Abstract:
A device for removing liquid filter bags from a filter housing. The device includes retractable arms which engage the upper part of the bag and allow for easy removal by a simple pulling on the device.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a bag remover and will have specific application to the removal of filter bags from a liquid filter. 
     Filter bags made of a fibrous material have been found to be excellent fluid strainers and are widely used in the filter industry. The major problem with using bags is that when the bag accumulates a great deal of sediment over a period of time, it tends to cling to the supporting reticulated basket it rests in, making removal of the bag difficult. Difficulty in removal can also occur when a negative pressure inside the housing is present due to clogged bags. The remover device of this invention serves to rectify the problem of bag removal. By inserting the device into a filter housing opening and rotating an upright shaft, arm members engage the bag, allowing it to be removed easily and quickly by a simple pulling up on the device. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device for removing filter bags from a filter. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a method of removing spent filter bags from a filter basket which is both efficient and economical. 
     Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment has been chosen to best describe the principles of this invention wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag remover. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a filter with a bag in place, and the remover ready for insertion. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a filter with the remover inserted and the arms thereof in their retracted position. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the remover as seen generally from line 4--4 of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a filter with the remover inserted and the arms thereof in their extended position. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the remover as seen generally from line 6--6 of FIG. 5. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. 
     Bag remover 10 consists of tubular member 12 connected at one end to a locater plate 14. An actuator disc 16 is located below plate 14 and is attached to one end of a shaft member 20 which extends through tubular member 12. Shaft member 20 protrudes from the opposite end of tubular member 12 where it is attached to a handle 22, for ease of rotating the shaft member. Actuator disc 16 is located against plate 14 and is connected to shaft 20 so as to be rotatable relative to plate 14 upon turning of the shaft within tubular member 12. A handle 30 is connected to tubular member 12. 
     A plurality of arms 24 are carried by disc 16. The innermost end of each arm 24 is pivotally connected to disc 16 by a screw 26 which is threaded into the disc. Arms 24 are of equal length and are pivotally connected to disc 16 equal angularly from each other, an equal radial distance from the pivot axis of shaft 20. Disc 16 has, for each arm 24, an arcuate slot 17 formed through it along a radial section. Each arm 24 includes a longitudinal slot 25 which extends from its outer end and which crosses or overlies slot 17 in disc 16. A screw 18 extends through each aligned arm slot 25 and disc slot 17 and is threaded into plate 14. 
     To operate remover 10, a worker grasps handle 30 and inserts the remover into the filter housing 32. Plate 14 is sized so as to fit within the opening of the filter housing, coming to rest upon the filter bag 36 at its generally rigid ring 38 to which the flexible bag material 39 is connected. Handle 22 is then turned which causes shaft 20 and disc 16 to rotate relative to plate 14. Arms 24 shift radially to rotate relative to plate 14. Arms 24 shift radially from the retracted position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 into the extended position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Such movement is accommodated by sliding movement of screws 18 within slots 17 and 25. 
     When extended, arms 24 contact filter bag 36 at ring 38 to clamp the ring, such as shown in FIG. 5. To remove bag 36, the operator simply pulls on tubular member 12 while maintaining a grip on handles 22 and 30, pulling the bag out of housing 32. When bag 36 is removed, handle 22 is then turned back to its original position, causing arms 24 to be retracted and the release of bag 36. 
     It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the preceding description, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.