Title of Invention

FILTER APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING PARTICLES FROM A LIQUID

Abstract Disclosed is a filter apparatus for separating particles from a liquid. This apparatus has a tank with a feed inlet, a gravitational settling region and a filtration region arranged downstream thereof. Inside the tank are two transversely spaced-apart endless chains. Transversely extending drivers are fixed between the chains, which together with the chain form a conveying apparatus driven by gear wheels and a drive motor. The filtration region has a vacuum chamber, which is formed partly by the tank and is arranged underneath the solid particle filtration apparatus. Between the unfiltered liquid region and the filtered liquid region is a filter media strip, which is pulled through the tank by the chains and the drivers. Each chain has flexible metal strips that extend along the chain and over a plurality of chain links. The metal strips are fixed on one side and overlap in a partial area. These metal strips exert a force directed toward the filter media strip, which ensures that a seal is formed between the unfiltered liquid region and the filtered liquid region in the area where the moving filter media strip changes direction.
Full Text
FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970 (39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2oo3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF INVENTION
FILTER APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING PARTICLES FROM A LIQUID
2. APPLICANT(S)
a) Name : MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
b) Nationality : GERMAN Company
c) Address : HINDENBURGSTR. 45,
71638 LUDWIGSBURG, GERMANY
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be berformed : -


Description
Technical Field
The invention relates to a filter apparatus for separating particles from a liquid in accordance with the preamble of independent claim 1.
Prior Art
U.S. Patent 5,601,729 discloses a filter apparatus for separating particles, dirt or chips from a liquid. This apparatus comprises a tank with a feed inlet, a gravitational settling region and a filtration region disposed downstream thereof. Two transversely spaced-apart driven endless chains extend within the tank and entrain a filter nonwoven or a filter media strip. This filter nonwoven or filter media strip completely covers the filtered liquid region. The chains prevent the nonwoven or media strip from lifting off the filtered liquid region and dirt from getting into the filtered liquid region. A drawback of these chains is that they cannot be designed as flat tracks but that the chain links are individual elements with a waisted shape that may have the result that dirt gets into the filtered liquid region through the chain links.
To prevent the penetration of dirt, the prior art proposes to dispose an inflatable tube seal in the critical sealing region to provide an additional lateral seal between the unfiltered liquid region and the filtered liquid region. If the filter media strip must be transported, this seal must be deflated, i.e., at least partly evacuated so that the filter media strip can slide through underneath the seal. Especially when the filter media strip is transported, however, strong turbulence occurs in the region of the unfiltered liquid and dirt is carried into the region of the filtered liquid. The disadvantage of the prior art is that the lateral seal is only intermittently effective.
Objects of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to obviate this disadvantage and provide a filter apparatus that has a simple design and provides a reliable seal between the unfiltered liquid region and the filtered liquid region.
Summary of the Invention
This object is attained by the characterizing part of independent claim a filter apparatus (10) for separating particles from a liquid, comprising a tank (12) with a feed inlet (14), a gravitational settling zone and a filtration zone disposed downstream thereof, wherein the tank is equipped with two transversely spaced-apart, driven, endless chains with transversely extending drivers are provided between the chains, said chains and drivers forming a conveying apparatus driven by gear wheels (56,57,58) and a drive motor (60), and wherein the filter apparatus (10) has a vacuum chamber formed partly by the tank and arranged underneath the filtration zone, and a filter media strip (46) is disposed between an unfiltered liquid region and a filtered liquid region and is moved through the tank along a path which changes direction by conveying apparatus, wherein each chain or each driver has flexible metal strips (68, 69) provided thereon, said strips extending along the chain over a plurality of chain links, each said strip being fixed at one end and partially overlapping with a succeeding strip, said strips exerting a force directed toward the filter media strip (46) which ensures formation of a seal between the filtered liquid region and the unfiltered liquid region in the area where the moving filter media strip (46) changes direction on the basis of the preamble of that claim.
The essential advantage of the invention is that flexible metal strips are provided on the chains or on drivers disposed between the two endless chains. These metal strips overlap in a partial area and exert a force directed toward the filter media strip, which ensures that a seal is formed between the filtered liquid region and the unfiltered liquid region. The metal strips are preferably spring bands that adapt to the shape of the filter chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in the deflection region of the chain, hold-down elements are provided on the chain wheels or the gear wheels arranged in this region to exert a force on the metal strips in the direction of the filter media strip. These hold-down elements may be formed of pins supported longitudinally for movement in radial direction to compensate tolerances. These pins are biased by a compression spring in the direction of the metal strips.
In another embodiment of the invention, the metal strips are fixed to a surface of the drivers located between the chains, preferably to a surface that extends parallel to the filter media strip.
In a further development, the metal strips have a length of approximately 600 mm to 1000 mm and a width of 50 mm to 150 mm.
These and other features of preferred further developments of the invention are set forth in the claims as well as in the description and the drawings. The individual features may be implemented either alone or in combination in the embodiment of the invention or in other fields of application and may represent advantageous embodiments that are protectable per se, for which protection is herewith claimed.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to an embodiment depicted in the drawing, in which:
FIG 1 shows a filter apparatus in a sectional view,
FIG 2 is a top view of a filter media strip transported over chains, and
FIG 3 is a detail view of a gear wheel for the chain transport.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

FIG 1 shows a filter apparatus 10 comprising a tank 12 with a feed inlet 14 for feeding liquid to be filtered and an outlet pipe 16 for discharging the filtered liquid. This outlet pipe is connected to distributor lines 17 via a pump 18. The tank 12 further has sidewalls 22, 28, 30 and a floor 26. Above the floor 26 is a partition 34, which in region 35 is configured as an edge filter. Within the filter apparatus 10 is a circulating conveyer chain 38 formed of individual chain links and transported by gear wheels 56, 57, 58. Whereas the gear wheels 56, 57 co-rotate freely, the gear wheel 58 is driven by a drive motor 60. Between the partition 34 and the conveyor chain 38 is a filter media strip 46, which extends from a roller 48 through the entire filter apparatus and into tank 106. The dirt or the particles contained in the liquid fed into the tank through the feed inlet 14 settle on the filter media strip 46. They are removed from the liquid by the movement of the filter media strip in the direction of arrow 59 and with the filter media strip 46 are fed into tank 106.
The top view of FIG 2 shows the filter media strip 46. The two conveyor chains 38, 39 rest on this filter media strip. The filter media strip 46 takes up substantially all the space between the two sidewalls 22, 22a. Drivers 61 are disposed between the conveyor chains 38/39. One driver 61 is visible in this view. Its function is to transport the dirt settling on the filter media strip 46 out of the liquid region and to prevent dirt from sliding off. The drivers 61 are disposed on the conveyor chains 38, 39 at short intervals, as shown in FIG 1, i.e., by means of brackets 62, 63, which are supported in corresponding eyes of the individual chain links. The brackets 62/63 have fastening bores 64, 65, 66, 67. Flexible metal strips 68, 69 are fixed to these fastening bores, e.g., by corresponding screwed connections. The metal strips 68 and 69 rest directly on the filter media strip 46.
The function of these metal strips will now be explained in greater detail with reference to a detail view shown in FIG 3.
FIG 3 shows the gear wheel 57 deflecting the endless chain 38 in the lower region of the filter apparatus 10. The filter media strip 46 rests directly on the partition 34 and

is driven or moved by the conveyor chain. A metal strip 69 is fixed to the bracket 62 by means of the screwed connection 64 depicted here. This metal strip 69 extends to below the chain links and directly to the filter media strip 46 and ends in region 70,
namely in an area where the next metal strip 71 starting from the next bracket
72 ensures in turn that the filter media strip 46 contacts the partition 34. This
means that the individual metal strips slightly overlap one behind the other as seen in moving direction. This is necessary also because minor shifts occur between the metal strips due to the transport path and the different curvatures or straight sections.
To ensure that the metal strip 71 contacts the partition 34 between the chain links so as to provide a reliable seal, hold-down elements 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 are provided on the gear wheel 57. Each of these consists of a longitudinally supported pin 80 disposed in a corresponding bore of the gear wheel 57. A compression spring 81 applies a radially outwardly directed force, which ultimately has the effect that—
— as illustrated by hold-down element 78 the hold-down element secures or
moves the metal strip in the direction of the radius of the partition. The spring properties ensure that the curvature of the metal strip adapts to the radius of the partition. The movement of the conveyor chain 38, the drivers 61 and the filter media strip 46 is not impeded by the metal strips disposed on the conveyor chain. A detachment of the metal strips during transport of the filter media strip is not necessary. The metal strip, particularly in the critical deflection regions of the filter media strip, ensures that there is a reliable seal between the unfiltered liquid volume and the filtered liquid volume.

We claim :
1. A filter apparatus (10) for separating particles from a liquid, comprising a tank (12) with a feed inlet (14), a gravitational settling zone and a filtration zone disposed downstream thereof, wherein the tank is equipped with two transversely spaced-apart, driven, endless chains with transversely extending drivers are provided between the chains, said chains and drivers forming a conveying apparatus driven by gear wheels (56,57,58) and a drive motor (60), and wherein the filter apparatus (10) has a vacuum chamber formed partly by the tank and arranged underneath the filtration zone, and a filter media strip (46) is disposed between an unfiltered liquid region and a filtered liquid region and is moved through the tank along a path which changes direction by conveying apparatus, wherein each chain of each driver has flexible metal strips (68, 69) provided thereon, said strips extending along the chain over a plurality of chain links, each said strip being fixed at one end and partially overlapping with a succeeding strip, said strips exerting a force directed toward the filter media strip (46) which ensures formation of a seal between the filtered liquid region and the unfiltered liquid region in the area where the moving filter media strip (46) changes direction-
2. A filter apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein hold-down elements (73 -79) which exert a force on the metal strips (68, 69) in the direction of the filter media strip (46), are provided on at least one gear wheel (56, 57, 58) driving the chain.
3. A filter apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein the hold-down elements (73 -79) comprise pins supported for longitudinal movement in a radial direction, said pins being supported against a contact surface of the gear wheel (56,57,58) by a compression spring (81).

4. A filter apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the metal strips (68, 69) are fixed to a surface of the driver disposed parallel to the direction of movement of the filter media.
5. A filter apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the metal strips (68, 69) have a length of about 80 mm to 150 mm and a width of about 600 mm to 1000 mm.


Documents:

1296-MUM-2007-ABSTRACT(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-mum-2007-abstract(6-7-2007).pdf

1296-mum-2007-abstract(granted)-(15-2-2011).doc

1296-mum-2007-abstract(granted)-(15-2-2011).pdf

1296-mum-2007-abstract.doc

1296-mum-2007-abstract.pdf

1296-MUM-2007-CANCELLED PAGES(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-MUM-2007-CLAIMS(AMENDED)-(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-mum-2007-claims(granted)-(15-2-2011).doc

1296-mum-2007-claims(granted)-(15-2-2011).pdf

1296-mum-2007-claims.doc

1296-mum-2007-claims.pdf

1296-mum-2007-correspondance-received.pdf

1296-MUM-2007-CORRESPONDENCE(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-mum-2007-correspondence(31-8-2007).pdf

1296-mum-2007-correspondence(ipo)-(15-2-2011).pdf

1296-mum-2007-correspondence(ipo)-(9-12-2009).pdf

1296-mum-2007-description (complete).pdf

1296-mum-2007-description(granted)-(15-2-2011).pdf

1296-mum-2007-drawing(granted)-(15-2-2011).pdf

1296-mum-2007-drawings.pdf

1296-MUM-2007-ENGLISH TRANSLATION(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-mum-2007-form 2(granted)-(15-2-2011).doc

1296-mum-2007-form 2(granted)-(15-2-2011).pdf

1296-mum-2007-form 2(title page)-(complete)-(6-7-2007).pdf

1296-mum-2007-form 2(title page)-(granted)-(15-2-2011).pdf

1296-MUM-2007-FORM 26(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-MUM-2007-FORM 3(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-mum-2007-form 3(6-7-2007).pdf

1296-MUM-2007-FORM 5(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-mum-2007-form 5(6-7-2007).pdf

1296-mum-2007-form-1.pdf

1296-mum-2007-form-18.pdf

1296-mum-2007-form-2.doc

1296-mum-2007-form-2.pdf

1296-mum-2007-form-3.pdf

1296-mum-2007-form-5.pdf

1296-MUM-2007-OTHER DOCUMENT(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-MUM-2007-PETITION UNDER RULE 137(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-MUM-2007-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-MUM-2007-SPECIFICATION(AMENDED)-(09-12-2010).pdf

1296-mum-2007-wo international publication report(31-8-2007).pdf

abstract1.jpg


Patent Number 246126
Indian Patent Application Number 1296/MUM/2007
PG Journal Number 07/2011
Publication Date 18-Feb-2011
Grant Date 15-Feb-2011
Date of Filing 06-Jul-2007
Name of Patentee MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
Applicant Address HINDENBURGSTR.45, 71638 LUDWIGSBURG.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 LUC REYNDERS DAALSTRAAT 54, 3770 RIEMS.
PCT International Classification Number B04B11/02B23Q11/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 202006010759.2 2006-07-11 Germany