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US4773922A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Remotely serviced filter and housing

Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1987-07-22
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Granted: 1988-09-27
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Expires: 2007-07-22
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Abstract

Abstract A filter system for a hot cell comprises a housing adapted for input of air or other gas to be filtered, flow of the air through a filter element, and exit of filtered air. The housing is tapered at the top to make it easy to insert a filter cartridge using an overhead crane. The filter cartridge holds the filter element while the air or other gas is passed through the filter element. Captive bolts in trunnion nuts are readily operated by electromechanical manipulators operating power wrenches to secure and release the filter cartridge. The filter cartridge is adapted to make it easy to change a filter element by using a master-slave manipulator at a shielded window station.

Inventors

  • 👤 Maurice J. Ross
  • 👤 Larry A. Zaladonis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 15:09
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D46/00; B01D46/0002; B01D46/0004; B01D46/0005; B01D46/0006; B01D46/10; G; G21; G21F; G21F7/00; G21F7/015; B01D2265/00; B01D2265/02; B01D2265/027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/09

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
An apparatus to be disposed in a hot cell for filtering particulate matter that may be radioactive from an unfiltered stream of air or vessel off-gas by passing the stream through a replaceable filter element, the apparatus comprising: a. a filter cartridge sized to hold the replaceable filter element, the filter cartridge including a lifting bail for lifting by a crane; and b. a housing disposed in the hot cell and connected to means for supplying the unfiltered stream and to means for removal of a filtered stream, the housing including means for remote vertical insertion of the cartridge into sealed engagement to pass the unfiltered stream through the replaceable filter element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 112 words
An apparatus to be disposed in a hot cell for filtering particulate matter that may be radioactive from an unfiltered stream of air or vessel off-gas by passing the stream through a replaceable filter element, the apparatus comprising: a. a filter cartridge sized to hold the replaceable filter element, the filter cartridge including a lifting bail for lifting by a crane; and b. a housing disposed in the hot cell and connected to means for supplying the unfiltered stream and to means for removal of a filtered stream, the housing including means for remote vertical insertion of the cartridge into sealed engagement to pass the unfiltered stream through the replaceable filter element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter cartridge comprises in addition a slot and wherein the housing further comprises a captive bolt on a trunnion mount that is adapted to engage the slot to secure the filter cartridge to the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for remote vertical insertion of the filter cartridge into sealed engagement comprises in addition a gasket between the filter cartridge and the housing that is compressed when the filter cartridge is placed in the housing and the captive bolt is tightened.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for remote vertical insertion comprise in addition a vertical taper in dimensions to facilitate placement of the filter cartridge in the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises in addition a knife edge for sealing to the replaceable filter element.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 120 words
An apparatus for filtering particulate matter that may be radioactive from an unfiltered stream of air or vessel off-gas by passing the stream through a replaceable filter element, the apparatus comprising: a. a tubular housing disposed in a hot cell; b. a filter cartridge telescopically insertable into the tubular housing, the filter element insertable into the filter cartridge; c. means for remote vertical insertion and removal of the filter cartridge into the tubular housing; d. remotely operable means for servicing the filter cartridge within the tubular housing; e. means for supplying an unfiltered stream of a fluid to the filter element within the tubular housing; and f. means for removing a filtered stream of the fluid from the tubular housing.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 120 words
An apparatus for filtering particulate matter that may be radioactive from an unfiltered stream of air or vessel off-gas by passing the stream through a replaceable filter element, the apparatus comprising: a. a tubular housing disposed in a hot cell; b. a filter cartridge telescopically insertable into the tubular housing, the filter element insertable into the filter cartridge; c. means for remote vertical insertion and removal of the filter cartridge into the tubular housing; d. remotely operable means for servicing the filter cartridge within the tubular housing; e. means for supplying an unfiltered stream of a fluid to the filter element within the tubular housing; and f. means for removing a filtered stream of the fluid from the tubular housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the tubular housing and filter cartridge are rectangular in horizontal cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the tubular housing and the filter cartridge are circular in cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the filter cartridge makes a seal with the tubular housing when inserted in the tubular housing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3487624A Cited
US4426211A Cited
US4372853A Cited
US4450964A Cited
US4613348A Cited
US4608062A Cited
US4695299A Cited
US4701196A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-09-27 1992-03-28 1992-09-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-09-27 1996-03-28 1996-09-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-09-27 2000-03-28 2000-09-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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