Filter media support and containment system

An improved granular media filter of the type including a filter tank, means for dividing the tank into a plurality of cells, means within each cell for holding horizontal porous support plates, a bed of filter media on the porous support plates, influent means for delivering fluid to be treated to the top of the filter bed, filtrate receiving means in each cell below the support plates for receiving the treated fluid, an effluent channel for removing the treated liquid from the filter, port means for delivering the treated liquid from each filtrate receiving means to the common effluent channel and backwashing means that cooperate with the port means to force a backwashing liquid back through the port means and filtrate receiving means and up through the filter bed for removing contaminants therein and thereon, wherein the improvement comprises a prefabricated lightweight plastic cell system that divides the filter into the plurality of cells, provides the horizontal support means for the porous plates, provides the filtrate receiving means and provides the port means, the plastic cell system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of cell sheets for dividing the filter into the plurality of cells, the cell sheets having integral horizontal shoulders protruding from each side and extending the length thereof for supporting the porous filter plates, the cell sheets having integral foot means for attaching the cell sheets to the base of the filter tank, the cell sheets having a plurality of holes spaced along the length thereof above the horizontal shoulders for attaching a filter plate holding means and the cell sheets having means along each vertical edge thereof for attaching the sheets to the ends of the cells;
• (b) a plurality of port means attached to one end of the cell sheets and connecting the cell sheets at one end thereof and providing ports between the filtrate receiving means and the effluent channel, the port means comprising a front panel having a plurality of openings, a rear panel having a plurality of openings corresponding to the openings in the front panel, a plurality of tubes extending from the openings in the front panel to the openings in the rear panel, means on the front side of the front panel for attaching the port means to the ends of the cell sheets, means on each vertical side of the port means for attaching adjacent port means together;
• and
• (c) a plurality of end cell panels attached to the other end of the cell sheets and connecting the cell sheets at the other end thereof, the end cell panels comprising a panel having means on the front side thereof for attaching the end cell panels to the ends of the cell sheets and means on each vertical side of the end cell panels for attaching the adjacent end cell panels together.

An improved granular media filter of the type including a filter tank, means for dividing the tank into a plurality of cells, means within each cell for holding horizontal porous support plates, a bed of filter media on the porous support plates, influent means for delivering fluid to be treated to the top of the filter bed, filtrate receiving means in each cell below the support plates for receiving the treated fluid, an effluent channel for removing the treated liquid from the filter, port means for delivering the treated liquid from each filtrate receiving means to the common effluent channel and backwashing means that cooperate with the port means to force a backwashing liquid back through the port means and filtrate receiving means and up through the filter bed for removing contaminants therein and thereon, wherein the improvement comprises a prefabricated lightweight plastic cell system that divides the filter into the plurality of cells, provides the horizontal support means for the porous plates, provides the filtrate receiving means and provides the port means, the plastic cell system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of cell sheets for dividing the filter into the plurality of cells, the cell sheets having means extending along each side for supporting the filter plates, the cell sheets having foot means for attaching the cell sheets to the base of the filter, the cell sheets having means for holding the filter plates in position and the cell sheets having means along each vertical edge thereof for attaching the cell sheets to the ends of the cells;
• (b) a plurality of port means attached to one end of the cell sheets and connecting the cell sheets at one end thereof and providing ports between the filtrate receiving means and the effluent channel, the port means comprising a front panel having a plurality of openings, a rear panel having a plurality of openings corresponding to the openings in the front panel, a plurality of tubes extending from the openings in the front panel to the openings in the rear panel, means on the front side of the front panel for attaching the port means to the ends of the cell sheets comprising a plurality of pairs of vertical dogs projecting from the front side of the front panel, each pair of dogs forming a slot for receiving the ends of the cell sheets and each pair of dogs having a plurality of holes for attaching the port means to corresponding holes in the vertical edges of the cell sheets, means on each vertical side of the port means for attaching adjacent port means together;
• and
• (c) a plurality of end cell panels attached to the other end of the cell sheets and connecting the cell sheets at the other end thereof, the end cell panel comprising a panel having means on the front side thereof for attaching the end cell panels to the ends of the cell sheets and means on each vertical side of the end cell panels for attaching adjacent end cell panels together.