Disposable filter unit with filter support means at both sides of the filter element

Claim 1

A disposable filter unit comprising a pair of housing parts connected together, wherein each housing part includes a centrally arranged connecting sleeve serving as one of an inlet for fluid to be treated and an outlet for the filtrate, respectively, a filter support means for supporting a filter element arranged betwen said filter support means, said filter support means including: a pair of grate-shaped filter supports (5,12) having concentrically arranged substantially coplanar circular webs (16); a baffle plate (17) arranged centrally with respect to the webs (16) and substantially coplanar therewith; radially extending supports webs (18) to which webs (16) and the baffle plate (17) are fixed at a side of the filter support facing away from the filter element; a broad support area defined by a ring-type web (16') located peripherally about the support webs; said filter supports including lipped edges (9,10) at the peripheral ring-type webs (16') interlocking with each other in a fluid-tight and form locking manner while simultaneously fixing the filter element between the filter supports; wherein peripheral edges (13,14) of the housing parts (6,11) including means for interlocking with each other in a fluid-tight and form locking manner, and said connecting sleeves (3,20) having funnel-shaped inlet and outlet fluid flow passages arranged such that the filter support means comes into contact with the housing parts (6,11) only at peripheral areas (7,8) thereof.