US4686041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molecular differentiation filter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-10-09
•
Granted: 1987-08-11
•
Expires: 2005-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A molecular differentiation filter for filtering particles in the sub-mil range comprises a body having two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, the first and second chambers being defined by a chamber dividing member. The filter also comprises an inlet that is in communication with the second chamber, an outlet that is in communication with the first chamber, and a plurality of coaxial, stacked discs mounted onto the chamber dividing member, the plurality of discs resides entirely in the second chamber. The discs comprise alternating filtering discs and separation discs, wherein each of the filtering discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge and a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from the perimetrical edge. In addition, each of the separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, and a thickness, whereby the thickness of the separation disc positioned coaxially between two adjacent filtering discs defines a filtering spacing in the sub-mil range.
Inventors
- 👤 Teunis T. Van den Berg
- 👤 Thomas D. Eastlack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:03
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D29/00; B01D29/11; B01D29/114; B01D29/44; B01D29/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A molecular differentiation filter for filtering particles in the sub-mil range, comprising a body having two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, said first and second chambers being defined by a chamber dividing member; an inlet that is in communication with said second chamber; an outlet that is in communication with said first chamber; and a plurality of coaxial, stacked discs mounted onto said chamber dividing member, said plurality of discs resides entirely in said second chamber, wherein said discs comprise alternating filtering discs and separation discs, and further wherein each of said filtering discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge, a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from said perimetrical edge, and a plurality of spokes each of which is positioned between two of said filtrate holes; and each of said separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, and a thickness, wherein alternating ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc spokes and remaining ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc filtrate holes such that each of said remaining separation tips bridges one of said filtrate holes; whereby said thickness of said separation disc positioned coaxially between two adjacent said filtering discs defines a filtering spacing in said sub-mil range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A molecular differentiation filter for filtering particles in the sub-mil range, comprising a body having two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, said first and second chambers being defined by a chamber dividing member; an inlet that is in communication with said second chamber; an outlet that is in communication with said first chamber; and a plurality of coaxial, stacked discs mounted onto said chamber dividing member, said plurality of discs resides entirely in said second chamber, wherein said discs comprise alternating filtering discs and separation discs, and further wherein each of said filtering discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge, a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from said perimetrical edge, and a plurality of spokes each of which is positioned between two of said filtrate holes; and each of said separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, and a thickness, wherein alternating ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc spokes and remaining ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc filtrate holes such that each of said remaining separation tips bridges one of said filtrate holes; whereby said thickness of said separation disc positioned coaxially between two adjacent said filtering discs defines a filtering spacing in said sub-mil range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The molecular differentiation filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thickness of said separation disc is in the range of approximately ten to 25 microns, thereby defining said filtering spacing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The molecular differentiation filter as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said chamber dividing member has at least one opening that is in communication with a set of said filtering disc filtrate holes of said filtering discs so as to permit communication between said second chamber and said first chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The molecular differentiation filter as claimed in claim 3, wherein said smooth-surfaced disc has an AA range of approximately two to ten microinches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a stacked disc filter for filtering particles in the sub-mil range which are entrained in a fluid, said filter comprising a plurality of alternating, coaxial filtering discs and separation discs, wherein the thickness of said separation disc positioned coaxially between two adjacent said filtering discs defines a filtering spacing in said sub-mil range, the improvement wherein each of said filtering discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge, a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from said perimetrical edge, and a plurality of spokes each of which is positioned between two of said filtrate holes; and each of said separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, wherein alternating ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc spokes and remaining ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc filtrate holes such that each of said remaining separation tips bridges one of said filtrate holes; whereby said filtering perimetrical edges of said filtering discs filter said particles from said fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a stacked disc filter for filtering particles in the sub-mil range which are entrained in a fluid, said filter comprising a plurality of alternating, coaxial filtering discs and separation discs, wherein the thickness of said separation disc positioned coaxially between two adjacent said filtering discs defines a filtering spacing in said sub-mil range, the improvement wherein each of said filtering discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge, a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from said perimetrical edge, and a plurality of spokes each of which is positioned between two of said filtrate holes; and each of said separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, wherein alternating ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc spokes and remaining ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc filtrate holes such that each of said remaining separation tips bridges one of said filtrate holes; whereby said filtering perimetrical edges of said filtering discs filter said particles from said fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said thickness of said separation disc is in the range of approximately ten to 25 microns, thereby defining said filtering spacing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said filter includes a chamber dividing member that defines a first chamber and a second chamber that has said discs positioned therein, and furtherwherein said chamber dividing member has at least one opening that is in communication with a set of said filtering disc filtrate holes of said filtering discs so as to permit communication between said second chamber and said first chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said smooth-surfaced disc has an AA range of approximately two to ten microinches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
227 words
A molecular differentiation filter for filtering particles, comprising a body having two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, said first and second chambers being defined by a chamber dividing member; an inlet that is in communication with said second chamber; an outlet that is in communication with said first chamber; and a plurality of coaxial, stacked discs mounted onto said chamber dividing member, said plurality of discs reside entirely in said second chamber, wherein said discs comprise alternating filtering discs and separation discs, wherein each of said separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, wherein each of said separation tips has an apical point the thickness of which is less than the remaining portion of said separation disc; and each of said filtering disc is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge, a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from said perimetrical edge, and a central, generally circular depression such that the thickness of said depression is less than the thickness of said perimetrical edge so as to receive said remaining portion of said separation disc; whereby said thickness of said apical point of said separation disc positioned between two adjacent said perimetrical edges of said filtering discs defines a filtering spacing capable of filtering particles in the sub-mil range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
227 words
A molecular differentiation filter for filtering particles, comprising a body having two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, said first and second chambers being defined by a chamber dividing member; an inlet that is in communication with said second chamber; an outlet that is in communication with said first chamber; and a plurality of coaxial, stacked discs mounted onto said chamber dividing member, said plurality of discs reside entirely in said second chamber, wherein said discs comprise alternating filtering discs and separation discs, wherein each of said separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, wherein each of said separation tips has an apical point the thickness of which is less than the remaining portion of said separation disc; and each of said filtering disc is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge, a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from said perimetrical edge, and a central, generally circular depression such that the thickness of said depression is less than the thickness of said perimetrical edge so as to receive said remaining portion of said separation disc; whereby said thickness of said apical point of said separation disc positioned between two adjacent said perimetrical edges of said filtering discs defines a filtering spacing capable of filtering particles in the sub-mil range.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The molecular differentiation filter as claimed in claim 9, wherein said thickness of said apical point of said separation disc is in the range of approximately 10 microns to approximately 0.25 micron, thereby defining said filtering spacing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The molecular differentiation filter as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein said filtering disc further comprises a plurality of spokes each positioned between two of said filtering disc holes, whereby alternating ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc spokes and remaining ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc filtrate holes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The molecular differentiation filter as claimed in claim 11, wherein said chamber dividing member has at least one opening that is in communication with a set of said filtering disc filtrate holes of said filtering discs so as to permit communication between said second chamber and said first chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a stacked disc filter for filtering particles in the sub-micron range which are entrained in a fluid, said filter comprising a plurality of alternating, coaxial filtering discs and separation discs, wherein the thickness of said separation disc positioned coaxially between two adjacent said filtering discs defines a filtering spacing in said sub-micron range, the improvement wherein each of said separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, wherein each of said separation tips has an apical point the thickness of which is less than the remaining portion of said separation disc; and each of said filtering disc is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge, a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from said perimetrical edge, and a central, generally circular depression such that the thickness of said depression is less than the thickness of said perimetrical edge so as to receive said remaining portion of said separation disc; whereby said filtering perimetrical edges of said filtering discs filter said particles from said fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a stacked disc filter for filtering particles in the sub-micron range which are entrained in a fluid, said filter comprising a plurality of alternating, coaxial filtering discs and separation discs, wherein the thickness of said separation disc positioned coaxially between two adjacent said filtering discs defines a filtering spacing in said sub-micron range, the improvement wherein each of said separation discs is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a plurality of substantially identical, radially-extending separation tips, wherein each of said separation tips has an apical point the thickness of which is less than the remaining portion of said separation disc; and each of said filtering disc is a generally smooth-surfaced disc that has a filtering perimetrical edge, a plurality of substantially identical filtrate holes spaced inwardly from said perimetrical edge, and a central, generally circular depression such that the thickness of said depression is less than the thickness of said perimetrical edge so as to receive said remaining portion of said separation disc; whereby said filtering perimetrical edges of said filtering discs filter said particles from said fluid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 13, wherein said thickness of said apical point of said separation disc is in the range of approximately 10 microns to approximately 0.25 micron, thereby defining said filtering spacing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein said filtering disc further comprises a plurality of spokes each positioned between two of said filtering disc holes, whereby alternating ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc spokes and remaining ones of said separation tips are juxtaposed with said filtering disc filtrate holes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 15, wherein said filter includes a chamber dividing member that defines a first chamber and a second chamber that has said discs positioned therein, and furtherwherein said chamber dividing member has at least one opening that is in communication with a set of said filtering disc filtrate holes of said filtering discs so as to permit communication between said second chamber and said first chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1793583A
Cited
US1992101A
Cited
US1977174A
Cited
US2118295A
Cited
US2330945A
Cited
US2455486A
Cited
US2495095A
Cited
US2635641A
Cited
US2581337A
Cited
US2548584A
Cited
US2702637A
Cited
US3397794A
Cited
US3648843A
Cited
US3647084A
Cited
US3827568A
Cited
US3917222A
Cited
US4269613A
Cited
US4410430A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-10 | 1991-02-09 | 1991-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-10 | 1995-02-09 | 1995-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-10 | 1999-02-09 | 1999-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |