Method and Device for Removing Particles from Waste Water

Abstract

Filter and method for filtering solve problem of filtering of microfibers. The filter is specifically designed for efficient removal of microfibers from fluids including wastewater such as is emitted by washing machines and clothes dryers in their normal mode of operation. The filter and filtering method hereby disclosed is characterized by the possibility to insert the filtering device directly into existing washing machines without the need for modifications. The filer has a form that allows its direct insertion into an existing void in the washing machine that is connected or an integral part of the drain pump.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. Filter according to claim 14, wherein said moveable inner filter is configured to move within said filter cartridge, in a manner chosen from a group consisting of free movement, restricted movement, linear movement, and rotational movement.

3. Filter according to claim 2, wherein said fluid is selected from a group consisting of water, industrial oil, engine oil, cooking oil, air, oxygen, nitrogen, and nitrous oxide.

4. Filter according to claim 14, wherein said at least one movable inner filter is electrically charged.

5. Filter according to claim 14, wherein said at least one moveable inner filter is chosen from a group consisting of a graduated filter, a structurally stable filter, and bulk filter material.

6. Filter according to claim 5, wherein said graduated filter comprises at least one filter layer, wherein said filter layer is composed of at least one material chosen from a group consisting of polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyaramid, polyacrylonitrile, PTFE, quartz fibers, glass microfibers, mineral wool, glass wool, wood, paper, cotton, wool, and linen.

7. Filter according to claim 6, wherein said at least one moveable inner filter is comprised of said filter material arranged in a shape selected chosen from a group consisting of bands, ribbons, tapes, floccules, strings, sheets, crumpled sheets, and disks.

8. Filter according to claim 7, wherein said at least one moveable inner filter is comprised of said filter material with an edge where the edge was a shape selected from a group consisting of zig zag shape, wavy shape, fringes, slots, gaps, and indentations.

9. A method for filtering fluid of microfiber particles, using a filter cartridge having at least one movable inner filter and a surrounding wall configured at least partially as an outer filter, and an input port arranged to direct fluid to said at least one movable inner filter, said method comprising of the following steps: a) introducing fluid directly to said at least one movable inner filter through said input port; b) passing of said fluid through said at least one movable inner filter, in such a way as to achieve at least partial filtering of said fluid: c) after passing of said fluid through said at least one movable inner filter, passing of said fluid through said outer filter in such a way to achieve at least partial filtering of said fluid: d) removing said fluid from space surrounding said filter cartridge housing through an external fluid exit port in a housing containing said filter cartridge.

10. A method for filtering according to claim 9, comprising further steps of brushing, grinding or scraping of at least part of the surface of said inner filter against at least part of the surface of said outer filter to provide for transfer of at least part of the particles on said outer filter to said inner filter.

11. A method for filtering according to claim 9, comprising a further step of altering flow of fluid into and out of said filter cartridge, including: stopping, reversing flow, varying flow input pressure.

12. A method for filtering according to claim 9, wherein said fluid is chosen from the group consisting of water, industrial oil, engine oil, cooking oil, air, oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous oxide.

13. A method for filtering according to claim 9, comprising at least one of the additional steps: a) opening of a removable cover of said filter cartridge housing, and selecting one of: i) replacing of said filter cartridge; and, ii) replacing only said at least one inner filter; b) replacing of said removable cover.

14. A filter system configured to remove microfibers released from textiles being processed in a fluid, wherein said filter system includes a filter housing having a fluid input port and a fluid output port, said filter housing also including an entryway for placing and removing a filter cartridge in said filter housing; said filter cartridge comprising: a) a removable cartridge housing with at least one wall being permeable to said fluid; b) at least one first filter membrane constituting at least a portion of said at least one wall of said cartridge housing; c) a cartridge input port aligned with said fluid input port of said filter housing to direct said fluid to the interior of said cartridge housing; and, d) at least one movable inner filter removably arranged within said interior of said cartridge housing and positioned to receive said fluid directly from said cartridge input port, wherein said fluid must pass said movable inner filter before reaching said filter membrane on said cartridge housing.

15. A filter system according to claim 14, wherein said movable inner filter is arranged to move against said first filter membrane, thereby transferring microfibers from said first filter membrane to said movable inner filter.

16. The filter system of claim 15, wherein said filter housing is an integral part of a textile processing device.

17. The filter system of claim 16, wherein said textile processing device comprises a clothes washer and said fluid comprises water.

Description

[0088] The invention is further described with help of the figures, said figures relating to preferred embodiment in non-limiting fashion, forming part of this description, and presenting:

[0089] FIG. 1 shows assembled filter (1).

[0090] FIG. 2 shows filter cartridge housing (2), filter membrane (3), moveable inner filter (4), filter cartridge (5), removable cover (6), fluid exit (7), and removable fluid inlet (8).

[0091] FIG. 3 shows filter membrane (3), moveable inner filter (4), filter cartridge (5).

[0092] FIG. 4 shows assembled filter (1) and flow of fluid through assembled filter (1).

[0093] FIG. 5 shows filter cartridge housing (2), filter membrane (3), moveable inner filter (4), filter cartridge (5), removable cover (6), fluid exit (7), and removable fluid inlet (8).

[0094] FIG. 6 shows cartridge housing (2), filter membrane (3), filter or graduated filter (9), filter cartridge (5), removable cover (6), fluid exit (7), and removable fluid inlet (8).

[0095] FIG. 7 shows cartridge housing (2), filter membrane (3), filter or graduated filter (9), filter cartridge (5), removable cover (6), fluid exit (7), and removable fluid inlet (8).

[0096] FIG. 7 shows cartridge housing (2), filter membrane (3), filter or graduated filter (9), filter cartridge (5), removable cover (6), fluid exit (7), and removable fluid inlet (8).

[0097] FIG. 9 shows filter or graduated filter in cross section.

[0098] According to preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, fluid to be filtered enters through removable fluid inlet (8) into a fluid cartridge (5). Said fluid cartridge is comprised within a filter cartridge housing (2), said filter cartridge housing (2) having at least one opening for inserting and removing of said filter cartridge (5) as well as at least one opening for inlet of said fluid to be cleaned and at least one opening for exit of fluid to be cleaned.

[0099] Said filter cartridge (5) is comprised of at least one partially opened wall, said opening comprising at least one filter membrane (3). Further, said filter cartridge (5) comprises at least one moveable inner filter (4). Said filter cartridge housing (2) is closed on one side with removable fluid inlet (8) and on opposite side with removeable cover (6).

[0100] As said, said fluid to be filtered enters through removable fluid inlet (8) into said fluid cartridge (5), said fluid cartridge (5) being in fluid communication with removable fluid inlet (8). Therein, fluid meanders through or past of at least one moveable inner filter (4), which provides for at least partial filtering of fluid to be filtered. Then, this partially filtered fluid flows through at least one said filter membrane (3), which provides for additional filtering of the fluid. Then, the fluid which has been filtered by at least one said moveable filter filler (4) and said filter membrane (3) exits through at least one fluid exit (7).

[0101] During the operation, the at least one moveable filter filler (4) moves around inside of the filter cartridge (5), at least part of the time with at least part of its surface touching at least part of the surface of said filter membrane (3). Because of the motion of said moveable inner filter (4), at least part of the surface of at least one moveable inner filter (4) and at least part of the surface of said filter membrane (3) brush, grind or scrape one against another. As a result of these brushing, grinding or scraping, at least part of the particles entrained on or by said filter membrane (3) transported or transferred onto or into said at least one moveable inner filter (4) or into said fluid, which translocates them and carries them to be either re-filtered or expelled through filter membrane. For purposes of this description, said brushing, grinding or scraping of said at least part of the surface of said at least one moveable filter filler (4) against at least part of the surface of said filter membrane (3) along with mechanism of transport or transfer of said at least part of the particles entrained on or by said filter membrane (3) is called a partial self-cleaning.

[0102] Another part of self-cleaning mechanism for purposes of this invention is provided by reversing flow of fluid from time to time using stopping or reversing of a pump or a compressor, or a fan forming part of fluid delivery system, said fluid delivery system except filter described herein known in state of the art, or, by providing for pressure increase, pressure decrease or pressure fluctuation in said fluid delivery system.

[0103] According to the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, fluid to be filtered enters through removable fluid inlet (8) into a fluid cartridge (5). Said fluid cartridge is comprised within a filter cartridge housing (2), said filter cartridge housing (2) having at least one opening for inserting and removing of said filter cartridge (5) as well as at least one opening for inlet of said fluid to be cleaned and at least one opening for exit of fluid to be cleaned.

[0104] Said filter cartridge (5) is comprised of at least one partially opened wall, said opening comprising at least one filter membrane (3). Further, said filter cartridge (5) comprises at least one inner filter in form of a filter or graduated filter (9). Said filter cartridge housing (2) is closed on one side with removable fluid inlet (8) and on opposite side with removable cover (6).

[0105] As said, said fluid to be filtered enters through removable fluid inlet (8) into said fluid cartridge (5), said fluid cartridge (5) being in fluid communication with removable fluid inlet (8). Therein, fluid meanders through or past said at least one inner filter in form of filter or graduated filter (9), said at least one inner filter in form of filter or graduated filter (9) providing for at least partial filtering of fluid to be filtered. Then, said fluid to be filtered which is already partially filtered by said at least one inner filter in form of filter or graduated filter (9) flows through said filter membrane (3), said filter membrane (3) providing for additional filtering of said fluid to be filtered which was already partially filtered by said at least one inner filter in form of filter or graduated filter (9). Then, the fluid which has been filtered by said at least one inner filter in form of filter or graduated filter (9) and said filter membrane (3) exits through at least one fluid exit (7).

[0106] FIG. 9 shows cross section of said filter or graduated filter (9) showing possible constructional feature with a core around which filter material is wound therefore forming inner filter per specifications of this invention.