Patent ID: 7481320
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: B01D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fluid filter device providing at least three substantially continuous directions of flow therethrough, said fluid filter device comprising: a housing having an entry port and an exit port; a filter medium disposed within said housing for filtering a fluid flowing along a filtration-flow direction that extends from said entry port, through said filter medium, and to said exit port in said housing; and a single bi-directional valve assembly coupled to said filter medium for independently and selectively diverting said fluid under variable pressure along either a bypass-flow direction or a reverse-flow direction, wherein said bypass-flow direction extends from said entry port and to said exit port so as to bypass said filter medium, and said reverse-flow direction extends from said exit port and to said entry port; wherein said bi-directional valve assembly includes: (a) a substantially unitary mounting frame having a substantially plate-like portion and a substantially tubular portion, wherein said mounting frame is slidable and thus movable within said housing, and said tubular portion has at least one opening for passing said fluid therethrough along said bypass-flow direction; (b) a positionable plug member; (c) a primary biasing member predeterminately adapted for selectively positioning said plug member in said at least one opening of said tubular portion so as to selectively block said bypass-flow direction and thereby selectively direct said fluid along at least one of said filtration-flow direction and said reverse-flow direction; and (d) a secondary biasing member predeterminately adapted for selectively moving said plate-like portion of said mounting frame substantially against said filter medium so as to selectively and at least partially block said fluid from passing along said reverse-flow direction; wherein said filter medium is substantially fixed within said housing such that said filter medium remains substantially stationary in said housing even as said mounting frame is selectively moved to various positions by said secondary biasing member.