Patent ID: 6383383
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: B01D,B04C

Abstract:
Apparatus comprising:a cylindrical housing disposed around a substantially vertical axis, said housing having a top, a bottom and sidewalls interconnecting said top and bottom for forming a container for receiving a liquid, said sidewalls having a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate portion between the first and second portions; a fluid inlet disposed at an angle substantially tangent to an imaginary cylinder which is smaller than but concentric with said cylindrical housing whereby liquid will be caused to flow in a circular path within the first portion of said cylindrical housing causing particles suspended in said fluid to flow towards the vertical axis and cleaner fluid to be disposed nearer to the sidewalls of the housing; a fluid outlet operably disposed in the housing; a first circular plate disposed in a flow path between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said first circular plate having a diameter less than the diameter of an inner wall of said housing immediately surrounding said first plate whereby liquid will flow between an outer periphery of said first plate and said inner wall of the housing; a second plate spaced from said first plate, said second plate having an exterior periphery substantially in abutment with said inner wall of the housing and at least one opening portion between the exterior periphery thereof and said vertical axis whereby liquid will flow into said at least one opening portion from a space between said first and second plates; a third plate disposed closer to said second plate than to said first plate and spaced from said second plate, said third plate being substantially solid and of a diameter closer to the diameter of said first plate than the diameter of said second plate whereby flow from said at least one opening portion will flow between said third plate and said inner wall of the housing; a filter media disposed in said housing closer to said third plate than to said second plate and spaced from said third plate, said filter media effectively being disposed with respect to the inner wall of the housing so all of the fluid flow must pass therethrough; and a pump disposed in said housing for causing flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet.