Patent ID: 8286801

Claim:
A device for separating particles from a liquid comprising: a frame, a filter, an absorbent layer, and at least one movement device so constructed and located relative to said frame to cause relative counter current movement between the filter and the absorbent layer; the frame constructed and arranged to support the filter and the absorbent layer and to allow the filter and absorbent layer to move counter current relative to one another; the filter including an upper surface, a lower surface, and pores extending between the upper and lower surfaces; the absorbent layer including an upper surface and a lower surface; and at least a portion of the lower surface of the filter contacting at least a portion of the upper surface of the absorbent layer while moving in relative counter current directions, wherein the contact between the lower surface of the filter and the upper surface of the absorbent layer is sufficient to effect the separation of at least a portion of the particles from at least a portion of the liquid by movement of the portion of liquid through the pores of the filter and into the absorbent layer without application of an external force to the mixture while retaining at least a portion of the particles on the upper surface of the filter.