedly engaged within the open top. The housing includes an inlet duct, a first oil discharge duct in the bottom of the housing, and a second oil discharge duct in the bottom of the housing and coaxially surrounding the first oil discharge duct. A support part is provided within the housing having a first end which is connected to the cover in an axially force-transmitting manner and a second free end inserted into the first oil discharge duct when the cover fully threadedly engaged to the open end of said housing to sealingly close the first discharge duct, and is withdrawn from the discharge duct when the cover is removed from the open end of the housing to enable discharging of oil from the housing via the first oil discharge duct.

Abstract: In a fuel filter disposed in a fuel tank for automobiles, a filter cloth is prevented from being damaged or broken so as to maintain the filtering property stably for a long period of time. The fuel filter disposed in a fuel tank for automobiles has a frame body for swelling the filter cloth wherein outer surfaces of the frame body arc gently at the portion where the frame body contacts the filter cloth, whereby the filter cloth is prevented from being damaged or broken even if the filter cloth repeatedly contacts the frame body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing liquids from biological waste by the employment of centrifugal force to separate the liquid from the biological waste particulate and into a container separate from a biological waste container, permitting the dried biological waste and removed liquid to be separately and conveniently disposed of. Preferably, a rotatable drum can be rotatably supported within an outer liquid-tight drum, and a disposable porous container, such as a bag made of porous material, can be placed within the rotatable foraminous drum. Biological waste can be placed within the porous, disposable container within the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum can be rotated at a rate of rotation sufficient to substantially transfer unabsorbed liquid from the biological waste through the disposable porous container and the openings in the foraminous inner drum to the outer liquid-tight collection drum.

Abstract: An oil filter utilizes a thermoplastic material having oil oxidation and acidification arresting additives mounted in a casing between a particle filtering material (such as cotton fibers) and a felt pad. The thermoplastic material is desirably high molecular polypropylene in the form of rice-shaped pellets, or spaghetti-shaped strands. The additives comprise about 10-17 weight % of the thermoplastic material/additive combination, and as the thermoplastic material is dissolved by above ambient temperature oil, the additives are released. The thermoplastic material pellets or strands are formed by mixing anti-oxidation and anti-acidification additives with liquid thermoplastic material to form a mixture, extruding the mixture into spaghetti like strands having a thickness of about 0.0625-0.125 inches, cooling the strands, cutting the strands into discrete elements, and then placing the discrete elements into an oil filter held in place to contact oil and to gradually dissolve to release the additives.

Abstract: A gradient density filter made from sheets of blown polypropylene microfibers where the microfibers of at least one of the sheets have an effective fiber diameter less than that of the other sheets is described. This filter is especially useful in solid phase extraction processes, particularly those where biological fluids are being analyzed.

Abstract: A filter apparatus having a filter bag subassembly for collecting contaminating material. The filter bag sub-assembly includes five diametrically and axially-spaced bags and an integral collar. The five spaced bags form five spaced chambers and the integral collar has a stepped shape forming five cylinder support portions for the five spaced bags.

Abstract: Medical drug formulation and delivery system includes a reverse osmosis device for purifying water from a source comprising a housing having an inlet for passage of water from the source, a first outlet for passage of purified water from the housing and a second outlet for passage of waste water remaining after purification. A first reverse osmosis multilayer assembly is disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the inlet for purification of at least a first portion of the water from the source. Water treatment chemicals can be positioned in a core about which the first reserve osmosis multilayer assembly is wound. The treatment chemicals are in fluid communication with the first reverse osmosis multilayer assembly to receive the first purified portion of water and for removal of at least chemical contaminants therefrom.

Abstract: A compactable or incinerateable non-resilient, coreless, cylindrical filter element including an annular pleated filter media having rigid end caps which are sealingly bonded to the pleated filter media with the exterior of the filter element surrounded by, but not part of the filter element, a non-bypassing support cage comprising of perforated sheet formed into a cylinder and having an end cap at each end with the top flanged end of the support cage and the top end cap of the cylindrical filter element sealed between a support housing by sealing rings to thereby prevent leakage of fluid past the end of the filter media.

Abstract: A filter cartridge is provided for use in a reverse osmosis water purification system or the like. The filter cartridge includes a reverse osmosis membrane for converting a feed water inflow to a relatively purified water supply having contaminants substantially removed therefrom, and a reject water supply having contaminants concentrated therein. The cartridge is configured as a single unit adapted for simple drop-in installation into an open-ended cartridge housing, wherein the housing is adapted for facilitated assembly with a cap having the requisite flow ports for connection to the cartridge as an incident to mounting of the cap onto the housing.

Abstract: A filter drier (10) for an air conditioning or refrigeration system, has a body (12) with an interior area (20). The unit has an inlet opening (24) and an outlet opening (30). The outlet opening is in connection with an outlet tube (34) that extends substantially the length of the interior of the body. Donut shaped housings (54, 56) holding particles of desiccant material, are sandwiched between a first baffle (36) and a second baffle (72). The housings have an upper filter pad (58) of rigid, coarse fiber material, and a filter bag (62) of fine, flexible fiber material. In each housing, the filter bag is attached to the filter pad about its outer periphery at a seam (66), and at a seam (68) which is adjacent an opening (60) in the pad, through which the outlet tube extends. The filter bags of the donut shaped housings are deformed upon assembly to insure contact with the inner wall of the housing and the exterior surface of the outlet tube.

Abstract: A device that reclaims industrial fluids. Solid contaminants are removed from the liquid being reclaimed by a series of increasingly fine filter elements positioned within a filter housing. The substantially solid contaminant-free fluid then enters an evaporation chamber having a design that constrains the fluid to form a thin film atop an evaporation plate at the bottom of the chamber to facilitate evaporation of volatile contaminants. Insert members are positioned within the evaporation chamber to increase the surface area of the thin film to further enhance the removal of the volatile contaminants. The temperature and pressure of the evaporation chamber is controlled by a heating element that is under the control of a temperature sensor. Evaporated volatile contaminants escape the evaporation chamber through a port formed in the head that closes the device. Latches are used to secure the head in the absence of conventional nuts and bolts, and the head screw threadedly engages the evaporation plate.

Abstract: An orally operable, portable, water filtration device. The device includes an elongated tube having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end includes a screen whose openings are in the form of slits. The slits have a width of about 0.005.+-.0.003 inch and filter out pollutants of at least that size. The tube also has an integrally formed internal ledge onto which is disposed a porous polypropylene membrane having a pore size of about 5-8 microns. A bed of granulated activated carbon with a grind size of 1230 is disposed inside the tube between the inlet end and the porous polypropylene membrane in a 7:1 ratio (bed height:bed diameter). A mouthpiece, which has an inlet and an outlet, is mounted over the outlet end of the elongated tube so that the mouthpiece and the elongated tube are in fluid communication. To use the device, the inlet end of the tube is inserted into water and suction is applied to the outlet of the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A filter/conditioner for filtering and dispensing conditioners and inhibitors to the engine coolant of an internal combustion engine includes a circumferentially extending array of filtering media circumscribing a container defining a compartment which contains a coolant softener/conditioner and a rust inhibitor pellet which dissolves to release rust inhibitor into the coolant. A diamond design is embossed on the outer circumferential surface of the container, so that grooves provided to permit coolant to travel to one of the ends of the container, and then through the container where the coolant is treated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the purification or water using a multistage purification system which can be connected to a source of potable water under pressure. The multistage purification system has a cylindrical pressure vessel supported on a circular leg which is capable of stable disposition on a level surface such as a countertop. The pressure vessel has a top member and a base member connected in sealed engagement. The base member has an inlet for receiving water into the pressure vessel and an outlet for discharging reject water from the pressure vessel. Housed within the pressure vessel is a plurality of purification mediums disposed in concentric disposition. In the core area of the pressure vessel, an interchangeable core member may be removably connected to the pressure vessel. Each interchangeable core member houses an additional medium for purifying water and a pure water outlet through which the purified water passes for use by the user.

Abstract: An oil filtration and exhaust apparatus for filtering particulates and gases from the recirculating oil of a vacuum pump which is adapted to remove gases from a process enclosure. The oil filtration and exhaust apparatus removes particulates and gases from the recirculating oil by means of particulate filters and a gas scrubbing filter. Additionally, the exhaust gases are demisted prior to exhaust to an exhaust header. The apparatus is particularly suited to semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A dual stage filter cartridge is provided for use in a reverse osmosis water purification system or the like. The filter cartridge includes a first stage having a filter medium for removing selected contaminants from incoming feed water, and a second stage including a reverse osmosis membrane for converting a portion of the filtered feed water to a relatively purified water supply. The filter media in the first state is particularly selected to remove contaminants which are otherwise potentially harmful to the reverse osmosis membrane. The dual stage cartridge is configured as a single unit adapted for simple drop-in installation into an open-ended cartridge housing.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel semi-rigid enhanced area filter element that can be installed and used with new or existing bag-type filter housings. The invention specifically refers to the pleated and padded element (5) fitted closely within a retaining basket (4) inside of a bag-type pressure filter housing (1) to provide preferred inside-out flow passage from inlet (2) to outlet (3) but with greatly enhanced surface area, padded serialized inner filtration, extended filter life and increased particulate removal efficiencies. The element (5) is composed of a pleated and padded stack (18) bonded to a resilient flanged upper open end cap (8) and a solid bottom end cap (9). The element is economical to manufacture, can utilize many of the single and multi-layer filter membranes and impregnated membranes presently on the market, and is free of complicated parts and mechanisms.

Abstract: A water filter cartridge includes a reverse osmosis membrane permeator spirally wound on a central winding tube and surrounded by an impermeable barrier layer which is, in turn, surrounded by a spirally wound prefilter. A post-filter is placed centrally within the winding tube. The cartridge is designed for functional installation in a housing tube fastened and sealed to a valve plate at a first end and closed by a removable end cap at the other, second end. Feed water enters the cartridge through an inlet port in the valve plate at the first end at an outer radius to pass lengthwise in prefilter. Prefiltered water returns from the second end lengthwise through the reverse osmosis permeator to a waste-water outlet port in the valve plate at an intermediate radius. Product water which has permeated through the membrane flows inwardly through holes in the winding tube and into a clearance space surrounding the central post-filter.

Abstract: An improved fluid filtering apparatus having an inlet, an outlet, a sealed housing, an outer bag within the housing, an inner bag generally concentric to and suspended within the outer bag, a filtering medium retained inside the outer bag and outside the inner bag and a flow path which channels the fluid radially inward through the outer bag, the filtering medium and the inner bag to a channel in a perforated tube which supports the inner bag. The apparatus is designed to permit the fluid pressure to radially compress the filtering medium to substantially increase the filtering effect.

Abstract: In an integral filter (F) for separating fluid components which filter can be enclosed in a surrounding housing (1,2) with fluid connections (A1 l to A3, 10) the permeable tube jacket of which filter consists of several tubular filter elements (K1, K2) with different filter qualities whose cross sections are stepped in such a manner that a smaller filter element is surrounded by a larger filter element, optionally with formation of an intermediary space (Z1), and in which the two tube ends are enclosed by closure and connection adapters (15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 31) and can be adapted to fluid chambers (13, 14) of the housing, sections of the total filter (F) can be selectively tested for integrity, supplied with and emptied of fluid and filling substances via an intermediary space (Z1) between two filter elements (K1, K2) which intermediary space can be separately controlled and loaded from the outside.

Abstract: By this method, the fluid to be filtered is led through a filter bed formed of particulate filter particles, such as sand, which filter bed is retained in an upstanding annular space. The fluid is introduced to the interior part 15 of the annular space and is led transversely to the movement the filter bed, through it and away. The filter bed is provided on the inner wall of annular space with a microfilter, such as sieve grid 16, with a mesh size of 10 to 200 microns, whereby the heavy and flocculated dirt particles settling upon the microfilter are led down and away and are drawn off together with the particulate filter particles 32. To avoid stoppages of the microfilter, it is flowingly hydraulically cleaned from the inner space. Additionally, by introduction of water in the take-off space 11 there is produced a vortex bed, whereby at this space the withdrawal of the particulate filter medium is effected with a mammoth pump 17 known per se.

Abstract: A filter element in which the filtering medium is a layer of non-woven metallic fibre mat in which annular discs of filtering medium are separated by a plurality of separators, in two sets. A first set of separators includes an external peripheral wall with inwardly directed fingers, and the second set of separators includes an internal peripheral wall with externally-directed fingers. The separators are selected alternately from the first and second sets and the assembly is bonded together to form a filter assembly.

Abstract: A filter comprises a nonporous support member open at one end and a porous disc rigidly secured to the support member at an opposite, preferably smaller, end. The disc may be formed from fibers preferably having a thickness of approximately 0.5-50 micrometers, or it may be formed from a plurality of particles or beads retained by a pair of membranes. When the disc is relatively small such as approximately 1 millimeter in diameter, it may be pressed into a constricted end of the support member. When the disc has an increased diameter, it may be rigidly supported by a retainer preferably made from a mesh material and welded to the support member. For even larger disc sizes, the disc may be supported between two (2) retainers preferably welded to the support member. A plurality of receptacles may be disposed in a tray to, serve as the filters, or receive the filters. The fluid may be introduced into, and retained in, the support members and discs by capillary action.