Filter system

A filter system comprising a cylindrical chamber containing fluid up to a predetermined level, a conical shroud positioned in the cylindrical chamber, said conical shroud defining a downwardly-open conical chamber, a quantity of discrete, buoyant bodies supported in the conical chamber by flotation, said discrete, buoyant bodies defining a filter media, a conductor connected to the top of the shroud for delivering fluid into the conical chamber at a pressure to disperse the discrete, buoyant bodies downwardly therein as the fluid is forced downwardly through the conical chamber into the lower part of the cylindrical chamber below the conical chamber, means surrounding the cylindrical chamber defining, in conjunction therewith, a filtrate chamber, a conductor connecting the top of the shroud with the filtrate chamber, a conductor connected to the bottom of the filtrate chamber providing an outlet from the bottom thereof and valves in the several conductors operating on the one hand to admit fluid into the conical chamber and to permit fluid to be withdrawn from the filtrate chamber while blocking flow of fluid from the conical chamber to the filtrate chamber and on the other hand to terminate the flow of fluid to the conical chamber and flow from the filtrate chamber while permitting flow from the conical chamber into the filtrate chamber.

In a system for filtering extraneous matter from a fluid wherein the fluid is delivered into a filter for filtering and returned from the filter for reuse, a filter comprising a first chamber for holding a predetermined volume of fluid, a second chamber positioned in the first chamber immersed in the fluid, said second chamber being downwardly-open, a plurality of buoyant bodies supported within said second chamber by flotation, a third chamber surrounding the first chamber, a conductor connected to the top of the second chamber through which fluid to be filtered is delivered into said second chamber, a conductor connecting the top of the second chamber to the third chamber through which filtrate is delivered into the third chamber, a conductor connected to the third chamber through which filtrate is delivered into the third chamber, a conductor connected to the third chamber through which filtrate is discharged for reuse and valves in the conductors operable on the one hand to admit fluid into the second chamber and to permit fluid to be withdrawn from the third chamber while blocking flow of fluid from the first chamber to the third chamber and on the other hand to terminate flow of fluid into the second chamber and flow from the third chamber while permitting flow of fluid from the second chamber into the third chamber.

A method of filtering comprising delivering a predetermined volume of fluid to be filtered downwardly into a downwardly-divergent conical bed of buoyant filter bodies of predetermined thickness constrained at the top and sides, at a pressure to displace the particles at the center of the bed downwardly and to set up circulation of particles from the center outwardly and upwardly in vertical planes radiating from the center, terminating delivery of fluid into the bed when said predetermined volume is reached, allowing the particles to become quiescent and densely-packed and then withdrawing the fluid through the densely-packed bodies.

The method of filtering fluid containing solids comprising discharging the fluid into a first chamber through a bed of buoyant bodies held densely-packed therein by flotation against a down-wardly open conical member defining a conical chamber within the first chamber at a pressure to disperse the particles downwardly in the conical chamber to cause any non-buoyant solids adhering to the bodies to be rubbed off and permitted to gravitate to the bottom of the first chamber, terminating delivery of the fluid into the bed and allowing the bodies of the bed to be restored to their undispersed, densely-packed condition and drawing off the fluid in the first chamber through the restored bed into a second chamber in communication with the first chamber.

A filter module comprising a first chamber having vertically-aligned top and bottom openings and a lateral opening at the bottom, a second chamber of greater vertical height but of lesser cross section positioned in the first chamber with its lower end coinciding with the bottom opening and its upper end extending through the top opening, said second chamber having a bottom opening and a closed top, a third chamber closed at the top and open at the bottom positioned within the second chamber at a level below the top of the first chamber, a conductor extending through a side of the second chamber and connected interiorly of said second chamber to the top of the third chamber, a conductor connected to the top of the third chamber and extending through a side of said third chamber into the first chamber, and a normally-closed valve member closing the bottom opening of the second chamber.