Filter assembly includng filter unit having deformable sealing end caps
First Claim
1. A filter assembly comprising:
- (A) a filter holder;
(B) a sealed filter unit having at least two ends, each end having an end cap, said end cap having a bore formed therein for the passage of fluid; and
(C) a pair of fluid connectors, each of which engages a respective one of said end caps, each fluid connector being connectable to external piping, each fluid connector being mounted in said filter holder and forming a sealed connection with said end cap when said end cap is engaged with said fluid connector and said sealed filter unit is mounted in said filter holder, wherein said end caps are outwardly deformable under fluid pressure within said filter unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sealed filter unit is provided having end caps which engage fluid connectors which are in turn connectable to external piping conveying fluid through the filter and which provide a preliminary seal upon mounting the filter unit in the filter holder. The filter unit assures that all fluid passing through the unit is filtered in a single pass without wetting the filter holder into which the filter unit is mounted via the fluid connectors. The filter holder allows rapid and reliable insertion and removal of the filter unit to and from the filter holder. The filter holder will accept various sizes of filter units as required by the process. In the preferred embodiment, the fluid connectors are a part of the filter holder. In the absence of fluid pressure, the filter unit can be manually removed from the filter holder fluid connectors for replacement of the filter unit. The end caps deform under internal fluid pressure to lock the filter unit in place and to improve the fluid-tight seals between the end caps and the fluid connectors. A dutchman is provided for operations in which a filter element is not required or cleaning is required.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A filter assembly comprising:
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(A) a filter holder; (B) a sealed filter unit having at least two ends, each end having an end cap, said end cap having a bore formed therein for the passage of fluid; and (C) a pair of fluid connectors, each of which engages a respective one of said end caps, each fluid connector being connectable to external piping, each fluid connector being mounted in said filter holder and forming a sealed connection with said end cap when said end cap is engaged with said fluid connector and said sealed filter unit is mounted in said filter holder, wherein said end caps are outwardly deformable under fluid pressure within said filter unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A filter assembly comprising:
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(A) a rolled filter element having first and second ends; (B) first and second end caps sealed on said first and second ends of said rolled filter element; (C) a reinforcing tape wrap wound around said rolled filter element; (D) a filter housing for supporting said rolled filter element; and (E) means for forming a fluid-tight connection between each of said first and second end caps and external piping elements such that when fluid pressure increases within said filter element sealing force on the fluid tight connection increases. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of filtering solutions comprising the steps of
(A) providing first and second fluid connectors on a filter holder; -
(B) mounting first and second end caps of a filtration unit having a filter element sealed to said end caps on said first and second fluid connectors such that sealed connections are forced between said fluid connectors and said end caps; (C) conveying fluid into said first fluid connector, through said first end cap and said filter element, and out of said second fluid connector; and (D) axially deforming said end caps by fluid pressure in said filter unit, thereby forcing said end caps into tighter engagement with said fluid connectors and improving said sealed connections. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification