Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A filter leaf consisting essentially of a pair of spaced parallel flat metallic sheets at least one of which comprises a fine woven wire cloth, a unitary porous metallic spacer disposed between said sheets and in engagement therewith at a large number of spaced locations distributed over substantially the entire areas thereof, and a sealing ring surrounding said spacer in the space between said sheets and sealing the space between said sheets at the outer peripheries thereof, said at least one porous sheet being diffusion bonded to said spacer at substantially all of the contact locations therebetween whereby said sheets and spacer are united into a single rigid structure in which movement of any portion of said sheets away from said spacer is prevented.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A filter leaf consisting essentially of a pair of spaced parallel flat metallic sheets at least one of which comprises a fine woven wire cloth, a unitary porous metallic spacer disposed between said sheets and in engagement therewith at a large number of spaced locations distributed over substantially the entire areas thereof, and a sealing ring surrounding said spacer in the space between said sheets and sealing the space between said sheets at the outer peripheries thereof, said at least one porous sheet being diffusion bonded to said spacer at substantially all of the contact locations therebetween whereby said sheets and spacer are united into a single rigid structure in which movement of any portion of said sheets away from said spacer is prevented.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said at least one sheet is brazed to said spacer at substantially all of the contact locations therebetween and is brazed to said ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said spacer comprises a coarse woven wire cloth and in which said contact locations between said spacer and said at least one sheet are disposed adjacent the areas of said spacer where the wires thereof overlap one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said sealing ring is disposed wholly between said sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said ring and said spacer are of the same thickness and hold said sheets apart a uniform distance throughout the entire areas thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said brazing material also joins said sheets to said sealing ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said ring is of a continuous shape and in which the filter leaf is provided with an opening at its center for conducting fluid from the space between said sheets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said ring is provided with a gap and an outlet fitting positioned on said filter leaf at said gap to conduct fluid from the space between said sheets and through said gap.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of manufacturing a filter leaf comprising the steps of distributing a brazing material over a porous metallic spacer, placing the spacer in a brazing furnace between a pair of sheets, at least one of said sheets comprising a fine woven wire mesh, positioning a sealing ring between said sheets in a surrounding relationship to said spacer, said sealing ring being of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said spacer, applying a force to the opposite sides of said sheets to hold said sheets in intimate contact with said spacer and subjecting said spacer and sheets to a brazing temperature sufficient to cause said brazing material to flow to the points of contact of said spacer with said sheets and form brazed joints at said points of contact whereby said sheets, spacer and ring are united into a single rigid structure in which movement of any portion of said mesh away from said spacer is prevented.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of manufacturing a filter leaf comprising the steps of distributing a brazing material over a porous metallic spacer, placing the spacer in a brazing furnace between a pair of sheets, at least one of said sheets comprising a fine woven wire mesh, positioning a sealing ring between said sheets in a surrounding relationship to said spacer, said sealing ring being of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said spacer, applying a force to the opposite sides of said sheets to hold said sheets in intimate contact with said spacer and subjecting said spacer and sheets to a brazing temperature sufficient to cause said brazing material to flow to the points of contact of said spacer with said sheets and form brazed joints at said points of contact whereby said sheets, spacer and ring are united into a single rigid structure in which movement of any portion of said mesh away from said spacer is prevented.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method set forth in claim 9 in which the brazing material is applied to one side only of the spacer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method set forth in claim 9 in which brazing material is also applied to at least one side of the sealing ring to braze at least one of said sheets to the sealing ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method set forth in claim 9 in which said sheets are secured to said sealing ring prior to the placement of the sheets, sealing ring and spacer in the furnace to maintain the proper relative positioning of said parts during the brazing operation.