Device and method for filtering a fluid circulating in a plumbing and heating system

A device (1) for filtering a fluid circulating in a plumbing and heating system, said device (1) comprising a body (2) of the device which defines therewithin a filtration chamber (3) that is destined to have a fluid to be subjected to filtration pass through the filtration chamber (3), said body being provided with:

• a first inlet/outlet opening (10), which sets said filtration chamber (3) in communication with an outside of the device and is configured to be associated with a line so as to receive therefrom, or to send thereto, fluid entering or exiting said body of the device;
• a second inlet/outlet opening (20), which sets said filtration chamber (3) in communication with the outside of the device and is configured to be associated with a respective line so as to receive therefrom, or to send thereto, fluid entering or exiting said body of the device;
• a third inlet/outlet opening (30), which sets said filtration chamber (3) in communication with the outside of the device and is configured to be associated with a respective line so as to receive therefrom, or to send thereto, fluid entering or exiting said body of the device;
• the device being configured to operate a passage of fluid through said filtration chamber (3), in a selective manner according to a plurality of operative configurations, from one opening among said first inlet/outlet opening (10), said second inlet/outlet opening (20), and said third inlet/outlet opening (30) to another opening among said first inlet/outlet opening (10), said second inlet/outlet opening (20), and said third inlet/outlet opening (30),
• the device further comprising filtering members (40) that are at least partially housed inside said filtration chamber (3), or associated with said body (2) of the device, and operatively interposed between said first inlet/outlet opening, said second inlet/outlet opening and said third inlet/outlet opening to carry out filtering of the fluid passing through the filtration chamber;
• wherein said filtering members (40) comprise at least one mechanical filter (41) configured to perform a mechanical separation of substances and solid particles present in the fluid to be treated from the fluid in which the substances and solid particles are suspended, said mechanical filter (41) being arranged inside said filtration chamber (3) and structured so as to divide the filtration chamber into a first sub-chamber (A), a second sub-chamber (B) and a third sub-chamber (C), wherein:
• the first sub-chamber (A) is in fluid communication only with the first inlet/outlet opening, without passage through the mechanical filter;
• the second sub-chamber (B) is in fluid communication only with the second inlet/outlet opening, without passage through the mechanical filter;
• the third sub-chamber (C) is in fluid communication with only the third inlet/outlet opening, without passage through the mechanical filter;
• wherein in each of said plurality of operative configurations the fluid transiting in the filtration chamber (3) passes at least partially through said mechanical filter (41) in order to pass between said first sub-chamber (A), said second sub-chamber (B) and said third sub-chamber (C);
• wherein the mechanical filter (41) has a Y shape, in a cross section which is orthogonal to a longitudinal extension of the mechanical filter, said Y shape being configured to divide the filtration chamber into said first sub-chamber (A), second sub-chamber (B) and third sub-chamber (C), and wherein the mechanical filter (41) comprises:
• a first wall (P1) interposed between, and separating, the first inlet/outlet opening (10) and the second inlet/outlet opening;
• a second wall (P2) interposed between, and separating, the second inlet/outlet opening (20) and the third inlet/outlet opening (30);
• and
• a third wall (P3) interposed between, and separating, the first inlet/outlet opening (10) and the third inlet/outlet opening (30).