Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A filter structure comprising a single foraminous substantially rigid support, a layer of coalescing filter material engaging said support and being substantially coextensive therewith, and a layer of flexible foraminous material engaging that surface of said filter material opposite from said support, said flexible foraminous material being substantially coextensive with said filter material, means for pressing said flexible foraminous material into slight but uniform pressure engagement with said filter material at least during operation of said filter structure, and means for flowing a fluid to be filtered first through said flexible layer then through said filter layer then through said support so that said pressing means are modulated in accord with conditions of said fluid flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A filter structure comprising a single foraminous substantially rigid support, a layer of coalescing filter material engaging said support and being substantially coextensive therewith, and a layer of flexible foraminous material engaging that surface of said filter material opposite from said support, said flexible foraminous material being substantially coextensive with said filter material, means for pressing said flexible foraminous material into slight but uniform pressure engagement with said filter material at least during operation of said filter structure, and means for flowing a fluid to be filtered first through said flexible layer then through said filter layer then through said support so that said pressing means are modulated in accord with conditions of said fluid flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said flexible foraminous material is an open-cell foamed material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said support and said filter material and said flexible layer are tubular, and said pressing means include a slightly oversize outer tubular dimension of said flexible layer and the resiliency thereof, said tubular flexible layer being slightly compressed within said tubular filter material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination according to claim 1 including said filter structure being tubular and having its ends substantially closed respectively by a pair of closure members, a filter housing, and an elongated mounting bolt extending through said closures for retaining said closures on said filter structure, said bolt having a threaded extension formed thereon for engagement with a tapped mounting member in said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combinAtion according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of said filter material is about three to four times that of said support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said support and said flexible foraminous material are interfitting tubular members respectively, and said filter material is a continuous sheet wrapped about said flexible member to provide said pressing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said filter material includes microglass fibres in a resin binder having a depth in the range of about 1/10th inch to about 1/20th inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 1 including a second layer of flexible foraminous material engaging that surface of said support opposite from said filter material to facilitate drainage of coalesced liquid from said filter structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 3 including a pair of closure members secured respectively to each end of said foraminous support for substantially closing the end openings of said support and said filter material and said flexible layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 9 including a sealant material impregnating the end portions of said support and said filter material and said flexible layer for sealing said closures thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination according to claim 9 including a second flexible foraminous tubular layer surrounding said support in engagement therewith, said second layer overhanging said closure members to facilitate drippage from said second layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein said tubular support member includes an inner longitudinal seam, and an outer end of said filter material is abutted against said seam, said material being wrapped in a direction to prevent movement thereof in a direction away from said seam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said depth is about 1/15th inch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said filter material is formed from a number of discrete layers or wrappings, each having a thickness in the range of about 1/40th to about 1/70th inch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A filter structure comprising a foraminous relatively rigid support, a layer of coalescing filter material engaging said support and being substantially coextensive therewith, a layer of flexible foraminous material engaging that surface of said filter material opposite from said support, said flexible foraminous material being substantially coextensive with said filter material, means for pressing said flexible foraminous material into slight but uniform pressure engagement with said filter material at least during operation of said filter structure, and a second layer of flexible foraminous material engaging that surface of said support opposite from said filter material to facilitate drainage of coalesced liquid from said filter structure and to prevent reentrainment of said coalesced liquid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
A filter structure comprising a foraminous relatively rigid support, a layer of coalescing filter material engaging said support and being substantially coextensive therewith, a layer of flexible foraminous material engaging that surface of said filter material opposite from said support, said flexible foraminous material being substantially coextensive with said filter material, means for pressing said flexible foraminous material into slight but uniform pressure engagement with said filter material at least during operation of said filter structure, and a second layer of flexible foraminous material engaging that surface of said support opposite from said filter material to facilitate drainage of coalesced liquid from said filter structure and to prevent reentrainment of said coalesced liquid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 15 wherein said second layer is substantially coextensive with said support and is formed from an open-cell foamed material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 15 wherein the thickness of said second flexible layer is about twice the thickness of said first mentioned flexible layer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
127 words
The method of assembling a filter structure having a relatively rigid tubular foraminous support and a tubular flexible foraminous member juxtaposed thereto, said method comprising the steps of wrapping a strip of filtering material about a suitable mandrel or the like so that an inner dimension of the wrapping is less than an original or free-standing outer dimension of the flexible member, inserting the wrapping within said support, and lightly compressing said flexible member for insertion within said wrapping so that said strip becomes in effect wrapped upon said flexible member and so that said flexible member presses uniformly against said filtering material, whereby said filtering material is restrained between said support and said flexible member in avoidance of dimensional instability during operation of said filter structure.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
127 words
The method of assembling a filter structure having a relatively rigid tubular foraminous support and a tubular flexible foraminous member juxtaposed thereto, said method comprising the steps of wrapping a strip of filtering material about a suitable mandrel or the like so that an inner dimension of the wrapping is less than an original or free-standing outer dimension of the flexible member, inserting the wrapping within said support, and lightly compressing said flexible member for insertion within said wrapping so that said strip becomes in effect wrapped upon said flexible member and so that said flexible member presses uniformly against said filtering material, whereby said filtering material is restrained between said support and said flexible member in avoidance of dimensional instability during operation of said filter structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 18 including the modified step of wrapping said filtering material several times about said mandrel.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for coalescing liquid from a fluid containing droplets or the like of said liquid, said method comprising the steps of supporting a layer of coalescing filter material against a relatively rigid foraminous support, stabilizing the other side of said filter material with a layer of flexible foraminous material, making said foraminous material and said rigid support substantially coextensive with said filter material, pressing said flexible foraminous material into slight but uniform pressure engagement with said filter material, and flowing said fluid to be filtered first through said flexible layer then through said filter layer then through said support so that said pressing step is modulated in accord with conditions of said flow.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for coalescing liquid from a fluid containing droplets or the like of said liquid, said method comprising the steps of supporting a layer of coalescing filter material against a relatively rigid foraminous support, stabilizing the other side of said filter material with a layer of flexible foraminous material, making said foraminous material and said rigid support substantially coextensive with said filter material, pressing said flexible foraminous material into slight but uniform pressure engagement with said filter material, and flowing said fluid to be filtered first through said flexible layer then through said filter layer then through said support so that said pressing step is modulated in accord with conditions of said flow.