Patent ID: 9452373
Filing Date: 2016-09-27
CPC Classification: B01D,B01L,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A filter funnel for connection to a flask which has a flask body defining an interior chamber therein, and a flask neck that has an access opening in fluid communication with the interior chamber, said filter funnel comprising: a funnel seat having an upper surface defining a central line and having a central surface region and a marginal surface region, said marginal surface region surrounding said central surface region, a lower surface formed with a recess which extends from said lower surface along the central line toward said upper surface to terminate at an abutment region, said lower surface and said abutment region defining therebetween an inner surrounding surface which surrounds the central line, a through hole extending along the central line and downwardly from said central surface region to said abutment region, an outer peripheral surface which is configured to surround the central line and to join said upper surface with said lower surface, and which has a vacuum intake port, and a vacuum intake duct extending radially from said vacuum intake port to terminate at an internal port which is in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the flask body; a funnel surrounding wall disposed on said marginal surface region of said upper surface of said funnel seat to define an accommodation space for introducing a mixture to be filtered, and a feeding inlet through which the mixture to be filtered is introduced into said accommodation space, said feeding inlet being open to an atmosphere; a tubular stem which extends downwardly from said abutment region, and which is coaxial with and in fluid communication with said through hole so as to permit said through hole to be in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the flask body; and a seal washer having a through bore configured to permit said seal washer to be sleeved on said tubular stem so as to allow said seal washer to be brought to an attached position where said seal washer abuts against said abutment region, and a slot configured to register with said internal port when said seal washer is in the attached position such that when said seal washer is brought to cover the access opening, and when said vacuum intake port is connected to a source of vacuum, a reduced pressure is created in the interior chamber of the flask body to enable said seal washer to press against the flask neck, thereby providing an air-tight seal between the access opening and said slot, wherein said funnel surrounding wall has a bottom surrounding end surface which is detachably attached to said marginal surface region of said upper surface of said funnel seat, and wherein said filter funnel further comprises a first magnetically attractive member embedded in said bottom surrounding end surface of said funnel surrounding wall, and a second magnetically attractive member embedded in said marginal surface region of said upper surface of said funnel seat, at least one of said first and second magnetically attractive members being a magnet such that when said bottom surrounding end surface of said funnel surrounding wall is attached to said marginal surface region of said upper surface of said funnel seat, said bottom surrounding end surface and said marginal surface region are sealed by means of a magnetic attractive force generated between said first and second magnetically attractive members.