Vacuum filter

Claim 1

A vacuum filter funnel useful for separating solids from liquids, said funnel comprising: a vacuum intake member having a bottom outlet, said bottom outlet being shaped to form an airtight seal with a filtrate container, said vacuum intake member having a bottom wall extending outwardly and upwardly from said bottom outlet to a sidewall portion which terminates in an upper rim having means to form an airtight seal with an upper funnel member, said vacuum intake member having a vacuum inlet positioned in the side thereof between the upper rim and the bottom outlet thereof; an upper funnel member affixed at its lower end to the upper rim of the vacuum intake member in an airtight manner for holding the solids and liquid to be separated, said upper funnel member having a perforated bottom having a circular ring with an upper surface adjacent the inner wall thereof, said upper funnel member being generally frustro-conical, said upper funnel member having internal threads positioned above said circular ring; a threaded sleeve member threadingly held within said upper funnel member by external threads which mate with the internal threads of said upper funnel member, said sleeve member also being generally frustro-conical and terminating at its lower end with a circular ring which abuts the circular ring of the perforated bottom of the upper funnel member; and a funnel positioned below said perforated bottom of the upper funnel member and forming a liquid-tight seal therewith at the upper end of the funnel, said funnel having a lower exit portion which extends through the bottom outlet of the vacuum intake member.