Patent ID: 6063154
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A filtering apparatus for removing particles from a fluid, the filtering apparatus comprising:an exclusion filter, the exclusion filter interfacing a bulkhead which separates filtered material from unfiltered material, an interface area being disposed between the exclusion filter and the bulkhead, wherein axial outlet flow from the exclusion filter passes through the bulkhead,flow diverting vanes rotatably mounted in a housing downstream from the exclusion filter, the housing having a downstream wall, the downstream wall being solid, so that the filtered fluid is repressurized by the vanes, ejected radially, and directed toward the interface area so that the repressurized and directed fluid presurizes the interface area and prevents downstream leakage,the flow diverting vanes including a centrifugal blower being mounted co-axially with and downstream from the exclusion filter, having an upstream wall and a downstream wall, the upstream wall containing a blower orifice through which to receive filtered fluid from the exclusion filter, and the downstream wall being solid, so that the filtered fluid is repressurized by the blower and ejected radially outward through the sides of the blower;wherein the bulkhead has a substantially cylindrical bulkhead orifice, the filtering apparatus passing through the center of the substantially circular bulkhead orifice, the axis of rotation of the filtering apparatus being substantially collinear with the central axis of the bulkhead orifice, the exclusion filter inlet spaces being located entirely on the upstream side of the bulkhead, the plane of the bulkhead orifice intersecting the filtering apparatus at a level intermediate of the exclusion filter inlet spaces and the outer perimeter of the downstream wall of the blower, and the diameter of the bulkhead orifice being only slightly larger than the diameter of the blower at the interface area; andwherein the plane formed by the outer perimeter of the downstream surface of the upstream wall of the centrifugal blower is at a level intermediate of the downstream surface of the bulkhead and the upstream surface of the bulkhead, at least a fraction of the discharge being directed toward the inner surface of the bulkhead orifice, and the shape of the inner surface of the bulkhead orifice and of the downstream wall of the centrifugal blower being tuned to achieve a pressure within the interface area which prevents downstream leakage and minimizes upstream leakage through the seal.