Vacuum filter system for swimming pools

Claim 1

A vacuum filter system for filtering water in swimming pools which comprises at least one suction pipe line connection to a swimming pool to remove water for filtering from said swimming pool, a closed vacuum filter tank for filtering water having an inlet and an outlet, said suction pipe line connected to said inlet of said filter tank, said filter tank is of separable two piece construction, including an upper half and a lower half, clamp means for retaining said tank halves in assembled condition, said bottom tank half has a lower retainer plate engaged with and supported therein, said lower retainer plate has a plurality of hollow projections spaced therearound, a plurality of filter cartridges carried on said projections and extending vertically upwardly, an upper retainer plate engaged with said filter cartridges, a hollow tube carried on a central projection of said lower plate and engaged with said upper retainer plate, said tube having means defining a plurality of openings, a removable cap engaged with said tube and retaining said cartridges between said plates, a vacuum pump having an inlet pipe line connected to said filter tank outlet and a return connection, said inlet of said vacuum pump in communication with said outlet of said filter tank said vacuum pump having means for controlling the operation of said vacuum in said tank, so that water from said pool flows thereinto, displacing any air therein, until said tank is in a flooded condition, the air in said tank is pulled downwardly through said tube and below said lower retainer plate, the water in said tank is forced through said filter cartridges and mixed with said air, which enters the inlet of said vacuum pump, and at least one return pipe line connected to said pump return connection for returning filtered water to said pool.