Abstract: A floating suction head assembly for connection with firehoses and the like comprising a U-shaped float of hollow tubular construction. A hollow tubular strainer is disposed between the arms of the float and extends therebeneath with small openings fully exposed at its bottom and along side portions thereof. The openings are one half inch in diameter with spacing therebetween of approximately one fourth inch and with alternate radial rows of 9 and 8 openings each. Thirty-two rows of openings are provided along the length of the strainer and a highly efficient turbulence free operation results with a lightweight construction.

Abstract: A flat element for filtering various substances and separating particles wherein a wire is planarly wound in the form of a vortex to form a vortical slit between the adjoining peripheral margins of the wire thereby increasing the area for filtering or separation treatment as so-called linear treatment holes to the utmost to improve the filtering or separation efficiency.

Abstract: A unitary injection molded filter is disclosed which includes a rigid frame of resin material to provide a rigid shape to the filter, and at least one screen of non-woven sheet resin material suspended on the frame and having formed therethrough a plurality of holes extending between the opposed side surfaces of the screen so as to form fluid passages therethrough. Each screen is integrally molded simultaneously with the frame.

Abstract: A flexible filter bag, the filter element of which is seamless and avoids prior leakage problems, is made by wrapping a flexible, preferably perforated, filtering fabric and a flexible nonfiltering transport material together onto a cylindrical mandrel to provide a tube. A thin metal ring is fitted into the tube, and the portion of the filtering fabric which extends beyond the edge of the transport material is folded inwardly around the ring to provide a cuff. A sleeve of a length about twice that of the tube is inserted into and pulled over the tube until the free ends of the sleeve are approximately coterminous with the ring-free end of the tube. The free ends of the sleeve and tube are gathered in the manner of a sausage casing and then subjected to pressure to form a seal, but the convolutions of the transport material terminate just short of the seal so as to avoid bunching at the seal.

Abstract: Relatively small fluid handling devices having a filter bonded on the surface containing the fluid inlets. An example of such a device is a thermal ink jet printhead. A substantially flat filter is placed at the ink inlet to the printhead by a fabrication process which laminates a wafer sized filter to the aligned and bonded wafers containing a plurality of printheads. The individual printheads are obtained by a sectioning operation, which cuts through the two or more bonded wafers and the filter. The filter may be a woven mesh screen or, preferably, an electroformed screen with a predetermined pore size. Since the filter covers one entire side of the printhead, the relatively large contact area prevents delamination and enables convenient leak-free sealing. The filter prevents the entrance of contaminants into the relatively large inlets of the printhead at an early stage of assembly and packaging.

Abstract: Closed filtering system for relatively fast and efficient removal of white blood cells from a red blood cell mixture. System comprises at least two blood bags in closed communication with each other via an intermediate filter assembly comprising a housing containing continuous filtering fiber. A preferred housing is tapered and the fiber preferably has a generally Y-shaped cross sectional area and it is adapted to permit substantial removal of white blood cells from a red blood cell mixture with minimal red blood cell hemolysis when the mixture is diluted with preservative solution and passed from one bag to the other at a relatively high flow rate. Filtration is completed within 24 hours, preferably within 6 hours, of whole blood donation.

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: Filter media having a foraminous sintered metal support structure which exhibits a particle retention pore size in the range of from about 0.5 microns to less than about 5.0 microns and a bubble point test pressure of from 20 to 50 inches of water. A continuous precoat layer of discrete anion and cation exchange resin particles having a minimum diameter of about 10 microns and the following particle size distribution:______________________________________ ______________________________________ Less than 2 Particles greater than 200 microns Less than 2 Particles less than 10 microns ______________________________________is formed upon the sintered metal structure. Liquid is purified by first flowing it through the precoat layer, and then through the pores of the foraminous sintered metal structure.

Abstract: A filter for separating substances having lipophilic and/or oleophilic and/or apolar properties, such as fats, oils, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbons, from different liquids, gases and vapors, such as water, (moist) air and water vapor, employing polyolefin fibers and/or filaments which have a diameter of 0.1 to 10 82 m, and preferably 0.5 to 2 .mu.m, as filter material. The filter material is present in the form of bands or strands which are of finite or infinite length, and which are formed from webs, waddings or other sheet-like structures made of such fine fibers and/or filaments and which are arranged with respect to each other in such a way that free openings and passages are in between them. The filter material perferably consists of polyethylene and/or polypropylene fibers and/or filaments.

Abstract: In a static sieve assembly having a housing for mounting a sieve or screen, a feed box having a discharge spout for feeding material tangentially to and across the sieve, a side of the spout having flexibly connected fixed upper and movable lower parts, and an actuator on said feed box and acting on said lower part for controlling the rate of feed to the sieve by varying the area of a discharge opening of the spout.

Abstract: If a plurality of essentially circular sheets of filter paper are stacked in a pile, the individual sheets have a tendency to stick to each other rendering it difficult to remove the topmost sheet from the pile. To overcome this inconvenience, it is provided that adjacent sheets within the pile have a different contour, e.g. by providing every second sheet with a protruding tongue arranged at the circumferential edge thereof. All the intermediate sheets either do not have such tongue or are provided with a recess arranged anywhere along their circumferential edge.

Abstract: An improved pool cleaner is provided of the type for submerged random travel generally along the floor and sidewalls of a swimming pool to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner comprises an hydraulically contoured housing consisting of a limited number of shell shaped housing portions designed for rapid assembly about an integrated drive assembly having a water-powered drive train encased within the housing and rotatable wheels outside the housing for supporting and driving the pool cleaner. Water under pressure is supplied through a water supply mast detachably mounted on the housing for flow into a pressure manifold from which individual water flows are coupled through appropriately sized nozzles to drive a water turbine of the drive train and through a plurality of jet pump orifices opening generally upwardly about the inner diameter of an open central suction mast through which debris is drawn upwardly into a collection bag.

Abstract: The specification discloses a filter apparatus including spirally wound tissue layer filter elements for filtering fluid and a seal between the filter elements to prevent fluid from bypassing the filter elements. A flow tube extends through the center of the filter elements. A resiliently deformable mesh spacer is located on the flow tube between the filter elements to insure formation of a radial passageway therebetween. The seal is applied between the filter elements along their circumferential edges in a melted state and migrates into and between the tissue layers and interstices of the filter elements and the mesh of the spacer. As the seal cools and hardens it adheres to the filter elements and the spacer. A seal may likewise be applied between the filter elements and the flow tube.

Abstract: In a sheet-like filter element comprising a porous or fibrous filtering layer and a pair of opposite cover layers, these cover layers are maintained in tight engagement with the outer surfaces of the filtering layer by means of transversely extending connecting strings. The filter element may, for example, be used as a filter for a gas venting opening in a stoma bag, and in that case the porous filtering layer contains a big amount of finely granulated activated carbon. The connecting strings maintain the cover layers pressed against the filtering layer so as to avoid any tendency to delamination of the filtering layer and formation of undesired spaces or passages therein.

Abstract: Active carbon fibers derived from acrylic fibers and having a BET specific surface area (SA) of 800 to 2,000 m.sup.2 /g, a pore volume (Vp) to (SA) ratio, i.e., (Vp)/(SA), of from 5.times.10.sup.-4 to 14.5.times.10.sup.-4, and a methylene blue adsorption rate constant of not less than 5.times.10.sup.-1 sec.sup.-1, and a filter adsorption unit for water purification using said active carbon fibers; the unit is useful to remove compounds having a wide range of molecular weights from an aqueous liquid.

Abstract: At preferably circular filter cartridges, where pleated filter material is placed around a centrally arranged perforated tube, this filter material can be sucked to collapse if the pressure gradient through the material becomes large, whereby the advantages having a pleated filter cartridge with a relatively large filter surface and a very little volume are lost.One means for preventing such collapse is using a separator which is arranged in each pleat of the filter material, whereby the separator includes a rigid organic foil formed in a pyramidal pleating, the amplitude of this pleating increasing from zero in the edge of the pleat of the filter material to maximum at the centrally arranged perforated tube constituting the base of the pleat of the filter material. Manufacturing a light construction of a filter cartridge is hereby obtained which is able to resist pressure gradients up to a certain limit without being sucked to collapse.

Abstract: An adsorbent cartridge for mounting on a surface which may be oriented in a downwardly facing attitude, the absorbent cartridge including the substantially rigid self-sustaining first side facing the surface and a second permeable side of flexible sheet material secured to the first side and facing away from the surface, absorbent in the cartridge, a frustoconical central portion formed integrally with the first side and located centrally therein, and a bearing surface secured to the frustoconical portion for receiving the head of a screw which extends through an aperture within the bearing surface and is received in a mounting post on the surface.

Abstract: Filter element for a pressure filter container, composed of a central tube surrounded by a plurality of support tubes for supporting a filter web. The support tubes can be closed or perforated. The space between the central tube and support tubes, as well as the interior in the case of perforated support tubes, serve as flow canal for the filtrate. The use of plastic tubing provides a simple and cost-favorable filter element.

Abstract: For separating oil from aqueous or solvent dispersions the dispersion is passed through a porous flat-shaped textile article which comprises at least partly of oleophilic fibres each having a titer below 1 dtex. The flat-shaped textile article is preferably a three dimensional article, and can have a pile and possibly also a substrate comprising of extremely fine oleophilic artificial fibres. The pile threads and eventually also the threads of the substrate are split by means of a swelling agent into many extremely fine oleophilic fibres having a low titer. The small and very small oil drops in the dispersion are withheld on the extremely fine oleophilic fibres and coalesce to larger oil droplets or oil drops which rise to the surface of the liquid due to their lower density than the liquid. The oil can be easily removed from the surface of the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved filter element for use in an apparatus for filtering molten metal, and to the method of making such filter element. The apparatus consists of a filtering vessel fitted with a filter element. In one embodiment of the present invention the improved filter element is pre-wet with metal prior to the filtering apparatus being introduced into service. In a second embodiment of the present invention the improved filter element is reinforced with one or more reinforcing members. The improved filter element can be used in filtering vessels having a variety of designs.

Abstract: A cheese mould having a wall of plastic material, which wall is provided with fine holes and the inner surface of which may be provided with grooves, said inner surface being subjected to a roughening treatment, for instance rubbing with a steel brush, course sand paper, a rasp or a scouring substance, so that small scratches are made, in order to improve the rind forming properties of the mould.

Abstract: A scrubber is disclosed including an applicator for applying a cleaning solution, a rotary brush for working such solution on the soiled surface and a pick up section for removing the cleaning solution and suspended soilage from the surface being scrubbed. The scrubber includes a dirty solution chamber and a clean solution chamber. A separator is provided between such chambers to separate the dirty water into a sludge portion which is returned to the dirty water chamber and a clean solution portion which is fed into the second chamber.

Abstract: A permanent, reuseable liquid filter comprised of a thin flexible filter material and a support skeleton secured to the outside surface thereof. The skeleton includes a centrally disposed support rim and a plurality of support rib sets spaced around and extending outwardly from the support rim. Each rib set comprises a plurality of separate elongated ribs extending from adjacent the support rim toward the filter material outer edge with the ribs of each set being connected together by a first connecting web. A second connecting web may be advantageously used to connect each support rib set to the support rim. The filter is normally in a generally flat condition and automatically assumes the general shape of a filter basket or other support structure upon installation thereinto. The support rim then generally defines a filter bottom area with the ribs urging the remainder of the filter material toward engagement with the filter basket or support structure side wall area.

Abstract: A screen for separating particles is disclosed which consists of a plurality of rows of elongated members disposed in a parallel array. The elongated members are formed from segmented tubular sections which are interconnected and are made from a cemented carbide material. The screen is especially useful in industrial applications where high abrasion resistance and increased screen life is necessary.

Abstract: A filter for use within a storm drain sump which has a fluid outlet through a wall of the sump, the filter includes a bag-like body member having a cylindrical body portion fabricated from resilient mesh-like synthetic material. A base portion of the filter defines a toroid-shaped section. A weighted material is placed within the toroid-shaped section. Wedge-shaped spacers are axially aligned and secured to an outer face of the cylindrical body portion of the filter. A suspension plate is secured to the body member to support the filter in the storm drain sump.

Abstract: A column for removing poisons and/or other undesired substances from a liquid mixture. The column has a mixture of inactive filler particles and active granules positioned therein, with said filler particles being substantially larger than said active granules, (which are selected from adsorbing material and ion-exchanging material). The filler particles are in fixed contact relationship with each other and the active granules completely fill the spaces between the filler particles.

Abstract: A filter system comprising a tank and a cage assembly releasably mounted therein. The cage assembly comprises a tube plate and a plurality of filter tubes projecting upwardly therefrom. A plurality of replaceable cartridges are telescoped over each of the tubes. Below the tubes is a plenum chamber for receiving filtered fluid. The entire cage assembly is removable from the filter tank by providing lifting trunnions on the cage assembly and by providing a yoke assembly for lifting the cage assembly out by the trunnions. The yoke assembly will automatically grasp the trunnions when it is inserted in the filter tank. A safety mechanism is provided for securing the yoke assembly on the trunnions.When the cage assembly is lifted out of the filter tank, a mechanism is provided for automatically tilting the cage assembly to dump the filter cartridges from the cage assembly. The cage assembly is then secured on a pallet which can be moved to another location for reloading clean filter cartridges on the filter tubes.

Abstract: A solid-liquid separation element which remarkably, improves the solid-liquid separation capacity of a solid-liquid separation device having the separation element therein is provided. In this separation element, guide members for accelerating the through-flow of the liquid are mounted on the back surface of a stationary inclined screen and, optionally, guide members for transporting solid materials are arranged on the surface of the screen so as to be substantially in parallel to each other and in a downward inclining direction from both edges of the screen. The solid-liquid separation apparatus having said separation element and a cleaning brush which is reciprocated in rubbing contact with the back surface of the screen is also provided. The range of the reciprocating motion of the brush is more than the width of the screen.

Abstract: A filter element includes a filter material which has an outer surface for accumulating a filter cake thereon and an inner surface. A plurality of supports is provided for supporting the filter element at the inner surface thereof. Adjacent ones of the supports define spaces between themselves. At least portions of the filter material bend inwardly into these spaces between the adjacent supports and relative to the remaining parts of the filter material, under the pressure of a medium to be filtered which is supplied onto the outer surface of the filter material. During backflushing of the filter element these portions bend outwardly of the spaces and the filter cake is thereby dislodged from the outer surface of the filter material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the constant volume solvent exchange or constant volume neutralization of a liquid solution or suspension of macromolecules. Liquid enters a bulk zone and passes into a thin layer filtration zone, in which the separation is effected through a semi-permeable membrane filter.

Abstract: A hollow filter housing is provided with a support and a plurality of fiber bundles located on the support. The fibers extend within the filter housing in direction between an inlet and an outlet of the housing. The contaminated medium is introduced into the housing through the inlet in a direction towards the outlet to flow past the plurality of the fiber bundles. The contaminated medium becomes filtered as it passes through the filter bundles without compressing the latter against the support.

Abstract: The efficiency of membrane separation is enhanced in a hyperfiltration process by scooping off controlled amounts of the boundary layer at desired points along the flow path where useful concentrations have been achieved avoiding the necessity of bringing the entire flow up to desired concentration. The use of porous stainless steel supports with membranes formed therein in situ after fabrication from the pipe sections in a single pass configuration is especially advantageous with scoop apparatus spaced along the length of the stainless supports.

Abstract: The filter is made of monofilament polypropylene, a comparatively fragile material but chemically adapted for the purposes, in the shape of a pillow case with a long edge opening and oppositely, adjacent an end thereof, a conduit opening. All edges are reinforced with a strip of felted polypropylene, a comparatively heavy and strong material and also chemically adapted for use with caustic chlorine. The filter is additionally reinforced with pads of the same felted material where supported in a container. In use, a flat filter leaf with a conduit is inserted into the filter through the opening with the conduit opening coinciding with the conduit, and the long edge opening tightly sewn together. Caustic chlorine is introduced into the filter through the conduit opening and filter leaf, and escapes into the container through the filter free of salt. Both the monofilament and felted polypropylene define minute interstices that are impervious to salt but not to chlorine.

Abstract: A blood filter for removing dead blood corpuscles, conglomerations of blood corpuscles and foreign components from the blood comprises dense wadding formed from a plastics monofilament or a bundle of long plastics threads.

Abstract: A reinforced sheet product for selective sorption of an immiscible liquid from a liquid mixture is disclosed. The reinforced sheet product comprises a flexible net-like reinforcing structure secured between at least two sheets or layers of non-woven material predominately composed of cotton which are preferentially sorptive of one liquid over another liquid in the mixture. The product according to the invention finds particular application as a lightweight reinforced wiping cloth or towel especially useful for removing oil from an aqueous mixture.

Abstract: A filter for removing solids from water to be fed to a power-plant condenser comprises a substantially cylindrical housing and a substantially cylindrical filter basket in the housing which is provided with a radial inlet and an axial outlet for the water. The filter basket comprises a stack of axially continguous filter rings, each of which has an outwardly concave perforated periphery and a pair of flanges lying in planes perpendicular to the axis of the basket and bolted together to form the basket as a self-supporting unit.

Abstract: A filtration system is provided that directs a fluid to be filtered through a disposable tubular filtration element, supports the filtration element, and accommodates for "wet growth" of the filtration element. The system operates with an inside-to-outside forced fluid flow through the filtration element and includes a generally cylindrical housing with a fluid inlet and outlet. A perforated outer support screen is mounted within the housing and surrounds the walls of the tubular filtration element with slight clearance. Under the influence of the fluid pressure and the wet growth, the walls of the filtration element bear against the screen. A sealing and support assembly having upstream and downstream fluid guides, each carrying, in a preferred form, a pair of resilient sealing members, is positioned inside the filtration element. A rigid inner member bridges the opposing faces of the resilient member pairs.

Abstract: A filter press having a number of filter plates, each of which includes a center hole, with a filter cloth hanging over each filter plate. The filter cloths include a corresponding center hole, and a flexible coupling member having a tubular stem with a flanged base, wherein the flanged base is positioned around the hole on one side of the cloth. The tubular stems are inserted within a coupling cylinder which is positioned within the hole of the filter plate. A method is described for hanging the filter cloths onto the filter plate by inserting one of the stems into one end of the coupling cylinder, and then inserting the cylinder into the hole in the filter plate. A tool is then used to reverse the stem of the coupling member of another filter cloth, and then the same tool is removed permitting the restoration of the stem while positioning it within the other end of the coupling cylinder.

Abstract: A blood filter for removing dead blood corpuscles, conglomerations of blood orpuscles and foreign components from the blood comprises dense wadding formed from a plastics monofilament or a bundle of long plastics threads.

Abstract: A diatomite filter device for cleansing fluid carrying particulate matter in the micron size range comprises a filter housing having top and bottom plates and a manifold beneath the latter. A supply conduit communicates with the manifold and with a valve-controlled diatomite reservoir. Flexible tubular filter bags in the housing have inlet openings at the bottom and are mounted about flanges adjacent inlet openings in the housing bottom plate, the latter being in communication with the manifold for a supply of fluid. Each bag has an interior skeletal frame for preventing bag collapse during a backwash operation and an exterior wire mesh skeletal frame for preventing ballooning of the bag during the filter operation. The assemblies comprising a bag and its two associated skeletal frames are mounted at lower end portions about their flanges by means of clamping rings and, preferably, each flange has a horizontal flange at the top notched to receive lower end portions of the inner skeletal frame.

Abstract: An extended-area filter for filtering plastic stock at high pressures has a breaker plate with an undulating surface confronting the oncoming stock which substantially doubles the available filter area. Screen packs having fixed therein the same surface configuration are supported uniformly on the undulating surface against collapse under the operating pressure.