Patent ID: 7150778

Claim:
A filter system for removing at least one contaminant from a contaminant-containing fluid, comprising: a sorbing chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet, sorbing chamber, and outlet defining a primary fluid flow path through the sorbing chamber; an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inlet of the sorbing chamber; an effluent conduit in fluid communication with the outlet of the sorbing chamber; a first sorbent bed disposed within the sorbing chamber transverse to the primary fluid flow path, the first sorbent bed having an upstream surface and a downstream surface; means for diverting effluent fluid passing from the downstream surface of the first sorbent bed at its peripheral region and directing the diverted effluent fluid toward a peripheral region of the upstream surface of the first sorbent bed, thereby defining a secondary fluid flow path, wherein said means for diverting comprises a recirculation jacket having a fluid inlet lip extending into the peripheral region of the primary fluid flow path downstream of said sorbent bed to capture already-filtered fluids only, and said recirculation jacket including a conduit connecting said fluid inlet lip to a fluid outlet lip located upstream of said sorbent bed to direct said captured already-filtered fluids to the inlet of said sorbent bed at its peripheral region only, and wherein said sorbent bed extends into and is attached to said recirculation jacket so that the edge region of said sorbent bed is only exposed to the secondary fluid flow path; and a blower disposed downstream of the sorbent bed to draw fluid through the first sorbent bed.