Self cleaning disc filter apparatus

A filtering apparatus having a controllable direction of flow through the filter apparatus including a first flow direction during a filtering mode and a second flow direction during a self-cleaning mode, the apparatus provided for filtering an upstream flowing fluid with filtering elements, in the form of a plurality of stackable discs, during the filtering mode utilizing said first flow direction, the apparatus also configured to self-clean said filtering elements with said upstream flowing fluid during the self-cleaning mode utilizing said second flow direction, the apparatus encased within a housing including a fluid diverter for controlling the direction of flow through said housing selected from said first flow direction or said second flow direction, a central spine assembly for housing said plurality of stackable discs, and a piston assembly for controlling the configuration of said plurality of disc filters along said disc filter spine,

• a. said housing having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion that are coupled with one another;
• housing further comprising at least three openings to allow said first flow direction during filtering mode, and said second flow direction during self-cleaning mode, said at least three openings including an inlet opening for receiving upstream unfiltered fluid, an outlet for receiving downstream filtered fluid and a flush exit for removing filtered waste materials, wherein the flow through said housing between said openings is controlled by the position of said fluid diverter disposed within upper portion of housing;
• b. said central spine assembly for holding said plurality of filtering elements both in a stacked configuration during filtration mode and an un-stacked configuration during self-cleaning mode;
• said spine assembly having a first end and a second end;
• c. said spine assembly associated at a first end with said piston assembly having a closed configuration during filtration mode, and an open configuration during self-cleaning mode;
• wherein the closed configuration of said piston assembly provides for maintaining said filtering elements in a stacked formation along the length of said spine during filtration;
• and wherein said piston assembly's open configuration provides for un-stacking said filtering elements during self-cleaning mode to facilitate flushing waste materials through said flush exit;
• wherein said piston assembly is actuated by the position of said fluid diverter therein said fluid diverter provides for switching between said closed configuration, during said first flow direction, and open configuration, during said second flow direction;
• d. said spine assembly associated at a second end with said fluid diverter, said fluid diverter is disposed internally within said housing, at upper portion, said fluid diverter is controlled externally to said housing with a controller;
• said fluid diverter having a substantially cylindrical body including an upper face, a lower face and perimeter surface;
• wherein said lower face features a peripheral channel that is fluid communication with a plurality of spine legs of said spine assembly;
• said fluid diverter having two states for actuating between filtering mode, utilizing said first flow direction, and self-cleaning mode, utilizing said second flow direction;
• wherein said fluid diverter provides for changing between said first flow direction and said second flow direction in a single step, the fluid diverter having a dedicated aperture in fluid communication with said peripheral channel utilized during self-cleaning mode, said dedicated aperture is configured to receive upstream flowing fluid that is diverted to said peripheral channel and into a plurality of spine legs of said spine assembly wherein said spine legs have orifices defined along its length, said orifices are used to jet fluid so as to clean said plurality of disc filters;
• and wherein said spine legs are in further fluid communication with said piston assembly wherein the flow status through said spine legs further provides for changing the status of said piston assembly from said open configuration to said closed configuration.