Container for solid filtration media and filtration system utilizing same

• US 5,733,350 A
• Filed: 08/13/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Purafil, Inc. (FGI Equity LLC)
• Original Assignee: Purafil, Inc. (FGI Equity LLC)
• Inventors: Mash, James W., Muller, Christopher O., Rabon, Jeffery F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Jay H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOPKINS, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US08/689,668
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 55/516, 55/518, 55/511, 55/501, 55/DIG. 31, 55/482, 96/129, 96/136, 96/138
• US Class Current: 55/482
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/104 Alumina
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/25 Coated, impregnated or composite adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/80 Water
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/402 using two beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/31 Filter frame

Abstract

A disposable paperboard container for holding a bed of solid filtration media is disclosed. The container is strong enough to prevent excessive pillowing, has sufficient open area to minimize the pressure drop across the bed, avoids bypass gaps caused by settling of media, is made of environmentally safe disposable materials which do not react with the media or absorb excess moisture, and is inexpensive enough to be discarded rather than refilled. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, space within a media container created by settling is automatically occupied by expandable plugs to prevent bypass. Container units embodying the invention may be combined to form filtration modules which are strong, yet light enough to be handled easily.

Claims

1. A disposable container for solid filtration media formed from a unitary blank including two compartments, and further comprising:

a front wall defining a plurality of openings, said openings sized to allow flow through of gases, said openings not permitting the flow through of said solid filtration media;

a back wall comprising a first panel and a second panel, each of said first and second panels defining a plurality of openings, said openings sized to allow flow through of gases, said openings not permitting the flow through of said solid filtration media;

a first side wall foldably attached to said front wall and to said first panel of said back wall;

a second side wall foldably attached to said front wall and to said second panel of said back wall, said second side wall being parallel to said first side wall;

a bottom flap foldably attached to said front wall, said flap being perpendicular to said first and second side walls;

a pair of partition flaps, one foldably attached to each of said first and second panels of said back wall on opposite sides of said first and second panels from said first and second side walls, said partition flaps being parallel to said first and second side walls;

said blank being folded into said container, with said front wall and said back wall being in spaced apart relation, said partition flaps foldably extending into said container intermediate said first and second side walls to engage said front wall and define a longitudinal partition wall between said two compartments, said bottom flap being folded across a rectangular opening formed at the bottom of said container by said front, back and side wall panels.

2. The container of claim 1 further comprising a solid portion of said unitary blank extending longitudinally across said front wall parallel to and midway between said first and second side walls, said solid portion defining a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of tabs positioned along each of said partition flaps, said tabs securing said partition flaps to said front wall when said tabs are inserted into said slots.

3. A disposable container for solid filtration media having two compartments and a wall structure formed from a unitary blank,

said wall structure including integral bottom, side and front and back walls,

said bottom wall being formed by a bottom flap foldably attached to said front wall, said front wall to which said flap is foldably attached being equal in width to the width of said container,

said back wall being formed from a first panel and a second panel of said unitary blank, wherein the combined width of said first and second panels is equal to said width of said container,

said first and second panels each further comprising a partition flap foldably attached to each of said first and second panels, said partition flaps being equal in width to the width of said side walls of said container,

said blank being folded into said two-compartment container with said partition flaps foldably extending inwardly into said container parallel to said side walls and midway between said side walls to define a longitudinal partition,

said bottom flap being folded across the rectangular opening formed by said folding of said blank to form said bottom wall of said container;

said front and back walls of said container being in spaced apart relation and further defining a plurality of openings sized to allow flow through of gases, said openings not permitting the flow through of said solid filtration media.

4. The container of claim 3 further comprising a solid portion of said unitary blank extending longitudinally across said front wall parallel to and midway between said side walls, said solid portion defining a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of tabs positioned along each of said partition flaps, said tabs securing said partition flaps to said front wall when said tabs are inserted into said slots.

5. A system for receiving solid filtration media, comprising:

first and second containers, each of said containers formed from a unitary blank, said containers further including;

a front wall defining a plurality of openings, said openings sized to allow flow through of gases, said openings not permitting the flow through of said solid filtration media;

a back wall comprising a first panel and a second panel, each of said first and second panels defining a plurality of openings, said openings sized to allow flow through of gases, said openings not permitting the flow through of said solid filtration media;

a first side wall foldably attached to said front wall and to said first panel of said back wall;

a second side wall foldably attached to said front wall and to said second panel of said back wall, said second side wall being parallel to said first side wall;

a bottom wall comprising a flap foldably attached to said front wall, said flap being perpendicular to said first and second side walls;

a pair of partition flaps foldably attached to each of said first and second panels of said back wall, said partition flaps being parallel to said first and second side walls, said partition flaps being on opposite sides of said first and second panels from said first and second side walls; and

said blank being folded into a two-compartment container, said front wall and said back wall being in spaced apart relation, said partition flaps foldably extending into said container midway between said first and second side walls to engage said front wall, said partition flaps defining a longitudinal partition wall between said two compartments, said bottom wall flap being folded across a rectangular opening formed at the bottom of said container by said folding of said blank to form said bottom wall of said container;

a pair of side plates attached to said first and second containers along said first and second side walls of said containers so as to position said containers in a V-shaped configuration with said bottom walls of each of said containers spaced apart and the ends of said containers opposite said bottom walls positioned adjacent to one another; and

at least one closure flap hingedly connected to at least one of said containers for enclosing the ends of both of said containers opposite said bottom walls.

6. The container of claim 5 further comprising a solid portion of said unitary blank extending longitudinally across said front wall parallel to and midway between said first and second side walls, said solid portion defining a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of tabs positioned along each of said partition flaps, said tabs securing said partition flaps to said front wall when said tabs are inserted into said slots.