Method and apparatus for the cleaning of the surface of filter panels in a fluid passageway

A filter apparatus for cleaning up a contaminated fluid stream, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a duct having top, bottom, and side walls surrounding said fluid stream and forming a fluid passageway therein, a selected one of said duct walls including an opening therein and an abutment surrounding said opening;
• (b) a filter screen having an upstream surface against which said fluid stream impinges, said filter screen being positioned within said duct and movable between a normal position extending transversely across said fluid stream such that particulate matter carried by said fluid stream is removed from said fluid stream by said filter screen and a dumping position removed from said stream with said upstream surface of said filter screen facing said opening in said duct wall and said filter screen striking against said abutment when said filter screen is moved to said dumping position such that the particulate matter built up on said filter screen is caused to fall through said opening;
• (c) a baffle plate positioned within said duct and movable between a normal position out of said fluid stream and a second position extending transversely across said fluid stream and blocking passage of fluid therethrough;
• (d) said filter screen and said baffle plate being so connected that movement of said filter screen from its normal to said dumping position occurs responsive to movement of said baffle plate from its normal position to its second position, and return of said baffle plate to its normal position occurs responsive to return of said filter screen to its normal position;
• whereby the particulate matter carried by said fluid stream is removed from said filter screen and said fluid stream via said opening in said duct wall.