Patent ID: 6187177
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A filter unit for filtering liquid carrying solid contaminants, comprising:a housing having a casing, an access plate, an interior cavity, an unfiltered liquid inlet port, and a filtered liquid outlet port, the access plate detachably secured to the casing to define the interior cavity of the housing, wherein the unfiltered liquid inlet port is in communication with the interior cavity, and wherein the filtered liquid outlet port extends therethrough the access plate;a filter element having a generally cylindrical shape positioned within the cavity of the housing and detachably secured to the access plate of the housing, the filter element defining a center longitudinal axis, an interior, and a porous filter sleeve having an exterior face, the interior of the filter element in fluid communication with the filtered liquid outlet port and the exterior face of the sleeve of the filter element in fluid communication with the unfiltered liquid inlet port; wherein pressurized liquid carrying solid contaminants flows into the cavity of the housing through the unfiltered liquid inlet port, the solid contaminants are filtered from the liquid and deposited thereon the exterior face of the filter sleeve as the liquid passes through the sleeve of the filter element to the interior thereof before exiting the filter element via the filtered liquid outlet port;a wiper unit overlying at least a portion of the exterior face of the filter sleeve of the filter element for removal of accumulated solid contaminants from the exterior face of the filter sleeve;engaging means for detachably positioning the filter element in operative contact with the wiper unit so that the filter element is in a select one of an engaged position, in which, the access plate, having the detachably secured filter element secured thereto, is secured to the casing of the housing and a portion of the wiper unit is in a first position in operative contact with the filter element, and a released position, in which, the access plate, having the detachably secured filter element secured thereto, is detached from the casing of the housing, the filter element is withdrawn from the cavity of the housing and the wiper unit remains within the interior cavity of the housing in the first position, wherein the wiper unit axis is co-axial to the center longitudinal axis of the filter element when the filter element is positioned within the cavity of the housing; androtation means for rotating the wiper unit about the center longitudinal axis of the filter element for removal of accumulated solid contaminants from at least a portion of the exterior face of the filter element.