Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a filter for use in connection with a swimming pool or spa. A device is provided that has a tube inlet at the top of a vessel. A lower end of the device is connected directly to an outlet of the filter. The device is designed to divert all or the majority of the fluid to move to the top of the filter before exiting the vessel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/028,021, filed on Jul. 23, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a filter, and more particularly, to a device and method for evacuating gas from a filter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Various types of fluid filters, such as a swimming pool filter, have been developed in the past. An example of a filter  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 , which includes a vessel  12  with an inlet  14  for receiving fluid to be filtered and an outlet  16  for discharging filtered fluid from the vessel  12 . The filter  10  also includes a filter cartridge  18  positioned within the vessel  12 . In operation, fluid is directed into the interior of the filter cartridge  18  from the inlet  14  of the vessel  12 . The fluid flows through the filter cartridge  18  into a hollow interior defined by the filter cartridge  18 . After passing through the filter cartridge  18 , the fluid is discharged from the vessel  12  through the outlet  16 . The filtered-out particulate remains in the filter cartridge  18 . 
         [0004]    Filters are known to accumulate gas or air pockets at the top of the vessel, which can then be compressed when the filter is in operation and pressurized. This compressed air can generate thrust when depressurized quickly and can cause unsecured features on the filter to separate. Accordingly, some filters, such as the filter  10 , are provided with a scavenger tube  20  in an attempt to reduce or to eliminate gas or air pockets from the top of the vessel  12 . The scavenger tube  20  utilizes the venturi effect to remove gas or air pockets at a high flow rate. 
         [0005]    It would be desirable to provide a filter that reduces or eliminates the accumulation of gas or air pockets at any flow rate. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In accordance with the present disclosure, a filter is provided for use in fluid systems (e.g., swimming pools or spas). The invention serves to remove or substantially reduce gas or air pockets that are formed in the vessel at any flow rate. In particular, the filter includes a tubular assembly that is positioned in a vessel. The tubular assembly has a tube inlet at the top of the vessel. A lower end of the tubular assembly is connected directly to an outlet of the filter. The tubular assembly provides a flow path between the tube inlet of the tubular assembly and the outlet of the filter. The tubular assembly is configured to affect the flow path of the fluid such that all or substantially all fluid is forced to enter the tube inlet of the tubular assembly before exiting the vessel. As a result of the diverted flow path, fluid is forced to move to the top of the filter before exiting the vessel. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another embodiment, the tubular assembly has small vents or apertures that allow the passage of fluid therethrough. The small vents or apertures could be formed in a nozzle. While substantially all of the fluid is forced to move to the top of the filter in view of the tubular assembly, the vents or apertures allow a small percentage of fluid to pass therethrough. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment, a filter cartridge has an evacuation tube attached thereto. The evacuation tube provides a flow path between the tube inlet of the evacuation tube and the outlet of the filter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is made to the following Detailed Description of the Exemplary Embodiment(s), considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a filter for a pool or spa of the prior art; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective cutaway view showing a filter in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a vessel&#39;s lower half shown by itself; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view, taken along dashed lines  4 - 4 , of the filter shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a tubular assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view, taken along dashed lines  6 - 6 , of the tubular assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view, showing the attachment of a nozzle to the vessel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a filter constructed in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the filter of  FIG. 8 , showing a nozzle with apertures; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a filter constructed in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a filter cartridge utilized in the filter of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view, taken along dashed lines  12 - 12 , of the filter cartridge shown in  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view, showing the interior of a vessel utilized in the filter of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a filter  110  in accordance with the present disclosure. The filter  110  could be utilized for use in fluid systems (e.g., swimming pools, spas, and other recreational bodies of water). The filter  110  is adapted for removing particulate matter from a fluid stream passing through the filter  110 . The filter  110  is equipped with a vessel  112 , a cylindrical filter cartridge  114  sized and shaped to be received in the vessel  112 , and a tubular assembly  116  positioned in the vessel  112 . The filter  110  includes an inlet  118  for receiving fluid to be filtered and an outlet  120  for discharging filtered fluid from the vessel  112 . 
         [0024]    The vessel  112  includes an upper housing portion  122  and a lower housing portion  124  removably and sealably attached to the upper housing portion  122 . The upper and lower housing portions  122 ,  124  facilitate assembly and maintenance of the filter  110 . A clamp  126  could be used to secure the upper housing portion  122  to the lower housing portion  124 . The vessel  112  could include handles  128 . The bottom of the vessel  112  includes a flange  130  for mounting and securing the vessel  112 . 
         [0025]    The filter cartridge  114  has a pleated filter media  132  between end caps  134 ,  136  and a perforated center core  138  that defines a hollow interior  140 . The filter cartridge  114  is made from suitable filtering media  132  (e.g., polypropylene, polyester, etc.) that permits the passage of fluid while inhibiting the passage of undesired particulate matter contained in the fluid. 
         [0026]    The tubular assembly  116  includes a solid (e.g., non-perforated) elongate tube  142  and a nozzle  144  (see  FIG. 4 ) vertically aligned with the tube  142  and attached to the tube  142 , and defines an inner cavity  146  extending through the tube  142  and the nozzle  144 . The tubular assembly  116  is positioned in the hollow interior  140  of the filter cartridge  114 . The elongate tube  142  extends to the top of the vessel  112 . The tubular assembly  116  is in communication with the outlet  120 . In particular, the tubular assembly  116  has a tube inlet  147  at the top of the vessel  112 . The tubular assembly  116  provides the only flow path or the majority of the flow path between the tube inlet  147  of the tubular assembly  116  and the outlet  120  of the filter  110 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the lower housing  124  of the vessel  112  itself showing the interior thereof. The lower housing  124  includes a bottom wall  148  and an outlet channel  150  extending from the center of the bottom wall  148  into the interior of the lower housing  124 . The outlet channel  150  includes a vertical sidewall  152  that is concentric with a sidewall  154  of the lower housing  124 . It will be understood that the vertical sidewall  152  does not have to be concentric with the sidewall  154 . A lower end of the tubular assembly  116  (see  FIG. 4 ) is in communication with the outlet channel  150 . 
         [0028]    The vessel  112  includes a plurality of outer standoffs  156  extending from the bottom wall  148  and the interior of the sidewall  154  of the vessel  112 . A plurality of inner standoffs  158  extends from the bottom wall  148  of the vessel  112  and the outer surface of the sidewall  152  of the outlet channel  150 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the filter  110 , taken along dashed lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . The outlet channel  150  has a straight section  160  and a curved section  162  that serves to direct flow through the straight section  160  to the outlet  120 . The outer standoffs  156  and the inner standoffs  158  support the filter cartridge  114 . The nozzle  144  of the tubular assembly  116  is attached to the filter vessel  112 , as will be described in further detail hereinafter. The tubular assembly  116  extends from the tube inlet  147  positioned at the top of the vessel  112  to the bottom of the vessel  112  at the outlet channel  150 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the tubular assembly  116 , and  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the tubular assembly  116 , taken along dashed lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . The tubular assembly defines a center axis H. The tube  142  of the tubular assembly  116  has an upper end  164  (see  FIG. 2 ) at the tube inlet  147  of the tubular assembly  116  and a lower end  166 . The nozzle  144  has an upper end  168  and a lower end  170 . 
         [0031]    The nozzle  144  has a mating section  172  that includes the upper end  168 , an interlocking section  174 , and a transition section  176  between the mating section  172  and the interlocking section  174 . The mating section  172  has a diameter that is larger than the lower end  166  of the tube  142  such that the lower end  166  is fitted within the nozzle  144 . The transition section  176  tapers outwardly toward the interlocking section  174  in a direction away from the center axis H. The interlocking section  174  includes the lower end  170  and a protrusion  178 . 
         [0032]    While the tubular assembly  116  is shown as having the tube  142  and the nozzle  144 , it will be understood that the tubular assembly  116  could be formed as a single, unitary structure. It will also be understood that the tubular assembly  116  could be formed as part of the lower housing  124  of the vessel  112 . While the tube  142  has a generally tubular or cylindrical shape, it will be understood that the tube  142  could have other shapes and configurations. It should also be understood that while the nozzle  144  may generally be conical in shape, it may have other shapes and configurations. Also, while the tubular assembly  116  is shown as having a solid (e.g., non-perforated) sidewall, it will be understood that small apertures or vents could be formed in the tube  142  or the nozzle  144 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view, showing the attachment of the nozzle  144  to the vessel  112  (see  FIG. 4 ). The protrusion  178  of the nozzle  144  is sized to engage and snap-fit to a top wall  180  of the straight section  160  of the outlet channel  150 . A flange  182  on the nozzle  144  is supported by the vertical sidewall  152  (see  FIG. 3 ) located on the lower housing  124 . It will be understood that any mechanism could be utilized to connect the tubular assembly  116  to the vessel  112 . 
         [0034]    In operation, fluid is directed into the interior of the filter cartridge  114  from the inlet  118  of the vessel  112  (as indicated by arrow A). The fluid then flows through the filter cartridge  114  (as indicated by arrow B). After passing through the filter cartridge  114 , the fluid comes into contact with the tubular assembly  116 . In this position, the fluid is prevented from leaking out because the tubular assembly  116  prevents the passage of fluid therethrough. The fluid fills the interior space of the vessel  112  and is forced to rise upwardly (as indicated by arrow C) before exiting the vessel  112 . The fluid then flows into the tube inlet  147  and the inner cavity  146  of the tubular assembly  116  at the upper end  164  of the tube  142  (as indicated by arrow D). After flowing into the inner cavity  146 , the fluid is discharged from the vessel  112  through the outlet  120  (as indicated by arrow E). The filtered-out particulate remains in the filter cartridge  114 . 
         [0035]    Because the fluid is forced to rise upwardly during the filtering process, the fluid comes into contact with any gas G or air pockets that have accumulated in the vessel  112 . The fluid forces the accumulated gas G or air pockets to discharge from the vessel  112  at any flow rate. 
         [0036]    The tubular assembly  116  affects the flow path of the fluid such that all or substantially all fluid is forced to enter the tube inlet  147  of the tubular assembly  116  before exiting the vessel  112 . As a result of the diverted flow path, fluid is forced to move to the top of the filter  110  before exiting the vessel  112 . 
         [0037]    While the fluid is shown to flow vertically in the tubular assembly  116 , the tubular assembly  116  could be configured such that the fluid flow could be in any other orientation. The fluid path to the outlet  120  could be varied. The tubular assembly  116  could serve as support for the filter cartridge  114 . In particular, the tubular assembly  116  could serve as the center core for a filter cartridge without any core, and as support to prevent collapse of the filter cartridge  114 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show another embodiment of a filter, generally indicated as  210 . The filter  210  operates and is constructed in manners consistent with the filter  110  shown in  FIGS. 2-7 , unless stated otherwise. Like the filter  110 , the filter  210  is equipped with a vessel  212 , a filter cartridge  214  sized and shaped to be received in the vessel  212 , and a tubular assembly  216  positioned in the vessel  212 . The tubular assembly  216  includes a solid (e.g., non-perforated) elongate tube  242  and a nozzle  244  with a plurality of radial vents or apertures  211 . 
         [0039]    While the nozzle  244  has a plurality of radial vents or apertures  211 , it will be understood that the tubular assembly  216  could have other configurations. For example, the tube  242  could have small vents or apertures (not shown). 
         [0040]    In operation, fluid is directed into the interior of the filter cartridge  214  from the inlet  218  of the vessel  212  (as indicated by arrow A). The fluid then flows through the filter cartridge  214  (as indicated by arrow B). After passing through the filter cartridge  214 , the fluid comes into contact with the tubular assembly  216 . A portion of the fluid flows through the apertures  211  of the nozzle  244  into the outlet channel  250  (as indicated by arrow C). The other portion of the fluid is prevented from leaking out because the tube  242  of the tubular assembly  216  prevents the passage of fluid therethrough. The tubular assembly  216  is configured to allow only a small percentage of fluid to pass through the nozzle  244 . The other portion of the fluid fills the interior space of the vessel  212  and is forced to rise upwardly (as indicated by arrow D) before exiting the vessel  212 . The fluid then flows into the tube inlet  247  and the inner cavity  246  of the tubular assembly  216  at the upper end  264  of the tube  242  (as indicated by arrow E). After flowing into the inner cavity  246 , the fluid is discharged from the vessel  212  through the outlet  220  (as indicated by arrow F). 
         [0041]      FIGS. 10-13  show another embodiment of a filter, generally indicated as  310 . The filter is equipped with a vessel  312  and a filter cartridge  314  sized and shaped to be received in the vessel  312 . 
         [0042]    The filter cartridge  314  has a pleated filter media  332  between end caps  334 ,  336  and a perforated center core  338  that defines a hollow interior  340 . An evacuation tube  311  is positioned within the hollow interior  340  and is attached to the filter cartridge  314 . The evacuation tube  311  defines an inner cavity  346 . While the evacuation tube  311  is shown as being solid, it will be understood that the evacuation tube  311  could have small apertures or vents. 
         [0043]    A plurality of dividers  313  extends radially outward from the evacuation tube  311  to the center core  338  to attach the evacuation tube  311  to the filter cartridge  314 . The dividers  313  extend between a top end  315  and a bottom end  317  of the evacuation tube  311 . The evacuation tube  311  provides a flow path between the tube inlet  323  of the evacuation tube  311  and the outlet  320  of the filter  310 . 
         [0044]    While dividers  313  are illustrated, it will be understood that the filter cartridge  314  could be attached to the evacuation tube  311  utilizing other engagement mechanisms. While the evacuation tube  311  is shown having a single, unitary structure, it will be understood that the evacuation tube  311  could have any configuration. It will also be understood that the evacuation tube  311  could have other shapes. 
         [0045]    The vessel  312  has a cylindrical mount  319  for supporting the evacuation tube  311 . The cylindrical mount  319  extends from the inner standoffs  358  and the wall  321  defining the straight section  360  of the outlet channel  350 . It will be understood that other mechanisms could be employed for supporting the evacuation tube  311 . 
         [0046]    In operation, fluid is directed into the interior of the filter cartridge  314  from the inlet  318  of the vessel  312  (as indicated by arrow A). The fluid then flows through the filter cartridge  314  (as indicated by arrow B). After passing through the filter cartridge  314 , the fluid comes into contact with the evacuation tube  311 . In this position, the fluid is prevented from leaking out because the evacuation tube  311  and the mount  319  prevent the passage of fluid therethrough. The fluid fills the interior space of the vessel  312  and is forced to rise upwardly (as indicated by arrow C) before exiting the vessel  312 . The fluid then flows into the tube inlet  323  and the inner cavity  346  of the evacuation tube  311  at the upper end  364  (as indicated by arrow D). After flowing into the inner cavity  346 , the fluid is discharged from the vessel  312  through the outlet  320  (as indicated by arrow E). 
         [0047]    It is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the disclosure. It will be understood that the aspects of the disclosure described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. All such variations and modifications, including those discussed above, are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.