Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooking foods such as donuts and pastries in hot oil with new steps and structure being provided to minimize airborne cooking oil and aeromatic odors. The method includes steps of directing an air sheet across the top of the cooking machines, collecting the air sheet and filtering oil several times to remove oil and odors, the collected air flow is split and a minority is recirculated as the air sheet and a majority is exhausted downward upon the floor. The apparatus is self-contained and has the cooking machine atop of a cabinet with the ventilation and filter system being inside the cabinet. There are first, second, third and fourth filters that remove the oil first and the odors lastly. A single air blower collects the air and oil and odors, causes flow through the filters, recirculates a minority portion of the air back to the machine, and exhausts a majority of the air to ambient.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for removing fine particulate matter and vapors from a process exhaust air stream, and particularly those emitted during post-production curing or post-treatment of foamed plastics, such as polyurethane foam, in which the exhaust air stream is passed through a transfer duct into which is introduced a water spray in the form of a mist of fine droplets in an amount which exceeds the saturation point; thereafter the exhaust air stream is introduced into a filter chamber having a cross-sectional area that is substantially greater than that of the transfer duct, and the exhaust air stream passes through at least one, and preferably a plurality of high surface are a filters, whereby a portion of the water is removed from the exhaust air stream and collected in the filter chamber prior to the discharge of the exhaust air stream into the environment.

Abstract: An ultra-high efficiency particulate air filter for use in the microelectronics manufacturing industry is formed as a fully homogeneous sintered metal filter that exhibits an efficiency substantially in excess of a 6 log reduction and preferably equal to or exceeding a 9 log reduction (an efficiency of 99.9999999%). The filter can be used as a process gas in-line filter in state of the art gas supply systems. The porous metal filter exhibits long term stability relative to mechanical or thermal stress and operates within the desired ultra-high efficiency levels even under high pressure conditions. It does not exhibit an outgassing problem and there is no particle shedding. These features are provided within a unit no larger than those conventionally employed heretofore with organic membranes and under substantially identical operating conditions.

Abstract: An air filter dryer for adsorbing moisture from an air flow of the type typically found in a pneumatic power system comprises a housing having an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting arranged such that the filter dryer can be installed directly in line with system piping. The filter dryer also includes a series of filters arranged symmetrically at each end of the housing. Included in the series of filters are dispersion filters which collect moisture in the air flow and also disperse the air evenly across the housing. An oil removal filter is located adjacent each dispersion filter in the filter arrangement, and acts to remove any oil contaminants from the air flow. This filter dryer further includes a silica gel desiccant, located between the respective oil removal filters, which adsorbs moisture from the air stream. The air then passes through the second symmetrically arranged series of filters, and exits through the outlet fitting.

Abstract: A smoke filter which is useful in containing smoke produced during electrosurgery or laser surgery procedures which has a prefilter layer to contain most of the smoke produced in these surgical procedures and to extend the useful life of the smoke filter, a microporous polymeric membrane layer which acts as a final filtering layer of the smoke filter and disposed between these two layers is a protective foam layer which protects the integrity of the microporous polymeric membrane from damage caused by the prefilter layer.

Abstract: An air filter assembly includes three layers of alternating layers of woven polypropylene and polyurethane sandwiched together in a removable plastic frame. The polypropylene layers are woven in a honeycomb pattern. Each successive layer acquires an opposite electrostatic charge. The air filter assembly mechanically and electrostatically filters dust from air.

Abstract: Radiation resistant composites made of adjacent layers of a microporous hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene layer and one or more supporting layers made of woven metal material or woven synthetic organic polymeric material and a microporous hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene membrane are described. Filtration devices containing the composite are described.

Abstract: This invention is a filter assembly to be installed in passenger motor vehicles for the protection of the occupants from pollution originating from either exterior the vehicle and/or interior the vehicle. The assembly is preferably installed in the plenum of the vent which is connected to the cowl plenum chamber of the vehicle's heating-cooling system. The assembly is also preferably equipped with a sensor switch that notifies the drive whenever the filter becomes dirty and must be replaced. The assembly includes a hot fluid heater, such as a hot water heater, which protects the filter from freezing and keeps the filter dry. The assembly prevents pollutants, which are emitted from the exhaust fumes of motor vehicles, as well as odors, hydrocarbons, smoke, soot, dust and allergens-pollen from polluting the motor vehicle interior. By installing the filter assembly in motor vehicles, we can be assured of breathing purer air.

Abstract: A filtering and absorbing device for a vehicle's discharge pipe including a housing shell which is connectable to a vehicle's discharge pipe; the shell having a cross-sectional dimension larger than that of the discharge pipe's, cross openings properly spaced from each other on both the bottom and top walls of the housing shell's main body to allow ventilated boxes which contain activated carbon in grain form to be inserted in the housing shell to create a meandering passage so that waste fumes from the vehicle passing the ventilated boxes move along the meandering passage to be treated by activated carbon to produce cleaner air.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly including a multiplicity of vacuum cleaner canister units each of which has a filter for receiving dirty fluid sucked into the canister unit and is configured such that two suction forces operate on each canister unit, with one suction force pulling fluid onto the filter and being of greater force than the second suction force pulling fluid away from the filter and pulling it out of the canister unit to an adjacent canister unit, the filter in each canister unit located in a removable compartment which can be removed when the compartment is filled with dirt, and valve means to turn off the flow into a canister unit after its compartment has been filled with dirt while permitting the vacuum cleaner to continue running and directing the flow of dirty fluid to adjacent cannister units with uninterrupted and undiminished suction power.

Abstract: A recirculating fiber filter (1) and method is provided for removing particulates from moving fluid streams. High aspect ratio fibers (2) are used which readily nest with each other to form the high voidage fiber filter bed. In the method, fibers are continuously removed from the bottom of the bed regenerated to remove particulates and recycled back to the top of the bed and distributed thereon. Dirty fluid is passed from the top to the bottom of the filter. Dendrites of the particulate impurity appear to buildup in a thin section (A) at the top of the filter and provide the primary mechanism for further particulate entrapment. Recirculation of fibers offers a continuously fresh volume of fibers at the top for capture of particulates.

Abstract: A filter of depth layer type comprises a generally cylindrical filter body formed by laminating filter elements each in the form of a thin sheet of a filtering material having a central hole, and these central holes provide a conduit extending in the axial direction through the filter body. The filter body has a density distribution in which the density is lowest at the outer peripheral area sewing as an inlet for a fluid to be filtered and becomes progressively higher toward the conduit to serving as an outlet for the fluid to be filtered.

Abstract: Particulates in the form of fine dust are removed from gas streams by impinging the particles on screens located in the path of the particles to result in the build up of a deposit on the mesh, until the deposits grow to a sufficient size that the combined effect of gravity and gas flow dislodges the deposits, which are collected.

Abstract: A batch-action apparatus for filtering a fluid medium comprises a hermetically sealed housing (1) communicating with systems (9, 10 and 11) for feeding the fluid medium, discharging the clean medium, and evacuating filter cake.The housing (1) accommodates a flexible filter hose (2) one end (4) of which is turned inside out and attached to the housing (1), whereas the other end (7) thereof is connected to a hoisting mechanism (3) acting to move the hose (2) relative to the fixed end (4) of this hose. The end (4) of the hose (2) turned inside out forms an annular cavity (8) to which the fluid medium is fed and which varies in volume under the action of filter cake build-up or in response to the movement executed by the hoisting mechanism (3).

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: A reusable air filter assembly for use in forced air heating and cooling systems includes an inlet stage filter medium consisting of a single layer of fabric woven in an egg-crate pattern and of relatively coarse polypropylene yarn, an outlet stage filter medium consisting of two layers of fabric woven in an egg-crate pattern of relatively fine polypropylene yarn and a precipitation chamber between said inlet stage and said outlet stage defined by a corrugated aluminum wire screen, with the precipitation chamber having a thickness, in the direction of air flow through the assembly, which is at least equal to the combined thickness of the inlet stage filter medium and the outlet stage filter medium. The filter assembly is supported in a corrosion resistant frame by opposing grid covers of expanded metal having a low friction coating thereon.

Abstract: A muffler purifying device for combustion gases of general application including an expanded external casing having anterior and posterior end intakes equipped with nozzles, one connected to the exhaust pipe and the other for discharging gases, between which is included a unit of elements for retaining impurities and purifying the gases in the form of a cartridge which is removable from the external casing through an aperture located at the posterior end, equipped with a removable cover. The removable cartridge has a tubular wall with its own anterior end intake having an aperture defining an internal nozzle into which the exhaust pipe extends.

Abstract: A paint spray booth with a filter and means within the spray booth to incinerate paint from the filter. A filter particularly adapted for collecting paint overspray in a paint spray booth. The filter has a plurality of members with a first portion parallel to the path of the air and paint particle flow which is to be filtered, each of the members having a second portion extending normally in a first direction from the downstream side of the first portion. The second portions of the members are spaced from each other and form openings therebetween on a plane normal to the flow of air and paint particles. Each of the members has a third portion extending from the other side of first portion and in the opposite direction from the second portion, and the third portions of the members form slots between members with areas less than the area of the downstream openings.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for coupling membrane elements of a fluid separation module in series. The improvement comprises providing flexible coupling members having two open ends and a passage between said ends; and securing the first end of a coupling member to the residual end of each membrane element (with the optional exception of the last in the series) and securing the second end of the coupling member to the feed end of the next membrane element in the series if any. Fluid from the residual end of each membrane element except the last may thus be directed to the feed end of the next membrane element. An improved fluid separation module employing such couplings is disclosed; as is an improved membrane element having a coupling member secured thereto.

Abstract: A filter cartridge for removing particles of the order of submicrons from a solution, comprising at least two filtering films laid in parallel with the inner peripheral portions bonded fixedly to an inner rim of the core and with the outer peripheral portions joined together, thus defining a path of a solution to be filtered, and providing a relatively large effective filtering area.

Abstract: An axial oil filter including at least one pair of axially aligned filter elements includes an elongate filter body and a removable filter cartridge. The filter elements are mounted on an axial conduit which is a part of the filter cartridge, and the filter cartridge placed in the filter body so as to define upper and lower chambers, and a bypass flow path between the upper and lower chambers. Fluid to be filtered may flow into either of the chambers and will flow upward through the lower filter element and downward through the upper filter element. The filtered fluid is collected from a passage defined by a screen between the two filter elements, and passes outward from the filter through the outlet port.

Abstract: A self-sealing annular filter component for operation within a housing portion of a pyrotechnic inflator device. The filter comprises: (a) first and second ring-shaped members configured to form an annular frame, at least one of the ring members being provided with at least one tab member formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom toward the other ring-shaped member to maintain a set spacing between the frame members, and (b) a plurality of filter layers supported upon the filter frame, each filter layer positioned so as to at least partially overlap a preceding underlying filter layer around the entire annular surface of the filter frame. The outer circumferential edge of the ring-shaped frame member is adapted to ensure circular line contact with an inner portion of the inflator housing.

Abstract: A pressurized gas discharge system for the safety containment of a nuclear reactor includes a conduit structure connected to the containment and consisting of a plurality of modular conduit units which are flanged together end-to-end, each having flanged side openings with filter frame members including stainless steel fiber filter packs flanged thereto in end-to-end relationship. The filter packs extend fully across the frame members and have their circumferential edges clamped between the flanges of adjacent frame members so that in the clamped areas the filter packs are reduced in thickness to a fraction of their original thickness, the flanges having U-shaped members disposed on their faces such that the legs of the U-shaped member project toward the adjacent flange and provide two seal strips with the edges of the filter packs compressed therebetween.

Abstract: Disposable filter element, adapted for use in a high-pressure filter housing, has a plurality of layers of flexible filtering material, some layers being formed with openings through which a portion of the fluid can flow without being filtered, and at least one downstream layer of the filtering material being free from such openings. When all of the layers of filtering material have the same pore size, the total area of the openings in each layer is larger than that of the openings of any downstream layer. Each opening-containing layer of the filtering material removes part of the contaminant in the fluid. Interposed between adjacent opening-containing filtering layers is a layer of flexible transport material, and there is a layer of flexible prefiltering material positioned upstream of said filtering layers.

Abstract: New, high surface area per unit volume, generally cylindrical filter cartridge for gaseous or liquid filter applications are described. These filter cartridges which comprise a nested arrangement of substantially disk shaped layers having a radial pleat pattern embossed therein, are capable of achieving higher surface areas per unit volume than can be achieved with conventionally pleated filter cartridges. Utilization of the filter media is extremely high as blocking of adjacent layers of filter media is avoided and fluids are evenly distributed over the total area of the filter media as a result of the series of channels created by the nesting of the disk shaped pleated layers.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a fluid container comprising a fluid vessel which includes a generally cylindrical and expandable shell and a support structure which includes a generally cylindrical and rigid casing that is coaxially disposed about the shell of the fluid vessel. The shell has first and second end portions, and the casing has first and second end portions cooperatively arranged with the first and second end portions of the shell. The fluid vessel further includes first and second end caps sealed to the first and second end portions of the shell, respectively. At least one end cap has an opening which allows the fluid to flow into or out of the shell. Further, at least the first end portion of the shell has a continuously decreasing outside diameter along the axis of the shell, and the first end portion of the casing has a correspondingly continuously decreasing inside diameter. With a filter element disposed within the shell, the container may be used as a filter assembly.

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 controller is associated with a cabinet which contains apparatus and components for performing operations or conducting processes. Associated with the cabinet is a housing within which is contained an air filtration material. Air is admitted and propelled for flow through that material and delivery into the confined space defined by the cabinet by a blower unit. The blower unit is controlled in response to the rate of flow of air through the housing in order to maintain a selected rate of flow in compensation for changes in impedence to flow of air through the material. Operation also is controlled in response to other parameters, such as pressure differential across the material, pressure differential across a prefilter upstream, a measure of the rate of air flow into the cabinet, ambient temperature within the cabinet, pressure differential between outside atmospheric pressure and each of the housing and the cabinet and relative humidity within the cabinet.

Abstract: The present invention sets forth an improved cell type filter cartridge in which the individual cells contain a separator disc having stiffening members formed at the central aperture of the cell and connected to a plurality of the separating ribs in spaced relation to each other. The coaction of the two or more discs with the separator ribs provides for a rigid, box-like structure of the ribs to impart a substantial cantilevered strength to the ribs. Additionally, at least one of the stiffening discs is positioned at or near the ends of the separator ribs to act as a load-bearing surface to prevent media intrusion of the filtering medium and thereby maintain the area of the flow path of the filtered liquid as it passes through the central aperture of the disc.

Abstract: A fluid filtration apparatus is disclosed particularly usable with a perforate tubular fluid conduit as normally used for filtration of cleaning fluids and the like wherein the filtration apparatus includes a plurality of filter elements being generally cylindrical and defining a central channel therethrough to be adapted to receive the fluid conduit extending therebetween. Also included are a plurality of gasket assemblies positionable between adjacent filter elements to minimize passage of cleaning fluid therethrough to facilitate cleansing of the fluid. An outer retainer is utilized for compressing the individual filter element against the filter gaskets in such a manner as to provide a continuous filtration media along the entire length of the tubular fluid conduit and to prevent outlets for fluid emanating therefrom without passage through filtration media.

Abstract: A room air treatment system in which air is drawn through a large particle prefilter, a first carbon filter, a second dual honeycomb matrix carbon filter in which the honeycomb cells in adjacent matrices are offset relative to one another, a blower mounted on vibration isolation mounts and is expelled by the blower into a plenum from when it exits upwardly through a fine particle HEPA filter and finally out through a final filter which is a combination fine particle filter and carbon filter. A filter change warning system is provided which includes a 3500 hour filter change indicator, an every 7000 hour filter change indictor, a back-up warning indicator, a mute button for muting the warning indicator and a recycle system for restarting the hour count.

Abstract: A thin and narrow sheet, having an inlet edge and an outlet edge, is formed on one surface, e.g., the top, with a continuous land that is parallel to the inlet edge. The inlet side of the land is coplanar with the inlet edge of the sheet or, alternatively, disposed slightly inwardly relative thereto. Inwardly behind the land the same surface of the sheet is formed with a plurality of channels defined between adjacent pairs of finger lands each of which extends between the outlet edge of the sheet and the inside of the continuous land. On its opposite side the sheet is formed with a like plurality of transverse lands that form fluid passages extending across the full width of the sheet from the inlet to the outlet edges thereof. The bottom surface lands register with the finger lands of the top surface of the sheet. A congruent stack of the sheets is compressively loaded through the lands to define a rigid filter column.

Abstract: A filtering device intended to be attached temporarily to an exhaust pipe (30) of a vehicle at occasional indoors driving and the like. The device comprises a filter (14), a filter holder (11) and a connection member (13,40) for attachment to the exhaust pipe. The object is to provide an exhaust filter which is simple to mount and dismount, which is self-supporting, which can be manufactured so cheap that it can be used as a disposable article, and which gives possibility of choice regarding the connection to different dimensions of exhaust pipes.

Abstract: A vacuum air flow operated cyclone separator arrangement for collecting, handling and packaging loose contaminated material in accordance with acceptable radiological and criticality control requirements. The vacuum air flow system includes a specially designed fail-safe prefilter installed upstream of the vacuum air flow power supply. The fail-safe prefilter provides in-cell vacuum system flow visualization and automatically reduces or shuts off the vacuum air flow in the event of an upstream prefilter failure. The system is effective for collecting and handling highly contaminated radiological waste in the form of dust, dirt, fuel element fines, metal chips and similar loose material in accordance with radiological and criticality control requirements for disposal by means of shipment and burial.

Abstract: A cylindrical radial flow type dust collector filter for filtering the fluid flowing in the radial direction thereof is disclosed. The filter is composed of a cylindrical first filter member having a zigzag-shaped cross section in the flowing direction of the fluid, a second filter member having flowing resistance smaller than that of the first filter member, which is arranged outside of the first filter member so as to cover the outer periphery thereof and a third filter member having flowing resistance substantially the same as that of the second filter member, which is arranged inside of the first filter member so as to cover the inner periphery thereof and to define an open passage for the fluid in the axially central portion thereof.

Abstract: A molecular differentiation filter for filtering particles in the sub-mil range comprises a body having two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, the first and second chambers being defined by a chamber dividing member. The filter also comprises an inlet that is in communication with the second chamber, an outlet that is in communication with the first chamber, and a plurality of coaxial, stacked discs mounted onto the chamber dividing member, the plurality of discs resides entirely in the second chamber. The discs comprise alternating filtering discs and separation discs, wherein each of the filtering discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge and a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from the perimetrical edge.

Abstract: A chemical filter is provided for preventing pollutants in the atmosphere from contaminating sensitive electronic equipment, such as hard disc drives. The chemical filter comprises a layer of charcoal or charcoal-impregnated foam to remove organic contaminants and at least one layer of a high surface area metal to remove inorganic pollutants, such as SO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S, NO.sub.2 and Cl.sub.2. In one embodiment, the chemical filter comprises a layer of charcoal, a layer of a copper foam, a layer of a nickel foam and a layer of a particle filter.A method is also provided for preventing pollutant molecules in the atmosphere from contaminating electronic equipment. The method comprises interposing the chemical filter of the invention between the electronic equipment and the source of the pollution, introducing polluted air into the chemical filter, reacting pollutant molecules with the high surface area metal, and introducing filtered air to the electronic equipment.

Abstract: A multiple filter unit in the form of a complete interchangeable unit for insertion into a motor vehicle interior ventilation duct, or into the mouth of air conditioners or into suction-producing apparatus for closed environments, including a rigid casing provided with retention and sealing means, a series of filter elements and/or chemical products and/or electrostatic filtering devices disposed in a predetermined order for filtering solid particulate matter, mists and air pollutant gases, and means for checking the degree of efficiency.

Abstract: A filter for a laser surgery smoke evacuation system including a generally cylindrical hollow housing with endcaps on either end to hold a plurality of filter elements in place within the housing. The inlet end of the housing includes a hollow cone with a cylindrical inlet projecting from the apex of the cone and a base ring projecting from the base of the cone. The endcaps are held in place by adhesive tape strips with a high friction backing. The high friction backing helps hold the filter lightly in place during use. The filter is disposable and easily removable from the system and includes no mechanical apparatus to hold the filter in the system.

Abstract: A filter (2) for a ductless range hood includes a layer (8) providing an impact barrier for removing coarse particles such as grease spatters from cooking discharges and resisting the heat of incoming discharges, for preserving filtering capacity and service life of downstream layers, a second layer (10) providing absorption of grease remaining in the cooking discharge after passage through the first layer, a third layer (12) for removing noxious gases such as oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide from the cooking discharges and for absorbing odors, and a fourth layer (14) for removing fine particles such as smoke from the cooking discharges. Various combinations of layers are disclosed as well as various structural and framing configurations.

Abstract: A compact unit adapted to remove particulate contaminants from the atmosphere of a room and at the same time to render the atmosphere more pleasing. The unit is provided with a casing that includes a cylindrical flow tube through which the air to be purified is drawn by means of a suction fan at the outlet end of the tube. Attachable to the inlet end of the tube is a series of inter-coupled filter rings which are progressively graded to remove more or less coarse particles. The last filter ring in the series is constituted by a porous disc impregnated with a volatile aromatic liquid which is volatilized by the forced air stream to impart a fragrance thereto. Intermediate the inlet and outlet of the tube is an electrostatic precipitator constituted by a negatively-charged ionizer electrode and a positively-charged tubular collector which act to extract residual fine particles from the air stream, whereby the air returned to the atmosphere from the outlet is substantially free of contaminants and is fragrant.

Abstract: A filtration module formed from a first flexible sheet having a first edge section, an opposed second edge section and an interior section, comprising engaging each portion of the first and second edge sections respectively to uncorrugated first upper and lower terminal elements. Corrugations are formed in the first upper and lower terminal elements of the first flexible sheet-terminal elements assembly, and slits are cut in the interior section of the first flexible sheet-terminal elements assembly, with the slits extending transversely to the edge sections. Each adjacent pair of slits in the interior section defines a ribbon element. One or more filtration modules may be assembled to form a filter by stacking the elements or by winding the filtration module or modules around a central core. The stacked or wound filtration modules are supported within a housing so that each ribbon element is disposed in a fully extended, fexible state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising a body housing an electric powered blower, a dust case being connected to and free to be detached from the body, a lid having an intake and being fitted to the dust case, which lid is free to be opened and closed, a bag-shaped filter being freely fitted to and removable from the inner surface of the lid and communicating with the intake, and a dust dumping aperture provided in the dust case and accessible by pivoting away a filter housing unit, the dust dumping aperture being used to remove the bag-shaped filter from the dust case.

Abstract: A dust collecting filter is provided with a zigzag shaped filter member having small meshes and comparatively large flowing resistance, which is disposed within a casing so that the zigzag shaped cross section thereof extends in the fluid flowing direction. Other filter members having comparatively small flowing resistance are charged within the spaces defined by the zigzag shaped filter member.

Abstract: An apparatus especially suitable for filtering out a particulate material from a carrier fluid such as flue gases is disclosed herein. This assembly utilizes a main vessel defining an interior compartment and having an inlet and separate outlet. A number of filter assemblies are disposed within the vessel compartment and supported therein in spaced relationship with one another and with the vessel itself by means of a single tubular member which also serves as a discharge pipe between the filter assemblies and the vessel's outlet.

Abstract: A reusable air filter system for providing permanent, self-charging, electrostatic filter stages that are easily cleanable for re-use. The filter system may be used on air conditioners, furnaces, and grease hoods. A frame is circumscribed about the edges of a plurality of polypropylene filter elements. At least one stage of the filter is three dimensional in shape and folded over on itself to retain its filtering characteristics and to provide a dual biasing device for use with the filter stages upstream of the three dimensional filter. The folded three dimensional filter is not creased, thus providing an additional biasing element in the filter system.

Abstract: A method for removing particulates from internal combustion exhaust gases in a system which includes a first gas conduit which connects with an engine exhaust pipe and which communicates with a series of trap chambers containing means for filtering or trapping particulate matter present in the exhaust gas. Means for heating gas passing through said first gas conduit is provided upstream of the first trap chamber. A second gas conduit connects with said first gas conduit at a location upstream of the first trap chamber by virtue of which exhaust gas can be made to flow in a path which by-passes any number of trap chambers in the series but which flows through subsequent trap chambers. Valve means are associated with said second gas conduit to selectively by-pass or direct exhaust gas flow through desired trap chambers.

Abstract: An air filter providing a filter chamber comprising an open core cage of activated charcoal wrapped by a first polyurethane foam pad of a predetermined density, all of which is covered by a second polyurethane filter blanket of a different density. The center bore of the chamber being unobstructed and having communication at one end with an air blower that evacuates the core, drawing ambient air therein through 360 degrees and exhausting filtered air therefrom.

Abstract: An exhaust gas separator for an internal combustion engine comprises an elongate housing (10) having an inlet (11) and an outlet (12), and annular disks (13) disposed within said housing between said inlet and outlet. Each disk is provided on both side surfaces with at least one open flow channel (14) which extends in the form of a spiral between the external periphery of the disk and its interior to provide communication between the exterior of the disk and its interior opening (19). The annular disks are arranged in a series and bear axially one against the other whereby the abutting side surfaces of adjacent disks serve to close the flow channels in said side surfaces. The spiral form of one of the flow channels in the abutting surfaces extending in the opposite sense to the spiral form in the other of said abutting surfaces whereby said flow channels in said abutting surfaces intersect each other at numerous positions (20).

Abstract: An apparatus especially suitable for filtering out a particulate material from a carrier fluid such as flue gases is disclosed herein. This assembly utilizes a main vessel defining an interior compartment and having an inlet and separate outlet. A number of filter assemblies are disposed within the vessel compartment and supported therein in spaced relationship with one another and with the vessel itself by means of a single tubular member which also serves as a discharge pipe between the filter assemblies and the vessel's outlet.