US 4,113,623 AGranted

Filter apparatus

AssigneeFood Automation-Service Techniques, Inc.

InventorsBernard G. Koether, William J. Shaughnessy

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Abstract

A filter apparatus comprises a tank, a pump and pump motor assembly, a filter assembly, and an inlet/outlet hose, which are modular elements easily assembled for use and disassembled for cleaning. The pump and pump motor assembly is detachably mounted to the tank by flanges including alignment pins and releasably connecting means. The filter assembly and inlet/outlet hose are attached to the pump and pump motor assembly by quick disconnect fittings which include heat insulating actuator rings. The filter assembly includes a filter intake pipe having a filter shoe mounted transversely thereto, a plenum grid which fits over the filter intake pipe and is detachably secured to the filter shoe, and a filter bag which fits over the plenum grid and is clamped between the plenum grid and filter shoe to effect a filter bag seal. The filter assembly is provided with a heat insulating handle to facilitate removing it when hot for filter bag replacement.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A filter apparatus for filtering liquids, including cooking oil, comprising:

A. a tank for receiving liquid to be filtered;
B. a pump and pump motor assembly comprising a modular element of the filter apparatus detachably mounted to and at least partially above the tank;
C. a filter assembly comprising a one-piece filter element for filtering liquid passing therethrough, the filter element having an interior and an exterior and defining an opening, a filter intake pipe defining at least one intake opening, the filter element mounted to the filter intake pipe with the filter element opening sealed to the intake pipe and the intake opening in communication with the interior of the filter element whereby liquid entering the intake opening must pass through the filter element, the intake pipe detachably mounted to the pump of the pump and pump motor assembly by means of a first quick disconnect fitting, the filter assembly being supported in the tank when so mounted and removable from the tank and pump and pump motor assembly as modular element,
whereby the filter apparatus is comprised of modular elements easily separable for cleaning, and with respect to the filter assembly, for installation or replacement of the filter element.

1 more element

A filter assembly for filtering liquids, such as cooking oil, and adapted for use with a pump, the filter assembly comprising:

A. an intake pipe including means for connecting one end thereof to a pump, the other end defining an intake opening;
B. a filter shoe mounted to the intake pipe between its ends, with the intake pipe extending through the filter shoe;
C. a plenum grid comprising spaced-apart walls defining a plurality of openings for permitting liquid to flow therethrough, the plenum grid detachably mounted to the filter shoe with the portion of the intake pipe extending through the filter shoe positioned between the spaced-apart walls of the plenum grid;
and
D. a filter element surrounding the plenum grid, the filter element defining an opening for inserting the plenum grid therein, the marginal edges of the filter element adjacent the opening being clamped between the plenum grid and the filter shoe when the plenum grid is mounted thereto,
whereby the filter element is immersed in liquid to be filtered and the pump draws liquid through the filter element, plenum grid and intake pipe, discharging filtered liquid as desired.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.