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US 5,122,287 AGranted
Filtration system
OwnerAndrew K. Hsiunginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The filtration system provides a long horizontal flow path through buoyant filter media. The filter media is contained in a vessel and the relationship between the water level in the vessel and the amount of filter media is such that the media extends completely across the horizontal flow path of the water during the filtration mode of operation. The system is configured so that the buoyant media volume expands during a cleansing mode of operation.
Claims16
A filtration system, comprising:
- a horizontal flow vessel having a bottom wall and a filter media resting on the bottom wall, the media having a top surface;
- flow control means for moving liquid substantially horizontally through the media while the media rests on the bottom wall to filter the liquid without raising the liquid to a level above the top surface of the media.
- wherein the media has a density less than the density of the liquid and is present in an amount such that the media rests on the bottom wall of the vessel throughout filtration, the vessel being sized to permit the liquid level to rise within the vessel above the first liquid level to enable the media to move away from the bottom wall.
A filtration system, comprising:
- a horizontal flow vessel having a bottom wall;
- flow control means for moving liquid through the vessel in a generally horizontal direction and at a first liquid level above the bottom wall;
- and
- buoyant filter media disposed within the vessel between the bottom wall and the first liquid level, the media having a density less than the density of the liquid and resting on the bottom of the vessel during filtration, the vessel being sized to permit the liquid level to rise within the vessel above the first liquid level to enable the media to move away from the bottom wall, wherein the vessel includes wall members for defining a spiral path along which the liquid in the vessel is filtered.
1 more element
A filtration system, comprising:
- a horizontal flow vessel having a bottom wall;
- a flow control means for moving liquid through the vessel in a generally horizontal direction and at a first liquid level above the bottom wall;
- and
- buoyant filter media disposed within the vessel between the bottom wall and the first liquid level, the media having a density less than the density of the liquid and resting on the bottom of the vessel during filtration, the vessel being sized to permit the liquid level to rise within the vessel above the first liquid level to enable the media to move away from the bottom wall wherein the vessel includes wall members for defining a sector in the vessel in which filter media rests during filtration, the area of the sector measured substantially perpendicular to the flow of the liquid through the sector gradually increasing in the direction of the liquid flow.
1 more element
A filtration system, comprising:
- a horizontal flow vessel having a bottom wall;
- flow control means for directing liquid through the vessel in a generally horizontal direction and at a first liquid level above the bottom wall;
- and
- filter media disposed within the vessel between the bottom wall and the first liquid level, the media resting on the bottom wall and having a density less than that of the liquid that flows through the vessel;
- and
- a wall mounted in the vessel to define a sector of filter media in the vessel, the wall being oriented so that the vertical cross section of the sector of filter media increases in the direction liquid flows in the sector.
3 more elements
A method for filtering liquid, comprising the steps of:
- providing filter media within a vessel having a bottom wall and an upper region, the media resting on the bottom wall and having a top media surface;
- and
- moving liquid substantially horizontally through the media to filter it, without raising the liquid to a level above the media surface, the media being present in an amount sufficient to maintain the filter media resting on the bottom wall during filtration, the media having a density less than the liquid.
A method for filtering liquid, comprising the steps of:
- providing filter media within a vessel having a bottom wall and an upper region, the media resting on the bottom wall and having a top media surface;
- moving liquid substantially horizontally through the media to filter it, without raising the liquid to a level above the media surface, the media being present in an amount sufficient to maintain the filter media away from the upper region during filtration, the media having a density less than the liquid;
- and
- cleansing the media by introducing a sufficient amount of liquid into the vessel to raise the liquid to a level above the media surface that was present during filtering such that the lower density media is moved upwardly away from its resting position on the bottom wall by the rising liquid.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.