Disc filter assembly for machine tool coolant

An immersible disc filter assembly for filtering contaminants from a fluid, the disc filter assembly comprising:

• a rotatable hollow mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of filter disc elements spaced along and fluidly connected to the hollow mandrel;
• at least one of the filter disc elements including:
• a generally annular inner support structure having opposed sides each provided with an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner support structure having a plurality of radially extending and spaced apart ribs forming a plurality of concentric flow channels therebetween and a plurality of radially extending flow channels connecting with the concentric flow channels to provide pathways for fluid flow from the concentric flow channels to the inner periphery of the inner support structure, wherein the ribs have planar lands;
• a screen element supported on each of the opposed sides of the inner support structure upon the planar lands of the ribs and extending over the flow channels;
• and
• a retainer assembly retaining the screen elements to the outer periphery of the inner support structure to prevent contaminants from passing therebetween;
• wherein the ribs are sufficiently close to one another such that the screen element supported upon the planar lands and extending over the flow channels will not tear while permitting fluid to pass through the screen elements into the concentric flow channels and then along the connecting radial flow channels to evacuate from the inner periphery of the inner support structure into the hollow mandrel when the disc filter element is mounted thereon.

An immersible rectangular disc filter element for filtering contaminants from a fluid, the filter element comprising:

• a rectangular inner structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending folds arranged in an accordion-like manner, the folds having transverse portions connected by bend portions, the folds further having a pair of laterally spaced apart end portions;
• a pair of rectangular screen elements each having an inner rectangular screen portion surrounded by a peripherally extending non-perforated edge portion, the screen portions being supported upon the bend portions on opposite sides of the inner structure with the screen portions and folds defining a plurality of longitudinally extending channels;
• a U-shaped closure channel having a pair of spaced apart leg portions connected by a bight portion which extends peripherally about the inner structure;
• a pair of U-shaped retainer clips each clamping an end portion of the folds of the inner structure, a non-perforated edge portion of one of the screen elements, and a leg portion of the U-shaped closure channel together to retain the screen elements and the U-shaped closure channel against the inner structure thereby preventing contaminants from passing between the screen elements and the inner structure;
• and
• means for fluidly mounting the disc filter element to the mandrel.

An immersible disc filter assembly for filtering contaminants from a fluid, the disc filter assembly comprising:

• an evacuating mandrel extending along an axis;
• a plurality of rectangular disc filter elements axially spaced along and fluidly connected to the evacuating mandrel;
• at least one of the rectangular disc filter elements including:
• a rectangular inner structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending folds arranged in a corrugated manner, the folds having transverse portions connected by bend portions, the folds further having a pair of laterally spaced apart end portions;
• a pair of rectangular screen elements each having an inner rectangular screen portion surrounded by a peripherally extending non-perforated edge portion, the screen portions being supported upon the bend portions on opposite sides of the inner structure with the screen portions and the folds forming a plurality of longitudinally extending channels;
• a U-shaped closure channel having a pair of spaced apart leg portions connected by a bight portion which extends peripherally about the inner structure;
• a pair of U-shaped retainer clips each clamping an end portion of the folds of the inner structure, a non-perforated edge portion of one of the screen elements, and the leg portion of the U-shaped closure channel together to retain the screen elements and the U-shaped closure channel against the inner structure thereby preventing contaminants from passing between the screen elements and the inner structure;
• and
• mounting means for fluidly mounting the at least one of the rectangular disc filter elements to the evacuating mandrel.