Provided is an apparatus and method for interacting with objects of interest. A filtering apparatus can comprise a channel system, through which objects of interest are able to diffuse. The channel system can comprise a channel of suitably configured non-uniform cross-sectional area along the length of the channel. In some embodiments, the channel system can be provided by a suitably configured porous bulk material. In some embodiments, channel system can comprise an interior chamber comprising filtered objects, where the filtered objects are contained on a first side by a first filtering surface, such as a semi-permeable membrane, and on a second side by second filtering surface, where the cross-sectional areas of a representative channel of the first and second filtering surfaces are not identical. The filtered objects can also be configured to interact with an externally applied body force, such as an electric field acting on charged filtered objects. The channel system is configured to interact with objects of interest on a scale which is smaller than a value several orders of magnitude larger than the mean free path of an object of interest. Some embodiments are configured to interact with particles, such as air molecules, water molecules, or aerosols. Other plate embodiments are configured to interact with waves or wavelike particles, such as electrons, photons, phonons or acoustic waves.

Embodiments are directed to filtration container assemblies and methods of using the same. A filtration container assembly can include an outer container and a plunging assembly. The outer container can have a first open end and a second closed end that defines an inner cavity. The plunging assembly can include a first end and a second end, with the second end of the plunging assembly being configured to be received within the inner cavity of the outer container. The plunging assembly can also include an inner sleeve having a first end and a second end and an outer wall that defines an inner bore. The plunging assembly can further include a filtration assembly in fluid communication with the inner bore, with the filtration assembly including a flow control device.

In certain embodiments, a sand-boil filter includes a hollow, conical, water-porous structure made of a mesh material having spaced mesh holes. The filter is inserted narrow-end down into a sand boil to allow water to flow from the ground through the mesh material and out the top of the sand boil, while blocking solid matter larger than the mesh holes from passing through the mesh material. In some implementations, the filter is filled with gravel that holds the filter in place while allowing water to flow out of the sand boil. Such filters prevent sand boils from growing while relieving the underground hydrostatic pressure that created the sand boil in the first place and inhibiting subterranean erosion that can cause failure of a nearby levee. The conical shape provides relatively large surface area that inhibits clogging and allows each filter to be used for a range of different sand-boil sizes.

A device for filtering a stream of water in a channel (2), includes: a wall (6) adapted to be mounted in the channel and including a through-opening, a filter member (10) mounted on the wall opposite the through-opening and including a filter surface projecting relative to the wall, the filter surface having a larger area than would have a flat filter surface fitted in the through-opening, the filter member including retaining members face to face with the filter surface for retaining the bodies that do not pass through the surface, a suction device disposed facing the retaining members, and elements for driving the filter member and/or the suction device in a relative movement of one in relation to the other such that the suction device is successively brought face to face with each retaining member.

A filter element for fluids, in particular for hydraulic fluid, has a foldable filter casing (10) with at least one filter layer (18, 20, 22, 24) extending between two end caps (26, 32). To vary in regions the thickness of the filter casing (10), the height (h.sub.1) of each filter fold (12, 44) increases from one end cap (26) to the other end cap (32). Alternatively, with the filter fold height (h.sub.1) being maintained, the outer diameter (40) of the filter casing (10) varies in the direction of one of the end caps (26, 32).

A filtering system capable of removing particulates from a water slurry is disclosed. The filtering system comprises a base plate, the base plate comprising a sealing surface and a slurry inlet. A flexible vessel is configured to seal to the sealing surface, and an interior cavity, wherein the flexible vessel is formed of a flexible filtering material capable of retaining particulates. The flexible vessel permits liquid entering through the slurry inlet to pass through the filtering material and is capable of withstanding an internal pressure sufficient to form a particulate cake without rupturing the flexible vessel. A sealing system is provided for retaining an upper portion of the flexible vessel against the sealing surface. The filtering system may be part of a portable system that includes a cart, hoses, piping, a pneumatic pump and a control panel.

An expansion ring mountable in a storm drain for supporting a filtering apparatus includes a ring-shaped expansion member having an adjustable diameter which is cut transversely to define two open end portions thereon which face each other and which are separated from each other by a predetermined distance to define a gap therebetween. A wedge assembly is positioned at the gap between the open end portions of the expansion member and is adjustable to increase the diameter of the expansion member. When the wedge assembly is adjusted to increase the diameter of the expansion member, the expansion member tightly engages a side wall of a portion of the storm drain in which the expansion ring is mounted to secure the expansion ring, and a filtering apparatus supported thereby, in a desired position.

A device for filtering a stream of water in a channel (2), includes: a wall (6) adapted to be mounted in the channel and including a through-opening, a filter member (10) mounted on the wall opposite the through-opening and including a filter surface projecting relative to the wall, the filter surface having a larger area than would have a flat filter surface fitted in the through-opening, the filter member including retaining members face to face with the filter surface for retaining the bodies that do not pass through the surface, a suction device disposed facing the retaining members, and elements for driving the filter member and/or the suction device in a relative movement of one in relation to the other such that the suction device is successively brought face to face with each retaining member.

The present invention relates to a conical filter used to filter storm water being directed into a catch basin and to filter water being pumped from a sediment pond.

The invention relates to a filter for filtering a liquid or a gas, with a pocket-shaped filter element which has a sleeve-shaped circumferential region, a closed head region and an open foot region, and with a frame element which has an annular base, in which the foot region of the filter element is accommodated, and at least one supporting strut which extends away from the base along the circumferential region of the filter element. An advantageous design of the filter is achieved by forming the head region of the filter element with a saddle shape, wherein two lateral tips are provided between which a channel-shaped recess is formed.