# US 8,540,079 B2 · Sludge filtration apparatus and filter assembly thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,079 B2 - Document ID: US8540079B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/875,941 - Filed: 2007-10-21 - Published: 2009-04-23 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-21 - Assignees: Metawater Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Koji Yoshida; Mikimasa Yamaguchi - Inventors: Koji Yoshida; Mikimasa Yamaguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540079B2 ## CPC - B01D 65/02: Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration} - B01D 29/39: with hollow discs side by side on, or around, one or more tubes, e.g. of the leaf type - B01D 29/66: by flushing, e.g. counter-current air-bumps - C02F 11/121: by mechanical de-watering - B01D 2313/26: Specific gas distributors or gas intakes - B01D 2321/04: Backflushing - B01D 2321/185: Aeration - C02F 2303/20: Prevention of biofouling - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract A sludge filtration apparatus has a sludge tank configured to store sludge and at least one filter assembly. The filter assembly includes a filtration membrane for filtering the sludge and a pipe insertable in the filtration membrane to supply air to a secondary side of the filtration membrane for dislodging the sludge from the filtration membrane. The pipe has a plurality of holes for discharging gas, namely air, to an area in which the filtration membrane inclines downwardly with the secondary side thereof. The sludge filtration apparatus can prevent thickened sludge from remaining in an upper portion of the filter assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sludge filtration apparatus comprising: an air compressor; a sludge tank configured to store sludge; and at least one filter assembly, wherein the filter assembly includes a filtration membrane that filters the sludge and a pipe having a plurality of holes, all of the holes provided on the pipe being positioned to confront the filtration membrane to supply air to a secondary side of the filtration membrane and dislodge the sludge from the filtration membrane, wherein the air compressor introduces air to the pipe, wherein the filtration membrane has an inclined area at an upper portion thereof, and wherein all of the holes are situated at the inclined area so that all of the holes on the pipe are directed upwardly to allow air to be discharged generally upwardly above the inclined area and emit air upwardly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sludge filtration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly includes a gap that is maintained between the holes and the filtration membrane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sludge filtration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filtration membrane is flexible. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The sludge filtration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the filtration membrane is flexible. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sludge filtration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly includes a porous member between the pipe and the filtration membrane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The sludge filtration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the filter assembly includes a porous member between the pipe and the filtration membrane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sludge filtration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the pipe is angular and has an inclined surface over which the filtration membrane is disposed, the inclined surface having an angle of 45 degrees or less with respect to a vertical line intersecting the inclined surface, and the holes are located in the inclined surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The sludge filtration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the pipe is angular and has an inclined surfaces over which the filtration membrane is disposed, the inclined surface having an angle of 45 degrees or less with respect to a vertical line intersecting the inclined surface, and the holes are located in the inclined surface. ### Claim 9 A filter assembly for a sludge filtration apparatus, the filter assembly comprising: an air compressor; a filtration membrane that filters sludge; and a pipe having a plurality of holes, all of the holes provided on the pipe are positioned to confront the filtration membrane to supply air to a secondary side of the filtration membrane and dislodge the sludge from the filtration membrane, wherein the air compressor introduces air into the pipe, wherein the filtration membrane has an inclined area at an upper portion thereof, and wherein all of the holes are situated at the inclined area so that all of the holes provided on the pipe are directed upwardly to allow air to be discharged upwardly above the inclined area and emit air upwardly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The filter assembly according to claim 9, further including a gap that is maintained between the at least one hole and the filtration membrane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The filter assembly according to claim 9, wherein the filtration membrane is flexible. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The filter assembly according to claim 9, further including a porous member between the pipe and the filtration membrane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The filter assembly according to claim 9, wherein: the pipe is angular and has an inclined surfaces over which the filtration membrane is disposed, the inclined surface having an angle of 45 degrees or less with respect to a vertical line intersecting the inclined surface, and the holes are located in the inclined surface.