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US 2012/0055887 A1Published application
Filtration method with self-cleaning filter assembly
OwnerJohnny Leon LOVEinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A filter assembly and method of filtering a fluid containing particulates is provided having a filter element mounted on a horizontal mandrel, whereby the filter element and mandrel are rotatable within a housing during a self-cleaning step, wherein the filter element is immersed and agitated in a cleaning liquid followed by high speed rotation while a rinsing liquid is delivered to the core of the filter element. An ultrasonic transducer in the housing may be activated while the filter element is immersed in the cleaning liquid to assist in removing accumulated particulates from the filter element.
Claims31
A method of filtering a fluid containing particulates to produce a filtrate, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a filter assembly comprising a housing, a hollow core filter element having an exterior surface and an interior surface, means to mount the filter element inside the housing whereby the filter element can be rotated relative to the housing, a motor for rotating the filter element relative to the housing, and means for delivering a rinsing liquid to the interior surface of the filter element while the filter element is rotating;
- (b) introducing the fluid into the housing and outside the exterior surface of the filter element and creating a pressure differential across the filter element, which causes the particulates to accumulate on the filter element and the filtrate to pass through the filter element and out of the housing;
- (c) stopping the flow of the fluid into the housing;
- (d) providing a cleaning liquid inside the housing at a level sufficient to at least partially submerge the filter element;
- (e) agitating the filter element in the cleaning liquid, to dislodge accumulated particulates on the exterior surface of the filter element;
- (f) draining the cleaning liquid and particulates dislodged from the filter element from the housing;
- and
- (g) rotating the filter element while delivering a rinsing liquid to the interior surface of the filter element, whereby the rinsing liquid is driven from the interior surface to the exterior surface of the filter element by centrifugal force.
5 more elements
A method of filtering a fluid containing particulates to produce a filtrate, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a filter assembly comprising a housing, a first cylindrical, hollow core filter element having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein an axis of the filter element is aligned horizontally inside the housing, a perforated mandrel extending along the axis of the filter element and rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the filter element is mounted on the mandrel and rotatable therewith, a motor mechanically linked to the mandrel for rotating the mandrel and the filter element relative to the housing, and means for delivering a rinsing liquid to the interior surface of the filter element while the filter element is rotating;
- (b) introducing the fluid into the housing and outside the exterior surface of the filter element and creating a pressure differential across the filter element, which causes the particulates to accumulate on the outer surface of the filter element and the filtrate to pass through the filter element and the mandrel and out of the housing;
- (c) stopping the flow of the fluid into the housing and draining the housing;
- (d) introducing a cleaning liquid inside the housing at a level sufficient to at least partially submerge the filter element, wherein the cleaning liquid has a different composition than the fluid being filtered;
- (e) agitating the filter element in the cleaning liquid by rotating the filter, to dislodge accumulated particulates on the exterior surface of the filter element;
- (f) draining the cleaning liquid and particulates dislodged from the filter element from the housing;
- and
- (g) rotating the filter element while delivering a rinsing liquid to the interior surface of the filter element, whereby the rinsing liquid is driven from the interior surface to the exterior surface of the filter element by centrifugal force.
5 more elements
An apparatus for filtering a fluid containing particulates to produce a filtrate, comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a first, hollow core filter element positioned inside the housing, wherein the filter element has an exterior surface and an interior surface;
- (c) a perforated, hollow mandrel extending along an axis of the filter element and rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the filter element is mounted on the mandrel and rotatable therewith;
- (d) a discharge manifold in fluid communication with an end of the mandrel, for receiving the filtrate that passes through the filter element and the mandrel;
- (e) an inlet manifold for introducing an unfiltered fluid into the housing and outside the exterior surface of the filter element;
- (f) a motor mechanically linked to the mandrel for rotating the mandrel and filter element relative to the housing;
- (g) means for delivering a rinsing liquid to the interior surface of the filter element while the filter element is rotating, whereby the rinsing liquid is introduced inside the mandrel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.