Patent ID: 6365054
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A plant for filling containers with liquid, said plant comprising:apparatus for moving containers to a filling machine; a filling machine for filling said containers with liquid when filtered; apparatus for removing filled containers from said filling machine; said liquid when filtered being provided by apparatus for providing a liquid to be filtered in a first batch to a filter apparatus, said filter apparatus comprising: a portion for receiving liquid to be filtered; a portion for receiving liquid when filtered; an intermediate portion between said portion for receiving liquid to be filtered and said portion receiving liquid when filtered; a plurality of filter elements operatively connected to said intermediate bottom, to filter liquid received from said portion for receiving liquid to be filtered and passing filtered liquid to said portion for receiving liquid when filtered; said filter elements generally disposed in said portion for receiving liquid to be filtered; apparatus for moving a first batch of liquid to be filtered in a first direction from said portion for receiving liquid to be filtered through said filter elements from a first surface to a second surface of said filter elements and thereby collecting solids at said first surface of said filter elements as filter cake; apparatus for terminating filtering; apparatus for initiating a first flow of cleaning liquid along a first flow path, over said second surface, for inducing removal of filter cake from said filter elements by flowing a sheet of cleaning liquid over said second surface; apparatus for pressurizing and directing a flow of gaseous medium in a second flow path separate from said first flow path to force said sheet of cleaning liquid flowing on said second surface through said filter elements from said second surface to said first surface, to dislodge filter cake on said first surface; apparatus for removing filter cake from said first surface of said filter elements by the interaction of cleaning liquid and gaseous medium; apparatus for initiating a second flow of cleaning liquid to supply at least said portion for receiving liquid to be filtered with cleaning liquid; said portion for receiving liquid to be filtered comprising at least one wall; apparatus for directing said second flow of cleaning liquid along said at least one wall thereby to dislodge solids from said at least one wall; apparatus for terminating said first flow of cleaning liquid; apparatus for terminating said second flow of cleaning liquid; apparatus for removing dislodged solids; and apparatus for moving a second batch of suspension in said first direction through said filter elements.