FR2796566A1 - Container for filter with inlet and outlet lines has angle to the main axis which can be varied - Google Patents

Abstract

The angle of at least one of the supply (20) and outlet (38) lines on the container (4) for a filter (2) can be changed w.r.t the principal axis (A) of the main part (6). The main part of the container (4) for a filter (2) is designed to receive at least one filter medium (42), a supply line for the fluid to be purified and an outlet line for the purified fluid. The fluid flows through these lines in a transverse direction, preferably perpendicular to a principal axis of the main part. The principal axis is vertical and the supply and/or outlet lines are mounted to pivot about this axis, extending horizontally. Preferred Features: One or both line is fixed, e.g. by welding, to a secondary container (18) concentric to the main part and pivoting about the principal axis. The container is connected to one of a series of different filter media, in particular a filter basket, a filter pocket and a battery of filter cartridges by a collar (14) extending radially from one end of the main part of the container and designed to receive means of fixing each filter medium. The battery of filter cartridges comprise a base plate, a cover and a number of filter cartridges fixed to the base plate and the cover. The cover is designed to fix to the collar in the container and the battery has a means of gripping. The cartridges are stacked into several consecutive series and there is at least one intermediate plate fixed to the base plate and cover to separate two neighboring cartridges. The cartridges are annular and means of locating the cartridges are fixed to the base plate or the cover or, if there is one, the intermediate plate. These means of location extend into the internal volume of the annular cartridges. Independent claims are also included for a filter containing such a container and several filter media, with the media used interchangeably in the container, and a battery of filter cartridges which can be used in this container.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid filter housing, as well as a fluid filter provided with such a housing.

Conventionally, a fluid filter comprises a casing and a filter medium, which ensures the retention of solid impurities initially present in the fluid to be purified.

Such a filter medium can be a rigid basket, for example a metallic basket, pierced with holes through which the purified fluid flows. This basket allows a rough purification of the fluid, retaining the solid particles of large dimensions.

It is also known to use a filter bag, formed by a flexible material, which is for example a needle felt, made of viscose, polypropylene or polyester. This pocket is provided with reduced-size orifices, which allow the retention of medium-sized solid particles.

Finally, with a view to fine purification, filter media formed by cartridges are used, each of which is constituted by a support core, on which is wound a cotton or polypropylene thread. These cartridges ensure the retention of small solid particles.

In a conventional manner, the filter housing comprises a main part, intended for the reception of a threading medium and which is for example constituted by a vertical cylindrical barrel. This casing is also provided with means for supplying the fluid to be purified, as well as means for leaving the purified fluid. These supply and exit means are for example constituted by horizontal conduits, which are welded to the vertical barrel.

However, this type of housing has a drawback, linked to its lack of adaptability. Indeed, the filter which is provided with it cannot be installed quickly and easily in units of different configurations.

The invention aims to overcome this drawback by proposing a casing which can confer satisfactory adaptability to the filter which is equipped with it.

For this purpose, it relates to a filter casing for fluid, comprising a main part for receiving at least one filtering medium, a conduit for supplying the fluid to be purified and an outlet conduit for the purified fluid, the fluid s 'flowing, in said supply and output conduits, transversely, in particular at right angles to a main axis of the main part, characterized in that at least one of the supply and output conduits is orientable relative to the main axis of said main part.

According to other characteristics of the invention - the main axis of said main part is verti cal, the or each orientable duct being pivotally mounted about said vertical main axis; the or each orientable duct extends horizontally; - The or each orientable duct is fixed, for example by welding, to a secondary barrel concentric with said main part and able to pivot around said vertical main axis; - The housing comprises unique means adapted to cooperate with one of a series of several filter media, in particular a filter basket, a filter bag and a battery of filter cartridges.

The invention also relates to a fluid filter, comprising a casing and several filter media, in particular a filter basket, a filter bag and a battery of filter cartridges, this casing being provided with unique means for receiving said filter media, so that the latter can be used interchangeably, inside said casing.

According to other characteristics of the invention - the receiving means comprise a collar projecting radially from one end of a main part of the casing, said collar being capable of receiving means for fixing each filter medium; the battery of filter cartridges comprises a base plate, a cover and several filter cartridges secured between said base plate and the cover, this cover being able to be fixed to said single receiving means and said battery being provided with a single means of gripping; - The cartridges are stacked in several consecutive series and there is provided at least one intermediate plate, integral with said base plate and said cover, and separating two neighboring series of cartridges; - Said cartridges are annular and means for positioning said cartridges are provided, integral with the base plate or with the cover or, where appropriate, with an intermediate plate, said positioning means penetrating into the interior volume of said annular cartridges.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, this filter is provided with a casing as defined above. The invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given only by way of nonlimiting examples and in which - FIG. 1 is a diametrical section view of a filter of the invention, equipped with a first filter medium; - Figure 2 is a partial sectional view similar to Figure 1, of the filter shown in this Figure 1, equipped with a second filter medium; - Figure 3 is a top view, illustrating a clamping member of the second filter medium on the filter housing of Figures 1 and 2; - Figure 4 is a partial sectional view similar to Figure 2, of the filter of Figures 1 to 3, provided with a third filter medium; and - Figure 5 is a top view of a base plate fitted to this third filter medium.

FIG. 1 represents a fluid filter, designated as a whole by the reference 2 and which comprises a casing 4 for receiving several filter media, as will be explained below.

This casing 4 comprises a main barrel 6, constituting a main part, which is cylindrical and which has a vertical main axis A. This barrel 6 is extended, at its lower end, by a bottom 8, provided with a drain 10. This bottom rests on three welded legs 12, spaced regularly at 120 relative to each other.

The casing 4 also comprises an external radial flange 14, welded to the upper end of the barrel 6, as well as means for supplying a fluid to be purified, which are generally designated by the reference 16. The latter comprise a secondary barrel 18, concentric with barrel 6 and of diameter greater than that of the latter. A cylindrical conduit 20, extending perpendicular to the barrel 6, that is to say horizontally, is welded to this secondary barrel and opens into the interior volume of the latter. This conduit 20 is extended by an end collar 22, intended to be connected to an inlet, not shown, of a fluid to be purified.

The secondary barrel 18 rests, with the interposition of an annular seal 24, on the flange 14 and is surmounted, with the interposition of an annular seal 26, by a cover 28 provided with a handle 30. The connection between the flange 14, the secondary barrel 18 and the cover 28 is ensured by means of threaded rods 32, extending from the flange 14 and passing through orifices provided in the cover 28.

The end of these threaded rods, only one of which is shown in this FIG. 1, receives a locking nut 34. It is possible, by action on this nut 34, to separate the secondary barrel 18 from the flange 14, so as to rotate the secondary barrel 18, and therefore the supply conduit 20, around the vertical main axis A of the main barrel 6.

The casing 4 is provided with outlet means for the purified fluid, designated as a whole by the reference 36. They comprise a cylindrical duct 38 extending perpendicularly to the main axis A, namely horizontally, extended by a flange 40 of connection to a pipe, not shown, for discharging the purified fluid.

The term "direction in which the conduits 20 and 38 extend" means the main direction in which the fluid flows within these conduits.

The filter 2 comprises, in addition to the casing 4, a filter medium which is, in the example shown, a filter basket 42 of conventional type.

This basket 42 comprises a cylindrical body 44 provided with bores 46. This body 44, which is concentric with the main barrel 6, has a diameter less than that of the latter. It is extended, at its upper part, by an external radial flange 48, resting on the flange 14, with the interposition of an annular seal 50. This flange 48 is provided with several orifices, of which only two are shown on this FIG. 1, which are crossed by threaded rods 52 fixed on the flange 14. These rods 52 receive, at the opposite end of the flange 14, nuts 54 allowing the basket 42 to be secured to the flange 14 of the casing 4.

The flow of a fluid in the filter is shown by the arrows F. This fluid is first admitted into the supply means 16, then enters the interior volume of the body 44 of the basket 42, passes through the bores 46 , which allows its purification. The purified fluid is then evacuated by the outlet means 36.

Figures 2 and 3 show the filter 2, illustrated in Figure 1, in which the filter basket 42 has been replaced by another filter medium, namely a filter bag 56, which is also of conventional construction.

This filter bag 56 is surrounded by a support basket 58, rigid and pierced with large holes. This basket 58 has an external radial flange 60, resting on an annular spacer 61 bearing on the flange 14. The filter bag 56 is provided, at its open end, with a peripheral bead 62, which itself rests on the face upper edge 60. I1 is provided a clamping member of this pocket, generally designated by the reference 64. This member 64 comprises an annular ring 66, from which extend legs 68 delimiting notches 70. The clamping member 64 is further provided with a handle 72.

The mounting of the pocket 56 on the casing 4 consists in crushing the bead 62 between the rim 60 and the crown 66 of the clamping member. Threaded rods 74, fixed on the flange 14, are inserted into the notches 70, with the interposition of an intermediate nut 76. The fixing of each tab on the corresponding rod is ensured by an upper nut 78.

The flow of the fluid, admitted into the filter provided with the filter bag 56, is indicated by the arrows F '. This fluid flows into the interior volume of the filter bag 56, then passes through orifices with which the latter is provided. The purified fluid then passes through the orifices of the support basket 58 and is then directed towards the outlet means 36.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the filter 2 equipped with a third filtering medium, different from the basket 42 and the pocket 56.

This third filter medium consists of a battery of filter cartridges, generally designated by the reference 80. This battery comprises a base plate 82 shown, seen from above, in FIG. 5. This plate 82 is concentric with the barrel 6 and has a smaller diameter than the latter. It is provided with three radial extensions 84 which come into contact with the inner wall of this barrel 6. There are therefore passages 86 delimited by the inner wall of the barrel and by the outer edge of the base plate, at the level of the part smaller diameter of the latter.

This base plate 82 is pierced with peripheral orifices 88, regularly distributed along the outer edge of this base plate 82. The latter is further provided with a threaded rod 90 extending vertically, from the center of this plate 82.

The battery 80 also comprises several intermediate plates 92, which have a configuration generally similar to that of the base plate 82. Each intermediate plate is provided with peripheral orifices, similar to those 88, as well as a central orifice 96 whose transverse dimensions are substantially greater than that of the threaded rod 90.

The battery 80 further includes a cylindrical cover 98, of larger diameter than the barrel 6. This cover is pierced with peripheral orifices 100 and a central orifice 102, similar respectively to those 94 and 96 of the intermediate plates 92 The upper face of the cover 98 is provided with a U-shaped stirrup, welded to the cover by the end of its wings. This stirrup is surmounted by a grip ring 106.

There are also provided guides 108 made of an elastic plastic material, such as polypropylene. Each guide 108 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 110, from the periphery of which extends a radial web 112. These guides 108 are secured at the level of the peripheral orifices 88, 94, 100 or the central orifices 96, 102. In the case it equips an intermediate plate 92, each guide 108B is blocked by an elastic annular washer 113, attached to the surface of the plate opposite the web 112. This arrangement thus allows the guiding of both an upper cartridge and of a lower cartridge, as will be explained below. It should be noted that the guides 108A mounted on the base plate 82 have a closed bottom, opposite the cover 98, in order to prevent any passage of fluid.

The battery 80 finally comprises annular cartridges 114, of any known type. These cartridges have an internal cylindrical volume V, the diameter of which is close to the external diameter of the body 110 of the guides 108.

The assembly of the battery 80 of cartridges takes place as follows. Firstly, the guides 108 are placed at the walls of the peripheral orifices 88, 94, 100 as well as the central ones 96, 102. Then, a first series of cartridges 114A is placed on the guides 108A of the base plate 82. These cartridges are immobilized by wedging their inner walls around the body 110 of these guides, which ensures the adequate positioning of these cartridges. Then, a first intermediate plate is provided, provided with its guides 108B. A second series of cartridges 114B is then placed in a similar manner. Several series of cartridges are thus stacked, and the cover 98 fitted with its guides 108C and a seal, not shown, is attached to the last of these.

The cover, the intermediate plates and the base plate are then mutually secured, by screwing a nut 116 on the free end of the threaded rod 90, projecting beyond the core of the stirrup 104. The ring 106 then constitutes a single gripping means for the entire battery of cartridges 80 thus constituted.

Then, this battery 80 is lowered into the interior volume of the drum 6, until the cover 98 rests, by its outer periphery, against the upper wall of the flange 14. This flange is then fixed to this cover, by to threaded rods 118 extending from the flange 14, so as to pass through orifices provided in the cover, the free end of these rods 118 cooperating with nuts 120.

Arrows F "indicate the passage of the fluid in the filter 2 fitted with the battery of the cartridge 80. It should be noted that, with respect to the examples described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the fluid flows in the opposite direction, namely that the conduit 38 constitutes an inlet for the fluid, while the conduit 20 ensures the outlet of the fluid The fluid admitted by the conduit 38 flows through the passages 86, the latter constituting the only possible flow path for the fluid, insofar as the peripheral orifices 88 of the base plate 82 are closed by the guides 108A. The fluid then passes from the outside to the inside the cartridges 114, through which it is purified. then flows into the interior volume V of these cartridges and leaves the battery 80 through the interior of the hollow body 110 of the guides 108C arranged on the cover 98. The purified fluid is finally directed towards the conduit 38.

The invention achieves the objectives mentioned above. Thus, the fact of providing the casing with an inlet and / or an outlet which can be oriented relative to the main part of this casing makes it possible to have this inlet and / or this outlet facing the conduits to which they are to be connected. Such connections can then be implemented by means of tubing of small size, which can be arranged approximately straight. This is to be compared with the prior art, in which, because of the immutable position of the inlet and the outlet relative to the main part of the barrel, it is necessary to use large pipes, therefore expensive, bulky and difficult to assemble, pipes which it is also sometimes necessary to bend, which induces premature wear.

It is advantageous to have a filter comprising a single casing and several filter media. Indeed, such a solution is economical by comparison with the prior art, in which a given filter housing can receive only one type of filter medium.

The use of a filter cartridge battery provided with a single gripping means is also advantageous. Indeed, such an arrangement is particularly convenient and allows easy and rapid mounting of this battery on the filter housing. Thus, the battery can be assembled outside the filter, then introduced, in a single operation, into the interior volume of the casing. This is to be compared with the prior art, in which it is necessary to arrange the cartridges individually inside the casing, which induces a long and tedious implementation, and moreover painful as regards the cartridges intended to rest towards the lower part of the filter housing.

Claims (10)

<U> CLAIMS </U> 1. Filter housing (4) (2) for fluid, comprising a main part (6) for receiving at least one filter medium (42, 56, 80), a fluid supply duct (20; 38) to be purified and an outlet conduit (38; 20) of the purified fluid, the fluid flowing, in said inlet and outlet conduits, transversely, in particular at right angles, relative to a main axis (A) of the main part (6), characterized in that at least one of the inlet (20; 38) and outlet (38; 20) conduits is orientable relative to the main axis (A) of said part main (6). 2. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the main axis (A) of said main part (6) is vertical, the or each orientable duct (20) being pivotally mounted about said main axis (A) vertical. 3. Housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the or each orientable duct (20) extends horizontally. 4. Housing according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the or each orientable duct (20) is fixed, for example by welding, to a secondary barrel (18) concentric with said main part (6) and suitable to pivot about said vertical main axis (A). 5. Housing according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises single means (14) adapted to cooperate with one of a series of several filter media, in particular a filter basket (42), a filter bag (56) and a battery (80) of filter cartridges (114). 6. Filter (2) for fluid, comprising a casing (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5 and several filter media, in particular a filter basket (42), a filter bag (56) and a battery (80) of filter cartridges (114), said housing (4) being provided with unique means (14) for receiving said filter media, so that said filter media (42, 56, 80) can be used interchangeably inside of said casing (4). 7. Filter according to claim 6, characterized in that the receiving means comprise a flange (14) projecting radially from one end of a main part (6) of the housing (4), said flange (14) being able to receive means (48, 52, 54, 64, 76, 78, 98, 118, 120) for fixing each filter medium (42, 56, 80). 8. Filter according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the battery (80) of filter cartridges (114) comprises a base plate (82), a cover (98) and several filter cartridges (114) secured between said base plate and the cover (98), this cover being able to be fixed on said single receiving means (14) and said battery (80) being provided with a single gripping means (106). 9. Filter according to claim 8, characterized in that the cartridges (114) are stacked in several consecutive series (114A, 1142, 114C) and in that there is provided at least one intermediate plate (92), integral with said base plate (82) and said cover (98), and separating two neighboring series of cartridges (114). 10. Filter according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that said cartridges (114) are annular and in that there are provided means (108) for positioning said cartridges, integral with the base plate (82) or the cover (98) or, where appropriate, an intermediate plate (92), said positioning means penetrating into the interior volume (V) of said annular cartridges (114).