Patent ID: 6342158
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A filter assembly, comprising:a tube plate supporting the open ends of a plurality of substantially tubular filter elements, each filter element comprising a tube plate connector adapted to extend through a respective aperture in the tube plate, a blind end piece closing the end of the filter element remote from the tube plate connector, an intermediate tubular connector, and two cylindrical filter screens, a first of the filter screens extending between the tube plate connector and the intermediate connector, and the second filter screen extending between the intermediate connector and the blind end piece, the tube plate connector comprising a tubular spigot portion adapted to be received in a tube plate aperture, and an extemally-threaded tubular portion axially adjacent to the spigot portion on the side towards the free end of the spigot portion, the filter elements being provided in a plurality of groups, the filter elements of each group being permanently connected one to another in the group by bridging elements welded at opposite ends thereof to adjacent filter elements, and the arrangement being such that any group of filter elements can be detached from the tube plate and replaced by the same or a replacement group without detaching or cutting away the other groups of filter elements from the tube plate.