Device for continuous filtration of liquids

A device for continuously filtering liquids, said device comprising:

• a filtering container (1) with an upright container portion that in cross-section is substantially rectangular
• a filter chamber (3) for receiving a granular bulk material (25) forming a filter bed, said filter chamber (3) having in cross-section rectangular inner walls;
• said filter chamber (3) having a liquid-permeable inlet side (5) and a liquid-permeable outlet side (9) positioned opposite said inlet side (5), wherein said filter bed is delimited by said inlet side (5) and said outlet side (9);
• a liquid-impermeable outer wall (6) positioned at said inlet side (5), wherein said inlet side (5) and said outer wall (6) form an inlet chamber (7);
• said inlet side (5) having openings (23) allowing flow of a liquid to be filtered from said inlet chamber (7) into said filter chamber (3),
• a liquid-impermeable outer mantle (10) positioned at said outlet side (9), wherein said outer mantle (10) and said outlet side (9) form a filtrate collection chamber (11);
• said outlet side (9) having openings (23) allowing flow of the filtrate from said filter chamber (3) into said filtrate collection chamber (11),
• wherein a surface area of said inlet side (5) through which the liquid flows is identical to a surface area of said outlet side (9) through which the liquid flows;
• a cone-shaped removal chamber (13) with a funnel wall (14) connected to a lower end of said filtration chamber (3);
• a flow discharge chamber (15) connected to an upper end of said filter chamber (3);
• a bulk material separating apparatus (18), positioned in said flow discharge chamber (15), for separating dirt particles from the bulk material (25),
• a lifting system (20) having a removal tube (19);
• said removal tube (19) having a lower suction end and an upper end, wherein said upper end communicates with said bulk material separating apparatus (18) and wherein said lower suction end projects into a bottom portion of said removal chamber (13);
• a bulk material distributor, comprising one or more bulk material flow discharge devices (22), connected to said bulk material separating apparatus (18), wherein said one or more bulk material flow discharge devices (22) have outlet openings arranged in a row parallel to said outlet side (9);
• wherein said one or more bulk material flow discharge devices (22) are arranged at said outlet side (9) above said filter bed;
• wherein the bulk material (25) is removed by said removal tube (19) from said removal chamber (13) and guided into said bulk material separating apparatus (18);
• wherein the bulk material (25), after separation of the dirt particles by said bulk material separating apparatus (18), is flow discharged by said one or more flow discharge devices (22) onto the upper side of said filter bed, forming at least one bulk material heap that is substantially non-uniform and is arranged at said outlet side (9) such that a side of the bulk material heap facing said inlet side (5) is taller than a side of the bulk material heap facing said outlet side (9).