Interchangeable filter apparatus

Claim 1

A filter apparatus capable of being converted into a bag filter, a sleeve and disc filter, a cartridge filter, an adsorption column, and an ion exchange column comprising the combination of a filter housing tank, a base connected to said tank and having at least one opening therein for the passage of liquids and at least one opening for the passage of air into said tank, and a cover releasably attached to said tank and having at least one opening therein for the passage of liquids and at least one opening for the passage of air into said tank and further including an adapter means attached to the underside of said cover specifically adapted to interchangeably receive at least two of the following elements: (a) a filter bag including a body portion with an opening at its top forming a mouth and means to secure said bag to said adapter means, (b) a sleeve and disc filter comprising a shaft, a plurality of spaced, perforated circular discs mounted on said shaft, means on one end of said shaft for securing said shaft to said adapter means, and a filter bag including a body portion adapted to be fitted over said shaft and plurality of discs and an opening at its top forming a mouth adapted to be secured to said adapted means, (c) a cartridge filter arrangement including a base support member having a plurality of vertically upwardly projecting studs, a top support member having a plurality of vertically downwardly projecting hollow studs extending through said member, a plurality of generally cylindrical filter elements having hollow cores, said studs in said support members engaging the respective ends of said filter elements by extending into said hollow cores, and means securing said top and bottom support members to said filter element and said adapter means, (d) a tubular, hollow filter element having a rigid lattice covered by a layer of filter material, one end of said element being closed and the other end of said element being open and having means to secure said filter element to said adapter means, and (e) strainer means, including means to secure said strainer means to said adapter means, for preventing the loss of ion exchange resin from said tank when said apparatus is being used as an ion exchange column; said adapter means having at least one passage therethrough for providing a fluid connection between said openings in said cover and said elements (a) through (e).