Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
Method for continuously filtering liquids containing microorganisms, macromolecules and/or fine particles of solid material as substances to be filtered out and collecting the substances that are filtered out in the form of a filter cake formed within an upright sieve basket, comprising: a. introducing liquid to be filtered into the top of a chamber within the upright sieve basket, said chamber being defined by a pressing means and a lower portion of said sieve basket where the filtrate is separated from the substances to be filtered out; b. continuously exerting pressure on the liquid in the sieve basket during step (a) by the pressing means so that the filtrate leaves the sieve basket and the entire top surface of the cake formed in the sieve basket from the filtered-out substances, at any given time, always has approximately a uniform height; c. increasing the pressure at which the liquid to be filtered is introduced into the chamber in response to build-up of the cake within the chamber and thereby increase the backpressure of the liquid in the chamber; and d. lifting the pressing means a small distance above the cake in the sieve basket by creating a backpressure of the liquid in the chamber which is higher than the pressure of the pressing means on the liquid to increase the height of the chamber and expose fresh areas of the sieve basket to liquid to be filtered so that the cake can grow in height.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
Method for continuously filtering liquids containing microorganisms, macromolecules and/or fine particles of solid material as substances to be filtered out and collecting the substances that are filtered out in the form of a filter cake formed within an upright sieve basket, comprising: a. introducing liquid to be filtered into the top of a chamber within the upright sieve basket, said chamber being defined by a pressing means and a lower portion of said sieve basket where the filtrate is separated from the substances to be filtered out; b. continuously exerting pressure on the liquid in the sieve basket during step (a) by the pressing means so that the filtrate leaves the sieve basket and the entire top surface of the cake formed in the sieve basket from the filtered-out substances, at any given time, always has approximately a uniform height; c. increasing the pressure at which the liquid to be filtered is introduced into the chamber in response to build-up of the cake within the chamber and thereby increase the backpressure of the liquid in the chamber; and d. lifting the pressing means a small distance above the cake in the sieve basket by creating a backpressure of the liquid in the chamber which is higher than the pressure of the pressing means on the liquid to increase the height of the chamber and expose fresh areas of the sieve basket to liquid to be filtered so that the cake can grow in height.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pressing means is used to press the cake out of the sieve basket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for continuously filtering liquids containing microorganisms, macromolecules and/or fine particles of solid matter as substances to be filtered out and collecting the substance comprising: a. a housing having a shell, a bottom cover closing the bottom of the shell, and a top cover closing the top of the shell, b. a sieve basket mounted in the housing for receiving the liquid to be filtered in the interior of the sieve basket, the sieve basket being open at its top and bottom and situated at the bottom of the housing, the sieve basket forming a filtrate chamber with the housing, c. an axially movable disc mounted in the sieve basket and dividing the interior of the sieve basket into a lower chamber which receives the liquid to be filtered and an upper chamber which is sealed from the lower chamber, said disc having a bore for passage of the liquid to be filtered into the lower chamber, d. an inlet line entering into and mounted in the housing, said inlet being connected to the bore for bringing the liquid to be filtered into the lower chamber of the sieve basket through the bore; and e. force applying means within the upper chamber acting on the disc which together with the disc comprises a pressing means which exerts pressure on the liquid in the lower chamber of the sieve basket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for continuously filtering liquids containing microorganisms, macromolecules and/or fine particles of solid matter as substances to be filtered out and collecting the substance comprising: a. a housing having a shell, a bottom cover closing the bottom of the shell, and a top cover closing the top of the shell, b. a sieve basket mounted in the housing for receiving the liquid to be filtered in the interior of the sieve basket, the sieve basket being open at its top and bottom and situated at the bottom of the housing, the sieve basket forming a filtrate chamber with the housing, c. an axially movable disc mounted in the sieve basket and dividing the interior of the sieve basket into a lower chamber which receives the liquid to be filtered and an upper chamber which is sealed from the lower chamber, said disc having a bore for passage of the liquid to be filtered into the lower chamber, d. an inlet line entering into and mounted in the housing, said inlet being connected to the bore for bringing the liquid to be filtered into the lower chamber of the sieve basket through the bore; and e. force applying means within the upper chamber acting on the disc which together with the disc comprises a pressing means which exerts pressure on the liquid in the lower chamber of the sieve basket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a valve is mounted in the bore to prevent liquid and filtered substances in the lower chamber from entering the inlet line when the backpressure of the liquid and the filtered substances in the lower chamber of the sieve basket is equal to or higher than the pressure exerted by the pressing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the disc is mounted in the sieve basket on bearings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the disc has outer dimensions which approximately correspond to the inner dimensions of the sieve basket, and the bearings for the disc are guide elements, which run in guide grooves in the side wall of the sieve basket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the bearings are rollers or pins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the housing contains a shoulder at its lower end, the sieve basket has a collar disposed around its lower opening, a seal is mounted on the cover, and said collar contacts said shoulder and seal so that the filtrate chamber is separated and sealed from the interior of the sieve basket between the disc and the bottom cover of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein spacers hold the sieve basket in the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a contact sensor is provided at the upper cover of the housing to stop the inflow of liquid at a given height of the filter cake and a contact pin is fastened to the disc to actuate the contact sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the lower cover of the housing is pivotally mounted to the shell and can be pivoted to expose the lower opening of the sieve basket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the disc has a lower edge which faces a collar at the lower end of the sieve basket and a shield for sealing the lower chamber from the upper chamber is fastened to said lower edge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein a circular scraper is provided at the lower edge of the disc.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the pressing means includes the disc and the force applying means is attached to the upper cover of the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein the force applying means is a spring or a hydraulic plunger or a telescoping member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a center screen is fastened in the sieve basket, the disc is provided with an additional opening through which the center screen passes, and a shield and a scraper for the center screen are arranged around the additional opening in the disc.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a control valve is mounted in the inlet line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the disc is made of steel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the disc is made of a heavy material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 including a magnetic lock to close the lower cover of the housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 including rinsing elements to clean the sieve basket.