Filter apparatus including stacked intake and discharge plates

In an apparatus for filtering a fluid medium comprising a first chamber provided with an inlet, a second chamber provided with an outlet, a plurality of ports disposed between said first and second chambers, and at least one filter fabric, wherein the improvement comprises:

• at least one intake space means having an intake end and a discharge end and gradually decreasing in cross-section toward said discharge end, said ports opening out into said at least one intake space means at said intake end,
• at least one discharge space means running substantially parallel to said at least one intake space means and having an intake portion and a discharge portion, said at least one discharge space means being open toward said second chamber at said discharge portion and gradually increasing in cross-section toward said discharge portion,
• said at least one filter fabric being respectively fixed between and separating said at least one intake space means and said at least one discharge space means in a longitudinal plane, and
• at least one pair of adjacent plates respectively bounding said at least one intake space means and said at least one discharge space means, said at least one filter fabric being respectively clamped and held between each of said at least one pair of adjacent plates, whereby at least one filtering plane is formed in the longitudinal plane.