Patent ID: 7223298
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A filter assembly for filtering a fluid transported by a pipeline, which assembly comprising; a) a first manifold having a lateral projecting flanged inlet port, which flanged inlet port is capable of being sealingly connected to a pipeline for transporting fluids and which first manifold has a plurality of outlet ports; b) a plurality of first set of valves, each having a inlet port and an outlet port and wherein the inlet port of a first valve is fluidly and sealingly connected to an outlet port of said first manifold, such that each outlet port of said first manifold has connected to a first valve; c) a plurality of filter modules each comprised of: i) a cylindrical shaped housing having a first end which is closed and a second end which is open; ii) a removable end cap at said second end which end cap is capable of closing and sealing said second end; iii) a baffle plate within said housing positioned within said housing and secured around the entire inside circumference of said housing at a predetermined angle and distance from said first end of said housing thereby defining a space between said baffle plate and said first end; iv) a plurality of tubular filter elements each having outer surfaces and an inner bore capable of filtering a fluid from its outer surface to its inner bore, which plurality of filter elements are longitudinally disposed within said housing extending from said open end and through said baffle plate and partially into said space within said first end such that only fluid from the inner core of said filter elements is capable of entering said space within said first end; v) an inlet port positioned on the side of said housing between said baffle plate and said second end; and vi) an outlet port positioned on the side of said housing between said baffle plate and said first end; d) a plurality of second set of valves, each having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein an inlet port of each second valve is sealingly and fluidly connected to the outlet port of a filter module such that each filter module has associated therewith a second valve; and c) a second manifold having a lateral projecting flanged outlet port, which flanged outlet port is capable of being sealingly connected to a pipeline for transporting fluids and which second manifold has a plurality of inlet ports wherein each inlet port of said second manifold is sealingly connected to an outlet port of a second valve.