Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A self cleaning filter comprising: an elongated tubular housing having an inlet and a first outlet at its opposite ends; a central generally tubular filtering element extending between said inlet and said first outlet within said housing, said element including a flexible inner filtering member having a multiplicity of openings and surrounded by a relatively rigid apertured sleeve member; said filtering element having a diameter less than said housing and retained therein to form an annular space around said element; a second outlet for filtered liquid located in the sidewall of said housing; said flexible inner filtering member being of a generally frustoconical shape functioning to flutter in response to liquid flowing through said first outlet; whereby said filter may be cleaned when liquid is allowed to flow through said first outlet, and said filter normally operates to provide filtered liquid through said second outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A self cleaning filter comprising: an elongated tubular housing having an inlet and a first outlet at its opposite ends; a central generally tubular filtering element extending between said inlet and said first outlet within said housing, said element including a flexible inner filtering member having a multiplicity of openings and surrounded by a relatively rigid apertured sleeve member; said filtering element having a diameter less than said housing and retained therein to form an annular space around said element; a second outlet for filtered liquid located in the sidewall of said housing; said flexible inner filtering member being of a generally frustoconical shape functioning to flutter in response to liquid flowing through said first outlet; whereby said filter may be cleaned when liquid is allowed to flow through said first outlet, and said filter normally operates to provide filtered liquid through said second outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The self cleaning filter of claim 1 wherein the central filtering element has its larger end at the inlet end of the filter housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The self cleaning filter of claim 2 which further includes a flow-restrictive orifice adjacent to the inlet for imparting turbulence to the incoming liquid to augment fluttering of the inner filtering member during cleaning.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The self cleaning filter of claim 3, wherein said inlet has a flow diameter of from about 1.2 to 2.5 times the diameter of the flow-restrictive orifice.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The self cleaning filter of claim 2 wherein the difference between the two end diameters of the central filtering element is from about 2 to about 20 percent of the length of the central filtering element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The self cleaning filter of claim 2 wherein said central filtering element further includes a second flexible member having larger openings than said flexible inner filtering member and positioned in surrounding relationship to said inner member, interposed between the inner member and said perforated sleeve member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The self cleaning filter of claim 2 wherein said housing inlet includes a tubular fitting extending into the housing, an annular support collar on said fitting interior of the housing, the end of said flexible inner filtering member being positioned over the support collar, and an annular mounting member engaged circumjacent the end of the filtering member, engaging the end of the filtering member against the support collar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The self cleaning filter of claim 7 wherein an annular resilient sealing member is compressed between a recess of said annular mounting member and the end of said flexible inner filtering member to press the end of the filtering member against the support collar.