Triangular filter cartridge and apparatus

Claim 1

A fluid filter apparatus comprising: a vessel having a generally cylindrical inner surface and a longitudinal axis, an inlet for receiving therethrough a fluid to be filtered, and means defining an outlet for discharging therethrough a filtered liquid, a filter cartridge assembly for filtering a fluid and comprising a plurality of individually replaceable filter cartridges disposed in said filter vessel, each said replaceable filter cartridge comprising an elongate permeable filter medium including means defining a passage therein in communication with said vessel outlet, said filter medium remaining in an essentially constant configuration throughout the filtering process, a porous support member being in supporting relationship with said elongate permeable medium, and a pair of end caps secured to respective opposite ends of said elongate permeable filter medium, one of said end caps being sealingly disposed between said filter medium and said vessel outlet and having means defining an opening in communication with said filter medium passage and said vessel outlet, said elongate permeable filter medium having a generally triangularly shaped outer peripheral surface having three substantially flat elongate sides, adjacent ones of the elongate sides being joined by an arcuate portion so that each triangularly shaped filter cartridge has rounded corners, at least some of said filter cartridges being arranged in a generally circular pattern around the inner cylindrical surface of the vessel such that a flat side of each of said cartridges in the circular pattern is in direct facing relationship with said vessel inner surface and an opposite rounded corner of the cartridge faces radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of said vessel, adjacent flat sides of adjacent cartridges in the circular pattern generally facing each other, whereby the filter cartridges are closely spaced within said vessel thereby increasing filtration capacity.