Abstract:
A variable compression disc filter housing secures a circumferentially welded composite layer of filter disc material for filtering a small amount of liquid for determining the optimum filter media material for specific production applications.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to collecting data to determine the optimum grade of filter media for specific applications, and more particularly, to filter a small amount of liquid to make a rapid determination as to the optimum filter media material to be use in production.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Relevant Art  
           [0004]    The prior art discloses devices used in pressurized continuously operated air filter systems, such as for vacuum cleaners as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,811 issued to Frey et al. on Jul. 29, 1997, which utilize a plurality of filter media, as well as, a fiber filter with an electrically charged non-woven material for removing very fine air particles.  
           [0005]    Another apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,933 issued to Glen et al. on Dec. 21, 1991, which utilizes coated filter membranes and absolute pore filters.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Therefore it is the primary object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an in-line filter to sample and filter the liquid to be filtered and enable the collection of data to determine the optimum grade of filter media for the specific production filtering requirements.  
           [0007]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which, is shown by way of illustration, a specific construction in which the invention may be practiced. The apparatus will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to utilize the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed method and description is, therefore, not to be taken in a Limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
           [0008]    The subject matter, which I regard as my invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed at the concluding portion of the specification. My invention, itself, as to its construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a pictorial side view, in elevation of a variable compression disc filter housing assembly, according to the principals of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded pictorial view of the several parts of the disc filter housing assembly including the laminated filter disc material utilized therein;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2A is a side view in elevation of the disc filter material showing the circumferentially welded construction thereof and the direction of liquid flow therethrough;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the compression ring portion of the filter housing assembly;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the compression ring portion of the filter housing assembly taken along the line  1 - 1  of FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of inlet body portion of the filter housing assembly;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view in elevation along the line  4 - 4  of FIG. 4 of the inlet body portion of the housing assembly shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the outlet body portion of the disc filter housing assembly showing the ridges and channels disposed therein, upon which the filter disc material is disposed; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view in elevation taken along the line  5 - 5  of FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIG. 1, wherein there is shown, a pictorial side view, in elevation of a variable compression disc filter housing assembly  10 , preferably fabricated from stainless steel, which includes a compression ring  12  adapted to retain an inlet body portion  14  threaded onto an outlet body portion  16 . The disc filter housing assembly  10  may be provided with internal or external threaded ends  15  and  17  suitable for connection to inline cooperating connections, not shown.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIG. 2, which is an exploded view of the several parts of the filter housing assembly  10  that includes a filter disc  18 , made from a plurality of filter materials that have been circumferentially welded to form a solid edge and a malleable compression ring  20 , preferably made of Buna-N material.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 3 and 4 are a top plan views, respectively, of the compression ring  12  and the inlet body portion  14 . FIGS. 3A and 4A, respectively, are a cross-section in elevation taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 3 and line  4 - 4  of FIG. 4, which shows the opening  22  adapted to receive the upwardly extending portion  24  of the inlet body portion  14  provided with the inlet port  13 . The ledge  26  provided in the compression ring  12  applies pressure to the surface  28  provided on the inlet body portion  14  when the compression ring  12  is threaded onto cooperating threads  30  and  32  provided on the compression ring  12  and the outlet body portion  16 , respectively. A knurled circumference is provided on the outer surface of compression ring  12  for ease in rotation when providing the required pressure.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is top plan view of the inner surface  36  of the outlet body portion  16  and FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view in elevation along the line  5 - 5  of FIG. 5, showing the location of slots  38  and  40  and the peaks  42 ,  44 , and  46  that are provided to insure that the liquid flowing through the filter disc material may exit via the threaded aperture  48 .  
         [0023]    In operation, the filter housing assembly  10  is separated by unscrewing the compression ring  12  from the outlet body portion  16  and then removing the malleable compression ring  20  and the filter disc material  18  from the housing assembly  10 . Connection is made from the upstream portion of the fluid to be evaluated to the inlet body portion  14 . The upstream side of the filter disc material  18  is determined by placing the curved upward surface of the filter disc material  18  facing the inlet port  13 . The compression ring  12  is placed over the filter disc material  18  and the compression ring  12 , with the inlet port  13  disposed therein being threaded onto the outlet body portion  16  of the filter housing assembly  10 . The outlet aperture  48  is then connected to the downstream fluid line. The compression ring  12  is sufficiently tightened to avoid any leaks therefrom. The pressure pump is then activated allowing the fluid to flow through the filter assembly  10  collecting the filtered liquid for evaluation after a fixed period of time. The filter housing  10  may then be disassembled and the filter disk material  18  removed and examined to determine the contaminate particles captured in the various layers of the composite filter material.  
         [0024]    Hereinbefore has been disclosed an apparatus and method for improving the life and reliability of filter bags used in production pressurized filter systems. It will be understood that various changes in the method detail, materials, arrangements of parts and operating conditions, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the instant invention.