Pressure sensitive extended life filter
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
InventorJoseph G. Neuwirth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a porous device adapted to remove particulates from a fluid passed through the device. The device includes a porous filtration medium. The medium has a first surface having an area which is adapted to receive the fluid for passage through the medium and a second surface from which the fluid exits the medium. The device is configured to variably increase the area of the first surface in response to a differential in fluid pressure between the first surface and the second surface so as to extend the life of the device. In some embodiments the device is adapted to retain the increase in surface area which acts as a visual indication that the device is reaching its capacity to retain particulates.
Claims21
A device adapted to remove particulates from a fluid passed through the device, the device comprising:
- a porous filtration medium defining at least one orifice through said planar portion, the planar portion comprising:
- a first surface being arranged to receive unfiltered fluid for passage through the medium;
- a second surface from which the fluid exits the medium the medium also comprising;
- a respective spirally wound tubular portion having an area and configured about each of the at least one orifice;
- and
- wherein each of the at least one spirally wound tubular portion is adapted to unwind and extend from the second surface in response to a fluid pressure differential between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- whereby the device is adapted to variably increase the area of the at least one tubular portion in response to an increase in the differential in fluid pressure between the first surface and the second surface.
A device adapted to remove particulates from a fluid passed through the device, the device comprising:
- a porous filtration medium defining at least one orifice through said planar portion, the planar portion comprising:
- a first surface being arranged to receive unfiltered fluid for passage through the medium;
- a second surface from which the fluid exits the medium the medium also comprising;
- a respective telescopically extendable tubular portion having and area and configured about each of the at least one orifice;
- and
- wherein each of the at least one telescopically extendable tubular portion is adapted to extend telescopically from the second surface in response to a fluid pressure differential between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- whereby the device is adapted to variably increase the area of the at least one tubular portion in response to an increase in the differential in fluid pressure between the first surface and the second surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.