US 6,279,751 B1 · Filtration device

Abstract

A filtration device for removing particulate matter from liquids has a rigid tubular body that terminates in a pair of open ends. The body has a plurality of openings therein, leading to a bore, and a layer of a filtration material, such as a polypropylene mesh, is stretched over the surface of the body. The filtration material has a preferred pore size of between 30 and 60 microns. The body is manufactured from plastic, and has a support means which prevents collapse of the filtration device under pressure. The filtration material is attached near the ends of the body, and a pair of end caps are attached to the ends. The end caps serve as means of fitting the filtration device within equipment such as automated photographic processing apparatus. The materials used to manufacture the filtration device are chosen so as to be resistant to both the physical conditions (such as temperature, pressure and flow rate) and the chemical conditions of the apparatus. An advantage of having the filter material on the outside is that liquid flows from outside the filter, through the body and the inside, trapping particulate matter on the outside surface of the filter. The filter can be removed from the equipment where it is used, and particulate matter trapped on its surface washed off, and the filter can be reused, resulting in a substantial cost savings compared to the use of disposable filters.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A reusable filtration device for removing particulate matter from liquids in a liquids processing system, the reusable filtration device comprising:

a. a rigid, tubular body defining a longitudinal axis of the reusable filtration device, said body being defined by a body wall with an inside surface and an outside surface, and a bore within the body wall, the bore being coextensive with the body wall, wherein the body wall terminates in a pair of ends, the ends being open, wherein the body wall includes a central circumferential band and a plurality of openings, the openings being inlets for liquid to flow from outside of the filtration device and into the bore, said plurality of openings including only a first circumferential row of elongated longitudinal openings and a second circumferential row of elongated longitudinal openings, said first and second rows of openings being separated by the circumferential band;
b. a means for filtering surrounding the body wall outside surface, wherein the means for filtering is a layer of reusable filtration material;
and
c. an end cap mounted to the body at each body end, each end cap securing the filtration material to the body and each end cap being a means for positioning the filtration device within the liquids processing system, in which the liquid flows through the filtration material, enters through the body wall openings from the body outside surface to the bore, and exits one body end, with the particulate matter being retained on the filtration material outside of the filtration device.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Filtration device

Life of this patent

Filtration device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15