Method and apparatus for quick replacement of cartridge filters used in well fluid cleaning operations

Claim 1

In an apparatus for treating and removing contaminate particulate matter from fluid circulatable into, through and out of a subterranean well, the improvement comprising: a cylindrical housing adapted to receive and discharge said fluid; means disposed across said cylindrical housing for separating said cylindrical housing into a first fluid chamber for receiving fluid to be filtered and a second fluid chamber for receiving filtered fluid; at least one cartridge filter adapter receiving means disposed through said separating means; a cartridge filter adapter secured within each of said receiving means, said adapter having an elongated cylindrical housing, and having a fluid flow passageway therethrough communicable to each of said first and second fluid chambers, said elongated cylindrical housing having an enlarged cartridge positioning portion extending radially away from and about the axis of said elongated cylindrical housing, said cartridge positioning portion having first and second faces thereon; groove means on said adapter circumferentially extending around the exterior of said elongated cylindrical housing for sealingly securing one end of said cartridge filter thereon; cartridge filter means positionable on said adapter and extending within said first fluid chamber; and seal means disposed at one end of said cartridge filter and having an interiorly facing circumferentially extending flexible lip for contact with the exterior of said elongated cylindrical housing upon location of said cartridge filter on said adapter, said lip being sealingly securable within said groove.

Claim 7

A method for treating and removing contaminate particulate matter from fluid circulatable into, through and out of a subterranean well, comprising the steps of: (1) establishing a fluid flow path into, through and out of said well; (2) circulating fluid in said flow path; (3) introducing said circulated fluid into at least one filtering vessel, said vessel comprising: a cylindrical housing adapted to receive and discharge said fluid; means disposed across said vessel for separating said vessel into a first fluid chamber for receiving fluid to be filtered from said well and a second fluid chamber for receiving filtered fluid for subsequent circulation into said well; at least one cartridge filter adapter receiving means disposed through said separating means; a cartridge filter adapter secured within each of said receiving means, said adapter having an elongated cylindrical housing and having a fluid flow passageway therethrough communicable to each of said first and second fluid chambers, said elongated cylindrical housing having an enlarged cartridge positioning portion extending radially away from and about the axis of said elongated cylindrical housing, said cartridge positioning portion having first and second faces thereon; groove means on said adapter circumferentially extending around the exterior of said elongated cylindrical housing for sealingly securing one end of said cartridge filter thereon; cartridge filter means positionable on said adapter and extending within said first fluid chamber; and seal means disposed at one end of said cartridge filter and having an interiorly facing circumferentially extending flexible lip for contact with the exterior of said elongated cylindrical housing upon location of said cartridge filter on said adapter, said lip being sealingly securable within said groove; and (4) circulating into said well fluid discharged from said second chamber of said vessel.

Claim 8

A method for treating and removing contaminate particulate matter from fluid circulatable into, through and out of a subterranean well, comprising the steps of: (1) establishing a fluid flow path into, through and out of said well; (2) circulating fluid in said flow path; (3) introducing said circulated fluid into at least one filtering vessel, said vessel comprising: a cylindrical housing adapted to receive and discharge said fluid; means disposed across said vessel for separating said vessel into a first fluid chamber for receiving fluid to be filtered from said well and a second fluid chamber for receiving filtered fluid for subsequent circulation into said well; at least one cartridge filter adapter receiving means disposed through said separating means; a cartridge filter adapter secured within each of said receiving means, said adapter having an elongated cylindrical housing and having a fluid flow passageway therethrough communicable to each of said first and second fluid chambers, said elongated cylindrical housing having an enlarged cartridge positioning portion extending radially away from and about the axis of said elongated cylindrical housing, said cartridge positioning portion having first and second faces thereon; groove means on said adapter circumferentially extending around the exterior of said elongated cylindrical housing for sealingly securing one end of said cartridge filter thereon; cartridge filter means positionable on said adapter and extending within said first fluid chamber; and seal means disposed at one end of said cartridge filter and having an interiorly facing circumferentially extending flexible lip for contact with the exterior of said elongated cylindrical housing upon location of said cartridge filter on said adapter, said lip being sealingly securable within said groove; and (4) circulating into said well fluid discharged from said second chamber of said vessel.