Method and apparatus for effecting the cleaning of a fluid filter

Abstract

A method for effecting the cleaning of a clogged fluid filtering member in a filtering system situated between an inlet and an outlet port comprising utilizing at least a portion of the fluid to be filtered in said system to impart motion to a movable hollow cleaning body provided therein in fluid communication with a valved cleaning outlet and to carry matter unable to pass through said filtering member into a fluid intake portion of said cleaning body and out said cleaning outlet. Also provided is a fluid filter system comprising a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a valved cleaning outlet, said housing defining a fluid passage between said ports via a filtering member; a hollow filter cleaning body movably mounted within said housing and having at least one fluid intake portion adapted to move in close proximity to the surface of the filtering member and to provide a fluid flow path between said intake portion and said valved cleaning outlet; and a fluid responsive means positioned in said flow path adapted to cause the movement of said cleaning body; the arrangement being such that when said filter is at least partly clogged said valved outlet is opened causing fluid to flow via said intake portion through said hollow body into said cleaning outlet and thereby to actuate said fluid response means to cause the movement of said cleaning body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.