Cleaner Patents (Class 210/355)
  • Patent number: 11103812
    Abstract: What is presented is a filter for plastic material, in particular a device that filters recycled plastic material, to clean it of extraneous bodies and foreign elements by means of several filtration units within a single body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Erica Canaia
  • Patent number: 11083985
    Abstract: A vapor relief strainer cleaning assembly comprises a turbine and dislodger assembly, wherein the turbine is configured to move a dislodger assembly disposed within a vapor screen relief vessel. Exemplary dislodger assemblies are configured to be powered by vapor or gas and to use excess vapor or gas optionally to dislodge non-condensable contaminants from the filter screen or to facilitate contaminant dislodgement from the inner wall of the filter screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventor: Walter E. Nellis
  • Patent number: 10561968
    Abstract: A water separation filter is provided with a first compartment including a particulate filter and a second compartment including a hydrophobic filter for removing particle contaminants and water from a fuel flowing through the filter. Inlet and outlet fuel line couplings are provided so that the water separation filter can be installed as an in-line filter between a fuel tank and a combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: James S. Zielinski, Thomas F. Walker, Mark R. Breining, Christopher J. Cichelli
  • Patent number: 10232290
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-alarm multi-stage complex screen filter for micro-irrigation and the assembly method thereof. The filter comprises a housing, an alarm, a multi-stage screen filtering element, and a segmented brush. The housing comprises a left housing, a middle housing, and a right housing. The multi-stage screen filtering element comprises a plurality of screen filter cylinders. The segmented brush comprises a plurality of bristle frames, a plurality of connecting rods, a connector and a power device. The middle housing is provided with a water inlet. The left housing is provided with a discharge pipe. The installation, disassembly, repair, maintenance of the filter of the present invention can be done more conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, CAAS
    Inventors: Qibiao Han, Xiuqiao Huang, Hao Sun, Fuyi Duan, Junjie Feng, Hao Li
  • Patent number: 8960450
    Abstract: Filter assemblies and fluid flow inhibitors that are particularly well suited for use in centrifugal separation enhanced filtration devices are described. Moreover extensible filter assemblies are described. In one aspect of the invention, extensible filtration assemblies can be used to operate in circulating fluid filtration devices. Such extensible filter elements can use fluid manifold to reduce the effects of fluid circulation inside filter elements and to reduce reverse flow problems in such filters. Additionally, indexable filter elements and invertable filtration elements can be used to extend filter life in filtration in filtration devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: George D. Caffell, Steven E. O'Reilly, John H. Mallard
  • Publication number: 20140124432
    Abstract: This invention is on water treatment filtering equipment which supplies water after removing foreign matter included in original water such as underground water. To be more particular, the water treatment filtering equipment according to this invention has a filter installed in the inside of the housing and a blade which automatically rotates by the pressure of the inflown original water installed in the outside of said filter so that said blade may drop and remove foreign matter while rotating when original water passes through said filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: CYGNUSPOWER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yang-Il YOON
  • Patent number: 8657122
    Abstract: A media retainer assembly for retaining filter media in a filter assembly includes a top plate for supporting the filter media, the top plate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of openings extending therethrough; a bottom plate having a top surface and a plurality of openings extending therethrough; and scouring media, the scouring media being adapted to abrade the surfaces of the top and bottom plates. The top plate is connected to the bottom plate such that the top surface of the bottom plate is spaced from the bottom surface of the top plate to define at least one chamber between the top plate and the bottom plate. The top surface of the top plate is in fluid communication with the chamber via the openings in the top plate. The scouring media is supported by the bottom plate within the at least one chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Xylem Water Solutions Zelienople LLC
    Inventors: John L. Geibel, Christopher J. Ball
  • Publication number: 20140020623
    Abstract: A fluid filtration device includes a housing unit and a filter member. The housing unit includes an internal chamber, an input port, a first output port, and a second output port. The input port may receive fluid into the internal chamber. The first output port may output fluid from the internal chamber received by the input port to establish a first fluid flow therein. The second output port may output fluid from the internal chamber received by the input port to establish a second fluid flow therein. The filter member may be disposed within the internal chamber to filter the fluid forming the first fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Vladimir Vinetskiy
  • Publication number: 20130240459
    Abstract: An irrigation diverter for diverting a flow of liquid from a larger flow includes a housing, a filter to trap unwanted debris, a cleaner to remove the trapped debris from the filter, and a turbine to power the cleaner. The housing has an inlet and an outlet. The filter is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and operable to allow liquid entering the housing through the inlet to flow to the outlet while preventing debris in the liquid from reaching the outlet. The cleaner scrapes the filter to remove the debris trapped by the filter, and the turbine extracts energy from the larger flow of liquid to power the cleaner. By powering the cleaner with energy extracted from the flowing liquid, one does not have to frequently visit the diverter to manually remove debris from the filter. And, the filter may be continuously cleaned to prevent a buildup of debris trapped by the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Frank Andrews
  • Patent number: 8517182
    Abstract: A reflux backwashing mechanism for automatic fluid filtration, includes a hollow shaft sleeve (12) is located inside of the fluid inversion chamber (2); a blade (11) and a baffle plate (10) are connected with the hollow shaft sleeve (12) which is provided with an opening (9) at a position of the lower part of the baffle plate (10); a hollow core shaft (13) with an upward opening is located inside of the hollow shaft sleeve (12); and the shaft wall of the hollow core shaft (13) is distributed with through holes (14); and the hollow core shaft (13) is installed on an upper baffle plate (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Ye Zheng, Peng Zheng
  • Patent number: 8360250
    Abstract: An elongated filter disposed over a metering passage of a valve. A rotor is rotatably mounted over the filter and includes a scraping surface positioned along the length of the filter. As water enters the valve, the rotor rotates, causing the scraping surface to scrape off any debris along the length of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Quynh Nguyen, Huong Tran
  • Patent number: 8303688
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a filter apparatus comprising a fluid inlet for a fluid to be filtered in the apparatus; a first fluid outlet for fluid that has been filtered; and one or more barrier filters arranged between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet for filtering material from the fluid. In use, the fluid to be filtered is directed from the fluid inlet so as to promote a continuous erosion of material built up on the barrier filter(s). Also disclosed is a method of filtering particles from a particle laden fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
    Inventor: Sunil Dutt Sharma
  • Patent number: 8227396
    Abstract: A method for cleaning process apparatus used for production of liquids, especially for cleaning filters, for example membrane filters. The apparatus is contacted with a solution of peroxydisulphate. It is especially preferred that the cleaning process is carried out at a temperature between 15 and 95° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: X-Flow B.V.
    Inventors: Arie Cornelis Besemer, Elmar Van Mastrigt, André Mepschen
  • Publication number: 20120074074
    Abstract: A self-cleaning screen system and method removes contaminants from a fluid passed through a screen of the self-cleaning screen system. The self-cleaning screen system includes a cleaning mechanism used to remove contaminants which may have adhered to the screen. The self-cleaning screen system is self-powered by extracting energy from the fluid flow to cause rotation or other movement of either the screen and/or the cleaning mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Armin R. Völkel, Ashutosh Kole, Kai Melde, Huangpin Ben Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8071055
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and techniques for treating contaminated water are described. In one instance a plant or system includes a membrane filtration mechanism operable to receive an influent water stream containing a contaminant and to separate at least a first portion of the contaminant from a resulting first effluent water stream. The system also includes a reactive filtration mechanism operable to receive the first effluent water stream and to remove a waste stream containing a second portion of the contaminant to produce a resultant second effluent stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Blue Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Remembrance Newcombe
  • Patent number: 8028841
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods include an improved filter and cleaning processes for same. A rotating cleaning element is actuated by vacuum pressure, and relatively precise controls ensure that all portions of the filter's surface are vacuumed cleaned during cleaning cycles. Longitudinal pressure on the rotating cleaning element is balanced to reduce wear and improve performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Donald O. Olson
  • Publication number: 20110089100
    Abstract: Self-cleaning filter for liquids with a basic element consisting of one cyclic elastic membrane 17 which covers completely the rims of a stable cavity 16. The rims of the cavity bear engraved shallow channels 25, while its concave part and bottom, bears great openings (26, 28). During the operation phase, the water passes under the membrane 17 and the shallow channels 25 of the cavity 16, leaves at the periphery of the rims or inside the channels the derbies 27 and through the openings 26 and 28 of the concave part and the bottom, comes out clean to the network 15 of the cleaned water. The water passing through the shallow channels 25, is subjected to a pressure loss with the result the membrane 17 to be significant bent, due to the pressure differences, and to be inserted sliding in to the cavity 16. By each interruption of the filter's operation, the membrane 17 returns in to its plan position scrapping and rejecting the derbies 27.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Emmanuil Dermitzakis, Aristeidis Dermitzakis
  • Patent number: 7820039
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the continuous filtering of impurities from a flowable compound, especially a plastic melt, comprising a filter insert (3) in the form of a hollow rotary body which is held to rotate about its rotational axis (A) relative to a housing (1, 2) and is flowed through by the flowable compound and which is arranged in a flow conduit of the housing (1, 2) between a feed conduit (7) for the compound to be filtered and a discharge conduit (8) for the filtered compound, and a discharge apparatus for impurities held back by the filter, which apparatus comprises a feed screw (9) cooperating with the filter insert (3). In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that the filter insert (3) comprises a disk-like filter (5) which is arranged on the face side of the rotary body and is coaxial to the rotational axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Helmuth Schulz
  • Patent number: 7718055
    Abstract: An automatic cleaning drain structure includes a cover member, a base, a fan blades set and an object expeller set. The fan blades set is installed interior of a holding space of the base A wind power device extends from the object expeller set, and functional connection of the bearing between the fan blades set and the wind power device is used to effect rotation thereof, Accordingly, when a water flow flows past the fan blades set or the wind power device is blown by the force of wind, then a plurality of strip members of the object expeller set and a plurality of strip members of the wind power device rotate around the cover member about the bearing as center, thereby enabling the drain to achieve the objective of clearing away foreign objects to allow unimpeded water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Li Lai Den Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lian-Tian Iou
  • Patent number: 7674377
    Abstract: A filter apparatus, including a dual-chambered, centrifugal and compressive filtration apparatus having a central annular filter element, rotating external radial fins extending from adjacent the filter element to adjacent an outer cannister wall and internal fins within the annular filter element. The disclosed filter element is a continuous resilient, cylindrical, helical filter coil including a regular sinusoidal shape defining loop-shaped filter pores between adjacent coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: E. Bayne Carew
  • Patent number: 7422689
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane in a membrane separation activated-sludge process. By the method, deposits adherent to the surface of a membrane used in a membrane separation activated-sludge process can be effectively scratched off and the membrane filtration rate can be prevented from decreasing. Membrane-cleaning particles (4) in which the surface to be in contact with the water to be treated has been hydrophilized and has a surface roughness of 100-2,500 ?m are introduced into a bioreactor (1). The particles are caused to flow by the lifting effect of air bubbles ejected from an aerator (3) or by the fluidizing effect of a fluidizing means to thereby cause the particles to scratch off deposits adherent to the surface of a separation membrane element (2). In one embodiment, membrane-cleaning particles (4) which are non-porous or have closed cells are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoharu Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7396460
    Abstract: A filter element (8), especially for use in backwash filtering systems, includes a filtering element through which a contaminated fluid flows in at least one direction (24). An intercepting device (62) has at least one rod-shaped permanent magnet or electromagnet (64) that at least partially removes magnetizable, especially ferritic portions from the fluid, before the fluid flows through the filtering element. A detaching device (68) removes the magnetizable portions from the intercepting device (62). The detaching device (68) is configured by a stripper ring (70) that travels along the rod-shaped magnet (64) and removes the portions retained by the intercepting device (62). When the filtering element is backwashed, the stripper ring (70), moved by the fluid flow, detaches the portions retained by the intercepting device (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hydac Technology GmbH.
    Inventors: Ralf Wnuk, Seddik Lahbib, Markus Olschok
  • Patent number: 7077957
    Abstract: A screening device which is particularly useful for separating solids from liquids when sewerage systems overflow. The device includes an inner apertured chamber and an internal brush arrangement for sweeping over the apertures to prevent clogging. A spray enables the apertured chamber to be washed after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Son Screen Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Stephen John Posselt
  • Patent number: 6959818
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods include an improved filter (203) and cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Donald O. Olson
  • Patent number: 6827864
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus and method comprises parallel filtering elements backflushable with the pressure of the filtered flow. At least one washing organ connecting alternately to the different filtering elements, forms a discharge channel for the washing flow. A freewheel clutch is connected to a rotating axle of the washing organ, converting reciprocating movement generated with the pressure of flow in the filtering apparatus and with pressure alternating with it into a continuously parallel, stepping rotary movement of the washing organ. The mechanism containing the clutch may be outside the filtering room of the apparatus, and based on the alternation of the higher pressure of the flow filtered in the apparatus and the lower pressure from the discharge channel. The freewheel clutch is articulated to a piston in the cylinder, and is moved back and forth with the pressure difference, controlled by the channels relaying the pressure and by the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Parker Hannifin Oy
    Inventors: Marko Kangasniemi, Petri Tapola, Tuomo Koivula
  • Patent number: 6488842
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6443312
    Abstract: The self-cleaning filter is used for filtering incoming dirty liquid and distinctly recuperating clean liquid and waste liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Tech-O-Filtre Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Racine
  • Patent number: 6318562
    Abstract: A filtering centrifuge includes a case, a perforated filter basket disposed for rotation in the case, filter media disposed along an inner surface of the filter basket, and a cake removal mechanism at least partially disposed in the case outside of the filter basket and engageable with the filter media to distort the filter media and induce separation of deposited cake from the filter media. The cake removal mechanism specifically includes an ejector element movably mounted to the case for shifting between a use position adjacent to the filter basket and a neutral position spaced from the filter basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: William John Wilkie, James F. Kleyn
  • Patent number: 6200467
    Abstract: A filtering device includes a cylindrical screen 2 having a rotatable backwash tube 3 provided coaxially therein. The backwash tube includes a first end portion including an inlet 3c for introducing filtered liquid and a second end portion including an opening 3d for discharging filtered liquid and introducing backwash water. A plurality of backwash water injection holes 13d are formed along the backwash tube in an axial direction thereof at a predetermined interval. A check valve 14 is disposed within the backwash tube adjacent the inlet 3c such that in a filtration operation filtered liquid is allowed to flow from the inlet 3c into the backwash tube 3 and then into the liquid transfer tube 9. In a backwash operation, the check valve prohibits backwash water from flowing to the inlet from the backwash tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6155430
    Abstract: The invention provides a clog-resistant filter for separating solids from liquids, of the type wherein the liquid is passed from a filter inlet through a circular-section hollow filter element the filter being provided with means for the discharge of collected solids during filter operation, the filter comprising a housing provided with an inlet for the liquid to be filtered and provided with a first outlet for filtrate and with a second outlet for liquid containing a high concentration of solids, a hollow filter element insertable into the housing, the internal side of the filter element being in fluid connection with the inlet and the external side of the filter element being in fluid connection with the first outlet, a textured volume reduction device inserted in the filter element and being of a size and shape so as to occupy a major portion of the hollow of the filter element, the volume reduction device having a textured outer surface, the outer surface of the volume reduction device and the internal si
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hoshen Water Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Goodman
  • Patent number: 6059970
    Abstract: A membrane separation device is disclosed having a cylindrical membrane support (4), which is sealed off between a top plate (26) and a bottom plate (28), whereon the cylindrical outer surface of the membranes support a membrane (6) is located, and which is surrounded by cylindrical components (14, 8) which are sealed off in the top plate and bottom plate thereby forming a cylindrical ring area (16). Permeate collection bores (20) communicate with the membrane through the membrane support and are connected with a permeate draw off connection (60). The suction side of a circulation pump (44) is connected with an enclosed inner chamber (47) formed by the cylindrical membrane support. The outer ring area is connected to the pressure side of the circulation pump and communicates with the inner chamber through a circulation channel (54). The inner chamber is connected to a infeed connection (58). The circulation pump communicates with a draw off (64) on the pressure side for the extraction of concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventors: Robert Kohlheb, Robert Rautenbach
  • Patent number: 5996608
    Abstract: A diaphragm-type control valve for irrigation systems has an outer clam-shell housing that encloses a vertically reciprocable diaphragm assembly. A primary valve seat inside the housing is engaged and disengaged by a seal on the underside of the diaphragm to open and close the valve by connecting and disconnecting its inlet and outlet passages. Pressurized water from a lower inlet chamber of the valve travels through a small metering orifice in the center of the diaphragm assembly to an upper pressure control chamber above a flexible membrane of the diaphragm assembly. A solenoid actuated pilot valve is operatively coupled to the upper pressure control chamber for venting pressurized water therefrom to permit the diaphragm assembly to move upwardly to open the valve. A filter screen is mounted to the underside of the diaphragm assembly to prevent debris from clogging the metering orifice, clogging the small passages of the pilot valve, or fouling the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Hunter, Revis R. Hunter
  • Patent number: 5919376
    Abstract: An improved filtration system comprises a vessel divided into a concentrate chamber and a permeate chamber by a permeable septum. An ultrasonic wave generator is mounted to the vessel and positioned to direct ultrasonic waves through both the permeate contained in the permeate chamber and the permeable septum. A circulator such as a pump or agitator is operably associated with the concentrate chamber to provide a shearing force on the surface of the permeable septum. A vessel inlet port allows concentrate to flow into the concentrate chamber and a permeate outlet port allows permeate to be withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: CAE Ransohoff Inc.
    Inventor: Lyle Carman
  • Patent number: 5888407
    Abstract: Materials including suspended particles are brought together and then separated into two streams one of which only contains the particles, the output streams having different composition from inlet streams. Separation is effected in filtration modules which include a moving runner with wall conditioning elements which dislodge accumulated particles from porous walls of filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Benson
  • Patent number: 5830347
    Abstract: A filter assembly has a cylindrical filter element immersed in the fluid to be filtered, and which fluid normally flows radially inwards through the filter element and is thereby filtered. When the filter element is to be cleaned by backflushing, fluid flowing inwardly through the filter element is impelled by a rotating pump vane which directs fluid within the filter element outwardly at relatively high through the filter element thereby dislodging debris which may have adhered to the exterior of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Honeywell AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Vollmer
  • Patent number: 5814216
    Abstract: The screening apparatus of the invention has a main cylindrical chamber linking a waste water inlet pipe to a refuse pipe and to an overflow outlet pipe. The waste water inlet pipe conveys water from a city sewer duct or the like, and this water is destined to be conveyed to a water treatment plant through the refuse pipe. However, during important storm water flow rate conditions in the waste water inlet pipe, the water level in the main chamber will rise since the refuse pipe will overflow due to a too large quantity of water. The screening apparatus includes a coaxial, cylindrical rotor defining a vertical through channel, and an annular grate being located intermediate the top and bottom of the main chamber and extending from the bottom edge of the rotor radially outwardly to the peripheral wall of the main chamber, where the annular grate is fixedly anchored. The rotor carries brooms adjacent the grate underface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: John Meunier Inc.
    Inventor: Gilles Filion
  • Patent number: 5714065
    Abstract: A filter unit for fluids, the filter unit comprising a filter housing with at least one filter disposed therein, at least one fluid feed line, at least one purified fluid outlet line, and at least one unpurified fluid outlet line, each of which lines is provided with a valve. The filter is sealingly seated in the filter housing in an area between the fluid feed line and the purified fluid outlet line. The filter is in the form of a conical cylinder. The wide opening of the filter faces toward the fluid feed line and the underside of the filter forms a narrower opening sealingly disposed in an intermediate plate in the filter housing. A dirt funnel is disposed below the intermediate plate. A cleaning element is rotatably seated inside the filter housing which can be lowered into the filter from a filtration position into a cleaning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Marcel Huder
  • Patent number: 5688402
    Abstract: A self-cleaning, self-propelled strainer designed for installation in boiling water reactor suppression pools. The strainer is designed to prevent strainer clogging and subsequent loss of the emergency core cooling system flow during a postulated design basis loss-of-coolant accident. This self-cleaning strainer is driven by a turbine placed in the strainer flow path. The turbine drives rotation of a brush-and-plow arrangement. The wiping action of the brush and the centrifuging action of the plow remove insulation debris and other particulate matter which might be generated by the LOCA, thereby preventing the strainer from plugging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Green, Alan J. Bilanin
  • Patent number: 5676848
    Abstract: Materials including suspended particles are brought together and then separated into two streams one of which only contains the particles, the output streams having different composition from inlet streams. Separation is effected in filtration modules which include a moving runner with wall conditioning elements which dislodge accumulated particles from porous walls of filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5624549
    Abstract: Apparatus for partial dewatering of raw sludge, includes at least two filter units each defining a filter chamber which receives raw sludge and has an outer wall surface formed as filter for discharge of filtrate from raw sludge. Accommodated within the filter chamber is a double-acting plunger which extends across the entire cross section for dividing the filter chamber in two working chambers, and reciprocates in the filter chamber along the inside wall surface for movement between a first end position and a second end position, with each working chamber having an inlet for receiving raw sludge from a suitable conveying unit and an outlet for discharge of partially dewatered raw sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Muller Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Herzog, Wolfgang Muller
  • Patent number: 5614093
    Abstract: A micropore filter of discrete flow-through pores of highly controlled pore configuration and dimensions is formed by bonding platelets into a laminate, each platelet having been etched, preferably by a combination of electropolishing and photoetching techniques, to form depth-etched passages and through-etched passages, respectively. The filter is housed in a module which contains wiper blades for periodically removing deposited debris from the filter surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventors: H. Harry Mueggenburg, Leland L. Lang, Donald C. Rousar, Marvin F. Young
  • Patent number: 5547573
    Abstract: The device comprises a first wide-mesh cloth or screen which bears against the calender of a basket, at least one tight supple tube connected to a source of gas under pressure which is against the first cloth or screen, a second cloth or screen identical to the first covering the tube such that the tube is sandwiched between the cloths or screens, and a fine-mesh filtering cloth covering the second cloth or screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Robatel
    Inventor: Michel Martin
  • Patent number: 5427680
    Abstract: A processing wall is made part of a boundary of a continuous re-entrant lumen, another part of which is a return section. A free, wall conditioning shuttle circulates around this lumen, clearing accumulated material from the processing wall and returning through the return section to circulate again. While the shuttle is in the return section it blocks flow through the return section and while the shuttle is circulating through the processing wall a blocking structure blocks flow through the return section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5425876
    Abstract: A self-cleaning gravity screen for removing particulate material from a liquid stream. The screen slopes, and beneath it a rotary wand sweeps against its lower side to keep the screen perforations open and assist movement of retained solids along the screen. The wand is driven by a rotary water wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Claude Laval Corporation
    Inventor: John L. Rector
  • Patent number: 5393424
    Abstract: A mud dehydrating system is provided. The system includes a table, a centrifugal dehydrating cylinder, endless upper and lower filter cloths, compressing rollers, and a cleaning and washing unit in combination. The cleaning and washing unit has swingable nozzles to spray a strong stream of water on the filter cloths. The cloths are pulled tight by tensioning rollers. Two front compressing rollers have long annular recesses formed therein, into which the filter cloths fit for increasing the mud mass to be compressed for dehydrating and preventing the mud mass from leaking out from the sides of the cloths. The tensioning rollers are moved by a pressure augmenting unit for maintaining a stable pulling force on the tensioning rollers to pull the filter cloths stably for a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Chih-Hsi Liang
  • Patent number: 5286376
    Abstract: A filter medium is provide in a tubular structure configured in the form of a closed loop. Filter maintenance structures mounted on a continuous string lying within the lumen of the tubular structure are continually driven over the surface of a filter medium to maintain an optimum condition of the filter surface. This string with attached filter maintenance structures is driven around the loop of the tubular structure by hydraulic forces generated by the fluid introduced into the apparatus for filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5284581
    Abstract: A processing wall is made part of a boundary of a continuous reentrant lumen, and wall conditioning runners circulate around this lumen to dislodge accumulated material from the processing wall and thereby continually restore the wall to the condition required for efficient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5080788
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleansing water including a fluid driven cleaner is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Inventor: T. H. Chen
  • Patent number: 4902412
    Abstract: There is disclosed a water recirculation system for a swimming pool including assemblies installed in the drain openings in the skimmer and lower end of the pool for shredding leaves solely in response to the circulation of water through them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Wizzz-Rd Corp.
    Inventors: William O. Surber, III, Robert E. Gartin
  • Patent number: 4839046
    Abstract: A bio-reactor for cell culture which provides for the introduction of fresh medium without excessive turbulent action. The fresh medium enters the bio-reactor through a filter with a backwash action which prevents the cells from settling on the filter. The bio-reactor is sealed and depleted medium is forced out of the container as fresh medium is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Joseph A. Chandler