Filtration system

Claim 1

Liquid-filtering apparatus adapted for filtering liquids removing impurities of greater and lesser density therefrom and comprising: an open vessel having upright sides and a closed bottom and adapted for receiving liquids; a filtered effluent header cooperatively arranged in said vessel above said vessel bottom and having at least one opening therein; diatomaceous filtering means including at least one diatomaceous filtering element arranged in a generally upright position within said vessel and having an outlet fluidly coupled to said header opening for conducting liquids strained through said filtering element into said header, and means adapted for selectively coating said filtering element with a diatomaceous filtering agent; a liquid pump having a discharge line and a suction line fluidly coupled to said header and adapted for drawing liquids through said filtering element into said header and suction line for delivery by said discharge line at an elevated pressure; liquid supply means adapted for supplying unfiltered liquids to said vessel in sufficient quantity to fill said vessel to a level above said filtering element and including a liquid inlet, and means cooperatively associated with said vessel for defining an open liquid retention well between said filtering element and said liquid inlet for quieting unfiltered liquids entering said retention well before such liquids are drawn through said filtering element; and impurity separating means on said vessel adapted for separaTing from such supplied liquids impurities carried thereby having densities different than such liquids and including a sediment collection basin in the bottom of said retention well adapted for collecting sediments falling to the bottom of said retention well as liquids pass through said retention well to said filtering element, a sediment withdrawal conduit cooperatively arranged in said sediment collection basin and extended out of said retention well, an air inspirator exterior of said retention well fluidly coupled to said pump discharge line and adapted for drawing air into liquids supplied to said air inspirator by said liquid pump, and a conduit coupled to the outlet of said air inspirator and terminated in said sediment withdrawal conduit adjacent to said sediment collection basin for delivering air-bearing liquid into said sediment withdrawal conduit whereby the hydrostatic head of liquids in said retention well will discharge sediment-bearing liquids through said sediment withdrawal conduit to the exterior of said retention well upon operation of said liquid pump.