Abstract:
A simple, economical and rapid method for determining the contaminate particle size appearing in a fluid being filtered includes a filter housing that eliminates fluid bypass with a multi-layered laminated filter disposed therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to pressurized filter housings, and more particularly, to a simple, economical and rapid method for determining the contaminate particle size appearing in a fluid being filtered.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Relevant Art  
           [0004]    The prior art discloses devices used in continuously operated filter systems, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,855 issued to Gershenson on May 23, 1995, which utilizes a filter bag having five diametrically and axially spaced bags that form five spaced chambers provided by an integral collar that has a stepped shape forming five cylinder support portions for the five spaced bags.  
           [0005]    Another apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,436 issued to Farber on Feb. 1, 1983, which utilizes a series of trays having successively smaller porosity through which the spent solutions are passed. Each tray removing particulate matter of progressively smaller sizes suspended in the liquid from passing therethrough.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a simple, economical and rapid method, utilizing a single unitary multi-layered filter bag with different porosities, to determine the particulate matter appearing in a fluid being filtered.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple method, that utilizes a relatively inexpensive filter bag apparatus for determining the size of the unwanted particles appearing in a filtered liquid.  
           [0008]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of determining the size of undesirable particulate matter appearing in a liquid utilizing a filter bag that consists of a plurality of filter layers, with each filter layer selectively chosen to filter out particulate having a specific size.  
           [0009]    It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide an economical and rapid method for determining the size of particulate impurities appearing in a fluid.  
           [0010]    A simple and rapid method for determining the size of undesirable particulate matter appearing in a filtered liquid, utilizing a filter bag that consists of a plurality of filter layers, with each filter layer selectively chosen to filter out particulate having a specific size.  
           [0011]    A method for rapidly determining the particulate size of impurities appearing in a fluid, according to the principles of the present invention, includes a filter bag having multiple layers inserted into a pressurized filter system, into which a sample amount of the liquid is fed.  
           [0012]    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 method and embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. This method will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other methods and 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.  
           [0013]    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, however both as to its organization and method of operation, 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  
       [0014]    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:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a pictorial side view, in elevation of a pressurized filter vessel, with its top cover open and a filter basket extending upwardly therefrom, according to the principals of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a laminated filter bag including the laminated filter material affixed to a ring portion, which has been attached with heat techniques; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a partial broken away cross-sectional view, of a filter bag used in the pressurized filter vessel shown in FIG. 1 with the layers of the filter bag folded back to determine the layer blinded by the particulate appearing in the sample liquid that flowed through the filter bag. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    Applicant hereby incorporates U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,581, issued May 21, 1993 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,077 issued Jun. 23, 1998, to Sidney Goldman as hereinbefore set forth at length.  
         [0019]    Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown, according to the principals of the present invention, a pressurized filter vessel  10  that includes a filter housing  12  and a filter basket  16  into which is inserted a filter bag  18 , in a conventional manner.  
         [0020]    The end of the filter vessel  12  is provided with an opening  20  that is covered and sealed by a cover  40  by plurality of conventional clamping mechanisms  34  and  36 .  
         [0021]    The cover  42  is shown in the open position and is hingedly fastened by means of a pivot pin  40  to the vessel housing  12  on an extending lip portion  44  provided proximate the filter vessel opening  20 . The cover  20  is also provided with a handle  14  for ease in raising it to the open position.  
         [0022]    The inlet port  46  to the housing  12 , in the preferred embodiment, communicates with the aperture  38  provided in the cover  42  so that the input fluid to be filtered flows over the top of the filter basket  18  when entering the filter vessel housing  12 . The outlet port  22  is provided proximate the closed portion of the filter vessel housing  12 , preferably below the bottom of the filter basket  16   
         [0023]    An inlet control valve, not shown, is disposed in series with the filter vessel input port  46  and it is connected to the main fluid line, not shown, in which the unfiltered fluid flows. An outlet control valve, not shown, is disposed in series with the filter vessel output port  22  and it is connected to the main fluid line  46  in which the filtered fluid flows. The filter vessel housing  12  is maintained in an upright position by a base member  24 , which includes legs  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 .  
         [0024]    Referring now to FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of a multi-layered heat laminated filter bag  18  fabricated from a plurality of different porosity filter materials  48  affixed to a sealing ring portion  50 , which has been attached with heat techniques. Disposed along the length and width of the bag  18  are a plurality of heat laminated junctures  54  that improve the strength of the laminated materials  48 , which may vary in size and quantity depending upon the particulate to be captured (filtered from the fluid).  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 3, which is a partial broken away cross-sectional view, of a filter bag that  18  that is being examined to determined the porosity of the filter material  48  that captured the particles  60 . Determining the porosity of the filter material needed to capture unwanted particulate can serve two functions. Firstly, it insures the quality of the fluid purchased when a sample is tested and secondly, it prevents using filters of smaller porosity than needed, which reduces down time to replace a filter that has become blinded, when a larger porosity filter would be acceptable.  
         [0026]    In operation, the filter bag  18  is placed into the filter basket  16 , which is inserted into the filter vessel housing  12  and the cover is closed and sealed by the cover clamping mechanisms  34  and  36  A sample run is made to determine which filter layer has been blinded by particles captured by a particular filter layer. This is determined by removing the filter bag  18  from the filter housing vessel  12  and cutting the filter bag  18  at any angle relative to the longitudinal axis  62  of the filter bag  18  and viewing, by a non-assisted visual examination, each layer  48 . Once a determination is made as to which layer  48  has been blinded, the required filter bag porosity can be determined to minimize down time and maintain the quality of the fluid being purchased.  
         [0027]    Hereinbefore has been disclosed an apparatus and a simple, economical and rapid method, for determining the size of contaminate particles disposed within the fluid being filtered in the filter vessel. It will be understood that various changes in the method detail, materials, arrangements of parts and operating conditions, which nave 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.