FILTER APPARATUS

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter apparatus (10) comprising a plurality of filter elements (20) which can be received in a filter housing (12) having a filter inlet (50) for a fluid to be filtered and a filter outlet (52) for the filtered fluid, characterised in that a pressure control device (42) has at least one control plate (58) which, located inside a connection chamber (14), laterally passes over individual upper element openings (54) of the filter element to be backwashed (20), in a predefinable sequence, covering the opening to an increasing degree and then exposing the opening again, and in that a discharge opening (46) of the backwash device (44) is, at least in part, fluidically connected to a lower element opening (56) of the filter element (20) to be backwashed, as the pressure control device (42) moves towards the upper element opening (54).

Claims

1. A filter apparatus (10) having a plurality of filter elements (20), which can be received in a filter housing (12) having a filter inlet (50) for a fluid to be filtered and a filter outlet (52) for the filtered fluid, wherein the filter elements (20) are traversable, via their element casing, by a flow in both directions for filtration or backwashing and said elements each have an upper (54) and a lower element opening (56) on their two opposite ends, wherein during operation, at least one filter element (20) simultaneously filters and at least one other filter element (20) can be simultaneously backwashed to clean its effective filter surface by means of a backwash device (44), which for supporting the backwashing interacts with a pressure control device (42) that has at least one pressure control element by means of which the fluid flow along the filter element (20) to be cleaned is controllable during a backwashing process, wherein the filter apparatus (10) has a connection chamber (14), which is at least in part connected to the upper element openings (54) of the filter cavity of the filter elements (20) that forms the unfiltrate side, wherein a fluid path is provided via which unfiltrate flows into the connection chamber (14) during filtration and the passage of unfiltrate through the upper element opening (54) associated with the filter element (20) to be cleaned is controllable by means of the pressure control element, wherein the backwash device (44) with a discharge opening (46) for the cleaning fluid can be moved under the lower element opening (56) of the filter element (20) to be backwashed, characterized in that the pressure control device (42) has at least one control plate (58), which, arranged inside the connection chamber (14), laterally passes over individual upper element openings (54) of the respective filter elements (20) to be backwashed in a predefinable sequence, covering said openings to an increasing degree, and then exposing said openings again, and that the discharge opening (46) of the backwash device (44) is still at least in part fluidically connected to the lower element opening (56) of the filter element (20) to be backwashed, as the pressure control device (42) moves toward the upper element opening (54).

2. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the backwash device (44) has a collection chamber with the discharge opening (46), which is already fluidically connected, at least in part, to the next filter element (20) in the backwashing sequence via the lower element opening (56) thereof, whereas the control plate (58) of the pressure control device (42) is still laterally passing over the upper element opening (54) of the preceding filter element (20) in the sequence.

3. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the collection chamber of the backwash device (44) is formed from a recess (84) in a cover plate (60), which is guided by a backwash arm (78) into which the discharge opening (46) leads, which opening is preferably fluidically connected via the backwash arm (78) to a valve control device.

4. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension of the collection chamber (84) is selected in such a way that it completely covers, at least in a swivel position of the backwash arm (78), two lower element openings (56) of two adjacent filter elements (20).

5. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure control device (42) and the backwash device (44) have a common drive (40), which drives the control plate (58) and the cover plate (60) with a constant spatial offset via rigid drive elements (62), or that the pressure control device (42) and the backwash device (44) are arranged stationarily inside the filter housing (12) and the filter elements (20) can be moved in carousel fashion under the devices (42, 44) by means of the common drive.

6. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper (54) and lower element openings (56) of each filter element (20) are arranged inside the filter housing (12) in intermediate bottoms (22, 24), the passage openings of which are formed by the element openings (54, 56) themselves.

7. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control plate (58) and the cover plate (60) laterally pass, essentially without any spacing, over the respective intermediate bottoms (22, 24) with the element openings (54, 56).

8. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover plate (60) laterally delimits the collection chamber (84) with overhangs of predefinable length, particularly when viewed in the direction of displacement, and can be brought in abutment with the intermediate bottom (24) with the lower element openings (56) of the filter elements (20).

9. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the duration of the backwashing concerned is controlled via the number of revolutions with the common drive (40) or via a predefined backwash time.

10. The filter apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective filter elements (20) are configured as tapered.

Description

[0023] Other advantages and features of the invention arise from the figures and from the following description of the drawings. The aforementioned features and the ones mentioned in the following can each be inventively realized individually or in any combination on a filter apparatus according to the invention. The features shown in the figures are to be understood as purely schematic and not drawn to scale. Shown are:

[0024] FIGS. 1a and 1b an exemplary embodiment of a filter apparatus according to the invention having an offset between the positions of the pressure control device and the backwash device, in at least partially cutaway perspective view in each case;

[0025] FIG. 2 a partial illustration of the filter apparatus from FIGS. 1a and 1b for illustrating the design and workings of the pressure control device in a perspective view;

[0026] FIGS. 3a and 3d two perspective illustrations, namely a top plan view and a bottom plan view, respectively, of the control plate of the pressure control device shown in FIG. 2;

[0027] FIG. 3b an end-face plan view of the control plate according to FIG. 3a;

[0028] FIG. 3c a longitudinal section of the control plate along the line A-A in FIG. 3b;

[0029] FIGS. 4a and 4b the backwash device of the filter apparatus shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b in a perspective illustration from different viewing directions, from below and from above, respectively;

[0030] FIGS. 5a, b and c two perspective illustrations, from different viewing directions from above and below, respectively, and a top plan view of the cover plate of the backwash device shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b; and

[0031] FIG. 6 a notionally superimposed view with a lower intermediate bottom of the filter apparatus from FIGS. 1a and 1b for illustrating the spatial offset between the pressure control device and the backwash device.

[0032] FIGS. 1a and 1b show, in perspective and in partial longitudinal section in each case, a filter apparatus 10 having a cylindrical filter housing 12, which is subdivided into a connection chamber 14, a filtration chamber 16, and an intermediate chamber 18. Six filter elements in total are arranged in the filtration chamber 16, of which only four elements 20a, b, d and e are shown. The filter elements 20, which are illustrated in a partially cutaway view, are each configured as tapered, with diameters that decrease from the lower end to the upper end. The filter elements 20 are arranged on a circle line in a uniform and rotationally symmetric manner with respect to the symmetry axis or longitudinal axis of the filter housing 12. The individual filter elements 20 are each inserted by their upper and lower ends 54, 56, respectively, in a first intermediate bottom 22, which separates the connection chamber 14 from the filtration chamber 16, and in a second intermediate bottom 24, which separates the filtration chamber 16 from the intermediate chamber 18, where they are arranged vertically and held.

[0033] The filter housing 12 comprises an upper housing part 26 with the connection chamber 14, a middle housing part 28 with the filtration chamber 16, and a lower housing part 30 with the intermediate chamber 18. The housing parts 26, 28 and 30 are detachably connected to one another by individual ring flanges, wherein the intermediate bottom 22 or 24 is held sandwich-like and crossways in the composite formed from the ring flanges. Each composite of ring flanges with the intermediate bottoms 22, 24 fixed in between is firmly connected together by a plurality of screw fastening elements 32. Foot-like base parts 34, with which the filter apparatus 10 can be mounted upright on a bottom surface not shown in any further detail, are provided on the lower housing part 30.

[0034] The filter apparatus 10 is part of a processing unit that is not shown in any further detail. The filter apparatus 10 can also be connected to a central control (not shown) of the processing unit via a connection and actuation part 36 arranged laterally on the middle housing part 28. A drive shaft 38, which can be driven by a central drive 40 in the form of an electric motor or pneumatic drive fastened on the cover of the upper housing part 26, is arranged along the longitudinal axis of the filter housing 12. A pressure control device 42 and a backwash device 44 are present, which are rigidly connected to the drive shaft 38 and which can be rotated via the drive 40. The pressure control device 42 is arranged in the connection chamber 14 above the filter elements 20. The backwash device 44 is arranged in the intermediate chamber 18 below the filter elements 20. Via a discharge opening 46, a fluid connection is established to an only partially depicted backwash line 48 which, running in a vertical direction along the longitudinal axis of the filter housing 12, connects to the backwash device 44. A backwash fitting (not illustrated), particularly in the form of an actuatable valve device, connects to the backwash line 48 and outside the filter apparatus 10. As mentioned in the preceding with regard to the prior art, this backwash fitting supports the backwash function.

[0035] A filter inlet 50 for unfiltrate, aligned horizontally on the lower housing part 30, is arranged on the filter housing 12, and a filter outlet 52 for filtrate is arranged in comparable fashion on the middle housing part 28. The upper element openings 54a to 54f (see FIG. 2) of the filter elements 20 each constitute a passage opening through the first intermediate bottom 22 and thus a fluid connection between the connection chamber 14 and the interior filter cavity of the filter element 20 concerned. In corresponding fashion, lower element openings 56a to 56f (see FIG. 6) of the filter elements 20 constitute through-openings through the second intermediate bottom 24 and thus a fluid connection between the intermediate chamber 18 and the interior filter cavity of the filter element 20 concerned.

[0036] When the filter apparatus 10 is used for cleaning a fluid, the uncleaned fluid is conducted as unfiltrate into the filter housing 12 at the filter inlet 50, flows from the intermediate chamber 18 through five of the six lower element openings 56 to the filter cavity of the filter element 20 concerned, and is cleaned as it flows from inside to the outside through five of the six filter elements 20. It should be remembered that one of the six elements 20 is not available for filtration because it is being backwashed. From the filtration chamber 16 of the filter housing 12, the cleaned fluid is discharged as filtrate from the filter apparatus 10 via the filter outlet 52. A portion of the fluid flowing through the five filter elements 20 remains partly uncleaned and flows into the connection chamber 14 through the upper element openings 54. The filter elements 20 with their filter materials thus form the boundary between the so-called dirty side, with unfiltrate in the intermediate chamber 18, in the connection chamber 14 and in the filter cavity of the filter element 20 used for filtration, and the clean side, with filtrate in the fluid chamber surrounding the filter elements 20 on the outside, which forms the filtration chamber 16 inside the filter apparatus 10.

[0037] In order to remove particles deposited on the filter material and/or in the interstices of the slotted tube during filtration, the backwash device 44 is moved by motor via the drive 40 under the filter element 20 to be cleaned and the fluid path of the unfiltrate from the intermediate chamber 18 into the filter cavity of the filter element 20 concerned is interrupted. Unfiltrate flows simultaneously from the connection chamber 14 serving as a reservoir into the associated inner filter cavity and, along with the removed particles, reaches the backwash line 48 via the associated lower element opening 56 and the discharge opening 46 of the backwash device 44. The fluid used for backwashing plus the contaminant load is then discharged from the filter apparatus 10 via the backwash line 48. The cross flow from the connection chamber 14 through the filter cavity of the filter element 20 concerned to the backwash line 48 is interrupted by the closure of the associated upper element opening 54 by means of the pressure control device 42. As a result of the corresponding flow separation, the inflow of fluid or filtrate from the clean side in the filtration chamber 16 into the interior of the filter element 20 concerned is intensified and dirt particles are removed from the filter material in pulses. Prior to this, with the backwash fitting opened, the backwashing is enhanced by the pressure gradient between the filter inlet 50 and the inflowing unfiltrate and the backwash line 48, which serves to discharge dirty fluid with the removed particles from the device 10.

[0038] In order to ensure proper closure of the associated element openings 54a to 54f, 56a, a control plate 58 is provided on the pressure control device 42 and a cover plate 60 is provided on the backwash device 44. The control plate 58 rests on the upper side of the first intermediate bottom 22, and the cover plate 60 abuts on the underside of the second intermediate bottom 24 in comparable fashion. Both plates 58, 60 have a reniform basic shape, which at least in part covers at least two element openings 54a to 54f, 56a to 56f in the respective intermediate bottoms 22, 24. However, the degree of coverage of the free flow cross sections of adjacent element openings along the circle line is considerably greater in the case of the cover plate 60 than in the case of the control plate 58.

[0039] The pressure control device 42 and the backwash device 44 are rigidly connected to the drive shaft 38 and are guided via the drive 40 in corresponding rotational movements above and below the filter elements 20, respectively. In the position shown in FIG. 1a, both devices 42, 44 are arranged in the area of the filter element 20a and of an adjacent filter element 20f preceding the latter in the rotational direction and not shown in FIG. 1a. In contrast, the position of the devices 42, 44 shown in FIG. 1b is shifted by ca. 100 in the counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, the element openings 54f as well as 56f and 56e of the filter element 20f as well as those of another adjacent, leading filter element 20e are covered, at least in part, by the plates 58 and 60, respectively. The devices 42, 44 initially assume a position according to the illustration of FIG. 1b before they are moved by a rotation in the clockwise direction (in a view of the device 10 from above) to a position according to FIG. 1a. The change in position, with respect to the individual filter elements 20, thus takes place continuously in the clockwise direction.

[0040] For backwashing one of the individual filter elements 20a to 20f simultaneously with the filtration mode, the pressure control device 42 and the backwash device 44 are moved clockwise at constant speed by means of the drive 40. The upper element openings 54a to 54f and the lower element openings 56a to 56f are covered and then exposed again in succession by the control plate 58 and the cover plate 60, respectively. From the illustration according to FIG. 1a, b, it can readily be discerned that in the scope of backwashing, the cover plate 60 of the backwash device 44 runs ahead of the control plate 58 of the pressure control device 42, i.e., starts the backwashing for the filter element 20a before the control plate 58, exposing the upper opening 54f, passes over the subsequent upper element opening 54a of the element 20a, triggering the pressure pulse.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged subsection of the filter apparatus and illustrates the design of the pressure control device 42, wherein the control plate 58 is rigidly connected to the drive shaft 38 via a swivel part 62. The control plate 58 resting or abutting on the first intermediate bottom 22 is connected on its upper side to the swivel part 62 and moveably guided therewith. The four upper element openings 54a to 54d formed in the first intermediate bottom 22 are completely exposed in the illustration of FIG. 2, whereas the fifth element opening 54e is only in part covered by the control plate 58 and the other, sixth element opening 54f is completely covered by the control plate 58. At the edge of the first intermediate bottom 22, through-openings 33 are provided for the screw fastening elements 32 (see FIGS. 1a and 1b for comparison) for fastening the middle housing part 28 and the upper housing part 26 (see FIGS. 1a and 1b for comparison) of the filter housing 12 to the intermediate bottom 22.

[0042] FIGS. 3a to 3d show the detailed design of the control plate 58, by means of which individual upper element openings 54a to 54f (see the preceding figures for comparison), which open on the upper side of the first intermediate bottom 22, are covered in sequence during the backwashing process. The perspective illustration according to FIG. 3a shows that the control plate 58 has a discoid fastening part 64 and a plate part 66 projecting downwards in one piece thereon. Two fastening options 68 for fastening the control plate 58 on the swivel part 62 (see FIG. 2 for comparison) are formed on the fastening part 64. Also provided on the fastening part 64 is a passage opening 70, which has a stepped profile and which is covered by the swivel part 62.

[0043] The plan view according to FIG. 3b of the upper side of the control plate 58 shows that the passage opening 70 is concentric to the center point of the circular fastening part 64. The two fastening holes 68 are arranged opposite one another, diametrically to the passage opening 70. The section of FIG. 3c through the control plate 58 shows that the passage opening 70 is widened in the area of the plate part 66.

[0044] A first edge 72 is provided on the fastening part 64. A second edge 74, which is narrower in width compared to the first edge 72, is provided circumferentially on the plate part 66. The perspective illustration of FIG. 3d shows a second edge 74, which circumferentially surrounds a control surface 76 on the underside of the control plate 58. The second edge 74 facilitates a sliding and an in-part sealing abutment of the control surface 76 on the first intermediate bottom 22. The control plate 58 is furthermore reniform, as shown in the plan view according to FIG. 3b.

[0045] FIGS. 4a and 4b each show the design of the backwash device 44 in perspective view, wherein a perspective from below is chosen in FIG. 4a and a perspective from above is chosen in FIG. 4b. The backwash device 44 comprises an arch-shaped backwash arm 78, which attaches to a hollow cylindrical pipe section 80. The cover plate 60, which is firmly held in position by a clamping part 82, is arranged on the upper end of the backwash arm 78. In order to enable a simultaneous discharge of washing fluids from several, preferably two filter elements 20 (see FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2 for comparison); a recess 84 is provided on the upper side, associated with the second intermediate bottom 24, of the cover plate 60. The recess 84 extends over ca. of the entire cover plate 60 and encloses, on its bottom side, the circular discharge opening 46. In the installed state of the backwash device 44, the pipe section 80 is arranged along the longitudinal axis of the filter housing 12 and forms the connection to the backwash line 48. For arranging the backwash device 44 in the filter apparatus 10 in a positionally-fixed manner, a connection pipe 86 is provided on the upper end of the pipe section 80 and is firmly connected to the drive shaft 38 of the drive 40.

[0046] FIGS. 5a to 5d illustrate the design of the cover plate 60. FIG. 5a shows a planarly extending cover side 88 of the cover plate 60; FIG. 5b shows a planarly extending underside 90 of the cover plate 60. A recess 84, on the bottom side of which the discharge opening 46 is provided, is formed on the cover side 88. The discharge opening 46 is areally surrounded by a circular attachment piece 92 and juts out vertically on the underside 90 of the cover plate 60.

[0047] The plan view of the upper side or cover side of the cover plate 60 in FIG. 5c shows that the circular attachment piece 92 and the reniform recess 84 are formed and arranged in different planes in the reniform cover plate 60. Since the cover plate 60 runs ahead of the control plate 58 in terms of the covering function in the continuous backwash mode, the part of the cover plate 60 with the recess 84 that is situated before the discharge opening 46 in the travel direction (in the clockwise direction in the exemplary embodiment shown) is larger. In addition, a circular segment-shaped indentation, which corresponds to the circular shape of one of the lower element openings 56a to 56f to be covered by the cover plate 60, is provided on the front end (upper end shown in FIGS. 5a, c) of the recess 84.

[0048] The unique feature of the pressure control device 42 and the backwash device 44 formed on the filter apparatus 10 is a simultaneous backwashing of several (two in the exemplary embodiment shown) adjacent filter elements 20a to 20f. This is achieved by both devices 42, 44 being connected to one another for conjoint rotation and being moved with one another in sequence along the individual filter elements 20a to 20f via the drive shaft 38. The view from above shown in FIG. 6 of the second intermediate bottom 24 with the lower element openings 56a to 56f illustrates that the cover plate 60 and the control plate 58, which are superimposed over one another in an imaginary representation, have a spatial offset relative to each other. The circular fastening part 64, which attaches to the plate part 66 of the control plate 58, lines up with the attachment piece 92, surrounding the discharge opening 46, of the cover plate 60 in an angular range of 18, starting from the center axis or longitudinal axis of the filter apparatus 10. The corresponding coverage area is designated with 94.

[0049] In the position of the pressure control device 42 and the backwash device 44 shown in FIG. 6, the control plate 58 completely covers the upper element opening 54a (see FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2 for comparison) associated with the lower element opening 56a. In contrast, the cover plate 60 covers the two adjacent lower element openings 56a and 56b with its recess 84 and in this manner simultaneously drains washing fluid from the associated filter elements 20a, 20b. The cover plate 60, with its part that juts above the recess 84, comes increasingly into the area of the subsequent lower element opening 56c such that with a further clockwise rotation of the backwash device 44, the recess 84 is rotated under the free cross section of the lower element opening 56c and in this manner initiates the backwashing process in the filter element 20c. At this point in time then, the control plate 58 has completely passed over the upper element opening 54a and has triggered the pressure pulse for the element 20a before the plate 58 is advanced to the subsequent element 20b.

[0050] Once the control plate 58 exposes the associated upper element opening 54a, the corresponding backwash process is completely ended within one revolution. With the other filter elements 20, the undersides of which are not covered by the cover plate 60, the filtration is continued with the liquid unfiltrate supplied to the filter apparatus 10.