US 4,059,518 A · Filter with axially shiftable rotating backwash selector · patentgrep

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Abstract

A filter assembly including a housing with a plurality of individual filter units circumferentially arranged within the housing. The housing is compartmented to channel a contaminated fluid to be filtered in a filtering direction through the filter units, from one end thereof to the other. A rotatable, conduit-like backwash arm is disposed in at least one end of the housing for sealed engagement with the contaminated fluid inlet, end of a filter unit and for receiving a backwashing fluid flow therefrom. A rotatable discharge pipe connects to the outlet end of the arm and extends from the housing through a rotary-axial bearing and seal unit thereon, and is coaxially arranged with respect to the circumferential array of filter units. A rotation indexing unit adjacent the housing engages the discharge pipe for angularly shifting said backwash arm from filter unit to filter unit and thereby for backwashing of said filter units in a desired sequence. An axial shift unit engages the discharge pipe for axially shifting the backwash arm away from the filter units preparatory to each angular shift, and for axially shifting the backwash arm into sealed engagement with a new filter unit following such an angular shift. A control coordinates actuation of the rotational indexing unit and axial shift unit for sequentially backwashing filter units of the array. In a modification, a rotatable backwash arm is provided at each end of the array of filter units, movement of the arms being synchronized and the arms being axially opposed for sequentially backwashing the filter unit with a backwashing fluid other than the filtered fluid. In a further modification, the axial shift unit comprises a camming device directly responsive to rotation of the discharge pipe for carrying out the axial shifting of the backwash arm.

Drawings

Claims11

Dependent claims

A filter assembly for removing contaminants from a fluid, comprising:

closed, hollow housing means;
a plurality of individual filter units circumferentially arranged in said housing means;
means compartmenting said housing means for channeling a contaminated fluid to be filtered in a filtering direction through said filter units from one end of each thereof and for receiving filtered fluid from the other ends of said filter units;
a rotatable backwash arm means in at least one end of said housing means and engageable with said one end of a given said filter unit for backwash fluid flow communication therewith, said rotatable backwash arm means including an arm conduit within said housing means and having a central extension passing from said housing means in sealed and rotatably and axially movable relation therewith, said one ends of said filter units lying substantially in a plane, the rotational axis of said backwash arm means being substantially perpendicular to said plane and coaxial with the circumferential array of filter units, said array of filter units and said backwash arm means being confined to zones on opposite sides of said plane;
means engaging said backwash arm means and actuable for rotatably indexing said backwash arm means from filter unit to filter unit while simultaneously axially offsetting said backwash arm means away from said plane of said filter unit one ends during rotative movement of the backwash arm means, thereby to prevent scrubbing contact therebetween;
diametrically spaced pivot means on said one housing end, said means for axially offsetting said backwash arm means comprising collar means surrounding said arm conduit extension, bearing means coaxially locating said collar means with respect to said arm conduit extension and permitting rotation of said arm conduit extension therewith, annular means axially fixing said bearing means with respect to said arm conduit extension, yoke means adjacent said collar means and diametrically gimballed with respect thereto, said yoke means including mechanical advantage means pivotally coupled to said diametrically spaced pivot means and including a resilient motor means interposed therein and actuable for substantially axially reciprocating said collar means and hence said backwash arm means.

3 more elements

A filter assembly for removing contaminants from a fluid, comprising:

closed, hollow housing means;
a plurality of individual filter units circumferentially arranged in said housing means;
means compartmenting said housing means for channeling a contaminated fluid to be filtered in a filtering direction through said filter units from one end of each thereof and for receiving filtered fluid from the other ends of said filter units;
a rotatable backwash arm means in at least one end of said housing means and engageable with said one end of a given said filter unit for backwash fluid flow communication therewith, said rotatable backwash arm means including a crank-shaped arm conduit within said housing means and having a central extension passing from said housing means in sealed and rotatably and axially movable relation therewith, said one ends of said filter units lying substantially in a plane, the rotational axis of said backwash arm means being substantially perpendicular to said plane and coaxial with the circumferential array of filter units, said array of filter units and said backwash arm means being confined to zones on opposite sides of said plane;
means engaging said backwash arm means and actuable for rotatably indexing said backwash arm means from filter unit to filter unit while simultaneously axially offsetting said backwash arm means away from said plane of said filter unit one ends during rotative movement of the backwash arm means, thereby to prevent scrubbing contact therebetween;
bearing seal means fixed on said housing and through which said arm conduit extension rotatably and axially shiftably exits said housing means, said bearing seal means including a radial flange adjacent said housing, said means for axially offsetting said backwash arm means comprising a support member fixed to and extending axially from said flange, a pair of disks secured coaxially on said arm conduit extension axially and radially within said support member, said disks being releasably fixed together in face-to-face contacting relation, said disks having perimetral flanges axially spaced to form a circumferential groove therebetween, said perimetral flanges respectively having ramped cam notches and cam knobs in axially spaced and opposed pairs, at least one pair of diametrically opposed rollers extending radially inward from said support member into said groove, said rollers being rotatably supported by said support member on their own length axes but otherwise fixedly located with respect to said housing means, said rollers being rotatably engageable with the opposed faces of said flanges at and between said cam notch-cam knob pairs, said notch-knob pairs being circumferentially arranged on said disks in a circumferential distribution corresponding to that of said filter units, such that rotation of said disks with said arm conduit extension axially urges the interior end of said crank-shaped arm conduit into sealing relation with an opposed filter unit one end but axially shifts said crank-shaped arm conduit away from the plane of said filter unit one ends upon rotation out of said coaxial alignment.

3 more elements

A filter assembly for removing contaminants from a fluid, comprising:

closed, hollow housing means;
a plurality of individual filter units circumferentially arranged in said housing means;
means compartmenting said housing means for channeling a contaminated fluid to be filtered in a filtering direction through said filter units from one end of each thereof and for receiving filtered fluid from the other ends of said filter units, said one ends of said filter units lying substantially in a plane;
a rotatable backwash arm means in at least one end of said housing means and rotatable into engagement with the said one ends of successive said filter units for backwash fluid flow communication therewith, said rotatable backwash arm means comprising a crank-shaped conduit having a central extension extending from said one end of said housing means in sealed and rotatably and axially movable relation therewith, the rotational axis of said backwash arm means being substantially perpendicular to said plane and coaxial with the circumferential array of filter units, said array of filter units and said backwash arm means being confined to zones on opposite sides of said plane;
rotational indexing means engaging said backwash arm means and actuable for angularly shifting said backwash arm means from axial alignment with one filter unit to axial alignment with another, said rotational indexing means comprising a disk having an annular hub angularly adjustably fixed on said arm conduit extension and a periphery carrying circumferentially arranged notches in one-to-one angular correspondence with said filter units, a pawl support pivoted on said arm conduit extension and extending radially out along said disk, a push bar pivoted adjacent one end on said pawl support and resiliently biased toward said disk and lying substantially tangential of said disk, and a pressure fluid cylinder acting between said housing means and pawl support, said pawl support comprising a pair of radially extending plates spaced from and flanking said disk, an end support bar fixedly sandwiched between the free ends of said plates immediately outboard of and substantially paralleling said push bar, and adjustable spring means on said end support bar extending toward and urging said push bar sideways into a said disk notch;
axial shift means engaging said backwash arm means extension and actuable for axially disengaging and engaging said backwash arm means with said one end of said filter units, such that the backwash arm means is axially offset out of contact with said filter units during at least a portion of the rotational indexing thereof.

3 more elements

A filter assembly for removing contaminants from a fluid, comprising:

closed, hollow housing means;
a plurality of individual filter units circumferentially arranged in said housing means;
means compartmenting said housing means for channeling a contaminated fluid to be filtered in a filtering direction through said filter units from one end of each thereof and for receiving filtered fluid from the other ends of said filter units, said one ends of said filter units lying substantially in a plane;
a rotatable backwash arm means in at least one end of said housing means and rotatable into engagement with the said one ends of successive said filter units for backwash fluid flow communication therewith, said rotatable backwash arm means comprising a crank-shaped conduit having a central extension extending from said one end of said housing means in sealed and rotatably and axially movable relation therewith, the rotational axis of said backwash arm means being substantially perpendicular to said plane and coaxial with the circumferential array of filter units, said array of filter units and said backwash arm means being confined to zones on opposite sides of said plane;
rotational indexing means engaging said backwash arm means and actuable for angularly shifting said backwash arm means from axial alignment with one filter unit to axial alignment with another;
axial shift means engaging said backwash arm means extension and actuable for axially disengaging and engaging said backwash arm means with said one end of said filter units, such that the backwash arm means is axially offset out of contact with said filter units during at least a portion of the rotational indexing thereof, said axial shift means comprising at least one cam follower member and at least one cam member having an axially modulated camming face axially opposed to and contacting said cam follower member, one said member being fixedly located on said housing means and the other being fixedly located on said arm conduit extension and rotatable therewith for axially shifting said arm conduit extension in response to rotation thereof, said cam and cam follower members being relatively located in correspondence to said filter units to offset the backwash arm means from said plane of said filter units during rotation thereof.

3 more elements

A filter assembly for removing contaminants from a fluid, comprising:

closed, hollow housing means;
a plurality of individual filter units circumferentially arranged in said housing means;
means compartmenting said housing means for channeling a contaminated fluid to be filtered in a filtering direction through said filter units from one end of each thereof and for receiving filtered fluid from the other ends of said filter units, said one ends of said filter units lying substantially in a plane;
a rotatable backwash arm means in at least one end of said housing means and rotatable into engagement with the said one ends of successive said filter units for backwash fluid flow communication therewith, said rotatable backwash arm means comprising a crank-shaped conduit having a central extension extending from said one end of said housing means in sealed and rotatably and axially movable relation therewith, the rotational axis of said backwash arm means being substantially perpendicular to said plane and coaxial with the circumferential array of filter units, said array of filter units and said backwash arm means being confined to zones on opposite sides of said plane;
rotational indexing means engaging said backwash arm means and actuable for angularly shifting said backwash arm means from axial alignment with one filter unit to axial alignment with another;
axial shift means engaging said backwash arm means extension and actuable for axially disengaging and engaging said backwash arm means with said one end of said filter units, such that the backwash arms means is axially offset out of contact with said filter units during at least a portion of the rotational indexing thereof, said rotational indexing means and axial shift means being carried side-by-side on said central arm extension outside said housing means, said axial shift means lying between said housing means and rotational indexing means, said axial shift means having a portion fixed to said housing means and a further portion at least axially fixed on said central arm extension and means interconnecting same and, in cooperation with rotation of said central arm extension, actuable for axially shifting same toward and away from each other.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description8,111 words

Summary1,083 words

#This invention relates to a filter assembly having a circumferential array of filter units and a rotatable backwash arm for individual backwashing thereof, and particularly relates to such a filter assembly wherein the backwash arm is axially offset from the filter units during its angular shift from filter unit to filter unit.

#The present invention is directed to an improvement on the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,465, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

#In known rotating backwash arm filter assemblies, including that of the above-mentioned patent, wherein the array of filter units and the rotatable backwash arm extend axially from each other, the backwash fluid outlet ends of the filter unit are normally coplanar and communicate through openings in a partition with the portion of the housing in which the backwash arm is located. In such known arrangements, sequential backwashing of the filter units is accomplished solely by rotation of the backwash arm from filter unit to filter unit and the adjacent end portion of the backwash arm is in continuous contact with the opposed face of such partition. In an attempt to maintain a degree of backwash efficiency, the orbiting end of the backwash arm is normally provided with an annular seal engageable with the opposed surface of such partition to limit leakage of fluid flowing between the arm and an opposed filter unit and leakage between arm and partition, and to obtain even minimal sealing, the arm end seal must be axially urged against the partition with substantial force. On the other hand, as the arm angularly indexes from one filter unit to the other, the seal scrubs along the face of the partition. Thus, a rotation drive motor of considerable power and hence size is required to rotate the arm in view of the relatively high starting and running friction between the seal and partition. Further, frictional wear on the opposed faces of the partition and seal, particularly the latter, is relatively rapid, normally requiring relatively frequent seal replacement. Such power and wear considerations appear despite compromising of seal effectiveness due to limiting the force of compressive contact between the seal and partition.

Brief description of the drawings12 figures

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a filter assembly embodying the invention.

#FIG. 2 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 showing the filter housing substantially in central cross section and with portions partially broken.

#FIG. 3 is a sectional view substantially taken on the line III--III of FIG. 2.

Detailed description6,774 words

#Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words "up" and "down", "right" and "left" will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words "in" and "out" will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similar import.

#The objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing a filter assembly including a housing and plurality of individual filter units circumferentially arranged in the housing. The housing is compartmented to channel a contaminated fluid to be filtered in a filtering direction through the filter units, from one end thereof to the other. A rotatable, conduit-like backwash arm is disposed in at least one end of the housing for sealed engagement with the contaminated fluid inlet end of a filter unit and for receiving a backwashing fluid flow therefrom. A rotatable discharge pipe connects to the outlet end of the arm and extends from the housing through a rotary-axial bearing and seal unit thereon, and is coaxially arranged with respect to the circumferential array of filter units. A rotation indexing unit adjacent the housing engages the discharge pipe for angularly shifting said backwash arm from filter unit to filter unit and thereby for backwashing of said filter units in a desired sequence. An axial shift unit engages the discharge pipe for axially shifting the backwash arm away from the filter units preparatory to each angular shift, and for axially shifting the backwash arm into sealed engagement with a new filter unit following such an angular shift. A control coordinates actuation of the rotational indexing unit and axial shift unit for sequentially backwashing filter units of the array. In a modification, a rotatable backwash arm is provided at each end of the array of filter units, movement of the arms being synchronized and the arms being axially opposed for sequentially backwashing the filter unit with a backwashing fluid other than the filtered fluid. In a further modification, the axial shift unit comprises a camming device directly responsive to rotation of the discharge pipe for carrying out the axial shifting of the backwash arm.

#FIG. 1 discloses a filter assembly 10 embodying the present invention. The filter assembly 10 includes a housing 11 with a cylindrical intermediate portion 12 and opposed end portions, or heads, 13 and 14. In the embodiment shown, the housing 11 is horizontally disposed and carried by a frame 15, here comprising a plurality of support legs.