Outer to inner flow vacuum filter with see through outer enclosure

An in-line vacuum filter useable in a vacuum system between a vacuum pump and a vacuum packaging machine to block flow of process debris and sediment to the vacuum pump comprising:

• filter element means;
• an outer enclosure;
• with said outer enclosure and said filter element means defining an outer chamber;
• filter plate means closing an end of said outer chamber;
• air inlet and passage means in said filter plate means in fluid communication with said outer chamber whereby vacuum system air is drawn through said air inlet means and through said passage means into said outer chamber;
• an inner space chamber defined by said filter element means and with said filter plate means closing an end of said inner space chamber;
• vacuum air outlet and passage means in said filter plate means in fluid communication with said inner chamber whereby vacuum system air is sucked from said inner space chamber when the vacuum pump of the system is drawing a vacuum;
• and with said outer enclosure including transparent material wall means whereby an operator may visually see process debris and sediment buildup on the outer surface of said filter means;
• wherein said outer enclosure means is in the form of a transparent material cylindrical tube;
• with said filter plate means including a first filter plate and a second filter plate closing opposite ends of said transparent material cylindrical tube;
• structural means holding said first and second filter plates, said outer enclosure means, and said filter element means in assembled relation as a vacuum filter;
• said first filter plate includes said air inlet and passage means and also said vacuum air outlet and passage means;
• wherein said filter element means is in the form of a cylindrical tube of air passing filter material with opposite ends closed by said first and second filter plates;
• said first filter plate and said second filter plate are provided with facing planar surfaces with concentric annular grooves for mounting of said outer enclosure means, and said filter element means assembled in concentric relation about said structural means as a vacuum filter;
• and wherein ends of said filter element means are received in annular grooves in said first and second filter plates of less diameter than said annular grooves receiving ends of said outer enclosure;
• and seal means in the form of "O" ring seals seal the interconnect of the ends of said outer enclosure with said first and second filter plates from the bypass drawing of outside air into the vacuum filter;
• with the "O" ring seals mounted in annular branch grooves in the inner walls of said annular grooves mounting said outer enclosure means with said "O" ring seals in position to seal space between branch groove edges and the inside of the transparent outer cylindrical enclosure at opposite ends thereof when a vacuum is drawn in the filter;
• and with said "O" ring seals relatively loose in the relaxed state facilitating repeated filter disassembly and reassembly yet subject to being drawn into the sealing state when a vacuum is drawn in the filter.