Abstract: A stacked membrane disk module has a number of membrane disks interleaved with seal rings and includes a biasing subassembly for maintaining a compressive force between the membrane disks and interleaved seal rings so that the module can be repeatedly pressurized/depressurized. The membrane disks preferably include a central first aperture and a pair of second apertures which are radially spaced from the central first aperture. These apertures will thus be respectively registered when a number of such membrane disks are stacked between a pair of end plates so as to establish a central fluid passageway and a pair of second fluid passageways. A rigid perforated tube is positioned within the central fluid aperture and is connected to the end plates so that at least one of the end plates is capable of being axially displaced relative to the perforated tube. A biasing member (e.g.

Abstract: A sealing device for sealing a slide plate translatable across an extrusion bore in a polymer filtration apparatus includes an annular seal having a sealing surface which is biased against the slide plate by an annular spring. The seal has a thrust surface which is angled relative to the sealing surface and is located at an opposite axial end of the seal from the sealing surface. The annular spring exerts radial forces against the thrust surface of the seal to bias the seal in an axial direction against the slide plate. Pressurized polymer in the extrusion bore further biases the seal against the slide plate.

Abstract: A module for separating at least one component from a flowing mixture containing the same, includes a pair of end plates between which a plurality of stacked separation disks are positioned. The separation disks separate at least one component from the flowing mixture and defines a central passageway therethrough. A tensionable conduit is disposed in the fluid passageway to define a pathway for the separated component through at least one of said end plates and cause the end plates to exert a compressive force to the stacked separation disks in response to the conduit being tensioned. In preferred embodiments, the tensionable conduit includes a single or double helix spring which is machined along a major axial extent of its length. An adjustment nut may thus be threadably coupled to at least one (nonmachined) end portion of the conduit so as to adjustably tension the conduit and translate such tension into compressive force exerted to the stack of membranes by the end plates.

Abstract: In a chamber filter press (11), two respective filter cloths (13), which enclose a filter plate (12) located therebetween, are fastened on said plate by means of a connecting part (18) and on the underside (19) thereof by means of lashings (14). The filter cloths (13) are free laterally with respect to the filter plates (12) and, when the chamber filter press (11) is open, they can be stretched apart from one another. The upper ends of the filter cloths (13) are provided with eyelets (20). In this arrangement, two adjacent filter cloths (13', 13") are fastened together on a series (21') of springs (21) which, for their part, are suspended on a mobile crossmember (22). The latter is supported on the chamber filter press such that it can be displaced parallel to the charging channel (17) and can move vertically. It is preferably supported on sliding guides or rails (23) which, for their part, may be supported on the chamber filter press (11) such that they can move in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering a fluid stream wherein the fluid stream is passed through a first filtering zone to remove particulate materials therefrom above a first preselected micron level, then through a desiccant media bed zone including a multiplicity of desiccant beads to dry the fluid stream and then through a second filtering zone to remove particulate materials therefrom above a second preselected micron level below said first micron level so as to remove smaller particulate materials including particulates from said first filtering zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminants from a liquid comprises a casing and a tubular filter dividing the casing into two compartments. The tubular filter is formed of fibers attached at each end to end supports which are movable axially relative to one another and rotable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the filter. A helical spring is disposed within the tubular filter and is so dimensioned that it does not close when the end supports are in their closest operational position. The spring resists inward movement of the fibers when the end supports are moved axially towards each other and rotated to twist the fiber, thereby preventing the compartment defined by the interior of the tubular filter from tending to close.

Abstract: This invention is a filtration structure characterized by radial fluid flow through the wall of a cylindrical configuration that is established by a stack of serrated annular wafers which are constrained for slight axial movement with respect to each other, for the establishment of two conditions. In one condition, the wafers are axially compressed into snug contact under spring bias to establish a labyrinth of radial passages for fluid flow at a selected pressure. In the other condition, the axial compression of the disks is relieved and the disks are slightly separated by back flushing under an elevated pressure in such a way that cleansing is freely effected by reverse fluid flow.

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 mobile purification apparatus for purifying oil contaminated with grit, metal particles, water and the like. The apparatus includes a strainer with a filter cartridge for removal of large contaminant particle and a filter apparatus. The filter apparatus including a heater and an upper filter element section with a plurality of filter media layers therein. The filter media layers are supported by a screen and compressed by a biasing spring. A lever is provided for off-loading compression on the filter media layers so a top of the filter apparatus can be removed to allow for cleaning and replacement of the filter media layers.

Abstract: An oil burner pump that includes a housing having a filter cartridge chamber that has an access opening which is closable by a removable cover. A filter cartridge is removable inserted into the chamber and is securable to the cover to be removed from the chamber when the cover is removed. The cartridge has opposite end portions and filter fabric extended between the opposite end portions, one of the end portions being removably securable to the cover.

Abstract: A high-pressure filter assembly which includes a cover or nutplate secured to a housing via a sidewall portion of the housing deformed into a groove formed in the cover sidewall. The cover and housing are formed such that the cover can be properly seated upon the housing prior to seaming without special locators or beads formed in the container sidewall. A method and apparatus for forming the filter assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel tank filter connectible to a fuel pump mounted inside of a fuel tank is disclosed. The filter includes filtration material forming an envelope, a separator inside the envelope and a spring attached to the separator in a manner such that the spring biases the separator to hold the envelope towards the bottom of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A housing which is connectible to a pressure sensitive tool has a filter cartridge mounted within it to communicate a pressure from an external fluid to a clean fluid contained within the filter cartridge and the tool. The filter cartridge includes one or more filters having a plurality of passageways small enough to hold the clean fluid under pressure equilibrium conditions, but large enough to communicate pressure from the external fluid to the clean fluid. There are enough of such passageways so that it is unlikely that all will become clogged by any contaminants within the external fluid should a portion of the external fluid be sucked in through the filter in response to expansion and contraction phenomena of the clean fluid.

Abstract: A disk filter of the counter-current flow cleaning type, containing superposed ring-shaped elements (12) form a body (9) of a generally cylindrical shape. The elements are arcuate so as to form between them passages which are arcuate and oblique in relation to the axis of the filter when viewed in a cross section taken along the axis of the filter. Stopping means (19, 20) are provided on the filter elements (12) which abut against the adjacent filter element (12) during the filtering to prevent the filter elements (12) from vibrating, while allowing their vibration to occur when the filter is cleaned by a counter-current flow of liquid.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis permeator of the capillary type wherein the tube sheet in which the ends of the capillaries are mounted and the porous support block therefor are slidably mounted on a hollow feed tube mounted in the center of the permeator is disclosed. The invention involves insuring that relative movement between the tube sheet and the support block does not occur during shut down of the permeator. This can be done by hydraulic pressure, spring loading, or mechanical attachment such as one or more bolts.

Abstract: A multiple-disc filter comprises a stack of filtering discs each formed with grooves extending only partially through the thickness of the disc and configured to define a continuous, non-apertured surface on one face and a plurality of spaced ribs projecting from the opposite faces. The ribs are connected together to define a sinuous configuration and have flat line edges. The stack further includes spacing means between the contacting faces of adjacent discs of the stack, spacing the straight line edges of the sinuous ribs of one disc from the face of the next adjacent disc in the stack, such that the contacting faces of adjacent discs define a first group of recesses between the ribs communicating with the housing inlet, a second group of recesses alternating with the first group of recesses and communicating with the housing outlet, and a plurality of filtering passageways between the straight line edges of the ribs and the opposite face of the next adjacent disc.

Abstract: The filtering column is of the type comprising a perforated hollow metal tubular body (11) around which is disposed a stack (20) of metal rings (27) having deformations forming spacing elements and defining therebetween filtering interstices. The rings (27) have an inside diameter exceeding the outside diameter of the tubular body (11) so as to define between the inner periphery of each ring and the outer periphery of the tubular body a limited radial clearance (26) which does not exceed the elastic limit of each individual ring. The rings (27) constitute a stack (20) retained axially on the hollow body (11) in an undetachable manner with an axial clearance exceeding the aforementioned radial clearance.

Abstract: A multiple-disk type filter including a stack of filter disks disposed in a housing and an extensible support for the stack of filter disks, the extensible support including first and second end elements and a multiplicity of rod members joining the first and second end elements in sliding relationship, the multiplicity of rod members being arranged in slidable engagement with at least one of the first and second end elements, and stop apparatus for limiting extension of the support.

Abstract: Multiple embodiments of a filter cartridge are disclosed, the cartridge preferably being adapted for use within a housing and including a tubular outer wall element with closures at either end, one of the closures being of unitary construction and comprising an annular ring portion for attachment to the tubular element and axially central portion. Flexible spring elements interconnect the central portion with the annular ring while being adapted for flexure into a stressed condition for urging permeable membrane portions within the ring against a filter medium contained within the cartridge for producing and maintaining a compacting force on the filter medium. Preferably, the unitary end closure cooperates with the tubular wall element and the other closure as well as with portions of the housing for assuring proper fluid flow through the filter medium.

Abstract: In a chromatographic column assembly comprising a tubular column a first end of which is sealed, the second end of said column is also sealed in order to form an enclosure between said second end and a piston. A pressurized fluid introduced into this enclosure displaces the piston in the direction corresponding to compression of a packing or filling provided in the column. A flexible conduit ensures the circulation of a fluid to be chromatographed and crosses through the piston, the enclosure containing the pressurized fluid and the second end of the column.

Abstract: A multiple-disc filter includes a pressure member located within the filter housing upstream of the discs forming the stack to press the discs tighter together when the fluid flows from the housing inlet to the housing outlet, and to permit the discs to move apart for cleaning the filter when the fluid flows in the reverse direction. Each filter disc is formed with alternating groups of radially-extending slots to define circumferential filtering passageways between the ends of the slots.

Abstract: A noise attenuating filter for use in a fluid flow systems which includes a cylindrical body defining a plurality of arcuate open-ended passageways extending longitudinally therethrough, a corresponding plurality of small radial slots in one end thereof communicating with the passageways and a closing member biased outwardly from the slotted end of the cylindrical body so that during use, fluid flows about the closing member and into and through the arcuate passageways until such time as the fluid pressure on the closing member causes the closing member to cover the upstream end of the annular passageways whereupon the fluid is caused to travel into the passageways through the smaller radial slots thereby reducing the volume of flow through the system and attenuating the noise of the fluid flow while additionally preventing the passage of large particles through the system.

Abstract: A disc filter of the counter-current flow cleaning type in which the filtering body has a general cylindrical annular shape with a central cylindrical flow channel extending axially along the length of said filter body. It has annular solid filter elements spaced from each other in uniform sequence by resiliently deformable but incompressible spacer elements which allows the thickness of the slot existing between the adjacent filtration elements to be varied as a function of the axial pressure exerted on the filtering body by a support part. This variation occurs between a small thickness corresponding to the desired degree of filtration, and a maximum thickness provided to allow the cleaning of the filter by the passage in counter-current of a cleaning liquid through the thus enlarged slots. The filter elements have, in cross-section, a hydrodynamic, lenticular section, leaving between each other, a converging passage where solid materials are retained.

Abstract: A differential pressure valve is proposed for a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. The differential pressure valve includes a diaphragm embodied as the movable valve element, which separates two chambers from one another. A fuel supply line discharges into one chamber and a valve seat carrier provided with a valve opening protrudes into this chamber. This chamber also houses a filter element and a valve spring is disposed coaxially with the valve seat carrier between upper and lower spring plates. The filter element is disposed such that a subsequent change in the tension of the valve spring is also possible. To this end, the filter element can engage the upper spring plate on one side in a sealing manner and on the other side can be supported in a sealing manner in a groove of the wall of the chamber (FIG. 1). In order to assure the free mobility of the filter element, it is provided with an elastically deformable area. As shown in FIG.

Abstract: Flowable material is pumped between upstream and downstream passages in a body through an aperture portion formed in a side member that communicates between the passages. An annular seal member engages the slide member under the urging of a Belleville spring. The slide member, formed as a filter, has a region of uniform porosity that is moved progressively through the path of flow of the material for changing the filter.

Abstract: A liquid filter system capable of removing particles as small as one micron or less employing a novel electro-mechanical design in which layers of a fibrous filter media are alternated with electrically conductive porous sheets such as stainless steel screens. The conductive sheets are connected to a source of D.C. electrical power so that the sheets alternate in polarity to establish a uniform electromagnetic field throughout the porous filter media. The filter system is adapted for automatic backwashing cleaning and regeneration. A novel shuttle valve assembly is incorporated in the system for backwash of the filter media. In addition, means are provided for selective compression of the filter media during the filter cycle with decompression and expansion of the filter media being achieved during the backwash cycle.

Abstract: A separation column for liquid chromatography is adjustably sealed for reducing dead space therein. The separation column is packed and an elastic diaphragm seals one end. There is spherically shaped inert material located between the packing and the elastic diaphragm with a porous frit located between the inert material and the diaphragm. A piston exerts a force on the diaphragm to stretch it longitudinally into the column thereby reducing the dead space. The frit and inert material operate to uniformly distribute the force exerted by the piston.

Abstract: The performance of axially-fed permeators containing a plurality of selectively permeable hollow fibers suitable for the selective permeation of at least one fluid in a fluid mixture containing at least one other component, wherein the hollow fibers are positioned in the permeator to form an elongated bundle of hollow fibers, is enhanced by the use of means to longitudinally compact the bundle.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus includes a plurality of disc-type filtering elements stacked in parallel with each other. Each disc-type filtering element has one or more annular projections thereon facing an adjacent disc defining a filtering slit. One or more fluid passages define a filtering path therethrough. Fine particles are filtered from a fluid by the slits between the adjacent filtering elements. Adjustment of the slit widths permits trapped particles to be removed by back-washing. A power cylinder permits automatic filtering and back-washing.

Abstract: Flowable material is pumped between upstream and downstream passages in a body through an aperture portion formed in a slide member that communicates between the passages. An annular seal member engages the slide member under the urging of a Belleville spring. The slide member, formed as a filter, has a region of uniform porosity that is moved progressively through the path of flow of the material for changing the filter.

Abstract: A filter assembly utilizing a plurality of stackable filter head units which permit parallel flow through filter elements mounted within filter bowls, there being one filter element and filter bowl mounted on each of the stackable filter head units. An improved filter head construction is employed which permits a plurality of substantially identical filter head units to be mounted adjacent each other to provide the desired flow capacity, each of the filter head units being so designed that it can be readily manufactured.

Abstract: A high volume low pressure drop filter is provided which comprises a housing containing a plurality of filter panels hinged in accordian form. The filter panels in filtering position have an upwardly facing V-configuration. The panels are readily replaced by moving the active panels into an inactive position and drawing a fresh pair of panels into the position occupied by the panels which were removed.

Abstract: Improved filter cake compression apparatus for leaf-type filtration systems is disclosed. Cake compressing diaphragms positioned on each side of each filter leaf are connected by resilient tension members to movable diaphragm support bars positioned peripherally around and perpendicular to the diaphragms and filter leaves. When cleaning of the filter leaves is needed, sets of the support bars are moved longitudinally in opposite directions to cause the diaphragms to move toward the filter leaves to engage the filter cake on both sides of each leaf. Upstream filter pressure and the pull of the connecting tension members cause the diaphragms to compress the filter cake against the filter leaf, and the amount of cake is reduced by squeezing the liquid portion of the feedstock from the cake.

Abstract: A self-cleaning filter includes a housing having a compressible filter element and a compression spring for applying spring pressure to the filter element. Unfiltered fluid, at line pressure, is forced upwardly through the filter element. Spring tension is overcome by line pressure during normal filtering operations to compress the spring and allow the filter element to maintain a relatively uncompressed condition during filtering. The spring tension is sufficient to automatically compress the filter element when line pressure is shut off to squeeze the filter element and flush out filtered particles from the filter element into a chamber below it. Separate agitators in the chamber rapidly spin and move in a random pattern throughout the chamber to keep the walls of the chamber clean from filtered particles during filtering operations. The chamber may have an automatic drain valve which automatically opens when line pressure is shut off to discharge filtered particles from the housing.

Abstract: A method is provided for continuously filtering liquids containing microorganisms, macromolecules and/or fine particles of solid matter as substances to be filtered out and collecting the substances that are filtered out. The liquid to be filtered is introduced from the top into an upright sieve basket where the filtrate is separated from the substances to be filtered out. A pressure is exerted on the liquid in the sieve basket by pressing means so that the filtrate leaves the sieve basket and the entire surface of the cake formed from the filtered-out substances always has approximately the same height in the sieve basket. The liquid in the sieve basket is pressed under an increasable counterpressure into the space underneath the pressing means in the sieve basket. When the backpressure of the liquid is higher than the pressure of the pressing means on the liquid, the pressing means is lifted a small distance above the cake in the sieve basket.