On-line closed-vessel circulating filter for edible cooking oils

Claim 1

Vacuum filtering apparatus for use in reconditioning cooking oils comprising a vertically walled filtering vessel an inlet having an oblong cross-section formed in the vessel wall and a throat of circular cross-section smaller than the oblong throat cross-section and formed upstream of the throat, a conical vessel bottom, a centrally located suction outlet disposed at a lower gravitational level than said inlet at the apex of the conical bottom, and horizontally disposed shoulder means for supporting a filter bed assembly between said inlet and said outlet; removable cover means for said vessel; and a filter bed assembly manipulatable as a unit, including a relatively rigid foraminous member supportable at said shoulder means, lift rod means connectable to said foraminous member and having a lift rod upstanding therrefrom, and gravity clamping means for positioning a porous filter element on top of said foraminous member and having a first weight element mountable adjacent said lift rod, a second weight element radially spaced from said first weight element to define open regions therebetween exposing said foraminous member for filtering action, spanner means joining said first and second weight elements, and a one-piece radially apertured stem surrounding the suction outlet and extending upwardly from the suction outlet and vessel bottom sufficiently to support the foraminous member, together with the horizontal shoulder means, in a planar condition in the vessel and to provide, between the shoulder means and the stem, an open annular space encouraging free filtering action.