Patent ID: 6913152
Filing Date: 2005-07-05
Classification: B01D,B01L,G01N

Abstract:
1. A vacuum filtration apparatus comprising: a base including a filter seal surface and a side wall, surrounding a central axis of said base, said sidewall including an inner surface and an outer surface with the inner surface of said side wall extending in a substantially straight line upward from an outer periphery of said filter seal surface to the top of said base, with the angle between said inner surface and the central axis of said base being greater than or equal to zero degrees, and with said base being made of a material that is sufficiently pliable to allow said side wall to be deflected outward. a filter means, having an upstream surface, a downstream surface and an outer periphery with the outer periphery of said filter means sealed to said filter seal surface to prevent the flow of unfiltered liquid between said filter seal surface and the downstream surface of said filter means, a funnel capable of holding un-filtered liquid therein, with the shape of a bottom outside surface of said funnel matching the shape of said inner surface of said base, with the bottom outside surface of said funnel containing a chamfer, with the maximum outside radius of said chamfer being less than or equal to the corresponding inside radius of a bottom of said side wall of said base, said chamfer allowing alignment of said funnel with respect to said base before the funnel is fully inserted into the base, with the bottom of said funnel inserted into said base, with the portion of an outer surface of said funnel above said chamfer that is inserted into said base extending upward from a top of said chamfer in a substantially straight line, with the angle between said outer surface of said funnel above said chamfer that is inserted into said base and the central axis of said funnel being greater than zero, with at least a portion of the outer surface of said funnel above said chamfer that is inserted into said base having an outside radius that is greater than the inside radius at the top of said side wall of said base, with said funnel made from a material that is sufficiently more rigid than the material of the base to cause the inner surface of said side wall of said base to deflect outward as the portion of said funnel above said chamfer is inserted into said base, and to continue deflecting outward until said funnel is fully inserted into said base, and to remain deflected outward for as long as said funnel is inserted into said base, thereby releasably attaching said funnel to said base with an interference fit between the deflected inner surface of said side wall of said base and at least a portion of the outer surface of the funnel above said chamfer that is inserted into said base, with a sufficient force to prevent accidental disengagement of the funnel from the base, with neither the inner surface of said side wall of said base or the outer surface of the portion of said funnel that is inserted into said base containing any grooves or protrusions that interlock with each other, said base further containing an outlet port in fluid flow communication with the downstream surface of said filter means.