Diatomaceous Earth Filter Apparatus and Method
AssigneePentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
InventorsRobert Frank Swindell, Leonard Richiuso, Brian Everett Cox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for removing diatomaceous earth and contaminants from a filter, and for filtering liquid using diatomaceous earth is provided. Embodiments of the method can include a washdown process, a backwash process, and a filtering process. Some embodiments can include one or more filter cartridges with cartridge tubes to increase flow during the backwash process. Some embodiments can also include a backwash sprayer to disturb contaminants during the backwash process.
Claims16
A method for removing diatomaceous earth and contaminants from a filter, the method comprising:
- opening a drain in a bottom tank;
- removing a lid to expose at least one filter cartridge;
- washing down the at least one filter cartridge to remove the diatomaceous earth and the contaminants from a septum of the at least one filter cartridge;
- washing the diatomaceous earth and the contaminants out of the bottom tank through the drain;
- and
- replacing the lid and closing the drain.
A method for removing diatomaceous earth and contaminants from a filter, the method comprising:
- setting a backwash valve to a backwash position to reverse liquid flow;
- directing liquid flow from an interior to an exterior of at least one filter cartridge;
- directing liquid flow from the interior through a cartridge tube having a plurality of holes to the exterior through a septum in order to remove the diatomaceous earth and the contaminants from the septum;
- directing liquid flow through a backwash sprayer to create turbulence in a bottom tank;
- and
- directing liquid flow from the exterior of the at least one filter cartridge and from the bottom tank to a backwash pipe.
A method of filtering contaminants from a liquid using diatomaceous earth, the method comprising:
- removing substantially all air from a filter tank;
- spraying unfiltered liquid into the filter tank to substantially fill the filter tank with liquid;
- continuing to spray unfiltered liquid into the filter tank to create turbulence;
- directing the unfiltered liquid from an exterior of at least one filter cartridge through a septum coated with a solution including diatomaceous earth to an interior of the at least one filter cartridge in order to filter the liquid;
- sealing the filtered liquid within the interior of the at least one filter cartridge from the unfiltered liquid;
- and
- directing the filtered liquid through the at least one filter cartridge to an outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.