Patent ID: 6712967
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A liquid filter system, comprising:(i) a generally cylindrical filter housing having an outer cylindrical wall forming an interior space for accommodating a filter element through which liquid to be filtered is caused to pass, said housing having an open top and a removable generally planar closure lid supported on the top of said housing cylindrical wall so that said housing is closed when said lid is in the closed position on the top of said cylindrical wall, allowing access to the interior of said housing when said lid is in the open position; (ii) an inlet conduit connected to said housing for directing liquid to be filtered through a filter element, and an outlet conduit connected to and in fluid communication with the interior of said housing to direct flow of filtered liquid away from said housing; and (iii) a filter element assembly adapted to be supported within the interior space of said housing, said filter element assembly comprising first and second cylindrical filter sleeves formed of flexible filter media, said first filter sleeve having a cross-sectional diameter less than the cross-sectional diameter of said second filter sleeve and arranged concentrically within said second filter sleeve forming an annular space between said first and second filter sleeves, said first filter sleeve forming a cylindrical space interiorly thereof, a substantially rigid substantially circularly shaped inlet plate connected at one longitudinal end of both the first and second filter sleeves, said inlet plate having an outer circumferential edge and a central circular area generally corresponding to the cross sectional area of said cylindrical space, said central circular area having an axis extending in a direction normal to the plane of said central circular area, and a substantially rigid closed terminal plate connected at the other longitudinal end of both said first and second filter sleeves, said first filter sleeve being ultrasonically welded to said inlet plate proximate to the outer circumferential edge of said inlet plate, said second filter sleeve being ultrasonically welded to said inlet plate proximate to the circumference of said central circular area, said inlet plate having spaced apart plate openings provided therethrough and located between said outer circumferential edge and the circumference of said central circular area for communicating with said annular space between said first and second filter sleeves to thereby permit flow of liquid to be filtered into said annular space, said terminal plate having a closed surface to prevent the flow of liquid from said annular space therethrough, a central opening in said central circular area of said inlet plate adapted to communicate with said inlet conduit so that liquid to be filtered will pass through said central opening in said central circular area in order to flow into said annular space through said plate openings through said inlet plate when said filter element assembly is supported within the interior of said housing; said central circular area being axially spaced from a top edge of said outer circumferential edge and defining with said planar lid an inlet chamber in communication with said inlet conduit via said central opening; and (iv) said filter element adapted to be carried within a support basket when said filter element is positioned within the interior of said housing.