Laminar flow fluid filter

Claim 2

A fluid flow filter for removing contaminant particles dispersed in a fluid comprising: a filter body a fluid flow passage for conducting fluid through said body, said fluid flow passage including a substantially straight smooth section of sufficient length to permit fluid flowing therealong to develop laminar flow characteristics, said substantially straight smooth section comprising a laminar flow section; and particle removal means disposed at the downstream end of said laminar flow section for interacting with the laminar flowing fluid and removing dispersed particles from said fluid.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said body has a plurality of fluid flow passages, and each of said fluid flow passages has a plurality of successive laminar flow sections and particle removal means, one of said particle removal means located at the downstream end of each successive laminar flow section thereby forming successive filtration stages.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said fluid flow passages further include a plurality of connecting segments, wherein each connecting segment intersects the downstream end of a given laminar flow section and extends between the upstream ends of at least two successive laminar flow sections when there are laminar flow sections successive to the given laminar flow passage.

Claim 5

A fluid flow filter for removing contaminant particles dispersed in a fluid comprising: a filter body a plurality of fluid passages for conducting fluid through said body, each fluid flow passage having a plurality of successive smooth sections of sufficient length to permit fluid flowing therealong to develop laminar flow characteristics forming successive filter stages, said smooth sections comprising laminar flow sections, and a plurality of connecting segments, wherein each connecting segment intersects the downstream end of a given laminar flow section and extends between the upstream ends of at least two successive laminar flow sections where there are laminar flow sections successive to the given laminar flow sections, and wherein the effective stage diameter of at least one filter stage is different from the effective stage diameter of the preceding filter stage; and particle removal means disposed at the downstream ends of said laminar flow sections for interacting with the laminar flowing fluid and for removIng dispersed particles from said fluid.

Claim 6

A fluid flow filter for removing contaminant particles dispersed in a fluid comprising: a filter body a plurality of fluid passages for conducting fluid through said body, each fluid flow passage having a plurality of successive smooth sections of sufficient length to permit fluid flowing therealong to develop laminar flow characteristics forming successive filter stages, said smooth sections comprising laminar flow sections, and a plurality of connecting segments, wherein each connecting segment intersects the downstream end of a given laminar flow section and extends between the upstream ends of at least two successive laminar flow sections where there are laminar flow sections successive to the given laminar flow sections, and wherein the effective stage diameter of at least one filter stage is different from the effective stage diameter of the preceding filter stage; and particle removal means disposed at the downstream ends of said laminar flow sections for interacting with the laminar flowing fluid and for removIng dispersed particles from said fluid.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 4 wherein the effective diameter of each laminar flow section in at least one successive filtration stage is smaller than the effective diameter of each laminar flow section in the preceding stage, and thus each successive stage removes smaller particles.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 4 wherein the number of laminar flow sections and particle removal means in at least one stage differs from the number of laminar flow sections and particle removal means in a subsequent stage, such that fluid flow velocity can be varied from stage to stage to improve filtration efficiency.

Claim 9

A fluid flow filter for removing contaminant particles dispersed in a fluid comprising: a filter body; a fluid flow passage for conducting fluid through said body, each fluid flow passage having a plurality of successive smooth sections of sufficient length to permit fluid flowing therealong to develop laminar flow characteristics forming successive stages, and a plurality of connecting segments, wherein each connecting segment intersects the downstream end of a given smooth section and extends between the upstream ends of at least two successive smooth sections where there are successive smooth sections to a given smooth section, and wherein, the effective diameters of the individual smooth sections of successive stages are smaller than the effective diameters of the individual smooth sections of the preceding stage and the number of smooth sections of said successive stages are increased so that the effective stage diameters of the successive stages are equal; and particle removal means disposed at the downstream ends of each of said smooth section for interacting with the laminar flowing fluid and for removing dispersed particles from said fluid.

Claim 10

A fluid flow filter for removing contaminant particles dispersed in a fluid comprising: a filter body; a fluid flow passage for conducting fluid through said body, each fluid flow passage having a plurality of successive smooth sections of sufficient length to permit fluid flowing therealong to develop laminar flow characteristics forming successive stages, and a plurality of connecting segments, wherein each connecting segment intersects the downstream end of a given smooth section and extends between the upstream ends of at least two successive smooth sections where there are successive smooth sections to a given smooth section, and wherein, the effective diameters of the individual smooth sections of successive stages are smaller than the effective diameters of the individual smooth sections of the preceding stage and the number of smooth sections of said successive stages are increased so that the effective stage diameters of the successive stages are equal; and particle removal means disposed at the downstream ends of each of said smooth section for interacting with the laminar flowing fluid and for removing dispersed particles from said fluid.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said particle removal means is an impact target surface.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said laminar flow section has length and width dimensions such that the ratio of length to effective diameter is not less than ten.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 9 wherein said ratio of length to effective diameter is between 20 and 30.

Claim 14

A filter with a plurality of successive filtration stages therein for purifying fluid flow comprising: a filter body having entrance and exit means for fluid flow; a plurality of individual fluid flow passages for conducting fluid through said body, said passage including successive substantially straight sections of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics said straight sections forming laminar flow sections, and a plurality of connecting segments in said fluid flow passage, each connecting segment joins the downstream end of a given laminar flow section with the upstream ends of two laminar flow section associated with a successive filtration stage, when there is a successive stage, and having an impact target at the junction of the downstream end of the laminar flow section and said connecting passage; said entrance means conducting fluid to said fluid flow passages and said exit means conducting fluid from the final filtration stage out of the filter body.

Claim 15

A filter with a plurality of successive filtration stages therein for purifying fluid flow comprising: a filter body having entrance and exit means for fluid flow; a plurality of individual fluid flow passages for conducting fluid through said body, said passage including successive substantially straight sections of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics said straight sections forming laminar flow sections, and a plurality of connecting segments in said fluid flow passage, each connecting segment joins the downstream end of a given laminar flow section with the upstream ends of two laminar flow section associated with a successive filtration stage, when there is a successive stage, and having an impact target at the junction of the downstream end of the laminar flow section and said connecting passage; said entrance means conducting fluid to said fluid flow passages and said exit means conducting fluid from the final filtration stage out of the filter body.

Claim 16

A filter having a plurality of successive filtration stages therein for purifying fluid flow comprising: a plate having entrance and exit means for fluid flow; a plurality of individual laminar flow channels formed on said plate, all such channels being smooth and of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics; a plurality of connecting channels on said plate, each of said connecting channels intersecting the downstream end of an individual laminar flow channel and having an impact target surface at the intersection, each connecting channel extending to the upstream end of a successive laminar flow channel whEn a successive laminar flow channel is present; said entrance means conducting fluid to the laminar flow channels associated with a first filtration stage and said exit means conducting fluid from the connecting channels associated with a final filtration stage out of the plate; and closure means cooperating with said plate to form closed passages of the channels on said plate.

Claim 17

A filter having a plurality of successive filtration stages therein for purifying fluid flow comprising: a plate having entrance and exit means for fluid flow; a plurality of individual laminar flow channels formed on said plate, all such channels being smooth and of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics; a plurality of connecting channels on said plate, each of said connecting channels intersecting the downstream end of an individual laminar flow channel and having an impact target surface at the intersection, each connecting channel extending to the upstream end of a successive laminar flow channel whEn a successive laminar flow channel is present; said entrance means conducting fluid to the laminar flow channels associated with a first filtration stage and said exit means conducting fluid from the connecting channels associated with a final filtration stage out of the plate; and closure means cooperating with said plate to form closed passages of the channels on said plate.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 14 wherein each of said connecting channels forms an arc of a circle, connecting channels of successive stages having their arcs concentric.

Claim 19

The combination according to claim 12 wherein portions of each connecting channel form arcs of circles, the arc portions of the connecting channels of successive stages being concentric.

Claim 20

The combination according to claim 12 wherein said plate is annular and said laminar flow channels are arranged radially thereon.

Claim 21

A filter with a plurality of successive filtration stages therein for purifying fluid flow comprising: a filter body having entrance and exit means for fluid flow; a plurality of individual laminar flow passages in the body said passages being smooth and of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics; means in said body providing connection between the upstream ends of two laminar flow passages associated with a successive filtration stage, said means intersecting the downstream end of an individual laminar flow passage, an impact target surface being formed by the intersection of said connection means with said downstream end of said laminar flow passage; and said entrance means conducting fluid to the laminar flow passages associated with a first filtration stage, and said exit means conducting fluid from the connecting passages associated with a final filtration stage out of the said filter body.

Claim 22

A filter with a plurality of successive filtration stages therein for purifying fluid flow comprising: a filter body having entrance and exit means for fluid flow; a plurality of individual laminar flow passages in the body said passages being smooth and of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics; means in said body providing connection between the upstream ends of two laminar flow passages associated with a successive filtration stage, said means intersecting the downstream end of an individual laminar flow passage, an impact target surface being formed by the intersection of said connection means with said downstream end of said laminar flow passage; and said entrance means conducting fluid to the laminar flow passages associated with a first filtration stage, and said exit means conducting fluid from the connecting passages associated with a final filtration stage out of the said filter body.

Claim 23

A filter having a plurality of successive filtration stages therein for purifying fluid flow comprising: a plate having entrance and exit means for fluid flow; a plurality of individual laminar flow channels formed on said plate, all channels being substantially straight and of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics; a plurality of connecting channels on said plate, each of said connecting channels intersecting the downstream end of an individual laminar flow channel and having an impact target surface at the intersection, each connecting channel extending between the upstream ends of two laminar flow channels associated with a successive filtration stage when a successive filtration stage is present; said entrance means conducting fluid to the laminar flow channels associated with a first filtration stage and said exit means conducting fluid from the connecting channels associated with a final filtration stage out of the plate; and closure means cooperating with said filter plate to form closed passages of the channels on said plate.

Claim 24

A filter having a plurality of successive filtration stages therein for purifying fluid flow comprising: a plate having entrance and exit means for fluid flow; a plurality of individual laminar flow channels formed on said plate, all channels being substantially straight and of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics; a plurality of connecting channels on said plate, each of said connecting channels intersecting the downstream end of an individual laminar flow channel and having an impact target surface at the intersection, each connecting channel extending between the upstream ends of two laminar flow channels associated with a successive filtration stage when a successive filtration stage is present; said entrance means conducting fluid to the laminar flow channels associated with a first filtration stage and said exit means conducting fluid from the connecting channels associated with a final filtration stage out of the plate; and closure means cooperating with said filter plate to form closed passages of the channels on said plate.

Claim 25

A filter washer for use with a plurality of other like washers which, when aligned and compressed collectively form a stacked washer filter element with a plurality of successive filtration stages on each washer for purifying fluid flow comprising: said washer having substantially flat first and second surfaces with a core extending therebetween and terminating at each of said surfaces, said core spaced from the outer edges of said plate; a plurality of individual laminar flow channels of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics, said laminar flow channels located on said first surface of said plate; a plurality of connecting channels on said first surface of said plate, each of said connecting channels intersecting the downstream end of an individual laminar flow channel and having an impact target surface at the intersection and each connecting channel extending between the Upstream ends of two laminar flow channels associated with a successive filtration stage when a successive filtration stage is present; means conducting fluid to the laminar flow channels associated with a first filtration stage, and from the connecting channels associated with a final filtration stage out of the said filter washer plate; and all of the channels, conducting means, and impact target surfaces on said first surface of said plate cooperating with the flat second surface of a like plate to form closed passages across the said plate when two like plates are aligned and compressed.

Claim 26

A filter washer for use with a plurality of other like washers which, when aligned and compressed collectively form a stacked washer filter element with a plurality of successive filtration stages on each washer for purifying fluid flow comprising: said washer having substantially flat first and second surfaces with a core extending therebetween and terminating at each of said surfaces, said core spaced from the outer edges of said plate; a plurality of individual laminar flow channels of sufficient length to permit fluid reaching the downstream ends thereof to develop laminar flow characteristics, said laminar flow channels located on said first surface of said plate; a plurality of connecting channels on said first surface of said plate, each of said connecting channels intersecting the downstream end of an individual laminar flow channel and having an impact target surface at the intersection and each connecting channel extending between the Upstream ends of two laminar flow channels associated with a successive filtration stage when a successive filtration stage is present; means conducting fluid to the laminar flow channels associated with a first filtration stage, and from the connecting channels associated with a final filtration stage out of the said filter washer plate; and all of the channels, conducting means, and impact target surfaces on said first surface of said plate cooperating with the flat second surface of a like plate to form closed passages across the said plate when two like plates are aligned and compressed.